I don't really count as a hardcore fic wirter - because I write stuff that takes too long and then I never get finished for ages. I live in Ireland and do business in college (and I write stuff..?). But I like to think that I put a lot of effort into my fics - bad as some of them may be, there're a few I'm particularly proud of, because at least I make the effort to beta my own stuff (I print it off and read it at least four times before I send it up - it's easier to spot errors in print than it is on screen!). Not least because the grammar is (normally) correct, and if there's one thing that annoys me, it's poor grammar in a fanfic! (also poor story is another one)