Welcome… I’m New Here! Good afternoon from New Zealand!

[Matthew WP]

Matthew here, Science Fiction writer.

I write novels on the border between hard scifi and space opera, and have three published through Amazon. The Ceph series.

I'm currently working number four and I was looking for a place here where I might share writing examples for constructive criticism? I understand that if you've not read my work to date judging character fit is an issue but I'm not ready for an Alpha or Beta reader yet as I'm in developmental.

About me?

I'm the husband of my lovely lady, coming up on 30 years now. Father to two grown kids, a boy and a girl, both successful now in their own right which we're both inordinately proud over.

Dad was in the Army and then the Oil business so I've lived most everywhere. I myself have been a Para with the US Army and have two combat deployments.

I'll read most fantasy and all science fiction with a preference for the hard edge of both genres.

I'm a long time martial artist, with 40 years training in a variety of things, and teach both WMA and heavy armed combat myself with an active club here in NZ.

I'm an equal opportunity opportunity gourmand who always maxes those "Give yourself a point if you've eaten this!" quizzes.

Much the same for beverages, and with a passion for cold tea which grosses my wife out. Good partnership though, as I get the last half of all her cuppas.

I love to cook, bake, and brew. I think that's the last of the "Hey There!" answers, but please do chime in with any questions I haven't covered, I'm not shy.

 

[RK Wallis]

Welcome aboard @Matthew WP North or South island? Lots has happened in your life. Plenty of story fodder

 

[Vagabond Heart]

Hi and welcome.
Am looking forward to reading your work.
But…when do you have time to write, lol?
Xxx VH

 

[PCFrontier]

Matthew here, Science Fiction writer.

I write novels on the border between hard scifi and space opera, and have three published through Amazon. The Ceph series.

I'm currently working number four and I was looking for a place here where I might share writing examples for constructive criticism? I understand that if you've not read my work to date judging character fit is an issue but I'm not ready for an Alpha or Beta reader yet as I'm in developmental.

About me?

I'm the husband of my lovely lady, coming up on 30 years now. Father to two grown kids, a boy and a girl, both successful now in their own right which we're both inordinately proud over.

Dad was in the Army and then the Oil business so I've lived most everywhere. I myself have been a Para with the US Army and have two combat deployments.

I'll read most fantasy and all science fiction with a preference for the hard edge of both genres.

I'm a long time martial artist, with 40 years training in a variety of things, and teach both WMA and heavy armed combat myself with an active club here in NZ.

I'm an equal opportunity opportunity gourmand who always maxes those "Give yourself a point if you've eaten this!" quizzes.

Much the same for beverages, and with a passion for cold tea which grosses my wife out. Good partnership though, as I get the last half of all her cuppas.

I love to cook, bake, and brew. I think that's the last of the "Hey There!" answers, but please do chime in with any questions I haven't covered, I'm not shy.

Hi Matthew,
I have just joined Litopia so a welcome to you. We have a shared interest in Sci Fi so I will look out for anything you post, happy to read. Later on, I hope to post a few pages of the sci fi work I have been working on and would be happy to receive your opinion. Best wishes Paul C

 

[Matthew WP]

Welcome aboard @Matthew WP North or South island? Lots has happened in your life. Plenty of story fodder

North Island, Inglewood in Taranaki. Are you down this end of the world?

 

[Matthew WP]

Hi Matthew,
I have just joined Litopia so a welcome to you. We have a shared interest in Sci Fi so I will look out for anything you post, happy to read. Later on, I hope to post a few pages of the sci fi work I have been working on and would be happy to receive your opinion. Best wishes Paul C

Sounds like a great bargain! Next challenge will be to find the forum where that is accomplished. I'm going to have a look now.

 

[Matthew WP]

Hi and welcome.
Am looking forward to reading your work.
But…when do you have time to write, lol?
Xxx VH

More time now than previously. We're empty-nesters (woot!)
Just had one move back in though.

Serious answer, I gave up TV. I can't remember the last time I watched broadcast TV to include a news programs. The most I take in is the occasional streaming movie or series that peaks my interest.

First of the trilogy published December 2020. I write longer books too, all are over 140k words.

What's the best forum here for trading work?

 

[Vagabond Heart]

Heya.
So, go and check out the Writing Workshop under Forums. You'll see how much work people post, from a few chapters, to cover letters, to blurbs and synopses, all the way up to full beta-reads of a whole manuscript. And if you click in on them you'll see what kind of feedback and interaction to expect. We all find it majorly useful and rely on the help from others massively. I always liken it to having the same effect as sticking one's work in a drawer for six months - you get fresh eyes on your piece.
xxx VH

 

[RK Wallis]

North Island, Inglewood in Taranaki. Are you down this end of the world?

Sydney, Australia. But we were living in Hamilton for my 5th birthday. Long time ago now.

 

[Matthew WP]

Here we go everyone! Over in "Writing Workshops" under the title "Science Fiction - The Ceph - Revenant - Developmental Criticism" is the first sampling of my WIP.

Have at

 

[CarolMS]

Welcome Matthew! So glad you've joined! I see you've jumped right in with a workshop submission. Good for you. I'm a newbie, too--fairly--but I've been more timid than you. You've inspired me to be more courageous, a trait you clearly value.

 

[Matthew WP]

Welcome Matthew! So glad you've joined! I see you've jumped right in with a workshop submission. Good for you. I'm a newbie, too--fairly--but I've been more timid than you. You've inspired me to be more courageous, a trait you clearly value.

Carol,
Courage manifests a lot of ways

If you're writing, that's the first and biggest step. Pulling your heart out and squeezing it for ink to put on a page is *much* harder than jumping out of a plane. I can say that with authority having done both!

If you have words on a page, no matter how many, you've spat in the face of fear and continued to move forward.

Roar!

 

[Jonny]

Hi, Matthew. A very warm welcome to the colony.

Nice to have you here. Hope you enjoy Litopia and what it has to offer. I see you're getting involved already.

For general site information on what goes on in the colony, this is a good place to check out (How-to guide).

If anything is unclear do please contact me and I’ll be happy to assist if I can.

@Matthew WP

 

[CarolMS]

Carol,
Courage manifests a lot of ways

If you're writing, that's the first and biggest step. Pulling your heart out and squeezing it for ink to put on a page is *much* harder than jumping out of a plane. I can say that with authority having done both!

If you have words on a page, no matter how many, you've spat in the face of fear and continued to move forward.

Roar!

Ain't that the truth! (Even a little idiomatic poor grammar works. HaHa!) I look forward to reading your writing, Matthew. Cheers!

 

[Robinne Weiss]

Kia ora @Matthew WP. Fellow Kiwi speculative author here. Are you a member of SpecFicNZ--New Zealand's organisation for creators of speculative fiction? I apologise if you are, and I should recognise you, but don't (I'm terrible at putting names and faces together). I had a look for you on the membership list and didn't find you, but I know lots of folks use a variety of names online. If you aren't a member, I recommend becoming one (you can do that here).

Welcome to Litopia! This is a fabulous community.

 

[Pamela Jo]

Hi, I come from the land where cold tea rules. Children never allowed a cuppa are given glasses full at every meal. I dunno. But at least it's not sweet. Shudder. That's the real defining line between the American South and the Midwest. That and midwestern women wear sensible shoes Always. And Southern women will hike in kitten heels.
Welcome. look forward to meeting you in Huddle. Dad jumped into St Mer Eglise D Day. I still have a wonky eye where I tried to re enact his stories by jumping off the kitchen cabinet with a pillowcase, age 4. Someday maybe you can explain where I went wrong?
Happy Summer Christmas.

 

[izi 出久]

I'm an equal opportunity opportunity gourmand who always maxes those "Give yourself a point if you've eaten this!" quizzes.

Me too! Although you've probably eaten more interesting things than I have. Your life sounds full of exciting stories. Looking forward to reading some of them. I vote LITFEST 20XX New Zealand.

 

[Matthew WP]

Me too! Although you've probably eaten more interesting things than I have. Your life sounds full of exciting stories. Looking forward to reading some of them. I vote LITFEST 20XX New Zealand.

It has been an exciting life that continues to roll over into the new, different and interesting! This literary adventure is still relatively new to me and has yet to mature into something that is truly part of my life, if that makes any sense?

The first two years and three books was a bit of divine madness when I wasn't entirely sure who was in control. This fourth one is more of a measured process, and ironically more difficult because of that. The difference between deliberate crafting of an artwork vs sailing in with a scream and a leap not knowing any better.

I have not decided yet which I like or is more effective

What do you write?

 

[izi 出久]

I have not decided yet which I like or is more effective

My first manuscript I wrote like a banshee on the tailwinds of COVID. This second one has taken me much longer, but the writing (to me) is much more beautiful My style has changed so much I'm planning to completely rewrite the first manuscript.... But I DO miss the speed I wrote that first one. That was amazing.

I'm writing a mythological fantasy series as my big WIP, but I enjoy blogging, journaling, and writing poetry and short stories to mix it up.

I see you've posted some some pieces for critique and comment. I'm looking forward to checking those out! And you'll see some of my work from time to time as well

 

[Matthew WP]

My first manuscript I wrote like a banshee on the tailwinds of COVID. This second one has taken me much longer, but the writing (to me) is much more beautiful My style has changed so much I'm planning to completely rewrite the first manuscript.... But I DO miss the speed I wrote that first one. That was amazing.

I'm writing a mythological fantasy series as my big WIP, but I enjoy blogging, journaling, and writing poetry and short stories to mix it up.

I see you've posted some some pieces for critique and comment. I'm looking forward to checking those out! And you'll see some of my work from time to time as well

Excellent! I will look for your tag in the Writing Workshops area.

Hail and well met fellow traveler!