Hi Everyone, I just registered after looking around for creative writing forums to join. I've got a lot of creative writing that I need to start polishing up, and could use some critical eyes. Please never be afraid to be critical of my work. That's what I need. I'll mostly be posting poetry to start, but depending on how useful this forum is for me I might be posting a lot more. I've joined because I've noticed that I can be incredibly "productive" in my posting activities on internet forums. I thought I would invest some of that energy into something I actually care about. I'm a 30 year old Torontonian. I've written and directed a few short films and plays that have seen the light of day. However, I've yet to make anything of myself as a writer. I work a few part time jobs bartending. Right now I'm co-authoring a self-help book with a friend. He has a lot of great ideas but doesn't know how to write. I won't be posting any of the stuff from that book here, though. I'll be using this exclusively for my creative writing. I have a question about the "erotica" rule. Maybe a mod can clear this up for me. I don't want to break any rules, but I have some poetry with some mild sexual content. I definitely wouldn't call it erotica, but it does deal with the topic of sex. Is it ok to post this kind of stuff? I'll avoid it until I clear the issue up. Looking forward to seeing what this forum's all about. Cheers, --Sidewinder (Andrew)
Hello Andrew, Welcome to the Writing Forums. As long as sex isn't the sole focus of the story, and the content falls approximately within a US PG-13 film rating, you should be okay. 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!
