Hi everyone, I just discovered this site a few days ago, and I have been looking it over. I really like what is on here. I have been writing as a hobby for years, it is one of my three favorite hobbies(the other two being reading and Hiking/Mountain Climbing). This place seems like a great way for me to compare my work to others and have people comment on my work. I think the love of writing also comes coupled with the love of reading, and it does seem like many people here like to read. I enjoy reading almost everything, but my favorites are Fantasy, Historical Fiction, some Sci-Fi, and History. I like medieval literature as well, my favorite being the Icelandic Sagas. I have been looking at the rules, and I had a question. I know we have to review a minimum of two other pieces before we can post our own, but do we have to notify a moderator after we have completed those reviews? Or can we just leap right into posting? Well I guess that's it, Im looking forward to participating. Thanks .
Hello Tomekire, Welcome to the Writing Forums. To answer your question, no, you don't need to notify a moderator. Just write two or more constructive (i.e. specific in focus) reviews prior to each piece you plan to submit for dissection. The idea is that the more thought and practice you put into reviewing, the better you will become at screening and improving your own work, and also the better you will make use of critique you receive from others. Posting your own work should not be the very first thing you do here. It is really worthwhile 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!
