Hello Forum Goers, I'd reckon that you get a lot of new writers and members and like most forums, I suppose the retention rate isn't very high but I do need some help so here I am. When I was young, I was a voracious reader of fantasy but as I entered college reading research papers, articles, and textbooks replaced novels and manga (comics) were the fare that sustained any sense of creativity. I even role-played avidly but read much? No. As a result, I found that I struggled to write serious fantasy, did well at fanfiction, and comic scripts, and even my non-fiction improved greatly. I'd like to get back to writing fantasy. I don't have much time to draw and I've abated role-playing. Fanfiction is still fun but I've always enjoyed more "borrowing" the setting and using my own characters than manipulating pre-existing ones. Beside, people really enjoyed my comedy more than my dramatic pieces (that while more serious were not soaking with angst and strife). It's pesky but what can you do? So, with all that said, I'd like to try my hand at writing again. I need to hit the books again but I've also always worried about having my style be too influenced by what I was reading. This post is a bit much but this is a writing forum, after all. Merry met, everyone!
Hi Athana, Welcome to the Writing Forums. Actually, our retention rate isn't bad at all. 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. Enjoy your stay here, and have fun!
Greetings. We've certainly got plenty to offer as a forum goes with competitions and various other aspects. Also feel free to offer a short story for the forum anthology The Captains Table On that note Welcome to the forums. ~Raven. Senior Super Moderator.
