Hi Everyone

I've just signed up for a free-trial to test whether this site is the type of support I need. I'm lucky enough to live in south west France, which has never been a problem until now.

I'm just finding my feet as a writer (great believer in positive thinking - I AM A WRITER!!!) and I'm feeling a little isolated over here. If I was still based in the UK I'd have found a local writing group to join for feedback and most importantly support. My husband is wonderful, however, admits to not having a creative bone in his body, so whilst he's full of good intentions, it doesn't really hit the spot.

From what I've seen so far, this looks as if it could be just the place for me and I hope that I have a long and happy 'relationship' with WriteWords - just can't help that positive thinking!

Hope to hear from other newcomers soon - I need to know that I'm not alone ....

Nicci

Hi, Nicci, and welcome to WriteWords.

As a trial member you can join one group and upload one piece of work - something in the region of 2000 words is a good length. Some of the groups are pretty quiet, so it's best to pick one of the more active ones.

If you need any help navigating the Site, just give us a shout.


- NaomiM

Hi there.
You're not alone, I'm new here as well. It was a suggestion by Tina, the teacher from school. Not that I sign up, but at least have a look.
A pretty good suggestion I'd say.
That's it, ramble over. I'm done.

Hi Nicci and Jim and welcome to WW. I hope it turns out to be what each of you needs - it has lots of facets and different things suit different people.

And wot Naomi said, dive in, and if you get stuck, just shout!

Emma

I also am new here and have found the forums to be a mine of information especially when it comes to things I would not have even thought of considering.

I'll probably become a full member at sometime in the not too distant future as well.

Regards

Phil

http://thewordsescapeme.blogspot.com/

Hi Jim, Emma and Phil

I've been so busy checking in on the Children's Group and doing a re-write on my children's book about a fairy called Isadora, that I've not been checking in on this forum. So thanks for your replies and I haven't been ignoring you - honest!

I've been really impressed by the feedback that I've had about the small section of Isadora that I've uploaded. Its all been very positive, or highly costructive where there are potential "problems". It makes a refreashing change to get some proper feedback. I've given my ms to family and friends, which has been great in helping me to overcome the fear and vulnerability of letting someone read my work. However in terms of constructive feedback - it's lacking in something. People either don't want to offend, or feel that they're not qualified so the only response I get it - "we loved it". Great for the ego, however, not based in reality or from an unbiased audience!

I've also really enjoyed feeling part of a community. Since my last attempt at writing, (some mumble ... mumble ... mumble years ago) I've moved to rural South West France. The scenery is wonderful, the lifestyle perfect, the local English writing group - non existent. My husband's being as supportive as he can be. However, this is rather limited as he freely admits to not having a single imaginative bone in his body.

Must go as I have to finish an essay on my childhood for a diploma I'm half way through. Really struggling with motivation at the moment as working on Isadora is far more interesting and rewarding. Having to be very strict on prioritisation - I'm not allowed to do any more work on Isadora until I've sent this current module for marking. Boring but it has to be done.

Anyway Jim and Phil - I hope that you are also having positive experiences the ww. Emma - thanks for words of welcome and offer of help should we need it.

Nicci

Hello there Nicci,

I've lived in some of the leading English speaking countries in the world and felt isolated, as you say you do in SW France. The excuses for feeling isolated these days have been whittled down quite a lot with the internet and globalisation generally. I found that once your French is up to speed, France is one country where an artist feels in good company. There's no country like it on this planet for understanding the artist's value to society and his role in maintaining the civilised state. The English-speaking world is in full barbarian-mode at this unfortunate point on the curve. Any nonsense goes. Look at the swill they eat, for a start. If they put that in their gobs, imagine the sullage that goes into their minds. [Just look at the rubbish that comes out].

Humans are baby/bathwater chuck-out specialists. With the new fashionable and politically correct anti-discrimination laws came the moronic desire to be discriminate about nothing. As long as it's garbage, it's okay. How else could Blair/Bush/Chirac have survived and prospered for so long? How else could banks have displaced cathedrals as places of worship? I think you might have to work on hubbs if he's admitted to not having a creative bone in his body. We're all here to be creative (as opposed to dead), so the question is: what in God's name does he get up to? I'd buy him some some modelling gum and see what happens. If nothing, explain to him the bit about each of us pulling his weight.

Welcome aboard the WWblog. This is one place where you're not only allowed to express what you feel, but there's a moral obligation attached to it (if you want to progress). I'm stuck in a soulless desert called Australia where the common dialect is money-wealth-mortgage-shares-interest-finance-investments-profit-privatisation-commercialisation-puke-vomit-ad nauseum, so don't feel too bad about SW France. No more meglect of us, hear?

Dill

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Hello there Nicci,

I've lived in some of the leading English speaking countries in the world - including the UK - and felt as isolated as you say you do in SW France. But there's good news, so put the gun down. The excuses for feeling isolated these days have been whittled down incredibly with the internet and globalisation generally. I've lived in Paris for years (et meme plus dans la region Centre; j'etais Blesois pendant dix ans). I found that once your French is up to speed, France is the one country where an artist feels in good company. They have a knack for fine things). There's no country like it on this planet for understanding the artist's value to society and his role in maintaining the civilised state. The English-speaking world is in full barbarian-mode at this unfortunate point on the curve. Any nonsense goes. Look at the swill they eat, for a start. If they put that in their gobs, imagine the sullage that goes into their minds. [Just look at the rubbish that comes out of our schools, parliaments, pulpits et al].

Humans are baby/bathwater chuck-out specialists. With the new fashionable and politically correct anti-discrimination laws came the moronic desire to be discriminate about nothing. As long as it's garbage, it's okay. How else could Blair/Bush/Howard have survived and prospered for so long avec leurs camelottes a la merde? How else could banks have displaced cathedrals as places of worship? Look Nicci, I think you might have to work on hubbs a bit if he's admitted to not having a creative bone in his body. You obviously didn't marry a local. We're all here to be creative (as opposed to dead), so the question is: what in God's name does he get up to? More to the point: has he been caught at it yet? I'd buy him some some modelling stuff, like plasticine, and see what happens. If nothing, explain to him the bit about each of us pulling his weight. Medication doesn't help. Do you have a cricket bat?

So, welcome aboard the WWblog. This is one place where you're not only allowed to express what you feel, but there's a moral obligation attached to it (if you want to progress and avoid the cricket bat). I'm stuck in a soulless desert called Australia where the common dialect is money-wealth-mortgage-shares-interest-finance-investments-profit-privatisation-commercialisation-puke-vomit-ad nauseum, so don't feel too bad about SW France. No more neglect of us, hear?

Dill

Sorry about the repetition here. As a newbie, it seems I'm prevented from editing/adjusting/correcting what I write and post. My only negative observation about WWblog in my try-out period is the parsimonious treatment of the people they're trying to 'encourage'. No doubt part of the problem I've described above - the insecurity and the loss of faith in ourselves. We can no longer afford to be generous in the West. The buggers will only take advantage of you.

Delapitus, no one can edit their posts, newbie or otherwise - but you can add corrections to them.

Emma

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Like this. Just click 'owner edit' on your post.

Thanks Emma. I'm an impatient sod. (It's a gene thing, and the forehead op wasn't a howling success). Normally, on blogs like this one, I edit after seeing the preview in the larger window. On this occasion - and one other on my blog here at WW - the PREVIEW button refused to work. I insisted for some time before capitulating. When that in turn didn't work, I threw in the towel. It has worked on a review of another writer's work I did just now, and I was able to fine-tune my piece with great ease. So I guess I should have politely asked what one does when the PREVIEW button doesn't work. The answer may well be the one you gave: Post it, then add the revision. Another instance of this edit problem was my name here is a typo and I can't fix it. It should have read 'Delapidus'(from Galapagos), but do you think I could rescue the situation? Maybe it's not too late. Any suggestions?

Thanks for the help.

<Added>

PS, Nicci: Sorry for this kerfuffle on your thread. I think I'm sorted now. Dill