Noticing Newbies

Hi, so I'm new around here and would like to share a little about myself...

I am a very avid reader. If I could just read all day I would.. Okay so I have done that before. Seriously though if I could do it and not have to worry about being a wife or a mum I would

It isn't all fun and games for me though. I have a few health issues to battle everyday. Epilepsy, Asthma, High Blood Pressure, Type 2 Diabetes, Depression, Anxiety and Agoraphobia. For me the depression, anxiety and agoraphobia are the worst. True they won't actually harm me physically but the depression and anxiety have worked together for 21 years roughly. Eventually it got so bad I stopped going out. Which where the agoraphobia decided to make an appearance 6 years ago.

Stepping away from that little insight to my health....

Apart from reading I also love to write. It's something I've always loved doing since I was about 6 years old. Unfortunately I didn't continue writing or reading after leaving primary (elementary) school. It wasn't encouraged or the bullies would make fun until you just stop doing it. It wasn't until I had my son that I started reading again. It has become a big part of my life the past 11 years.

I didn't start writing again until the agoraphobia kicked in. There were a lot of role-play groups on Facebook at that time so I join a few groups as a reader first and then became brave enough to audition for a role. I spent almost 4 years doing that and absolutely loved writing those different kind of roles. The only thing I had trouble with and still do is writing dialogue. I can come up with a storyline and write it. Just can't put in the dialogue. It always feels forced and uncomfortable when I do.

I'm hoping by joining this forum I will be able to read what others write and hopefully learn from them. I also need to learn to 'show not tell'. I have a bad habit of telling. In a group of writers all role-playing it was easy to get feedback and being able to fix your work after. It isn't as easy when it is just you sat in front of a laptop writing. You don't have a fellow writer in a chat with you that you can ask advice or send them what you have written and get their opinion. So apart from learning dialogue tricks and tips. I'd love to learn how to 'show not tell'.

I look forward to talking to you all, reading your work and learning from you.. My first question though is.. Do you have to post a completed piece or can you post it bit by bit for feedback?