Hi there, not sure if I'm aiming too high already, but I think I'll give it a try. Usually I write in German and I don't write stories (yet). I'm a 49 year old computer geek doing tutorials on programming and Internet stuff in German and English. I'd like to improve my writing skills and I'm not sure if I'm really talented to write my own stories. I have a bunch of interesting ideas though, and I've already produced a short SciFi animation movie directing a small team. My writing skills may still lack some structure and liveliness, so I will first see if I can post some critiques first (as it is required anyway in this community) before posting my first piece here. My favorite genres are Humor and SciFi (preferably both of them combined), so I will look out for some of your stories in these forum sections. Marian
Hello Marian, Welcome to the Writing Forums. One problem you will probably encounter is that English is more idiomatic than German is. As a result, many things that make perfect sense in German will mean something significantly (or disastrously) different in English. We see many non-native speakers perplexed and frustrated with expressions that defy logic, and trying to find the general rule that explains one of these expressions only adds to the frustration. Posting your own writing for people to comment on should not be among the very first things you do here. It is worth taking the time to see what other people have done to improve their writing, and see if some of it applies to your writing as well. That is part of why we require members to review other members' work before posting their own for review. On the other hand, there are no restrictions, other than content and copyright rules, on showcasing your work in your member blog. Also, be aware that posting a piece of writing on any public site, including this one, will greatly diminish your chances of selling it for publication. Removing the writing later does not alter that fact - once posted, it is irreversibly considered published. So do not post anything more than a small excerpt of any piece you are planning to submit for publication. If you haven't explored the site yet, you should probably do so soon. Newcomers often gravitate to the Lounge, the Word Games, or the Review Room, but there is much more to be discovered if you poke in the corners. Remember to check out our FAQ as well, and be sure to read through the forum rules, too, to avoid any misunderstandings or hurt feelings. Respect for one another is our principal mandate. As for the Review Room, new joiners often wonder why we do things a bit differently on this site than on other writing sites. We emphasize constructive critique as a vital writing skill. Training your eye by reviewing other people's work helps you improve your own writing even before you present it for others to see. Therefore, we ask members to review other people's writing before posting work of their own. The Review Room forums on this site, therefore, are true workshops, not just a bulletin board for displaying your work (and on that note, please only post each item for review in one Review Room forum). Also, please use the same thread for all revisions and additional excerpts from the same piece of writing. See this post, Why Write Reviews Before Posting My Work? for more information. And while you're looking around, don't forget to check out our Weekly Short Story Contest and Weekly Poetry Contest. They actually run more than one week apiece, but any member may enter, and all members are urged to vote for their favorites. Enjoy your stay here, and have fun!
