The Writing Process discussion

Only if you want to give other members a brief bio about yourself, where you come from, experience, and paths of life you ventured on.

As ice-breaker, I'll start with my brief introduction.


So, I'm Italian, and because even in Italy that means everything and nothing at all, I should say, I am Sicilian. I was born in Palermo, and as it happened with countless Sicilians, I left it, back in 1986. I lived more years abroad than in my home country, and I have changed in many and different ways than my old friends there. It is always a pleasure to go back, but it is now 6 long years since my last visit. Saudade? Maybe, a little.

I lived in Switzerland, France, and the United States. I am a scientist as a background, and have spent over 17 years in fundamental research. Most of my writing are then academic stuff, and I always wonder at how much Google is able to find about everyone. I am sure one has to Google oneself so not to forget too much...

I worked for many years at CERN—an international lab for particle physics research near Geneva, Switzerland—then in the US at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. Fantastic moments and memories from those years. In 2005 I moved to the private sector, worked with Apple Inc., and then for the World Economic Forum. I wrote since I was a kid, short stories and novellas, but never had anyone read it. It was a personal thing. Then, work and life took their toll and I stopped. Slightly over a year ago, for various reasons, I started again with some burning inside that needed to come out. On the first weekend I got over 15000 words, then subscribed to critters.org for peer review, lurked a year keeping on writing and getting feedback, and last September my debut novel, Daimones, saw the light. It received the 2012 PRG Reviewer's Choice Award in Science Fiction. A debut novel among so many established authors in the competition. I'm writing now the sequel and published a small collection of short horrid stories, Tender Moments...

I'm Darius Jones and I'm a Goodreads author with two pieces under my belt. (And more to come). Massimo, look forward to learning what you have to say about the writing process and contributing my thoughts when I can.

Great to be here and good luck with the group!

,DJ

Darius wrote: "I'm Darius Jones and I'm a Goodreads author with two pieces under my belt. (And more to come). Massimo, look forward to learning what you have to say about the writing process and contributing my t..."

Darius, thanks for joining. Oh, I do not pretend to be here to teach anything, rather to share impressions and knowledge from each other's experiences.

Welcome.

I'm Tui. You can find more about me on my website at www.tuiscope.co.nz but I'm an ocean lover and my fiction reflects this. I understand we were preceded on this planet by sentient beings who lived here for tens of millions of years before humans evolved and now we are busily trying to kill those kindly and living beings off. I have made it my creative task to see all this from their point of view..

Tui wrote: "I'm Tui. You can find more about me on my website at www.tuiscope.co.nz but I'm an ocean lover and my fiction reflects this. I understand we were preceded on this planet by sentient beings who liv..."

Tui, be honest, you've read
Daimones, :)

Hi Massimo,
I sure as heck am no scientist, though I did work for a time in a lab as a research assistant, when I first stopped physical farming. Now I'm a writer of speculative fiction, and one whom enjoyed reading Daimones. I know only the process of writing through my own eyes- unique, and often in Another Space in Time.
I am conCERNed of course. Science is fascinating- especially with the added spice of science fiction.

Richard wrote: "Hi Massimo,
I sure as heck am no scientist, though I did work for a time in a lab as a research assistant, when I first stopped physical farming. Now I'm a writer of speculative fiction, and one w..."

Richard, sa glad to have you on board, and I hope you'll share your solid writing experience with all the members, when a topic tinkle for you :)

Massimo wrote: "Tui, be honest, you've read
Daimones, :) "

Now you've really got me intrigued! Who is your older power?

Tui wrote: "Massimo wrote: "Tui, be honest, you've read
Daimones, :) "

Now you've really got me intrigued! Who is your older power?"

For the novel, I researched the lore of various civilizations and people. It seemed to me they all refer to 'someone' from elsewhere, in terms that—with all the distinguo—are interestingly close, and yet these populations didn't have the historical chances to 'meet' and exchange myths.

I searched as well into archeological mysteries and unexplained findings, and came out with a dystopian history that bounds humankind fate to an external presence since the dawn of our race on the planet.

This older power is hinted at at the beginning of the novel, to be revealed toward the end.

Hi Massimo - thanks for inviting me to this group.

Hi everyone - I'm Sam Kates. I write speculative and straight fiction. I currently have two books self-published on Amazon: a collection of short stories and a novel. I've recently joined forces with a small, independent publisher based in Florida, Smithcraft Press, who will be taking over publication of both books.

Coincidentally, my current WIP is an apocalyptic novel that speculates on the origins of mankind. It's based on the ideas first explored in one of the short stories in my collection that I felt were worthy of further development.

Sam wrote: "Hi Massimo - thanks for inviting me to this group.

Hi everyone - I'm Sam Kates. I write speculative and straight fiction. I currently have two books self-published on Amazon: a collection of short..."

Sam, thanks for joining, and congratulations on your recent publishing contract. I'm happy, sincerely happy for you. Sell millions, now!

Good luck for your WIP, I'm sure you'll find fascinating the research for your novel.

Kimberly wrote: "Hi Massimo - great to be invited to this. Thank-you."

Kimberly, what a joy to see you here, thanks for joining this raucous and talented group. Don't be shy, add the link to your blog too, your interviews are always a pleasure reading moment.

Hi Massimo, Thank you for the invitation to the group. My author name is Sherrie Lowe and I have written and published six novels and a memoir, details of which can be found on my website www.sherrielowe.co.uk

I had always had a notion to write but never got into it seriously until I became ill with M.E. (sometimes called chronic fatigue syndrome) in 1995 and was forced to give up my job as learning support assistant in a mainstream high school.

At present I am working on a sequel to my memoir after family and friends suggested it. After that I have two novels at the three chapters stage and I think I'll be going with a ghost story.

Sherrie wrote: "Hi Massimo, Thank you for the invitation to the group. My author name is Sherrie Lowe and I have written and published six novels and a memoir, details of which can be found on my website www.sherr..."

Hi, Sherrie, thank you for joining. I hope you'll feel at home soon, here, and among friends.

Massimo wrote: Sam, thanks for joining, and congratulations on your recent publishing contract. I'm happy, sincerely happy for you. Sell millions, now!


Thanks, Massimo. I'd settle for selling ten right now, lol!

Great to meet everyone else. Here's to some lively and friendly discussions!

Hi Massimo

I, too, have a home in Italy - although spend most of my time in Alderney in the Channel Islands. Thanks for joining in on my thread too - and good to meet you.

I have two books that are published - I self-publish in the UK, but have a traditional publishing deal in the US.

My two books - Only the Innocent and The Back Road are riding high in the UK charts at the moment - both are in the top ten!

One thing I love to do is share any of the experience I have with others. For some reason (plenty of it being luck, no doubt) my marketing seems to have worked - and if people have questions for me, please feel free to ask. I'm not suggesting that I have all the answers, but I'm sure between all of us we can help to work things out.

Rachel wrote: "Hi Massimo

I, too, have a home in Italy - although spend most of my time in Alderney in the Channel Islands. Thanks for joining in on my thread too - and good to meet you.

I have two books that a..."

Nice to have you here, too, Rachel.

Hi Massimo – Thank you for the invitation!

My name is Erik Martin Willén, a first time author from Sweden who loves books and loves writing even more. I live in a small village in south Sweden and I received my education at an American Business University.

I recently published an original science fiction novel titled NASTRAGULL: Pirates, the first book in a projected series, and part two “Hunted” will soon be released.

On May 8-9, 2013, it hit #1 on the Amazon.com Bestsellers list for the category of Space Opera; #10 on the overall Amazon Bestsellers Science Fiction& Fantasy list; and made Amazon's "Top 100 Free" list for all books in the Kindle Store, peaking at #85.

Erik wrote: "Hi Massimo – Thank you for the invitation!

My name is Erik Martin Willén, a first time author from Sweden who loves books and loves writing even more. I live in a small village in south Sweden and..."

Erik, thanks for joining the group and congratulations on the good entry start for your novel.

Hi~! Thank you for the invite! I am L'Poni Baldwin, author of the short story collection Dragons and Cicadas: The Society On Da Run and I am not too social so I won't be participating much in the group (unless we start talking about video games). Nothing much to know about me except I like Dragons and My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

L'Poni wrote: "Hi~! Thank you for the invite! I am L'Poni Baldwin, author of the short story collection Dragons and Cicadas: The Society On Da Run and I am not too social so I won't be participating much in the g..."

Welcome L'Poni. You'll be our lurker member :)

Massimo wrote: "Welcome L'Poni. You'll be our lurker member :)"

Yaaaay!

L'Poni wrote: "Massimo wrote: "Welcome L'Poni. You'll be our lurker member :)"

Yaaaay!"

Careful, you've already wrote two posts. You might loose your 'lurker' badge.

Hello all. I am Jamie. And I must admit it took a bit of courage for me to join you all. This group is exactly what I have been looking for. I am a wife and home educating mother of three (one in high school now!) I live in the mountains of Northwest Montana. I have always been a writer, but never very organized, thus nothing but piles of papers have come from my writing. This year one of my goals was to get serious about writing and part of that was to learn how to take all my ramblings on paper and put them together to form something cohesive. This looks like a group full of serious writers who have a plethora of insight to share. I look forward to the learning I can accomplish here. And maybe, someday soon, I can join the ranks of published writers.

Hello, Jamie, welcome.

I hope no one here will make you feel intimidated and never be afraid of asking anything. There are no silly questions, maybe sometimes will face silly answers, but always we all have a chance to grow and become better at what we love to do: tell stories.