A Virtual Writing Group
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A Virtual Writing Group

“I write for the same reason I breathe-because if I didn't, I would die.”- Isaac Asimov
 
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Tangynt
Rachael Harrie
bewarethejabb
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bewarethejabb

bewarethejabb


Posts : 83
Join date : 2010-08-26
Age : 41
Location : Chicago

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PostSubject: good evening, all!   good evening, all! EmptyThu 26 Aug 2010, 1:20 am

My name is Jerry. I churn out fiction like some kind of free pulp magazine for the digital age, paid in your comments and encouragement. There are two major projects:

1.) White Rabbit, sometimes called "And Claws That Catch." A gritty contemporary novel who's draft is complete, and is currently in the editing stages. This is my attempt to be "serious" and "tell an important story." Some of my favourite comments I have collected over the years about this include:

"It's grim, gross, raw and gritty - like Stephan King writing about a high school hazing."

"Intense and very real. This shit can't be easy to write."

"Technically perfect but offensive and unpleasant. The whole thing read like it was about the sad, depressing lives of sad, depressing people--which it is, I think."

"This is not a nice story about happy elves and pie."

2.) The high fantasy project. No title yet. This project is in no way an attempt to be original, but rather an attempt to master the an existent style. Like my girlfriend describes the menu at the restaurant I work at: predictable design, brilliant execution. That's what I'm going for, anyway. It's a low-magic world that reads like British historical fiction, anywhere from Norman Conquest to War of the Roses. Very human-drama driven international politics and big epic tragedy, but no quest and no deus ex machinas. Comments I've collected thus far include:

"Fucking epic."

"You've got the fantasy tone PERFECT, and I'm just rolling around in it like a happy pig in the mud. Pretty pretty pretty."

"Oh my god, Edmund is my BOY! <3."

"Aeon's relationship with his brother is just SCREAMING for slash."

I'm putting a lot more work into the high fantasy project at present. I've been told it reads like George RR Martin, although I count Sharon Kay Penman as a bigger influence. Two of my other all-time favourite authors and biggest influences include Joan Vinge and the Almighty Robert Heinlein. Jared Diamond (Guns, Germs, and Steel, The Rise and Fall of the Third Chimpanzee, both anthro/bio nonfic) also really affects my world-building in that I like to create infinitely complex non monocultures that evolved for logical and consistent reasons having to do with geography, biology, geology, etc. Like, I know which direction my glaciers moved and when and where my jet streams started and where my tectonic plates are, because that affects the weather, which affects the distribution of high density edible grains and large domesticatable land mammals, which affects the development of agriculture, population, and infection diseases, and the existence of iron ore which affects who first achieved steel age cultures and who dominates whom and who is patriarchal, who is matriarchal, who is polytheistic, where the Abrahamic religion came in and why, and... you know. etc. I'm working on mapping out my wine regions right now.

Although I don't take after them stylistically, I also have a strong appreciation for authors who can create marketable serial fluff and keep knocking it out. Brian Jaques and Anne McAffery, hats off to you. I'm just starting to read and realize that Naomi Novik may fall in this category.

I am here looking for anyone else who wants to get into some serious geeky collaboration and help each other improve!
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Rachael Harrie

Rachael Harrie


Posts : 263
Join date : 2010-08-20
Age : 47
Location : Sydney, Australia

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PostSubject: Re: good evening, all!   good evening, all! EmptyThu 26 Aug 2010, 1:32 am

Hi Jerry, welcome aboard Smile Sounds like you've got some interesting projects going on. I don't really write high fantasy as yet, but I love to read it (and I have a plot idea just sitting there ready for one day in the future)!!!

Look forward to working with you Smile

Rach
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Tangynt
Admin
Tangynt


Posts : 141
Join date : 2010-08-16
Age : 39
Location : Kansas City

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PostSubject: Re: good evening, all!   good evening, all! EmptyThu 26 Aug 2010, 1:42 am

Glad to see you could make it, I'm looking forward to reading your work over the next couple of days and offering some feedback. You got in on the ground floor of our lil group, we're voting on a few things and making preparations to get on the move by this weekend. Feel free to visit the polls as well, and I look forward to working with you!
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Marieke

Marieke


Posts : 244
Join date : 2010-08-20

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PostSubject: Re: good evening, all!   good evening, all! EmptyThu 26 Aug 2010, 5:24 am

Hey Jerry! Welcome! Always nice to have other geeks here! Wink

I was just about to suggest Naomi Novik when you mentioned reading it - are you enjoying it so far?

Infinitely complex non monocultures sounds beyond interesting. I try to do the same when building worlds, but then usually from a historical point of view (I guess that's why I'm a historian).

Also, comments about slash possibilities are always good... Razz

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http://www.mariekenijkamp.com
bewarethejabb

bewarethejabb


Posts : 83
Join date : 2010-08-26
Age : 41
Location : Chicago

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PostSubject: Re: good evening, all!   good evening, all! EmptyThu 26 Aug 2010, 5:46 am

The Temeraire books are fluffy and adorable and irresistible. Additionally, from following Naomi's livejournal, I've realized I really like her attitude, as well. She's really good, but she doesn't take herself too seriously, which really allows her to shine.
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Marieke

Marieke


Posts : 244
Join date : 2010-08-20

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PostSubject: Re: good evening, all!   good evening, all! EmptyThu 26 Aug 2010, 6:11 am

Haha, exactly! Fluffy wasn't the first word that came to mind, but it describes the books very well. And I agree, it's all the better because Naomi doesn't take it seriously.


That reminds me, have you read Joe Abercrombie by any chance? Much more 'dark' fantasy, but in many ways a same attitude. Respectful of the classics, but he knows his cliches!
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TessaQuin

TessaQuin


Posts : 232
Join date : 2010-08-20
Age : 45
Location : Iceland

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PostSubject: Re: good evening, all!   good evening, all! EmptyThu 26 Aug 2010, 6:14 am

Welcome, Jerry Smile

I'm in the middle of revisions, so I don't have time to do my usual welcoming essays. Just kick back and have fun. This is a fantastic group so far with people from different backgrounds and countries. We all have one thing in common, though, and that is to write!

Tessa flower
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bewarethejabb

bewarethejabb


Posts : 83
Join date : 2010-08-26
Age : 41
Location : Chicago

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PostSubject: Re: good evening, all!   good evening, all! EmptyThu 26 Aug 2010, 6:24 am

I'm noticing! It's kind of amazing just how active this place has been in the last five hours! Either none of you are American, or you're all nocturnal.
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TessaQuin

TessaQuin


Posts : 232
Join date : 2010-08-20
Age : 45
Location : Iceland

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PostSubject: Re: good evening, all!   good evening, all! EmptyThu 26 Aug 2010, 6:27 am

Australian, Brits, Icelander (me), somewhere close to nowhere-ian, and Americans Wink
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Marieke

Marieke


Posts : 244
Join date : 2010-08-20

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PostSubject: Re: good evening, all!   good evening, all! EmptyThu 26 Aug 2010, 6:33 am

The somewhere close to nowhere-ian is a nocturnal non-American Razz

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Kit Forbes

Kit Forbes


Posts : 36
Join date : 2010-08-20
Location : Western PA

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PostSubject: Re: good evening, all!   good evening, all! EmptyThu 26 Aug 2010, 1:56 pm

Hello and welcome! Your White Rabbit sounds like something I'd like.

Don't feel bad about comments I received a review on a co-written book a while back that warned those who suffered from depression not read it because we put the characters through so much torment and angst that it might be suicide inducing. Shocked
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bewarethejabb

bewarethejabb


Posts : 83
Join date : 2010-08-26
Age : 41
Location : Chicago

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PostSubject: Re: good evening, all!   good evening, all! EmptyThu 26 Aug 2010, 2:14 pm

No such thing as bad press, I believe. They didn't say it was boring or that I have no command of language, so I'm down :>
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A.Milner

A.Milner


Posts : 260
Join date : 2010-08-20
Age : 45
Location : North Central Washington

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PostSubject: Re: good evening, all!   good evening, all! EmptyThu 26 Aug 2010, 3:09 pm

Hi Jerry, welcome Smile You have some mad, crazy, intricate world building skills! Impressive Shocked
I guess I don't think too much about world building since I write Paranormal and the world I write in already exists Wink Though I do like to delve into my lore and I know more about my characters than the reader will ever know. My hats off to you sci/fi and fantasy writers!
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