I am twenty-two years old and I live in South Africa. My long-term goal is to be a development economist. Currently, I'm between postgraduate degrees and working as a junior economist in a research unit.
In terms of my writing, I write fantasy stories and poetry. I think my poetry is generally better; but I love exploring fantastical worlds. I've been working on "Heart of the Driechtnacht" for quite a while so I've written a fair amount of it already and outlined the rest. However, I'm posting it in small sections both for reading and, more importantly, so I can edit what is already up and what is still sitting on my computer in light of the feedback. I've been getting some really helpful, in-depth reviews and I feel like I'm on a steep learning curve. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to give me advice and pointers about improving my writing - I truly appreciate it. My especial thanks must go to Imalefty, Alteng and sugaplumprincess.
I would love to say I return reviews review-for-review but I don't. If someone reviews my work, I will go to their page and look around a bit but I am a little bit picky about what I choose to review. My pickyness has nothing to do with how good your writing is and everything to do with what your writing is about. I like fantasy but not too dark - you mention demons and I stop reading (this is a little bit ironic considering some of the dark bits in "Heart of the Driechtnacht" but I know where I'm going with it and I don't know where you're going). I like sci-fi but not too techie. I enjoy romance, particularly historical, but not when it degenerates into "soft porn". Similarly, with poetry, I don't like things that don't feel authentic or where the writing is random angst about nothing in particular.
Having said that, if you review my work and you particularly want my comment on something, then feel free to PM me. I'm happy to give anything a try and if I think I'm not the right audience for your work, I will let you know. After all, there's no point having someone who knows nothing about westerns reviewing a western or having someone who can't stand your particular style of poetry, critiquing all your poems. If you are particularly looking for reviews, try the Review Game (I am currently participating in the Review Game's Review Marathon - an awesome monthly competition aimed at spreading review love ;). It's fun and as there are wide variety of people in this forum, you may discover a writer with whom you see eye-to-eye. Just read the "Read this First!" topic before you take part the first time.
Oh, and I use the British system for commas which is why I don't put any commas in front of coordinating conjunctions. It's technically now allowed under the system, though some of the British language professors are apparently still fighting the battle. Even though it is now allowed, it is considered more correct not to have commas before coordinating conjunctions. So I don't. This doesn't mean I don't miss commas in other places because I'm sure I do but I deliberately don't use them before: and, but, or, yet.
Favourite Fantasy Authors: Trudi Canavan (the Black Magician trilogy), Alison Croggon (the Pellinor series)
Favourite non-Fantasy Authors: Karen Joy Fowler (the Jane Austen Book Club), Tracy Chevalier (Girl with a Pearl Earring, the Virgin Blue, the Lady and the Unicorn)
Book I would recommend: "Mister Pip" by Lloyd Jones - It was one of the short-listed books for the Man Booker Prize 2007. It's a quick read but very clever and quite engrossing.
"The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger - One of the best books I've read in a while.
FictionPress.com - let the words flow
