I always feel as though introductions are awkward and I guess it's because it's usually my first post, and a bunch of people I've never met before are going to read it, but that's cool. My name is Larissa; I am sixteen years old and I am currently studying in High school in the IB diploma programme. I am an art stream student, which breeds depression through out half of my family, (the half that happens to believe that those who take art steam subjects are just not smart enough for the science steam). Er, I started writing when I was eight because I watched this movie in which the protagonist wrote a lot, (I can't remember what the name of the movie is..) and I wanted to be cool like that. I have always been a vigorous reader, though I am becoming less and less able to drown myself in books with work piling up and such. Since it's the Christmas break, though, I plan on reading a lot more than I usually do. Recently the writing forum I have been a part of since I was twelve had 'died' and I figured I shouldn't mourn and hope it'll become more active, and find a new one instead. So here I am! I am more than willing to offer critique and the like but I can't promise I won't go into "OHMYGODIT'SSOSOSOSOSOSOAWESOME*Braindead*" fan worship every now and then. That's all really..
Welcome! I myself am here only since yesterday, but I wish you a warm welcome and I hope you have fun here and learn new things
Hello Larissa, 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!
