*refusal to partake in first comment dance*

Hi John, and welcome to Elfwood!! (Oh, I see you're a high school teacher... whoops, make that Mr. Ryan, heheh) I'm stopping by to return the favor! I've already briefly glanced over your work so far, and it looks really epic! I'm looking forward to beginning this series.

Well what am I waiting for then? Onward I go!

John L. C. Ryan replies: "Cheers, cobber! I didn't know that there was a First Comment Dance but if it is anything like Michael Jackson's zombie dance from "Thriller" then I hope to get to see it some day!Epic, huh? lol, I guess that's good but I guess it also means there's a lot to live up to......I hope I can live up to it.Thanks for stopping by and please feel free to come back and give me some criticism about what I put up. If my stuff is half as good as what I have read from you then I'll be very happy!!!!"

Welcome! *beats Brendon around the head for not partaking, then does first comment dance instead*
Hope you have a great time on Elfwood, and as a member of Wyvernsmiths!

John L. C. Ryan replies: "Cheers, mate. I am enjoying Elfwood so far. There plenty of stuff to read in a variety of different styles which is always good, and I'm looking forward to being able to comment on people's works.Wyvernsmiths is giving me headaches though, lol. Still don't know what I'm supposed to do or how I'm supposed to critique or get critiques. All in good time though Thanks for stopping by."

Yes, there is a first comment dance, but I find it savage - a display of utter barbarity - hence my refusal to partake. And Louise can bash me around the head as much as she wants, I will never give in.

Anyway, I've read the first half of The Last Bastion, and I think it's really great, but also rather heavy. (Not a complaint at all of course, just my excuse for not having finished it yet.) I will definitely leave a comment once I've completed it.

John L. C. Ryan replies: "Could it be that you actually like getting a few smacks around the chops? Don't worry the secret is safe from me (I'm kinda partial to it myself, hehe)Anyways.....yeah, yeah, any excuse not to read my stuff Haha, I look forward to critiques when you can find the time, mate. I get what you mean when you say heavy, but is it really a bad thing? Too heavy? Too much to start with? Any advice would be welcome. Cheers"

Ps I'm not reading anything at the moment, I'm doing a death/last minute essay on The Great Gatsby for my Representation assessment task tomorrow. And then Ancient History and Biology blah blah etc after that. Nonetheless, I shall return.

John L. C. Ryan replies: "I look forward to it. Once again, good luck, mate."

Eh...

I'm such a hermit. You should feel damn special that you made me leave my page for a little while.

Lessee...English teacher, hmm? Hehehe, I like my English teacher.
I wouldn't reccomend reading any of them, really. They're all so old...from another time in my writing development. I don't have much time to write these days, what with the high-content English syllabus for the HSC *glares* I know, I know, you're not the Board Of Studies. Still, you're the Man.

Well, if you're all english, perhaps you'll know of the SMH Young Writer Of The Year competition?

John L. C. Ryan replies: "lol, I'm not the bad guy but doesn't mean I don't enjoy seeing you kids squirm during the HSC I remember it myself so it's kinda fun to see the next generation of kids going through the same torture. Hope you have fun, haha!SMH? Yeah I'm very familiar with it and encourage kids to participate whenever possible. I think it started the year after I finished so I never got the chance to enter, however if you're writing for Elfwood anyways it's probably a good thing to chuck a shortie in there. Good luck mate "

Oh, I did enter. I'm the regional winner for the Hunter/Central Coast. And it was a battle, but I finally got everything submitted for the next round.
So now I wait until September. Joy.

What music are you into Johnny?

John L. C. Ryan replies: "WOW! Congratulations, mate! I'll have my fingers crossed that you continue with your success in the next round.My musical tastes are pretty varied, I guess. I've always been a fan of classical music, with Greig being my favourite composer. I'm also a huge fan of heavy metal - old school stuff like Iron Maiden or the Scorpions, classic 90s metal like Cemetary and Carcass, and some modern Aussie metal like Grenade and Stone Wings. Having said that, I'm not adverse to the odd Pop song, and even like a couple of Eminem songs......"

WOW... that was a big comment.

*hits herself over the head for stating the obvious*

O.o Oh my poor head.....

John L. C. Ryan replies: "It didn't crack into a thousand tiny bits? I'm guessing you bought that superglue, then?"

Tee hee hee Tim, I bet he like "Here's Johnny" ;P

Sometimes I just crack myself up... into millions of tiny pieces and have to get myself sewn back up. Maybe I should invest in superglue.... *ponders*

Anyway like my dear friend Louise *points to her comment above* I like the tradition of the first comment dance. It has a sense of "I can't dance, everyone knows it but because we're all friends you don't mind me wiggling my butt alarmingly in everyones face"

^_^

Anyhoo... when you do get a chance to read through all my stories on my overcrowded shelf you might get to see some new stuff. I'm almost ready to upload a few new (tee hee I like 'ew') short stories.

Oh and I can laugh and point all I want at poor Tim because he's still in high school. I'm almost finished a uni degree!! YAY!!! *does happy dance... yes, it does have a lot of butt wiggling in it*

At the end of this year I will be free of assignments and ready to..... to... oh no! I'll have to join reality and get a job! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

*sobs*

How can this be? How will I ever survive? *pouts*

Well at least I get to have my honeymoon before I have to start a job! I'm so lazy aren't I! ^_^ AND GOSH DARN IT I LOVE IT!

MUWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!

John L. C. Ryan replies: "Haha! Yeah best to get the honeymoon out of the way - that way all the good things in life are taken care of and you can start grinding away the next 40 years of your life........Just joking Working is awesome and getting paid is even better! I haven't gotten around to reading your stuff yet because I've been sick, injured and otherwise incapacitated over the last week or so. However, I'll see if I can crack one open today!"

Oh, just one more comment: yes it is very difficult "breaking in" to the business, and lots of pitfalls and traps. Having an English degree may help you secure a decent agent, but look out for the preditors (no up front fees for anything is the hard fast rule).

Drop by my blog if you want more "advice" though most of my advice is "be careful who you take advice from" ha! I do have a couple of bits on the technical aspect of the craft, which I would love some input on. (or should that be "on which I would love some input" ?) See, now I'm all nervous... this will come back all marked up with a red pen, I just know it!!

Cheers!

John L. C. Ryan replies: "I'll definately drop by the ol' blog and have a read, and if you want input, comments, whatever on anything just ask...although considering you are already published and winning awards I am not too sure if there is anything I can do, haha!"

Engish teacher, huh? Hmmm... I better be careful what I say in commenting. I promice not to comment on your puncutation, okay?

Please forgive Emma Jane, she is psychotic, but harmless, and also a sweetie.

Excuse the digression, but I love the little line beneath the comment box that reads "Use English. Avoid bad language." Well DUH! We are writers aren't we? Our language skills should be better than average, right? Heh heh...

Well, I'll see if I can read some today. Got a million things to do, and only time for six, maybe seven... Cheers, and welcome!

John L. C. Ryan replies: "Oh, you'll see plenty of mistakes in my writing. I can point out other peoples' mistakes quite easily (like, say, um, if I stated that there are two spelling mistakes in your comment..... ) but I have so much trouble picking out my own......that's what I need you guys for!!!!"