N. C. Matthews

My pen name is Nicola Chey Matthews. I have been writing for over 28 years now. I first began writing when I was only five years old. I wrote my first novel at the age of 13, and had attempted 2 others when I was only 8. I have been published through mainstream publishers as well as self-published. I have mentored dozens of authors over the years. I also do a lot of freelance proofreading and editing. With so many years of experience under my belt, I have EARNED the right to call myself a writer.

I am currently working on a trilogy series called BEFORE THE SUN RISES. I also just finished up a short novella. I am also working on a spin-off novella from the first novel in the BEFORE THE SUN RISES series. In addition to these works, I have also been commissioned to write a How-To guide on creative writing. You will find several chapters of some of my novels, short stories, and poems posted here on WritersCafe. Additional pieces of my work can be read on my personal website http://NicolaMatthews.webs.com I also host a blog that has several articles regarding creative writing. It is these articles that a lot of my writing courses are based upon. http://LetUsWrite.wordpress.com

As I have said, I have been in the writing and publishing business all of my adult life. I did not come on this site to get ill-thought-out 'critiques' by the droves of self-proclaimed teenage "writing experts" that seem to plague this site. I neither want nor need someone else's ideas of what is the "right" way to write or personal writing style/choices shoved down my throat. I learned a long time ago that the only thing that will make you a better writer is lots and LOTS of practice, a lot of time and energy developing your own personal writing style and then OWNING that style.

I have spent YEARS practicing and honing my craft. What you will find on this site is often the first rough draft that has not officially been through the proofreading/editing phase. Even so, what has been posted is the result of sometimes YEARS of thought. There are scenes that I have written and rewritten beyond count. I have spent countless hours going over scenes in my head trying to think of just the right way to write them so that the reader gets the full effect. Chances are, whatever the 'experts' of this site seem to think would be a great thing to point out in a review has probably already popped into my head a dozen times or more. I don't just slap something down on a piece of paper and hope people like it. I look at my writing from every possible angle, think of all the possible outcomes, racking my brain for just the right words. Everything that I have posted here is either already in publication or is being considered for publication. I am not an "aspiring" author who hopes to get published someday; I AM a published author.