Cia

Lisa, the dislike button wasn't something that was used often in GA Stories, it was much more prevalent on the forums, especially the Soapbox. Podiumdavis, it sounded like you were espousing a system of only allowing the author to 'get' five likes a day on their stories. That would be illogical, since there are authors that have a higher volume of likes when they post a story. Typically I have 10-15 in the first day. It would make no sense to limit the ability for readers to like material on a story just because 5 other people liked it first. The problem in the past was that certain authors were abusing the like system to inflate their points. While levels above 100 don't really matter for anything but impressing other members, that's something we didn't want continuing. The like button comes from IP's programming, which is the template we use for the forums and incorporated into some aspects of GA Stories. Also, GA Stories and the forums likes all count together, so that makes limiting 'stories' likes alone is unlikely for the programming aspect as well. Really, I don't think the techies can't just change the system itself, however, you might be able to convince Myr to increase the daily likes each member can have.

Well, there are a lot of forums on here, so I understand the confusion. Technically, we have a 'New Members Welcome' topic in the Lounge, where your introduction should have gone. It can be hard to know where to put things when you first join a site, especially one as complicated as GA. Now, if you have questions about writing or editing, you'd use those forums, but search or read through the topics in there before you post a new topic. You might find the question all ready asked and answered. If you have a bit of a story you'd like to see what readers think about it you'd use the Sneak Peek forum. If you want to know how to post a story on GA please click on the 'Site Help' tab at the top and read the 'Author help' topics for more information on using GA Stories. Pay close attention to the 'New Author Help: How to Post a Story' since it gives you the guidelines on how to post as well as common formatting and posting mistakes that will result in me pm'ing you to fix them before the story is approved. If none of that answers your question, send me a PM.

Nah, you just gave me a good reason to expound on my own views about beta reading. Disagree all you like; debate on views about writing AND editing processes is always welcome!

There is a very simple reason some people will only call themselves a beta reader and not an editor, NotNoNever. Some people are good at looking for creative issues but have problems with their own spelling, much less correcting other's. Or they don't have the confidence in their grammar, punctuation, or spelling to consider themselves an editor but they're great at getting into the creative process and can help with plot ideas, or keeping characters 'in character', looking for head hopping, ect... They can also give the author input on how they viewed the story as a reader. They're not changing or correcting anything, they're just providing feedback on the story. Those people are typically going to consider themselves a beta reader. I've had several authors who asked me to just focus on those aspects and ignore spelling and grammar, since they would have those done by someone who had more experience editing or were only working on their first creative draft. I've had some authors mark me as an editor on here, but it has only been recently that I felt confident enough in my knowledge to deal with those aspects of writing. I did have a professional editor recently go over a novella I wrote and yes, she did write up comments on everything, but not everyone is qualified to do that. Beta readers are a valuable sub-set of the 'editing world', and one that shouldn't be disregarded lightly.

A great article on beta reading, Dark, and right on the nose with the why's and how's that most of us work toward as authors and betas. I have betas and I beta for quite a few people off and on. I did for Dark at one time, or I tried. I'm one of the failures he had, though it was through no fault of his writing or my skills, it was a timing issue. I flaked on getting his stuff done in a timely manner since I was so occupied with various projects, which can be the downfall of trying to help too many people. That's an important thing for a beta to remember. You can't help everyone, even if you want to, so make sure you can commit to doing what you say you will. Sometimes styles don't mesh up or you just can't work with someone, but you never know until you try. Working with other authors on their stories has helped me improve my own writing, and I like to think I've helped others as well. While not every attempt to find a beta is successful, authors should continue to try to find someone who works for them and their stories because the feedback is most definitely invaluable.

I enjoyed this chapter, and the characters so far. You kept them true to their age and personalities, so that's always good. I sense a lot of drama in the works in later chapters though. Your writing is pretty good, a nice mix of narration and dialogue and I liked the whole artist vibe you have in this, since I used to do art. You do need some work on your dialogue punctuation. I have a write up that helped me figure it out that might help you as well. If you'd like to see it, just pm me!

I'm so glad you've enjoyed my stories. This one was very focused on the relationship, with little secondary drama other than that. It was meant to explore some of the secondary character's lives. A definite feel good story, even to the point of 'not for mixed company', so I'm glad you enjoyed it. Otherwise, what's the point of erotic romance, LOL!

I told you forever ago that your stories WERE good enough to be published and I'm glad that belief has been vindicated. *go me* Okay... seriously, this is about you and I'm so glad that you're finding success in e-publishing. When you're ready, let me know, and I'll help you use the new linking system to 'post' your published work here on GA, so that the link leads to the sale sites where readers can purchase them. I remember seeing Ciarrai's story, at least the beginnings of it. I can't wait to see what you've done with it since I really loved his character!

I agree with Lisa, the interplay made this chapter. However, the multiple details noticed for each character made this feel a bit like an info dump to me. I noticed it last time as well. You handle it well, and it's hard to avoid with this many characters in one story to highlight for the reader, but be careful you don't go overboad with Scott noticing each one all the time. For a first time writer, your story is remakably clean. Very well done. I wish I had written that well when I first started. Great job.

Oh great James, remind me about tick borne viruses when I'm about to go camping for the extended weekend. Thanks a bunch man! I grew up getting bitten like crazy though, and I'm still all right. Well mostly. I guess.

I think you gave the backstory some depth, and some depth to Patrick's life at present by showing us his friends and then telling about his past with Ben. I get the gist of 'the one that faded away' since that happens in life sometimes. I like the backstory and the history but I'd love to have seen more of Patrick's thoughts, not just his friend's comments, as well. I can't wait to see the situation unfold at the party next.

LMAO. For me, it's books. It's damn near impossible to resist the lure of getting one when I really crave somethign to read, even if I shouldn't.

Those products have been available in the US for a while so this isn't anything new. The thing is, the whole thing for guys and this is even in most sex stories I've read, that 'tight' is good. Tight gives good sensation to men, of course. Add in the whole having kids and losing muscle tone over the course of a woman's life and the reality is that women are not as tight as they age. That makes them feel less appealing during sex. The attitude is already there, the stereotyped comments are already lodged in the brains of most women. Some idiots are drawn in by these miracle creams just as they are for diet pills and other promises of quick fixes. The reality is that muscles need to be worked to retain tone, even those ones, LOL. Kiegels are good for that, but many people don't do them. *shrugs* Their loss and waste of money, I guess. PS I fixed the topic title.

The fantasy element was good and could've made this a really interesting story. However, I couldn't help but feel like this entire story was a giant info dump. You have so many characters, so many different elements, and then your timeline wasn't set in a linear fashion. You had them in a bar, then back to a different mission, then back to the origin of all the coffin drivers and their long-space travel, then back to the bar, then back ... it was really confusing. I was so overwhelmed by trying to figure out your world that I couldn't just sink into it. I really wish you'd extended this, rearranged the timeline a bit, and given a little less information all at once.

I enjoyed the chapter! The descriptions of all the pledge volunteers was a little too rote for me, very much 'hair, height, body, looks' though you did vary it so that was good. I try to go with less is more over the life of a story when it comes to descriptions. I like the various personalities you showed through their introductions though.

There is a whole grouping of forums called Gay Author's Writing Community, below the author forum area. It has a forum called Writer's Corner, Editor's Forum, Sneak Peeks, Writing Workshops and GA Anthology. Where you plan to post things sort of depends on well... what it is.

LOL! Well you came to the right place, Stephen! Though we come in all flavors here at GA! Welcome.

LOL. Okay, we know you're Bashfulpie and you wanted to get author status from that post, so how is it not real? You introduced at least part of who you are. Welcome to the site!

You asked, therefore you shall receive! I did like the start to this story. Your cliched beginning was a quip, which made it grab my attention so you had a good hook. Its one I have seen used before, but that's okay. Scott's a bit of a perv isn't he? Every time he interacted with someone, the first thing he thought of was how attractive they were. It makes him seem a bit shallow. I liked the surprise with the pledges. Trying to figure out the trick and the surprise kept me reading. Your writing is well done, you had a good flow with the blend of narration and dialogue. Your biggest issue I saw, and it's a minor problem here and there, was your use of various forms of punctuation. I have a punctuation guide, if you're interested you can pm me.

Actually, I've washed my thumb drive about 5 times... and it still works! *shakes head* Now if they could just make my cell phone that indestructable.

The benefit of Skydrive is that you don't have to keep track of any pen drive though. I'm constantly losing my thumb drives and stuff. This is super easy. You just save a copy to the skydrive folder on your computer and voila... done. For my netbook, it's a bit harder. I have to go online to save to it, since it won't support the app, but it's easier than emailing files to myself on my ongoing work and it's also a good way to store older stories I don't want to lose but I'm not actively working on too.

Myr just gave me a link to his a few days ago and I tried it out. It is so helpful. I really recommend it too!

Little bees need to agree before this gets moved to the Soapbox. Keep the discourse civil folks. No ranting necessary over this, please.

If you watch the video, it clearly states that he is still going to school. He goes to the lab 'after school' instead of say, a club or a sport. He's good in this one area, he's created a lovely innovation that will really help with the assistance of the lab time he's been allowed. He's still studying regular high school curriculum as far as I could tell. I'm sure it's going to look spectacular on his college applications when he's older though.

Original review by Yettie One, removed for technical issues. Re-posted here by Cia: Bloody hell................ Revenge is a dish best served cold! I felt shivers run up and down my spin as I read that. Heck, Mira is fierce. I totally loved the way that you allow us a glimpse into the mind of the being. The simplicity and way his character is stripped back to basic fundamentals of survival and the protection of what he loves, even though this word may not have been used to yet describe the bond between Shay and Mira is artful and very satisfying in my eyes as a reader. I look forward to discovering more of this uniquely fascinating character. Not sure I can see a whole world imploding into full scale war, human existence being almost wiped out and some strange creature, the result of a virus running riot in seven months tho! Maybe I am just being over analytical. Stella hugely entertaining chapter buddy, and this story more and more has the hallmarks of something really special indeed.