Cia

Ooh, I like this chapter! I love well introduced sub characters. You added quite a few with this chapter and let us see more of 'super mom' Barbara. They seemed very real and at no time did I feel confused because you gave us just enough info to make them individuals. I did get one laugh. You have done what I've seen my whole life happen with my dad and uncle being twins, as well as a set of my brothers. So many people make them into a single entity and you did it with one line in this chapter, The twins were his favorite of all his nieces. That should read favorites since twins are 2 people, not a set so to speak.

Ahhh, mother's intuition. You really made his mom a 'real' character most of could relate too. She is wonderful. I have my kids convinced I have eyes in the back of my head literally. Creeps them out, ha ha ha. I would caution you on how much detail you use. The initial part of the chapter where his making his breakfast you give a step by step account and that is a tad tedious to read when it comes to something so mundane like making a bowl of cereal. That level of detail is typically something I'd use for an action that most people wouldn't do and so need more help visualizing. I did have one other quibble. You say his mother had pictures in her cameo but wouldn't that be a locket? I suppose it could be both but I've never seen one so it confused me for a minute.

Sweat trickled down his sides. Grunting, he shifted his legs. I can do this. I can! Wes shifted his grip, his eyes focused straight forward, then pulled. “Yes, yes, yes! That’s it. Not just with your arms now, lock your knees. Lock them!” Lake stood beside him and his assistant, Bailey, moved the wheelchair back a foot or two to give Wes room to move. She stayed ready to push his chair under him if it looked like he was going to fall. But Wes wasn’t going to fall. He stared at Doug who

Fear and pain surround Wes. His journey is witnessed and shared by the one person who will never give up on him. He just has to take that first step.

My dad and uncle are incredibly close and have spent most of their lives living just 10-15 minutes apart, if not actually together. My twin brothers don't seem to be able to go more than a few months living apart either, though they're trying to go into the army so that will probably happen for the first time in their lives here soon. They twin bonds in my family seem to be incredibly close to each other but to die on the same day? I don't know about that. I think I am glad not to be a twin, the relationship seems stifling to me but to those who are twins it's all you know so you are probably used to it.

Yay, unexpected! I love when I can place a twist readers don't expect!! Davis... well, he's an interesting character. You should see more of him in the future. When and how I will not be sharing though, not yet. You'd understand about Velaku if you had read Bonds Unbroken. This is book 2 in the Carthera series. The stories stand alone but do interconnect to some extent. I thought it was more overt in this chapter who Velaku was for readers who hadn't read book 1. I will make that more clear in the next chapter, thanks for the heads up. Thanks so much for the review!!!

Awwww *hands you a tissue* Umm, sorry you cried? Thanks for taking the time to comment in a review! Actually, that's a huge writing boost to know my story affected you so much. There isn't a much higher compliment than that, honestly. The next story in the series is called 'Two of a Kind' and it's currently ongoing. I've most of it posted and I post once a week usually. It's almost done, just one or two more chapters to go. I hope you enjoy it as much as you did this story!!

LOL. Very much so. I have a GA friend who is rather anti-Obama and he inspired this in me. I don't even know where the idea came from I just sat down and wrote this within 20 minutes. One of my more disturbing pieces I have to say but all I could do was grin when I wrote the final line. Twists are sooo much fun to write!

Very little pain and just a sweet sweet kiss at the end. I am flattered that you have read so many of my stories in the last few days and I really appreciate you leaving reviews. One of the things I strive for the most when I write is letting each story follow it's own natural progression. Life isn't all about the ending and while the characters live only in my head they deserve to have as 'real' a story as I can give them. This was my second stab at a short story so in order to keep myself from going overboard I made it very simple and that really worked for the storyline. Thanks again for reading!!

I hope you had a great birthday dear! Big hugs!!!

Sorry, life for me was a lot of stuff to get through before the happy part came. I think I appreciate my life all the more because of that though. If you would like a 'non-horror' story try Changing Focus, very little angst and pain in that one!!

Yay! I'm glad you liked this. I was toying with using dramatic monologue where the narrator is the character telling the story to the audience. The trick was incorporating the story within that monlogue and not using any dialogue. I used to think writing dialogue was hard but this was much more difficult. Really the intent of the story wasn't that Brandon, the ex-girlfriend, and the narrator were in a three way relationship. The issue was that Brandon was cheating and if that is something a healthy relationship can withstand. Thanks so much for reviewing and commenting, it has definitely been a story to get a wide range of feedback.

Ask if they have a butterfly needle available. I demand they use those because I have the same issue with rolling veins. The needle is really thin and it has these little plastic wings on it they grab to insert it. Usually it only takes once to get a vein when they use it on me. Most med staff don't like to use them because they take longer to fill the vials than a regular needle will because the blood goes through a thin tube before hitting the vial. However, when it's their arm being stuck they can choose, while it's mine I demand what I know works without them needing to stick me multiple times.

To everyone posting in these identical Lounge and Q&A topics, they were merged. Just fyi.

Well it depends on what you mean by 'commonality'. Do you mean your story progression such as how the characters meet and interact? Are your characters all similar heights and weights, ages, jobs? Do you use similar pairings for relationships through each story? There are different writers who do use a similar style throughout their writings, such as those who prefer set relationship styles: bear/twink stories, adult/young adult, jock/geek, dom/sub. Really, as MarkSen mentioned, as long as the commonality isn't a predictable plot device or progression used over and over with different characters you should be fine. Oh, and I definitely recommend John's suggestion of trying new things with the Quarterly Anthologies. I've explored specific writing styles with short stories for them because it's less pressure than a chapter story and you're already looking to put a twist on a common theme other writers will use. It pushes you to think beyond your comfort zone sometimes. I've posted short stories and anthologies where I explored first and third person, mixing first and third person, dramatic monologue, allegorical stories... Lately I've begun toying with an idea with a framing style story such as Arabian Nights or Frankenstein. Not every story you write exploring a new technique will turn out well or be well received but it's good to try new things.

I think you can have a style and still mix it up. All of my writing has a similar feel and typically involves new relationships. However, if you look at a sampling of different stories you'd see that the stories behind that are all vastly different. I try to mix up the plots and come up with new ideas in different genres. I've used first and third person though I've come to favor third person. Sometimes I write in the modern genre, sometimes fantasy, sometimes I combine the two. I've had 20 somethings, teenagers, older/younger couplings (both overage still)... The challenge isn't to change your style if it works for you, as to just changing your approach. Think up characters and become them. A story told from the perspective of a 16 year old guy is going to sound vastly different than one told from the perspective of his father, no matter what style you use. Try different genres, mystery, fantasy, drama, romance, comedy, tragedy. You never know what you are truly good at until you try it. Don't box yourself into one aspect of your writing ability.

Very good story. The use of second person narrative definitely gave it a different feel. While the plot has been done your approach to it and the way you showcased the characters made it interesting and kept it from being too cliche. Drew and Sean were definitely characters you want to hug and make all better. I'm glad you gave the story a happy ending.

Great start! I loved seeing more of Lucca and finally finding out who Matt is and why he is so special. Teenagers are blind, aren't they? Good job incorporating all of the comments and suggestions made from your Sneak Peek preview. I can't wait to see chapter 2.

Here in the US at least, you have the right to REFUSE any staff to be in your room at any time for any reason. So if you come across said nurse again and you have the power, use it. I once kicked a nurse out of my room after she stuck me 5 times to try and get blood. I truly hope the surgery gets you feeling better.

Another chapter posted finally!!! Two of a Kind Chapter 12

"Let's get you inside." Getting out of the car took quite a bit of work. Cavel had to pry Bashta's arms from around his chest and gently coax him from his place in the backseat. As soon as they were standing Cavel swung the slighter man up into his arms to keep his bare feet off the sharp gravel. It was probably unnecessary but Bashta just huddled into him, his long legs dangling limp. Saulle hurried ahead of them and opened the door. Walking in sideways Cavel made his way to the living room.

Muscle weighs more than fat dear. If you feel good about exercising and you don't feel bad when you don't manage to get to it in the course of everyday life then it's great. It's healthy and gives you something to do. But if you begin to feel obsessed then you should try to scale back a little, too much exercise can be harmful just like too little.

This story is pretty good! It took me a bit to get used to your writing style but there were few typos and I was very caught up in the conflict in Jim based on the stresses without and within. I like the full circle feeling of the story though, with the two similar yet very different scenes with the store clerk at the beginning and ends.

Awww, so sorry!! That's just awful. I have back pain but mine is muscular. However, I know how badly it can hurt and that flexeril, vicodin and ibuprofen is what they usually hit me with too. Maybe you can try some of those water flavor packets to make it more palatable?

I've never understood why any person shouldn't be allowed to be married. Marriage isn't easy and it's not for a lot of people but that's based on their personalities, not their sexualities. I say if someone is willing to stand up and make that commitment then they should be allowed to. It doesn't hurt me. I definitely think the way most of us were raised, to be tolerant of other's differences and to let go of stereotypes has definitely changed the voting trends. Based on the repeal of DADT the Navy is considering allowing military chaplains to perform marriages for same sex couples in states that allow it. They announced the decision and then reversed it under pressure of course, to allow the lawyers more time to 'study the decision'. Hopefully it will be a step in the right direction though as the older, more closeminded generations disappear from power.