Cia

Okay, so still working with 'first response' impression. A time or two pictures have been my inspiration for short stories I've written and posted here. So I was going through pictures today and saw this one that just made me laugh. You don't have to write a story but any one liners, silly paragraphs, or just funny thoughts for this picture are totally welcome! If a picture can say a thousand words this one is definitely capable of it!!

Awww, Nephy, the sadness story Such a blindside. Love the 'why do I write' though. I think with you, it must came as naturally as breathing sometimes. You're so wonderful at it!

Basically, we write what we know or what we like to read. There have been many articles put out about how every plot idea and twist has been done and all you are left to work with is find a new way to put them together into an original story arc that fits with what you are envisioning. Our stories are only as good as our imaginations and our writing skills. Learning to go beyond the obvious, how a story is structured properly, and just how to present the idea you start off with is a process. I've yet to go into my first, and longest, story here on GA. It's full of structure, plot, and grammar errors. Some might read it and go, OMG, you're hosted??? Why? I've been accused of writing an amateurish-teeange high school first draft type of story before and to some, it might be that way. I've used over-idealized characters that could and should have been given a more realistic personality. We all do it sometimes, hard as we try not to. Comments and feedback on those flaws help me grow beyond using them again. I'm not a teenager. My first story was started when I was 28, I was 29 when I wrote the 'teenage-eque' story. Teenagers are definitely more than capable of writing well thought out and creative stories and 'adults' are more than capable of writing what others think is crap. The online world had become a phenomenal way for writers to get their rough work seen and read and get feedback on how to write, well... better. Skill comes with practice for all but a very lucky savant type few, no matter what age we are. There will always be readers out there for those stories you might not like to read, that is the beauty of the internet. To each their own. Some people like those kinds of stories and Nifty is heaven to them. Some like to go beyond that and read here on GA. Some people think all online fiction is crap and only read published works. That's the reader's choice.

We all take on too much sometimes. I grew up 'poor' and without a mom for a good part of my life. I get what you are trying to protect Efan from and why you want to be there for Lori. It's admirable and I think almost necessary for us as moms to give them what we didn't have, what we couldn't have. Even if that is just our presence and security of knowing someone cares about what they want and need. But what if that comes at your wellbeing, mental and physical? You have only one body, dear, and one mind. Try to make your new job work, I really hope it does. If not, well you are doing your best but sometimes you just have to pull back. Efan will understand in the end and so will Lori. Big I think you are going through a bit of a tough time and that's all I can offer right now. But know they are always there for you when you need them.

Ewww, the coffee smell! I guess it's better than stinky meat or something!! Can't wait to see what prose and poetry you come up with for exercise 3 with those ideas!!

Please keep this on topic. There was a discussion on the riots and it was removed and deemed too volatile a subject for the Lounge. If you have comments or thoughts on the hockey playoffs themselves, great. If not, please refrain from commenting.

Aww, that's alright Bandage. I really do understand about life getting in way. I'm glad you enjoyed the chapters. I have a few projects going on right now so it might be a little while until you get more of these guys but it will happen. I can't seem to stop writing about the Carthera, they are too fascinating not to. Thanks again for all the comments dear, I always look forward to getting them.

OH yes, vague was the key with this story. The idea for the opening scene came from a picture I took so I took extra care in painting it in the reader's mind. Thanks for taking the time to read it and review the story, I love hearing what you think!!

Yes, this one came to me rather suddenly and the hook was at the end with the sudden twist. I wanted you to have one perception during the reading and then get to have a whole new one once the story was over and you thought back on it. I'm glad you liked it! Thanks for the review hun!

For reading, most certainly chaptered and complete. I read so quickly that I have a hard time keeping up with in progress stories since I'll have 20 or more going sometimes. Short stories are nice but usually just leave me wanting more as a reader. As a writer I prefer to really get into a story and explore the characters and the world they live in. Longer stories let me do that. Short stories are good for exploring writing styles and to get ideas written out but I often find myself having to throttle back to end them.

Happy Birthday hun! Yay for a good day! You know what? You can use the print icon and save the stories from GA Stories and read them on a Kindle. I don't have one but I know members who have done that. I want one but have a hard time justifying the purchase, so I'm jealous!!

I was a kid so the earliest reactions didn't affect me much but I remember the stereotyping and when they finally started to break past the stereotypes and bigotry with stories like Ryan White. Since I was under 10 when it came out 88/89, I've always had that perception that the disease wasn't just about a 'punishment for gay men and their promiscious ways' stereotype. It's a damn tragedy for anyone and for a while no one knew what was going on. I've worked with AIDS patients, I've known people-not patients- with HIV and most of them are/were older. I had safe sex drilled into me as a kid because of AIDS and HIV though, and still didn't do it all the time. I really think that protection is a bigger deal now than ever for younger generations. I just wish the elder ones would take note. No one should have to die from this disease when it's so preventable.

Congratulations dear. You definitely deserve the title; your stories at top notch. Sorry I wasn't a better beta for you but I hope you know I enjoy them what I can find time to read them! oh, **sprinkles more good luck dust** Just in case the toes crossed isn't enough!

Internal organs do not make a person their gender. This is in some ways similar to the whole 'am I still a woman if I lose my uterus' topic I've come across in the medical field. There are many complex components to who we are and what gender we identify with, part mental, part hormonal, and part physical imo. Those organs that make us male or female are defiitely not the be all and end all to how we should view our gender. Obviusly if those children have some internal organs of one gender and external of another there is no clear cut way to say which is more dominant until THEY can determine that. They should be raised to accept themselves until they are able to really know who they are. Any other reason for the surgery truly is unnecessary and legislation should be put in place quickly to discourage and regulate the practice except for when actually necessary..

Yes. I have been struggling with my writing lately. I didn't want to stop posting but it just wasn't as flowing for me as it usually does. I won't be posting my next works until they're done and I'm happy with them. You can read Bonds Unbroken and not be 'spoiled' other than you know they have a happy ending, so to speak. Each story stands alone yet they are interconnected and little hints of a larger plot show up in that one too. Enjoy!!

Luvs back of course.

I think that the second half of the story was a bit anticlimactic. I could sense it and tried to make the emotions come into play more but I do understand and see what you are saying. I think I chalk this one up to learning more about how to pace a story and the culminating events. I have some ideas on how it might have been better, such as ending the story after the clan is healed and then doing a second story with 'but wait, how did we get sick to begin with' and then extending the story to include the scenes and action with The Snake to be the climactic moments, so to speak. It's just not the way the story panned out but I think that you'll find that the next story will further these. Other than switching the main characters and the romance between them I would say Bonds Unbroken, Two of a Kind, and the as of yet unnamed third story are all parts of a whole. I will definitely keep in mind the pacing of the action and the fact that the climax of all the events of the story should come at the end. Thanks for the honest comments Andy, especially since I agree with you. I really do mean it when I say anything other than an 'I hate you and your story' flame is appreciated. I learn and change how I write with each tip and helpful comment I get, so thanks again. Cia

Oh yes. They needed a baby girl. I think we might get some snapshots of her in the next story too! There will be more, I've already got it started but this time I want it completely done first and there are other stories pushing at me to write them. I need to be able to channel my fingers to type the plots up while I sleep, there just isn't enough time in the day anymore!! Thanks so much for all the reviews today, I always love to hear what you think about the stories I am muddling through!!

Hey, this story has a resolution though. The clan is plague free, the artifacts with the plague were destroyed and some of those responsible were killed. If you read Bonds you'll notice that there appears to be a pattern going on. That pattern will be expanded on in the next installment surely! I've a new story started that will include Cavel and Bashta at some point, I'm sure, but they won't be the main characters. Time to let someone else take the limelight while they focus on their new family. I'm glad you liked the lovely end. I may not be nice to my characters during the story but scene was straight from how I felt the first time I held my family babies, both mine and those close to me. Just an instant love and want to protect the tiny little critters. I am glad that emotion really came through. Thanks for the review hun!!

Yes indeedie! Did you like the unexpectedness of that twist? Not what people would have thought from the last chapter. I did try to keep this from being too predictable.

LOL! That's how I feel about reading your stories. I don't mind when people tell me they wait to read and review until something is complete. It's so much better to be all... OMG!! Next chapter NOW! rather than having to wait.

Ahh, you're at the twisty bit. I suppose I never explained really that Carthera who lose their mates go feral. At least the cats do. Sort of a one shot deal for the couples, which is sad and fated at the same time.

Chapter 10 was hard to write at times. I really had to pull out the stops to make it as upsetting as I felt it should be for the characters. Thanks for the review!

That's alright dear, I don't mind waiting to get such lovely reviews as that. I am glad you liked the emotion and the bond between Doug and Wes. Hugs!

Oh believe me, I plan to! The next story is already in progress. As many might have guessed, we will see more from The Snake and you definitely will find out more about what is really going on behind all the attacks on the Carthera clans in their area. Thanks so much for the reviews hun, I love getting them.