Newbie alert, Please be gentle Options

[Guest_manofwords73_*]

Hello from North Carolina. I joined late last week but my work schedule has prevented posting until now. Just wanted to introduce myself and ask for some guidance on the best way to benefit from this site. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks a lot.

[Guest_Nina_*]

Hi Manofwords

and a very warm welcome to MM.  The best way to benefit from this site is to take a deep breath and dive straight in.  It can seem a little confusing at first so if you wish to get a feel for the site before posting your own work, explore the different forums, read a few tiles (threads)  and see the replies.  When you are ready, post your own work in a forum and crit others.  

We have two poetry crit forums, Hermes for R & M and Seren's for Free verse.  There is also Shambhalan Sanctuary for the darker and more erotic works.  For prose, the place to go is Stonehenge or if posting chapters Loch Ness.  Our guidelines for the crit forums is that you post no more than one poem every other day in a forum and crit two other member's poems.

For fun and inspiration we run several challenges in Acropolis, Pandora forums.

Flash-Jam is our fortnightly  writing exercise.  A stimulus is set and members write either a poem or prose on whatever the stimulus inspires them to write.  There is a time limit of 30 minutes, though this isn't a hard and fast rule.

Every week there we have a ten word challenge.  Create a poem or story using the set ten words.

We have just begun a fortnightly drabble challenge.  Two words are given and members write either a 60 or 100 word story (prose only) from one of those words.

Monthly there is Pandora's challenge which varies each month.

My suggestion is to join in as much as you can given your no doubt hectic work schedule.  The more you get involved the more you will benefit.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to PM (private message) me.  There is a button at the bottom of this post.

I look forward to reading your work and ineracting with you.

Nina

[Guest_Jox_*]

Hi Kenneth...

And a very warm welcome to MM; delighted to have you here.

I'm afraid I don't know North Carolina; sorry. How's the temperature there now?

I see that Nina has offered an excellent and practical introduction, so I can put my feet up and say I won't add to it for fear of confusion.

The staff are denoted by coloured discs above their avatars (I like your avatar, by the way). So feel free to ask if you'd like help - and I see Nina's already on the ball there too.

Anyway, since I'm not saying anything much I'll go away - but I did want to add my welcome to Nina's and the others you'll receive.

See you around MM!

Best wishes,

James.

[AMETHYST]

Hello Kenneth and welcome to Mosaic Musings...


I see Nina has already helped with the directions on getting involved, so I won't repeat that, however it is good advice to read through the forums and get an idea, which forums suit you as a writer and a poet.

I look forward to reading your work and if at any point you have a question pertaining to features and their use, rules and guidelines of the various forums and/or even for anything that might come to mind.

So you are from N Carolina? ... What part? I am looking into moving from Florida within the next year moving and some parts of N.C. are on the list of possibilities.

Welcome again! I look forward to your work and interacting with you on the boards.  

Best Regards, Liz

[Guest_Toumai_*]

Hi Kenneth

I'll add my welcome to all the others  :wave:  :cheer:

The [latest posts] at the top of the screen is very handy for a general view of the most recent posts.

Don't worry about getting lost - just shout (pm any of the mods) and we'll help.

Looking forward to your posts,

Fran

[Peterpan]

Yes, and welcome from South Africa! Thanks for reading my poem.

Look forward to your poetry, when you have the time...

PP

[Cleo_Serapis]

Hello Kenneth (or do you prefer Ken) and Welcome to MM!

WOW- Nina has given you the creme de la creme of details (the most popular forums we offer here at the Mosaic so I'll just and say Thanks Nina!  

Another tip if you'd like to contact a staff member (well two actually) is to click on the link above your Welcome bar in RED to view our alternative forum index. Here is the link too. At the top, you'll see the following:

[ Log In :: Register ] [ Staff: AMETHYST, blondie, Charon, Cleo_Serapis, Cybele, Imhotep, JLY, Jox, Nina, Toumai ]
Just click on the hyperlinks to one of the names and then utilize the "Click here to send (member name)a Private Message" hyperlink in their profiles.

Please keep in mind I will be changing 'blondie' to 'Cathy'.

If you'd like to query a moderator or administrator, you can also click on the link at the bottom of our forum (underneath our users active stats) labeled 'Team List'. Just click the PM button to send one of us a message. :block: This list also will detail who moderates the various forums as well.    

Located in this forum you'll find a few tips as well.

I look forward to reading your work and interacting with you!

Cheers!  

~Cleo  

[Blank_Canvas]

Hello Kenneth,
     Sorry if this welcome comes a little late. My work schedule at the moment has got me spinning.....
      I am glad you chose to join us here. Lots of friendly and talented poets call this home. They seem encouraging and compassionate to those who are learning the ropes and offer intelligent feedback to them, as easily, as to the seasoned veteran. I love their playfulness as much as their serious poetry. If you are a serious writer who devotes hours to your craft and desires to be published.....this is a wonderful beginning point. On the other hand, if you are like me, one who has no desire to publish, etc...one who loves poetry as a pastime and an outlet for thoughts and emotions.....and will always have a lot to learn.....it is wonderful for that, as well. Participate as much as time allows you and give as freely as you are given. You will make friends and learn so much ! It will be oh, so grand, to have you among us !
                                           Marcia

[Guest_Artemis_*]

Hi manofwords...
What part of North Carolina are you talking about?
I spent 20yrs in Chattanooga, and have tromped all over eastern Tennessee and southwestern North Carolina, hiking solo, or sometimes 'accompanied'.. and sometiems with my Airedales. I love the Southern Appalachians!

Now i'm in north central Florida.. and oh, how I miss the mountains sometimes (there are some horse trails I ride on, which go along the tops of embankments made decades ago as part of an ill-fated 'cross florida barge canal' project. When I'm on the tops of those, I *pretend* I am in the mountains!

but then.. not ALL of North Carolina is mountains! You might be down nearer the ocean...

anyway, welcome.

gena
artemis