A B N A Vets Forum Introductions, please

Some of us haven't been in the ABNA forum, though we have entries in the competition.  Some of us are using different names here.  I just thought we might introduce ourselves, with the pertinent aliases, on this thread.

I'm L. Davidson at the ABNA forum, Leah D here. Put those together and you've got my actual full name.  I've been a Cafe member since last spring, started a fantasy group that's been ticking along back in April or so.

I've learned tons from peer-review, and hope most of you want to participate in that sort of thing here.  I'm looking forward to reading your writing, as well as chatting with all of you.

Alicia, that's the best resolution I've ever heard.  I think I'll make it too.

I'm Gayna and I have also sent a Fantasy to ABNA but mine is the first of a series. It started as a trilogy (What else do fantasy writers write?) but while I was working on the initial draft for the third book I started to get ideas. Whether it goes beyond the ideas stage depends on whether I can sell the first book (or the characters kidnap me and force me to write it.)

I am currently writing about a different fantasy world so that I will have two ms to sell rather than putting all my eggs in one basket.

I hope everyone had a good holiday,

Gayna.

Ps I wanted to post a "Yay I'm in too!" in the Amazon Forum but I don't have an account with Amazon so they wouldn't let me.

I'm in Western Australia and at the moment it is 10.30 at night (Boxing Day) and the temperature here is 28.8 C and today it was 42.7 C. Thank goodness for air conditioning.

Gayna.

Hi Gayna!

We're ahead of the official forum in our higher number of Aussies, by my count.

I'm writing fantasy, but I'm not stopping at a trilogy -- I have four primary cultures in my world that I want to explore, and each has subcultures that are just as important in many ways -- so the present status is two completed novels, one about a third done in first draft, and a fourth in notes and planning.  Fifth in concept stage.  A saga. They're all inter-related, some more than others, but I hope each will function as a stand-alone novel.

All you fantasy writers, please post something here -- and if you'd like to join my fantasy group, The Wood Beyond the World, let me know -- I'm going to run the idea of inviting more members past the original membership some time this week. (We don't want to get too huge, but I think it would be good to have some new folks to stir things up a bit.)

I'm Lora Taite and I submitted a fantasy novel called Ristia to the contest, though this one isn't part of a series. I live in Phoenix, Arizona (a.k.a. The Pizza Oven) and I should be cleaning right about now...

Leah, I would also love to join your fanasy group.

I entered a mystery/suspense novel in the contest, but there's also a lot about relationships in the book, too, and about people who don't fit in.  The relationship part wasn't intended - it just bloomed as the book was developing.  It's definitely not literary and it doesn't fit a genre neatly, so I'm a little concerned about how it will fare with the reviewers.  [Sigh of resignation] 

Regardless of the outcome, I've learned about this myriad cyber-writing-world out here.  It's amazing and I had no idea!  I thank you all for the fun and communication and education and I'll look forward to continuing here in the Cafe even if I'm dunked on the 15th.

Anais Nin:  "We don't see things as they are; we see things as we are."

Like you I hadn't realised there were writers groups online. Everyone says "Join a writers group" but I haven't the time or the inclination to sit in a small room with a bunch of old ladies all writing their life story.

I love the idea of getting feedback at a time that suits me (and three kids under 9). Now if I can only find something (and of course the courage) to submit.

Greetings,

My name is Kimbro West. Many of you will know me from the ABNA forum as Antmuscle. I started writing seriously in 2005 after having heart surgery at a young age (27 at the time) and almost losing my life. Years and years of going to work and doing everyday things, I realized if I had died then and there, I really would not have made any kind of impact on the world.

After my recovery, I had my first real adventure out of the house. I went and saw a movie(I love movies), it was difficult to walk far, and I felt rather dizzy most of the trip, but my wife helped quite a bit and soon we were seeing "The Chronicles of Narnia" -- I didn't care for the movie at all. I told my wife "I could write something better than that!". A very foolish comment, because she challenged me to write something better, and well... here is my opportunity to do something. So I have submitted my YA fiction book called "Dimon's Dream". It is Book 1 in a series of 6.

I am not the best writer here, and I am also not as educated in writing as many of the other ABNAvets, but I have a story to tell... and by the death of me, I am going to tell it.

Yea, Chrysoula!  I'm a bear for technique, myself.  I didn't  know what I was doing with pacing, PoV, etc. when my stories started compelling me to write, and I've learned so much from other writers.

I love revision too, and especially like adapting the suggestions of my trusted writer/readers to the problem spots in my novels.  I hope everyone here really gets into reviewing each other -- maybe not every single member's stuff, but whatever we find congenial.

Glad to have you here!

Whilst I suspect you are just waving a carrot to initiate conversation I feel, as the writer of a fantasy series, that I must respond. 

The books of a trilogy or series aren't sequels. They are often the continuation of the same story but divided into sections short enough for you to hold. (Have you ever tried to read Lord of the Rings in one illustrated book. You need very strong wrists.)

The word sequel reminds me of terrible hollywood movies where they make one good film then repeat the same story over and over and over again- usually with a cheaper cast.

Gayna