Re: Jim isn't the only one who finds the writing dire

Without having actually read the story in question, it does occur to me to wonder whether anyone here besides me can remember when they were a beginning writer and wrote atrociously. I know that there are some lucky folks who spring forth as full-grown writers, like Athene out of the forehead of Zeus. But for most of us, learning to write is a process - and part of that process is receiving encouragement and constructive criticism from others. Over at another forum I'm on right now, a beginning writer is serializing a story. The story has serious problems. I'm quite sure the other forum members recognize that, because the quality of tales in this fiction community tends to be high. Yet everyone who has responded to the serialized installments has offered friendly advice and encouragement. I can't help but be struck by the contrast between that episode and what has been happening at this board. I only hope that this is a departure from BW members' usual manner of offering feedback, or I can't imagine how many beginning writers at BW have abandoned their craft before they barely got started learning it.