Help!

[Cleveland]

I've never participated in a forum of any kind in any way before, so please forgive me if I do this all wrong.

I've written a short story that I would like to submit to this site, but I would like to make sure it measures up first. So, i'm looking for someone to edit/proof read/point out major flaws ... tell me if I suck.

My biggest concern is that it isn't really a story at all, that it's just two people talking. So, I need someone to tell me, brutally honestly, if it is worth a reader's time or not.

I'd rather not post it on a forum. I'd rather send it to someone privately if anyone out there is so kind. I promise I'm not argumentative; I'm not overly attached to my writing. I only want to get better.

Hope I did this right.

Thank you.

[Cole Parker]

You did it fine!

It would be useful if you'd say how long the story is you've written. Someone might be very willing to look at something that's, say, 6,000 words long, but be reluctant to tackle a 35,000 word offering, and so not make the offer to help simply because of that uncertainty.

The fact it's all dialogue shouldn't make any difference at all. It's the quality of the writing that's important, not the format or framework.

Cole

[Cleveland]

Thank you, Cole. I didn't think of that. According to my word processing program, the story is 3,800 words. I actually thought it was longer than that.

It's not neccessarily all dialog, but not alot of action, either.

Thanks again, sir.

[Richard Norway]

Hi Cleveland,

This a group of writers of all degrees of competence, Cole being one of our best, that want to be better, that are working at their craft. We all know that our first drafts are miserable but realize that editing, re-editing and taking a final look at it is necessary. I'm glad that you've accomplished the first step in writing a story and are now on the second, third, fourth, etc steps in making it ready for the readers. Well done!

Many writers use many different approaches in getting out their story. Many use narrative to describe what is happening, but I for one, use a lot of dialog to get the story across. You say that you've used a lot of dialog. That's great.

Now, you've got everybody's interest in exactly what it is that you've written. If you'd permit me, I'd be interested in seeing what you've written. I'm not an expert at editing because I don't do it for a living, but I'll be honored to take a look.

And (I've been slammed be experts for starting a sentence with a conjunction) we are so glad that you're joining us. Everyone here is ready to assist a writer, given their own time constraints. This really is a community.

[Bruin Fisher]

Richard writes great stuff and you'll get excellent advice from him.

Like others, I'm consumed with curiosity - I want to read your story. So if you want more than one reader, I'm offering!

Good to have you with us, Cleveland.

[The Pecman]

Wow, I'm impressed we have a celebrity on the forum!

Oh. Wrong Cleveland.

[Cleveland]

Some people do say I'm a bit cartoonish, so it's a common mistake.

[The Pecman]

Pay no attention to me. Once I get the Cleveland theme stuck in my head, I can't think of anything else for days.

Welcome!

[Cleveland]

I have a problem with commercial jingles. They get stuck in my head and I sing them till my dog looks at me like I'm off my nut.

Of course, he looks at me like that anyway.

The worst was the free credit report dot com jingles from a year or so ago. Couldn't get 'em outta my head. The new ones suck, however.

Cleveland