I moderate at another website (nothing to do with writing) where this is a problem, too. There, and perhaps here as well, the lurkers are not sure.
Many are shy or lacking confidence. Are they good enough to join our august company? (C'mon, lurkers, I'm a moron, just barely published and that years ago!) Will they look foolish for their ignorance? (Well, only if you consciously choose to remain ignorant. That's foolish, right?)
One of this site's major attractions is how the people who know stuff share it, without looking down their published noses at us plain folks groveling in the dirt. If your messages show that you can't handle the written word, nobody will say you have no hope, just that you need to work hard to improve, and here are some book titles and websites that will help, and to feel free to ask more questions...
Some of the lurkers fall into another group, those who are already writing at some high level of proficiency. Are
we good enough? It takes some time to sort the wheat from the chaff, but there's some whole-grain goodness here worthy of your attention.
Come on out, lurkers. Introduce yourself at our
Newbie Forum. I'll put on a pot of coffee, or set up the bar, depending on the hour...
Maryn, pleased to meet you all
