P. Pherson’s Comments (group member since Nov 27, 2024)

P. Pherson’s comments from the Fantasy group.

I'm probably in the minority here, but realism.

One of the definitions that I have come across is that Fantasy has miraculous things happening, and there is no explanation, and Scifi has miraculous things happening, and there is an effort to explain.

If fantasy has no magic, I am not sure its fantasy.

What you are saying is you like low fantasy, as opposed to high fantasy. Low fantasy features a lot more 'realism', and not so much magic.

Realism is a tricky term in fantasy. It could mean, I want more of the real world's (meaning our world) laws and physics to apply.

But I think the real aim, or the real violation, is when the world created, even with it magical elements, doesn't break its own rules. So, if the author establishes that brooms cant be used to fly, they dont go on to have someone flying on a broom.

But then...for many stories, that impossible thing is often the one thing that the hero masters at the end, and surprise, he's the first.

In my writers group, I get into fights about realism all the time. IMO, realism must apply unless it is established something is different. To not adhere to it lowers the credibility of the tale, and so, it is ignored at the stories peril.

Anyway...my own story is kind of a mix of both high and low fantasy. Most characters have no magic.

I wish "historical fiction set in an imaginary world" was a recognized genre, as that's what I'm most interested in. Would also have been helpful when I was in the publishing process.

There is such a thing as Historical Fantasy. Usually it means our world with some fantasy stuff added. Xena, was loosely Historical Fantasy

But, I suppose if I took the roman legions and placed them on a made up world, it would still be in the historical category.



For me, good story is most important. I like when the characters are motivated, all have their goals and energy to achieve those. I like to read about interactions between people or other fantasy races and creatures, especially when the characters' value systems collide, and they have to adjust, rethink, or defend their beliefs.

I like it when suspense is maintained throughout the story.
Good world building is a bonus, but if I decide that the author overexplains things, I'll skip those pages.

I prefer when fantasy books are not all gloomy, when there's hope and feel-good moments.

I don't appreciate graphic violence, rape, torture, long and boring fight scenes or daily routine descriptions.

Well...my book may not be for you. I like the world unfiltered, and I am one of those...the light is strongest when it is pitted against the most unstoppable dark. So...there is violence and many people have called it dark fantasy (but I thought it was full of hope...)

Ignoring that, you would like my book.

I am a minimalist type of writer, and as a reader, if the story goes into long descriptions of trees and landscapes, I skip ahead. My brain just goes, trees, mountains...got it.

Also...I hate writing battle scenes. They take up so much space and most of it does not matter. When I do write battles, I try to use them to show things about the characters. I always think of the way Star Wars used its light saber duels the show the characters and try to do as well as that.


I've never read the Witcher, and I am not sure if I have ever read anything by Orson Scott Card. Ender's Game is one of those books I will get to sooner or later. One of my friends really wants me to read it.

That is a nice map :)

Thanks. Ive been working on mu writing voice for many years.

If you follow the series, the pond probably wont seem to fit in until book 3 or 4. But…it will seem really cool when it does.

Thanks for reading.

You are.

Good reads needs a like button.

Okay, done screwing around with Wix. Had to add a fan art section to store the pic. I had wanted to do that anyway, but today became the day.

Yay, the pic shows.

1) The pic above was done by my daughter. Its of some of my characters in an anime-ish style. Sami on the left, Rue, the tall redhead, Zarue with the missing leg, and Orn on the right. I love this pic. I have it on the wall near my bed. I want her to do another, but...she's lost the inspiration

2) I wrote book 4 just cause my daughter loves the tale.

3) I wrote book 1 20 or more years ago. I partially wrote book 2, but then I lost my writing space and kids happened. I picked it back up after my first cancer diagnosis.

4) I have a lot of favorite characters, in book 1, it is probably Rumsha, one of the main villains, cause hes so evily selfish and cunning.

5) I think book 1 is actually funny, but I am not sure readers will see it that way. I think its funny cause its a horror show for most everyone in the tale, and yet...they cant leave, they need the protection offered by the thing that is most dangerous to them. So, they are stuck.

6) When I started the tale, I was still using Word Perfect 5.1.

Just gonna say...I don't put a lot of energy into the newsletter cause I don't have anyone signed up. So....it may be a while.

But you should have gotten the story 'The Pond', which is about an early event in the story.

The bookshelf is open. Feel free to post up any books you might like and think would be a good fit for our group.

If you wrote it, please check the box "by-our-members" so we know its you.

I wish Goodreads had a like button. This is very cool to know.

(alright--dammit, I'm gonna stop adjusting the forums and go work on my website. I dont know how to post a pic up here on GR.)

https://www.pphersongreen.com/

Everything there should be working :)

I have written some pieces that are part of the big story, those I save for my website. You signup for my newsletter (and so far I have 1 subscriber :( ), you get a free short story about an event on my world.

I am also planning on using snippets like those for other marketing ideas. But...book 5 first.

I changed my mind. I am going to read all of these. No Eta though. I have three books in my queue right now.


Hmmm...I wrote a book about a fairy in a cage :) Should be interesting to see another take. Nice pic too.

Small changes... Added an intro and mod section. Carry on.

The thread is for Mods to make any announcements for the group, and for any who wish to talk to Mods in discussing forum ideas and issues.

Hi all and welcome to the Fantasy group.

This group was formed specifically with the goal of being dedicated to fantasy and fantasy writers. As Ivy said to me, when she went looking for a fantasy group where one would be free to post up their books, she could not find one. So the purpose of this site is to be a place where people can post up their books, and talk about them (maybe more than a little).

We are also a place to talk about Fantasy and the writing industry as well, and with an eye for ways to help each other.

And, we are a place to gather and share our appreciation of all things fantasy and story and book related. If you are a reader, or a lover of fantasy, or an author, we welcome you and appreciate that you are here. We want everyone to enjoy their membership, and to participate in our forum.

Welcome all to the Fantasy group.

(Usual rules apply. Treat topics and other members with respect. And don't just spam our boards...)

I'm sorry, are you telling me your writing isn't a thin veil for your dastardly kinks? Are you even an author?!

I plead the 5th...

Okay...if you are reading my books for the smut, you will probably be disappointed. I am a fade to black kind of writer.

I also find myself a bit lost, since I'm not much of a social media person, and I feel like most sites I used to use are now a bit abandoned! I've heard that TikTok kind has it going for books, though.

I dont know that I can do TikTok, I already hate being on facebook.

So far, my marketing has consisted of buying ads on Amazon (with very little success), and being noisy in forum groups like this.

The number of readers I can point to as a result of my own efforts is very small. I have sold 100 or so copies, but I think most of those were people just sucking it into the library cause it was free for a day.

It dont matter, I wrote book one knowing it would mostly be a freebee. Its purpose is to sell book 2-5. Then it can stop being mostly free.

Mathew wrote

As an indie author myself, I've discovered that the thing indie authors lack (including myself) is a strong sense of salesmanship. That's pretty much what traditional publishing provides: salesmen.

Yes, trad publishing offers taking all the back office stuff away from you. They will produce the book, edit it, get the cover, market it...only...

Some of them are scams (dorrance...), and many of them still put the marketing back on you.

The marketing is the hard part. Its really something we all have to gain some ability at.

Unless you write smut ;) That may sell without marketing.

Jabotikaba wrote:

If you can spot a pyramid scheme, that makes you smart and them bad salespeople. It is evident that they are incapable of selling anything, at least to you.

I've sat through some pitches in the past, and my radar is pretty much up for these. The last one was actually a church, but it was very pryamidy to me.

What hurts is I have had more than a few friends over the years who really believed in these, and it was hard to listen and say to them that I thought they were on a bad path. They believed it so strongly. One was someone I very much cared about and it was hurtful to watch it. But.... Maybe they made it work. I dont know.

Moved from the welcome thread.

Jabotikaba wrote:

Being both a good author and a good salesperson must be very difficult. Writing a book and selling it both require talent, but they are two very different skills. It seems that a successful indie author needs to be a modern-day Renaissance person.

I think its important to build a skill stack. If you can master one thing, and then pick up another, you can multiply, not just add to, your ability. If authoring is your future, it should be worthwhile to start picking up skills in the other areas. If you have no intention of that, then have a friend who will, or pay a professional.

My sense is, even if you pay people, you will still have to do a lot of it. Maybe even then you will learn a skill.

IRL, I would suck as a sales person. I am very introverted. If I can do all my pitching and talking online (in written text), I would be okay at it. But...there is only so much energy I have to spend. I am gonna work on getting book 2 out and getting book 5 written. After that...marketing.




Kristana wrote:

Maybe it's not a realistic situation, when an author steals another author's manuscript, but Kuang made a thrilling story out of it.

Getting a book stolen is almost a given today. If you become popular and start to take off, its a certainly your book will show up on a pirate site, and maybe even on amazon. If you find it there from some lowlife, Amazon will not be too helpful is helping you deal with it. It is a problem in the industry.



On the subject of Sales Marketers, and people offering their services to help you succeed...of which many are sketchy.

I dont trust any of them. Especially those who send me rando messages on face book, or email saying that my website sucks, or I am missing some market. Unsolicited pitches is not the way to reach me. I have my own ways of finding the team I want to help. So...sorry, but I will never be interested.

A thread for general book and industry discussion (and other things too, I suppose).

Drifting from the topic is allowed.