Hello, person reading this! I'm Riley Kifer, which is a pen name I use for my writing, because I'd rather people not google my real name and see the kind of nonsense I write. Nonsense I write ranges from fantasy, to young adult, to romance. I love situational humor, so those type of scenes often show up in my work. I also include LGBT+ characters and romances too, so if that's a problem, you're better off elsewhere.
For me, writing is just a hobby- I have no interest in getting published. I'd rather write whatever the hell I feel like writing, then post it on sites like Wattpad and Inkitt. Except I've decided to start posting them on this Neocities website as well! Because I'm unhappy with the state of the internet.
Anyways...
I started officially writing in 2016, when I wrote a novel called The Riveting Lives of Russell and Sal. But I'd written other stories long before that, and went through a phase in 8th grade where I'd write dorky poems. I also blogged a lot in high school on a site called Xanga. And took a creative writing class in community college for an elective. People usually liked my stuff. But I got my degree in Digital Media- where people rarely liked my stuff! (I've long since stopped making art with the exception for the covers I make for my stories. College obliterated my interest in it.)
My writing process is basically, making a few notes in an app called Obsidian before I start writing a draft. I'm mostly a pantser, though at times I'll stop and make new notes as the story and characters come to life. I do struggle with writer's block a lot, and it often takes me a long time to finish things because of it. I've got two WIPs from 2020 I still need to finish up, but haven't touched them in years... But I'm hoping to return to those soon! Right now, I've been too distracted by a slice of life dystopian serial.
I don't use AI in any part of the process, nor have I used it for my covers or banners or any other art/design stuff. (Personally, I believe gen AI has done more harm than good.)
When I'm not writing, I read or play video games. Some of my favorite books include "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes, "Hunted" by Darcy Coates, "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair, "Trailer Trash" by Marie Sexton, and "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole. My favorite book series is the Legends series by Marie Lu. Warrior Cats is my guilty pleasure. Favorite video games include Pokemon, Spyro, Skyrim, Undertale, and Stardew Valley.
Aaand that's about all I have to say. Go read the stuff I've written!