[Dedalus]

I write quite abit and have wona few things when I was younger. I know what you mean about the personal stuff....it feels like you're exposing yourself. I am about 40,000 words into my novel at the moment and I'm afraid to let someone else in my life see it...however the internet has beena great source of encouragement.

If your novel is over 10,000 words I suggest you put it on authonomy for feedback from other writers. Its good stuff you get there.

The main thing to improve your writing is to read avidly and to read widely. And not things like Stephanie Meyer or Jodie Picoult, but well seasoned writers who's grammar and syntax is perfect, names like de Quincey, Robert Graves, Hunter S. Thompson, Marquez, Dickens, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Yeats, &c., &c.

Finally if you post an excerpt here I'll read it and give you my opinion.