Cia

Another entry! Just one more day to enter your line if you want to be part of the contest! PM me if you have a 'so bad it's great' come on!

More entries!!

This month for the Signature Background, I featured Carl Holiday's story, Hold 32 from the 2011 Anthology themed: Walk on the Wild Side. A short story I enjoyed then and now, I thought I'd do the review myself! And if you haven't had a chance to download your background yet this month, you can get it here! Hold 32 by Carl Holiday Signature Author Reviewer: Cia Status: Complete Length: 1,595 I read A LOT, but this story stuck out to me in 2011 when I first read it. In fact, I said: When I read the story again, I was struck anew by the nuances of the world Carl created in a seriously restricted amount of words. We get a lovely picture of the two main characters' life together outside of work. They live upon a millennia-old ship the size of the moon, humanity going on after leaving Earth but never setting down roots on a planet. But just like some areas here and now, poor decision making and mismanagement have created areas where it is just NOT safe to go. Places where humans do not hold sway--somewhere no one has gone since things went wrong. And are these two guys soldiers? Nope. Just two work-a-day men who have a job to do, and some piddly stunners to keep themselves safe. That just screams bad idea, because who knows what those critters have gotten up to as they cruised through the stars? I still want more of this story. I want to see what happens after Jerry and Derrick meet with the written dead-end. Can they fill the order and perform the work? Or will there be other surprises waiting for them? What would happen if those surprised got out?!! As always, the mark of a really good story is the fact I don't want to put it down. Hold 32 definitely qualifies. If you have a few minutes and are looking for a short read to fill your spare time, you definitely need to read this! Category: 2011-2 Anthology: Walk on the Wide Side Genre: Drama Tags: off-planet, no sex, future Rating: Mature

A vicious jab to the junk? That would be my response!

More posts for the contest to... enjoy. Yeah. LOL

To start off the contest, I'll post the 2 entries I have so far. The rest will be posted tonight, and each evening until the cut off date! Remember, don't post your entry here, send me a PM, so we can keep these anonymous until we release the winner next weekend. Entry One: Entry Two:

Face it, this time of the year, love is on most people’s minds. Long-distance Love? Looking to start something new? Try these virtual Valentine’s ideas when you just can’t be there in person! Carving a Heart: http://www.forestoflove.com/valentines-day/perfect-gift.php Virtual bouquets: http://www.iflowers.com/vir/vir_gallery_date.asp An old classic, The Mix Tape! http://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-New-Playlist-on-YouTube An even older classic, The Love Letter! http://www.writeexpress.com/love.htm This is International Flirt Week, and those ideas are great for finally sharing your interest in someone new just as much as letting your loved one know how much you care, even if you’re not able to give them a gift in person. But let’s get down to the basics of romancing someone up! The Come On Line! Seduction can start with a look—in person or on a dating profile—but there’s always that moment of the first time you speak to someone you’re interested in. Your make-or-break moment, as it were. We’ve all been there at some point in our lives, right? So what this contest is all about is that moment, the very first flirt… and how bad it can get! That’s right, we don’t want your best come on lines, we want your worst! The corny, or makes no sense, or downright begging for a slap line you’ve either made the mistake of using or been subjecting to hearing! **Contest Details** Share your fav line in a PM to Cia1 from today through Wednesday night, 8 PM, PST. These will be added to the topic daily and members can share their shock and awe at the awfulness, but do not share which one is your submission!! Voting will open in a poll added to the topic on Thursday and last through Friday night at 8 PM, PST. The winner2 will be announced on Saturday, Feb. 14th. Prize: One Free Month Premium Access plus One Month Free to a "friend" of your choice! 1 If more than one person submits the winning line, the winner will be chosen via random.org. 2 If you post your line in the topic, you will not be entered in the contest. Example:

We'll see a lot more of Teddy's reaction in the next chapter, I promise! Will might not know how to relate to everyone in a 'regular' way, but he's always had a good heart. I loved how everyone disliked him in the beginning--that was great--and gave me a ton of room to show his character progression. Thanks for the review, Valkyrie!

Thanks, Scary! Unfortunately there's a firm 1k cap on these chapters, as I actually write them as part of my Wednesday Briefers flash fiction group for my off-GA blog. But more will be coming next Wednesday!

They've been skirted their feelings for a long time, but when you have everything to lose, I think you grab on with both hands to what time you could have. More will definitely be coming next week. Thanks for the review, LitLover!!

Britain approved 3 person IVF‏. In this process they'd remove "faulty" mitochondrial DNA from a cell and replace it with mitochondrial DNA from a donor female egg to help reduce genetic diseases before implantation. Examples of "curable" mitochondrial genetic diseases: Diabetes mellitus and deafness, blindness, multiple sclerosis-type diseases, some epilepsy, liver disease, heart disease... The mitochondrial DNA doesn't affect genetic information like hair and eye color, personality, etc... This is a fascinating area of study, but quite a debated one. I can see the controversy of designer babies vs. removing preventable genetic diseases to prevent suffering and death becoming a wider-reaching hot button subject since this decision has been reached.

Being alone in his bed sucked. It was too big, and even though he could hear Teddy’s breathing, it wasn’t good enough. They’d risked life and limb together, and Will felt closer to Teddy than ever. He refused to allow them to drift apart and follow the paths others set in front of them. He wanted a different life. Will slid off his bed, wincing at the cold stone floor against the sore soles of his feet. He cautiously made his way over to the door. He found the lantern and sent a tiny wave of p

February is a month many people focus on love. But sometimes two people have to face seemingly insurmountable obstacles and there's no guarantee having a connection can be enough. I really enjoyed this story, so I decided to feature J Vaughn's short story for this month's Can't Stop Reading Book Club. Pierced by J Vaughn Length: 19,210 Description: Paul is a college football player and deeply in the closet until he stumbles upon a rape victim who needs his help. Kyle is out and proud but dealing with the aftermath of a brutal attack. They are both strongly attracted to each other but will a relationship be able to flourish in spite of the obstacles? Paul will have to come to terms with his sexuality and Kyle will have to get over his fear and depression, but together they might be strong enough to help each other heal. A Reader Said: What a beautiful and heartwarming story. ~ Joann414 This month's CSR Discussion day will be Monday, February 23! So take the next three weeks, read it (it's only 19k, though you'll wish it was longer!) and come prepared to chat about your thoughts on the story. Happy Reading!!

Ahh, the reader picking up on the subtle clues!! I love that, since this story is exclusively from Will's POV. Thanks so much for the review, Faxity!

Well, Teddy is definitely important to Will--and the story! I do plan to share a bit more on the brain wave issue, but that's all part of the plot so I don't want to get into it too much. Thanks so much for the review, Valkyrie!

Thanks, impunity!! Beta vs. Gamma, and the other groups, refers to the type of brain wave power they're capable of. It's part of the storyline, but I don't know that I've ever explained it.

Sorry I missed this last week. I thought it was funny, giving a 'city boy' that absolute ick factor with nature he's thrust into. I haven't read the book you mentioned, but I'll look it up! Thanks again!

“It’s a fact of life, Will.” “Not the life you should have,” I said. I’d escaped following in my father’s footsteps by nature of my birth, the very thing that trapped Teddy in his life. Apprenticeship within the family was a poor system. But individuality was seldom a trait celebrated in the city. Duty, familial honor, strict adherence to tradition… all prized above following one’s dreams or personal ambitions. Including Teddy’s desire to tell the tales I’d been so lucky to hear since were

Oh, just a little. My dad is VERY southern and his favorite attachment to any group of people hated was 'faggots'. Windsurfers = Windfaggots, Liberals = Libtard faggots, Environmentalists = bleeding heart faggots. I may have grown up in the Pacific NW, but I knew all about bigotry from home. I try to educate him now, but it's a long, slow process. I'm just glad I only had to deal with 2 of them (he's an identical twin, and they're REALLY identical) so I'm glad I don't like where you do, James!

Today's CSR discussion is all about Robert Rex's story, Joe the Welder. A very popular story from one of our newer authors, I thought this would be a great start for CSR's 2015! Did you guys like the contemporary romance? Make sure you share your comments below, as well as questions for Robert. He'll be here 'live' to talk with readers from 7 to 9 PM, CST, if you can make it. If not, remember, just leave your comments below and Robert will answer! Who do you like best, Jerry or Tom? Hm....Starting off with a tough question! Tom, I think. He's like me and lots of us: despite our plans and schemes and best efforts, things rarely go as planned. He's the lovable klutz who, despite his rivalry with Jerry, still maintains a solid relationship with him. The truth is, it takes both of 'em to make it work. So I may hafta rethink my answer! Do you eat your fruits and vegetables? Yes. I grew up in a small rural town in north Louisiana. My family had an interest in a small farm, and it was easy access to good fresh stuff. Spoils you, though. Once you have truly fresh food, grocery store items will never do it for you again! Thankfully, I live in a rural area just north of New Orleans, so still have pretty easy access to the good stuff. Try a fresh, vine-ripened tomato, still warm from the sun, and tell me it can get better than that! Are you a person who makes their bed in the morning, or do you not see much point? Yup, bed is made as soon as I roll out of it. Kinda forces me to keep the rest of the room a little neater if the bed is made. I'm not a neat-nic by any means, but it kinda helps me think the day has started out a little more organized. And it's a luxury for me to climb into a made bed at night—like it's waiting just for me. What first brought you to GA? “Joe” is my first story based on a dare from a drinking buddy, and I'd published it on another site—one far more erotic than GA. It's a good site, but I wanted more. I wanted stories that focused on the story, and treated sex as an integral part of the story—not it's exclusive focus. I'd gotten 40 or 50 emails from readers at that site with generally positive reviews, but I wanted more. I wanted to be able to find out how many people had viewed/read the story, and that let them have easier ways of commenting than just by email. (Yeah, we're lazy, and creating an email isn't something most people will do. And yeah, I'm like most writers on here who crave input.) Finally, although I was pretty much happy with “Joe”, I certainly realized that I needed help and resources to nurture what I'd discovered to be the rewarding and challenging experience of writing. GA offers all of that. I get to read great stories where the plot matters and characters become real, not just rough outlines for sexual purposes only. I get to have metrics on my writing and an easy way to get reader feedback—or give my feedback. And God knows, help is available from every direction if I'm smart enough to take advantage of it—from editors, to beta readers, to friendly people who'll point me in the right direction for research. And most of 'em aren't “word Nazis” who beat you over the head with their knowledge—they're really here and eager to help! As an aside, I'd be in heaven if all the folks that read here on GA would start leaving feedback. The likes, the comments on the chapters and stories—all that makes a difference to the writers (especially me!). The “newbies” may feel intimidated by the quality or volume of the work here, but they got to GA with a love of reading and the reading skills that authors appreciate—and a newbie voice matters. Do you have an author you consider a mentor? Unfortunately, no. But it's like winning a Screen Actors Guild award on those occasions when I get reviews (critical comments included) from authors here. The opinions of the heavy hitters, those prolific, incredibly talented writers here provide both encouragement to keep writing, and motivation to “up the game” in terms of writing quality—and the fact that they're commenting on your work (especially if they point out good things) is a thrill. It's the recognition of what you hope will be a peer group. I have gotten encouragement from several writers here....and Carlos Hazday had read “Joe” on the other site, and encouraged me to port it here—so blame him! <grin> I'd been concerned that “Joe” was far more erotic than the usual fare here, but Carlos reassured me to press on. And OKFlash735 and I had built a friendship from the other site, and when I discovered GA, he encouraged me to publish it here, too. I'd hope that all the authors here would make a point to not just read, but comment on, works of new writers here. Based on my own experience, you'll never know the impact you'll make to encourage a “newbie” writer! Is there anything you find particularly challenging when writing? Yes—sex. Although I've “been around the block” (stop those giggles!), and I like to think I pretty much know what I'm doing, there's a world of difference being doing and describing. And sexual descriptions without bringing in emotions or all of the senses is dull to do, and dull to read about. I'd hope that sex scenes are hot because they're a complete picture of what's happening between partners; not just “insert tab A into slot B” descriptions. The other issue is that I tend to write the way I talk/think. So as a result there are lots of commas, lots of parenthetical remarks, and lots of dashes and semicolons to break up the sentences. Hey, maybe it's indicative of ADD? Oh look, there's a squirrel... Anyway, the current trend in most writing seems to be to eliminate as much punctuation as possible, and that's not the way I speak or was taught to write. Do you have any writing rituals? Generally write in the mornings after a night at the bar. (I sell real estate full time, work in the local gay bar a couple or three nights a week. I'll take the following morning off from real estate to “recover” from the previous long day/evening at the bar.) Lots of coffee and a few cigarettes are critical to get the heart pumping and clear the head—I'm not a morning man even in the best of circumstances—and have got to happen if I'm gonna attempt to have something approaching quality writing. (If I could just set up a coffee IV, I'd be far more productive!) I also take regular breaks—my brain runs faster than I can write—so I'll make notes on thoughts at the time, then walk away to get more coffee, grab a smoke, feed the washer, whatever. The writing seems to flow better if I give ideas time to “percolate”. Was the choice of using the character’s name “Joe the Welder” deliberate instead of using another type of title? It was deliberate. I used it as a tentative title, and it seemed right, since it was about the development/changes in Joe, and it stuck. As it turns out, it told a story of changes between Joe and Rex, and how they explored their emotions both verbally and sexually. Looking back, I might not do it again. I think if you use a name/title in the story's title, your character has to be so compelling it drags the readers along through the end of the story. I'm not convinced my writing of a character is that good, so I'd seriously consider renaming the story. Did the main character or a plot scene from the story come to you first? The dreaded “chicken or the egg” question! I'm an observer of people, and it's especially fun in a bar. People will come in, I'll make up stories in my head about 'em from time to time. A guy stopped in the bar one night when I was bartending; nice guy and totally straight. (It's a bar kinda like a gay “Cheers”--everyone's welcome!) So my character was the starting point. Then later that night, when having an off-duty drink with a buddy there at the bar, he dared me to write a story. (“You always tell good stories, you need to write 'em!” Yeah, I'm the old-time bartender in the dark bar that everyone talks to, tells everything to, and interacts with as a friend/buddy.) The plot developed pretty quickly on its own from there. What was your favorite part of the story? I'm a sucker for a happy ending—so the last chapter really did it for me. I'm especially proud of the epilogue, since it really filled in the “ever after” part. Having said that, the scene in the hospital with Rex standing by, helpless but faithful, was also a high point. Interesting to see this hard-boiled business guy reduced to base emotions—and to see how he allows his more human side to come through. What are you currently writing? I'm currently working on “Landfall”, in progress exclusively here on GA. It's the story of a straight guy, who after the accidental murder of his wife, falls for his FBI “handler”. It's a totally different story from “Joe”, far less erotic, far more nuanced, as the straight guy works through his emotions. Is he now gay? Is he bi? Is he straight, but gay in the circumstances? Is he only gay for his FBI handler? It's been an interesting story to write! And the characters are real enough to me that I feel like most of the time I'm not creating a story, I'm merely reporting it! I'm hoping the readers here will check it out, and give feedback on how I'm doing—I'm hoping they'll find my writing has improved since “Joe” was first published a few months ago and find the story interesting. And Joe and Rex will appear in “Landfall” shortly, and may play a big role in the story line. You'll hafta read “Landfall” to find out the details. What are your future projects? I actually have several I'd like to explore. I'd love to do a story on a May/September romance between an early/mid-30s professional guy and his newly-found late 50s/early 60s or older lover. Ageism is rampant in American culture, and especially pronounced in LBGTQ culture. Think that story would offer lots of options for plot/character development, and be interesting to see the hurdles they have in building a long term relationship, including varied life experiences, expectations, and the range of emotions each man brings to the table. I've kinda got a working title, thinking at this point of “Lion's Lair”. (If older women are “cougars”, are older men “lions”?) I've got a science fiction story I've batted around—and it's so far beyond my comfort level it's intriguing to me. (Love sci-fi and have been an avid reader, but never attempted to write it, obviously, since “Joe” is my first story.) What happens when a disc (say from Voyager or another probe from a later time) is discovered in the ruins of a bombed out library on a far-distant world—and it's filled with music. What if all the music is trapped in the damage disc, and their disc reader can only read just a few bars of a haunting melody and vocal? What does the music say about the people of its originating planet? How does the music's discovery affect the people who discover it? And what does the storage of music say about those who curated it into the library? In my mind's eye, it'll be called “Earth Songs”, but still thinking that through—and trying to find the courage to start on it. And yeah, it'll have both action and romance in good measure. The other story line is set maybe 10 years down the road when gay marriage is fully in place. How does marriage affect the dating rituals of gay men? Does Grindr go away? What takes its place? If marriage is acceptable as adults, is there a simultaneously mutual change so that gay dating in high school becomes commonplace? Are there other impacts on society when two men (or two women) legally partner? Think there's a bunch of impacts to gay marriage we haven't really explored. This is still in the rough sketch stage, but you get the idea. There are a couple of other ideas out in play, but those seem to be bubbling to the top right now. I'd love input on what readers think about those. Thank you for such a great interview, Robert. Okay folks... I asked my questions, now share yours!

Recommendations are always great, and we're looking at ways to incorporate them into the new upgrade with Stories 2.0, later this year--hopefully--but you can also pinpoint stories with features you enjoy by using our custom search options. It's eminently customizable, which is why our Stories Submission Form is so complicated and asks authors for so much information. It's all to help readers find authors' stories. To search for science fiction stories you could: 1. Go to Stories 2. Go to Advanced Search 3. Select various options. You can select more than one option per field in some areas like author group, category, length, etc... by selecting each while holding down control. This is where you can pick sci-fi or fantasy or drama, etc... 4. Continue to customize your search by genre, tags, rating, status (in process, complete) 5. Customize the way the stories are listed in your search results by most likes, most followers, length, last date updated, etc... Voila!! For instance, a search for Classic, Signature, and Promising authors, with no category chosen, Sci-fi genre chosen, with the tags aliens and space, with a Complete status and all lengths brought up these search results, ordered by Times Read brings up 2 pages of various stories. The same search, including all Authors brings up 3 pages. The more you narrow things down, the more pinpointed the search becomes. The wider your net, the more results.

My last novel, finished spring of 2014 and sent on to Dreamspinner, entered into edits mid-December. The first edit that came back had only one suggested scene expansion/change, but included 629 comments (about 100 were 'formatting' for the eBook creation team, but that still leaves over 500) with 958 insertions and 639 deletions JUST on the basic sentence writing, for the most part. This editor went over my story with a fine-toothed comb, and it took me 3 days of 8 to 12 hours of editing to go over everything. I ended up accepting or rejecting all her insertions/deletions, but once I was done with that, my own insertions/deletions were 1039 and 896 respectively. Yet, I've already been through the publishing process once with Dreamspinner and twice with RFP. I've been writing for 5 years, improving all the time. Even so, I still had that much work to do on the 90k novel. Writing is an evolution. You learn new things so you can write and edit better, all the time. You tweak and change your style, all the time. IF you care about the craft. Take your ego out of it. Ignore those who give you crap just because they don't 'like' what you write, and focus on those who give you helpful advice so you can improve. Critiques shouldn't make you feel incapable and worthless an author--they should encourage you to stretch and grow as an author. No man, or woman, is an island, and that applies just as much to writing as to life.

Teddy is a sweetheart, and Will isn't nearly as callous as he seems. There will be a lot more of the city and their lives there, and their backstory, now that they're back in the thick of things. Thanks so much for reading, Valkyrie!

Layers!! I try to make sure all my characters have layers, even if you don't see them at first. As for WHY they can't be together, well, telling that would be spoiling so nope, not gonna happen!! You did come up with all sorts of great ideas, though. Thanks so much for reviewing, faxity!

Shores