@juke If you haven't already found me -- and I think you have, but just in case -- send me a PM, and I'll shoot you an email address. I played Kurst. It's always cool to catch up with old friends.

Check out the podcast, Writing Excuses: http://www.writingexcuses.com. Hosted by a bunch of published speculative fiction authors, including Brandon Sanderson.

Start with season 10.

It's the best fiction writing resource I've ever come across. (Just my opinion, but it works for me.)

I think the basics work for RP too, particularly if you're building a game from scratch, because that entails world-building. (Their most recent episode actually focuses on how to adapt fiction for games.)

@golgoth Would love to, but not enough time in the day for that and all the other things I want/need to do. (That was the case back on HM too, but now it's even more the case.) Got to stay disciplined -- for now.

R2, maybe I'll come join you. Considering SHH. And I'm finally in your time zone. (Moved to Europe last summer.)

@golgoth Would love to, but not enough time in the day for that and all the other things I want/need to do. (That was the case back on HM too, but now it's even more the case.) Got to stay disciplined -- for now.

@golgoth @Cobaltasaurus @Livia Re: Kurst @HM?
Awwww. I have one of those silly genuine smiles right now. Juke and I caught up, and I was telling her about wishing I kept up with old RP compatriots. All three of you (Cobalt, Livia, Daiden) were among my faves (w/ Juke and others), the sorts that make me miss online RP at times. I hope y'all are still writing, because you're too good not to be read by others.

@juke If you haven't already found me -- and I think you have, but just in case -- send me a PM, and I'll shoot you an email address. I played Kurst. It's always cool to catch up with old friends.

Check out the podcast, Writing Excuses: http://www.writingexcuses.com. Hosted by a bunch of published speculative fiction authors, including Brandon Sanderson.

Start with season 10.

It's the best fiction writing resource I've ever come across. (Just my opinion, but it works for me.)

I think the basics work for RP too, particularly if you're building a game from scratch, because that entails world-building. (Their most recent episode actually focuses on how to adapt fiction for games.)

@Arkandel Don't hold your breath on Winds of Winter. It's going to be a while. Sadly. He lost his way after the third book, the fourth book is mostly unnecessary, the fifth book is one big roundabout way of getting back to where he should be, and Winds of Winter should be, to me, the getting back on track.

But getting back on track is hard, so we'll see.

Try China Mieville's The City and the City. I liked it. Most of his stuff did not appeal to me, so I didn't bother reading, but I gave this book a shot and enjoyed it. Not spectacular, but it fits the gritty urban fantasy description you laid out. And the concept is pretty fascinating, actually.

Someone else said Neverwhere already, so I'll just say, yes, most definitely, read that.

Try Night Prayers or Canyons by P.D. Cacek. (Or Leavings, her great collection of short stories.) She's not well known, but she won the World Fantasy Award and Bran Stoker Award a few years back and has done some collaboration with Peter Straub. A different take on the horror genre. (Not quite urban fantasy, but gritty and urban, at least.)

R2, maybe I'll come join you. Considering SHH. And I'm finally in your time zone. (Moved to Europe last summer.)