I went right for the Community membership (rather than Trial) after reading works and comments on this site into the wee hours last night. I'm so glad to have found a writers' community where the standards are so high. So many seem to be filled with people who cannot write, but don't know this.

Of course, the flip side is that I feel rather mediocre alongside what I've been reading here :-). But (to borrow a sports adage) the best way to improve one's game is to play with superior opponents.

About me: I'm a forty-something American living in Holland. I've been writing on and off for over twenty years, but never shared any of that writing with others until recently. Those responses were encouraging, so I've decided to take the plunge and expose myself. Well, my work. ;-) I launched my writing website yesterday, complete with excerpts from projects in progress. Kind of scary.

I look forward to honing my skills through your feedback, and hope to give back as much as I get.

Warm regards,

Kisa O'Brien

Hi, Kisa, and welcome to WriteWords

Yes, exposing ones writing-self to the outside world is scary, but sooner or later it has to be done, otherwise how is anyone going to get anything published? Can you imagine how awful it would have been if JK Rowling had left Harry Potter locked away in her bottom drawer?

The WW site can be confusing so if you have any questions, feel free to ask.


- NaomiM

I just took a quick look at your site, read a bit of one of your stories and the starts of a couple of your novels. Hey - you can really write. You have a great voice - so, so, important - and your writing has that authentic ring to it: I felt I was inside the head of real people. Believe me, you are definitely a writer: your work reeks of skill and insight and vision. All you need to do is get it out there in forms that the publishing monster will have to take notice of and not just shove it in the sky-high pile of awful crap that they have to contend with on a daily basis. Believe me (part 2), they are looking for people who have it in their bones which you clearly do.

Terry

Hi Kisa, and welcome to WW. Tell you what, that (from Terry, above) is quite a compliment. You must be very good.
Susiex

Hi Kisa, and welcome to WW.

Emma

Hello Kisa, welcome to WW

Sarah

Well, just watch me die of happiness! Plenty of people think they have talent but don't; I see it every season on 'Idols' here in Holland. Not singers who need polishing to be good, not singers who have a little talent, not singers who almost have talent; but people who have such terrible voices and abysmal timing that I can't believe they show up. How could they not know?

So I was worried I might be the author's equivalent of a cluelessly antitalented Idols candidate. Oh, thank god I'm not.

Thank you all for the very warm welcome, and thank you Terry and Susie for your extremely positive words. This is the first time I've let strangers read what I write, and truly, I'm so relieved by your reactions I could dance.

Hey Kisa,

Welcome to the site - and I see you've had the good taste to join the Chic Lit group - so double welcome to that too! I know exactly how you feel about showing your work to anyone - Writewords was the first place I showed anyone my writing (well, since school, where I wasn't given a choice!!) and I have to say it's been an incredibly rewarding experience. It constantly amazes me how many people here are kind enough to give up their time to not only read but also make really thoughtful comments, so I hope you find it as useful and confidence-building as I have!

Caregan