Speak for yourselves. I am very intimidating. Have you not seen my menacing eyebrows? And I'm working on getting taller. When I reach 5' 4", I'm going to be terrifying.
Holy crap I'm intimidated..
- Thread starter CharlotteAmbrose
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Greetings and welcome to the watercooler Charlotte 
It'll all come good in the end
. Don't forget to read the newbie guide, which is in a sticky thread at the top of the Newbie Forum. Any problems you can PM me and I'll see if I can help. If you have general questions for the moderators (mods) then you can also PM them privately, or in fact post in the Super-Dooper Newbie 'Ask the Mod' thread. The link is below in my sig line. Again, if you haven't already checked out the newbie guide, you really should . There's a wealth of info there, and it will probably make navigating Absolute Write a little easier.
If you need some feedback on your writing, you can post some in our Share Your Work forum (the password is vista). The critiques can be harsh sometimes, so prepare yourself for that. Everyone means well, though. Their goal is to get you the best novel possible and to get it published. Also, it does help to bring them cookies . Also, you could critique some of the other members' work too. It is surprising how that can help with you own.
Plus, if you haven't stopped by the terrific Newbie Question of the Day thread yet, then don't forget to pop in and have a go at answering a few of the really easy questions (the link is in the sig line below). They are easy. Yep, they are. And it's so much fun.
Oh, and do you like double choc-chip cookies?
It'll all come good in the end
. Don't forget to read the newbie guide, which is in a sticky thread at the top of the Newbie Forum. Any problems you can PM me and I'll see if I can help. If you have general questions for the moderators (mods) then you can also PM them privately, or in fact post in the Super-Dooper Newbie 'Ask the Mod' thread. The link is below in my sig line. Again, if you haven't already checked out the newbie guide, you really should . There's a wealth of info there, and it will probably make navigating Absolute Write a little easier.If you need some feedback on your writing, you can post some in our Share Your Work forum (the password is vista). The critiques can be harsh sometimes, so prepare yourself for that. Everyone means well, though. Their goal is to get you the best novel possible and to get it published. Also, it does help to bring them cookies
. Also, you could critique some of the other members' work too. It is surprising how that can help with you own. Plus, if you haven't stopped by the terrific Newbie Question of the Day thread yet, then don't forget to pop in and have a go at answering a few of the really easy questions (the link is in the sig line below). They are easy. Yep, they are. And it's so much fun.
Oh, and do you like double choc-chip cookies?
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I still feel intimidated at the awesome authors running loose around here. (Why don't they keep them in cages?) So, you're not alone in that feeling. It helps me to remember that they weren't always as good as they are now, that they have to put their pants on one leg at the time just like the rest of us, and that if I listen and learn from them maybe one day I will join their ranks. 
Thanks again for all the welcomes!!!
This site is my new heroin - completely addictive! I can't even attempt to read one thing without clicking on a thousand others on my way there, lol.
Pft! I'm so over myspace!
I posted a thread and am ready for the critics. Unfortunately I'm not confident enough to say anything constructive on the threads. If I like the story I'll say so anything else I keep to myself until I learn more of the technical terms.
I tend to react/respond on a feeling - rather then the facts.
This site is my new heroin - completely addictive! I can't even attempt to read one thing without clicking on a thousand others on my way there, lol.
Pft! I'm so over myspace!
I posted a thread and am ready for the critics. Unfortunately I'm not confident enough to say anything constructive on the threads. If I like the story I'll say so anything else I keep to myself until I learn more of the technical terms.
I tend to react/respond on a feeling - rather then the facts.
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There's a Newbie Question of the Day thread?
Hmm.... I guess you do learn something new every day...
**goes off to check this thread**
Hmm.... I guess you do learn something new every day...
**goes off to check this thread**
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Don't be intimidated! This is a great site with a ton of information and writers of all different levels. The perfect place to learn and get some honest feedback. Welcome!
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Hey Charlotte!
I think all writers have been where you are now, myself included. I practiced for nearly thirty years before I have got enough courage to pursue publishing. Do not let what others think make you shy from following your dream. All of us have been either rejected or critiqued on our writing, and will again. But that is part of it. Take what others say, see if you can improve your style or story then use it, if not, ignore it. Follow your heart on what you do and you cannot go wrong. Best of luck with your writing. And you can count me in as a new friend.
Calixus
I think all writers have been where you are now, myself included. I practiced for nearly thirty years before I have got enough courage to pursue publishing. Do not let what others think make you shy from following your dream. All of us have been either rejected or critiqued on our writing, and will again. But that is part of it. Take what others say, see if you can improve your style or story then use it, if not, ignore it. Follow your heart on what you do and you cannot go wrong. Best of luck with your writing. And you can count me in as a new friend.
Calixus
I'm sure that even more replies to your newbie post will make you less intimidated.
Come on, everyone, let's pile them on!
Come on, everyone, let's pile them on!
Intimidated?
Hi Guys, just to give you an idea of what a Newbie faces: today I found 5,649 threads on the Newbie Forum, and read the first one that appealed to me (Holy crap I'm intimidated (Multipage thread 1 2) CharlotteAmbrose) and on page 2 jvc says: If you need feedback on your writing check out the “Share Your Work Forum” with a hyper link that I click on that opens a second browser page and asks for me to reenter name password and etc., (Where’d I put those? oh wait! I’m already signed in?) so I close that second window and go back to the absolutewrite main page and finally find the Share Your Work Forum amongst 70 general forum titles. It’s under The AW Workshop, which has 22 sub topics, and I tried the one that said “start here” (806 threads) and find Veinglory’s sticky post (?) “Some advice for Newbies” a list of 50 suggestions, all of which I read and think, wow this sounds like good advice, but coming from someone who’s into “cliterature” (I don’t ever want to know what that might be) is any of this legit? So, now I’m into hour two at the same (friend suggested) web site still looking to figure out how to get an opinion on a short story I wrote. (Getting an opinion is actually becoming a short story in itself!). Add to that all the signatures, smileys, animation, avatars, profiles, private mail and etc. etc. etc. and I’m not intimidated, I'm exhausted! I think I’m gonna give up for today and maybe see if my taxes are easier! and please! I'm not complaining! I'm just noting my journey, . . .
Hi Guys, just to give you an idea of what a Newbie faces: today I found 5,649 threads on the Newbie Forum, and read the first one that appealed to me (Holy crap I'm intimidated (Multipage thread 1 2) CharlotteAmbrose) and on page 2 jvc says: If you need feedback on your writing check out the “Share Your Work Forum” with a hyper link that I click on that opens a second browser page and asks for me to reenter name password and etc., (Where’d I put those? oh wait! I’m already signed in?) so I close that second window and go back to the absolutewrite main page and finally find the Share Your Work Forum amongst 70 general forum titles. It’s under The AW Workshop, which has 22 sub topics, and I tried the one that said “start here” (806 threads) and find Veinglory’s sticky post (?) “Some advice for Newbies” a list of 50 suggestions, all of which I read and think, wow this sounds like good advice, but coming from someone who’s into “cliterature” (I don’t ever want to know what that might be) is any of this legit? So, now I’m into hour two at the same (friend suggested) web site still looking to figure out how to get an opinion on a short story I wrote. (Getting an opinion is actually becoming a short story in itself!). Add to that all the signatures, smileys, animation, avatars, profiles, private mail and etc. etc. etc. and I’m not intimidated, I'm exhausted! I think I’m gonna give up for today and maybe see if my taxes are easier! and please! I'm not complaining! I'm just noting my journey, . . .
Are you breathing?
Calm down, decide what genre your story is in, go back to SYW, find that genre and make a new thread for it.
The critters will come along in due time and share some opinions.
Calm down, decide what genre your story is in, go back to SYW, find that genre and make a new thread for it.
The critters will come along in due time and share some opinions.
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All writers started out as someone picking at a keyboard/typewriter/writing in a journal, writing not so good stories. How did Stephen King or J.K. Rowling get to where they are today? Probably a lot of practice and rejection. Now, I could be wrong, and they simply popped into this world in a diaper with an agent, but something tells me that's not the case
If you're worried about your writing and would like to get better, get reassurance, get criticism, get tips, etc., I can tell you for certain that this is the place to be. Might be scary at first (I joined up with wide eyes and shaking knees), but it's a very friendly forum with some awesome members who can help out more than you'd believe.
Welcome!
EDIT-
I do have one minor waring though- you might simply want to lurk if you go into the P&CE section. The politics can get a bit heated around here....
If you're worried about your writing and would like to get better, get reassurance, get criticism, get tips, etc., I can tell you for certain that this is the place to be. Might be scary at first (I joined up with wide eyes and shaking knees), but it's a very friendly forum with some awesome members who can help out more than you'd believe.
Welcome!
EDIT-
I do have one minor waring though- you might simply want to lurk if you go into the P&CE section. The politics can get a bit heated around here....
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" What I basically want to get from here is if I even have a spark of talent to write a book. I'm completely raw and unedited and take my criticism well, but it is still scary."
Hey if you are willing to learn what others have to say then you have the spark...don't worry we all have times when we look at others writtings and freak, for a couple of seconds...then the good writers just go out and try to do better... so keep it up and maybe someday you can make others jaws drop!!!
Hey if you are willing to learn what others have to say then you have the spark...don't worry we all have times when we look at others writtings and freak, for a couple of seconds...then the good writers just go out and try to do better... so keep it up and maybe someday you can make others jaws drop!!!
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Oh sweetheart. . . Steven King would get red ink around here
I'll echo others in saying that you should keep in mind that everyone has different, and often conflicting, opinions. You'll learn a lot by just going through the process. But don't go and get defeated by it. Never, never. Published authors are just the guys who never gave up. Really. Believe it.
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What an honor that would be to be the person who did it *sparkly eyes*Oh sweetheart. . . Steven King would get red ink around here
Heya Charlotte!!!
I feel intimidated myself cause there's so much to learn, to read, to write, but i can't wait to (re) start!!
And i'd love to read your work!
I feel intimidated myself cause there's so much to learn, to read, to write, but i can't wait to (re) start!!
And i'd love to read your work!
Oh sweetheart. . . Steven King would get red ink around here
I'll echo others in saying that you should keep in mind that everyone has different, and often conflicting, opinions. You'll learn a lot by just going through the process. But don't go and get defeated by it. Never, never. Published authors are just the guys who never gave up. Really. Believe it.
Exactly. And everyone's going to have their own individual way they would have done it - but it gives you a bunch of new ways of looking at your writing. (Like someone pointing out that the story I'd posted for a crit once had a compelling opening --- buried in the middle of the fourth paragraph. She was right, too, darn it
) The thing I love about AW is that, unlike some sites I've been on, nobody's going to tell you your story sucks just for the sake of telling you it sucks. They tell you in order to help you make it not suck.
Welcome to the forums! This is an enormous place, but somehow it manages to give you productive, constructive criticism, and a warm and cozy feeling.