Hi there, everyone. My name is Pandah and I am new to your forum. I have always enjoyed writing, but have just recently rediscovered the magic and I'm working on a fantasy novel in my spare time. In my not-spare time I am a pet store worker at a small store here in town. I really love animals, so it's no surprise that they often play a big part in my reading and writing. Looking over some of the posts that have been made in this board, this looks like a very good and active community that is actually dedicated to the betterment of works and even critiques themselves, unlike most forums online. I hope to have a good time with you all in the future!
Hello Pandah, Welcome to the Writing Forums. 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 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!
Thank you very much, and well said. I am also a visual artist, so I understand the importance of being able to create a constructive criticism, and I think that is what I am mostly going to be doing in my time on this site. I definitely agree that the ability to pick out what makes a work good or bad improves my own work, and I am excited to see some other works by other new writers like myself. Thank you a bunch for pointing all that out to me. I have been surfing a bit, and I have read the rules and the two review policy, and think everything is just awesome. I'll definitely check out the contests and keep surfing the posts. Thanks!
Welcome, Pandah. You're definitely correct in that this forum maintains a unique philosophy. Every member here strives to be constructive and of course help improve others while improving themselves. I hope you find your stay here more than satisfactory. Caleb
