Hey whats up people, my name's Cameron. I'm from Sacramento, CA. The past year I've started to read a lot more novels, and since my first year of college I've been considering more and more to major in English. I recently started writing on my laptop, just to see if I could do it and create a story that I actually liked, and as now I have almost 9,000 words. Pretty surprising, if I do say so myself. I came to this site because I'm interested in improving my writing (I know how complex it all can be). I look forward to reading other peoples material and also submitting my own.
Hello Cameron, 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. 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 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!
Yah, Iv'e seen these posts Cognito. It's dissapointing that whatever's posted here diminishes its own chances of publication. I wonder why.... It's not like we're professional writers or anything.
Publishers don't want to try to sell material that is already in circulation at no cost. It IS a business, you know.
Yah, I guess, but I wouldn't see that work as being finished. It doesn't have the artwork, it's not in peoples hands, and it's not the same experience. Anything posted here I'd see as a prototype of what's to come later, if actually accepted to be published.
Lo Shis, Welcome. I have an English degree - and while I don't use "it" much (well, I do speak and write - but I had planned to teach) - I have found it very helpful. A bit of advice I would give: experience as much as possible. Back in my day an English major could easily be self-confining into the world of books and writing. But to be really effective - you need to experience as much of life as possible. So while in college go to that basketball game; that Aerosmith concert; that visiting lecturer on the World Economy; that art house opening - and yes - that frat party that might seem a bit intimidating. Have fun - enjoy the forum.
