NEW USERS! INTRODUCE YOURSELVES!

Welcome to Angel, Metermaid and Fiery! Best of luck with your writing and the contest. Please come chit chat a bit on the other threads!

Welcome, Metermaid and Fiery! (I swear I thought there was a fake superhero called Meter Maid but can't find any evidence of it. Oh well.)

I've been lurking since I entered Q3 and have been creeping around more and more. I'm a sneak, I know. But the first step to rehabilitation is acceptance right? I'm a code monkey by trade, but writer by heart.

I've been lurking here for a little while, and finally decided to participate.

No longer lurking in the background, welcome to both of you.

Hi. I'm Stuart

I hail from the South Dakota prairie, crossroads between Jurassic Park, the Wild West, and the Space Age. I married an aquanaut, have been hugged by a manatee, and worked with genius game designer, John Carmack, who played his music way too loud. I mush behind an urban sled-dog and have been known to wear a cape.

http://www.cStuartHardwick.com

Welcome Stuart, but I wonder if you're colorful enough

Welcome, Stuart, and congrats on making finalist!

We're a friendly bunch here, so here's the mini tour.

Results are announced in the Results Only threads, so if you want to go wave a sign around announcing finalist-hood, here's the place to do it (and the sign can be found amongst the smileys): viewtopic.php?f=20&t=1609

Most of the rejectomancy, writerly support and idle chit-chat happens in the quarterly threads, and the most relevant ones are here: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1748
and here: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1814&start=120

Feel free to wander around and make yourself comfortable.
Cheers,

Kary

Welcome, Stuart!

I have failed to check in here recently, which is very inhospitable. A warm welcome to all new arrivals, even those who are already doing better than I am. Jealous, moi?

Welcome, indeed! If we get any more Stuarts, we'll have to start wearing tartans.

I haven't been on this thread in a while, but welcome to all the new members!

Hello, I'm new to the forums on here. I've been writing off and on since I was seven, but I have only recently decided to get serious about it. I've wanted to be a published writer since I was a kid, but other than some non-fiction work, I haven't submitted anything anywhere yet. I plan to submit my first story this December.

I'm in my late twenties- I used to be a teacher but that didn't work out, so now I am back in school trying to get a healthcare degree (for my day job). I feel bad about not being able to take writing courses but I need a day job/career so I guess I'm going to have to teach myself the craft of writing. I've also joined the Online Writers Workshop for Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror.

I've always loved speculative fiction. With a few exceptions, it's all I read and write.

Welcome aboard, Shari!

As for classes, they're not for everybody anyway. Some instructors aren't so good, and even good ones may not understand genre fiction. Also, some people learn better by finding their own path, while others learn better with direction. So there's no reason not to teach yourself and learn where you can. If you hang out here, you'll soon run into places where you can learn from pros: some free opportunities, some affordable books, some online workshops, and some in-person workshops.

My opinion is there are only two unbreakable rules for becoming a better writer:

1. You must read.
2. You must write.

For everything else, every writer sets their own path by watching what works for others, listening to advice, and then making their own decisions.

I agree with everything Martin said. If you're looking for workshops that will allow you to practice the craft without breaking the bank on airfare or require taking a lot of time off work, Dean Wesley Smith has some good online workshops. (I thought Dave Farland, the contest coordinating judge, did too, but now I can't find any of them online. )

But even beyond workshops and conventions and books on writing, the best thing I've done for myself as a writer (besides actually sitting down and writing) is networking with other writers. So you're in the right place.

Welcome to the forum, Shari!

I agree with everything Martin said. If you're looking for workshops that will allow you to practice the craft without breaking the bank on airfare or require taking a lot of time off work, Dean Wesley Smith has some good online workshops.

Dean & Kris's workshops are at http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/?page_id=7474.

(I thought Dave Farland, the contest coordinating judge, did too, but now I can't find any of them online. )

Dave's courses are at http://mystorydoctor.com/.

Welcome Shari.
I've surfed the net a lot over the years.
When I found this forum I began to follow the links like the ones in Martin's post.
Very helpful stuff.
Explore, enjoy, and expand your experience.
Write on.

I agree with everything Martin said. If you're looking for workshops that will allow you to practice the craft without breaking the bank on airfare or require taking a lot of time off work, Dean Wesley Smith has some good online workshops.

Dean & Kris's workshops are at http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/?page_id=7474.

(I thought Dave Farland, the contest coordinating judge, did too, but now I can't find any of them online. )

Dave's courses are at http://mystorydoctor.com/.

Thanks, Martin! I knew Dave gave online workshops; I guess they just aren't mentioned on his website.

That's a really good point. You couldn't find them, and I only found them after I remembered the URL. I started with his web site and couldn't find them. That's a gap in his marketing. We should point that out to him or his web team.

That's a really good point. You couldn't find them, and I only found them after I remembered the URL. I started with his web site and couldn't find them. That's a gap in his marketing. We should point that out to him or his web team.

He mentions them at the bottom of some of his daily kicks, but you're right that this is a rather limited audience, and a clear link on the same page as his in-person workshops would be helpful.

Even just Dave's book, "Million Dollar Outlines," was a pretty big help to me: http://mystorydoctor.com/books

Also if you live in the Pacific NW, Clarion West does some very affordable one-day workshops: http://clarionwest.org/oneday

Hello everyone! Call me Paul, or poly, don't matter. I just read through a buch of posts of everyone on here. Everyone seems like really awesome people. Let me indulge a little bit about myself.

I'm currently 24, and a student, studying literature. Going to school on the GI bill. Recently got out of the army. Right now my hobbies constist mostly of writing and reading when I'm not studying. I just sent in my first story. Hope I do well. Glad to be apart of this!

Hello everyone! Call me Paul, or poly, don't matter. I just read through a buch of posts of everyone on here. Everyone seems like really awesome people. Let me indulge a little bit about myself.

I'm currently 24, and a student, studying literature. Going to school on the GI bill. Recently got out of the army. Right now my hobbies constist mostly of writing and reading when I'm not studying. I just sent in my first story. Hope I do well. Glad to be apart of this!

Welcome aboard, Paul! (I say that to everyone, so no slight on the Army intended.) And thank you sincerely for your service to our country.

Welcome to the forum, Paul!

Welcome Paul (and a few others who've come on in the last few months!)

We've had a lot of people in the service or vets win the contest. Something about military and SF/F really going together.

Good luck to all the new forum members. Volume 29 had a ton of first time entries as winners--so it can happen!

Hi everyone –

I just thought I’d introduce myself. My name is Henckel. I’m 36 years old (I think), born in Wonderful West Virginia, and now live New Zealand. I, like everyone else here, love to write. I’ve just submitted my first story to the WOTF for Q1. (Good luck to us all!)

I write Fantasy: some Dark Fantasy, but mostly Western Fantasy (aka Weird Westerns). Yes, I said western - stop laughing. Let’s be honest, who amongst us, hasn’t pursued our own Dark Tower?

Anyway, I’m pleased to be a part of this, and look forward to meeting a lot of new people. There looks to be a lot of talented and friendly people here (and all in place – it must be Christmas). So to all you aspiring writers who, like myself, haven’t published squat, make room in the boat, because I’m in there with you. Feel free to drop me a line or give me a shout - especially if you’re searching for your own Dark Tower!

All the best!

Henckel

Welcome Paul and Henckel! You're in good company here, and I hope to read your stories in the anthology one day!

Welcome to the forum Paul and Henckel.
There are a lot of friendlies here, and they're helpful ones too.
Good luck on your entries in the contest.

Welcome aboard, Henkel!

Welcome Hinkel, Paul, Shari and anyone else I might have missed!

Welcome, Paul and Henckel!

Yes, I said western - stop laughing. Let’s be honest, who amongst us, hasn’t pursued our own Dark Tower?

You'll be pleased to hear that I know of at least one weird western which made finalist.

Thanks everyone. And welcome Paul.
So I've said my bit, what is it that all of you like to write? What's your genera?