Come Introduce Yourself!

[Kait Nolan]

Come introduce yourself!

[Eliza Wyatt]

Hello! I guess I'll start for this genre.

My name is Eliza Wyatt. By day I'm a computer nerd, with a bachelor's degree in computer science. I take martial arts, I work in a company that does quality control for computer applications, I split the rest of my time between keeping up my house, visiting my boyfriend, art projects, and writing.

Right now I'm working on finishing up the second draft of a fantasy novel. I mean to do at least one more complete rewrite before I start going over the prose, since there is a lot of political intrigue in the story and the plot is my first priority at the moment. Just be aware that it is a dark fantasy (or a low-fantasy, to be more precise), and as such it can get very violent.

I have some real-life friends and acquaintances look over it, and so far my feedback has been very positive. I'm a harsh critic, though, and I'd love to see someone hammer the larger elements that are still lacking.

[Lockea Stone]

Would it be insanely cliche to act like the teenage girl I am and wave wildly at the crowd?

Hi! I'm Lockea Stone, called LoLo by friends and family. I am currently a university student majoring in Astronautical Engineering and minoring in Mathematics and Human Factors and Systems Design. In my (albeit very little) free time, I enjoy Yoga, reading, baking, and building things (currently, mini bajas). I love the act of creating, which is perhaps why I'm not too terribly interested in getting published so much as I'm interested in becoming a better writer. I'm a typically cheerful and silly young woman who likes to play pranks and act younger than I really am.

I am an unashamed member of a support group for young adults with mental illnesses, of which I have some four or five different ones. I spend my extra free time working with at the counseling center on campus and attending meetings. Perhaps this is why most of my writing revolves around psychology and the way different people react in different situations. This is one of my strongest points.

As far as my writing goes, I like to have a large variety of projects on the table at any one time, from short stories to non fiction articles. Currently, in the novel area, I am working on a political romance involving gender roles, since gender inequality happens to be another one of my passions. I'm still in the first draft, but most everything is planned. However, I am worried about the flat feeling to the dialogue at times.

In a crit partner, I'm looking for someone encouraging, yet honest, who I can bounce ideas off of. I need someone who's good as a sounding board and willing to give long, detailed feedback. Since my weak points are in dialogue and info dumping, it'd be nice if they were good at spotting and correcting those little mistakes.

Anyway, I'm pleased to be joining this group! I hope everyone will regard me kindly!

[Merrilee Faber]

Hi the Spec Fic crowd,

I'm probably the "granny" of the group. I'm a new mother trying to balance baby, work and writing, with reasonable success so far!

Looking forward to teaming up with some like-minded people, or just meeting other spec-fic writers.

Cheers,
M.

[Saint]

Hey everyone!

I'm Saint, the type of dork who grows irritated at a spelling error on a street sign. When not caring for grumpy senior citizens, I'm either involved in martial arts, painting, or reading. And of course writing. I'm a relative noob at writing, with only five years under my belt, but it's a great passion of mine. While one of my goals is getting published, my top priority is to better my craft as much as possible.

My current project is an urban fantasy novel in its first draft. I'm trying to work out the solid core of the story before refining it through several more drafts. It involves potentially sensitive concepts such as homosexuality, transgendered persons, serial murder, and torture, so it's likely not for everybody.

In regards to a crit partner, I'm not that interested in someone who critiques sentence by sentence; I can find those types of mistakes easily enough. What I really need is feedback on the larger aspects; plot, believability of a situation, overall flow and pacing, etc. I don't mind harsh criticism; you can describe a scene as something out of a bad bodice ripper, as long as you explain *why* you were left with that impression. I'd also love to be able to discuss various ideas and plans pertaining to the plot.

I'm pretty flexible when it comes to crit, willing to give either a nitpicky, sentence by sentence examination or a more general review. I usually crit as a reader instead of a writer, unless there are some obvious problems (many paragraphs of infodumping, for example, or switching from present tense to past tense).

Anyway, I'm excited to be here and hope to have a good time!

[Nadia Lee]

Hi. My name is Nadia, and I write paranormal romance. I'm looking for a serious CP, and I've posted a detailed questionnaires with what I'd like and what I can do for you here.

I look forward to finding a great CP. :)

[Amanda Church]

Hi, My name is Amanda Church. I guess I accidently posted my intro over in historical (who knew--I'm just finding my way around here), but now I'm in the right place.

Anyway, I write paranormal/urban fantasy, but I love anything with a paranormal element. I guess I've always been attracted to the "dark side" of unreality. My current WIP (completed and now in editing phase) is a third-person urban fantasy with three main characters. I'm planning a series of at least three novels (maybe more).

I've been writing forever (seems like) and worked for 20 years as a freelance/technical editor. I now run a small web design business out of my home and write whenever I find time between the day job and caring for my elderly parents.

I'm looking for a steady CP, someone I can talk to whenever I'm stuck, who can give and take honest criticism, and is serious about getting published. Because I have been an editor for so long, I'm not so much looking for a line-by-line grammar lesson as I am someone who will look at the overall picture - plot, character, etc. -- and point out any problems or make recommendations, and I would like someone who is looking for the same.

As I said, I love anything to do with the paranormal. I read avidly in the field as much for entertainment as to keep up with what's current, and for inspiration. I don't get offended by language/material choices and am open to just about anything in the written word. I belong to a local writing group, but they're mostly poets and journal-type writers and know nothing about the paranormal or anything else outside their comfort zone, so they're not much help other than as a social outlet. Since I live in a small town in a fairly rural area, there aren't many options for meeting other writers.

Personally, I'm at that point in my life where everything would be just like I wanted if I had the financial means to make it so. Kids are grown and flown the nest, grandkids are far enough away not to be a bother but close enough to see when I want. I have 2 cats who I adore and love to work outside when time permits.

[C. M. Clark]

Hello, I posted in the paranormal thread, but I also write fantasy. I've been working on editing one of my fantasy novels for the last few months along with a science fiction novel (only one I've wrote).

I've been writing for 10 years now and have far to many novels building up and need to find someone that will push me to edit more.

As for a crit partner... I feel like any kind of help would be better then getting an "it's good" back on any of my work.

I believe what I'm looking for most is someone that can see plot holes, where the decription falls shorts, where the characters don't seem right. etc.

hmm - I'm never good with these introduce yourself threads...

[SnowFall]

Hi,
My name is John. By day I am either encapsulated in a 70's brown cubicle, building a better tomorrow for the world of data storage, or I am at home running around after an active toddler. I write in those short pauses, at 5:30 am before duty calls. I have completed 1 novel, which is in dire need of critique, and am working on a second. The first is more along the lines of commercial thriller/literary fiction, the second is more along the lines of fantasy.
I am looking for help in in creating realistic dialogue, and feedback on when plot or characters become bogged down.
I also write short stories, and welcome critique there as well. I always know what I'm trying to say, the question is will the reader?

[Regan]

Hi all!

My name is Regan. I write science fiction and fantasy, though I plan to try my hand at literary fiction one of these days. My current project--and what I really need critiqued by someone who isn't related to me--is a science fiction novel, Flawed. It is a dystopia and follows a young woman who seeks to uncover the secrets in her society, all the while haunted and hindered by the unnatural loyalty and connection she feels to the society's leader, Mother. It's a bit more original than it sounds. I've finished the second draft. Friends and family think I should publish it. I'd like to agree, but it needs more work and another pair of eyes.

I've been a writer all my life, but only recently have I begun to think I might be able to make a future in it. Consequently, I will be starting a MFA program in writing this year, and devoting the next two years to seeing whether I'm any good. I've done a lot of editing in the past, mostly for classes and friends. I'm good at nitpicking and at analyzing the bigger picture. If you're willing to devote time to helping me, I'll give my all to help you.

[Madeline]

X

[Tessa Edwards]

Hi, I'm Tessa. I work at a "pet resort", and do a little dog-walking and pet sitting on the side. I just graduated high school at 17, and am working for a while until I figure out what I want to do with my life. I have been writing for about 12 years (I made my first 'book' when I was about five years old) and I have been published several times by small magazines. I used to volunteer edit a small magazine, but quit because of moral issues. I am currently working on a fantasy/scifi/semi-horror novel with a little bit of romance, though that isn't the main story. I have finished the first draft (the story looks like it will be more than one novel long!) and am working on revising. I am looking for a critter willing to read long manuscripts and comment thoroughly on them, and am willing to do the same in return. I have about three years experience with critiquing writing, and though i am best at fantasy and scifi, I am willing to critique works from other genres as well.

[Tessa Edwards]

Hi, I'm Tessa. I work at a "pet resort", and do a little dog-walking and pet sitting on the side. I just graduated high school at 17, and am working for a while until I figure out what I want to do with my life. I have been writing for about 12 years (I made my first 'book' when I was about five years old) and I have been published several times by small magazines. I used to volunteer edit a small magazine, but quit because of moral issues. I am currently working on a fantasy/scifi/semi-horror novel with a little bit of romance, though that isn't the main story. I have finished the first draft (the story looks like it will be more than one novel long!) and am working on revising. I am looking for a critter willing to read long manuscripts and comment thoroughly on them, and am willing to do the same in return. I have about three years experience with critiquing writing, and though i am best at fantasy and scifi, I am willing to critique works from other genres as well.