In case you doubt this is the place for you as a writer . . .

[msjhord]

I wasn't a pillar of confidence when I started here either, scubatim. But several members reached out to me and provided me with the encouragement or the cajoling I needed to get down and dirty with my writing. Not only has my writing improved (I think), but my experience with the process has as well. Do I still have sucky days? Yes! But instead of letting those moments get into my head, I find ways to work around it.

And, I can't stress these two things enough. First -- yes, you have to write through the bad to get to the good. I find that more and more as I plug away on my current WIP. Especially in key scenes that alter the course of the story or just alter the relationship between characters. I'll lay down stuff first that, on it's face, is decent. But maybe it's too long-winded for that moment and some fat needs to be trimmed. Or maybe it's not deep enough and I need to expand on it. You'll know when you get there yourself. Two -- get multiple notebooks and leave them around everywhere. For me, I have one on my nightstand, one on my desk, one pocket-sized notebook I carry on, and a bigger notebook I keep in my purse. And, yes, I can keep track of what I wrote where. It's really good for those brilliant flashes you get standing in the checkout line, waiting for your food at a restaurant, or waiting to be called back to the exam room for a doc appt.

Well, back to writing. Enjoy!

[MzSnowleopard]

My jury is still out- but then I'm an introvert. I find myself lurking more than anything. I think it makes a big difference as to which one you are- extrovert vs/ introvert. Extroverts are more prolific posters, introverts are more apt to lurk.

[Zorg]

I'm really hoping this forum will help too. My experience on other forums has ranged from meh to craptastic.
From what I'm seeing, there is a lot more frequency in posting(s) which to me means that there is something a bit more productive going on than say other forums that see almost non-existent traffic. Don't let me down, people!

[dale]

I'm really hoping this forum will help too. My experience on other forums has ranged from meh to craptastic.
From what I'm seeing, there is a lot more frequency in posting(s) which to me means that there is something a bit more productive going on than say other forums that see almost non-existent traffic. Don't let me down, people!

to me, this place is the perfect balance to be helpful. i've been to writing forums with "hell traffic"...and really?
i found some things useful there, but it was more like a competition of egos there, and back when i first wanted a writing
forum? a competition of egos wasn't what i wanted. i had already done that competition on political forums and other
forums. i always either won or got banned. i wanted a writing forum to help me. this one did it. it has a great selection
of writers who either know what they're talking about, or are learning what they are talking about and coming to terms
with it wonderfully. except for me. i'm probably the most stupid person here.

[Cran]

dale, you are anything but stupid, but posting ever cuter pics of your daughter as your avatar is still not going to win you extra points in the challenges. Well, probably won't ... much.

[Terry D]

After a brief experimentation with another writing forum, I settled in here at WF because I like a good number of the people here, I get honest feedback, and my somewhat curmudgeonly ways are tolerated. But what I like best is the way this place is run (not brown-nosing here, I've been off staff for a while). There are well thought out rules (if you haven't read them yet I suggest strongly that you do) and they are applied with consistency for the greatest part. That, more than anything else, keeps the environment here a pleasure. Whatever anyone is looking for as a writer is here, be it gentle encouragement, or a swift, virtual, kick-in-the-ass. Often you'll get both. I like that.

[midnightpoet]

Hey, we have almost everything here. If you're a fan of incoherent gibberish, there's a thread for that. If you like bad writing, there's a thread for that. There's a thread for almost everything about writing - but there are also moderators here that keep discussions from becoming arguments, and I like that. Building conflict in your writing is a good thing, and that's where it should stay.

[msjhord]

I have been members of other forums that just simply blew goats, emus, and gerbils. Either it was full of hate mongers or just deader than a corpse rotting in the ground for the past several decades.

Yes, you will have some that rattle your chains a bit. But they are not doing it to be hateful or rain on your parade. They are doing it to help you find your mojo . . . IF you let them. That's a big part of it, right there.

And we ALL have SOMETHING going on in our lives weighing us down. Maybe it's physical/mental health issues (me!), economics (also me!), or a situation in our lives that's just really working a nerve. Don't be afraid to mention that. We may not be able to alleviate the burden itself, but perhaps we can help you find ways to channel that weight into some Honest-to-goodness quality writing.