Introducing myself

[girlyswot]

When I first started this LJ I intended to post only fic here. I had a long Antonia Forest fic and then I started writing some HP drabbles. I didn't feel like I knew anyone who was reading it (and there weren't many of them) so I used only my LJ name and had no real personal information on here.

Anyway, over the course of the last few months I have felt like I am getting to know and trust those of you who check in regularly. And I've had a smallish spate of new friends in the last couple of weeks. So it seemed like a good time to say hi properly.

I'm Ros. I'm 32 and although I live in Philadelphia (actually just outside the city limits) I'm oh-so-very British. I'm studying for a PhD in Old Testament, which is what brought me to the US last summer.

I've written fanfic for years before I knew you could call it that and I never dreamed that anyone else might be interested in reading it. I like the Harry Potter books but I don't think they're great literature and it's probably not even my favourite fandom to write in. However it's a great place to learn from other writers and readers and I know my writing has improved in leaps and bounds over this past year as a result. But I definitely prefer fics set outside the limits of the books - whether pre-PS, post-Hogwarts, or minor-character centred. Too much H/G (except that of the stmargaretsvariety) makes me feel a little queasy. But the world never has enough of Charlie Weasley, for my taste.

I'd love to write poetry (and have made various more or less successful attempts) but I fear I may have to accept that there are some things that lie beyond my natural abilities. Like singing. I keep threatening my flatmate that I'm going to apply for American Idol next year and she very kindly points out that I'm not American enough.

I wish I had more time for things like writing and knitting and watching trashy TV, but sadly I have a reading list of 157 books which I'm working my way through far too slowly.  And semester starts again next week with classes and papers to get in the way.  Though, to be honest, if I won the lottery tomorrow (which since I never enter, is marginally less likely to happen than if I did) I wouldn't change a thing.  I love what I study and I feel incredibly privileged to be able to do it.  I might get a new sofa, though.

Comments

[moonette1.livejournal.com]

Hi Ros!

I'm so glad you wrote this post! I was curious why you moved here. Old Testament PhD? Wow. Fascinating. I was a theology minor "at uni" as you British say. I wish now that I'd taken only the minimum science requirements to med school, as I had to review it all again anyway once there. I would have much preferred sticking with philosophy and theology classes, as they seem much more meaningful to me.

I'm so glad we've been able to be in contact. I do absolutely appreciate your kind support of fic authors and count myself lucky to have been on the receiving end. I also absolutely agree with your thoughts on H/G - queasy is actually a very good word choice. St. Margarets is the only H/G I've been able to enjoy. I just don't like reading much about the kids. And I do think the more original stuff included in fic -characters, setting, etc., the more I enjoy it.

So welcome to the U.S., and welcome to LJ!

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Annette. I've really valued your support and encouragement of my writing over the last few months and I'm glad you feel the same. It's so nice to find someone else who agrees about H/G!!

Wow - med school. I didn't know you were a doctor. My first degree was in Physics and I didn't really study anything relevant to what I'm doing now when I was at school (high school). I started again four years ago, practically from scratch, and absolutely loved it. I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed learning the languages, and particularly at how much I appreciated the literary aspects of the text. I think lots of the work I've done over the last few years has made me a better reader and writer of fiction, as well as of the bible.