INTRODUCTIONS

[foxfinial]

As I'd rather this comm doesn't become full of intro posts, please feel free to introduce yourself in the comments here.

What kind of fantasy do you like to write? Do you write long or short things? What are you working on at the moment? etc

Off-topic comments are totally fine. =)

I'm your mod, foxfinial (aka Alex), a reader and writer of weird fantasy. My favourite authors are China Miéville, KJ Bishop, Catherynne M Valente, Milorad Pavic, Jeff VanderMeer, Steph Swainston, M John Harrison, Christopher Barzak and probably some others. I'm currently writing a novel about a war between humans and water-people in a secondary world heavily influenced by Thailand. It's being told in the form of a fake history book comprising various texts, such as translations (with footnotes, om nom), letters, chronicles, journal entries, messages on clothing. I've had some short fiction and poetry published, and am submitting a completed novel to agents.

I hope you like this comm!

Comments

[ex_pippin880]

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[fromastudio]

Hi! I'm Lynn, intermittent writer of speculative fiction; I attended Clarion South this year, which has made the intermittency slightly less so. At the moment I'm mostly finishing up fanfiction projects and toying with speculative poetry and short stories while trying to set more concrete goals.

Fantasy reading-wise: Michael Swanwick, M. John Harrison, and Michael Chabon are always somewhere at the top, and my speculative fiction preferences range from conventional to eclectic on any given day. I'm particularly fond of fantasy-of-manners (or possibly just Kushner and Jane Austen; the other fantasists-of-manners I find enjoyable but less compelling, although I'm very fond of Susanna Clarke).

[caro]

Hi, I'm Caro. I'm trying to get back into writing after a long hiatus. Fantasy is usually my favorite thing to read or write, and I'm currently picking at three different projects, all of which are supposed to be novel-length (eventually). I haven't been very successful with writing long things, but it's always my intention. My favorite thing to do is world-building, and I'm currently trying to start a novel that will take place in the fantasy setting I've been working on for about a decade. I figure it's past time to actually write something about it!

As a reader, some of my favorite fantasy authors are Susanna Clarke, Neil Gaiman, George RR Martin, Megan Whalen Turner, and China Miéville. I'm actually trying to start reading a lot more these days, so I'm very open to any recommendations.

[asinter]

haha, oh right, I should probably comment here.

Hullo! I'm Yun/Ash/Asph/hey you over there. I read and (attempt to) write fantasy; to be honest, it's more like I read and worldbuild fantasy and then somewhere along the way the writing doesn't get much further than my head. (I'm working on that.) I've got about a dozen fanfic WIPs, and then about six major original WIPs. My current goal is to decrease those numbers s-sob. SOMEDAY I WILL FINISH ONE OF THESE MASSIVE SOMETHINGS.

Reading-wise! Er, when it comes to re-reading value, that'd probably be Ellen Kushner's Swordspoint, Diana Gabaldon's works, Anne McCaffrey's Pern series, most of Robin Hobb's works. Friedman's Coldfire trilogy. Michael Chabon's stuff for pure style. I do admit I've been reading a lot of trashy fantasy stuff lately though, just for the sake of something to read as I hunt down recs and take note for my next trip to the bookstore.

[bliumchik]

Hallo! I'm Maggie, I've several fantasy-things in the works as soon as I lick this pesky procrastination problem (also, university :P) although lately everything seems to show up in my head in comic-book form, so that might be tricky.

Anyway, I thought I'd join pre-emptively and do some critting because I have discovered a gleeful passion for pointing out syntax errors which is the bane of my short-fiction class at uni and I thought I might be able to work it out in peace on the internet.

Some of my favourite fantasy authors include Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Kelly Link, China Mieville and Robert Rankin!

[garlicandsapphires]

Hi, I'm Tori. I'm trying to rewrite the 'it's my baby and I luuuv it' fantasy novel I started several years ago, because I think if I hack at and twist and bleed it, there's a good story there. I'm also working on my short fiction and trying to get it published. I like trying to work with the weird and the folkloric and the narrative unconventional, and trying not to be (too) pretentious with it. And I'm trying to get better at focusing and committing because my output isn't very high.

My favourite fantasy writers (in which I include magic realists) are China Miéville, Neil Gaiman, Phillip Pullman, Angela Carter, Italo Calvino, Salman Rushdie and Oscar Wilde. I also really love certain children's fantasy authors, such as Alan Garner, John Masefield, Joan Aiken and C.S. Lewis.

[dragonjournal]

Hi. I'm Cat and currently, I'm attempting to drive myself more insanefinish up a 130k-ish novel before the end of May. This is the third revision for this, and I'm juuuuuuuuust about willing to let an editor have at it. Maybe. Possibly. I think.

I haven't been reading nearly as much as I should be lately, but I blame the whole trying to go insane thing.

[cupiscent]

This looks like a pretty splendid sort of place. So, hello! I'm Dee, and I'm fond of a spectrum from high political fantasy through to urban fantasy. I have a soft spot for "unfantastical" fantasy. My favourites are KJ Parker, Scott Lynch, George RR Martin and Guy Gavriel Kay. Also very fond of Neal Stephenson.

I've got a few things bubbling in my head, but the main project at present is Boralos, a 130k stand-alone high fantasy, set in a SE Asian/Egyptian world with flavours of Ancient China. I'm currently working on taking in corrections and alterations from having given it to a core of friends/family to read and critique. I hope to start shopping it by the end of June at the latest.

[ms_danson]

Hi, I'm Ms. Danson. I haven't settled on a particular area of fantasy but many of my stories fall into urban, humour (absurd or parody), or superhero(ish) categories. I mostly write short fiction but I want to write a novel (The Dragon Skin Book - Modern Urban Fantasy) to see if I can do it. I've also spent the past few years writing a quasi-superhero serial (Jack Shadow) for the entertainment of my LJ readers.

I'm trying to improve my writing (I love feedback) so that some day I can get some of my fiction published. My DW account is my writing journal and my LJ account is my personal journal.