Introductions

Hi, I'm Saraste. I was born and raised in Finland and have been writing seriously for a couple of years now. Wrote my first novel, 'Silver and Amber', a fantasy romance, during Nano last year. I'm editing it now with the hopes of getting published in the near future.

Even though I'm a native Finnish speaker I still tend to write in English for reasons unknown to me. (Well with challenges based on the amount of words, English is nicer since Finnish has so many suffixes and stuff like that. But I'm not a linguist so I'll shut up about it now.) I know it would be better to write in one's native language but English is so much easier to write in. You have so many wonderful words.

For SoCNoc I've been planning on doing a crime novel set in the 1920's wirh possible romance on the side. (Think Agatha Christie and you're right on track...) Or then possible urban fantasy medieval fantasy. I've also just discovering our rich native folklore which I'm hoping on implementing on a novel someday too.

So far I've only written fantasy (short stories, novels and a couple of comic scripts) and horror with a romance chaser (comic scripts for my online-comic) and I also proudly admit to profusely writing fanfiction. I'm not letting anyone shame me on that.

Along writing I juggle dreams about being published as a comic artist/author or maybe illustrating. I also study at the University of Turku with a Folklore major and Literature and German translation minors.

So that's me. Nice to meet you all. Hope I fit in. I found Kiwiwriters through a Nanowrimo writer group, the mod gave a heads up and now I'm here. Because I like the stress. XD

And also, sorry for rambling, it's what I do.

(And as the settings seem to be kinda funky am linking my SoCNoc blog here : http://saraste.blog.com/ )

Got my pen, now where's my plot?

Hi saraste, I would welcome you in Finnish if I could. Interesting era 1920's, mystery murder style. It would be great intoducing your folklore into your stories, my husband is of Norwegian descent, so would imagine their folklore would be similar.
Of course you will fit in we have a league of Nations appearing on here, we all learn a lot from each other, and have writing in common.
Roll on Socnoc, not long now. :)

http://gay_belle.livejournal.com

The Zing Thing: "The Makeover."

'Southern Scriber.'

I like the sound of your 1920s crime novel as much as your UF novel. Those are two of my favourite genres to read LOL.

Finnish folklore is so fascinating. I don't know much about it apart from the Sampo and the Kalevala (I have a copy of Koirien Kalevala by Mauri Kunnas, I bought it when I was trying to learn Finnish... er, I just looked at the pictures!). It would be great to merge folklore with fiction, though.

I write fanfic too. Not so much any more, although I'm trying to write something for an obscure Japanese fandom right now, but for several years I was very active in fandom ^^

Your degree sounds so cool, btw!

http://glitterburn.livejournal.com/

Hi Saraste!

You should join the Publish a Book challenge with your novel 'Silver and Amber'. The goal is to either publish your book or get the manuscript in the hands of a publisher by the end of this year.

I'm 30K into the rewrite of the novel I'm working on for it. I'm taking a break for SoCNoC to write chick lit. It sounds like you have some great stuff to choose from for your SoCNoC novel.

Welcome! I'm sure you'll fit in. :) I'm off to check out your blog now.

No Excuses. Just Write.

Forgot to say, kudos to you for writing your novel in a different language. I have German friends who always write fiction in English - we know each other through fandom, and as a huge percentage of fanfic is in English, that's the language they choose to write in. It's truly amazing and I seriously admire anyone bilingual enough to write a novel in a second language.

http://glitterburn.livejournal.com/

Gaye-belle: I think I'll fit right in. I'm having troubles with the 1920's idea though, the characters �won't” come! Maybe I'll go with fantasy if nothing drastic happens in the next week or so. But inspiration is like that, it hides and then jumps on you. And my muses seem to be otherwise occupied. ;)

Norwegian? Hmm, don't know a lot about Norwegian folklore apart from the norns. Edda is on my list of 'things to read when I have time and am not drowning in things University'. But I think we have similar basic themes.
Socnoc, bring it on!

Autiotalo: I don't know which I'm dreading more, writing something based on an actual period in history (1920's crime) or the urban fantasy with which I have no experience (and can't decide what kind of era I should set it in: mediaval, modern or steampunk? I do have this weird idea about a post-steampunk mediaval fantasy but no idea on how to go about it...)

Koirien Kalevala! I haven't read that. I haven't even read the actual Kalevala for that matter either. But I will. Have you read the version done by Don Rosa, 'The quest for Kalevala' (Sammon Salaisuus)? It's really funny.

Fanfic is my way to vent. It's somewhat easier to write as with original characters and my genre of choice in it also suits me very well I think. Obscure fandoms are cool.

Oh yes, my degree. *sigh* I forgot t mention that I've also done some Ethnography and Latin and am planning on applying for English philology and Creative writing in August. I'm supposedly doing my BA next year but it might not come to pass. We'll see. (English is something I'm dying to study but it has entrance exams even if you're applying for it as a minor due to it's popularity. My studies are also hampered by my desire to have a Fine Arts degree of some sorts...) But cool degree, yes. Lit theory is so boring btw.

About the bilingual issue: I'm not even 'naturally bilingual', have only studied English at school and read and write English. It just suits me. Yes, the language angle in fanfiction is interesting. I only just wrote an article on HP fanfiction and my source material and point of view was all English. Not to say there isn't an active Finnish HP fanfic fandom, just that I'm not familiar with it, being somewhat older than the average fan around here.

And as doing a novel in English... I'm at the mercy of my genre. The bulk of Finnish crime/detective novels are not quite what I'd be going for and there isn't really anything that could be called 'Finnish fantasy literature', well with fantasy I'd have no expectations. (Our fantasy lit market is decidedly Anglo-dominant in both translation and originals...) But as with the HP craze I think fantasy literature is regarded as something aimed at children or teens and I'd not like to do anything like that. I'd like to do something dark, different.

And as for horror, my option number three... I won't even go to that. Finnish horror doesn't exist.

Kerrynangel:

There's a challenge for that? I'm so in! I just need to get back in touch with my editor. 'Silver and Amber' needs so much editing, it has a beginning and an end and sort of a middle. XD There are holes for Olifants to go through!

Yes, SoCNoc, can't come quickly enough and also so close. If the plot will just come!

Thanks for the welcome! Everyone seems nice here and I'm all exited to be writing soon.

Got my pen, now where's my plot?

saraste, it's also lovely to have such a vibrant and excited person join us on the site. We're always happy with new members and usually a happier still when someone enters with a big smile.

Have fun on the site and glad you can join us for SoCNoC, it sounds like a perfect match (barring the non-existent plot).

Andrew Chilton - http://kapiti.geek.nz/

Exited? You have no idea... ;) Well am really happy to be here and the welcome has just been so nice.

Yes, am waiting for the plot to arrive any day now. Anyone seen it? XD Hoping inspiration hits me on the head as soon as my exam is over on Friday. The stress isn't conductive for creative work. (Well not for writing, I have been drawing some but that's another matter entirely.)

And how about that, managed to rant again, bad me.

Got my pen, now where's my plot?

You can sign up here for the Publish a Book challenge. The forum is here and you can post your goal for May here.

Saraste, I suspect the plot will come to you around midnight on May 31st!! But as Chris Baty says, 'No plot? No problem!'

No Excuses. Just Write.

Hmm, maybe you could watch a few movies set in the 1920s to see if it inspires you? I know if I get stuck I read a book from or about that time, or watch a TV show/movie, just to get a 'feel' for the era.

Post-steampunk medieval fantasy sounds awesome. I think you could invent a whole new genre with that. LOL you've got two very opposite genres there! One that's kind of 'rigid' because it's historical,and the other is incredibly flexible.

Of course, by the time May 31 comes around, you'll have thought about these two options so much that suddenly from nowhere a third idea will leap into your mind and you'll write that!!

No, I haven't read 'The quest for Kalevala', I must ask my friend about it ^^

Wow, your degree options are so varied, so much choice! I did Latin, too. Hated it at school but loved it at uni. Sadly I'm not a linguist, I learn languages and then forget them within six months. But you should definitely try the English course, I'm sure you'd pass the entrance exam no problem!

My friend loves HP. What did you think of the translations? Laura (my friend) preferred to read them in English but then she'd read them again in Finnish, but she always complained about the translations!

I'm surprised there isn't any Finnish fantasy or horror. Maybe you can remedy that ;)

http://glitterburn.livejournal.com/

kerrynn: Already did.^^

autiotalo: I think I'll try that.

Yes, I'm odd like that. The post-steampunk fantasy is something I've toyed with but need to get my head around. It's easy do do badly. But if nothing comes from either of these I might go all medieval fantasy and be done with it. I'd actually like to do romance again but can easily be thrown in with another genre too.

Yes, like it did with Nano last year!XD Kinda.

I can't read Latin any more. I just did a very basic course, got an average grade and now I can't remember anything any more! But the Latin has about half language studies and half literature and classical culture in the first 'basic studies' part. So I'm supposedly doing those now. I seem to start new languages eagerly enough and then just... flop. Like with Japanese...(I'm real shamed about that.) As for the English I've already tried twice for translation and once for philology so I'm not keeping my hopes up.

I think the translations are well done though I do prefer the original. I originally started reading in Finnish but then switched to English in the middle of Prisoner of Azkaban at the first mention of the Finnish translation for 'hippogriff'. It doesn't belong to Nordic mythological creatures and the translation was a bit off in my opinion. I eventually did read the rest of the series apart from DH in Finnish too (haven't got round to DH in Finnish yet...) I took part on a challenge last year on livejournal where we read the whole series and discussed it right up to the release of Deathly Hallows in July. It was so much fun. But I do know people who prefer the translations, like my roomie. I'm also very awed by the fact that my cousins have read HP in English for years and one of them isn't even in High School yet. We have good language education in school around here I think. (I might also add that I hold HP responsible for my very good grade in English on my matriculation exams. They got me into reading in English and the rest is, as they say, history...)

Maybe I will.^^

Got my pen, now where's my plot?

So given all this steampunk discussion I finally looked up what the term means! It sounds interesting but I don't think I've ever read anything in that kind of setting. But I refuse to think seriously on setting a story within that kind of framework because I already have too many that I haven't devoted enough time to yet :)

Not to discourage you from writing in Engish (as I certainly couldn't read excerpts if you wrote them in Finnish) but have you ever thought maybe you could write fantasy in Finnish simply because so few people do it? I could tell you that the reasoning has something to do with steming from a rich tradition of folklore etc ... but really I just like playing devil's advocate.

http://speakcoffeetome.blogspot.com
"If my doctor told me I had six minutes to live I wouldn't brood. I would type a little faster." - Issac Asimov

Oh yes, I'm very familiar with the phenomenon of having one's head too full. But I think steampunk is definitely something I'd like to do with novelling too.

I have, believe me. It just seems that English is a somewhat easier language for me to write in. I chalk it to the fact that I've never read that much literaure (even translations in Finnish apart from BD and manga so the language itself and it's use in a creative manner has become rather hazy for me. And I know that sounds pretty bad. And as for a novel writing challenge where you have to write 50K... English is easier because you have articles, many pretty short words and because Finnish is so much about prefixes. More prefixed to convey grammar = less words...

Yes, our folklore. Hmmm. I shame to say this as a Folklore student but as far as the stories go, I'm hopelessly in the dark. But that isn't because I have been inattentive, just because the way our studies are constructed with there being a sort of basic package that you do first that was mainly to introduce folklore and it's terminology to us and then advancing to more wider knowledge. And now I'm ranting.

But we'll see what happens when June hits in. By the I'll hopefully have had my laptop back from the shop and have decided with which novel idea to go with. (I incidentally just saw a documentary about Agatha Christie and got all inspired to do a crime novel, which was one of my ideas already...)

Got my pen, now where's my plot?

Wow, your english is better than mine!

Good luck in June saraste, I hope you do well! :D

You think so? Yay! XD It's always nice to hear.

Thank you! I think that if I can just decide on what to do the 50K for I'll be fine. Won't be doing it for multiple projects since I'll be NanoMango in June too (30 pages of pencilled comic...)

Got my pen, now where's my plot?