but I wanted to be able to experience a similar situation to the Inklings writing group that JRR Tolkien belonged to. I figure this is pretty close. I hope to prove helpful to many of you, and am looking forward to your help. Out of curiosity, are there many professional writers on this site? I noticed there was a portion of the public profile regarding publishing history.
Hey there! Some are published, others are not, but the goal here is for everyone to better themselves! So, if you're in the self-improvement line of thinking, hop on in! It is amazing how much reviewing other people's work makes you look differently at your own. That, alone, has been a huge help to me already. Hop on in! The water's nice.
Welcome, Buggy Oddly enough, that's what my neices and nephews call me....lol. Aunt Buggy. Long Story.
Oddly enough, "Buggy" is a pet name I have for my youngest kid... Started off as "Bud" and "Buddy", and somehow got changed along the way.
So it wasn't just goodwill that attracted you both to my post! I think a lot of pet names have the word "bug" tacked on or included haha. I love reviewing/critiquing things, so I am excited to dive in! My family has stopped asking for approval because where they are usually looking for a nod and a smile, I give suggestions. I can't help it. I feel like if you asked, you should be ready for it!
Hello Buggy, Welcome to the Writing Forums. There are a few active members who are published authors, and many who aren't - yet. Please read How to Use the Writing Workshop 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 Writing Workshop, 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 Writing Workshop, 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 Writing Workshop 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 Writing Workshop 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!