New, and proud of it!

[bravenheart]

Hello everyone. You can call me Kaleia, or Braven. Just to let you know, I'm not entirely sure about this site, so whether or not I will be around permanently is under mental debate. I read the newbie FAQ, but it really didn't soothe my fears when it comes to copyright. I'd love to talk to other writers, and maybe share my work if I feel confident in it's protection. I love my novel, and I love my characters. I also love doing horrible, awful things to them, but hey, who doesn't? My novel falls cleanly into the fantasy category, with all its quirky things. I've been working on it..........since...September 2007 I believe. Wow, has it been that long? Geez....and I'm only on Chapter 13...Oh, well - I spent a lot of time trying to figure out where I wanted to start. So, yes, that's the basics.
I'd love to answer questions about the book so long as they aren't real diggers, and I'd like to talk to someone, if anyone is on.

[Amour]

You should post your story if only for a critique or two. After all, it will take a huge amount of editing before it's worth stealing.

And also, if we stole here, or didn't feel protected, we wouldn't post here either. You also get to post in the member only sections, and can cut them out of your posts once you get useful advice.

Hopefully you consider it, because the editing stage is quite important. :)

Enjoy your stay.

[Klon.]

Welcome, Braven! I'm Klon. I'm pretty sure copyright is safe here. I haven't has any issues so far, anyway.

[bravenheart]

I just read somewhere that I need to critique before submitting my work. If so, I suppose I should get to that. I will put my first chapter on and see what happens.

Um.....could someone give me advice on critiquing? :huh:

[Amour]

In a critique, your main goal is being helpful. This means, while sometimes we're compelled to review work and give feedback about how much we liked it, the author is really looking for suggestions and comments to help them improve.

Take a look at grammar and sentence structure, but also characterisation. What sounds awkward or incomplete to you? How can that be improved? Do you like the idea, is it creative, are there too many distracting cliches?

If you take a look around at the critiques on the site, you may get a better idea of how to help. But you learn as you go, too. :)

[bravenheart]

Okay. Well, I'll take some time to write a nice critique or two, then I'll post the first part of my story when I can. I am a bit nervous about that part though. And not for copyright reasons.

[bravenheart]

I am editing a little, then will put the first part up.

[Klon.]

Just remember that anyone who critiques your work is ultimately here to help you.

If you're tactful in your crits, then people will be when they crit your work.

[bravenheart]

Just to check, is there a word limit on submissions of writing? Because my first chapter is about 9 pages in Word.

[Klon.]

I'm not sure, but you can always post it in parts. people are more likely to spend time on it if it's not so long.

Perhaps put chapter one part one up?

[bravenheart]

Okay....For chapter one, I'll break it into three parts. Almost three pages per part depending on where I break it off for the day. If anyone wants to see Chapter 1, Part 1, it'll be up under Members Only Novels in about a minute.

[Majyk]

I also love doing horrible, awful things to them,

Me too. The more I like a character, the more they get tortured throughout. I think it's gotten worse the more novels I write. xD

Just to check, is there a word limit on submissions of writing? Because my first chapter is about 9 pages in Word.

No, there isn't a word limit, although people are less likely to critique something that's 4 or 5,000 words long vs 1 or 2,000. At least at first, anyway. When I start getting into the later chapters and have a few dedicated people reading my stories, I don't always break it up as much.

Anyway, welcome to YWO!

[Rose]

Heya bravenheart, how you doin'?

Welcome to the family of YWO.

I am looking forward to read your novel. :)

[bravenheart]

Thanks. I hope that I stay here, at least for a while. :D