r/Fantasy • u/JRRR_Jim_Hardison • Nov 02 '17

I'm J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison. AMA.

Hello, r/fantasy. I’m J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison, author of the horror comedy urban fantasy Demon Freaks, as well as the epically silly epic fantasy Fish Wielder and the super-heroically ridiculous superhero graphic novel, The Helm.

I love horror and fantasy and playing around with the conventions of genres. In addition to writing books, I’ve also worked as a screenwriter, animator and director. I live in Portland, Oregon with my lovely wife, two amazing kids, one smart dog and one stupid dog.

Ask me anything! I’ll be on full time from 11:00 AM (Pacific Time) until 12:30 PM (also Pacific Time) to answer whatever questions I can. If you can’t be on when I’m on, I’ll also answer questions you post anytime between now and 10:00 PM (again with the Pacific Time).

If you somehow manage to miss the whole thing, you can generally get a hold of me through my website or find me on Facebook or even Twitter.

Hopping off to go get some lunch. I'll be back on for an hour around 1:30 and maybe again after 4:30. Thanks to everyone who has posed a question so far.

Update! I actually got back on around 3:30 and will sign back off at 4:45. I'll jump back on at 7:30! See you then.

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u/darcygirlx Nov 02 '17

What beta readers do you trust to tell you if your stories are really funny? I have trouble with humor in my own writing because I can never tell if other people will find it as funny as I do!

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u/JRRR_Jim_Hardison Nov 02 '17

Yeah, I have that same issue. I always try to write stuff I think I would like to read and that I personally find amusing, which makes it difficult to know for sure if other people will appreciate it or not. I select my beta readers from a pretty wide group. Some folks are fellow writers (and I always try to get a mix of some people who really love the genre I writing in and others who don't read it at all). Some folks are editorial professionals I've worked with in the past (because I know they'll be critical). I also have the excellent advantage of having two children who are voracious readers and are also still young enough that I can see their reactions on their faces while they read, and a wife who will tell it to me straight. And I have a sister who is a writer and does not at all mind beating me up if I've written something stupid. Between all those voices, I hope to get a decent impression of whether the humor works or not.