. . . of my membership here at WF. My name is Terry Durbin and I've been a closet fiction writer for many years. I have published some non-fiction articles in trade magazines, and worked, briefly, as a sports writer for a local newspaper, but have never had any luck with my fiction. I'd like to think my lack of success has more to do with my own lack of determination than with the quality of my writing, but . . . So, to assuage my ego, I have decided to self-publish my first novel (now stop rolling your eyes . . . I saw that!) while I finish my second. Here at WF I hope to connect with others who have followed the same path and learn from them. It's also nice to walk into a room full of like minded folks. Aside from my writing, my passions include, amateur astronomy, my faithful canine collaborators -- Jessie, a Golden Retriever and Cassie, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel --, but most of all my wonderful, patient, and supportive wife.
Hi Terry, thanks for the link to the Writing Forums. This looks like a good place to hone the craft, and polish our wits.
Hello Terry, 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!
