The Next Big Writer
I signed on to http://thenextbigwriter.com in December of 2005, with no idea what to expect, having never belonged to an online writing community before. I’d been a member of a face-to-face writer’s group where, each week, we met and read from our own work, accepting feedback, comments, and criticism from the other writers in the group. I learned a lot about my strengths and weaknesses as a writer through this process. I was, therefore, skeptical that an online community could provide me with the same friendships, honesty, and debate. I was concerned about the quality of the material I was going to be asked to read and comment on. I joined for a trial month to check it out.
Boy, was I in for a surprise. The two or three pieces I selected to review were from quality writers, tackling ambitious projects, like novels, and eager for feedback to help them improve their craft. I received appreciative responses for my reviews. After earning enough credits, and with considerable trepidation, I made my first postings and was astonished by the warmth, rigor, honesty, praise and encouragement I got from the writers who reviewed my work.
My first novel, The Willow Tree of Tullamaine, went through a couple of critical metamorphoses based on the feedback I received, and am still receiving, at this site. I no longer have that awful, isolated feeling, stumbling around with no one to talk to about writing, no one to ask about whether or not this works, or that character is believable. TNBW is a fabulous site if you’re a serious writer who wants a place to hone their craft and help others improve theirs.
thenextbigwriter.com is free if you just want to read and review the work of its many fine writers. Links to some of them are below. To post your own work for feedback costs a few dollars a month, but it is money well spent.
ANN SIMKO: a highly versatile writer who has produced such works as: the Mystery series, Fallen -- The Coyote's Song -- Through the Glass; the Fantasy novel, Stay Gold; the Science Fiction novel, Keeper of the Dream; and a novel for young adults, Center of the Storm. For the pleasure of spending time with a talented, imaginative author, visit her author's profile page at:
http://thenextbigwriter.com/library/authors.html/Annie
L. P. THOMAS is a poet and author of an extensive body of work. She lays herself open on the page, writing with unflinching passion and honesty. You can read her at:
http://www.thenextbigwriter.com/library … _P._Thomas
MITCH GELLER: Attention all you baby-boomers! Read Street of Rogues, the story of a boy who stumbles his way from the 1970's streets of New York to a semblance of honorable adulthood, narrowly missing arrest, imprisonment, severe bodily harm, and being a complete loser. Mitch writes with ferocious wit and brilliant lyricism. Don't miss this one at:
http://www.thenextbigwriter.com/library/authors.html/whatta
MICHAEL KENT: a wonderfully gifted Canadian writer, writes novels, short stories, poetry with wry humor, a touch of Mickey Spillane, and much wincing when he stumbles on an epiphany. Read him at:
http://www.thenextbigwriter.com/library/authors.html/Michael_Kent
SONNY: a writer from South Carolina with endless imagination, from his poetry to his wonderfully inventive short stories to his very contemporary spy/thriler, Project 235, set in modern day Iran. You can sample this exciting novel at: http://www.thenextbigwriter.com/library/authors.html/sonny and learn more about this talented writer on www.sonny1.squarespace.com