Hi, first day here, so I’m following the tried and true path of posting an intro and trying to follow the site guidelines. My name is David and I write speculative fiction (but doesn’t everyone?). I’ve been writing for I suppose the last 25 or so years, but more seriously since around 2010. I published my first book in 2016. It’s a military sci fi story called Invincible targeted primarily, but not exclusively, at a YA audience. It’s somewhere out there, wallowing deep in the heedless oceans of online book stores. If you chance upon it, you will see a smattering of excellent reviews—but smatterings do not yield sales, as I’m sure many of you know… Hmm, I do hope these defeated ramblings are not seen as promoting my book. I’m kind of over that.
I have two WIP projects on the go—a sequel to Invincible, and a historical fantasy set in Elizabethan England. (Magic? Yes, a little. Dragons? No. Sorry.)
I’m also an editor, and recently established Sharpedge Editing. I suspect I may be a better editor than I am a writer. I certainly find the editing process more engaging than the slog of getting that first draft down.
Just looking at those site guidelines again – do I beta read? Yes – for speculative fiction by writers I like and also historical non-fiction. Anything remotely resembling literature is likely to send me screaming for the hills. Yes, it’s true, I am a Philistine. (Apologies to all Philistines).
Hobbies? Well, yes – I paint and draw and I’m currently attending a local art school. And I sing in a local community choir. I can sing better than Bob Dylan, if you can believe that. I am also obsessed with Manchester United, which I realise will alienate probably half the population of the planet. Don’t worry, we United tragics are very sad creatures at this particular point in time…
Expertise? Well I’m a chartered accountant and I used to be a fairly senior business/finance executive.
But I’m alright now.
I have two WIP projects on the go—a sequel to Invincible, and a historical fantasy set in Elizabethan England. (Magic? Yes, a little. Dragons? No. Sorry.)
I’m also an editor, and recently established Sharpedge Editing. I suspect I may be a better editor than I am a writer. I certainly find the editing process more engaging than the slog of getting that first draft down.
Just looking at those site guidelines again – do I beta read? Yes – for speculative fiction by writers I like and also historical non-fiction. Anything remotely resembling literature is likely to send me screaming for the hills. Yes, it’s true, I am a Philistine. (Apologies to all Philistines).
Hobbies? Well, yes – I paint and draw and I’m currently attending a local art school. And I sing in a local community choir. I can sing better than Bob Dylan, if you can believe that. I am also obsessed with Manchester United, which I realise will alienate probably half the population of the planet. Don’t worry, we United tragics are very sad creatures at this particular point in time…
Expertise? Well I’m a chartered accountant and I used to be a fairly senior business/finance executive.
But I’m alright now.
Editing takes its 