Foxee

I'd like to encourage writers posting here to lead with your writing.

There are so many posts that are titled "Please help me", "Something I wrote", or "What do you think?" Then the whole introductory area is a plea to read it and/or a disclaimer that the work isn't very good.

Honestly, I tend to pass right over these in favor of those who let their writing do the talking.

I suggest that, even if you are unsure of yourself, you simply slug the title into the 'title' line of your post and then copy/paste the body of your story. Doesn't hurt to give the word count in the post title, either. This is a way to test if you've got a good attention-grabbing title idea. Besides, it can't be any worse than calling it, "My first story! Read plz!"

Add whatever, pleas/disclaimers/comments for what you want critiqued on at the end. Perhaps after a few *** to separate that from the body of the work.

This would really help with previewing the post (when I roll my mouse over the title of the thread to see what the first few lines are) and I think you'll get a better idea if your work has enough draw to it to pull readers in.

Let your writing stand on its own.

If it is time-sensitive or something, you could add that to the title or put that at the beginning, but that's about the only time I would. Be bold!

__________________
By trying we can easily learn to endure adversity. Another man's, I mean. ~Mark Twain

Aevin

Excellent advice! Sometimes adding basic information to the title such as the length or genre is a good idea, but starting the post itself with explanation is bad ... And a habit I tend to indulge in myself. *frown*

__________________
"Go to, like, greater adventures!"
--Din from Namco's Tales of the Abyss

eggo

I agree,

sometimes the disclaimer can bring a negative to the story. The only time I write before the story is when it's a rewrite.

__________________
http://vagabondagepress.com/81101/V1I6SS1.html

Pawn

I should note that begging critique in subject lines is against the site rules. Feel free to report anyone you see doing this using the 'Report Bad Post' link displayed next to each post next to the online/offline indicator.

To the more general advice, all I'll add is a hearty "Seconded!"

__________________
C.A
Carpe Noctem
superlatenight.com

Aevin

I thought this pertinent.

__________________
"Go to, like, greater adventures!"
--Din from Namco's Tales of the Abyss

Foxee

Thank you, Dark Aevin, I hadn't seen this one.

__________________
By trying we can easily learn to endure adversity. Another man's, I mean. ~Mark Twain