Cia

At that point you have to decide who is the central character to the scene? Who is the one where we need to know their motivation and/or thoughts in the story? For me, the hard part isn't so much making that decision but to make sure I don't fall into the habit of letting both character's motivations show. At that point you have to focus on really using physical cues to show what your other character is feeling and thinking, which can be difficult.

*I posted a topic in the Writer's Corner about a free online 8 session writing course I found. The writer/teacher providing the course does not provide critiques but I think we can do that quite well for each other. I am posting my exercise pieces here in my forum in topics, one per session. Feel free to read, comment, or post your own.The link to the free online course can be found: HERE Session 1: Releasing Your Creativity Blue ball: My first thought is one of those reflecting disco balls they have at school dances. My school's colors were blue and white so they always used a blue light to shine on it and the whole room would be dimly lit with a blue shine. The excitement of dressing up, dancing close to the guys and giggling with your friends over who is the cutest boy are fun memories to think back on. And that's when the sadness came: The first family member I lost that greatly impacted my life was Grandpa a year and a half ago. He meant the world to me and while he was not the first grandparent I lost he was the one that hurt me the most. I cried for days and wrote it out in a story chapter I was writing.Even now I miss him and thinking about him brings tears to my eyes. I know dread the thought of losing my grandma even more because she is the one adult woman in my family who I have always been closest to. Coffee: Bitter liquid. Like mouth puckering, ewww, liquid. As a teenager, I always thought that I would automatically like coffee when I got older and became an adult. Of course that isn't true but it makes me laugh to think of the preconceptions teenagers have about being an adult. I write to be creative and for fun. I like hearing that my stories impact others. Three story ideas I've had lately: Continuing Dane and Tap's story through college, a story about a journey through the rain, and a story about hot aliens that humans mate with to avert... something. Exercise 3: WIP. I will post it when I'm finished in the next day or so. So what do you guys think?

In the interest of improving my writing I'm always trying to learn how to actually write better. I'm not just talking about the mechanics of writing but how I write my plot, my characters, making dialogue natural and believable... There is always room for improvement and there are a lot of resources out there to help beginning writers. To that end I'm posting a link to a phenomenal website I've found. The Crafty Writer's Online Creative Writing Course has a 8 session course on different aspects of creative writing that range from how to translate a single idea into a story to tips and ideas on how to market your work and get published. Within each course are several exercises that can help you translate the session information and put it to use. I intend to work through this course and then post my exercise work in my forum. If anyone wants to share their own progress they are more than welcome to do it there as Mrs. Smith will respond to comments but will not critique work of course. I figure there are enough of us here that we can critique each other.

I typically write in third person limited. I do find that I often will switch pov between the two main characters as necessary though I try to keep it from being within the same chapter. I don't think omniscient works for me with two male leads within the story, though it's easier for a hetero type fiction with a more concrete separation between the male/female viewpoint. If I do first person I try to keep it to the main character's pov alone because to do anything else is 'telling' the story rather than showing it through the character's eyes which is what I always strive to do. Classic literature was predominantely written in the omniscient pov with a narrator voice that often knew the thoughts of the characters, often multiple characters within a scene. I think that more modern styles lately have drifted toward using the limited viewpoint in either first or third and keeping that viewpoint from the main character in the scene or chapter as that shows the story rather than telling it. I've been trying to pay attention in published books I've read and even there that style is used now for the most part, rather than keeping the viewpoint to a single character through the whole story. The most common exception to that tends to be in mystery stories where having a single pov leads to helping maintain the dramatic impact of the AHA! moments and the ending. Whatever style you use I think the biggest fact is remaining consistent through a story. Changing styles on the reader part way through is the worst thing you can do.

Tramadol's main benefit is that it makes other pain medication work better. I've been on it, morphine (makes me puke so no good stuff for me), oxycontin, tylenol with codeine, vicodin... Pretty much the gamut of pain medicine. You do have to be careful about addiction but if you can't function without it you can't. I do hope they figure out something to help you beyond managing the pain though.

Depends on what your issue is, who you go to about it, and HOW you go to them. If it's a site issue then going to a general mod/admin is perfectly fine. If it's an issue about a mod/admin or to do with a decision made by them then the appropriate thing to do is go to the member advocate who has the power to review those sorts of things. That happens to be Trebs. If it's a personal issue you just need to talk about then again, it's who you go to and how you go to them. You can't expect people to see your side of things if they don't agree with you or have no basis to judge the situation you find yourself in. All that said, I hope you feel better soon about whatever it is. If you can't find anyone to speak to about it maybe try writing it out. Sometimes that makes me feel better.

“Wake up, damn it! You okay?” “Huh? Oh, crap. Did I fall off again?” “Yes, you did. I swear, you can’t even make it as a clown. I don’t know why I let you stick around.” Seamus sat up. “You let me stay because no one else can handle the big cats like I can.” He wiped the water out of his eyes and grimaced at the paint smearing his hands. Barnabas snorted. “Yeah well, go earn your keep before I decide to kick you out of the circus anyway. Lars can’t get the lions back into their cages

Well I'm glad it wasn't as obvious as I thought. In the Jaguar clans only black Jaguars can be alphas. Black jaguars are only born to black jaguars, yes, because it is a magic thing whereas in the wild it's a genetic thing. The dificulty about finding an heir for them lies in the fact that clans don't just let their members go for anything less than a good reason and cats are territorial. It'd be very difficult to find a cub for them to adopt. You'll find out quite a bit more about Bashta's brother and his family in the last chapter, promise!!

Well of course they'll be good daddies! I'm glad I threw another unexpected twist out there. I thought it wasn't too unexpected since I kept mentioning that they wouldn't be able to have kitlings to keep the clan going but this way they don't have to worry about that since she is blood related to Bashta. Thanks for the review hun!

Awww, back pain is one of the worst kinds ever. You move your arms or head or legs or cough or pee... yeah, anything and everything hurts. I live with pain every day, thank god not in my back most of the time, so I understand the absolute screeching frustration that brings tears to your eyes when you just want to feel normal and can't. This too shall pass won't work because it sure as hell won't. All you can do is what you are doing now. Stand up (or sit down and rack them in the knees til they are on your level) and demand relief that will work. The morphine may help day to day but they should be able to DO something for you. Don't give up on trying to find that something and just live with the pain, it's not a good thing. Huggles!

LOL. That's okay I like hearing you loved it more than plus points. Thanks so much for reading and reviewing!! If you like this type of story I continue with a new Carthera couple in Two of a Kind, which has only one more chapter to go to the end.

Thanks back! I did want to really pull the reader in and leave the ending at the beginning that way the fact that this was a love story, one of those happily ever afters I so enjoy to read myself. That is one of the things I experienced myself, my husband taking care of me and doing the things I couldn't. We had just gotten married so we were so wrapped up in each other and then bad things happened. We made the best of them and got that much closer. It's what I wanted to show with Wes and Doug, that type of love that makes it through the hard times. Thanks again for leaving the review and a comment in my forum, it means a lot!!

Awwww, if it makes you feel better I had a story make me cry today too. Thanks so much for the review, having a reader tell me a story touched them enough to actually make them tear up is one of the best compliments I feel I can get.

This story had me so upset through so much of it. It was so sad!! I felt so bad for Gabriel and Mikie too. Even when Gabriel and Jake didn't think he knew I sort of figured he did. You can only protect a person so much. I really liked the fact this story had a happy ending, everyone deserves someone to love them like Jake does Gabriel.

LOL. I know which way I was leaning but I was really wanting to leave the details as vague as possible to see what the readers would think. I tried not to get too graphic so I wouldn't freak anyone out that has a weak stomach. I was doing a bit of research on medieval torture devices and just cringed. Soooo nasty! Thanks so much for the great review!!

‘What…’I raise my head and groan. My neck hurts. Heavy chains rattle when I try to bring my arms up to rub it. My eyes snap down and I feel them widen as I take in the manacles around my wrists in shock. I can barely move my arms an inch. I try moving my feet and they feel chained as well. My head slumps back and hits the rough wall behind me. ‘I did it.’ “I see you are awake.” A tall man walks into the room and I find my eyes drawn to him as I try to speak. My words come out as grunts. There

Yeah, out of tragedy comes a silver lining. I know it's a tad convenient but hey, I like happily ever afters. I'm glad you are enjoying the story, thanks for leaving me a review!!

May the road to recovery be short and smooth!! I was trying to be all sage and stuff. Did it come off? lol. Truly, I am glad things are on the mend for you!

It was definitely interesting getting Scott's thoughts in this chapter. I like that you progressed it through the dinner. Will we be getting the dinner from Charlie's side next or are you stickiing with Scott for a bit??

Cavel wasn’t too surprised when The Snake called the next day. Even Bashta could hear the pounding music in the background. He briefly spoke to Cavel who appeared to reluctantly agree to something. Then Cavel held the phone out; apparently he wanted to speak to Bashta. “Yes?” Bashta held the phone gingerly to his ear. He still wasn’t used to the modern contraption. “I need more history on your clan and this sickness; it would be helpful if we could meet and talk in person. I would also

Good start! There is a lot of 'telling' in this story but with science fiction that's very necessary at times. The only thing I'm really confused on is whether or not this is complete? Your story details say that it is but your chapter text said this is chapter 1 and the ending didn't feel 'complete' as it is.

Hey, gotta have the tool off the team, these are the enlightened times, right? Lugh said I couldn't say what the 'quirk' was but I figured, teenage boy wearing pink leggings to track, yeah... that'd be noticed! LOL, it make me laugh a bit to write it. Thanks for reviewing!!

Hmm... I didn't consider that when I wrote it. To me it's such an iconic classic. I can still hear the scratchy record player and the quiet singing voice that almost whispered 'For every bear that ever there was, would gather there for certain because, today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic!' It's just one of my very favorite memories. Thanks for reading!!

Hell yes! This way I can't be blamed for my naughtiness, it's all Uh's fault! Thanks for reading!!

Yes, I was being a bit naughty with that story. These are all things I just do on the fly and try to get done in 30 minutes or less. I just liked the idea of a little man and woman in my brain making me do things. At least it would explain the voices I'm always hearing!! Thanks for the review and I hope you enjoy reading Bonds.