16y/o paranoid newb with a question.

eightbit367 · Oct 2, 2009

Hey there folks!

I stumbled across this site a few minutes ago and everyone sure seems pretty friendly, so I'm hoping I can talk here without getting eaten

This morning I was bored, so I started to write. Pretty much for the first time outside of the classroom. I've only got about 1000 words on a fantasy piece, but in that, I've written a prologue with a very vague outline on what's going on in the story.

I'd like to know if there's a place on these forums that I can show my 500ish word prologue. My main problem is that, however bad my piece of writing is, I'm paranoid as all hell that someone will take my idea. (Yeah, I know it's silly, and I'm sure I'm oblivious to how god-awful teen writing is)

So... yea, sorry to ramble. Can I post my prologue somewhere to get some honest criticism on my work?

Thanks a bunch

James.

CACTUSWENDY · Oct 2, 2009

Welcome to AW. Hope you enjoy your stay with us.
How do you like your popcorn?

If you go to the bottom of the page to the ‘forum jump’ you can scroll down and find all the areas of this place. Most of the SYW areas require the password of ….vista. Good luck.

Cella · Oct 2, 2009

hi eightbit and welcome!

A word of advice....Take your time reading through the site and the stickies.

It's great to have you!

Cella

Shail · Oct 2, 2009

Well James, I'm not really an old hat here, myself.

One thing I do know, though, is this. Yes, you can show your work around here. And yes, someone may borrow elements of your idea, but they will not and cannot steal your individual work. You wrote it, and it's yours.

Ideas however are free to all. Umm. Example here:

I create an alien race called the Slithers. You read my intro piece and like the idea. You can also create an alien race, you could even possibly name them Slithers, but you can't copy my aliens.

Somebody correct me or expand if I'm wrong here (bigger kids, Mods, anybody looking.)

But don't be paranoid.

dpaterso · Oct 2, 2009

Yup, you can post material for critique in our Share Your Work area (password = vista) which is split into genre sub-forums, e.g. Horror, Science Fiction/Fantasy, etc.

Give your work another read-over and spellcheck before posting -- make sure it's as good as it can be, aim to impress your readers.

If you'd prefer readers to go easy on you then just say so at the top of your post.

-Derek

eightbit367 · Oct 2, 2009

Awesome! Thanks a bunch, all of you

I submitted it to the Young Adult SYW section.
If anyone was interested in seeing it, please check here
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=4105197#post4105197

Cheers ^_^

heth718 · Oct 2, 2009

Hi and Welcome!! :welcome:

You should take some time to read through the Newbie Forum stickies.

Also try this thread:
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6710
Uncle Jim talks about being disciplined about writing; setting aside time whether you feel like it or not. I am struggling with that myself, but working on making it a part of my routine.

After awhile you will find all the helpful threads if you just click around. There's info on format, genres, queries, and there is also a social group for fantasy writers. Here are some good links:

AW Dictionary (helps you with acronyms and stuff):
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21648

Index of Existing Threads on Popular Basic Writing Question Topics:
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=152587

Sci-Fi/Fantasy forum:
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=39

Exercises and Games (I love this) to help get your brain going:
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=33

Fantasy Writers Group:
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/group.php?groupid=17

OK....that should be a good start

Nickie · Oct 2, 2009

Welcome to the Cooler, James!

Nickie

Dicentra P · Oct 2, 2009

eightbit367 said:
Hey there folks!

I stumbled across this site a few minutes ago and everyone sure seems pretty friendly, so I'm hoping I can talk here without getting eaten

This morning I was bored, so I started to write. Pretty much for the first time outside of the classroom. I've only got about 1000 words on a fantasy piece, but in that, I've written a prologue with a very vague outline on what's going on in the story.

I'd like to know if there's a place on these forums that I can show my 500ish word prologue. My main problem is that, however bad my piece of writing is, I'm paranoid as all hell that someone will take my idea. (Yeah, I know it's silly, and I'm sure I'm oblivious to how god-awful teen writing is)

So... yea, sorry to ramble. Can I post my prologue somewhere to get some honest criticism on my work?

Thanks a bunch
James.

Welcome!!!! And good for you for putting the extra effort into developing your talent. There's a great bunch of people here, and tons to learn. (I've lived 3 times your life span and have learned quite a bit.)

I would not worry about sharing your work here. Most likely there is someone who's come up with a very similar idea if not here then elsewhere. Plus fiction writers spend more time sifting between ideas to develop than searching for new ones. What is yours is the unique expression that you create. If you post it its already copyrighted so they can't have it. (In the US copyright begins the moment you put the story into written words.)

brainstorm77 · Oct 2, 2009

welcome

Adam · Oct 2, 2009

Welcome to AW, James!

regdog · Oct 2, 2009

Elonna · Oct 2, 2009

Welcome aboard

cooeedownunder · Oct 2, 2009

Welcome

Rowan · Oct 2, 2009

Welcome to AW!

Madisonwrites · Oct 2, 2009

kangolNcurlz · Oct 2, 2009

Hi, and welcome.

Maryn · Oct 3, 2009

I'm hungry. Any crunchy newbies around?

BlackBriar · Oct 3, 2009

Welcome to AW eightbit.

I critiqued your SYW thread with some useful links and examples. Hopefully you'll find it useful.

16y/o paranoid newb with a question.

eightbit367

CACTUSWENDY

An old, sappy, and happy one.

Cella

Cella

Shail

mostly normal

dpaterso

Also in our Discord and IRC chat channels

eightbit367

heth718

With a passion!

Nickie

Not too old to learn

Dicentra P

Help!!!!

brainstorm77

practical experience, FTW

Adam

Not dead.

regdog

The Scavengers

Elonna

I'm a dork

cooeedownunder

Grateful for the day

Rowan

Madisonwrites

The Unicorn Writer

kangolNcurlz

Maryn

I Tried

BlackBriar

Bricoleur