Howdy from Yet Another Newbie

Paul S Cilwa · Apr 18, 2007

Howdy everyone! I found about this forum from a post in another writer's forum, did some research, and discovered that this forum is very highly regarded. So I have high hopes I'll be able to get some help in my quest for an agent for my new novel.

Last century, I wrote and saw published four technical books, one of which was a best-seller, all of which are now long obsolete. I hope to break into fiction, my tastes leaning to scientific/metaphysical/character-driven stuff. Hard to pigeon-hole, yes, but if I hit--I'll be one of the first doing it. (Well, after Heinlein. And Vonnegut. But they're dead.)

I'm not one who gets without giving, so I'll do my best to make a positive contribution to this community as well.

Maryn · Apr 18, 2007

Hiya, Paul. Allow me to be the first to welcome you here. I hope you'll both learn bunches about writing what you want to write, and have lots of fun with the many intelligent, funny, and somewhat eccentric people here. Glad to have you join us!

Maryn, shaking your hand (sans joy buzzer)

Meerkat · Apr 18, 2007

Hiya Paul,

Anyone who mentions Heinlein in their first post is alright in my book! Welcome to AW, and I hope you enjoy yourself here!

Paul S Cilwa · Apr 18, 2007

Maryn said:
I hope you'll both learn bunches about writing what you want to write, and have lots of fun with the many intelligent, funny, and somewhat eccentric people here.

Exactly the kind of people with whom I prefer to associate!

(Even though I, personally, may well raise the bar on "eccentric".)

C.bronco · Apr 18, 2007

Welcome aboard! This is a great community.

Paul S Cilwa · Apr 18, 2007

Meerkat said:
Anyone who mentions Heinlein in their first post is alright in my book!

I see from your profile you are interested in both Buddhism and science fiction. So, yeah, we should get along fine!

C.bronco · Apr 18, 2007

Paul S Cilwa said:
(Even though I, personally, may well raise the bar on "eccentric".)

I think Maryn was sharing her gift for euphemism.

The people here really are great though.

Paul S Cilwa · Apr 18, 2007

C.bronco said:
The people here really are great though.

That's sure my first impression!

Moon Daughter · Apr 18, 2007

If you really like giving back, then Share Your Work forum will be great for you. Welcome!

plunderpuss · Apr 18, 2007

Paul S Cilwa said:
(Even though I, personally, may well raise the bar on "eccentric".)

If that's a challenge, Paul, I'm up for it. Hahaha.

Seriously though, welcome, and I'm looking forward to reading anything character-driven. Those are my favorites.

Deleted member 42 · Apr 18, 2007

Welcome Paul; do take a look at On the Getting of Agents, from Teresa Nielsen Hayden, and Neil Gaiman's Everything you Wanted to Know About Literary Agents.

Penguin Queen · Apr 18, 2007

"Somewhat eccentric" is, shall we say, a careful euphemism.

to the water cooler.

Nickie · Apr 18, 2007

Hello to you, Paul, and welcome to AW!

Nickie

Ol' Fashioned Girl · Apr 18, 2007

And howdie back atcha! Welcome to AW.

narnia · Apr 18, 2007

Hi Paul! I was all excited about turning my Master's Thesis/opus on Identity Theft into a possible best seller, but within months a lot of my research was well, maybe not obsolete but horribly in need of updating. As a techie you know what I mean, I am sure! Just too tiring to keep updating ... like hitting a moving target! So I've filed it all away for future use somewhere else - hey maybe in a book!

Wecome!

glassquill · Apr 18, 2007

Welcome to AW, Paul!

poetinahat · Apr 18, 2007

Welcome, Paul! It's good to see you're fitting in so well with the other misfits.

I'll be watching and learning. I look forward to seeing you around the boards!

Cath · Apr 18, 2007

Hey there. Welcome!

akiwiguy · Apr 18, 2007

Hi there Paul, I'm a newbie and a programmer too. So howdy.

BTW, excuse my ignorance and I'm not up on the news lately... Vonnegut's death is realy recent isn't it, like the last few days? Or did I imagine hearing that?

san_remo_ave · Apr 19, 2007

Hi Paul,

Welcome to AW!

Andre_Laurent · Apr 19, 2007

Welcome to the cooler. :welcome:

I'm a programmer analyst...although, it bores the crap out of me...infact, I'm about to fall out of my chair now and take a nap.

Paul S Cilwa · Apr 19, 2007

narnia said:
Hi Paul! I was all excited about turning my Master's Thesis/opus on Identity Theft into a possible best seller, but within months a lot of my research was well, maybe not obsolete but horribly in need of updating. As a techie you know what I mean, I am sure! Just too tiring to keep updating ... like hitting a moving target!

Why not "futurize"--slightly--the tech? For example, place your novel in a "near future" when the RealID law has been implmented. As you know, the government has promised that RealID will be foolproof...which, demonstrably, it won't be. But the first few people to get away with scamming it will have a field day...and their victims, a nightmare.

Just an idea...!

Arisa81 · Apr 19, 2007

Welcome!

narnia · Apr 19, 2007

Interesting idea Paul - and yeah, it'll be implemented real soon!

I'm sure you heard that 2 days ago Montana made their rejection law, adding to the ever growing list of not-in-our-state'ers. Actually, the article I read said Montana's message to the federal government was "no, nope, no way, hell no."

I'll add that to my idea-list, and thanks!

Howdy from Yet Another Newbie

Paul S Cilwa

Maryn

I Tried

Meerkat

Claims the loan was a gift

Paul S Cilwa

C.bronco

I have plans...

Paul S Cilwa

C.bronco

I have plans...

Paul S Cilwa

Moon Daughter

plunderpuss

Patron Saint of Sarcasm

Deleted member 42

Penguin Queen

Break the rules.

Nickie

Not too old to learn

Ol' Fashioned Girl

Hand? What hand?

narnia

glassquill

RB's favourite chewtoy

poetinahat

Numbers are beautiful

Cath

The mean one

akiwiguy

AW Inmate #90976

san_remo_ave

Back at it

Andre_Laurent

Paul S Cilwa

Arisa81

narnia