Why are you here?

[Amber Eyes]

Just something I'm wondering...how many of you guys actually plan to be published writers one day? Are you here for fun or to grow or a bit of both?

[Revenant]

I'm pretty much just here for the fun of it.

[SirArtemis]

for fun, to improve my skills, and to possibly become published one day.

[orphans]

I would like to become published one day.... maybe once I'm retired and have nothing else to do and so I can just focus on writing. Hopefully by then, I would have also accumulated enough experiences and seen enough things to write well.

For now, just for fun and enjoyment, and also meeting people.

[Enigmatic Immortal]

I got to admit I got one or two stories that I really would love to see published, but mostly for fun.

[Chroma the lost]

I'm here for a little self growth, a little but of writing for fun , and also maybe becoming published one day? Mostly I stumbled on role playing and slowly went from something we would laugh at on this site, to being one of the greatest in my old site, and know I've made Althanas my home on the internet of sorts. Writing and talking online has helped me go from being an immature dork to a very well written dork. I love Althanas, and the people on it, its kinda like my online drug.

[Atzar]

I have no idea why I'm here.

[Amber Eyes]

becaue you have a furry butt and we kinda like it! :)

That reads much worse than I meant it...

[Atzar]

My ass is the Althanas mascot.

[Knave]

I talk a big game, I'm something of a study when I'm not a complete novice, and I am trying new things with my writing often. This is a skill of mine, which will likely reach a high point, whether I am published or not, I need to be good at things.

I'm not too focused on one day becoming a famous writer, that ambition doesn't look good on me, it numbs me on the inside, and I need what few emotions I have. I just want to be good enough, which is not what your thinking. I WANT TO BE KING OF MOUNTAIN! And the mountain will consist of bits and pieces of you people. >_>

So I'm here to learn, and have a little fun, as I steal all your moves, and will one day use them against you in the battlefield of the market to send your sales with all due speed to hell. +u+ Kidding.

And fun definitely factors, at my best, I'm narrating in British, and struggling to keep the narration from trying to take over the story and overshadow the characters. The bastard drugs me with laughter, and takes over my hands to do its dirty deeds... on the keyboard.

[Apocalyptica]

My ass is the Althanas mascot.

Don't tempt me to post the picture of Ithermoss mooning me over webcam again.

[orphans]

DX why would you have that saved on your computer?!

[Zook Murnig]

No reason if not for the lulz.

[Duffy]

I'm alreaddy published!

Sadly, only academick work, apparently they do'nt put stuff in books with this many tipos :(

[Tour Guide Barbie]

I am here to guide. (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?p=172700#post172700)

[The State Of Maine]

Purely for fun on my end. I lack the skill, material and motivation to even consider publishing.

[Saxon]

I gave up using this place as a place for growth. Instead I just write to tame the beast.

I'll write and get published one day, maybe it'll take going to war or traveling to different places to shock me into writing something more then a few posts here and there, but it is what it is. I can see it happening sometime later in life when things have calmed down.

However, over the years I've started to want to take a creative writing class, I dunno. Lot of talent and knowledge that I think could be put to good use with some education behind it. Or, perhaps, it could just be a waste of my time and money, but I'll pick up a few tricks along the way. Who knows.

[MetalDrago]

I plan to be published one day, but mostly I'm here because, well, this site has been my home away from places that aren't my home for a long, long time.

[Christoph]

I work on getting published when I'm not working 70+ hours a week. When I first came to Althanas, it was to grow and improve as a writer. These days, when I drop in, it's usually just to mess around a little bit, or to write "for fun", as opposed to "seriously". I don't find that Althy facilitates my improvement anymore. There are sites that help me with writing far more than this place does these days.

Sure, it's all well and good to just come here and have fun, and I guess it's fine that the site focuses more on this elusive fun-factor. Still, I can't help but feel that Althanas has lost an important part of itself.

[Nightstalker]

I was scurrying around behind things when I accidentally stumbled into the glue trap. Now I'm stuck, that's why I'm here. That, and a bit of fun.

[Hysteria]

I missed RPing and writing too much, so I came here.

Not sure about trying to get something published, I was thinking about it, but not sure I have the dedication. I generally can't stick with a story for long enough.

[Caden Law]

Trying like Hell to finish a novel worthy of submission to a publisher.

Aside from that I'm just here to blow up as much of the planet as possible. :)

[Ashla]

I mostly plan on being a recording artist, but I have several ideas for writing sci-fi and middle age based adventure novels. Probably something I'd be working on off and on and finally one day publishing. I mostly do write for fun, but I'm hoping to release something someday.

[Aurelianus Drak'shal]

I get bored really easily.

And RPing is something I enjoy.

[Koevan]

I guess I'm here for the accountability. One improves writing by writing. Being judged by others and getting positive feedback can certainly help, but that can only be done if the author actually writes.

My problem has always been follow through. Putting pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard, or what have you. I always start out with bold intentions, like, "I'm going to write 1,000 words every day!" Then its 500, then a paragraph, next thing you know i haven't written anything for 6 months.

The appeal, for me, of a place like Althanas is threefold:

1) Making commitments to collaberate with other members of a community like this gives me the accountability to keep coming back and posting;

2) I can come in to a world who's foundation has already been laid, and though it can sometimes be time consuming or tedious to research and/or learn the history of a premade world, it takes a lot less effort than coming up with something entirely on my own;

3) At a site like this, everyone's voice can be heard. There are certainly some basic standards, and those with more polished voices will (deservedly) be more likely to be heard, but the community as a whole supports even the least of us to share unique thoughts and viewpioints.

I haven't been here that long, but the elitist attitude that I have seen some other places seems to be missing, and I find that very refreshing.


Oh, and this shit is fun ;)

[BlackAndBlueEyes]

I'm here to abandon threads and story arcs and chew bubblegum.

[hoytti]

I'm here to have fun as well as learn more about writing.

[Lye]

Me? I'm here to revitalize my love for writing and help out as much as possible. :)

[Gunther]

When I was 17 years old; a senior in High School, I took a Creative Writing Course. I loved the class and used to write these terribly improbable fantastic stories. My teacher often told me to write about things I had first hand knowledge about. But at 17, I didn't believe my experience level was such that I wanted to write about anything I knew about. I needed to get out there and experience things. At that age, I had every intention of writing a fiction and being published. I just needed to get some experience in those things I was interested in.

After graduating High School, I joined the Army and spent 21 years between active duty and National Guard. I ended up as an Infantry Officer and learned how armies are organized and how they fight. I learned a lot of stuff, that I can use in a story. I also spent 12 years working as a Police Officer. Some of those moments were fun, while others were frantic. I definitely had some experiences that I can pull from to write about in a story. I also spent five years working for a railroad and three years selling equities.

When I was 39, I got married and at age 40, my first child was born -- a blonde haired blue - eyed little girl. Yes, she is the apple of her daddy's eye. Being a father provided me with lessons and experiences I hadn't counted on. But again, I can use these in a story. I also elected to be the Stay at Home parent since my wife earned a higher income working in the health care profession. Being a Stay at Home parent afforded me ample time to sit at the computer and be creative. I have written 130 pages toward a Science Fiction novel, but like Koeven said and BlackandBlueEyes alluded to, I also have a problem with follow through. I have lost the drive for that story and cannot for the life of me think of what to write to continue with that storyline. It sucks. I would love to contribute to the household income with a published novel.

Here it is 10 years later and I'm still Role Playing or participating in Collaborative Works of Fiction that will never be published. I like to look at this activity as practice or exercise to aid in increasing my abilities. But who am I kidding? It is merely keeping me away from writing that novel. I am aware of that, yet I continue in this behavior. Is that the definition of crazy or stupid? I haven't figured that one out yet. Before I know it, I'll be 60 or 70 and will have totally lost my mind. No more opportunities for a story. I wish I could apply myself now and get it done. I wish I had done it when I was 25 and the experiences were still fresh.

Don't wait!

[hoytti]

And the reward for the best answer goes to... Gunther! *Applause*

[Lowell]

*claps*