Bio
Hi SmoochPit! I’m Chezza, and I’m a biracial Chinese-English fantasy writer living in Canada. I write stories about women taking charge of their own fate, often incorporating Chinese mythology, and always with a little (or a lot of) romance! I hold a master’s degree in Renaissance Literature, and my short fiction is published/forthcoming in Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Cast of Wonders, and Heartlines Spec.
When I'm not writing, I'm gaming (Where Winds Meet and Persona are some of my faves), watching anime, or binging the latest xianxia cdrama. I’m an SFWA Associate Member, a former SmoochPit mentee, and I’m represented by Alex Land at Mad Woman Literary!
Manuscript
Wishlist
(MSWL)
I love big emotions and well-rounded plots with enough adventure or intrigue to keep me turning the pages. Give me angst, strong women, lyrical writing, and a propulsive plot, and I'm sold.
My tastes lean speculative: fantasy (grounded/epic/high), magical realism, non-western mythology retellings/reimaginings, and non-western fantastical alternate histories. I like stories that approach these genres from a fresh angle and have something bigger to say about the world alongside all the romance. I’m open to romantasy, romantic fantasy, and fantasy with a strong romantic subplot.
I’m pickier with sci-fi, but would still love to see soft sci-fi, science fantasy, and cyberpunk stories! Especially if they contain some of the elements above/below.
Things I love:
- Cdrama/kdrama vibes
- Miscommunication/misunderstanding tropes
- Marriage of convenience trope
- Love triangles (give me 2ML syndrome!)
- Secret identities
- Multiple realms/worlds
- Strong women who don’t need a man to save them
- Sapphic romance/BL
- Female friendships
- Non-western historical settings
- Non-western myths and mythical creatures
- Martial arts
- Female revenge
This is just to give an idea of my tastes, but if you have something angsty, that celebrates love, or is quirky with a unique take to the genre, please feel free to send it my way! Some of my favourite stories include: The Girl With a Thousand Faces, The Untamed/MDZS, Fullmetal Alchemist, The Night Circus, The Witcher, The Hurricane Wars, The Jasmine Throne, Local Heavens, and A Forgery of Fate.
I have no limits when it comes to spice, gore, or violence, as long as it makes sense for the plot and isn’t included purely for shock value.
I’m not the best fit for: horror (especially if insects are involved—actually, please don’t send me anything with a lot of insects); hard sci-fi; stories with a lot of sexism/misogyny that don’t address it as problematic (if it’s addressed/recognized, then that’s totally fine); drug use; dragons as part of the western canon (I'm very interested in non-western iterations of dragons); and post-apocalyptic stories.
Mentoring Style
As a reader, I’m very analytical when it comes to plot—I like to look at the big picture. I will consider things such as whether the plot makes sense overall, whether there are any holes that need closing or character arcs that need a more satisfying conclusion, and whether the rationale behind actions makes sense from beginning to end. My goal is to help you make this manuscript the best it can be!
At our initial meeting, I would mainly like to get a sense of your goals for the project and any pain points you might want to discuss (and also take the opportunity to tell you everything I loved about the manuscript). I will send you the edit letter prior to our first meeting, and we could discuss it during the call. Once developmental edits are done, I can assist with suggestions at the line level. And then, when you’re happy with the manuscript revisions, I will help you refine your query package. We will have a handful of official meetings throughout the mentorship, but I will always be available to chat and brainstorm as things come up!
Applications
from Connections
Please do not apply to me if we’ve ever exchanged materials, if I’ve previously provided feedback on your writing, or if we’ve had extensive conversations online.