Too Old for YWO :(

Hello all! I am new to this site after migrating here from YWO (young writers online). When I first joined up with them about a year ago the page said it was a teens and twenties forum. I soon discovered they meant under 21, and I was 27 at the time so not able to join any contests or anything. I really enjoy the camaraderie and support of my fellow writers, and enjoy critiquing others work.

Hoping my stay here is longer than YWO;
Sprinkle Sutton

 

Hello Sprinkle, 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!

 

Hello there and welcome!

 

Hi Sprinkle, welcome to the forums. And you may not be able to enter a competition on YWO but at least you can buy beer or rent a car.

 

Ha ha! Thanks Ginger biscuit Hilarious!

Thanks for the welcome Shinn!

I think I'm going to like it here. The format of this site is very similar, and I see a few more people my age. What a relief! Maybe I am home?

 

You definitely are; there are no age limits here.

 

Not only are there no age limits, but everyone is nice and helpful. Well, everyone that has been communicating with me so far.

It's incredible when a bunch of strangers reach out to encourage you. I love it. Thanks everyone!

 

You've come to one of the best places on the Web in my opinion--there are so many great people here.

 

Oh, I have noticed! Almost seems to good to be true. Not only are the people great, I also love the layout of the Website and how user friendly it is. Cheers to Daniel for creating such a place!