So what's your story?

[Homer Potvin]

Welcome aboard! Please share your story of who you are and how you arrived here. I thought it might be fun to capture a little oral history about our old forum and our migration to the new. Kind of like a Progress Journal, or a New Member Introduction, or a Who are you and what do you Write. It's been a strange journey for all of us. And everyone has a piece of the story to tell. Let's hear about yours.

This thread is reserved for survivors of the old writingforums.org. Whether you came across on the lifeboats or swam to shore later.

Lets try and keep this thread clutter free, so its just a set of stories without lots of comments on it

For new members, please introduce yourself in the New Member Introductions thread.

 

[Louanne Learning]

In the spring of 2022, I was a fairly new widow who hadn’t done any creative writing in years. Then, I joined the old site for the express purpose of entering the story-writing contests. With trepidation, I posted my first story - and won! After that, I became a contest regular – short story and flash fiction - and enjoyed good results.

My confidence grew, my skills developed, and I found my own writer’s voice, all because of the opportunity of the contests. Working with prompts suited me, and inspired me. New ideas every month, and I experimented! I enjoyed flapping my wings. Those contests rank right up there with some of the best experiences of my life.

I also treasure the great discussions that I’ve participated in. So much interesting back-and-forth posted over the years. I have a special affinity for The Science Thread, The Art Thread, and the Philosophy Thread. So much food for thought.

I racked up over 8,000 posts and 173 workshop credits, so these are the numbers I aim to beat on this new site!

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting so many different personalities, a microcosm of the whole of humanity, and have made real friends. While I wonder what is in store for us here, I know some things will remain unchanged, like the strong community feel we developed on the old site, and our shared love of writing.

It’s a new day, it’s a new dawn…

 

[IgnitedxSoul]

I joined the OG forum in March of 2017. At the time I was in university studying creative writing and I was looking for a place to talk about the craft with people. I was drawn in by the writing contests, but sadly I always took to long to write them and missed the deadlines.

My activity on the forum was rather sporadic. I'd post maybe one or two times every few months, mostly to either update my Progress Journal or to provide critique every so often. In the last couple months of the forum's life I joined on the It Began in a Tavern RP and that was loads of fun. During that time I was the most active I've ever been on the forum, and I'm hoping to carry that momentum through to our new home!

 

[Rigor Mortis]

I've gotta say, this is all just a little peculiar.

On the original thread, I went by my writing name B.E. Nugent but decided to go with my .com moniker here. It's all just about creating a little distance between trying to get published and the likelihood of litigation for what I might post here. Kidding. Rigor Mortis was an affectionate nickname from many years ago, specific to one environment, but many since expressed no surprise when I told them about it.

Prior to membership of writingforums.org, I had tried a few sites and found nothing that interested me to engage. At that point, I'd written about two, maybe three, short stories. I showed one to the tutor on a beginners' creative writing class and gave two to one of my brothers, realised that wasn't going to work and took them back after he'd read one. The first place I showed anything I've written, essentially, was on the old site and, despite the trepidation, found the responses immensely supportive and useful. That was 5 years ago and look at me now!

I never did an intro on the last site, partly because I don't fully know how to comprehensively articulate what exactly are my writing aspirations. Write goodly doesn't cover it. What has worked for me is realising that my learning, in writing but also other things in real life, is experiential. Try. Fail. Try again. Fail again, fail better. Growth has been to better put on a page something that I'm happy to write, beaten into something that might be worth reading with weight put on the former rather than the latter. The space and support afforded by the group I hope leaps the chasm into this new site have been crucial in any progress I've made on these efforts.

Many thanks to homer, moose and the other mods for giving us this opportunity.

 

[Naja Noir]

Hello all!

So, I wasn't a super active member of the original .org forum, more a lurker than anything else. I think perhaps I was/am just trying to figure out my own vibes, so to speak.

That said, I joined then for two reasons, one: I didn't like where my forum home was heading (ai). And two, It was on my original forum that I recalled several of you meeting up, somewhat frantically, to await a hopeful return to your forums. I sensed a small writing community that cared about being together and felt a loss when you weren't. That resonated deeply with me and is why I joined you all then, and it's why I'm here now.

Thank you for giving me a place to grow as a writer.

 

[big soft moose]

I suppose i should do my own. In 2016 i was suffering from a unipolar depression, basically because my then day job was killing me. My therapist asked me what i wanted to do if i could do anything and i said ' i want to be a novelist'. I'd been around forums and chat groups ever since the old usenet days so first up i joined lit and lat - which was a forum by the makers of scrivener. It was okay but the writing element was so slow, the membership being much more focused in scrivener as software. Someone there recommended i join dorg and the rest is history. In 2018 I became a forum volunteer helping keep the place organised, in 2019 i became a moderator and in 2021 I became the admin, since then I've been daily wrestling with outdated software and an absent owner until finally enough was enough so when Homer offered me the opportunity to set up a forum the way it should be i seized it with both hands and both feet.

Thanks to the forum, I've written about 40 books, self published eight thrillers , and last year signed a deal for a fantasy trilogy (publication date looks like being '27). I'm also no longer depressed and have a new day job.

 

[JT Woody]

I joined WFs.org in 2018.

I'd just moved to a new state where the only person i knew was my boyfriend. i had no friends or family. was working 2 part time jobs and, with my boyfriend in the military and going through the police academy, i was alone a lot in this new state where i knew no one. I called home every day, super lonely and my mom suggested i join a church (that didn't work out... because it ended up being what i believed was a cult and i didn't go back... despite them keeping tabs on me).
i joined a running group... which was nice... until the winter (they make friggin snow chains for your SHOES!! WTF).

So... my other interest was writing. I've always been a writer. I used to post my work on DeviantART in middle school and HS. But I wanted something more social than that. I googled "online writing groups" and WFs.org was the first thing that popped up! And i've been on ever since.
The community and support was what I needed. I was always cautioned against making online friends, and, even as an adult, I never saw people online as "friends." But I did meet people that have become friends whom I communicate with outside of the forum. I may not know much about y'all outside of here, but just seeing the people that I've interacted with these years makes me happy.

Plus, I wouldn't have been able to finish 3 MANUSCRIPTS without the encouragement and support of this community!

 

[Luxuria]

I created an account on Writingforums.org on Mar 5, 2021 after experiencing a vast difference in political views with NaNoWriMo's forum. I felt lost and I wanted to find a place where I could speak freely and ask story questions without needing excuses/warning/disclaimers, etc. I found a few others, but they were all similar to the place I abandoned. Then, I found WritingForum.org and breathed a sigh of relief. Not only did it feel like a welcome place where I could ask questions about anything without hassle, but everyone seemed friendly.

So, I made an account under my old NaNo username I had been using since 2009 when I wrote my first novel. (It wasn't great. Let's just say that, but it WAS 50K words.) I began asking story questions and also engaged in the Debate Room that was open at the time. Which was also a refreshing experience. Because even though everyone debating held different political views, it was wonderful to be able to talk to one another in a (mostly?) civilized manner.

In time, Writingforums.org became my internet oasis, a place free of stupid drama and a place full of real people who cared about writing and community. It felt like I was back on a small forum, the kind one might find in the early 2000's and I loved it so much. But it was missing something my nostalgic-self craved. A written roleplay forum, the kind I used to create and run when I was a teen. So, I asked the Mods if they would consider making a forum like that.

Much to my surprise, the Mods said there had been a forum; and after some discussion, agreed to restore it and placed me in charge as the 'Mini-Mod'. Which was a surprising shock. Because not only was I going to have a roleplay forum again, but I could help create it and that made me feel even more connected to the writing community. (I love you all!)

The Roleplay Forum re-opened in 2024 with new rules and a Vampire Roleplay. This roleplay didn't live long, but everyone involved was passionate. Then, the second Roleplay, a Fantasy story about a tavern took off. Now, that story will be ported over to this new forum as the story is in the second act. All the main characters are on an epic quest full of peril and friendship.

As for myself, I became close friends with so many members of Writingforums.org and even entered one of the writing contests, which is something I never thought I would do. I am a very private writer and the idea of sharing my work to be judged was scary. But I got a few votes and that made me feel good. I then posted it in the workshop and received very kind feedback, which was amazing. Because I am not great at critiques myself and have struggled to find people who enjoy my writing.

Now, I am looking forward to the future. With a new forum and a new username. So, since we all got Free Beer from Ernest Wieners, I raise my glass to the Mods who created this forum and gave me a new place filled with the same love. Thank you. I am so grateful I found this place and have be come a part of the community. I hope this forum flourishes and becomes an oasis for all lost writers.

Dante is my favorite writer and in the beginning of his book, The Inferno he is lost in a dark wood, and once led through Hell, sees the stars. The potential of the Universe and I feel the same.

I was lost and now, marvel at the stars, for they shine so brightly.

 

[Madman Starryteller]

I joined writingforums.org back in 2012 around the time I first started writing. My first story I posted in the workshop revealed I had a long journey to make to become a better writer. And though I'm still on a journey, my work has much improved thanks to the community. Not just through critique on my own work, but reading others' work and the critique they got.

Here's to communities!

 

[Trish]

I joined writingforums.org in March of 2011. I was a mom and wife, somewhat recently disabled, and trying to find a way to fill the void left by the loss of my independence in so many ways I had taken for granted. I found a supportive and wonderful community, self pubbed 2 books, and then life went sideways again around 2017 maybe? And I disappeared. No time for reading, writing, anything really. Focus adjusted as it needed to at the time.

Now.... 1 kid moved across the country, other kid just graduated college a week ago, and suddenly- I have all this time. I started reading again, and as always, reading makes me think of all the different things I want to say. That I could say. Felt like an omen when I got the email that Big Moose had messaged me today so....

Here we go again! Looking forward to meeting new folks and hanging out with the ones I used to know.

 

[Platina]

Joined the old forum in 2019 after a lot of lurking and reading, but my activity on the board was meh. I do more reading than writing because I get stuck a lot, but when I do write, it's mostly fanfiction or fantasy, or roleplaying on another board. Other than that, I do regret not being more active on the old board and I hope to change that here.

 

[Naomasa298]

I joined the old forum in 2019, and promptly got told off by moose. We have since kissed and made up (not literally, get your mind out from the gutter)...

At that time, Wreybies was admin, I think. I never knew the forum before that, but I found the atmosphere here very supportive, and I've borrowed some of principles from there for the forum I moderate.

I disappeared for a while and came back last year (or late 2023, I forget now). I've been more active lately, as I'm taking writing a lot more seriously. I do, and have always valued the feedback on .org far more highly than that from elsewhere, and I hope that can continue.

 

[Brandon S. Pilcher]

I was Tyrannohotep on the old forum. I don't think I was ever a frequent poster on there, but it's nonetheless nice to have a space where I can post my writing and get it critiqued.

 

[ps102]

I think I've told bits of my story on the old forum, but since it will vanish soon, it's probably a good idea to assemble it in a nice little short version.

I've always loved stories. I've loved them since I was a kid. And I've fantasized about my own since I was a kid. But I never quite had a way to put them down on paper. It never really seemed feasible. I did sometimes toy with the idea of writing them in prose, but the idea was akin to sprouting wings—it didn't feel feasible.

Then I joined this English class when I was 19. It was there when this fantasy suddenly, one cold winter morning, turned into reality. They had us write a fictional story so we could practice one of the exam sections. This was the first time I realized I could bring my story ideas to life. It was such a surreal and pure feeling.

They started the timer and I wrote faster than I ever have in my life. My heart was beating so fast. I didn't really want for that moment to end. I kept a close eye on the timer, wishing it just froze in place. Honestly, it was unreal. All the fantasies I've harbored all these years could finally be free.

I didn't want this class to be over either. It would mean an end to all these mock exams I could use as an excuse to write stories. It didn't really occur to me that I could kept doing it outside of that. I mean, the idea was still so foreign to me. But needless to say, I didn't stop after those classes (which I passed, by the way!) were over.

I took the character from that first short story and made her into the protagonist of a big trilogy project, which I finished after about a year of daily effort. After that, I didn't stop. I started another trilogy.

But during the writing of the first draft, I kept hitting all these different slumps that I didn't know how to deal with. And at the same time, I was going through a very rough period of my life. My self-esteem in general was at an all-time low and that didn't translate into my writing very well. I had lots of questions and little answers. I went around to Reddit to ask a question on a writing subreddit, but it got instantly shutdown.

Needless to say, that made me feel even less of a writer. I kept away from writing communities thinking that I just wasn't one of them. That is, until I realized that Reddit is sort of notorious for being toxic. That's when I made a search for a "writing forum" (since I've good experiences with forums in the past) to ask the same question that Reddit rejected. I signed up with some random name since I didn't really expect much. But boy, was I wrong.

To my surprise, lots of kind people answered and I suddenly felt a lot less lonely. I became active from there and made some contributions of my own. The best part were the contests. I could compete with other people that were much better than me. I loved that and participated every month. I did terrible at first!! But eventually, after submitting every one of my failure for feedback, I did win, and for the first time, I felt as if my writing was worth something.

It sounds so small but at the time, it meant the world to me because it just didn't seem possible. I owe these contests for the level my writing is at today.

I hope the new place can walk in the footsteps of the old. A community where by contributing and putting in the effort, you can improve your own writing.

 

[Set2Stun]

In February of 2021, while still in my late 30s, it just kind of dawned on me that I'd been wasting my life and hadn't really achieved anything of note. The only thing I've ever been good at without really needing to try is writing, so I decided to expand a ~15-year-old short story that I'd written for a "philosophy and science fiction" class into a novel. I hadn't written anything since university, but I was going to give it a go.

By the fall, I'd "finished" it, edited it a lot, and it wasn't too bad. I sent it to a couple of indie publishers and actually got some detailed, personal feedback from one of them. But of course, little did I know, I was far from ready to be submitting. And so I wanted to learn more, and began reading posts on some writing forums. I joined one, but it turned out to be the kind that's dominated by a bully clique and was a completely toxic environment. I don't let anyone push me around, so I got run out of town in a matter of weeks.

My second choice was .org as it seemed to have a very chill, respectful vibe. I feel so fortunate to have stumbled upon that place - and can continue my writing journey here on the new one.

I'd never considered taking short story writing seriously, but I was drawn into entering contests to see what others thought of my writing. I'd then sometimes post them in the workshop to find out what worked and what didn't, which helped a great deal. My early entries weren't very good, but I improved every so slightly with each new story written. I've continued writing them in between writing and editing my second and third novels (which are now complete), and I've found success with them where I haven't with the novels (yet).

In just a few years, I went from not writing shorts at all, to having several paid writing credits in some pretty cool magazines. I owe so much of that to .org and the fellow members who helped me along the way. I haven't been super duper active lately outside of posting in my journal and recording my submission rejections, but I'll endeavour to offer more critiques here and try to pay it forward a bit.

I'm very experienced with all aspects of the submission process for magazines, indie publishers, and agents, and I'd be happy to answer any questions and can offer guidance in these areas. Just post a thread, tag me, or send me a message.

Thanks again fellers for providing this community with our new home. I think I'm gonna love the place.

 

[typree]

Good to see you all, everyone!

Alright, alright, where to begin? Well firstly, I have to say, I am sad about the site getting shut down. It still hasn't felt like it's really sunk in yet, but I know it'll hit me once the end of the month comes and the forum is no longer up.

Everyone here has so much history with the site... Or at least, almost everyone. Where, with me, I had just made my account 78 days ago! For this fresh start, I guess I'll just say here the things which I left out in my introduction post on "WritingForum with an S" back in February. I realize now that there are some things I didn't mention.

I go by "Typree", and I am currently finishing my last year of HS. I've passed all my required classes, and will be graduating very soon. (My last day is next Tuesday!) You all seem to have been through alot, and that was what led you here. For me though, I feel that I am at a very transitionary period of my life. A crossroads. So to me, there isn't much to talk about outside of childhood, since my story is just beginning.

However, I will say this: The big thing that has led me to not just this community, but many others, has been the recent desire for me to grow my artistic skills. Since school is almost over, I wanted to find ways to stay connected with people who have similar skills to mine, and who genuinely care about both improving and helping others improve. I wanted to have a way to do continuous learning beyond school. Not just reading about it online or watching videos about it by myself, but to actually discuss it with other artists, and especially to get feedback and advice.

The other forums I've joined have been great at this, but WritingForum(s) has really stood out. I didn't get to post too many of my ideas on there, but one of the few things I did post was—coincidentally enough!—a story about an online forum that started in the 2000's but got shut down due to money troubles. (I know I tried to make it believable, but for that to happen to WF itself?! Who could've seen that coming?)

Anyways, if I had to describe myself, I would say that I am a student of art and storytelling who wants to learn more about the field. As well as to apply that knowledge. No published stories of mine are out there yet, but trust me, there have been hundreds upon hundreds of pages of ideas, analysis, notes, drafts, instant messages sent to myself, and whatever else. And well, maybe that's for the best, considering where I'm at right now. Everyone starts somewhere, right?

As for what those stories are about, well, that's a secret! But generally, they revolve around the characters that I draw in my sketchbooks. (There's one story I have that I've been coming up with for about 5 years, and another I've been working on for even longer than that! Looking forward to posing those here some day...) And moreover, my goal is to take those stories as I imagine them and turn that into screenplays, that are then to be turned into comics, animations, video games, or some other visual medium, since that is what I am most passionate about.

But when it comes to taking all those wonderful scene ideas, imagery, bits and pieces, and cohesively tying them all together using actual words? That is something I'm gonna need help with! And so, that brings me here.

This was a rather unexpected turn of events, and I'm still processing all this... but I'm looking forward to learning new things here, making memories, and whatever else lies ahead for WF after this fresh start. Thank you staff for not letting this place go to waste!

 

[Lemie]

Hello.

I'm a proper old one who's not really been around the forum the past... in a long while!

But I did get a message about the old site shutting down and I felt a bit sentimental so I thought I'd check the new one out!

I used to hang out on the forum around 2018, but I'm not sure when I joined or how I found that specific writing forum.

I started writing at around 11 and wrote until my early 20s. Had a break and got back to it in my late twenties, which is when I joined the writing forum.

I'm most known for meeting and falling in love with a British guy who LostThePlot and that's how I ended up moving from Sweden to the UK!

With moving together and getting married both me and the man with the lost plot had a bit of a break in writing, but we're both back at it.

Me, I'm just writing for myself and to keep my Swedish going as I rarely speak it. And to keep myself fairly sane! I mostly spend my days needle felting, though.

My dear husband on the other hand have two books self published with... two more on the way and I think two additional in the making!

 

[typree]

I went around to Reddit to ask a question on a writing subreddit, but it got instantly shutdown.

Needless to say, that made me feel even less of a writer. I kept away from writing communities thinking that I just wasn't one of them. That is, until I realized that Reddit is sort of notorious for being toxic.

Yes. Sorry to hear that you went through that, and I'm happy that you didn't let it stop you.

While I don't want to make this thread about bad-mouthing other websites, I will say that the culture of other "creative feedback communities" (for lack of a better term) is also a major part of why I chose this place. It's not just Reddit, but especially other modern social media platforms. Generally I do like Reddit, but there's a reason why I chose Writing Forums over them, and it comes down to stories like this. Plus, from my personal experience with it, and watching others use it, it just didn't seem ideal to me for getting or giving the kind of critiques I wanted.

It's alot more fast-paced, and there's way more users, so you're competing with so many other people just to get a chance at someone reading what you wrote, let alone telling you what they have to say about it. And chances are, they probably don't think your story is good either! So if your goal is to get/give genuine, focused critiques on stories that have their own room to breathe—as mine was—then something like Reddit or Discord isn't really suited to that.

For me, WritingForum is the goldilocks zone. Not too hot, not too cold, but just right.

EDIT: Also, I like that Monika profile picture. Very fitting for your passion for writing!

 

[Rath Darkblade]

I joined writingforums.org around 2023 (I think?). I was a seasoned campaigner then, having started writing in 1995 ( Eek! ) and after joining an Aussie writing forum that went down.

I hadn't posted many stories in the workshop yet, but I've many stories (and eight finished novels, plus another one in the works) under my belt. I'm still on a journey to publication, but for now, I'm happy enough to be here and help other writers too.

I'm also part of a weekly critiquing round with another author (i.e. we swap chapters and critique each other's work), which I've done for several years. I'll be happy to do one with anyone who's interested.

Thanks for having me here!

 

[CatrionaGrace]

Greetings, forum friends and acquaintances. I joined the old forum in winter of 2021, but haven't visited recently. I was spending too much time online when I should've been working. However, having met Major Deadlines, I can come back and play once in a while.

Congratulations to Moose, Homer, and associated folks for taking the bit in your collective teeth and running with a new forum. May it bring you nothing but joy and satisfaction. Thank you for letting everyone know about the change.

I've been writing for decades: science, history, art, miscellaneous articles for profit, and fiction for the love of making up stories. In March of this year, Kensington Publishing Corporation released my first trade-published novel. Publishers Marketplace included it in BuzzBooks for Spring and Summer 2025. Publishers Weekly and The Arkansas Democrat Gazette recently featured reviews, and a number of book clubs have picked it up. I've been working my way through a schedule of speaking engagements and signings, including an official book tour in Florida. Yeah. I know. The book's reception surprised me, too. Book II is scheduled for publication in July of 2026. Book III is in the research and outline development stage. I hope the first two books will do well enough that both agent and publisher will renew my contracts, but if they don't- well, I suppose there are worse things than peaking at 70.