Gay Authors

Gay Authors – Quality Gay Fiction

Gay Authors FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to the Gay Authors FAQ area. We've made this list of frequently asked questions to help the members make a one-stop trip to solve many of their problems. While we try to keep the FAQ up-to-date as much as possible, we do fall behind at times. If you find any out-dated information or broken links, please contact us and we'll be more than happy to fix it.

Send all Information Change Requests to Joe@gayauthors.org.

FAQ Index

  1. Mission Statement
    1. What is the purpose of GayAuthors.org?
    2. Gay Authors? Does that mean I have to be a gay author to participate?
    3. I already read the stories on other sites. What does GA have to offer me?
    4. Wow! This place is so cool. What can I offer GA?
    5. I want GA to stay around forever! How can I support GA financially?
  2. Story Collections
    1. Where can I find stories on the GA website?
  3. The Story Archive
    1. What is the GA Story Archive?
    2. If your archive is so good, why is it missing my favorite story?
    3. How can I recommend stories to be listed in the Story Archive? How do I get my own story included in your archive?
    4. I just read a story in your archive, and I think it sucks! Who do I tell? Or, even better yet, I read a story in the archive that I love! How can I tell everyone?
  4. Hosted Authors
    1. What does it mean to be a hosted author?
    2. What authors are hosted on GA?
    3. What does it cost to be a hosted author?
    4. How can I become a hosted author? I'm a good writer!
    5. I've been posting my stories online or I'm about to start. How can I fast track to hosted author status?
    6. Can't I just pay you to host me?
  5. eFiction
    1. What is eFiction? Can I post my stories there?
  6. Story Anthologies and Writing Projects
    1. What are the Story Anthologies, and how can I participate?
    2. What other opportunities for writing are at GA? I have an idea for one; how do I suggest it?
  7. Discussion Forums
    1. What types of forums are available at GA?
    2. How come some members are identified as Newbies, Members, Advanced Members, Authors, Hosted Authors, Editors, Tech Support, Writer Support, Recruitment Team, and Moderator? How do I get to be included in any of these groups?
    3. Do I have to register to participate in the GA forums?
    4. How much does it cost to register?
    5. I'm a teenager. Can I register here?
    6. How do I register?
    7. What are user profiles? How do I edit mine?
    8. What other benefits come with registration?
    9. POSTING GUIDELINES: COMMUNITY STANDARDS & MEMBER RULES
    10. Why do you have administrators moderating? What ever happened to free speech?
    11. But that's …CENSORSHIP!
    12. So what CAN'T we post?
    13. I want to be a model poster. What SHOULD I do?
    14. I want to be the forum police! I see violations everywhere!
    15. What are user warnings?
    16. Why did you lock a thread on the forums?
    17. Why did you ban me?
    18. What is a troll?
    19. What should I do if I see a troll?
    20. How come no one ever responds to the threads I've started?
    21. What's a Domaholic?
    22. What's a Danderthal?
    23. What's wrong with you people? Why don't you ban everyone who doesn't think Luke and Rory (see Dom Luka/Desert Dropping) should be together?
    24. I'm posting a reply in the forums and I want to make some of the text bold / italic / underlined / quoted / etc but I keep getting irritating boxes flashing up at me.  How do I get rid of them?
  8. Other Communication: Blogs, Live Chat, Newsletter, Gallery and MySpace
    1. What is a Blog? Can I create one? How?
    2. I've create a Blog entry, but none of my friends are able to view it. What's wrong?
    3. What is the Newsletter? How can I help?
    4. What is the Gallery?
    5. What can I post Gallery? What can't I post?
    6. Does GA have a MySpace?
  9. Site Management Team
    1. Who ARE you anyway?
    2. How do I contact a Moderator/Administrator?
    3. How do I volunteer to help the site?
  10. Help!
    1. How do I report an error on the site?
    2. I have a suggestion about the site. What do I do?
    3. Where do I find out important things about the site?
  11. The Boring Legal Stuff No One Wants to Read but you DO have to Read & Obey

FAQ Answers


I. Mission Statement

What is the purpose of www.gayauthors.org?

Gay Authors (GA) is a website dedicated to supporting the authors and readers of quality gay male fiction. To achieve this goal, the GA community contains hosted author websites, a comprehensive story archive, and a discussion board for authors, editors, and readers. In addition, GA offers various other services and links that may be of interest to its membership base.
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Gay Authors? Does that mean I have to be a gay author to participate?

Absolutely not! While GA encourages both existing and aspiring authors of gay fiction, many of our members are here simply because they like reading the stories. And GA welcomes members of any sexual orientation, disclosed or undisclosed. You don't have to be gay to join in the fray.
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I already read the stories on other sites. What does GA have to offer me?

First off, GA's hosted authors are some of the best writers of gay male fiction online. But we recognize that there are some other fantastic authors out there. That's where the GA story archive (with its ratings and comments) can help you find the best gay fiction there is. Beyond that, GA is a community where writers, editors, and readers of gay fiction can connect with one another to talk about posted stories, ask questions, offer suggestions, and basically 'hang out.' It's pretty cool. You don't have to take our word for it; come check us out.
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Wow! This place is so cool. What can I offer GA?

There are many ways that you can support GA. Most important: Get involved in our community! Join the discussion forums, suggest new stories for the archive, point out links that may be of interest to our members, post your own stories (by link in the Story Café in the discussion forums; or post thetext in the eFiction area; or participate in the Story Anthologies), or rate the stories in the archive.
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That's nice and all, but what about fiscal responsibility? How can I support GA financially?

GA is happy to have your support. Visit this link to learn how:

II. Overview of Story Resources at GA

Where can I find stories at the GA website?

Stories may be found in several different locations here at GA:
a. The Story Archive
b. Stories by Hosted Authors
d. Stories in eFiction
e. GA Story Anthologies
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III. The Story Archive

What is the GA story archive?

It's a story archive. No, really, that's what it is. The story archive is a database of links to quality gay fiction that is either posted on GA hosted author websites or elsewhere on the Internet. You could spend days, weeks, possibly even months trying to read everything listed in the archive.
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If your archive is so good, why is it missing my favorite story?

Three possible reasons: 1) your favorite story sucks, 2) we don't know about it, or 3) we haven't realized that it isn't in the archive. While #1 and #2 do happen, between the lot of us, we have varying preferences within gay fiction and we've read, well, a lot. That means that #3 is most likely.

This is where you can help! If there is a story missing that you think SHOULD be included, please let us know. We may not know about it. We may not realize it's not archived. We are always looking for quality gay fiction to expand the archive.

In addition, if there is a story that you are trying to hunt down and you can't find it online, you also might want to try asking in the discussion forums. You'd be surprised how few degrees it takes to get across the gay fiction online community at large.
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How can I recommend stories to be listed in the Story Archive? How do I get my own story included in your archive?

We have an Author and Story Recruitment Team whose job it is to scout out new stories for the Story Archive, as well as to find new authors to be hosted at the GA site.. To recommend a story, you can either contact Kevin (AFriendlyFace) by PM or email at Kevin@gayauthors.org, or please post a new thread in The Story Archive Suggestion Forum telling us why you think it should be included in the archive.

Step One: The recommended story has to be hosted somewhere online. The archive doesn't contain the story itself; it only links to where the story exists online. This is an easy hurdle to climb, to be honest. The Nifty Erotic Story Archive hosts many of our stories listed in our archive.

Step Two: You either must contact a member of the Author and Story Recruitment team or post in The Story Archive Suggestion Forum (in the discussion forums) requesting that the story be archived. Note that you can ask to have someone else's story archived, as well as one that you wrote
In your post, please include the following:
1) Author's Name. If not already in the archive, then also list author's email address and website (if he/she has one).
2) Story Name
3) Link to the story, preferably the Nifty archive link.
4) Story genre (Modern, sci-fi, fantasy, etc)
5) A brief description of the story that provides some information without spoiling the story (like what would appear on the back of a book)
6) Give the proper story codes for the story. (A list of codes is on the bottom of all archive pages)
7) Whether the story is in progress or completed.

Step Three: Patience. Wait for the information to be reviewed, the author to be contacted, and if everything checks out, the link will be included. If the story will not be archived, then you will be contacted privately with a brief explanation why not.

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I just read a story in your archive, and I think it sucks! Who do I tell? Or, even better yet, I read a story in the archive that I love! How can I tell everyone?

This is what the ratings and comment system is for. You can rate stories in the archive, and more important, you can leave more specific comments too. Other readers will appreciate it if you do. And you'll be happy when you can use the ratings/comments of others members to help you decide which story to read next!
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IV. Hosted Authors

What does it mean to be a Hosted Author?

Hosted Authors have their own individual websites through GA containing their stories. Some Hosted Authors post blogs through GA as well. There are GA readers' forums specifically set up to discuss the writing of the Hosted Authors. Some Hosted Authors participate in these discussion forums too.

The guidelines for hosting can be found here.
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What authors are hosted on GA?

Gay Authors hosts the following authors of gay fiction: Adam Phillips, Allen Smithee, Altimexis, Bill W, Carl Holiday, Christopher Lydon, C James, Comicality, Dan Kirk, Dom Luka, Don Hanratty, Duncan Ryder, Gabriel Morgan, Ghost Ryder, Jack Scribe, Karla, Krista, Libby Drew, Little Buddha TW, Luc, Lugh's Land of the Fey, Mark Arbour, Melina Catt, Myr, Nickolas James, Rec, Shadowgod, Stefan Schmidt, The Zot, Tiffani Chin, Underthehoodster, Viv, VLista, with more added all the time!
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What does it cost to be a Hosted Author?

Nothing. The purpose of this site is to support quality gay fiction and hosting the works of these authors is a significant part of how we do that.
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How can I become a Hosted Author? I'm a good writer!

Hosted Authors have an existing body of quality writing AND an established reader base. In addition, Hosted Authors are encouraged to be active participants in the GA community, to cross-promote and link back to GA when posting stories elsewhere (such as Nifty), and to encourage their readers to join the GA community. To request consideration to become a Hosted Author, please contact CJ(CJames) by PM or email at CJames@gayauthors.org.
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I've been posting my stories online or I'm about to start. How can I fast track to Hosted Author status?

There are two basic requirements to be hosted--quality writing and fan base--and there is no real way to shortcut either. Even for the best authors, writing well takes time. It takes time to build up a story base too. Many of the GA hosted authors have been writing gay fiction for years.

Do you need editing help? The GA Writer Support Team can help authors find editing assistance.

It also takes time and some desire to build readership. Do you solicit feedback? Do you offer some email notification, discussion threads in forums, or have a members group for readers?

There is no fast track to becoming a Hosted Author, but at GA, we'd love to see more authors achieve this status. We encourage you to use the resources available at GA to help you navigate this road. These include posting in eFiction, requesting “author status” (you must contact Joe(JSmith) to do this), participating in the Story Anthologies and other writing projects.
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Can't I just pay you to host me?

Probably not. But we are willing to consider offers (just kidding).
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VI. eFiction

What is eFiction? Can I post in it?

eFiction is a spot where members can post their original stories and poems. The eFiction site is like a mini-archive that's used for current stories and authors. This section replaced our 'Library' forum and makes browsing the stories easier. Readers may make comments, review, rate, and offer suggestions on your stories and poems. If you're looking for some comments on a story you're working on, feel free to post it in eFiction.

You do not have to have GA “author status” to post in eFiction. To find instructions on how to post in eFiction, go to the main eFiction page and click on “Help” in the menu at the left side of the page. Once you’ve posted your story, you may start a discussion thread for your story in eFiction discussion forum. If you have “author status” here at GA, once you’ve posted your story (or a chapter of a serialized story) at eFiction, you may also post an announcement in the “eFiction Story Announcements” subforum of the discussion forums, along with a link to the story.
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VII. Story Anthologies and Writing Projects

What are the Story Anthologies and how can I participate?

GA publishes quarterly or special edition (meaning it has a specific theme and comes out in between the quartrly) themed anthologies, in which any member may participate. You do not have to be an official “GA Author” to submit your writing to be included in the Anthology. The themes are voted on by the members, and submission guidelines are posted in the discussion forums. If you have questions about the anthology or would like to suggest a theme for an upcoming anthology, just email it to Anthology@gayauthors.org.

To read any of the stories in the current or previous anthologies, visit the site here.
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What other opportunities for writing are at GA? I have an idea for one; how do I suggest it?

From time to time, GA may host various writing projects and contests. The guidelines and purpose of each will be posted in the discussion forums. If you have an idea for a writing project, please contact CJ(CJames) by PM or email at CJames@gayauthors.org
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VIII. Discussion Forums

A. Getting Started

What types of forums are available at GA?

The GA discussion forums are divided into different sections. There is a separate forum for each Hosted Author. eFiction writers can start a discussion thread in the eFiction Discussion forum for their stories. The Story Café is the place where any member may post a link and start a discussion of a story/story chapter that appears elsewhere online.. The Teen Spot is a place for teens to ask questions, provide information, or help other teens in need. The Lounge is ... well, a general discussion area, where members can talk about anything they want to.

There are also special forums for Writers and Editors, as well as an Administrative forum where community members may communicate with the management teams that are responsible for running the site.
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How come some members are identified as Newbies, Members, Advanced Members, Authors, Hosted Authors, Editors, Tech Support, Writer Support, and Moderator? How do I get to be included in any of these groups?

Newbies are members who have fewer than five posts. Fear not - almost everyone here started as a newbie. Once you post five times, you automatically transfer to the general members group. We'd be thrilled to have you introduce yourself with one of your first posts here.

Members are the rank and file, the lay readers of our land. The bulk of the site is comprised of members, so don't knock this group. It's better to be a member than dismembered.

Advanced Members are members who have posted a lot. Sometimes it is because they have been participating in the GA community for a long time. Sometimes it because they never shut up. Please do not post simply to boost your post count. Just stick around GA and contribute, and you'll find yourself advancing naturally.

Authors write stories. Haven't you ever heard of that before? Seriously, though, at GA we welcome all authors - both aspiring and established. Authors become Advanced Authors based on their number of posts. All members in the Authors' Group can post story announcements in the non-hosted author announcements and have access to the Writers' Forums. If you want to be included in the authors group, please contact Joe(JSmith) by a Private Message or email at Joe@gayauthors.org. You do not have to be an official Hosted Author to be in this group. You just need to have the desire and commitment to post your stories and develop your writing.

Hosted Authors have their own individual websites through GA containing their stories. Some hosted authors post blogs through GA as well. There are GA discussion forums specifically available to discuss the writing of the hosted authors. Some hosted authors participate in these discussions too.

Editors are those who can't write. Just kidding. They edit, of course. They are able to participate in the same forums as authors. Not everyone who offers editing assistance at GA is officially tagged as an Editor, but this is a useful way for authors and editors to find one another in this crazy world.To be placed into the editors’ group, please contact Joe(JSmith).

Tech Support and Writer Support members are the people who are responsible for running the site: http://www.gayauthors.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=18074

**To change groups, such as to become an Editor or Author, please contact Joe(JSmith) via PM or email at Joe@gayauthors.org.
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Do I have to register to participate in the GA forums?

While guests may leave comments in the story archive, you must register as a member to post in the discussion forums, comment on a blog, or if you wish to start your own blog.
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How much does it cost to register?

Nothing.
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I'm a teenager. Can I register here?

Yes, teenagers are welcome at GA, if it is legal where you are.
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How do I register?

Click on register. You'll need to supply a valid email address, and then be notified via email. Once you validate the registration, then you will becomes a Newbie and have access to your account and be able to post.
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What are user profiles? How do I edit mine?

User profiles are used to let others know basic information about yourself such as age, gender, sexual orientation (yes, we DO have straight people here!), and authors you like.

To edit your profile go to your Control panel labeled "My Controls" in the upper right hand corner of your screen, or go to This Link. There you have complete control of your profile.
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What other benefits come with registration?

There are many benefits such as blogs where users can post information about their life or stories, Private Messages to get to know other members in a non-public manner, and Galleries to post images of yourself or things you find interesting.
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B. General Posting

Posting Guidelines: Community Standards & Member Rules

The basic community standards that all members must abide by, and the consequences for not doing so, are posted here.

Why do you have administrators moderating? What ever happened to free speech?

Sorry but you have no constitutional right to post on these forums. Think of the GA community as a private picnic that Myr has invited you to attend. That invitation can be retracted if you act like a jackass.
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But that's…CENSORSHIP!

Yes, I'm afraid it is. You may be asked to leave a nice restaurant if you run around yelling and screaming. You may get fired if you tell your boss that she's an idiot. That's life. GA is no different. The good news, though, is that we're not asking for sainthood either, just basic posting courtesy, common sense, and respect for your fellow members.
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So what CAN'T we post?

Offensive posts - Racist, homophobic, anti-religious, or misogynistic posts (or other posts targeting protected minority groups) are completely prohibited. Slurs of any kind will NOT be tolerated.

Harassing posts and behavior - Personal attacks or insults against other GA members are strictly prohibited. It is not acceptable to insult any other member with terms like "stupid," "idiot," "moron," or worse. It is ok to disagree, even vehemently, but stay on the topic and do not attack other members. Repeated negative or critical posting directed toward another member may also constitute harassment.

Coarse Language - If you can't say it during prime time on network television or the radio, then don't post it here. Don't bother inserting ***s instead either. We want to keep the site clean, and there is little that vulgarity adds to the content anyway.

Spamming posts - Spamming is the posting of an identical or similar post in multiple threads. It is forbidden.

Posts Compromising Member Privacy - Do not post private information about other posters. This includes full names, places of employment or schooling, email addresses, street addresses, telephone numbers, etc. Basically, this is an ANONYMOUS community. Feel free to share information about yourself as you see fit, but do not compromise the safety and privacy of anyone else.

Copyrighted & Other Prohibited Material -
Warning! Intense Legal Content Ahead: Do not publish, post, distribute or disseminate any defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent or unlawful material or information; upload or attach files that contain software or other material protected by intellectual property laws (or by rights of privacy) unless the user owns or controls the rights thereto or has received all necessary consents; upload or attach files that contain viruses, corrupted files, or any other similar software or programs that may damage the operation of another's computer; delete any author attributions, legal notices or proprietary designations or labels in any file that is uploaded; or falsify the origin or source of software or other material contained in a file that is uploaded; Finally, do not download any file posted by another user that the user knows, or reasonably should know, cannot be legally distributed in such manner.

Translation: If it doesn't belong to you, DON'T post it without permission AND attribution (giving credit to where it is from). Don't pas along viruses and other bad things that harm computers.
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I want to be a model poster. What SHOULD I do?

READ! Don't post in a thread if you can't be bothered to read what everyone else has written. Typically, this means reading the ENTIRE thread. For some of the longer story discussion threads, at least read the posts since the last two or three chapters have been posted. Don't post a new thread/topic when there is already another one on the same subject. This means scanning the forums first to see if the subject is being discussed elsewhere.

For new members: Read some of the threads in the forum where you want to post before you start posting. Each forum has its own style and norms for behaving. You would want to know if you're at a monster-truck rally or the opera before you get dressed and decide how to act. Same thing goes for the GA forums.

On Content:

Have something to say. It's ok to post a question - e.g., I'm not sure how I feel about x, what do you think?

If you disagree with someone, explain why. A thread full of "I disagree" (or even "I agree") with no additional reading isn't much of a discussion.

Other than the community discussion thread, don't start a thread just to talk about forum operation. This includes: top posters, posting count, how great or bad a thread is, debating some issue you have with a moderator, talking about other members, etc. Basically, these threads are inherently "off-topic" from any of the GA purposes. This includes posting about OTHER (non-GA) discussion forums

Try to stay on-topic. Obviously, there is plenty of gray area here. The goal, though, is to streamline the operation of the forums, and not let threads get bogged down or hijacked.

Two tips may help: (1) If a different discussion crops up in a thread, create a new thread to address that issue in the appropriate place. (2) If the thread devolves into the equivalent of a two or three people having what is really a 'private' conversation in public, then take it private. GA has chat, private messaging capacity, email, etc. - so there is no need to turn every thread into a chatroom or email.

Keep it legal. No porn. No copyright violations. No soliciting. Please be extra wary, since minors (where legal) are welcome to participate in the GA community.

On Structure:

If you want to refer to an article or a story you read somewhere else, post the LINK, not the entire article. Many times the content is copyrighted, and it's illegal to post it without permission. If you do post a link, it can help to include a short description what the link is.

Write in English, not netspeak (e.g., you not u, before not b4). None of us is perfect and no one wants to be the grammar police, but it is hard to read posts with no capitalization, punctuation or words written out. ALL CAPS IS AKIN TO SHOUTING. Don't do it.

Don't be the grammar police. If someone made a typo, chances are many of us noticed it. It happens. Get over it. [If the typo is funny or has a Freudian meaning, by all means, point THAT out.]

Use quote tags and edit out the part of someone else's post that you are responding to. Do not simply quote the ENTIRE prior post in your reply.

Don't post multiple times in a row in the same thread. Edit your original post if you want to add something. If you want to address multiple posts, then separate your post into paragraphs doing so (e.g., "In response to member x,… Then in response to member y,….).

Keep your post short. Keep your paragraphs even shorter. Feel free to use bullet point lists if you want to make several points. It makes it easier for other people to refer back to your post.
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I want to be the forum police! I see violations everywhere!

Calm down. The goal is to ensure that the proverbial picnic discussions can go off without a hitch, not to put a 'hall monitor' at every picnic table. If you see a post that looks problematic, you can report it to us by clicking on the 'Report!' button, or by PMing or emailing one of the Forum Moderators. We appreciate your help with this, because sometimes administrators can miss posts or not realize that something has bothered many posters. However, just because you report something doesn't mean that we'll agree with you that it warrants a follow-up with the poster in question.
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What are user warnings?

Every user starts with a warning level of 0%. You can see your own warning level, but not that of other GA members. Warnings are a bit like traffic tickets. They may not be issued for every minor offense, but if you get one, rest assured, you did violate some basic no-no of GA.

Too many warnings, and you will get banned, but the point of a warning is NOT to get rid of you. If we wanted that, you'd be banned. If you are warned, the moderator will enter a reason for the warning. It's to inform you of the violation and encourage you to correct whatever the behavior was. We WANT you to stay and turn into a model poster. Note that warnings can be reduced over time, but don't protest or ask the moderators to do this for you.
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Why did you lock a thread on the forums?

Locking the thread prevents anyone from posting to it (think read-only). Threads may be locked if the discussion has devolved to personal attacks, off-topic responses, or an endless horse-beating of something already discussed elsewhere on the GA forums. Threads that are locked are not inherently 'bad' (though some are). It just cuts off the discussion in recognition that there is nothing more of value to be said.
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Why did you ban me?

Bans can be temporary or permanent. But they are only issued for ignoring less subtle efforts to point out violations (private messages, warnings) or egregious behavior, like being a troll or spewing homophobic nonsense.
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What is a troll?

A troll is someone who ruins the operation of the forums because they: post offensive or harassing posts, spam multiple threads with the exact same message (or commercial effort), or hurl insults at members to begin flame war
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What should I do if I see a troll?

You should report a troll to the moderators at once. Do NOT post in response. Do NOT start a flame war. Report it and ignore.

C. Random Posting Questions
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How come no one ever responds to the threads I've started?

Is your post the kind that invites a discussion? [This refers to the content itself. You don't have to write "Please discuss" after your post. These are discussion forums, and everyone knows that.]

There are plenty of good posts that are read and appreciated without the need for commenting. In fact, it's probably better not to post if all you're going to write is "me too." Have patience. Members will notice you if you're posting quality threads.
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What's a Domaholic?

A self-admitted fan of hosted author Dom Luka. Domaholics are notorious for debating endlessly what MAY happen in upcoming chapters, advocating for particular in-story relationship choices, and waiting impatiently for the next Dom Luka chapter to be posted. Domaholics are friendly and welcoming, if a bit…loopy.
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What's a Danderthal?

A self-admitted fan of hosted author Dan Kirk. Danderthals are notorious for debating why what DID happen in a story SHOULDN'T have happened or as a matter of science COULDN'T have happened, advocating for particular characters to be killed off, and waiting impatiently for the next Dan Kirk chapter to be posted. Danderthals are friendly and welcoming, if you agree with them.
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What's wrong with you people? Why don't you ban everyone who doesn't think Luke and Rory (see Dom Luka/Desert Dropping) should be together?

The GA administration does not take sides. Just because you take something personally does NOT make it a personal attack.
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I'm posting a reply in the forums and I want to make some of the text bold / italic / underlined / quoted / etc but I keep getting irritating boxes flashing up at me.  How do I get rid of them?

There are two modes for posting at GA - guided mode and non-guided mode.  Guided mode is an easy way of posting without having to worry about where your brackets ("[" and "]") go and what's inside them.  You want to make text bold, you click the appropriate button and a box flashes up for you to enter the text you want emboldened.  Some people don't like this, however, as it can interrupt the flow of their typing.  To switch this off, when you are making a post look below the box you're typing in and you will see a little tab that will say either "Guided Mode Off" or "Guided Mode Enabled".  If you have these boxes flashing up it should say "Guided Mode Enabled".  Click on it to turn it off.  Sometimes when you log out or delete cookies this will reset, but otherwise you should be able to post without having to switch it off each time.
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IX. Other Communication: Blogs, Live Chat, Newsletter, Gallery, MySpace

What is a Blog? Can I create one? How?

As mentioned previously, a blog is a weblog where users can post any type of information about their life, a story they like, a new article they thought was a good read, and anything they'd like that's within the posting guidelines. You are responsible for your own blog and what is posted there.

Yes, anyone can create a blog on GA as long as they are registered. To create a blog, use your control panel and follow the steps, or visit the following link: Here
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I've create a Blog entry, but none of my friends are able to view it. What's wrong?

At the very bottom of your entry, there is a button titled "Entry Options", click this to see the options you have. If no one can see the entry, click the button that says, "Publish". If you do not want anyone else to see the entry and it is already public, click the button that says, "Make Draft".

To make every entry automatically publish, go to your blog settings in your control panel, and next to the option that says, "Default status of new entries?", change it to "Publish" and you should be all set.
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What is the Newsletter? How can I help?

The Newsletter is a monthly issue of current happenings at GA. This can range from important site information to new authors, author interviews, and story reviews. Each month there will be a new issue emailed to those users that allowed the option of Administration contact when they signed up with GA. You can find previous versions of the Newsletter at http://www.gayauthors.org/newsletter/index.php.

You can always help by giving feedback on the Newsletter. If you liked or disliked a feature in it, then let us know. If you have a suggestion of what you think should be in it, the chances are we'll work it in. Feedback is greatly appreciated at Newsletter@gayauthors.org .
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What is the Gallery?

The Gallery is an area where members are able to post images that are rated PG-13 or less. When posting an image, visit here and click on the icon in the bottom right hand corner of the screen labeled “New Album”. From there, follow the instructions on posting an image. We encourage everyone to use this, but please keep in mind that you do have a space limit so choose your best images!
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What can I post in the Gallery? What can't I post?

We would be pleased to see pictures of you, your pets, vacation, people, or places that are important to you. Posting your own scanned or electronically rendered art work is encouraged! Pictures of nudity and sexual activities are strictly forbidden and will not be allowed in the Gallery. All images uploaded to Gay Authors must be approved by a moderator. Images submitted for inclusion in the galleries will usually be reviewed and processed within 24-hours. If an image is rejected, it will simply not appear in your gallery.
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Does GA have a MySpace?

Why yes we do! Our MySpace is up to attract new members to GA, but it is rarely updated. To view the page and become a friend, please visit it at: http://www.myspace.com/gayauthors
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X. Site Management Team

Who ARE you anyway?

We are the GA community management team. We're the folks who have volunteered to make GA the kind of place you'd like to be for stories, discussions, and a general good time. Again, VOLUNTEERS. We're a mix of ages, genders, and sexual orientation, befitting the GA community. We have real jobs or school commitments, so while we do our best to keep an eye on things, sometimes we're busy having lives.

There are five key teams currently operating at Gay Authors to keep the site and forums running and provide services for our members.

Administrators - oversee the smooth operation of the site and have the final say in all matters.

Myr - Site Administrator. PM or Email
JSmith - Administrator and Tech Support Team Leader. PM or Email
C James - Administrator, Writer Support Team Leader, Anthology Coordinator. PM or Email
dkstories - Administrator, Author Advocate. PM
Trebs - Administrator, Member Advocate. PM

Moderators - Monitor forum activity, handle disputes, and provide general assistance.

AFriendlyFace - Moderator, Story Archivist, Writer Support Team Member. PM or Email
Graeme - Moderator, Anthology Reviewer. PM or Email
Shadowgod - Moderator, Tech Support Team. PM or Email

Tech Support Team - Creates and updates authors pages. Provides general tech assistance to members.

JSmith - Administrator and Tech Support Team Leader. PM or Email
Shadowgod - Moderator, Tech Support Team. PM or Email
Steph291 - Tech Support Team. PM or Email

Writer Support Team - Assist authors with resources, assist with promoting of stories, evaluate authors for the various hosting levels.

C James - Administrator, Writer Support Team Leader, Anthology Coordinator. PM or Email
TalonRider - Writer Support Deputy Team Leader, Editor/Beta Reader Project Leader. PM or Email
AFriendlyFace - Moderator, Story Archivist, Writer Support Team Member. PM or Email
Faust - Writer Support Team. PM
Kurt - Writer Support Team. PM
Myk - Writer Support Team, Keystone head. PM
Rabble_Rouser - Writer Support Team. PM
Rakuten06 - Writer Support Team. PM
Razor- Writer Support Team. PM
Sat8997 - Writer Support Team. PM

Newsletter Team - Creates and oversees the Gay Authors Newsletter

Adrian Michaels - Newsletter Team. PM
BeaStKid - Newsletter Team. PM
Krista - Newsletter Team. PM

All GA members are encouraged to contact a team member if you have any suggestions, need assistance, or have any concerns.
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How do I contact a Moderator/Administrator?

To contact one of the moderators, you may always use the on-site PM system. If emailing is easier, the list below provides all moderator member emails. All emails and PMs will, in most cases, be responded to in 24 hours or less.

Myr -myr@gayauthors.org
Joe(JSmith) - Joe@gayauthors.org
CJ(C James) - cjames@gayauthors.org

Three other email addresses to keep in mind:
News@gayauthors.org
Anthology@gayauthors.org
Suggestions@gayauthors.org
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How do I volunteer to help the site?

As a growing site, we're always looking for more volunteers. If you'd like to help out in any way, please send an email to Joe@gayauthors.org explaining how you can help!
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XI. Help!

How do I report an error on the site?

So you've found an error. Good! While we try our best to keep everything running flawlessly, we do miss things every now and then. If you find something that you think should be fixed, please send an email to Joe@gayauthors.org and we'll take care of it!
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I have a suggestion about the site. What do I do?

That's great! We love getting feedback from members. We want to make GA easier to use and better for the readers and writers who come here. Send an email to Suggestions@gayauthors.org.
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Where do I find out important things about the site?

Our Newsletter, which contains important information about the site, is usually emailed out to all members. For issues that don't make it into the Newsletter, we make global announcements on our Forum. You can find an archive of the most recent announcements here.
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XII. The Boring Legal Stuff No One Wants to Read but you DO have to Read & Obey

Children under the age of thirteen (13) are not permitted to register at Gay Authors. If you are under thirteen years old, please do not complete the registration process. By clicking on the "Register" button, you are certifying that you are at least thirteen (13) years old, and that your participation here does not violate the laws of the location where you live.

NOTE: NEW MEMBERS MUST CLICK THE LINK IN THE VALIDATION EMAIL. IF YOU DO NOT SUPPLY A VALID EMAIL ADDRESS AT REGISTRATION YOU WILL NOT GET THE VALIDATION NOTICE AND WILL NOT BE APPROVED FOR MEMBERSHIP

Please take a moment to review the rules detailed below. By clicking "Register" to complete this registration, you are accepting these terms without demurrer, exception or reservation.

If you agree with them and wish to proceed with the registration, simply click the "Register" button below. To cancel this registration, simply hit the 'back' button on your browser.

Please remember that Gay Authors is not responsible for any messages posted. We do not vouch for or warrant the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any message, and are not responsible for the contents of any message. We urge you to verify, from an independent source of your own choosing, any and all information you may find or infer from what is seen here on Gay Authors.

The messages express the views of the author of the message, not the views of Gay Authors. Any user who feels that a posted message is objectionable is encouraged to contact us immediately by email or PM or "Report this Post" feature. We have the ability and the right to remove objectionable messages, and we will make every effort to do so, within a reasonable time frame, if we determine that removal is necessary.

You agree, through your use of this service, that you will not use this message board to post any material which is knowingly false and/or defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, invasive of a person's privacy, compromises the privacy of any other registered member of Gay Authors, or is otherwise violative of any law. Any person who posts such material may be sanctioned or banned from the site, at our option.

In addition, if Gay Authors reasonably believes that any member has committed a violation of state or federal laws through or in connection with his/her membership at Gay Authors or his/her participation on the message board, in Live Chat or eFiction, Gay Authors will report same to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.

By posting messages, uploading files, or otherwise providing any material for display in the Gay Authors Forums, you are representing that you are the owner of the copyright for the material, or are making your submission with the express consent of the owner of that copyright, unless that material is in the public domain.

In addition, when you post a message, upload a file, or otherwise provide us with material for display on the Gay Authors Forums, you are granting Gay Authors and CDEJR Web Services, Inc, a royalty-free, perpetual, non-exclusive, unrestricted, worldwide license to:

1. Use, copy, sublicense, adapt, transmit, publicly perform, publish or display all such material in any medium or venue or publication, printed or electronic, which medium may or may not exist at this time and without further compensation or attribution, unless otherwise explicitly marked.

2. You are also granting Gay Authors and CDEJR Web Services, Inc, its assigns, subsidiaries, owners, parent company, and heirs, the unrestricted, royalty-free right to give, rent, sell or otherwise provide a sublicense to third parties with respect to the materials.

The foregoing grants shall include the right to exploit any proprietary rights in such communication, including but not limited to rights under copyright, trademark, service mark or patent laws under any relevant jurisdiction.

The above applies to material posted on the message board (Forum.)

All rights (including copyright) to original works posted by members in the Hosted Authors, Anthology, and eFiction areas of the site are retained by the respective authors, unless other agreement is made between the author and Gay Authors.

You agree to receive email from time to time from this site. The first will be email confirmation of registration.

You must disclose in your signature if you are an active agent of a political party or other political organization that would be subject to campaign finance laws.


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