• Café Life is the Colony's main hangout, watering hole and meeting point.

    This is a place where you'll meet and make writing friends, and indulge in stratospherically-elevated wit or barometrically low humour.

    Some Colonists pop in religiously every day before or after work. Others we see here less regularly, but all are equally welcome. Two important grounds rules…

    • Don't give offence
    • Don't take offence

    We now allow political discussion, but strongly suggest it takes place in the Steam Room, which is a private sub-forum within Café Life. It’s only accessible to Full Members.

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Welcome… I’m New Here! Hello from a rainy place!

Select this prefix to introduce yourself here!

Julia

Colonist
Joined
Jul 22, 2026
LitBits
0
Hello colonists,

I am very happy I found this place, and you lot. I'd like to introduce myself, given I will most likely be around, as well as do some lurking. I'm sending my best regards from one of the Baltic states. I'd be pleased if you'd know me as Julia since that is my middle name that wouldn't hurt anyone's brains over pronunciation.

I have been writing for the better half of my life. Mostly in my native language, published a couple of short books, and then life moved me toward more passive writing – I moved into forums. I simply shelved the idea of publishing anything more, telling myself I will just be fine while not writing. That proved to be a struggle – my track record so far is a solid 8 months before I start climbing the walls as I have too many thoughts, and too many worlds are knocking at my door to be discovered and inspected.

I have come here after a few attempts to sit down and write. Some of the projects were lessons learnt, and now I am working on a relatively ambitious project for me – three part fantasy novel in English. I did study audiovisual translation and English philology, but I would hardly call myself an expert. Figured... I better find myself a community that speaks the same underlying language of creativity if I want to see this coming to fruition. And for once in my life, I really, truly – somewhat desperately – do.

Therefore, I'd be terribly pleased if I could join the community you have built. I promise I will work to be a supportive, well-mannered and useful member once I sniff around enough and have something of value to offer to you all. Until then, it's nice to meet you, and I hope everyone is having a splendid day – wherever you are.

J.
 
Welcome aboard, Julia :) You're English is excellent! I couldn't tell it wasn't your first language which deserves applause in itself. When I read The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, there were a few instants where I could tell the author's first language wasn't English and I didn't mind, it gave the story more flavour. I say lean into your voice :)
 
Appreciate your kindness to our vowel dependent brains, Julia. There are several on here who are writing in English as a 2nd language and one of our stars who published in fantasy writes in Spanish and English. I think it actually gives you an advantage in being able to distill story down to the most important elements. Welcome.

By the way I call your rainy place and raise the stakes. I'm in Ireland.
 
Hi Julia,

Welcome to Litopia. It's a bit special here. Folks are great and very supportive. Be good to catch some blogs from the Baltic states.

It's often rainy down my street, but we're currently experiencing drought conditions here in the soft and silly English Midlands. I can't remember the last time I saw green grass.

My kingdom for a rainy day!

Best regards,
mickleinanongoingpickle
 
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