Aloha :)

Hi everyone,

I just joined the site and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by it all but I think I just need to look around a bit and get to grips with it. I've been looking for a site like this for ages and I'm really glad I seem to have found one!

So, I'm 16 and I live in London. I love music and (you guessed it) writing. I've had trouble getting myself to write recently and it doesn't help being so busy or that I have my GCSEs this summer I've had a pretty stressful year and sadly my writing has been a bit abandoned.I'm hoping to rekindle that passion though and I think this site could help me a lot

Musicwise I love a bit of classic rock and I currently have a strange obsession with musicals which started when I went to see Les Miserables at the West End (it was AMAZING!) and which also prompted me to read what has become my favourite book of all time: Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. Words can't even describe how much I love that brick of a book. I've also developed a penchant for The X Files and the nineties in general.

Also I'm ill and probably a little delirious which may account for the rambling, incoherent nature of this post

Just thought I'd introduce myself!



P.S I have a problem with my overuse of smilies

Welcome to YWS! I'm Kaedee, or just KD, as you could tell from my sig. *waves*

Unruhe wrote:P.S I have a problem with my overuse of smilies

Hehe, I don't think you're the only one! Basically everyone loves/uses smilies all the time here.

Oh, I've seen the Les Miserables musical also. I loved it, and the story touched me. Now you've motivated me to get to reading that book!

Unruhe wrote:I've had a pretty stressful year and sadly my writing has been a bit abandoned.I'm hoping to rekindle that passion though and I think this site could help me a lot

I totally know what you mean. I stopped writing for a long time, but once I found YWS, I started up again.
I have some questions: What is your favorite song? What is your general writing style (for example: Fantasy Fiction, Romantic Fiction, etc.)?
See ya round! When you post something, I'll make sure to drop by to take a look.

~KD

Hi Kaedee/KD

You should definately read the book! Its a little slow to start with and its insanely long but sososo worth it.

Hmm...Favourite song, that's a tough one but probably Wet Sand by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stairway to Heaven/Thank You by Led Zeppelin, Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd or Don't Cry by Guns n Roses. I couldn't pick just one - too hard hehe.

I don't really stick to a specific genre and the things I'm working on generally have a bit of each thrown in.

If you're interested, I just posted this up and could really use some advice:

topic59933.html

I'm Jasmijn-Anya by the way (yes, what were my parents thinking?) but just call me Minya or Unruhe, whatever takes your fancy.

Hola, Unruhe! Welcome to YWS!

Unruhe wrote:I just joined the site and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by it all but I think I just need to look around a bit and get to grips with it. I've been looking for a site like this for ages and I'm really glad I seem to have found one!

No worries, friend! When I first joined back in June, I was completely lost and confused, but it didn't take long for me to feel at home. I'm sure it'll be the same for you. But if you have any questions, any at all, feel free to PM (Private Message) one of the moderators (guys in dark green) or a junior moderator (light green). If they're not around, I would love to help! Please don't hesitate.

Oh, and you came to the right place. YWS is absolutely the BEST. Ask anyone.

I'm hoping to rekindle that passion though and I think this site could help me a lot

You are very right! YWS can most certainly help you.

Also I'm ill and probably a little delirious which may account for the rambling, incoherent nature of this post

Psh... You're doing great! It's always nice to know something about the new members, and it will definitely give you a head start in feeling at home.

P.S I have a problem with my overuse of smilies

You're quite tame compared to some other people.

Here are a few rules/guidelines/factoids you should know about in order to make the best of this site:

1: If you want your works to be reviewed, do the same for others! If someone sees that you have a higher number of reviews, they'll be inspired to help you out and comment on whatever you submit. If you have a low number of reviews, say, for instance, zero (after the first week or so), and you flood the forums with your works, no one will want to pay you the courtesy. See what I mean?

2: Another benefit of reviewing is getting badges. If you look over to the left of the post where it shows my username, you'll see a little orange circle. Pass your mouse over it, and it'll say, "Reviewer 1 Badge". Over the course of time, if you give full-length, honest, and helpful critiques, other members can nominate you for this badge! Once five people do, the mods look over these nominations and most likely grant you the honor of wearing it. This, of course, is just one of the many you can receive. There is another reviewing badge, but you have to have the first one to get it, and there's also a greeter badge, a storybook badge, and a badge for members with 1001 posts and over, and maybe some others that I'm missing. The point is, it's a great way to get recognized for your hard work!

3: Points. Every time you make a review of 250 characters or longer, you get points, which can be used to buy gifts for other members of the site! Some users like to use them for contests they've created and award them as prizes. They're also a great way to bribe people to favor you. Also, the longer your review, the more points you get for it.

4: Blogs. Blogs are a great way to get to know other members. If you look up at the top of the page, you'll see a tab that says "Blogs". That will take you to a list of all the most recent blog posts by other members, and it can be used to talk about anything. Literally anything!

5: The chat room. On the home page, you'll see at the bottom of the featured works a link to go to the chat room. This is by far the fastest and easiest way to make friends on YWS, but it can be a little overwhelming at first. If you decide to talk to everyone who may be there at the time, don't feel bad if you have no idea what they're talking about. I still don't sometimes.

And that's about it for the basics, I think! Anyways, good luck on your time here, and happy writing!

-Knightley

Hi Knightley,
Thanks for the advice and for the gift!

I'll definitely get to reviewing people's work, although I feel a little silly giving advice to people when half the time I don't even know what I'm doing myself! Hopefully there's someone out there I can help though

Sounds good! And actually, reviewing someone's work is a great way to spot flaws in your own work. Don't worry.

*runs off to get Les Miserables book*
Wait...I actually think it's online for free! Yes, it is.