The YWS 2009 Yearbook

When I first came to YWS I was a wannabe writer, very shy and standoffish type of girl. Every other word I typed had some sort of spelling error, my WPM was insanely slow, and I won’t even start on my grammar. I was a typical newbie- wanting to fit in, terrified of everyone older/above me (I still am of some ) and oh so annoying.

It was a few weeks before I figured out how, and had the nerve to go into chat. When I got there I was exceedingly intimidated. (Even though I had received the warmest of welcomes.) It seemed everyone knew each other, and had their own things going on. I stayed quiet most of the time I was there, throwing in some comments here and there, and it may not have seemed like it at the time...But I was hooked. I live in a very small town, and being homeschooled I don’t meet tons of new people, so I had never really met anyone like me- silly, immature, not at all your typical teenager...Then all of a sudden I was surrounded by them. I had found my people, and was in love with the site.

Since then I have come out of my shell, I’ve made so many friends, my typing speed has tripled, and when I go to spell check, there’s barely any red to be seen, if any at all. YWS has helped me in so many ways...I am a better writer and person because of it.

It’s the people here that makes this place what it is, and I love you all. I’d like to thank a special few-

Aet Lindling- Your wisecracks and sense of humor are on of a kind.

маттѕтея- What can I say? You’re just so darn awesome...

Bolt- My partner in crime and very evil buddy.

Zerkk- *tacklesticklesnomssupersnugs*

Knightly- You, my rival pirate king will someday bow down to me, the one and only pirate queen.

Kamas- You’re amazing Kammie...<3

Amy- *hands cookies* my pirate puppy!

June- <3 There’s no other way to put it...You rock!

Buzz (Beckiw)- To the big sister who beats me in the head with bricks

Morgan- Buzwooom *pulls out lightsaber*

Eddie- You’re one of my closest friends...I don’t know what I’d do without you.

You guys are like my second family. I love you all <33

And also to- Andy, Manny, Yoda, Leth, Penny, Peanut, Mira, Elinor Brynn, Writewatiwant, Tala Paulwic, Demeter, Dreamer, Overeasy, Adnamarine, JD, Pudin, Wonderingkate, Mo., Jabbs, Wd-40.

Thanks for being awesome you guys!!

*Orchestra music slowly cuts in*

Okay, okay! I'd like to thank Nate for being one of the most awesome guys in the whole world and for giving the world this spectacular community!!

I love you YWS!!

~Hope <3

I'll be sweet and to the point-- thank you, YWS. You've done wonders for my writing, and even my self-esteem. I've met so many amazing people on this site that share my interests, and I'm expecting to make even more friends in the future! Because you won't be able to get rid of me for a while.

~Evi

I might come back and edit but for now I shall say stuff. I came to YWS through a yahoo search. I typed in young writer's site and ta da! YWS popped up. It has done amazing things for my writing. I have written a book! I never would have been able to do that with out the help and support of all the awesome people on here. My hat goes off to all of the friends I have made in the year and a few months I have been here. <3

Here are some of those awesome friends of mine:
Hope: You're shoes rock! They would rock more if they were blue and smurfie like you Miss Greeter.
Jababa(Jabber): I think I would have failed NaNo if it wasn't for you Jabs.
Lilymoore: Thanks for all the word wars
Eddie: Or should I say EddieBear, it's a good thing you talk. You're awesome.
Linx: I had to put you on here. If you see this come back to us!
Stella: I am your clone, or are you my clone *thinks*
JD: You're a Mattress-head, but you look good in blue.
Splodey: Ahhh! Sign my foot! You're so famous
Elinor Brynn: You are my greeting buddy.
Amy: Aquarium I bow down to your purpleness, you are the enemy now (just kidding)
Nate: Thank you so much for creating this amazing website.

And there are many more of you I didn't put but if you are on my friends list you are awesome.
~peanut~

Well, I started YWS in December of '09, and thus far, I really enjoy it. So far I think I'm better at reviewing than actually writing. Everyone here has made me feel way more welcome than any other writing site I've been on before. I've made tons of friends, and really hope to get better at writing.

I'm not really good at rambling off this and that about the site, as I'm still learning it, but I've been to the Chat-rooms where I met Silented1 (Eddy), Kamas, Elinor Brynn, and way too many others to list. I've hit the Fantasy Fiction and Action/Adventure Fiction where I've had the pleasure of meeting and reviewing for pandacary, forgottenfallen, Carlito, and many others. Storybooks are a new experience for me, but I really enjoyed it thanks to RedBird, Tazakk, Firestalker, Chirantha, Incognito, EmiSukotto16, and several others. And that's only a few I could name off the top of my head!

Needless to say, just in this first month(ish) I've grown to love this site and return everyday and whenever possible. Up until now, I've only shown my stuff to my closest friend. Even now, I'm still a little nervous about it, but eventually I hope to be able to get used to it and improve the way I've seen others improve. All in all, this site is amazing, there's really nothing else to say.

~AddictionToFiction

I love YWS!

No, I'm not finished, so don't bother asking.

One of the main reasons that I love YWS, (with all my heart), is that everyone's so friendly and knows each other. I got a very nice welcome when I first arrived, and immediately felt comfortable and at home here. I don’t think I’d ever be as good at writing as I am now if it wasn’t for YWS. (I’m trying not to be arrogant... really).

I really don’t know what I’d do without it!

~Gsp

Six months ago, I was an awkward, pesky little twelve year old who detested poetry. Who wrote half-way decent short stories, who didn't know what showing vs. telling was. Writing a complete novel seemed like something I would accomplish in adulthood, a long ways away.

I was unsure of myself, but I had a nasty little ego. I snicker at how good I thought my work was back then, when really it was terrible.

Now, I am thirteen. Things are different. My hair is blond, and I'm more confident. Braver, ready to do things out of the ordinary. YWS helped shape the current novel that I'm writing, YWS helped me attempt to reach 50,000 words in 30 days. Although I did not complete the task, before I would never have even thought of trying.

YWS has made me realize that anything is possible, as long as dreams are followed.

Of course, I could not do it without Juniper, angels-symphony, AquaMarine, Snoink, JabberHut, Kamas, silented1, Bondgirl007, Rosey Unicorn, Hawkie, Writersdomain, and a special thanks to Gryphon Fledgling for sticking by and reviewing each one of my Star Wars Chatroom FanFics.

A special thanks to Nate for creating YWS.

It's just simply awesome and always will be.
I started with poetry then I started writing a book after joining this site.
Hopefully I finish it. O.o
Apparently my photography is liked too. xD

( Lover and me. <33)

2009 has actually been my first full year on YWS, considering I joined on January the 13th 2009 and what a fun and amazing year it has been. I feel I have grown as a person through all the great people I met here and as a writer as well, learning things I couldn't have learnt any other place or wouldn't want to learn any other place. YWS has been here through one of the hardest years of my life. When I felt my life was crumbling down around me, I could come here and laugh and smile. I could come here and express myself and feel that I was appreciated and feel like I was helping someone in some small way. I thank YWS for that and I thank all of you amazing YWSers out there

(space for thanking people)

One of my favourite moments of this year was in the summer when I met up with Demeter and Mars in Edinburgh and we had a great time!

Meeting in Starbucks, (Dems on left, Mars on right).


Dems taking photos, she did this a lot.


Mars and Edinburgh


Signing visitors book happened a lot that day. We signed YWS on this one.


In the Elephant cafe, where the wrap fiasco happened and Panini smug was invented.


All three of us!


(I will be continuing )

I've only been on YWS for a month, but I already love this site and I hope to be on it for many years to come. I guess I'm freshman in this yearbook or - what do they call it here?- noob? I'll regret graduating.

Thank you YWS for helping me see the potential I have in myself as a young writer. If it wasn't for this site and the warm hearted members I don't think I would look at my writing the same way; as something to love and cherish (and to poke at with a stick when the characters try to talk back lol)


dances for everyone!


Butters

Thank you, YWS. You've helped my writing so much, shown me things I never could have known, and of course, all the people here are amazing, even those I vehemently disagree with.

Ooh, a yearbook!

Well...

I found YWS on May 20th this year, because I wanted the opinions of people like me who wouldn't lie and be uber-nice about a short story I'd written about Christmas in the WWI trenches. And, well... wow. I can't believe it's only been a few months, YWS has been such a huge part of my life and I've made some stunning friends here. I won't try and thank everyone who's been amazing. If you're on YWS, consider your name on the list.

Just a few of the people who've really stood out to me (this may surprise you):
Rosey Unicorn
JabberHut
Demeter - you've been stunning. End of.
*writewatiwant*
Ranger Hawk
Auter
Writersdomain
Lucinda
irishfire
Snoink - I bow to you, Great Evil Mistress. Seriously, though, thanks for giving me the Grinions. I've been told I have leadership potential before, but when somebody notices via the Internet, that's really special.
AquaMarine - mass-PM-er extraordinaire! Seriously, though, you're amazing. I love you, Amy! *snuggletacks*
Master_Yoda
Jiggity
Conrad Rice
Silented1
GryphonFledgling
Nutty
gsppcrocks10
Dreamer - you are an epic second-in-command!
Juniper - I don't think I need to say anything.
peanut19 - stunning, girl, stunning.
All of the brilliant Grinions - Thanks for all your hard work. You were brilliant.
and, of course,
King Nate

Some of you will have hardly ever spoken to me. Some of you will have never heard of me. Some of you are good friends. But this makes no difference, because you're the ones who've stood out the most.

This is the place where I can be me. I've never seen an online community of mostly people who have never met in their lives, so close and comfortable together. I signed up and was immediately made to feel so amazingly welcome. I talk about YWS to my friends at school all the time, and a couple are thinking about joining up. It's just such a special place.

Thank you guys for everything. Seriously, every little thing. The person who gave me Taylor Lautner on -insert coin-. The person who banned me for hypocrisy. The person who made me smile when I was depressed. (That last one covers the lot of you.) YWS is like Home#2 to me. A whole other family who I can completely be myself with. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

I love you all.
~Grin

Quite a site we've got here.More than a writer's site, it also serves the purpose of being an audience to the writer.That is why everyone likes it over here.Hope the audience and writers keep going at what they do best...writing and reading.

Ooh!!! I'm always late to post on these things!

Oh, well. Here's my place holder.

Well... I think Aqua said it all! I couldn't have said it better myself. But a guy can wish , can't he?

I would like to recognize a few people, though. You all helped me through these tough first weeks on YWS.



Snoink: For being the scariest reviewer on the site. You're awesome, dude, and I'm glad I don't have your job.



*writewatiwant*: You gave me an awesome welcome. You are great at what you do, and I'm proud to be on Team Awesomesauce with you!



xX_white_shadowXx: No one could have been my Pirate Queen better! Thanks for being your Nutty self, and giving me endless hours of pure laughter. You rock!



AquaMarine: For saying what I wanted to say, only infinitely better! I know you're resident dog of a rival Pirate ship, but all it comes down to at the end of the day is pulling off some hard core swashbuckling, and I know I can count on you to do that!



BondGirl007: Thanks for letting me call you Vesper, even though it probably annoys you. I know that Aqua is safe and sound on the S.S. Neeb with you as her (disputed) Pirate Queen, along with Kat.



Blink: Thanks for giving me a slap on the wrist. I still don't know what I was trying to say.



Kayem: I know you aren't going to read this, but I wish you had the time to come back and join us for a while! Everyone would have liked you. You're well-spoken and fun to know. Enjoy yourself across the pond! You know I'm jealous!



Hawkie: You're a natural-born writer. Nuf said.



RangerHawk: Go Flyleaf!



And, of course, Nate, for giving us all the inspiration to wake up in the morning! I would never be the person I am today (or the one I'll be tomorrow) without YWS. Not only have you made the hands-down best writing website for young people, but you've also given us a place where we can rant, rave, cry, laugh, write and read... but as ourselves!