Introduce yourself! at Deanna Hoak

Introduce yourself!

Published by Deanna Hoak April 12th, 2006 in blog

I look through the blogs of everyone who “friends” me on LJ, but I know that not everyone who reads here has an LJ account.

Would you like to introduce yourself? Point me and whoever else reads here to your writing or blog or just tell me about yourself? I’d like to know. :-)

My internet access is going to be spotty for the next week, but I’ll visit everyone’s site when I can. :-)

85 Responses to “Introduce yourself!”

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1 ohilya Dec 31st, 1969 at 7:00 pm
2 davidlevine Apr 11th, 2006 at 1:22 pm

Hi! I’m an F/SF short story writer whose first novel is currently under consideration. I’m here because I want to understand the whole publication process.
3 deannahoak Apr 11th, 2006 at 1:27 pm

Wow. Those are some really impressive story sales! Best of luck to you on the novel!
4 bill_peschel Apr 11th, 2006 at 1:35 pm

Hello. I’m a book reviewer and unpublished mystery writer. I found your blog through another writing-related site (Miss Snark, maybe? Can’t remember), and I was curious about what life is like for a book copy editor. I’m a newspaper copy editor.

Regards,

Bill Peschel
http://www.planetpeschel.com
5 anonymous Apr 11th, 2006 at 1:42 pm

Hi, I’m Andy Wheeler, one of the SFBC editors. Since I pretend it’s work, I’m trying to read the blogs/LJs of everybody in the field. I think we’ve met once or twice in person, actually — you look very familiar. I blog at antickmusings.blogspot.com. And I’m fascinated by other people’s views of the editorial process, so your LJ is very enjoyable.

Andy
6 archangelbeth Apr 11th, 2006 at 1:48 pm

RPG author (books and online magazine) and line editor, one MZB anthology sale to my name, several fanzine appearances, and one small-press book short story…

And I write lots of fanfic, too. *hangs head*

But I love hearing other editorial-type stories!
7 anonymous Apr 11th, 2006 at 1:58 pm

Hi there. My name is Karl and I’m (supposedly) a humor writer. Like many, I have several unfinished novels under my belt (*cough*) and some short stories that are gathering dust. I have a weekly column in the local paper but I spend way too much time on my blog, SecondHand Tryptophan:

http://artistschmartist.typepad.com/secondhandtryptophan/

In a past life I was a technical writer to put food on the table. I think I found you through Ms. Snark. I enjoy your blog.
8 sanguinity Apr 11th, 2006 at 2:07 pm

Found you through one of ’s links. Aspiring writer, like many others.

Two flash-length pieces:An Eye for an Eye
The View from the Back Seat
9 deannahoak Apr 11th, 2006 at 2:18 pm

Hi, Bill! Welcome. :-) Your blog looks interesting!
10 writerjob Apr 11th, 2006 at 2:18 pm

Hi Deanna Hoak -

I’m plugging away on a Historical Romance.
Working and hoping.
I guess my blog’s intended for folks coming from the same place.

I have a children’s book still in print, and an ooooold Romance that is now Out Of Print
under the name Joanna Watkins Bourne.

Besides the LiveJournal blog, I run a mirror at
http://jobourne.blogspot.com/

I delight in your posts BTW. I love the peek into the world of editing.

JoB
11 deannahoak Apr 11th, 2006 at 2:20 pm

Oh, your name sounds familiar, too. Now I’ll have to go look for a picture of you to see if I remember you. :-)
12 ohilya Apr 11th, 2006 at 2:20 pm

Greeting carbon-based woman! I am Shevchyk, from Frameshift. Blame Scott Lynch for my presence here. It is entirely his fault.
13 deannahoak Apr 11th, 2006 at 2:21 pm

Thanks! I added your blog to my reading list. :-)
14 domynoe Apr 11th, 2006 at 2:28 pm

I don’t even remember how I got hooked onto your LJ. Anyway, I go by domynoe — hardly even answer to my real name any more; I write primarily fantasy, but have tried to stretch myself with other genres as well. I’m trying to finish my first novel (leave it to me to choose advanced stuff to get into a first novel) and blog like mad. In my free time, I’m a substitute teacher until the county hires me full time, permanent — then I fear there shall be no such thing as free time in my life.
15 nin_harris Apr 11th, 2006 at 2:32 pm

Hullo!

I found your LJ via another LJ (Jay Lake, I believe) and found your posts on writing/editing to be comprehensive, concise and helpful.

Who am I? I suppose that is one of those things that could fill up pages and pages but to simplify: I write, I read, I research and when I’m hired, I teach. And I do several other things as well.
16 dr_pretentious Apr 11th, 2006 at 3:00 pm

I’m an escaped academic with an unpublished fantasy novel, two fantasy novels in progress, and a passel of unpublished short stories. I published a bunch of poetry in good places, though, before I escaped from academia. Mostly I blog about writing and teaching, but if something else grabs my brain and won’t let go, I’ll blog it.
17 dthon Apr 11th, 2006 at 3:02 pm

Allo - Scott here, a writer that’s been courting TOR for a while, with a heavy background in story and IP continuity. Urban fantasy, a little urban romance, and a game designer to boot. Nice to make your acquaintance!
18 medievalist Apr 11th, 2006 at 4:01 pm

I thought I’d done this, but can’t find it . . .

I’m a grad student, and geek for hire. I’m writing a dissertation, interspersed with frequent bouts of cursing, about fairies/otherworld intruders in medieval English and Celtic literature.
19 markteppo Apr 11th, 2006 at 4:15 pm

Hello, I followed enough references to your lovely notes about copy-editing and what not that it seemed silly not to make your LJ a regular stop. I’m one of those early in the career writer types who is still banging his head against the wall on the gazillionth rewrite (or so it seems this week). Anyway, I’ve talked more about music in the past than fiction and that can all be found over at my site –> http://www.markteppo.com.
20 darkling1 Apr 11th, 2006 at 4:58 pm

Hey there! ’s been telling everyone to check out your blog; I’ve been visiting so often I figured it was time to add you to my list :) Though I’m a long way from writing a novel, I find your unique perspective in the industry informative and interesting. So far I’ve made some sales to online publications and print anthologies, working toward that ever-elusive pro-sale.
21 templarwolf Apr 11th, 2006 at 4:58 pm

My name’s Jason. I found your LJ through Archangelbeth.

I’m graduate of Jeanne Cavelos’s Odyssey Workshop (SciFi, Fantasy, Horror), class of ‘01. I’ve also gone back The Never Ending Oddyssey for 2004 and 2005. I would be going back this year if not for getting married in two months…

I have yet to send anything out for consideration, much less get anything published. I plan on changing that soon.

Take care.
22 jacob_day Apr 11th, 2006 at 5:28 pm

Hi there!

I’m Paul aka WaywardClam of the Forward Motion writing site, aspiring sf/fantasy author with a “day job” of selling books in a mall bookstore. Your blog was recommended to me but sadly I don’t recall who recommended it anymore, it was some time ago.

So far, whoever it was was spot on the money. :D
23 wyldflamingo Apr 11th, 2006 at 5:58 pm

Hi Deanna,

Was indirectly pointed your way when alg mentioned your fantabulous blog on copyediting. As one of many who desire to write for a living, I figure the more I can learn, the easier (I hope) I made someone else’s job down the road. I really enjoy reading your entries and find the tidbits of knowledge (and the giant rack of lamb selections as well) are something I can look forward to when I need a break from regular work.
I write contemporary fantasy, and am partial to pink flamingos, specifically the yo-yo flamingo from Fantasia 2000. I recently returned to the rainy, drizzly, wonderful Northwest after 10 months of being dehydrated in Southern California.
24 pinkdormouse Apr 11th, 2006 at 7:41 pm

I found you through one of ’s links.

I’m on the third draft of my first novel, currently a little stalled on the second, and have a short story going in the post to a relatively new small press as soon as work eases off enough for me to reach the Post Office when it’s open.

Mostly I write mysteries set against a contemporary fantasy or SF background, although I have a short-short supernatural story from a couple of years ago that I’d like to expand to around the 4000 word mark.

I’m UK based, which occasionally gets frustrating as most of the publishing-related bloggers I read seem to be US-based.
25 anonymous Apr 11th, 2006 at 9:39 pm

Hi Deanna! I found you through alg’s LJ. Not a writer, just a reader who is fascinated with the publishing process. Hope to meet you at WorldCon if you go-I’ll be helping run a party. Thanks for the great blog.
26 anonymous Apr 12th, 2006 at 12:43 am

My name is John. I only have a minute before I head out of town. Found your site from Miss Snark I think. I am in the process of revising my first SF novel and I am trying to educate myself on all aspects of the business. Judging by your author list I have read many things you have worked on, so I find your comments particularly interesting. I don’t have a blog or website yet. My e-mail is Johnwrt1@yahoo.com. My first job was as a reporter for a small paper and about 30% of my present job is writing. I have been accused of writing fiction there but I keep telling people it really isn’t :-)
27 erindellr Apr 12th, 2006 at 1:06 am

*waves* I sporodically blog (thanks to 4 house moves in less than two years), with most of my entries hidden behind friends-only. At work I edit and produce Access Journal; a professional magazine focused upon access to the built environment. A mutual friend, got me hooked on your blog.
28 quasipsyco Apr 12th, 2006 at 1:44 am

>crawls out of woood worksmiles and slips back into the wood works
29 ellenscult Apr 12th, 2006 at 2:31 am

Hi,

I’m Ellen, and I’m a technical writer. I followed a link to you from Jay Lake’s LJ, and I’m really glad I did.

At the moment, I’m rewriting my first novel and I hope to have it ready to start sending out by the middle of May. I’ve written very slowly and reluctantly for many years, up until something clicked at the start of last November. Since then, there aren’t enough hours in the day!

I blog occasionally, and often it’s just to let family and friends know how life is going, or I post links to sites which amuse, interest, entertain or annoy me. Barebones, there’s not much to know about me that’s not in my lj bio.
30 carolhelga Apr 12th, 2006 at 2:50 am

Hi, Deanna! This is Carol. We met through the OWW way back when, and once I got a LJ myself I immediately looked for others from the OWW and that is how you got on my friends list. :D I write, but am not published (I guess you’d call me a hobbiest rather than a serious writer), so I earn my living teaching English language learners. My LJ blog is not just my writing musings, but often has to do with my teaching stuff. And sometimes personal stuff. And QUIZZES!
31 anonymous Apr 12th, 2006 at 3:58 am

Hello, I am a science journal editor. I used to be a scientist but then I saw the light and switched to journal editing ;-) I started out as a subeditor (which we call copyediting in the UK) and have since done a very wide range of editorial, editorial management and writing jobs. I discovered the pleasures of blogging myself late last year; my blog Petrona is a miscelleny of thoughts about books, the web, blogs, science, movies, all kinds of things I am interested in. I have a lot of bloglines feeds and so I probably found your blog via being referred to it from a link on someone else’s. All best wishes, Maxine.
PS I can’t make your commenting system accept my blog url so here it is:
http://petrona-maxine.blogspot.com/
32 wuwt Apr 12th, 2006 at 5:34 am

Found you via . Just a reader (lapsed Astronomer, currently a programmer) and liked your blog style.
Cheers!
33 guipago Apr 12th, 2006 at 7:10 am

*pounce*

hI! I’m and orange tabby kitten without many manners and possibly a wet nose. Just thought I’d pounce by and say hi.

Other news, you know me, since you talk to Scott :) I’m here because your intelligent, thorough, funny, bright, and definately better with grammer and punctuation than I am. :)

You have read my lj, and I haven’t filled it with much interesting stoff lately. I used to write fiction stories a long long time ago, but gave up after I met Scott. Not that I can’t write, I just chose to focus my energies elsewhere and let him steal the glory on that scene :)
34 marycrawford Apr 12th, 2006 at 7:28 am

Hey, I’m a writer and a reader and very interested in your posts (and Anna Louise’s, and Martha Wells’, and Jo Walton’s, etc) but I tend to use my Livejournal for fan fiction, vids and other fannishness, so there is a slight disconnect there. *G*
35 dimenxia Apr 12th, 2006 at 11:35 am

Hi there!

I found your LJ through the cranky editors LJ group. I’m a fledgling freelance copy editor (specializing in children’s sci-fi/fantasy novels) hoping to glean some more knowledge about editing and freelancing from you, and of course, to network :)

Best,
Anna
36 alabark Apr 12th, 2006 at 12:21 pm

My name is Al. I found your blog — hell if I remember how. I read you because I’m a floundering, neophyte writer and I’d like to understand the editing process. Yes, I have a live-journal blog but I seldom update.
37 dr_pretentious Apr 12th, 2006 at 5:53 pm

is a UK-based scholar and critic of SF/F. You might want to check her out and see if any of the folks on her friends list can give you a sense of the scene on your side of the pond.
38 pinkdormouse Apr 12th, 2006 at 6:08 pm

Thanks for the tip. Shall take a look.
39 anonymous Apr 13th, 2006 at 12:01 am

My name is Jerry, and I am a writer. It’s an odd conceit, really, to think that others are interested in day-to-day thoughts and observations of complete strangers, but it turns out there are some pretty interesting strangers out there.

I enjoy reading your site and cordially invite you to visit mine, if only for a day. Random ruminations on being a writer and commentary on life in Prague at:

http://muddledramblings.com
40 anonymous Apr 13th, 2006 at 2:48 am

I’ve enjoyed having you here!
41 deannahoak Apr 13th, 2006 at 2:52 am

Heh. I like the “wandering” eye in “An Eye for an Eye.” :-)
42 deannahoak Apr 13th, 2006 at 2:53 am

That was me. :-)
43 deannahoak Apr 13th, 2006 at 2:54 am

Thanks! I’ve enjoyed your comments here and am wishing you the best on your novel. :-)
44 anonymous Apr 13th, 2006 at 3:22 am

Greetings, Ohilya! Frameshift looks like a cool board. :-)
45 deannahoak Apr 13th, 2006 at 3:25 am

*sigh* That was me.

Do messages on Frameshift only stay around for a short while, or are there archives I didn’t have the patience to get to? I’m on slllloooooooowwwwwww dial-up this week.
46 deannahoak Apr 13th, 2006 at 3:28 am

Hi! It’s nice to have you here. :-)

Finishing that first novel is tough! You’ll come through it wonderfully, I’m sure. :-)
47 deannahoak Apr 13th, 2006 at 3:30 am

Hi. :-) Jay’s been really nice about linking my posts. I’m glad you’ve found the blog helpful!
48 deannahoak Apr 13th, 2006 at 3:31 am

Hi, and welcome! :-)
49 deannahoak Apr 13th, 2006 at 3:33 am

What does a background in story and IP continuity entail? It sounds interesting. :-)

Welcome!
50 deannahoak Apr 13th, 2006 at 3:35 am

Hi. :-) That sounds like a fascinating dissertation!
51 anonymous Apr 13th, 2006 at 3:39 am

Found your sight from a post on Jay Lake’s blog (I think…). I blog at http://kapo.ws/wordpress , and just started editing a bi-annual fantasy magazine called GrendelSong, whose first issue should be out September.
52 deannahoak Apr 13th, 2006 at 3:41 am

Your site looks really interesting, Mark! I look forward to exploring it more when I’m back on DSL. :)
53 deannahoak Apr 13th, 2006 at 3:44 am

Hi! I’m glad you’ve found the blog useful. :-)

Best of luck on landing that pro sale!
54 deannahoak Apr 13th, 2006 at 3:46 am

Hi, Jason! Congratulations on the upcoming wedding! I hope it goes beautifully. :-)

Yes, taking the leap to start sending things out can be difficult. Best of luck with it! You’ll do fine. :-)
55 anonymous Apr 13th, 2006 at 6:38 am

Hi. :-) I haven’t checked out Forward Motion before, but I’m glad you find the blog useful!
56 deannahoak Apr 13th, 2006 at 6:41 am

Hi! I’m partial to the Northwest, too, though I’ve enjoyed Florida whenever it’s not hurricane season. :-)

I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the blog. :-)
57 deannahoak Apr 13th, 2006 at 6:44 am

Yeah, I CE’d the British version of _Iron Council_ for Pan-Mac, but I’m not really sure how UK editors might do things differently than how they’re handled here.

Best of luck in getting through the current stall. I noticed that happening to me primarily when the story wanted to go in a different direction than I wanted to take it. :-)
58 deannahoak Apr 13th, 2006 at 6:46 am

Hi. I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the blog. If I go to WC, you’ll have to introduce yourself to me. :-)
59 deannahoak Apr 13th, 2006 at 6:47 am

Hi, John. Best of luck in revising and selling your novel!
60 deannahoak Apr 13th, 2006 at 6:48 am

Oh, I sympathize with the moving. :-P When we moved here to Florida, it was the 29th move in my adult life. :-) I hope you get to settle for a while!
61 deannahoak Apr 13th, 2006 at 6:51 am

Hi! I was wondering who on earth Quasipsyco was on that personality test people filled out! That was driving me nuts. :-D

Thank you for the compliments. I’m glad you’ve found the blog useful. :-)
62 deannahoak Apr 13th, 2006 at 6:53 am

Hi, Ellen! Best of luck with the rewriting and the agent hunt! I’m glad you’ve found the blog useful!
63 deannahoak Apr 13th, 2006 at 6:54 am

Hi, Carol! Yes, I remember you. :-) Welcome!
64 miladyinsanity Apr 13th, 2006 at 7:44 am

I do have an LJ account, for commenting but I blog at Wordpress.

http://miladyinsanity.wordpress.com

I’ve been reading your blog for awhile now, bloghopped from goodness knows where. Hehehehe.

Your copyediting thoughts were very interesting, Deanna.
65 anonymous Apr 13th, 2006 at 8:35 am

No idea how I ended up here–Miss Snark? Anna Louise?

Jus tbeen enjoying the uniquer angle ont he publishing biz.

http://www.coronerstories.com/
66 deannahoak Apr 13th, 2006 at 12:30 pm

Hi, Maxine. I’ve always loved science–part of why I got into SF/F. :-) I’ll stop by your blog occasionally!
67 deannahoak Apr 13th, 2006 at 12:31 pm

Hi. :-) Glad to have you around!
68 deannahoak Apr 13th, 2006 at 12:32 pm

*scritches behind your ears*

You have a lot going on right now! You’ll have more time for blogging, writing, and so on after the wedding’s done! :-)
69 deannahoak Apr 13th, 2006 at 12:35 pm

Now I have to go look up Martha Wells’ blog. I don’t think I’ve read hers. I’m thrilled to be included in that group of people, though. :-)
70 deannahoak Apr 13th, 2006 at 12:36 pm

Networking is always important. :-)

I think that having a specialty is a great thing, too: Editors like to give projects to people who have a true love for the genre in which they’re working.
71 deannahoak Apr 13th, 2006 at 12:37 pm

Hi, Al. Glad to have you around!
72 deannahoak Apr 13th, 2006 at 12:44 pm

Hi! Your blog is interesting. :-)
73 deannahoak Apr 13th, 2006 at 12:48 pm

Hi, Paul. It’s nice to have you around. Best of luck with GrendelSong!
74 deannahoak Apr 13th, 2006 at 12:51 pm

Hi! How do you like WordPress? I’ve thought at times about switching my blog elsewhere, but I do love LJ’s commenting system.

I’m glad you’ve found my posts interesting. Thank you for the link to your blog!
75 deannahoak Apr 13th, 2006 at 12:57 pm

Wow. That is a fascinating blog you have. It makes me glad I deal with fiction instead of reality, though. :-(

I’m glad you’ve enjoyed my publishing thoughts. Are you a writer, too?
76 ellenscult Apr 14th, 2006 at 2:37 am

Thank you! I sent my first story off to a magazine yesterday, too, so I’m all excited. *grin* Have a great Easter weekend. (Or, in other words, Happy ChocolateMas!)
77 miladyinsanity Apr 14th, 2006 at 3:24 am

I have used LJ before, but I like Wordpress better.

You’re right about the comments, because Wordpress doesn’t allow threading of comments.

It does have a stats page to show you who’s linking to you, and how many people drop by each day, and what people are googling to get to your blog–I’ve gotten some really weird ones, LOL.
78 marycrawford Apr 14th, 2006 at 11:58 pm

Hey! Just to save you time: Martha has an LJ too, . :-)
79 anonymous Apr 15th, 2006 at 5:06 am

Thanks, I’ll need the luck. I’m becoming convinced that Terry Brooks was right when he said something like “Writing is craft but publishing is pure luck.”

My apologies to Terry Brooks for the inaccuracy of the quote, I don’t have a copy of the book he wrote it in.
80 anonymous Apr 16th, 2006 at 3:43 pm

lol

I’ve been pimping my buddy’s blog alot lately and put his link instead of my own. Probably for the best since his IS more interesting.

Pretty sure he had an English degree before his forensic one. I guess his blog is a way of doing both.

As for me, I fancied myself a writer until I learned more about how much work it was for such little pay, but I still enjoy learning more about what goes on out there.

This time I tried harder to get the spaces in the right place.

Douglas
81 anonymous Apr 19th, 2006 at 12:18 pm

Hi, I’m Mary Dell. Occasional freelance writer & graphic artist; wannabe SF novelist. My blog is http://torrefaction.canary3d.com.
82 deannahoak Apr 19th, 2006 at 6:40 pm

Ah. And now I see you have a picture on your blog. :-) You do look familiar.
83 deannahoak Apr 19th, 2006 at 6:44 pm

Hi. Your blog has a nice mix of posts on it. Best of luck with the adoption!

(And your tree-trimming skills are impressive!)
84 erindellr Apr 20th, 2006 at 11:04 am

Well, there will probably be one more move this year, after which I hope to be a bit more settled. What got you started in the editing business?
85 anonymous Apr 20th, 2006 at 2:16 pm

hi!

i’m john vaughan. i emailed you a little while back, so we’ve sort of met, although not sure if i left my blog address or not.

well here it is!

http://jonvon.net

love this blog.

cya. :-)

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About

Deanna I'm a freelance copyeditor specializing in fantasy and science fiction. SF/F novels I have copyedited have been finalists for (and have sometimes won) the Hugo, Nebula, Arthur C. Clarke, Golden Spur, John W. Campbell Memorial, Quill, Locus, Philip K. Dick, British Science Fiction, British Fantasy, and World Fantasy awards. In 2007 I was short-listed for a World Fantasy Award for my copyediting.

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