Well, I hoped to just start writing, but the time allotted for that is gone with signing up for a free account, and trying to get oriented. I must wait to get questions answered. I searched for "copyright," but got no hits. My first question is: how can I be sure if I submit my writing, it is copyrighted? So people will not copy it? It was suggested I introduce myself. First, I always write too much, whatever the occasion. Second, I was a typist by profession. Third, it's both a blessing and a curse, but I'm a proofreader. I can't believe how many typos are in good, new, published books! If I have the time, I submit the corrections, but it is time consuming. I'm married and the moter of four adult children. We have no grandchildren. I've lived in the Midwest, Upstate New York, a short stint in San Diego, CA; but mostly in Utah, where we now reside. We would love to live in Texas, which we visited in 2010. I am disabled. I say this so that you will know if replies are customary, it may take days, not hours, for me to answer. Also, so that you may better understand my time priorities. On Writing in General I think what I wish to learn (and practice) is if I have any talent either an essayist or an editorialist [I think that's the correct spelling.] I'm not sure which category I fall into. Perhaps writing here will help me figure it out. I have written some poetry. What I learned about me and poetry is: it must be inspired as I can only write it when I feel strong emotions about something. However, I'm pretty good at lyrical adaptations, like Weird Al. If there's a song: I can rewrite the words, but that's usually with humorous songs. Something else about my writing: My journaling and letter writing are legendary. Letter Writing: To me, personal correspondence is a hobby. In the last few years, I was thrilled to find Sealing Wax and Stamps to add to my personal correspondence. And I'm happy to say that upon being introduced to letters with wax seals, all the neighbor children (including the boys) were enthralled by it. "Letters are life, girl" is a quote from a reader's digest article, which which I agree. "Your letters are so detailed," was said to me by a friend once, which is also true, for better or worse. And I think if we ever become a paperless society (as some say is inevitable), it will be one of the saddest days in history. In the meantime, I will write. Journaling: Not only does it help me emotionally, but as for my family, we've used our journals to help with such things as: health care and taxes. But it brings up a problem. What is to be be done with the scores of journals I've written? It turns out my daughter is worried she'll be saddled with the task. And although she IS a published writer, I can understand her feeling burdened by that. So do I, now that I think of it. Well, I think that's enough to begin with. Hello everyone. If you've read all of this, you really are considerate, a reader and/or writer and I'm impressed. Nowadays, people only read a few lines or one screen full. How much they miss [generally speaking, not about my writing]! Sincerely, Tessie B.
Welcome, Tessie. I am looking forward to your contributions. I would not worry too much about copyright. Everybody here has more to lose than to gain from stealing other people's work....
Hello Tessie, Welcome to the Creative Writing Forums. Your writing is protected by copyright as soon as you have a draft in durable form. Please read How to Use the Writing Workshop before you try to post there. Posting your own writing for people to comment on should not be among the very first things you do here anyway. 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 Writing Workshop, 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 Writing Workshop, 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. We also impose a two-week waiting period before you may post writing for critique, to give you time to become familiar with what is expected and how the site operates. The Writing Workshop 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 Writing Workshop 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!
