Modern Fantasy Readers and Writers discussion

Hey All, I am Jason, creator of this group that shall dominate all of GoodReads . . . one day.

A little about myself: I live in Seattle with my wife and son. I have been an avid reader of fantasy and science fiction pretty much since I was able to read---my first series was A Wrinkle in Time when I was in third or fourth grade.

For years I have wanted to write, but just never committed my time to understanding the craft. I always thought you could just do it-pick up a pen and paper and produce a book out of my brilliance rather than from great effort.

Recently I committed to writing (still hard with a family and a salaried job). I have learned a lot about what it takes to be good and have a long ways to go. I created this group to blend my love for writing and reading all types of fantasy and science fiction together in a way that would aid my writing, and hopefully others.

Hope to hear a bit about each of you soon.

Jason

Hi all,

I'm Paul, I'm 55 and I live in Malvern, England. I run a Study Centre for Worcestershire College of Technology, a job that is part IT support, part librarian, part shopkeeper, part crowd control and part development of learning resources (presentations, devising courses in IT, creative writing, interactive Flash sites about all sorts of things and so on). I am also taking a teacher training course to become a teacher specialising in adult literacy. I also co-run (with Roger Cottrell) Blind Samurai Films, a company that creates our own film scripts and novels, and that proof-reads and edits other peoples' novels and scripts (for modest fees, obviously).

I have always preferred SF, fantasy and horror ot most other genres, though a good action thriller or even a good Western can capture my imagination for a while. But I always return to the fold eventually.

I have only recently returned to writing, after a gap of quarter of a century, and have written (in recent months) 3 film scripts, and the first draft of 2 novels.

Yes, there is more to writing then having brilliant ideas, and a natural gift for language, though those two attributes are necessary. You also need: a deep knowledge of plot structure; how to write natural dialogue; build pace, conflict and tension; a fairly solid grasp of grammar and syntax; knowledge of hooks, pushes, dramatic conventions.

Attention to detail, the ability to sell yourself and your work, relentless persistence and a determination to succeed help.

Having just read my list again, it's a wonder that any of us succeed, isn't it?

Hi -
I live in Baltimore, MD (but Seattle is my favorite city, Jason).

I think I started writing stories around 8, since I can more or less pin it to our move to NYC. I wrote tons in high school, mostly what gets called urban fantasy, I guess, and maybe a little SF. There was a city-wide student fiction contest that I entered and won for three years in a row, which was a record at the time. My crowning achievement!

I decided to get a history degree instead of English under the theory that a writer should know how to do research, and should study something other than other people's fiction. I did manage to win one more contest my senior year, which was cool because Dorothy Allison was the judge, and I got a personal critique and got to do a reading with her.

Then I started writing shorter and shorter stories, and then songs instead. Decided to become a singer/songwriter instead of a novelist - though my songs are unusually story-driven. Graduated and toured the country and lived as a starving artist for a few years, and put out a couple of CDs, and gave up writing fiction.

A couple of years ago I bought the house I had been renting, and realized that a day job might be in order so that I could keep the house, so less music and touring, more computer time again.

Right at the end of 2006 I saw an ad for a writing contest, and a story popped into my head, and I entered and got third place. Since then, I've been writing a ton of fiction. It's mostly literary fiction for some reason, though I can manage a SF/fantasy story now and again. I wrote a NaNoWriMo to prove to myself that I could write a novel, and I loved the idea behind it, but I need to do some heavy editing before I let anybody see it. It was all I could think about until I finished the first draft, and now I'm having trouble getting back to it. I'm writing a ton, but if I don't finish it all at once, in general, I have trouble going back to it. I'm working on that.

I've been sending some stories around, but sort of haphazardly. My secret personal goal, as I said in TAW, would be to get a story into the Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction before pulp mags go the way of the dodo. It would be a lot easier to reach that goal if I were actually writing SF right now, but I'm trying to push myself.

I'm cautious about adding more reading when I should be writing, but I'll contribute when I can. This seems like an interesting premise for a group.

Sounds good Sarah. I have been toying with the idea of adding in some of the "how to" writing books. In particular Cards Charachter, and a good one I found on plotting. Would there be interest in that?

Sure. Nancy Kress's Beginnings, Middles & Ends is excellent as well.

Hey. My name is Chris. As some of you know, I'm a member of the Fantasy Book Club, the SciFi/Fantasy Book Club, and the Stephen King Club, as well as some smaller ones.

My memberships pretty much sum up my favorite reading styles. I also enjoy writing, when the mood and the time are lined up for me to do so. I've always wanted to write a fantasy epic, but haven't had the fortitude to stick with any one idea. I've got lots of different pieces, but not anything that's whole.

Anyway, this is my favorite genre, whether it be reading, writing, or watching a movie.

Hello all, I don't write but do quite a bit of editing for my husband Michael J. Sullivan: The Crown Conspiracy | Avempartha. I work with a lot of budding authors helping them by doing reviews and also know a TON abou the publishing business. When you get to the point that you are ready to submit you might want to Check out my blog as it has a lot of good tips on going from "completed manuscript" to "published author".

Hi! I'm Nichole. I'm 27, and live in Salt Lake City, UT.
I love to read, and really enjoy fantasy though I haven't really read that much of it, comparatively speaking. Lord of the Rings, a couple of the Narnia books, a couple Neil Gaiman... oh, and Harry Potter. So I'm looking forward to getting more immersed in the genre. I have, however, read plenty of urban fantasy, so it's not a gigantic leap.

As far as writing... I'm trying not to feel intimidated by all the accomplished people here! I'm just barely starting to dip my toe into writing, so this group is exciting.
I started writing before I could read. I knew how to write the letters but had no idea how to make them into words, so I would just write pages of letters and then my mom would tell me if I had accidentally made a word, like "is" or "am". I would get so excited!
By the time I was 7, I was writing novels. (Or I thought I was, anyway.) I never went anywhere without a notebook and pencil. Unfortunately, I was my own worst critic so a few weeks after I'd write something, I'd read it over, cringe in disgust, tear out all the pages and throw them away and start clean. So I no longer have anything I wrote as a child, which is a shame. It would be great for a good laugh.
My writing petered out as a I grew older, and by the time I graduated high school I really wasn't writing at all anymore. As time wore on, I grew convinced that it was impossible - I had used up all my juice as a child and I would never write again.
But a few months ago, I sort of decided "Why not at least try it?" So I did.
I'm not very consistent at working on my writing so I don't have much to show for my efforts, and certainly nothing I'm ready to let anyone read, but I will say what I've written is better than I was expecting it to be. (My expectations were pretty low.) I've mostly been writing in the urban fantasy genre. We'll see where it leads. Obviously the ultimate dream would be to be published someday, but I'm trying to keep my expectations realistic, though hopeful. I'm basically trying not to think much further than just simply finishing a project right now.

I wouldn't worry to much Nichole, I think you and I are in about the same boat.

@Robin: thanks for joining us, any information is helpful.

Good to see you here Clancy. We are voting on our first book, and then I will post the reading sections and questions for each section.

Hello, my name is Neomi and I live in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. I am 22 years old and an English teacher, which is why I read all my books in English (not only because it is cheaper and those titles are published earlier than the Dutch translations;))
I joined this group because I noticed that these titles are up to date, and you don't stick to the Feist/Tolkien/Gemmell-age. (Good writers, don't get me wrong!) I loved The Name of the Wind, I consider it to be one of the best books I've ever read, followed by the Night Angel trilogy, a true gem.
I liked, but not loved Joe Abercrombie, so I guess our booktaste is the same!
I hope this group can show me more new authors and titles which keeps my collection growing

Hi,

I'm Malin and I both write and read modern fantasy - although I read so varied genres that I seem to have read so little of each genre!

I don't have anything published apart from 3 short stories in Hub Magazine, but I got 4 more or less edited manuscripts, and a whole bunch of WIP. I don't even attempt to count my short stories because I keep losing track - it's like counting sheep!

I got a taste for the more moderate modern fantasy - not so much vampires, werewolves and intricate wizard/witch stuff. I like characters with pretty much normal lives and with just some sort of knack that makes it interesting. If you have any book suggestions that sounds like they'll fit, just message them or direct me to some discussion thread where I can read more.

Hi all,

I'm Jason from Calgary. I will read pretty much anything, although I have managed to stay away from the heavy PNR. In the end though my reading always gravitates back to the fantasy genre. Although lately it has been more urban fantasy.

I've written for as long as I can remember, but like others, it usually ended up discarded or lost on outdated computers. I attempt to write when I can but with a dayjob, 3 kids, and their extra-curicular(sp?) activities, it seems like that time is ever diminishing. But I will continue to plug away at it.

I have to agree with Neomi that the Night Angel trilogy is a definite gem. I picked it up on a whim and read all three books in less than a week.

Looking forward to participating in discussions...

Hello,

I'm Alex, from Seattle. I'm another of the "read anything I get my hands on" crowd. However, I've always found that the fantasy worlds in lit always seem so much more real than anything else.

I'm currently reading through Jordan's Wheel of Time and Weeks's Night Angel Trilogy. From what I saw in Way of Shadows, I'm with Neomi and Jason; it's a great series.

As a recent college grad, I'm enjoying some time spent not being told to write this and that for class every day and am doing some planning on a little writing project of my own, an urban fantasy type thing set in Seattle, but I'll see where that goes between work and everything.

And as those before me, looking forward to taking part in the discussions.

Good to meet you all.

I'm Jeff, originally from upstate New York but now living in Los Angeles, California.

I'd tell you more, but you'll probably find out as much as you'd like to know soon enough. :)

Hello, everyone... I'm Scott, originally from the Chicago area now living in downstate Illinois. I've just joined Goodreads today, and I'm still finding my way around here, seeking out groups of interest. I used to be an avid reader and I'm trying to get back into it and hopefully find some good recommendations here. I also write fiction as a hobby, having self-published a novel and some short stories.

Thanks!