Poor Man's Son

[Canuk]

hellatiously = distasteful? repellant?

 

I did wonder at what point this magnificent saga would become more trouble than reward. Sinecerely hope that you can work things out. I think in Soaps it is usually at this point there is a wedding where all and sundry get blown up - a veritable house cleaning !!

 

does this apply to the Grainger stories as well?

 

Thanks for all the entertainment you have provided to date, it is much appreciated despite my sometimes bitchy comments!!

[Gene Splicer PHD]

Hey Mark,

 

Go take care of your family and your work and your real life, and when the muse strikes again, do what you want with the story you've written and ignore the shitty, entitled attitude of people that think you write crap or think you're somehow not doing it right.

 

I've been around here for a long time, I used to actively participate and I've read every CAP story back to front. I'm even in your Yahoo group. CAP is very good and entertaining storytelling. It's clear it comes from the heart and it's also clear you've had a great time writing it. If that experience is diminished, a break is a good thing.

 

Thanks for a long, highly entertaining trip through these character's lives. If you didn't pick it up again for years, I'd still be better off for having read it and been able to participate in talking about it with you.

 

Enjoy your break!

 

 

And for my fellow readers, a bit of a rant:

 

Maybe you can offer criticism without being an asshole about it? Maybe you can stop applying your own moral judgments on a story you didn't write? You don't like the direction of the story? Think it's a shitty story? Don't read it. Or do Mark one better and write your own shiny-happy version that fits your needs.

 

In any case, publicly ripping on a writer that's offering you a free read of a pretty good yarn is a shitty thing to do because it gives everyone else permission to shit in the thread too. If you really have to tell Mark he's doing a shitty job, a PM would probably work fine for that.

 

-H

Edited September 19, 2011 by Gene Splicer PHD

[Hermetically Sealed]

You do what you got to do. I've certainly been there, and can't begrudge you the opportunity of taking a deserved break.

[KYE]

Some of you may have noticed that I changed "Poor Man's Son" status from "in process" to "on hold."

 

I'm at a point in my life where I'm hellatiously busy, and have precious little spare time as it is. I've been struggling with how to end PMS, and that's made the last few chapters difficult. And quite frankly, I'm simply not motivated to work on it right now.

 

Mark,

I have often been amazed at how you could have 2 stories going at once, especially with the history you incorporate, and with the rapid updates you have constantly provided plus still have a life outside of your writings. You have always had my admiration for being able to accomplish that and still maintain the quality of your stories. You obviously have a passion for writing the series' that you have created and I suspect the ending will develop in your mind as you deal with your everyday life trying to take a much deserved breather from PMS. I know your fans will hope that your breather on continuing the CAP series will be a short one.

Edited September 19, 2011 by KYE

[Andrew Q Gordon]

No sarcasm intended - really

 

 

 

 

 

Hope to see you back soon

 

Andy

[centexhairysub]

Mark,

 

I already sent a reply to the information you posted in your group but wanted to say here as well what a joy you have brought into my life with the CAP and Bridgemont series.

 

I hope that you are able to take a much needed break and deal with real life and get yourself centered again. I know how hard it can be to juggle so many things that you find yourself screaming internally, " What the Hell am I Doing?". Take your time and when you are ready to come back, we will al be waiting with great glee and anticipation.

 

All the best and wishing you a storm free ocean with a good breeze...

[Daddydavek]

No sarcasm intended - really

 

 

 

 

 

Hope to see you back soon

 

Andy

 

Wow, I didn't think you guys were old enough to even know about Roy and Dale! They were part of my childhood growing up in the fabulous fifties! Well fabulous for a kid in the midwest living in a new suburban development filled with kids, little league and this new thing called television. If you watch it through and then go to the next Youtube video it shows them when they were young and vibrant, which is how I remember them...

 

I've already P.M.'d Mark about his 'sabbatical' and also wished him the best and hope he gets time to get everything under control. GA will not be the same without an active CAP story in progress!

Edited September 19, 2011 by Daddydavek

[Mari]

I'm sad that the story's on hold but considering all the crap you put up with and the tremendous amount of writing you do, I hope you enjoy your well deserved break. Thank you for writing such an amazing series that I would have gladly paid for but happy it's free, all the best to you

Edited September 19, 2011 by Mari

[rjo]

I have been away for a time and did not read your email and post until today. I have always wonder how you could live your life and write as much as you do. The only thing I could think of is no sleep. I can not tell you how many times I have read the CAP saga, all the chapters from the beginning to where we are now. Being as old as I am I remember most of those times which you have brought to life. If that is not good enough you have created characters that are so real they jump off the page. So real I have to tell myself they are not real flesh and blood. You have created a family saga. Starting from one single 25 yo gay man you build a story but more than a story a family, with all the joys and sorrows that real families have. I can see them in my mind, Each one of them. Understand how they think and how they will react. But Mark, you did sometime more! You made us love them, or in some cases hate them. They could have been just words on a page, but they are so much more. I hope and pray that this story will continue. Your characters deserve to live on. The post 9 11 world is harsh, ruff, and filled with peril but your characters do not break in hard times. They will find their way through. I wish you all the best.

Edited September 20, 2011 by rjo

[PrivateTim]

Some of you may have noticed that I changed "Poor Man's Son" status from "in process" to "on hold."

 

I'm at a point in my life where I'm hellatiously busy, and have precious little spare time as it is. I've been struggling with how to end PMS, and that's made the last few chapters difficult. And quite frankly, I'm simply not motivated to work on it right now.

 

Yeah, I hear ya. I actually wrote a couple of little stories a while back, got about 80% done and then just couldn't find the will to finish them. I have a half dozen others from 10-40% done, but time, motivation and clear inspiration just haven't hit me.

 

Take some time, enjoy your life. You have been producing at a frenetic pace.

[JACC]

For me it is very sad to read that PMS is on hold. I must confess I've become sort of addicted to my "CAP-fixes" and I admire the huge amount of work Mark put up with to keep us readers satisfied. I can only hope that this very earned break won't last too long. Dear Mark, THANKS for hors of pleasure just reading your stories: get your inspiration and strength back and let us soon enjoy more adventures from the lives of the Crampton-Schluter-Hayes families!

[methodwriter85]

You're written 15+ stories in 3 years. Take a break. It's okay.

[methodwriter85]

The biggest brat/diva we've encountered in recent history has better emotional control than Will? Are we reading the same series?

 

He may or may not be as romantic as Will, we don't know yet, but we do know the boy has a short fuse and gets easily jealous. I can guess that if he'd walked in on John screwing Zach when John and he had an understanding, the entire world would have known about it, and he'd have been a spitting ball of fury. A small, furious ball, like an angry snowcone with nails and teeth and impeccable taste in handbags.

 

Blue, I was thinking about this, and the thought crossed my mind that as pissed off as JJ would be, he wouldn't have told the entire world what happened. Because by nature of being a figure skater with a family-friendly asexual Disney image, JJ would have to keep any sexual attachments, both straight and ESPECIALLY gay, under wraps. He might trust his family but I would bet his coach would drill into him the need for utter discretion in whatever he does, and I don't think JJ would risk the wrath of the Powers That Be if it ever got out that he wasn't as straight as an arrow.

 

Much more likely: JJ would destroy his room in a fit of rage while screaming bloody murder, but never tell his family what he was so angry about. David prescribes JJ some Lexapro, or maybe Prozac. Then Jeanine would take him on a shopping spree at Bloomingdales for a new bedroom spread and furniture. Maybe a nice, new Burberry suit.

 

That would be freaking hilarious- Jeanine looking around JJ's wrecked room and saying, "I think it's time we hit up Bloomingdale's again."

Edited October 12, 2011 by methodwriter85

[GLH]

♫ Where o' where are you too-night? ♫

♫ Why did you le-e-eave me here all alone? ♫

♫ I searched the world over and thought I'd found true love, ♫

♫ You met a-noth-er and PFFFT you were gone! ♫

 

Hope life is treating you well, things are settling down and you're able to relax and clear your mind, Mark.

[Mark Arbour]

LOL. A serenade!

 

I had a chapter I was working on and finished editing. It doesn't impact the parts I'm revising so I went ahead and posted it.

[Northern Dutch Guy]

Hi Mark

 

Glad you are back and continuing your story !

[JCtoGO2]

I do not write often but I was really glad to see the chapter posted today. While I can understand a need for a break, not seeing your stories posted was like losing an old friend. Today, the friend is back. WELCOME BACK.

[Daddydavek]

The transition into the new school is in progress. I just wonder if the preppy little kid who called Will a Neanderthal gets a recurring role? I kind of thought he was cool and maybe a potential good friend for JJ.

 

As for Ryan, I think we will see more of him and his companion.

[rjo]

Again thanks for the new chapter! Two questions arise during my reading of this chapter. Is Matt the father of Tiffany's new baby and what sex is it? The second question who is the father of Jeanine's baby daughter?

Edited October 17, 2011 by rjo

[Mark Arbour]

I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter. I've got a few more in the works, but they may be a little slow in coming. That's not always a bad thing.

 

A few comments: We don't know who fathered either baby, and we won't know until the next story starts. At least that's the plan. And we will see more of Ryan Grafton.

[centexhairysub]

I was so glad to see the new chapter up and understand about a delay in getting to the more challenging chapters coming up... I hope that you are taking some time to get your batteries recharged and rested and not just doing other things at a breakneck speed, Mark, everyone needs to fill the well ever so often...

 

I hope that Robbie is the father of Jeanine's child and that Tiffany has fraternal twins with Matt and Wade being a father to one of each, I know talk about a flashback to SOAP from the 70's but... wouldn't it be wild...

 

I could already tell that Ryan Grafton was going to be someone we were going to see again but I sort of agree that maybe in the next story the kid that berated Ryan and Will might make an appearance as well...

 

Well, I do hope that you are getting your life back some and will wait patiently for the next update, okay maybe not patiently but not hunting anyone down with an ax...

[methodwriter85]

Alright, let's hear it for the class of 2004! Welcome, freshmen! (I was in '05, so I went through high school with the '04ers for most of it.)

 

It'll be interesting to see if JJ can handle figure skating and a school like HW, and how he's going to negotiate the 5 or so weeks of school he's going to miss. I would seriously pay to be there when JJ has to spend a lunch period cleaning up the cafeteria. That'd be hilarious. I can see JJ looking at Will and spitting out, "I can not believe I let you talk me into going here. My pedicure is ruined!"

 

In any event, from personal experience, siblings in the same grade or just a grade apart tended to be at constant war with each other. This should be fun. LOL.

Edited October 19, 2011 by methodwriter85

[GLH]

I was always told my singing could raise the dead, but...

[methodwriter85]

JJ reminds me of myself in ways that can be VERY uncomfortable at times. He wants friends, but he doesn't really know to be a good friend and doesn't put in the effort. So JJ maintains these superficial friendships that give a semblance of intimacy, but eventually they get bored and JJ's at square one, and he'll do anything to get attention from people, even if it's a bad kind of attention. I'm sure he thinks he's Alistair Crownbeam's best friend now, and JJ will bug the hell out of the guy until the guy wants to throttle him. Then when Alistair drops him to the curb, JJ will get yet another chance to be the wounded victim, and never really get why he has such a hard time making good friends when he's such a nice guy.

 

I basically stuck to that script until I was about 17. Something tells me it'll take a long time for JJ to grow out of that pattern, too. The lack of socializing due to his figure skating ain't going to help this, at all.

Edited October 24, 2011 by methodwriter85

[centexhairysub]

Really enjoyed the new chapter. I think that Will and JJ will have an interesting time at school for the year. I don't see JJ in quite the same way that some have, I think that JJ is more secure in himself than you would think.

 

I don't understand Matt's attitude toward Gathan. I have to wonder if something happened that we aren't aware of yet.

 

Hmmmmm......