Hello, I wanted to start by introducing myself to the writing community!
Pen Name: Malachite Griffin, feel free to call me Mal!
Pronouns: It/They/He
I'm a 29 year old AuDHD, visually impaired (along with other chronic illnesses and disabilities) trans masc person from the United States (though, I hope to immigrate to Germany, or... really anywhere that isn't here, SOS)
Background in writing: I've been writing as a hobby since I was 10 years old, and I received my BFA in creative writing in May of 2022. Since then, I've worked on a handful of projects where i have beta read, edited, and written for, (the latter two being mainly scripts for the podcast Scream Play, a horror podcast).
Genres I Write: I am the most comfortable/familiar with high fantasy, mythical fantasy, and realistic fiction, but I've also dabbled in horror, as stated above.
Genres I Read: Any subgenre of fantasy, really aside from historical. The most recent book I beta read for was science fiction, and I loved it! I'm also currently reading:
'Moon Chosen' by P.C. Cast
'To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods' by Holly X. Chang
Goals/Plans:
For my book, I hope to have the first draft complete by early 2026. I have a writing goal for each week and plan to post them here as well, that way I hold myself more accountable.
Genres: Epic Heroic Fantasy, Political Intrigue, New Adult
Primary Tropes: Questionable Utopia, Reluctant Revolutionary, Royal Court Intrigue
Supporting Tropes: Found Family as Resistance, Institutional Reform, Magical Artifacts
Chapter Goals: 30-40
Current Chapter Count: 36
Word Count Goals: ¬100k
Draft 1 Completeion Date: Nov. 24, 2025
Current Word Count: 98,640
Draft 2 Start Date: Jan 2nd, 2026
The Story I'm Writing:
A secret society of Selkie live in isolation at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean that was put in place to protect all magical creatures in the ocean, but the people in power behind the Queen changed the focus on Selkie protection. Hundreds of years later, the next Selkie Princess is challenged by the pressures of the court's expectations and her ideals of bringing people together.
Why I'm Writing this Book:
To platform and show the struggles and successes of marganilized people like myself, and some who aren't like myself (for example: racism/specism is a big theme, and I want to do my best to hilight these struggles as a white person without talking over people of color). In my book, there is a LOT of LGBTQIA+ and disability representation, too: There's a lesbian main character, another FMC with DID (whose system and herself are queer and polyam), the four main characterss are AuDHD of varying places of the spectrums, and two of them are aromantic and asexual. Some side characters are also queer and disabled, like how one pivotal character is blind with a guide dog stand-in!
Once I finish Draft 1 and go over edits myself (up to Draft 3 or 4, depending)
I'll seek out beta readers and other editors once DRAFT THREE is polished to a level I'm comfortable sharing, as I want to give you the best editing/reading experience as possible! Until then, I would love to find critique partners and make fellow writing friends along the way!
Current Progress: I'm on Chapter 14 of DRAFT TWO, I'm trying to do two chapters a week unless the chapter needs extensive rewriting/attention or if I'm lacking the energy that week.
Projected Completion: Draft TWO should be finished in mid-May of 2026, Draft THREE should be finished in either July or August of 2026
I hope you'll continue to support my progress with 'Sunken Treasure'!!
