Crazy Stuff That Jeff Says

[Talo Segura]

I could suggest you try Zen and the Art of Chores, a book I haven't written yet, but in essence, when doing chores like laundry, let's say ironing, you should not think - "I need to get this done." Rather, your mindset should be - "I'm doing this, it will be finished when its finished." In this way you are not fighting the job in hand by focusing on getting it done.

Or you buy non-iron clothes and have that hippy crinkly look. Or you're rich enough to pay someone to do your ironing. I recommend the Zen approach, for everything!

[ReaderPaul]

16 hours ago, Jeff Burton said:

I just want to share how much I despise doing laundry. And no I don’t separate the colors I’m chaotic like that and just hope for the best.

I enjoy doing laundry.  It is an accomplishment one can quickly see.

[Jeff Burton]

1 hour ago, Talo Segura said:

I could suggest you try Zen and the Art of Chores, a book I haven't written yet, but in essence, when doing chores like laundry, let's say ironing, you should not think - "I need to get this done." Rather, your mindset should be - "I'm doing this, it will be finished when its finished." In this way you are not fighting the job in hand by focusing on getting it done.

Or you buy non-iron clothes and have that hippy crinkly look. Or you're rich enough to pay someone to do your ironing. I recommend the Zen approach, for everything!

I actually folded everything the second it came out of the dryer instead of letting it sit in the “clean pile” for a week. 😂💪🏻

[Jeff Burton]

So I'm participating in the writing prompt challenge and @Valkyrie gave me one I'm sort of but not really working on now, but it's given me purpose with a character and possibly a series I wanted to do for a long time now.

I don't want to give it away but I'm absolutely having one hell of a good time with just this story, and while I'm trying to keep the first outing simple because it's part of the prompt event, I'm trying to pack it to make sure everyone has a good time.  I really wish I could share snippits because I've hit that part of writing where I just wanna blast it but I can't lmao.

[Jason Rimbaud]

6 hours ago, Jeff Burton said:

So I'm participating in the writing prompt challenge and @Valkyrie gave me one I'm sort of but not really working on now, but it's given me purpose with a character and possibly a series I wanted to do for a long time now.

I don't want to give it away but I'm absolutely having one hell of a good time with just this story, and while I'm trying to keep the first outing simple because it's part of the prompt event, I'm trying to pack it to make sure everyone has a good time.  I really wish I could share snippits because I've hit that part of writing where I just wanna blast it but I can't lmao.

My mother always said if you can't say something about your writing then keep your mouth shut. You tease us with a comment like that and then slink back into the darkness. Well I guess I'll just have to wait here patiently until you share it with us then. Sheesh.

[Jeff Burton]

2 minutes ago, Jason Rimbaud said:

My mother always said if you can't say something about your writing then keep your mouth shut. You tease us with a comment like that and then slink back into the darkness. Well I guess I'll just have to wait here patiently until you share it with us then. Sheesh.

It just ended up being a surprise is all. I’m still trying to keep it short because it is for the prompt event but I’m already at 8k on the words. 😂.

Thankfully I kept the plot simple otherwise yeah this would have been a whole thing.  And still could be.  Overall though I think people will enjoy it.

[Jeff Burton]

I seriously need to be sleeping right now due to festivities in 7 hours but all I can think about is all the stuff I’m working on.

my muse is pretty strange. He will leave me high and dry for a couple of months then out of nowhere when I’m supposed to be doing something else, inspiration strikes.

[Krista]

3 hours ago, Jeff Burton said:

I seriously need to be sleeping right now due to festivities in 7 hours but all I can think about is all the stuff I’m working on.

my muse is pretty strange. He will leave me high and dry for a couple of months then out of nowhere when I’m supposed to be doing something else, inspiration strikes.

I'm personally thrilled that your muse is annoying you like a kid two hours into an eight hour road trip. 

[Jeff Burton]

5 hours ago, Krista said:

I'm personally thrilled that your muse is annoying you like a kid two hours into an eight hour road trip. 

Today was the first time I’ve ever let my family read anything I’ve written here. I let my niece read the first Chapters of “I’m Gay: A Nifty Story” & “Encrypted,” my first in person review was a success.  Peoples facial expressions tell you a lot and the laughter I got out of the first one was worth taking the chance.

My family knows all about me, I’ve been out forever but we just don’t talk about it. It’s up in the air on whether who is more uncomfortable discussing it me or them, even though they seem easier at it than I am.

That apprehension runs deep in me because it’s like I’m still afraid of expressing that side of myself with them even though I know they are cool with it.  So we just don’t.

So having someone read something that part of me wrote and receiving genuine appreciation for it is… Liberating.

Theres hope yet for me finally killing that bit of self depreciation about my writing that keeps me from my full potential.

If only it could happen faster.

[CassieQ]

9 hours ago, Jeff Burton said:

I seriously need to be sleeping right now due to festivities in 7 hours but all I can think about is all the stuff I’m working on.

my muse is pretty strange. He will leave me high and dry for a couple of months then out of nowhere when I’m supposed to be doing something else, inspiration strikes.

I mean, that is pretty much spot on for my muse as well.  They're strange creatures. 

[Jason Rimbaud]

On 11/27/2025 at 3:08 AM, Jeff Burton said:

I seriously need to be sleeping right now due to festivities in 7 hours but all I can think about is all the stuff I’m working on.

my muse is pretty strange. He will leave me high and dry for a couple of months then out of nowhere when I’m supposed to be doing something else, inspiration strikes.

I made my muse my bitch, its there whenever I want it to be and its ready for action. My muse is a slut, a word slut, that explodes dialogue like a squirting fountain. 

Now if I could only get it to offer good ideas, then I would be in aces. 

[Topher Lydon]

27 minutes ago, Jason Rimbaud said:

I made my muse my bitch, its there whenever I want it to be and its ready for action. My muse is a slut, a word slut, that explodes dialogue like a squirting fountain. 

Now if I could only get it to offer good ideas, then I would be in aces. 

Hands you a tissue

[Inkognito]

39 minutes ago, Jason Rimbaud said:

I made my muse my bitch, its there whenever I want it to be and its ready for action. My muse is a slut, a word slut, that explodes dialogue like a squirting fountain. 

Now if I could only get it to offer good ideas, then I would be in aces. 

Welp... at least the syntax is wild.

[Inkognito]

1 minute ago, Inkognito said:

Welp... at least the syntax is wild.

Fifty Shades of Wordplay.

[Jeff Burton]

I’ve been writing the last couple of days, nothing to post yet since everything is getting words including new stuff I promised myself to not post unless it was at 85%+ completion.

Although I’m at the stage on new stuff where I read it decide it wasn’t as great as I thought then trash it and I’m trying hard to not do that.

I wish I had @Krista’s gift of eloquent word vomit when it comes to descriptive paragraphs and setting the scene it would definitely help me with this one.

Maybe I just need to research what I’m working on more. Dunno.

Edited December 3, 2025 by Jeff Burton

[Topher Lydon]

You have a keen eye, and your revisions always sing. Luck my friend.

[Jeff Burton]

12 minutes ago, Topher Lydon said:

You have a keen eye, and your revisions always sing. Luck my friend.

It’s my first third person foray.

i guess a sample wouldn’t hurt. This is from the first chapter im trying not to rework for a fantasy fanfic I told myself I wouldn’t write lol

The whispers in his head stayed quiet.

For now.

At least until the door to the yard banged open so hard the latch rattled. A gust of snow and ice blasted in, snuffing two lamps and making the dancers squeal. Every head turned.

And there he was.

Kael Ashford filled the doorway like he’d been carved for it: long black coat white with snow, hair longer and blacker than Eli remembered, half-plastered to his cheeks. The firelight caught the silver in his eyes and turned them into something dangerous and bright. He stood there a moment letting the storm howl in behind him, grinning like the blizzard was an old friend who owed him money.

Then he kicked the door shut with his heel, shook snow from his hair the way a dog shakes water, and called out in a voice that cut through the music and chatter like a hot knife:

“Evening, good people of Coldforge! Don’t suppose anyone’s got a spare corner and a cup that isn’t frozen solid?”

A dozen voices answered at once, some welcoming, some wary, one or two openly appreciative. Kael’s grin widened. He moved like he owned the floorboards, coat swirling, and people just… made room.

Eli groaned so deeply it hurt his cracked ribs.

Not him.  Not tonight.

He still had the scar on his knuckles from the last time Kael Ashford had breezed through town, all charm and quick fingers and faster lies. That night had ended with three miners on the floor, Eli’s lip split, and Kael laughing like it was the best fun he’d had all year before vanishing with half the tavern’s winnings and somebody’s wife on his arm.

Kael’s gaze swept the room, lazy and sharp at the same time, and of course it landed on Eli.

“Well now,” he drawled, voice warm as spiced rum, “if it isn’t my favorite quiet lad. Still hiding in corners, I see.”

Eli’s grip on his mug went white-knuckled.

Mira’s voice cut across the room like a whip. “Kael Ashford, you wipe your boots and behave, or I’ll have you out in the snow faster than you can blink.”

Kael swept her a theatrical bow, snow still melting off his coat. “Wouldn’t dream of misbehaving, Mistress Mira. Not when the company’s this fine.”

His eyes flicked back to Eli, amusement dancing in them.

Eli seriously considered throwing the mug at his head.  The storm outside howled louder, as if it, too, was laughing. Perfect. Just bloody perfect.

 

[Krista]

9 minutes ago, Jeff Burton said:

I’ve been writing the last couple of days, nothing to post yet since everything is getting words including new stuff I promised myself to not post unless it was at 85%+ completion.

Although I’m at the stage on new stuff where I read it decide it wasn’t as great as I thought then trash it and I’m trying hard to not do that.

I wish I had @Krista’s gift of eloquent word vomit when it comes to descriptive paragraphs and setting the scene it would definitely help me with this one.

Maybe I just need to research what I’m working on more. Dunno.

and sometimes when I read my very long and eloquent word vomit, I cock my head to the side and think: "What the hell even is this?" 

But you know, I've been accused of waking up perfect.

The rule you're living by, above 85% is something I've forced myself to adopt. It allows commitment to posting without the stress of being committed to posting. I'll not go back to a different schedule. As much as I fret over the writing by being so deep into the project, it is better for all involved. 

New projects is something that I miss. I've been unable to poke at new for such a long time, I'm starting to worry if I'm not finished for a bit and hoping it comes back. 

[Jeff Burton]

1 minute ago, Krista said:

and sometimes when I read my very long and eloquent word vomit, I cock my head to the side and think: "What the hell even is this?" 

But you know, I've been accused of waking up perfect.

The rule you're living by, above 85% is something I've forced myself to adopt. It allows commitment to posting without the stress of being committed to posting. I'll not go back to a different schedule. As much as I fret over the writing by being so deep into the project, it is better for all involved. 

New projects is something that I miss. I've been unable to poke at new for such a long time, I'm starting to worry if I'm not finished for a bit and hoping it comes back. 

I’ve got that long list because my brain won’t let me sleep. I didn’t even intend to write this one yet, but I’ve set a goal to tell this story in 80,000ish words or and 12 chapters and by God it’s going to be done lmao.

[Krista]

11 minutes ago, Jeff Burton said:

I’ve got that long list because my brain won’t let me sleep. I didn’t even intend to write this one yet, but I’ve set a goal to tell this story in 80,000ish words or and 12 chapters and by God it’s going to be done lmao.

In your preview, you do third well. It doesn't read clunky, it flows, and I kept track of the narrative and speaker. Which are my bigger fears when I write third. Making it a cluster eff of narration and speakers that people won't be able to tell the difference. 

You say this is a fanfic/Fantasy story? What is it based around? 

Edited December 3, 2025 by Krista

[Jeff Burton]

7 minutes ago, Krista said:

In your preview, you do third well. It doesn't read clunky, it flows, and I kept track of the narrative and speaker. Which are by bigger fears when I write third. Making it a cluster eff of narration and speakers that people won't be able to tell the difference. 

You say this is a fanfic/Fantasy story? What is it based around? 

Thanks.  I spent today writing and reworking the same 5,000 words of text.  Flow is my huge concern with overall scene transitions. I’m trying to curb some of my standard writing techniques a little bit because I’m not used to writing in this manner. 

I can see how being flummoxed with multiple speakers could be an issue now that you mention it.

Oh and it’s Mercedes Lackey and her Heralds of Valdemar.  We’ve got a couple of them completed on the site.  And really for that particular thing to work I absolutely cannot do it in my default style but I’ve literally had this idea in my head for years.

Edited December 3, 2025 by Jeff Burton

[Jeff Burton]

Oh and for shits and giggles here’s the summary blurb for it:

In a forgotten corner of a shattered realm, where legends of white horses and silver bonds have faded to half-remembered tales, a young outcast’s ordinary life shatters in a storm of awakening magic. Drawn south by an impossible call, he gathers unlikely companions on a perilous trek to rekindle a dying heart—while shadowy forces hunt to claim its power for their own.

[Krista]

18 hours ago, Jeff Burton said:

Oh and for shits and giggles here’s the summary blurb for it:

In a forgotten corner of a shattered realm, where legends of white horses and silver bonds have faded to half-remembered tales, a young outcast’s ordinary life shatters in a storm of awakening magic. Drawn south by an impossible call, he gathers unlikely companions on a perilous trek to rekindle a dying heart—while shadowy forces hunt to claim its power for their own.

Well you've sold me on the original and your fanfiction all in one go.  

Edited December 3, 2025 by Krista

[Jeff Burton]

53 minutes ago, Krista said:

Well you've sold me on the original and your fanfiction all in one go.  

Thy shall be written then. 😂

[Jeff Burton]

I feel accomplished, I just finished my piece for the prompt event.  Almost made it to 14,000k words.  The plot seems a little simple, and maybe even a little convenient but I tried to give it some good back ground, some snark, plus a little depth, and hopefully enough technical details that it'll be enjoyable to everyone.

I portray the main character as a little bit of a super hero anyway, but really he's just lucky and despite what I may perceive as simple, others may see as okay-complex.  It does have some overall just desserts, and really I'm happy with it.

However, it's almost 14k and 37 pages long and I haven't done a good editing/reading pass yet. So that part's going to suck

EDIT: I WROTE THIS 3 HOURS AGO.  I went to lay down was scrolling on my phone on the forums, checked this thread and this post was missing.  So I scurry back to the keyboard and what do I find. Mouse pointer hovering over "Submit Reply" but my frizzled old ass TOTALLY FORGOT TO CLICK IT AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.