Tips For New Writers On WDC

I've been around WDC for a couple of years. Most of the time I lurk in the background and just read random things without rating or reviewing much. I know most new writers on here are always asking for rates and reviews, but there are times I just can't. I just for-the-love-of-God-and-all-that-is-holy cannot rate or review.

Why?

Well, first the descriptions. Granted you are limited in how many words you can use to describe your work. I'll give you that. But to just post up something that doesn't even relate to your story really throws me off. If the description doesn't throw me off, the use of "uh", "erm" and things of that sort will definitely not make me want to read it. The final thing: TYPOS. If you post something up for people to read, don't have typos in your description.

1) Describing your work~ One of the first things you are going to learn as a writer and promoting yourself is how to describe your work. Lots of agents and publishers out there who ask for query letters want you to describe your work as quickly as possible. So you break it down. Describe your story in one sentence. Then describe your story in two sentences. Finally, describe it in one paragraph. These are things I have learned from many friends in the writing field. Sound easy? It isn't. But it can be done!

2) Typos~ If you have typos in your descriptions of your work, personally, I will skip over it. If you have typos in your description and didn't take the time to check it before posting, what will your story look like? I'm all for reviewing someone's work, but if I have to point out an error in every sentence, forget it. Errors in your description indicate, as a first impression, that that is exactly what I am going to be doing. It is exciting to get your work up and into your portfolio as quickly as possible to see what sort of response you will get, but take the time and energy to put up a good, solid description. You took the time to polish your story and give it a thorough look, so give your description the same effort.

When posting about your story, I understand the whole mind-boggling thing of having just wrote and revised something then having WDC ask for a short description. This is where you go, "Uhhhhh...." Don't do it! Don't post that into the description. Think about it! Would you read something that said, "Uh...just a shrt thing I wanted too post up...r8 plz."?

Don't shorten your words because of limited space. That is internet-speak. Save it for instant messages and World of Warcraft.

Remember, short, polished descriptions. Put as much effort into the description as you do the story to attract readers, rates and reviews. Happy writing!