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Cia

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  1. Cia
    Welcome to 2021 and a new series of Classic Author features. A lot of these stories are older ones you might not have read before, since many of our Classic Authors aren't active on the site anymore. Enjoy this year's features starting with Gabriel Morgan's short story, Days of Farewell, as we say farewell (and good riddance! to 2020). It's all about the goodbye. 

     
    Length: 705 words
    Description: A Short Story. Thanks to John Mellencamp for the title and story prompt.
    A Reader said: It maybe a short, but it is a fantastic story. A snippet of a memory if you will. Excellently written. ~ Brayon
    If you want to spread the word about Gabriel Morgan's story, download the graphic below and add it to your signature!
    Make sure you come back on Wednesday to see the excerpt I chose to share!

  2. Cia

    December CSR Discussion Day: Triple Holiday Feature

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Wow, it's the last CSR Discussion day of 2020! Hopefully everyone has had a great holiday season, and enjoyed the stories featured. I asked a few questions of the authors featured this month the same questions. Enjoy the answers I got back, then share any thoughts you had as you read their ficlets in a comment below!
     
    Mikiesboy with The Christmas Cracker
    How do you celebrate the Holidays?    Usually we have a large reunion in early December with the whole family from around Toronto and Niagara Falls. Then we meet with Michael's parents, and his brother on Christmas Day. It's a pretty traditional Christmas.  This year is Christmas under lock down. So, just me and my Husband and a zoom get together with everyone else. I'm cooking our traditional meal, only smaller for the pair of us.
    What is a favorite holiday memory you'd like to share?   I don't really have a favourite memory. I look forward to Christmas annually. It always fills me with a sense of wonder and fellowship.
    Do you have a favourite line or scene in The Christmas Cracker.  This part makes me hold my breath for a second, it's among my favourites:
    What is your favorite Holiday Story:  Well my favourite is A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.  On GA my favourite is this wonderful, naughty version:
     
    Bill W with A Gay Christmas Carol
     
    How do you celebrate the holidays?  This has changed over the years.  When the kids were younger and we lived closer to our other relatives, we used to throw a big dinner on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and invite the entire extended family.  Sometimes we'd be like the Currie family from The Castaway Hotel series and have up to 30 people at our house for those meals.  Now that I'm older and many of those relatives have died and the kids live a long way away from me and each other, I merely chat with them using all of these marvelous new technologies.  
    What is a favorite holiday memory you'd like to share?  It's another idea I stole and used in The Castaway Hotel series.  On Christmas Eve when the kids were younger, one of the adults would dress up in a Santa suit and then go outside to peek in the picture window so the kids could see him.  We would rotate who played Santa so the kids wouldn't figure it out, and some of the women even took a turn doing this.  After Santa appeared, we'd use that to urge the kids that they had to go to bed so Santa could leave his presents and this ended a lot of hassles about them wanting to stay up longer.   
    Do you have a favorite line or scene in A Gay Christmas Carol?
     
    What is your favorite holiday story?   Every Christmas I have to watch at least one version of A Christmas Carol or I don't feel right.  My favorite is the 1951version staring Allistair Sims, but I also like the 1984 version with George C. Scott and the 1999 version staring Patrick Stuart.  I also enjoy 1970 musical version, Scrooge, so I guess you can tell why I wrote A Gay Christmas Carol.   
  3. Cia

    January CSR Feature: All Wet Series by Myr

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Welcome to 2021! In honor of the new year, hopefully to be a fun, fast one, I'm featuring several short stories in the All Wet series by Myr. These start off with A Bad Day to be WET... but it's never a bad day to enjoy a story from Myr's Terran Confederation Spaceforce world! Follow Bill's adventure's in all 3 stories for the most enjoyment. Then come back to share your thoughts and enjoy my interview with Myr on our Discussion Day! 
    All Wet Series
    by @Myr
    Length: 11,720
    Description: William Elijah Thomas, WET, callsign Jammer, is one of the foremost pilots in the entire Terran Confederation.  He is an empath, but more importantly a Jumper.  Jumpers are the extremely rare humans that can plot a path through jump space and program shipboard A.I.'s to be able to do jumps without the need for a jumper.
    A Reader Said: A great Sci-Fi story set in a world that the Author has invented. It is one that I would love to read more about. ~Brayon
     
    Don't forget to come back to share your comments on the CSR Discussion day on Monday, January 25th! 
  4. Cia

    Happy New Year 2021: Member Contest Here!

    By Cia,


    Fun Stuff
    Members, we have a New Year's prize for you! Will you win?
    Did you catch our Thank You and Happy New Year message? We want to thank you for reading and taking the time to share your thoughts with GA's authors, writing nearly 50,000 story and chapter comments and hundreds of story reviews! 

    What can you win?
    Prize 1: 3 months free Premium membership Prize 2: 1 month free Premium membership How can you enter to win? It's simple! Just do BOTH of the items below: 
    Follow the GA News Blog (Click on the follow button in the blog banner above the post if you don't already follow it) Respond to this blog post. A couple of ideas on what you should comment on could be: What was your favorite story you commented or reviewed on in 2020? What stories do you hope to read in 2021? Do you have thoughts on new goals?  How will winners be selected? 
    All GA News Blog followers who also comment on this blog will have their names entered in a random.org drawing. 2 winners will be selected and shared on Sunday, January 9th. 
  5. Cia
    Authors, you have been... so let us reward you! 
    Did you read our Thank You and Happy New Year message? Don't miss it! In 2020, you published 319 new stories and over 4,000 chapter updates. You have worked hard, and we want to recognize those amazing accomplishments. Let's keep the writing flowing with some inspiration reads, perhaps, with these prizes you could !
    What can you win?
    Prize 1: 3 months free Premium membership Prize 2: 1 month free Premium membership How can you enter to win? It's simple! Just do BOTH of the items below: 
    Follow the GA Writing Tips blog (Click on the follow button in the blog banner above the post if you don't already follow it) Respond to this blog post. A couple of ideas on what you should comment on could be: What inspired you to write in 2020? Do you have any project you can't wait to write in 2021? Do you have thoughts on new GA Stories goals?  How will winners be selected? 
    All GA Writing Tips followers who also comment on this blog will have their names entered in a random.org drawing. 2 winners will be selected and shared on Sunday, January 9th. 
  6. Cia
    So half the world celebrates the holidays in the heat. So while this story isn't a holiday tale, I couldn't help but pick a story that features a group of friends and some summer-time fun. This snack-sized tidbit is just right for this busy time of year for readers to enjoy too!

    Length: 5,064
    Description: Mark always takes a dare.
    A Reader said: This was just a wonderful story, written very well. And I loved the ending!  You are really really good at this. ~ Toast
     
    If you want to spread the word about Sara Alva's story, download the graphic below and add it to your signature!
    Make sure you come back on Wednesday to see the excerpt I chose to share!

  7. Cia

    December CSR Triple Feature: Holiday Sprinkles

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    That's right, this month we have a holiday triple feature! These Christmas stories are like sprinkles of joy you can use to brighten your day and hearts. Just the right length for a short read, please enjoy these stories brought to you from 2 of our Signature Authors and 1 of our Classic Authors. 

     
    The Christmas Cracker
    by @Mikiesboy
    Length: 1,528
    Description: Hawken picked up the red Christmas Cracker and offered the other end to Lori-Anne. She grasped it. They pulled. It snapped with a satisfying bang. Hawk carefully pulled out the contents. The others had received little gifts ... but his was different. He looked at Harish, who smiled ...
    A Reader said: This story was a sweet bit of Christmas magic. ~ dughlas
    Bear in Winter
    by @comicfan
    Length: 4,181
    Description: William Watthews runs the local recreation center. Most people call him, Will or Bear, but it seems someone has other plans for him. Just what is going on at the rec center and what will it mean to Bear?
    A Reader said: I have to come back to like this, but I loved the story.. It was absolutely sweet and wonderful and full of heart. ~ Defiance19
    A Gay Christmas Carol
    by @Bill W
    Length: 9,495
    Description: Scrooge becomes a religious zealot named Franklin Phelps.  He has some troubling beliefs about gays and on Christmas Eve he first encounters the spirit of his former associate, Patsy Falwell, followed by three ghosts that attempt to help him redefine his position, but will they succeed?
    A Reader said: lol well i like the « revised » gay xmas carol 😉 ~ Danilo Syrtis
     
    Don't forget to come back and share your thoughts on the CSR Discussion day, Monday, December 28th. 
  8. Cia
    Monday I featured Sara Alva's short story, Dare. Did you read it? It's just 5k, a story of friends, fun... what more could you want to take a break from your life right now? A holiday time out, a reminder of summer to come if the cold is sapping you, or even just because those memories of carefree days can be so fun to head back to. 
    And that's just why I picked this excerpt. Did you ever play Truth or Dare? The swing is one thing... but were you ever this dumb? 
    Want to know what happens next? Click here!
  9. Cia

    November CSR Discussion: Amafi Coast by CLJobe

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Holy cannoli! November is over! The holiday season is upon us, but first we must enjoy and discuss this month's featured story, Amafi Coast by CLJobe. Did you get a chance to read it? Share your thoughts below, or just enjoy my interview with this month's featured author! 
    Are you a person who makes their bed in the morning, or do you not see much point?
    Since I am in bed, 100 percent of the time, I have a care giver who helps to change my bed.
    What is something most people don’t know about you?
    Besides being an old man, I have a degree in Chemical Engineering and I am a Registered Engineer. I owned my own company when I retired which allowed me to travel in Europe
    What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story?
    Ireland, I fell in love with that country and the people I interacted with.
    What brought you to GA?
    I had been reading a lot of stories and by chance found GA.
    Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
    I’ve based my writing on my experiences, traveling and meeting different people. There is a little of myself in all of my writings.
    Did you need to research any of the legal information about wills or adoption for the story?
    No, I make assumptions and since my stories are fiction, there is no need tone 100 percent accurate.
    How did you decide on the setting for Amalfi Coast?
    I traveled in Italy, being of Italian descendent, I found that area of Italy very enticing. And I did spell it wrong, my readers corrected me.
    Who is your favorite character in the story? Do you relate more to Thomas or Geno?
    I think at my age I would relate more to Thomas, although I found Geno a loving young man.
    What is your favorite scene in Amalfi Coast? 
    Would you like to share some of your current or upcoming work with readers?
    Yes, I am currently working on a story about a young man with a goal of providing sanctuary for boys and girls. Similar to my current story.
  10. Cia
    Did you catch the blog feature on Libby Drew's story, The Art of Walking in Snow, on Monday? Go download the banner if you want to share you love for this short story. If you haven't read it yet, well, why not? I'm featuring this excerpt because it reminds me SO much of all the years we took our kids out to cut down our own tree. The cold, the cocoa, the fun of picking just the right one... it's definitely Christmas! But this story goes so much deeper than that, so much more into what the season can truly mean if we open our hearts to those around us. 
    Want to read more? Click here
  11. Cia
    Okay, I admit it... the holidays finally have me. It's not quite tree time, but we're sooooo close. So why not enjoy a little early holiday heartwarming with Libby Drew's amazing short story, The Art of Walking in Snow? 

     
    Length: 10,023
    Description: Jamie doesn't let people get close, but his new employer refuses to play by those rules. Maybe this is the year Jamie will banish the ghosts of Christmases past.
    A Reader said:  What a wonderful tale as we approach Christmas. There is so much said and unsaid between Jamie and John that weaves this tale into something more than just a story. It's a fable about the forces of nature: the winter snow, Jamie, and John. Bravo, Libby!
    I'm going to email the link to my friends so they can enjoy and appreciate The Art of Walking in Snow as much as I have. ~Colinian
     
     
    If you want to spread the word about Libby Drew's story, download the graphic below and add it to your signature!
    Make sure you come back on Wednesday to see the excerpt I chose to share!

  12. Cia

    November CSR Feature: Amafi Coast by CLJobe

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Well, spooky October is over and now we have November up. Heading into the holiday season, what better time to enjoy stories about compassion, family, and love? So please enjoy this month's selection!
    Amafi Coast
    by @CLJobe
    Length: 12,971
    Description: A story of compassion.
    A Reader said: Awesome chapter, Sad thoughtfull and joyful, and a great end to get another awesome story. Thanks ~ mikedup
     
    Enjoy this month's ready, and don't forget to come back to share your thoughts on the Discussion day on Monday, November 30th! 
  13. Cia

    CSR Discussion Day: Fairyfly by ObicanDecko

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Well it's almost over for October, and it's nearly November! How quickly the time does fly. Get it, fly? Like Fairfly, this month's CSR feature by ObicanDecko! Did you read it? Make sure you share your thoughts on the story below! But first, as always, my interview with the author for readers to enjoy! 
    Do you eat your fruits and vegetables?
    Yes! I love my fruits (watermelon, peach, strawberry, you name it) and veggies – I could eat broccoli and spinach every day.
    If you were an animal, what would you be?
    I’d either be a house cat, so I can sleep all day, or a squirrel, so I can live in the trees and look fabulous with a big fluffy tail.
    What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story?
    My story ‘The Island of Poa’ was partly inspired by the Easter Island, so I would have loved to have been able to go there (maybe one day). That’s the number one place on my travel list. I would also love to visit the old Aztec/Maya/Inca sites in Central and South America. I’m sure that would inspire a story or two! Anything to do with history.
    Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
    For me, the most challenging part is writing about topics or places I know little or nothing about. It requires a lot of research. For example, I’d love to write a story set in space, but I wouldn’t know where to begin. I’d have to do a lot of reading beforehand.
    That’s why writing fantasy is good – you get to create your own rules and no one can say they’re wrong!
    What’s the best part of being an author?
    In my opinion, the best part of being an author is being able to create your own worlds and characters and get lost in them. Sometimes I’ll get an idea about a story I would love to read about, and if I can’t find a book like that, I can try and write it myself. My writing is definitely a bit self-indulgent – I write about things that I personally want to read about. But if others like it too, that’s amazing!
    If you were a sorcerer, what kind would you be? Good, evil, indifferent?
    Hmm… I’d like to say good, but magic powers could tempt me to do all kinds of things, so who knows? I’d probably be eccentric and weird, so people would leave me alone instead of trying to use me for my powers.
    Okay, where do all the conjured items come from in Fairyfly? Do you define your rules of magic before you write or let it come organically?
    Good question! It’s funny because a friend of mine likes to tease me about the scene where Esthor turns the royal sorcerers’ magic wands into snakes. He says how the poor snakes must have an existential crisis, having been created so suddenly.
    I have to admit, I didn’t create any rules of magic before writing this story. It’s never explained where exactly magic comes from, and I think it’ll remain that way. Magic is simply a part of that world. I did introduce some limitations later on (especially in Book of Venoms). For example, Esthor is very powerful and versatile, but his main ‘branch’ of magic is conjuring/elemental magic. Sawyer’s specialty is nature magic, while Macarius’ is illusions and teleportation.
    Who is your favorite character in the story and why?
    Esthor, the main character, is by far my favorite in Fairyfly. Fantasy stories usually have a powerful sorcerer as the villain, while the heroes are weak/ordinary humans who have to grow in power or unite in order to defeat the bad guy. So, I wanted to switch it up and make the mighty wizard the protagonist and see what kind of trouble he could get into. Esthor is vain and a bit of a know-it-all, but his heart is always in the right place.
    What do you think is the pivotal scene in the Fairyfly?
    Ooh that’s a tough question! I’d say... (SPOILER ALERT)
    Do you want to share a little about your current or future stories with readers?
    I’d love to – without spoiling too much or making any definitive promises (plans always change!). So, ‘Charttoppers’ is now fully released and I’ve been having a lot of fun writing it, so I can probably see myself doing a sequel at some point in the future. I already have some potential storylines in mind, so we’ll see.
    I’m currently writing a medieval fantasy book about a man who makes a pact with a demon in order to find his missing friend. It will probably be the next to be released, but it’s still early in the writing stages.
    I’ve also been brainstorming sequels to ‘Fairyfly’ and ‘Book of Venoms’. I’m not sure if they will be two separate books or combined into one, but they will be coming!
    I’m very grateful for every single person who has been reading and commenting on my stories and sending me lovely messages asking for sequels. Please be patient!
  14. Cia
    Did you catch Monday's feature with Jack Scribe's Life's a Grind banner? Why exactly IS there a mask on it? Hmm... answer in the comments if you know! Or share what you thought of the story if you've read it. 
     
    I picked this section of the story, a few chapters in, because it gives you a good sense of Jeremy's character. He's pretty smart for a teen, certainly responsible, but wowsers... the curveballs life's bringing his way could be interesting. Well, if you're into that sort of thing. 😜 You might think you know from this snip, but oh, there's so much more to the opportunity he's considering....
    To read more, click here. 
  15. Cia
    Happy October! Thanksgiving for our Canadian friends, Halloween for just about everyone, or all sorts of festival fun if you're not a follower of the candy trick-or-treats theme. The year is passing by so fast, and we're almost done with 2020 (whew!). I thought the title of this month's feature was apt for how many of us probably feel about this year.... Enjoy!

    Length: 97,474
    Description: Jeremy and his group of friends are seniors at a Chicago high school. He juggles a part-time job (to help pay expenses at home) with the academic challenges and school activities of his final school year. His life reaches a watershed moment when he is offered a very unique job at the same time questions about sexual orientation are tested and answered.
    A Reader said (Chapter 1): Wow... what a valuable, but unsteady childhood for Jeremy. I am glad that Winston and Karl had given him the good, bad, and ugly on everything before they passed on. Most children who are exposed to the fact that someone they knew died of AIDS make them subtly reinforce the "deviant" excuse of how people contract the disease. It's pretty sad, but I'm glad Jeremy got to learn everything and had positive role models in lieu of a proper father figure. ~ J.T. 
     
    If you want to spread the word about Jack Scribe's story, download the graphic below and add it to your signature!
    Make sure you come back on Wednesday to see the excerpt I chose to share!

  16. Cia

    August CSR Feature: Fairyfly by ObicanDecko

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Happy Halloween month! This is a month for fun of the paranormal type. Magic. Were-creatures. Myths. Fantasy. Ghosts. Or whatever else tickles your ghoulish fancy. I'm going with a story by ObicanDecko for the CSR feature, Fairyfly. This is an older story, so you might not have read it or you might be due for a reread. Enjoy!!
    Fairyfly
    by @ObicanDecko
    Length: 65,659
    Description: Young Esthor is the best sorcerer in all the kingdom and beyond. When King Norius calls upon him to save his eldest daughter, Esthor resorts to drastic measures that will have some people fighting to get his head, and others vying to win his heart.
    A Reader said:  I think you had as much fun writing this as we had rereading it. I hope you think to follow these characters forward to a new series. Best Wishes to you. Don ~Damack1957
     
    Don't forget to come back to share your thoughts on Monday, October 26th!
    As some extra reading fun this month, share your favorite stories on GA that fit this month's theme in a comment below! 
  17. Cia

    CSR Discussion Day: Forces by Invnarcel

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Did you read Forces by Invnarcel this month? A little dark, a little twisted, maybe a journey you weren't quite expecting... just right to get us in the mood for Fall! Enjoy my interview with Invnarcel below, then leave your comments on his story or writing! 
     
    Chocolate or Vanilla?
    Chocolate.
    If you had 30 minutes of free time, what would you do?
     Meditate and connect with myself. It’s relaxing and great.
    What brought you to GA?
     A love of reading and posting gay stories!
    Is there a literary character (in the whole universe of fiction) that you’ve read who you really identified with?  
    Not really. I feel like a very multi-faceted being. A lot of my own characters represent facets of me or facets I used to have.
    Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
     Not really. I can be bad at getting inspiration at times, but so can anyone. When I was more amateurish I used to have a problem with excessive adverbs.
    What’s the first thing you do when you start to write a story?
     Jot down a ‘plot skeleton’. The meat of the story then gets filled in as I write. Even if the story is very freeform I still write a ‘chapter skeleton’ for the first chapter even if it’s just three or so points.
    If you had to pick a favorite among the characters in Forces, who would it be and why?
    I would have to say Stanley Milton. Though the main character has his own interesting psychology and I relate to him way more, Stanley is a character I did the most research for. He is very peculiar and a lot of the story’s focus is on trying to figure out what kind of person he really is. I think he’s fascinating and I hope other people do too.
    What inspired you to write Forces?
     Before writing my gay-thriller-romance novellas I read two books because we know that reading other stories helps with our writing. Before starting Forces I read a psychology book and an old French novel about narcissists talking about their romantic exploits. The angle I took with Forces was different to my other novellas so I was looking forward to exploring that. 
    Your stories can have many dark elements that are well-written to leave readers guessing. Did you do research about psychopaths for Stanley’s character or did you wing it?
     I read a full clinical textbook in preparation for Stanley called ‘The Mask of Sanity’ by Dr Hervey Cleckley. In fact most characters are named after researchers cited in that book, including my main character Phillip Cleckley. Prior to Forces I’d also read other psychology books including memoirs. Research and capturing realism is very important to me.
    Do you want to share anything about your current work-in-progress or the next story you plan to share on GA?
      I don’t know much about it yet. I do know that my characters are older now, since writing about high school kids is something I wanted to branch away from being a 25-year-old myself. Phillip and Stanley were 22-years-old and so university/college students in their early twenties will most likely be the focus of my next novella. I will probably go back to exploring supernatural elements, it has always been a guessing game in my past four novellas whether or not the supernatural is involved. I’ve touched on incels in the past, and I’m curious to explore that dark and messy realm of human psychology. For now I haven’t decided on anything. 
    Don't forget to leave your comments on Forces below! 
  18. Cia
    Did you catch Monday's feature with the banner for Rec's story, Palouse? Check it out if you want to feature it in your signature. So I live in Washington, so I know how special this region of the state is, how scenic it can be... but just how few opportunities there can also be for anyone who is 'different'. Rec's story has all of that and more. I think you'll enjoy this excerpt as well. 
    Click here to read more
  19. Cia
    Sometimes you just want to sink into a story, and Rec is an author that lets you do that. His stories always drag you in and don't let you go from beginning to end. Palouse is no different. Have you read it?

    Length: 110,617
    Description: Palouse is a coming-to-maturity story of a half-Navajo boy who is a virtuoso at violin. The story traces his rise, fall, and reemergence in the context of a domineering mother. It is a story also of a developing love between the boy and a gay friend.
    A reader said: An amazingly beautiful story that continued to grip this softy with all manner tears shed as Micah's past touched so much of mine and others life experiences. Thanks for the Epilogues in bringing closure. Above all else for your sensitive and imaginative literary talent in bringing the enriching stories of Jake and Micah. ~ napaguy
     
    If you want to spread the word about Rec's story, download the graphic below and add it to your signature!
    Make sure you come back on Wednesday to see the excerpt I chose to share!

  20. Cia

    September CSR Feature: Forces by Invnarcel

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    It's a month of changes, and this story was written to make you wonder... are things what they seem? Are are the characters who they seem? I guess you'll have to read Invnarcel's story, Forces, to find out!
    Forces
    by @Invnarcel
     
    Length: 35,514
    Description: Phillip Cleckley is a young journalist investigating a murder at Lochdale college. He begins an unfortunate liaison with the prime suspect, the wealthiest family's son Stanley Milton. Both men are different, but together they find a similarity.
    A Reader said: Well it certainly kept me guessing.  Good story!!  Thanks invnarcel! ~KayDeeMac
     
    Don't forget to come back to comment on the discussion day on Monday, September 28th! 
  21. Cia
    August already! I'm keeping that contemporary theme going with another oldie but goodie with Vlista's Cameron. This is one of the... lighter tales, so to speak. Come back on Wednesday to check out an excerpt from the story. 

     
    Length: 97,187
    Description: Cameron thinks all he wants are one night stands, and plenty of alcohol. That is until someone comes along who causes him to re-think what he really wants in life.
    A Reader Said: A really nice sweet ending after a trouble filled but realistic story, I really enjoyed it, very well written. I will also second the comments above and vote for a sequel, it doesn't have to be dramatic just seeing the guys carry on with life and deal with regular things would be good. ~Torontotop
     
    If you want to spread the word about vlista20's story, download the graphic below and add it to your signature!
    Make sure you come back on Wednesday to see the excerpt I chose to share!

  22. Cia
    Well, did we make it through another month and another story for the CSR? How did you like I Do Like to be Beside the Seaside by Ivor Slipper? Don't forget to share your comments below, but first, I gave a detailed interview that you just can't miss Ivor's replies to! 
    Do you eat your fruits and vegetables?
    I'll eat most of the traditional vegetables, but I don't eat much fruit other than the summer strawberries, raspberries and apricots.
    What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
    I read a lot and in the right months of the year I like to spend time in my garden.
    What's your favorite room in your house? Do you plot or write there?
    My favorite room is the lounge where I can relax, read and watch sport on TV. Writing is done using my laptop which resides on the dining table.
    What’s the best part of being an author?
    Can I say two things? One is being able to express and share thoughts and ideas. The other is the friends I have made as a result of my writing.
    If you could give advice to yourself when you first started writing, what would it be?
    To somehow discover the skill to write better dialogue. Something I still consider a weakness.
    What do you think makes I Do Like to be Beside the Seaside stand out compared to other “similar” stories?
    Perhaps the fact that I was familiar with the location at about the time the story was set.
    Do you resonate better with one character over the other, Chris versus Billy? Why or why not?
    Great question. Chris started off as Billy's life raft, but both were dependant on George providing the lifeboat. Chris's character is more mine; Billy's what I would have liked mine to be!
    Did the characters or the plot of this story come first?
    The story was originally written in response to a Picture Challenge on the Iomfats site and was just what is now the first chapter. But having created the characters, I wanted to know more of how their lives unfolded which led to the other chapters being written later.
    So Chris was very much inspired by the picture and from that came the plot.
    Is there a scene that either really flowed or was super difficult to write?
    The first chapter flowed easily and indeed the whole story didn't present many problems. Maybe it was easy to write about that era.
    Would you like to share anything about your current or upcoming works with readers?
    I've struggled to write anything in recent months, but hopefully the muse may be returning. 
  23. Cia
    Well, we made it halfway through 2020. Kicking and screaming, fighting the world, or maybe just resigned to the reality that is facing us. Honestly, I really liked the title of this story, which is what initially caught my eye. "How true!" I thought. "But can it be that lighthearted of a tale?"  Then I wanted to know more. How about you? So while you're facing whatever your reality is, how about escaping into this story instead....
    I Do Like to be Beside the Seaside
    by @Ivor Slipper
     
    Length: 54,627
    Description: England in the mid 1960s.
    Chris Atkins suffering an unhappy home life, decides that as soon as he is 15 and entitled to leave school, he will also leave home.
    A Reader said: I can heartily recommend Ivor's story for its' character interaction and development and a storyline that deals with whatever good can come from being broken.  ~ Bard Simpson
     
    Don't forget to come back to comment on the discussion day on Monday, July 27th. 
  24. Cia
    Writing Tips From Fellow Writers
    Passive Voice: Avoid word choices using 'to be' and the conjugations 'is, am, were, was, are, has been, have been, will be, being' as much as possible to keep action immediate and reduce the passive voice when writing. It lacks precision and clarity. Use search to find those keywords that indicate passive voice and consider each to see if your sentence needs a re-write.
    Plot Arc: The 'hook' is what intrigues readers in your story. The climax is the point the book wouldn't exist without; the whole reason for your character and plot to exist. Hooks should be point A, climax point Z, of course. Between you have all the other letters of the alphabet. This is the journey your reader makes from the hook to the climax. Make sure that each point builds on the last and that they all further the story to that climax!
    Self-Marketing for Authors: Authors just write a story and sit back and wait for reader's acclaim. A book on the shelf, an online story on a site full of online stories will not stand out unless you make it. A good story will keep readers coming back for more, but to get them, you need to network. The best way to do that is to get involved in author discussions, use status updates, signatures, reviews, etc. A blog is also a great way to feature your writing!
    Speech Tags: Speech tags are to be avoided; they're like evil little speedbumps for readers. Use them occasionally but try to stick to said or asked. Instead, use actions or thoughts from characters to show the reader what is going on in the scene instead. Create the emotion or action through a visual cue, like slamming a door after shouted dialogue, or wiping away tears after a cry of loss.
    Don't Edit Alone: GET HELP! We can't stress this point enough. Get a beta reader and/or editor or two, or three even! Fresh eyes on your work catch things you invariably miss. If you want to have a great story, you have to do the work to make it the best it can be!
    Editing For Content: Ask yourself who, what, when, where, why, and how when reading for content. Does the story answer all the questions you think it should? Highlight all the lines/places in the story that best answer those questions so you know if the story follows the logical order. Sometimes something the author just knows doesn't quite make it into the story, making vital plot points confusing to readers.
    Editing Tip: Make editing, for yourself or others, a priority and always try to learn the rules as best you can. Try researching grammar rules at least thirty minutes a month.
    Editing Tip: Listen to music or chew gum. Something that will keep you from being bored, but won't really distract you. Let's face it, writing something new can be fun; checking for errors is not, but it is a necessary evil. If editing your own work, make a list of what to watch for when you write/edit next of common mistakes you keep making.
    Four Editing Tips: 1. Try printing out your story/chapter and editing by hand. 2. Read backwards, covering the extra text with a paper if necessary to not get caught up in the flow of the story. 3. Point to the words one at a time if you find you tend to skip words that are missing or extra words added, especially. 4. Try to get at least one night of sleep between writing and editing.
    Writing Names in Fantasy Fiction: In fantasy, if you want to have an Arabian tone to the story, you should use names similar to original names, but make sure you change some of the letters around. Keep that consistent and change names of people and locations the same way. If you give your new words meaning, eg: Bairela means 'star jewel' and ela means jewel, don't use that same syllable in a name that shouldn't evoke the jewel meaning as well.
    Writing Names in Contemporary Fiction: Names create perceptions in reader's minds. Harsh consonant sounds tend to give the perception of short-tempered harsh people, or places. Soft sounding names tend to imply more beautiful people or locations. If you've set your story on Earth, make sure the names chosen are correct for the region. For example, the Inuptian (an Iniut dialect) word for river is kuuk where the Hawaiian word for river is wai.
    1st Person Point of View: With this the author uses I, me, my, and mine as the pronouns. The helpful aspect of this is that we get to see the immediate thoughts and emotions of the character. What writers have to remember is that you can ONLY use the point of view of your character.
    2nd Person Point of View: With this the author uses you, or your as the pronouns. This isn't telling the story to the reader so much as almost making the reader the character in the story.
    3rd Person Point of View: In 3rd use he or she, her or him, hers or his as the pronouns. Includes: 3rd person omniscient—shows the thoughts of every character or 3rd person limited—shows the thoughts of one character. Some authors do third person limited, but vary the character POV they choose to showcase in sections. Not as common in published literature, it's more common in online fiction.
    Narrative Voice: Narrative voice is the person or point of view used when writing, eg: a character, you as the author, or a variety of characters. The story could change depending on what viewpoint character in the story is chosen. This includes: Third Person Subjective, Third Person Dramatic/Objective, Third Person Omniscient, Stream of Consciousness, or Universal Omniscient narrative styles.
    Sentence Tips: 1) Don’t start sentences with the same word repetitively. 2) Vary the length of sentences (and paragraphs) to break up the text in a natural ‘flow’ pattern to mimic speech. 2) Eliminate unnecessary words such as: that, just, really, pretty, very, some, a little, probably, a bit.
    Show, Don’t Tell: This means to let your characters live their story. Tell: Mike and Gary drove Mike’s car to the store for ice. Show: “Hey, let’s go grab some more ice at the store, Gary.” Mike unlocked his car.
    Beating Writer’s Block: 1) Write every day to form the habit. 2) End your writing when you still know what comes next in the scene so you have a starting place next time. 3) Try a prompt or quick writing challenge if you’re blocked on existing work.
    Write Badly: Seriously. A first draft is supposed to be the ‘rough draft’, and striving for perfection before you write ‘The End’ will only slow you down. Once you know the entire shape of the storyline, you can go through and refine it through the editing process—but first you must finish it!
  25. Cia

    June CSR Discussion Day: Caz Pedroso's Here Kitty, Kitty

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Did you read Caz Pedroso's story, Here Kitty, Kitty? What did you think of it? Make sure you share your thoughts below in the comments, but first! Enjoy this interview with questions Caz graciously answered for me so you get the skinny on her! 
    Are you a person who makes their bed in the morning, or do you not see much point?

    Not much point making my bed. When my daughter and husband are home, my bed is my office.

    If you were an animal, what would you be?

    A house cat, my food would be delivered to me, I’d get to curl up in the sun, and I could demand all the attention I wanted.

    If you had 30 minutes of free time, what would you do?

    Um…Read!!!

    What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story?

    I’m torn between Egypt in the real world, or Discworld in the book world.

    If you had to only work on one project for the next year... what would it be?

    My medieval fantasy series that I am still trying to find time to devote to. I think the first book stands at roughly 20,000 words at the moment and has done for most of this current year so far.

    Was it harder to stay inspired writing 1k each week for this story versus longer chapters?

    Yes…In between chapters I would work on other projects and sometimes I wouldn’t want to put them down to write the weeks chapter on the current flash.

    Which do you prefer, vampires or shifters?

    Hmmm, depends are they single and straight? Joking aside I like both the same and try to include them both whenever I can in my writing.

    Was it hard to write a gender-neutral character like Angel?

    Yes. I had to do a fir bit of research and read others who have written similar characters. It is why they had only a small part this time, so I could ease into it slowly.

    Do you have a favorite part of Here, Kitty Kitty?

    As gruesome as it was, the part I liked was when Tristan stood up to his father and killed him. I like to think his father had a split moment to regret his actions and wish he’d runaway instead, before he died.

    Would you like to share anything about your current or upcoming work with readers?

    I’m afraid my readers are as much in the dark as me. I’m waiting to see what characters speak to me to see what unfinished story gets finished and posted next. 
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