Hello, my name is Lavern, and I'm a writer. That sounds like an introduction at Writers Anonymous. Anyway, I'm new here, but not new to writing or writing forums. I've written 2 novels that are in desperate need of revision, a few handful of short stories, and some poetry. I look forward to getting to know everyone. ~Lavern~
"Hi, Lavern!" The group of onlookers was daunting. I knew each of them had made this first introduction at some point as well. The ritual was understood. Introduce yourself, claim and own your addiction to writing, and only then would they greet you. Still, I was as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs all sat in by little old blind ladies. What to say next? Welcome to the forum. Please have a look through the Forum Rules, and the FAQ as a start. Then take a leisurely stroll through the different areas of the forum to get your bearings. Once you have a good idea where everything is, come and say hello in the Lounge or have a look at the items already up for review in the Review section. Please remember that as a full participation workshop. You are required to give two (2) constructive reviews of posted items prior to posting your own work. Thereafter, two reviews for every post of your own work is the expected standard. Remember that two is only a minimum. Now, why do we have this requirement? Because we have a very different philosophy here than you will find in most other forums. We are not a refrigerator door to pin up work with a colorful magnet for all the world to see. Our forum is not about getting reviewed. It’s about giving reviews and in the process of actually giving the review, improving your own writing. Unfortunately, we do not host Flame Wars nor Pie Fights. We at writingforums.org feel that there are enough places on the net already catering to those needs. Have fun!
"Hello Lavern" answers the chorus of voices from the forum. Welcome Lavern, and let me say that you are not alone here. We're all trying to deal with our writing problems. I, myself, have been writing free for six months now...thanks to the "Writer's Block" patches I've been using. *Lothgar grins mischievously* *Lothgar throws a pie at Wreybies* ...just kidding...
Hello, fellow writer, and welcome. I can't say we'll be able to help you with you're writing habit (in fact, we'll probably make it worse) but we will support you as you continue to develop your addiction to words. Delicious words. Excuse me a moment, I have to write about a fire.
*twitch* "we'll be able to help you with you're writing habit " <-- hope that was a typo. Welcome, newbie.
Hello Lavern, 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!
