Hello everyone !

I have just become a full member of WW.

http://www.writewords.org.uk/archive/22854.asp

It would be great to hear from you. I'm also looking forward to reading your work.

Best wishes
'Cruise'

Hi Cruise

Welcome. I have just joined the writing community and feel quite at home already. Look forward to reading some of your work.

Laurence

Hi, Cruise, one way to encourage feedback is to give feedback on other people's work within the group where you've uploaded the extract, and you'll find it easier to spot mistakes in your own work once you've see them in other peoples' work.


- NaomiM

Hi there
I'm new to this site myself and there is a lot of choice so you will no doubt get plenty feedback if you offer some of your work for others to comment.
I confess to being more than a little disappointed as there just doesn't seem to be anyone about who is interested in non-fiction, so my time here will be limited as few people want to discuss that particular area of writing.

Hope your writing goes well for you.

Mozza

Hi Mozza and everyone else!

I did comment on a few other members' work here. But the interesting thing is that I am yet to get any feedback on my own posting. I am very discouraged by it. There are some members on WW who love getting feedback from others. But they won't return the favour. Shame.

After mid-May, I will be back on this website properly. I am just finishing a university course.

And Mozza, I am interested in non-fiction. And after mid-May, I shall definetly read and critique your work.

Best wishes everyone
'Cruise'

Hi Cruise and Mozza

welcome to the site - sorry to hear you're feeling disappointed by the feedback you're getting on your work. I'm not an expert on this area of WW (or, indeed, on any others) but I think it's permissible to put a brief post up on the 'Introduce Your Work' forum to draw attention to new work uploaded and waiting for feedback.

I lurk more than I post, but all the same - welcome and look forward to seeing you in the forums.

J

Hi Cruise...
- that was a pleasant surprise to hear from you, and pleased to learn that someone else may be interested in non-fiction too.
I am knew here, so just learning the ropes so to speak, but doubt I will be putting anything I write on the site for a while, if at all really.
I am trying to think of a delicate term to use to explain that I have been writing for many years, everything I write is usually published, so I don't have 'L' plates on any more. Also, as I am chronically disabled and pretty much housebound, I doubt I will be writing too much too often in future as my world has shrunk a lot since becoming so very ill.
I shall count the weeks till mid May when you will have finished with uni for this term, and I would be very happy to read anything you put on the site, just let me know if you want an appraisal or if you want editing etc. Take care, Mozza

Thank you for your kind welcome message.
I doubt I will be using forums to upload what I write as just about anything I write is published, so this is much more of a netwrok for me, and time will tell if I belong here.


I will be lurking...!

Mozza :-)

Hi again Cruise -

Sorry, this is just a thought, but I think you may need to take some direction re content for an open type forum, although I did note well your very well placed warnings....

I have just read your piece and I have assumed you would perhaps like some feedback, so here goes:

1) CAUTION when using language as strong as in your very well written piece. I am not at all certain that a warning at the start of the piece is enough of a highlight as to just how strong the language is, and there are a number of words which would be prohibited in the national press.
2) CONSIDER if this work may convert well to a script for stage or film.
3) You run the risk of treading on toes. ? Are you prepared for the reactions it is more than possible you may receive.

Please advise if you are happy for me to offer comment after you have read this first opinion. Mozza

Hi Cruise

Welcome to WriteWords from a fellow newbie! Welcome to you too, Mozza. Sorry to hear that you both seem a little disappointed with the site so far. I'm sure that once you get "in the swing of things" you will really enjoy being part of what is, a friendly and generous commumity!

I'm in Beginners's Group so I tend to restrict my comments to work uploaded in that group, although I do dip into the archive to get an idea of what other people are writing. I've had a brief read of your uploaded work.

I think maybe that people can find it difficult to comment on work that lies outside their "comfort zone", (it can, for example, be very difficult to comment on scenes of a sexual nature and such scenes are more likey to be commented on in the "intimate moments" group than in a more general group).I think, it's fair to say, your piece is challenging! The fact that (quite properly) you intimate at the beginning that some people might find certain aspects of the piece offensive, may tell you why people are reluctant to comment! I think this might be particularly true because you are new and so no one really "knows" you yet, and that makes it a little difficult to judge the type of comment one should offer on such work.

Could you perhaps upload a piece of work that might be considered a little less "difficult"? This would give people a chance to get a feeling for you and your work, after which they may feel a little easier about commenting on the more challenging pieces!

This really is a great site so give it a chance! I shall keep an eye out for your work!

Mand

Mozza - I don't think it's that people are not interested in non-fiction (which is such a general term - I mean, I'm not interested in steam engines but I can't get enough medieval history) but rather that most site members write fiction. Perhaps if you upload a piece of work you could draw attention to it in the newcomers forum and that would alert anyone with an interest in the subject on which you're writing! Just a thought!

Hi Mand
Thanks for your comments, which make perfect sense, and it's nice to meet you. I'll be visiting the various forums over time to see if I can fit in anywhere so to speak.

As I am new I don't feel the need to upload previously published work as I am not too certain that I will fit in here. That may well change over time.

Take care. Mozza

Hi Mozz and Mand and Cruise, and welcome to WW.

Mozz, there are non-fiction writers on here, though it's true the fictioneers are probably the most visible, but lots of us are interested in non-fic too. If you're not in a group, then flagging things up in 'Introduce your work' should draw attention to it. And having something uploaded in the archive is a good way of giving people looking at your profile an idea of the kind of thing you do.

Do shout, or get in touch with the Site Hosts, if you need a steering hand.

Emma

Hi Ladyblackbird !

Thanks for that reply. I did put a post to introduce my work. Anyway, I guess it's all about learning a lot of lessons about using a website like this one. After mid-May, I would be very active here.

Best wishes with your own work.
'Cruise'

HI Mozza !

Thank you so much for taking the time to put all those posts in response to my concerns about WW.

I would like to read your non-fiction work. I joined this website not just to give and receive feedback. I also want to network with published writers such as yourself. And I would be really eager to read abour experiences as someone who has passed that difficult stage of apprenticeship. It's great to have you here. I think you could be a great inspiration for many of us.

Best wishes
'Cruise'

HI Mozza !

Thanks for reading my extract. I really appreciate your comments and suggestions. I take note of your caution about language. That piece needed it.

I think most of my non-fiction work is likely to be controversial to someone !

The main reason why I put that work up on WW was this: That piece was part of my university work. I really needed someone to point out all the technical errors there. In some ways, it was a great test to see how good the WW readers are !! I wasn't all that bothered about content.

I waited weeks for a response. No one replied. I submitted that piece without showing it to anyone.

The result: I lost two crucial marks for.....guess what? Technical errors. I now spotted at least six of them. See, this is why any writer needs a good editor. Also, this is why every apprentice needs good writer-friends to spot mistakes. I was too close to the work to check it properly. If I had read that piece here, from another writer, I would have spotted all those problems. I wonder what others think about this proof reading issue?

Anyway, I am happy with that piece. My tutor praised it as a "very original and ambitious work". And I was just two marks shy of a Grade A.

All these experiences are simply great lessons.

Thanks again Mozza for the critique.
'Cruise'

<Added>

I think the gender, class and race of the reader of the piece I posted is important. My university tutor was a middle class, white English woman. And she 'got' my intentions. Mozza, you do raise vital concerns about language and controversial content. And I will continue to think about my potential readers.

Anyway, what does every one else think about the gender, class, and race of a reader affecting the way a work is judged?