My mother told me it's polite to say "hello"...

[Zclesa]

...and in fact, so did Litopia. So I'm here to say "hi" as I've just joined. I accidentally found your community through Quora and it sounded like a nice place to be. I am a therapist by trade and specialise in self-help books and have published two books on addiction recovery, a mini-ebook on self-esteem and am about to publish a book on easy ways to get smart fast - it's a mix of science and psychology. I also love writing accessible literary fiction, including both short stories and novels.

You can read my full profile for more details, but I'd like to get to know you as well. So if you want to say "hi" and let me know how you use Litopia and what you find most useful about it, that'd be nice. I promise not to psycho-analyse any responses.

By the way, the "brooding author" Gravatar picture Litopia has posted is me in 'editing fiction' mode - I'm a very friendly, smiley person in 'real life', whatever that is.

 

[Carol Rose]

Welcome! I've been a member since the "old" days and in fact would not be published without Litopia. I enjoy helping others on here, and I enjoy hanging out with other authors.

 

[Zclesa]

Awesome! Thanks for the welcome

 

[Marc Joan]

Welcome! For me, Litopia is a supportive community and a welcome source of advice on everything from the subtleties of writing to the pitfalls of publisher contracts.

 

[Patricia D]

Hello and Welcome. I've learned a lot about writing and the writing business here. I especially like the pop-ups, flash fiction is a great exercise, but the best is the supportive camaraderie.

 

[Zclesa]

Thanks, Mark - sounds like it provides an extremely useful service and platform.

 

[Zclesa]

Hi Patricia. Thanks for the welcome. Looks like I have a whole world to discover here. I don't think I could do Flash Fiction for the life of me - I struggle to fit my short stories into their Word Counts

 

[Tim James]

Hi and welcome.
For me Litopia is somewhere to talk to like-minded people who understand what you are going through.
Help and sympathy in equal measure, who could ask for more.

 

[Kitty]

Hello and welcome. Litopia is a wonderful place. I would say this is where I really learned to write through the excellent critiques I’ve received from my fellow Litopians. But it’s more than just a critique forum, there’s comradery and plenty of helpful advice. Plus the pop ups are a very valuable resource. Looking forward to seeing you around

 

[Katie-Ellen]

Hello I've had invaluable feedback here over the years. This is a lively lot, pig-stubborn, powerfully independent minded individuals. Much reading happens too, of course, as well as writing. Information is exchanged. Much laughter. No trolls.

 

[Kitty]

Oh and the flash club is a lot of fun!! I’ve missed the last couple of months but must get back into it!!

 

[Amber]

Welcome!

That is an intense photo. I like it.

I come here because it's a supportive environment and I enjoy getting to know people from all around the world. It's interesting to read about how other people write, what they get out of writing, and what they think of their experiences as writers.

 

[Zclesa]

Thanks, Tim. Do we get tea and biscuits, too?

 

[Zclesa]

Thanks, Kitty. I haven't checked out the pop-up feature yet, but I will.

 

[Zclesa]

Hi Katie-Ellen. Nice to meet you. Sounds like I'm in the right place.

 

[Zclesa]

Welcome!

That is an intense photo. I like it.

I come here because it's a supportive environment and I enjoy getting to know people from all around the world.

Haha, thanks for the compliment on the photo. To tell the truth, it was never meant to be used as a profile photo. I snapped it by mistake, as I had my camera facing the wrong way! But then, later I thought it actually would make a good author photo for my fiction, as it tends to be kind of dark. And it differentiates me from my non-fiction therapy and self-help work, for which I have a very smiley photo

I'm from London. I'm guessing there are a lot of US writers on here, so please forgive my Anglicisms and British spelling.

 

[Amber]

I'm from London. I'm guessing there are a lot of US writers on here, so please forgive my Anglicisms and British spelling.

I like to think I'm the only one but you're probably right. There are probably others.

Carol Rose is from Iowa? Indiana? She's from a very wholesome, friendly place in the United States. But if she says, "Bless your heart..." I'd look out.

 

[Robinne Weiss]

Welcome to the Colony! We're from all over, and conform to all sorts of spelling conventions. As an American expat in New Zealand, I go both ways.

 

[Zclesa]

I like to think I'm the only one but you're probably right. There are probably others.

Carol Rose is from Iowa? Indiana? She's from a very wholesome, friendly place in the United States. But if she says, "Bless your heart..." I'd look out.

Haha. I could already tell from some of the names. Very few people have two "first names" in the UK. What's that all about anyway? It just takes you longer to learn to spell your name when you're a kid. I was lucky - I'm only a "Beth".

 

[Zclesa]

Thanks Robinne. I live with a Kiwi and was surprised to find out it's not all sunny. He said he probably comes from a part that's even colder and rainier than England most of the time. I've written for a few American websites, so I can go both ways as well

 

[Robinne Weiss]

Ah! He must be from the West Coast. Yep. Temperate rainforest over there. I'm on the dry side of the country.

 

[Amber]

Haha. I could already tell from some of the names. Very few people have two "first names" in the UK. What's that all about anyway? It just takes you longer to learn to spell your name when you're a kid. I was lucky - I'm only a "Beth".

Mostly its a Southern thing and I have to admit I'm not sure what that's about.

You're not an Elizabeth? I think it's bold of parents to skip the longer name and go straight for the abbreviation/nickname. You could have been a Liz or a Liza.

 

[Zclesa]

Mostly its a Southern thing and I have to admit I'm not sure what that's about.

You're not an Elizabeth? I think it's bold of parents to skip the longer name and go straight for the abbreviation/nickname. You could have been a Liz or a Liza.

Well, actually I'm officially a "Bethan". My parents are Welsh. But I'm only ever called "Bethan" when I've been naughty or am at passport control.

 

[Zclesa]

Ah! He must be from the West Coast. Yep. Temperate rainforest over there. I'm on the dry side of the country.

Yes, I think he is, Robinne. Sounds like you picked the better side of the island

 

[Barbara]

Welcome to the Colony!

 

[Tim James]

Thanks, Tim. Do we get tea and biscuits, too?

Do you prefer chocolate bourbons, custard creams or just plain digestives?

 

[Zclesa]

Thank you, Barbara. Nice to meet you

 

[Zclesa]

Do you prefer chocolate bourbons, custard creams or just plain digestives?

Haha, do we have another Brit here? Custard creams and bourbons are great - as long as you eat them the right way. I'm sure you know what I mean: Pull them apart and scrape the fondanty stuff off with your bottom teeth and then eat the rest of the biscuit separately.

I don't do "plain" anything - my philosophy is, if I'm going to treat myself to something naughty, I'll have a triple chocolate brownie, not a wholewheat muffin. So, for digestives, they must either be chocolate digestives or, preferably, chocolate with caramel in the middle. And it would be the whole packet.

I actually don't eat sugar very much at all - because of my terrible philosophy really. If I stuck to that I'd be twice the size I am.

By the way, does anyone actually like those pink wafer biscuits? What is the point of them? It's like eating slightly sweetened air. Waste of space in the biscuit tin if you ask me. (I know no-one did, but I feel strongly about it.)

 

[mykey987]

Welcome from somebody who's now newer to this community than you!

 

[Deleted member 604]

Pink Panther wafers for me and a very warm welcome to you.
And I'm more than happy to pop the kettle on for us all or I have a pantry full of prosecco