Skills

[LJH]

A big thank you to Myk who sent in this suggestion: A list of writer/editor/beta skills. Primarily to help out with research. It's all very well to research a story or some fact via the net, nothing like getting the facts from a real live expert.

 

I am a horticulurist. Trained at the Florida technikon in Roodepoort. Johannesburg. So if you require assistance with plant propagation, soil science, the environment, I will be glad to assist.

 

It doesn't matter if you are a writer editor or beta. But, if you a doctor, lawyer, policeman, forensic expert, accountant, handyman, pilot, soldier, sailor and tinker tailor, let us know so we can compile a list for our writers.

[layla]

I'm only the beta on one story so far, but I'd be glad to help with more.

As for specialized skills, I've been training in Martial arts for 15 years, mostly in Tae Kwon Do but I've been studying jujitsu as well for the past year. I'm also an ex-bartender, and though I haven't worked corrections in years, I was a certified jail/corrections officer so i've got some experience with the inner-workings of both pod style and traditional bar and tier jails. I've also got a pretty diverse and extensive collection of legends/mythology and folklore at my disposal if anyone ever had a need for that sort of thing.

[Cia]

I used to be in nursing. I'm also an avid outdoorsperson and shoot pistols/clay pigeons for fun as well as archery hunt and fish. I grew up around cattle and sheep ranches in the Pacific NW. I'm also an amateur photographer and do a lot of cooking/baking. I wouldn't say I'm an expert but I'm good for a fair bit of knowledge in those areas.

[Aditus]

I'm a biologist with the main focus on biochemistry. I worked in the line of HIV research and stomach diseases. Beside other things I work with kids between 5 and 10 now, trying to spark their interest in science with goofy experiments. So if you ever need the recipe to build a Mentos rocket or invisible ink ask me.

I also have a thing for the meaning of names and German poets. I can't be an editor/beta/proof reader, but I'm happy to answer any question or help to look for the right answers.

[rustle]

labor law

edged weaponry and medieval armory (European)

alligators & other TX wildlife

 

Louis said he wanted a long list, so I'll add a few more esoteric skills (not expert, but certainly not a novice).:

woodworking

stage lighting

color theory (additive and subtractive)

camping and backpacking

canoeing and kayaking

blacksmithing

 

I owned my own business in residential real estate inspection, so I can answer a lot of general construction questions.

 

If you ask me and I don't know, I may be able to refer you somewhere for an answer.

Edited July 5, 2013 by rustle

[Former Member]

I'm a science geek.  Chemistry is my forte, but I know a fair bit about physics and I will answer biology questions even if I can't stand them.  Also, I'm currently living in China and studying Chinese culture, so if you need to know how to best name your new Chinese protagonist or anything else China related, I'm pretty well versed in everything from holidays to idioms.  

[Thorn Wilde]

Music. I have studied music, in one sense or another, pretty much my whole life, culminating in a bachelor of popular music. I have an outrageous amount of musical knowledge, both as pertains to theory and genre, and I have a knowledge database regarding musical instruments in all the people I know who put together play pretty much the whole orchestra. Myself, I play piano, bass, guitar, ukulele and a little bit of soprano sax. I'm fairly knowledgeable on popular music history, and have some insight into classical music as well. The rest we can figure out together.

 

Other than that, I generally have a keen eye as far as proofing goes. My editor and beta can attest to the fact that, by the time I send a chapter off to them, I have already self-edited so vigorously that there are basically no comments to be made on spelling, grammar or punctuation. I pick up on pretty much everything.

[joann414]

Don't know if t his would be much use to anyone but

 

Logistics

Lumber business

Purchasing for parts to re-build a sawmill

Anything to do with fish, deer as far as feeding, cameras, woods, and hunting

Music   Piano, clarinet, sax, and harmonica

Limited forestry knowledge.

 

This was a great and helpful suggestion.  Thanx Myk!

Edited July 5, 2013 by joann414

[CassieQ]

I work in Physical Therapy so I know just about every single orthopedic injury possible and how to treat them.  I specialize in back injuries and have a fair amount of information on spinal cord injuries as well as exercise and rehabilitation.  I am also a practicing Wiccan, so I know quite a bit on that subject as well.  They seem too random to be of much use to anyone, but I'll throw them in just in case.

[LJH]

The list grows and I have started an excel spreadsheet so if anyone wants to have it, just PM me and I'll send it to you.   Once again thank you Myk for the suggestion. But, please folks, don't stop. I'm looking for a long long list. No, wait.  A long long long long list. LOL

[Thorn Wilde]

Oh, I thought of more stuff.

 

Nordic languages, history and geography. If your characters are going to Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark or Iceland (or all of them), I'm your guy! 

 

Norse and Greek Mythology. Especially the former.

 

Also quite good with Biblical history, Judeo-Christian lore, the history of the Eastern and Western (Orthodox and Catholic) churches and so on.

 

Left-wing politics, I know loads about everything from Anarchism to Communism, both history-wise and ideologically, and what I don't know my Political Science bachelor holding Magpie does. 

Edited July 5, 2013 by Thorn Wilde

[K.C.]

I'm a surgical nurse, but I've also worked in trauma and before that worked a few years for the county coroner.  Other than that  I'm very skilled with firearms and love all kinds of things that go BOOM!

 

My husband is an engineer and a huge automotive geek (especially antique/classic vehicles, muscle cars and large trucks)  He's not on GA very often but I can always get questions to him.

Edited July 5, 2013 by KC Grim

[Sasha Distan]

i will answer any number of questions about any of the following things the ones with the * are where i consider myself to have expert skills.

 

teaching in secondary/high school*

woodworking

felt making

sewing

ceramics*

riding, horses and holistic equine ground work

silver smithing*

black smithing

welding

plastics and prop making

Napoleon 

baking and cooking*

chefing*

making hay (literally) and general work with sheep and small farms

canine behavior, especially in pack situations

kenneling for dogs*

[Andy78]

I work in oncology and have done for more years than I can remember, so have picked up a wide range of knowledge from the everyday to the insanely obscure (did you know that in the UK 8 men every year get diagnosed with melanoma of the penis?  Well now you do).

 

I'm also a sci-fi nut, everything from Red Dwarf to Star Trek to V, and a few shows in between that most people have probably never heard of.

 

Egyptology has always been a pet hobby of mine over the years; both the history and the religion.

 

Erm . . . erm . . . there must be more to me than just this.  I'll get back to you.

[Former Member]

I thought of more...  I am a videogame fanatic.  Especially games for the playstation.  I worked at a certain chain videogame store that I shall not name for an unspeakable amount of time, so I am familiar with sales and - was - up-to-date on current titles until I came to China.  My specialty in the videogame world are JRPGs and RPGs, specifically anything from NIS. ^-^

[asamvav111]

I feel so very intimidated after reading the aforementioned skill trees, but, I would like to help too, as within my means. 

 

I am professionally a Medical Doctor.

I have in depth study in Religions and Theology: Jewish, Christian, Islamic, Dharmic (Hinduism, Boddhism, Jainism), Tantra & Shamanism, Theosophy And currently reading on Wicca and Shinto.

Languages (Grammar, Literature & some amount of Linguistics): Bangla, English, Hindi, Sanskrit and currently studying Japanese.

History: Indian subcontinent upto 1950s, more focused in ancient and medieval history.

Mythology: Greek, Roman, Norse, PIE, various Indian branches, Japanese, Egyptian. 

Music: Indian (Hindustani and Karnatic system) and Western Classical Music, Folk Music of Bengal.

Cooking and food: Hard to specify, but almost something from each branch of cooking.

 

I don't presume to be a specialist in any of the above. Neither is my knowledge ultimate, nor is it complete and without faults. I know enough to know that I know nothing. However, I would be happy to share whatever little I have gathered and learn in the process as well.

Edited July 9, 2013 by asamvav111

[LJH]

My goodness, you guys and gals are kickers. I mean, reading through your skills and qualifications, i feel intimidated because i have really nothing except maybe my expertise on plants. Dang, oh, i know about warehousing. But even at my age, it is never too late to learn.

 

As i mentioned before, i am compiling a spreadsheet of all the names with their skills and if you want that list just PM me. I will send that list to Joanne so you can PM her as well.

 

Thanks so much for participating in this project.

[layla]

Thought of a few more:

 

I know my way around layout and design, quark system when it comes to newspaper of magazine layout. I've worked on both over the years, including an awesome year doing layout for a daily Virgina newspaper.

 

I'm into gardening and can my own soups, jams, jellies, ect. I love to bake to and have worked in a few kitchens over the years when not waitressing or bartending.

 

Photography

hunting

fishing

camping

fiddling with motorcycles/muscle cars

rock hounding/fossil hunting

playing guitar

playing piano and various other instruments

dungeons and dragons/magic the gathering

 

those are all hobbies of mine. I'm also wiccan and would be willing to share information on different aspects of it. In my younger days I hitchhiked quite a bit and took in several pretty big music fests, I wouldn't mind sharing experiences about those things either. I think that's all.

[scotty94]

the skills I have are:

cooking

chefing

butcher

fishmonger

dance/drama expert

and I am ace at remembering song after I have heard them once, I also class myself as a musical expert.