Writer's/would- be Writer's Forum - who would be interested?

[AussieSim]

I thought we could do general stuff like give encouragement, share news etc as well as perhaps more specific things like writing excercises which we could share for feedback if people felt comfortable. I have a few ideas and would be willing to administer if there are enough people who want to participate. I know that there are some 'proper' writers on here too, and it would be great to get hints and tips as well. What do you think?

What a great idea
I would like to lurk as I really don't have the time to put on clean clothes most days let alone sit and write but I would like to get my old literary juices flowing again.

How about we say a little bit about ourselves - whaat we like to write, how much we write, etc.

I am a school teacher. Been writing for pleasure from the age of 15 I think (30 next month). Started off with poems and general observations. Wrote through A levels and uni (don't know where it all went though).

I have lots of ideas for poems, short stories and novels. I have a book in which I write my ideas and do writing. At the moment, I am not doing very much - I haven't since DS was born in Aug 2002, apart from afew poems albeit not very 'intellectual' ones. LOL.

I need to get my act together.

Tell us a bit about you!

And what is the first task?

Oh forgot to add - I worked on the Uni newspaper and did some sub-editing......

Yes I would definately be interested in this

There was a new years resolution about getting published this year - which I was trying to forget about.

I am wanting to write non-fiction, but I'm happy to use the support that's here to galvanise me into action!

I'd be interested.
I was doing a writing course by distance learning some time ago, but unfortunately other things took over and I kind of lost the self-motivation to carry on. A bit of mutual support and encouragement would be most welcome.
I don't know what anyone else thinks to this suggestion, but if we write pieces and want some feedback from someone else, how about a sort of swapshop? We could each send a copy of something we've done to another group member for their opinion. Maybe...maybe not...?

I would also love to join too. This is just what I have been looking for. Good timing. I also have several notebooks that have never gone anywhere apart from with me.

Just to clarify, you don't have to want to write only fiction - you might write poetry or non-fiction or whatever. Sorry if I skewed the thread somewhat. I am interested in all kinds of writing, although I think that my poems are particularly crap.

Should we ask the MN team to turn us into a topic? Then we can start with intros and creat some standard threads like one for encouragement, one for book/website etc recommendations etc.

Expatkate, have you thought about writing poetry for small children (working title: Bedtime Poems)? My ds (2.6) is completely mad for poems - not books with pictures but poems that I read to him. I'd buy your book!

I'd definately be interested.I used to love creative writing & poetry at school,but sadly let it drop once I'd left.I haven't written anything since then.

I am also chronically shy,so could never join a writers group 'in person'.This sounds great.

Aussiesim, if you want to write better poetry I'd be delighted to help you if that doesn't sound too presumptuous.

I think rather than submitting our work randomly to one another it might be better for us to tread delicately and find out who we relate to individually and whose comments we find useful. It would be a shame if people were discouraged by feeling that their work wasn't ever going to be good enough.

I'd be happy to run a poetry workshop thread where people could post if they would like some guidance from me. Those who don't feel that would be helpful/think my poetry is s*e could avoid it then

Thanks Janstar, I will take you up on that offer. I have only written poetry in the last few years when the moment really moved me, although I remember when I was teenager writing it a lot more easily. I would also like to try my hand at writing song lyrics which is closely relate I guess.