HalfHoff

HalfHoff: This new format really throws dumb ol girls like me for a loop - but I'm a player, so here goes:

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I WISH TO CONVERY TO ALL WRITERS, ESPECIALLY NEW MEMBERS is NEVER believe ONE - trust in the whole.

After my mother repeatedly received invitational email from a poetry site, she posted one of my high school poems without my knowledge. Some days later, she confessed ... and so I went to have a look at what the 'real' writing communittee thought of me.

I had received one review. It read, and I quote: "You suck and I hope you DIE! You should never try to ever write another thing again as long as you live. Give the world a break and get a real job!"

I was so devistated - I cried for days, constantly. I only wanted to gather enough courage to login to that website one more time, just long enough to erase every trace of me.

When, at long last,I did, noticed three more reviews had been offered, and figured as long as I was down, might as well let them kick me too.

However, those three reviews changed my life. Not only were they helpful and supportive, but each asked me to submit again. AND EVERY one of them wrote me that my first review came from a 'trial member' who had spent the entire week of his unpaid reign sending degrading comments to as many NEW members as he possibly had time for.

Had I not had the guts to at least go back and erase my site, I would have NEVER written again. Never.

Do NOT focus your attention on one or two negative reviews. Consider the advise from TRUE communitee of writers at Fanstory. They will not only inspire and support you, they will make you better, I promise.

Thank you. Lea Ann