Timewaster's Guide Archive

My name is Matthew Jones.  I grew up in Salt Lake City (Holiday area) and left for the Air Force when I was 22.  I'm currently 29 (30 in less than a month) and I work as a Software Engineer for Microsoft in Silicon Valley.  Hobbies include writing (fantasy), programming, Japanese stuff (I've applied for a few jobs in Tokyo, so wish me luck.)

Always looking for more friends who will help keep me motivated to finish this book, so feel free to say hi!.

Many thanks!  And, just in case, I'll start practicing dodging stuff.

Hello All...
My name is Matthew Jones, but I often go by StriderA online.  I was born and raised in Salt Lake City, joined the Air Force when I was 22, went to Iraq once where I drove convoys, and I am currently a Software Engineer for Microsoft in Silicon Valley, CA.  Main influences to my writing are common fantasy works (since you can't really get around that) and Japanese culture.

I was another one that found his way over to this side of the fence due to the Jordon/Sanderson deal, but actually quite enjoy it.  It's nice to see so many people from my hometown as well.   (Too bad there aren't many from down here in Cali though...) 

Writing Excuses as well as these forums gave me the inspiration to pick up a book I started writing before joining the Air Force and give it another go.  I hope that you guys will help me keep up the momentum and inspiration to finish it so I can truly call myself a writer.  Cheers!

I was up in the Holiday area and spent most of my free times in the canyons.  I did have two groups that I played with, but they fell apart before I left the area at 22.  My parents now live down in Alpine, and I'm wondering if that's the place to be.  I'm in a (somewhat boring) D&D 3.0 campaign now.  Anyone in Silicon Valley area want to start something?  Anyone?

i live in San Jose and will be at World Fantasy.  If anyone needs anything while they're down here or anything setup before hand (*cough* within reason please *cough*) let me know.

Recently, I've actually decided to buckle down and start writing my first novel.  (I started it well over five/six years ago but it got lost in the muddle of school/military/life/etc.)  Anyway, I'm writing in third person limited, and I keep getting distracted by small things.  For example, I noticed "he" everywhere in my text.  (The first scene involves him returning to his childhood home in the midst of a battle... so not much external dialog, just description and movement.)

So, first thing I do is look at other third person limited texts (Hills like White Elephants, by Hemmingway, for example) and now that I'm looking for it, I see other writers using 'he' about as much as I am.

So, now that you read all that... I guess the real question is... how do I train myself to ignore these things (and not stop writing to read other stuff... and post in a forum and just keep writing?  Is it better to ignore everything I see (or think I see) and just keep going or is it better (since this is my first book and will probably be thrown away at the end anyway) to keep doing these side quests and call it a learning experience?  And, do hills really look like white elephants???  Aigh, the questions!

Thanks in advance.

I just thought it was humorous that a forum directed to fiction writers, which by definition is information that is technically false, had that as the first 'rule.'  But, then again, I'm sure there are a million ways someone could spin the word or concept of 'false' information.

XBox gamer tag: Utaboshi
Steam ID: stridera

I play RPGs/Action on xbox and FPSs on steam.  Feel free to hit me up for a game.