Hello! I guess you could consider me the "newbie on the block" because this is the first time I have decided to use any of my writing skills and put them to use. Friends have told me I am good at writing - but I don't want biased opinions... I want merciless opinions from people in all walks of life to tell me who is best suited to my styles, and how I can make something more suited to them. So, I guess I should tell you a little about myself. My name is Joel, I am a currently unemployed Student at Filton College in Bristol. In my spare time, I like to hang around with my friends, when I am at home I am either reading, writing, playing the guitar or messing about on the computer. I hope to get a novel or two published - maybe to make money, but I also want to feel I have done something better with my life - and have always wanted to see my name in print. If you would like to have a taster of my style of novel writing, there are samples on my blog: http://joelmarriott.wordpress.com If you want to leave me feedback, please do it in the most courteous way by: - Email: JoelMarriott@hotmail.co.uk - PM on this forum - Comment on my blog Ask any questions you want! - Joel
Welcome Joel! I myself haven't been arround long enough to show you the ropes but I'm sure someone will be in here soon enough!
Hello Joel, Welcome to the Writing Forums. Posting your own work 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. 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 reviewing as a critical 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). 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!
Thanks guys, I chose this forum purely because of the help and guidance I can get from you - the above post really has helped. I'll be checking out the reviews asap! Thanks, Joel
