I'm a multi-published novelist and former (read: recovering) journalist from Louisiana. A two-time finalist for a Pirate's Alley Faulkner Society gold medal, (2002 - Anything But Ordinary, 2010 - The Patriot Joe Morton), I'm in the midst of transforming a novella into a full-length novel. I've two cats and a 'daughter' I've raised since she was four. And I am considering pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing. Looking forward to time here. Oh, a word. I'm not the "nice and supportive" guy when it comes to critiquing...or talking about your significant other...or the weather...or that pesky bad back. I'm empathetic, but I rarely pull punches and I never placate. If you want someone to tell you how great something is, how everything is going to be okay, or some other platitude to make you feel better, I ain't your guy. But if you want honesty, sometimes brutal, usually fair and almost always delivered with a ray of hope, I'm your guy. I ask the same in return.
Hi, Speaking of your tendency to give brutal and honest crits, I've got a short clip in the Novel section if you are interested. I'm a journalist too but have yet to have my fiction published. My main problem is with finishing novels; I tend to be a bit ADD with jumping around from new idea to new idea. I finished my first novel last month and am now revising for plot holes, expansion of the middle, rewriting certain parts to use new ideas, etc.
Welcome to the forum, and congrats on your success as a writer. Can't say the same for me, but I'm trying Good to see people that aren't afraid to give their honest opinion. The truth is always more helpful then some false words of encouragement.
Hello Michael, Welcome to the Writing Forums. Please read How to Use the Review Room before you post there. 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 the RPG forum for improvisational fiction. Also try 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!
