I've never been very good at writing introduction posts, but here goes... I'm Mike, a geeky, coffee-loving, software-developing person from the Sheffield, UK area. And if you hadn't guessed by my being here, I also like to read and write My choice of genre is mostly fantasy, for both reading and writing - although I do delve into the occasional sci-fi story now and then. I'm a fan of Pratchett, Steven Erikson's Malazan series and, at the moment as I read through it, Stephen Donaldson's Thomas Covenant books. I've written a fair bit over the past few years, but not consistently - more just sporadic bursts of inspiration. I've got a main plot I'm currently attempting to write up, and several short stories set in the same world, some of which are finished (in terms of their plot) - but I'm not really expecting to do anything serious with them. I just write for fun, and something to do on my commute and lunch break. Plus, I like world building far too much - I'd rather build a setting up in vast detail than actually write a story, which is possibly an issue Anyway, that's me p.s. I ramble slightly when unsure of what to say...noticed?
Welcome Mike. You're sort of writing a story when you're world building in detail - the story of the setting. Or something. P.S. I ramble too when unsure what to say, but you didn't really ramble.
Thank you for the welcomes =) Eunoia: I guess I am =) I like to think I'm just using my characters to explore the world I'm making, rather than just making it just so that they have something to stand on while things happen to them...
Hello Mike, 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!
