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Cia

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  1. Cia

    Writing Tip: Grammar Rodeo #4

    By Cia,


    Writing Tips
    This time for the grammar rodeo, I thought I'd keep our subject matter simple and maybe even fun! Yes, yes, I swear, grammar can be fun--at least when you're like me and find a wicked glee in rolling your eyes at the grammar fails around you!! First, though, let's take a look at a technical writing tip that seems simple, but catches up more people than you might think!


    Grammar Rodeo #4



    Getting It Write Err... Right!


     

    Subject and Verb Agreement
     
    No, I don't expect them to shake hands after coming to some sort of deal. And I'm not going to go on and on about all the different subject and verb combos, though these rules can work with verbs that aren't joined with "is" or "are", those two words are the particular angle of this grammar lesson. So how do you know which to use, "is" or "are"? Which one is appropriate depends on the subject of the sentence you're writing.
     
    Have I lost you already?
     
    The subject in a sentence is the who or what is doing the action. Sometimes the subject is singular and sometimes it becomes a compound subject if you link two subjects with the word 'and'. A subject can also be part of a noun phrase usually made up of a noun/pronoun, modifiers, determiners, and/or complements. That sounds complicated, but really, it's just the bit tacked on that shares a bit more about the subject.
     
    Example:
    Dave "is" driving me crazy. (Singular Subject)
    Dave and Peter "are" driving me crazy. Compound Subject (Plural Subject)
    The man seated in front of me "is" driving me crazy. Noun phrase subject (Singular Subject)
    The men seated in front me "are" driving me crazy. Still a noun phrase subject, but now it's plural because I used 'men'. (Plural Subject)
     
    The important part is to know what the subject of the sentence is and whether it's singular or plural. The easiest way to figure that out is to first look for the word "and" in the subject. If you use "and" typically your sentence has a plural subject so you should use the word "are". Sometimes, though, it can be a little tricky because you have to pick out which part of the phrase is the actual subject--and sometimes a sentence with a single subject can still be plural due to what the subject actually is.
     
    Which is right?
    1A The use of cellular phones and mp3 players is prohibited. or 1B The use of cellular phones and mp3 players are prohibited.
     
    2A Beef and pork is good in moderation. or 2B Beef and pork are good in moderation.
     
    3A Your assistance and cooperation is appreciated. or 3B Your assistance and cooperation are appreciated.
     
    Grammar Fails
     
    Speaking of "your"... the fun part of today's Grammar Rodeo! If you're a bit of an editing geek, like me, you see these on your travels and can't help but snicker. One day at the county fair I saw this shirt and couldn't help but take a picture! I'm sure many of you have seen pics like these shared online or have a story of one, or more, grammar fails you've seen. So share already!
     




  2. Cia

    Writing Prompts #420 & #421

    By Cia,


    Prompts
    Have you been blocked lately? Looking for some creative inspiration? Just feel like having some fun? Then writing prompts are for you, and we have 2 new ones this week from our prompt guru, Comicfan!
     
    Prompt 420 – Creative
    Tag – First Line
    “He put his hand where?”
     
    Prompt 421 – Creative
    Tag – The interview
    Your job has put you forward for a great new job. Everything seems to be going great ‘til the day of your interview. As you enter the room and go to shake hands the elastic in your underwear lets go. Before you say or do anything your briefcase pops open and everything falls to the floor. How does the rest of the interview go and what happens?
     
    In honor of her new promotion, I'm featuring Craftingmom's response to last week's prompt #419:
  3. Cia

    Csr Discussion Day: Penguin By Valkyrie

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    This month we featured Valkyrie's short story, Penguin. It's a story about a chance meeting... and of course, the inspiration for the title, Penguin, plays a big part in the story. Check out my interview with Valkyrie, and then leave your thoughts on the story below! She will be available "live" to reply to comments, answer questions, etc... from 8-10 PM, Eastern Time.
     
    Single people often have more time to write. Are you single?
    Yes, although I do a lot of volunteer work for my profession and have a full-time job, so sometimes it can be hard to find the time and energy to write.
     
    What are you wearing (and no fibbing!)?
    A purple t-shirt and blue jeans.
     
    Did you like to write in school?
    I’ve always loved writing. I hated homework, but liked writing assignments, especially if it was creative writing. One of my characters in my current story The Hollow Hills – Josh – first appeared in a story I wrote for my ninth grade English class.
     
    What brought you to GA?
    I was a big fan of Rob Colton’s on Literotica. I found a link to GA on his profile and followed it here. It was exciting to see other writers here that I enjoyed reading on Lit – like Sasha Distan and Reddirtwriter. I found everyone here to be so welcoming and helpful. Comicfan’s prompts inspired me to start writing. I honestly don’t think I would have if it wasn’t for the supportive and helpful nature of GA members.
    What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
    Like I mentioned above, I am very active in organizations supporting my profession. I sit on three different boards of directors – President of one, Past President of another, and I am also a director on our state board. It takes a lot of my time and thank goodness I am at the end of my service for most of them! I like watching TV and I also enjoy traveling. I have an extensive collection of model horses and show them; although I’ve been doing that quite a bit less than I have in the past.
     
    Is there a writer you would consider a mentor or had influence on your writing?
    Cole Matthews has taught me so much through his beta reading for me. He doesn’t hesitate to let me know when I’ve screwed up and where I need to make improvements. Louis (LJH) and Lisa have helped me make my writing technically stronger through their editing. Joann414 helped me tremendously when I first joined to learn the ins and outs of the site. She also beta read Penguin for me and helped make it a better story.
     
    Do you have any writing rituals?
    Not really. I’m extremely sensitive to noise, so I tend to need it quiet in order to focus on writing. I also have attention issues and am easily distracted by shiny things. Hey look…the cat just yawned!
     
    If you could give advice to yourself when you first started writing, what would it be?
    To let the writing ‘flow’ and worry about the technical aspect later. I tend to write a few paragraphs, then go back and make revisions. I’ve spent a lot of time doing technical writing, so getting in the mindset to write fiction can be difficult at times. I’m constantly learning and (I hope) evolving as a writer.
     
    Did something inspire you to write Penguin as a longer story than a flash prompt response?
    I thought the note that Daniel sent Penguin was so sweet and I really wanted to know what happened after Sean read it. So I suppose my inspiration was curiosity.
     
    Did the characters or the plot come to you first when you viewed the prompt?
    The characters. I envisioned a man jogging in the park and encountering something you don’t see every day. I figured a man walking with a cat perched on his shoulder would fit the bill. I didn’t really plot this story out at all. I let the characters lead the story.
     
    How long did it take you to write this story?
    About two months.
     
    What was your favorite part of Penguin?
    Hmmm… that’s a tough one. I like when Robbie brought Timmy to Sean’s and Penguin gave him a tour of the apartment. I can just picture the two cats wandering around together and imagine the ‘conversation’ between them. My other favorite part would be toward the end of the story, so I don’t want to say any spoilers for those who haven’t read the story yet.
     
    Can you share a little of your current work with us?
    I’m currently writing a story called The Hollow Hills. It’s set on a horse farm in Vermont and centers around Galen and Joshua. Galen moves to New England after breaking up with his boyfriend and meets Josh. This isn’t a ‘fall instantly in love and live happily ever after’ story. There is lots of angst, tragedy, turmoil, and two flawed individuals trying their best to navigate through it all. Will they get their happy ending? That remains to be seen…
    I’m also working on a piece for the summer antho, which will feature a face familiar to readers of my Max and Elliot stories. Slytherin gets credit for the idea, though, since I never would have told Pete’s story otherwise.
     
     
     
    Thanks for the interesting interview replies, Valkyrie! Okay readers, share your thoughts!!
  4. Cia

    C S R Feature: Penguin By Valkyrie

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    This month we are saying goodbye or hello to days at the park and picnics... but it's always the season for love! So this month we're featuring:


    Penguin


    by Valkyrie


     
    Length: 14,683
    Description: Where will a chance encounter at a park lead?
     
    A reader said: The romantic wins the day in the end. ~ Jaro_423
     
    This month's discussion day will be held on Monday, May 25th, so make sure you read the story and be ready with your thoughts and questions for Valkyrie!!
  5. Cia

    Csr Discussion Day: Rumours Of War By Cynus

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Today we're featuring an interview with Cynus as for the April CSR featuring his stories in his Rumours of War series. Did you check out one of his stories? What did you think? Enjoy this interview and then share your thoughts on his story and his writing. Cynus will be popping in today to talk, so have at it!
     
    Are you a person who makes their bed in the morning, or do you not see much point?
    No. Definitely not. I don’t even sleep in a traditional bed. I lived in South Korea for nearly two years and I developed a taste for sleeping on the floor on a futon-type mattress. If I make my bed at all, all I do is fold it all together so that I have a bit of extra space, but otherwise I tend to leave it alone.
     
    Chocolate or Vanilla?
    I like mixing them both together. There’s nothing like mixing a creamy milk chocolate with the strong sweetness of pure vanilla – unless you’re talking ice cream, in which case chocolate ice cream is gross.
     
    Did you like to write in school?
    That depends on what you mean by “in school”. I hated homework in nearly every class, unless I was writing a paper. I enjoyed writing essays and I’ve always loved creative writing, but if I had to do any writing beyond that it didn’t get done. Daily journals were never my specialty, and neither were any assignments where I had to write about myself. I was so firmly withdrawn from the world that I hated anything that required me to show who I really was to the world. I’ve gotten over that now, at least for the most part.
     
    What brought you to Gayauthors?
    I’ve been hosted at AwesomeDude since the end of October, 2013. I’ve learned a lot from the community there, and certainly had my fair share of exposure through AwesomeDude, but I’ve always been a bit of a wanderer. I prefer to spread out, meet new people, and try new things. GayAuthors was the logical choice as to where to spread to next, considering the professional level of the site, and I’m glad that I decided to start posting here as well. I enjoy all of the sites that are hosting me right now, but they all have their differences, and I appreciate that difference. I love the way the review system works here at GayAuthors, and how easy it is to connect with the other members of the site. The people have all been friendly, or at least professional, and it’s easy to get along with everyone here.
     
    What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
    I like to converse with other people; if I’m not writing or working then you’ll likely find me at a coffee shop with one of my friends or chatting with someone online. The whole world is a conversation waiting to be had, and I love talking with people from all walks of life. My circle of friends includes all sorts of unique individuals, and my life is enriched because of the diversity that surrounds me. I’m a very boring person, so I do the best I can to make sure that I listen well to keep the interesting people around me.
     
    Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
    The areas in which I can improve seem to be infinite, though there are some things I’ve focused on more than others. I’m still struggling with showing emotion rather than telling it, and I don’t know that I’ll ever get that down. Getting description to flow naturally rather than become an info dump is difficult as well, and the same goes with setting when you’re writing fantasy. How can you show off a world of your own creation without telling the reader about the world? I’m still trying to figure out the best answer to that question.
     
    Do you have any writing rituals?
    There’s nothing that I do every single time. I like to have background noise, and so I’ll usually have music or a movie/television show playing while I’m writing, unless I’m somewhere busy. I enjoy writing in public with other people around, and I think it’s probably because having those people around me helps me see genuine human interaction that I can use to better influence my characters, much like having a model for painting. If I really want to get work done I’ll go to a busy restaurant to write during their lunch or dinner hour.
     
    If you could give advice to yourself when you first started writing the series, as I saw this was your first story, what would it be?
    Oh, the number of things I would tell myself! That list is probably endless, so I’ll just try to sum it up as best I can. I’ve learned so much over the past eighteen months, but I think there is one lesson that outshines the rest, and it’s definitely something that I wish I had known before I started writing Rumors of War. I would tell myself to not be so hasty in posting, because every good story deserves a good revision to polish it off and really make it shine. I started posting Rumors of War at AwesomeDude in December of 2013 when only War On Earth was finished, and I remember begging Mike to start posting before it was finished, because I was getting high off of the feedback I had received off of the two short stories that I had posted previously.
     
    But I wish I would have waited, worked with my editor, and polished it until I could see my reflection in it. I’ve heard it said that your first novel is never as good as you want it to be, but I can say that I’m still pleased with it. It was the first time I had managed to accomplish something that large in my life, and I learned a great deal from it. I don’t think I’d trade that experience for anything in the world.
     
    Did something inspire you to write a story with such a sweeping theme of good and evil?
    I come from a Christian background and even spent some time in missionary service, which made it easy for me to play with theology in Rumors of War, but my goal was never to push any ideology of good or evil. Rumors of War is less about the moral struggle of the angels vs. demons conflict and more about a family squabble, but I think saying anymore would spoil some of the surprise for those who haven’t read it yet but still intend to.
     
    How long did it take you to write the series?
    The first 50,000 words were written over the course of November, 2013 as part of National Novel Writer’s Month. The rest of the story was written from December 2013 to March 2014. When I had the motivation of NaNoWriMo behind me it was easy to write, but after that was gone it started to drag. As soon as it was completed I found my stride, and I’ve written a lot since then. I know how to pace myself appropriately and get the results I want, at least most of the time.
     
    What was your favorite part of the series?
    When I write it’s all about the characters. I love character development, and I love the way certain characters interact with each other. I’d say there is a piece of me in every character I write, but sometimes there is a character or two that has a bit more of me than normal, and those characters normally make an impact from the moment they enter the story. One of my favorite parts is when Keith, who is a telepath, shows up at Marc’s doorstep and addresses Damien. “Now, for you first lesson, I’m going to teach you how to avoid projecting your nasty thoughts. I would appreciate it if you weren’t broadcasting your fantasies about Dae’Marca to the whole psychic neighborhood. We don’t all think of him that way.” Keith is probably the character who carries the most of me in him, and throughout the series he has a lot of moments I’m fond of, though I think that one is still my favorite.
     
    What are your future projects?
    I have more future projects planned than I know what to do with, and some past projects that might sneak back in and demand to be worked on again. I think that it will be safer to talk about my current projects than the future ones, as those have a chance of seeing the light of day sometime soon!
     
    I recently submitted a novel to a publisher, and while I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it will be accepted I know that the statistics are against me, and I’m already preparing for the possibility that the publisher will reject it. It’s book one of a projected seven book series, and I’ll be working on the rest of the series while I wait to hear back from them. What I do with them in the case of rejection is still up in the air, but sharing them with the online community isn’t off the table yet.
     
    While that project is underway I have a few more projects that will be shared with all of the sites that I’m hosted at, including one that should start posting in May titled “Navigator”. It’s the story of Silas Drake, a homeless teen who has been traveling the country with his dog Adelaide as his only constant companion. The story begins when he is dropped off in a small Colorado town by an amateur band he’s been traveling with for the last few weeks, but shortly after they leave he has a run in with an unexpected person from his past. It’s been really fun to write and I’m excited to see what you all think about it when it starts.
     
    Thank you for the interview, Cynus!
  6. Cia

    Author Interview: Andy78

    By Cia,


    Author Interviews
    Andy78 is the featured Signature Author this week, and as always, we have a great interview where he can share just a little bit more about himself with site members. I decided to change up the questions, so we have a few new ones this time to go with some of my favorites. Andy actually said, "Thank god you didn't ask the what are you wearing question." Maybe if I had, Andy would've been sharing A LOT about himself.
     
    Single people often have more time to write. Are you single?
    Nope. I’ve been with my partner for sixteen going on seventeen years (that makes me feel so old lol).
     
    Have you ever gone out in public, realized your shirt is on backwards, and just don’t care?
    Once – thankfully it was nowhere fancy, just the local pub. By the time one of my friends pointed it out to me, I was far too drunk to care.
     
    Did you like to write in school?
    I did. It was mostly essays though, I was never one for writing prose.
     
    What brought you to the Gayauthors?
    I was reading Ghostryder’s Kombat Kids over on Nifty and there was link over to GA.
    What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
    Reading for the most part – anything I can get my hands on really (I’ve even been known to read Jane Austen).
     
    The other thing I really enjoy doing is baking – cakes and breads mainly. I also like to experiment a lot in the kitchen. My most recent act of bravery was with baking peanut butter bread – it was not nice.
     
    What’s the first thing you do when you start to write a story?
    I plan out the universe it takes place in. Who my characters are, what the country is like, the religion, their folklore, their laws, those kind of things. I tend not to worry about the timeline so much at the outset – I find the story dictates the timeline rather than the other way round.
     
    If you could give advice to yourself when you first started writing, what would it be?
    Don’t adopt plot bunnies lol
     
    In all seriousness, never start posting anything until it’s finished. Life ‘n stuff happens. If you have a complete story written, you can postdate the chapters and not have to worry about the unexpected.
     
    Did something inspire you to write a story with magic for The Back-up Plan anthology?
    I had the TV on in the background just for some noise (I can never concentrate without background noise) and I had the SyFy channel on, when an old episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer came on. The episode revolved around a student who had brought his brother back from the dead and was building him a girlfriend in a Frankenstein-esque way. I’d never been a fan of the Frankenstein genre, but the idea of creating someone with magic suddenly came to me.
     
    How long did it take you to write Magic in the Air?
    It took just over nine weeks to write the story. Then it went through about two weeks’ worth of editing and beta reading (which added about 1400 words to the story).
     
    What was your favorite part of the story?
    The scene at the start with Angus performing the incantation. That was probably the scene that I spent the longest amount of time fussing over, and I also needed to research the various plants and weeds that flourish in the highlands.
     
    Do you have any stories in the pipeline you haven’t posted yet?
    There’s two that I’m seriously writing. One is an old story I wrote that never really came to anything so is going through a major rewrite (it’s up to about 50k, but is a long way from being ready). The other is a Star Trek-esque sci-fi that I think will end up as a collection of short stories rather than a novel.
     
    There’s also a couple that I’m just toying with. One has some potential, and the other one just won’t leave me alone. They are annoying little plot bunnies that I adopted a couple of years ago but haven’t had the heart to fricassee.
  7. Cia
    This month the Signature Background feature was Andy78's Magic in the Air. Have you seen the background yet or downloaded your copy? Man in kilt... YEAH! Have you read the story yet? Here's my review, just in case you need a little extra incentive.
     
     
     


    Magic in the Air



    by Andy78


    Signature Author


     
    Reviewer: Cia
    Status: Complete
    Length: 5,039
     
    Well I think I’m long overdue to review this story! I can’t believe I missed it in the anthologies last year. Magic in the Air was written for the 2014 Summer Anthology: The Backup Plan. And boy what a backup plan the main character, Angus, has when he asks his so-not-ready-to-be-pry-open-the-closet boyfriend of two years, Jason, to the school formal, only to be shot down. Pretty sure that sent their relationship on the skids. But Jason is the only other gay guy in his school that Angus knows, so he resorts to an old family trait: magic.
     
    Specifically, Angus conjures up the ideal guy for him. He has to dig up some family heirlooms; both sides of his family have been magical—even to the point of influencing well-known magical events in history—and he has a lot of tools at his disposal, including a magical amulet and the family Book of Shadows. But does he have the huge amount power he needs? Even he’s not sure, since he’s never flexed his magical muscles like the spell would need.
     
    Does it work? Can Angus conjure up his dream man? Or is the result of tampering with magic more of a nightmare? Did he ever have control of the spell, or does it take on a life of its own?
     
    Well, I’m not going to tell you!
     
    You’ll have to read the story to find that out. Andy’s writing has great flow, and there is a twist at the end that I really enjoyed. I’m not a big fan of teen fiction, but Magic in the Air has just enough emotional drama to make the characters feel realistic without being so dramatic it feels tediously juvenile. I definitely appreciated that, because teens do have a lot of hormones and craziness going on, but there's a line that just feels unbelievable if the author crosses it. And while my visual, or mental, appreciation for men usually goes for someone a bit older—you can NOT go wrong with a guy in a kilt!
     
    At just over five thousand words, this is a good little bite of a story—just enough to satisfy, but quick to read—so why haven’t you read it yet?
  8. Cia

    More than Mechanics!

    By Cia,

    How much time on a weekly basis, or even monthly, do you spend--not just your actual writing---but on the mechanics of writing? Just browsing a writing website or style guide can be fun if you're a geek like me, and I often reference them when I have a rule I'm not sure of when I'm editing. But the rules of writing aren't the only things to think about; there are all sorts of ways to refine your writing that have nothing to do with proper nouns or proper use of possessive punctuation/formats!
     
    But these things, like creating characters or story hooks, how to create a plot arc, what makes up a believable villain... those aren't things most authors just look up on a whim. So why not have them come to you? I WHOLEHEARTEDLY recommend Writer's Digest to everyone who writes, even if they don't aim to ever publish.
     
    Today's inbox article about How to Introduce Your Hero is fascinating and shares some really great examples that made me think of the way I start a story and bring my characters alive for readers. Check it out, and when you're done, sign up for their newsletter. It comes right to your inbox, and it's totally free!
     
    **I am not associated with Writer's Digest in any way, other than being a fan!
  9. Cia

    Csr Feature: Rumors Of War Trilogy

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    This month I thought I'd feature something a little different--and I hear there are some real twists to this author's stories, too! Depending on your reading speed, check out Books 1, 2 or 3 of the series:


    Rumors of War


    by Cynus


     
    Book 1: War on Earth
    Length: 33,600
    Description: Damien has just been uprooted from his childhood home and is about to start a new life. Little does he know that a war between angels and demons spanning thousands of years is about to be brought to his doorstep.
     
    Book 2: War of Hell
    Length: 46,573
    Description: Damien awakes in a hospital room surrounded by family and friends when an unexpected visitor arrives to tell him his life is in danger. He enters an alien environment and is left to question who is friend and who is foe.
     
    Book 3: War in Heaven
    Length: 33,961
    Description: After being betrayed by Lucifel and Shatan, Damien follows Lumial's lead and decides to take the battle to heaven.
     

    The CSR Discussion day will take place on the last Monday of the month, April 27th, but April is a long month so you have 4 full weeks from today to read!
  10. Cia

    Writing Prompts #406 & #407

    By Cia,


    Prompts
    Surprise! It's me! Our prompts aren't up so prompt this morning, whoops! But we're featuring 2 new flash options for authors from Comicfan today--so enjoy!
     
    Prompt 406 – Creative
    Tag – List of Words
    Use the following in a story – rain coat, patch of ice, steak, blue fuzzy slippers, Greek statue
     
    Prompt 407 – Creative
    Tag – The Clown
    Clowns have always freaked you out. You don’t find them funny and find the whole thing sort of scary. Unfortunately, this year your job decided to throw a party for the boss and the entertainment were some clowns. You weren't expecting that and nearly broke down into tears when you suddenly found yourself surrounded by five clowns. What happened?
     
    Featured prompt this week is from Dolores Esteban, with her take on Prompt # 405, with "Jump":

    To read the rest, check out her collection HERE.
  11. Cia

    Csr Discussion Day: Roommates By Krista

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    This month we featured Roommates by Krista for the CSR feature. I did an interview with Krista all about herself, her writing, and the inspiration behind Brett and Will, two best friends in college. Did you read the story? Don't forget to share what you thought! Krista will be available to answer your questions or to just chat about her story and writing at 8 PM, EDT.
     

    Are you a person who makes their bed in the morning, or do you not see much point?
     
    I don't see the point during the morning, but I do make my bed at some point during the day. Only because there is nothing more comfortable than getting into a nicely made bed. I don't have time to in the morning though, too many people want to stay in it until we're all rushing out the door.
     
    Chocolate or Vanilla?
     
    Vanilla, definitely.
     
    What brought you to GA?
     
    Dom's stories and the opportunity to post my own work. Dom's links from his Yahoo group is what led me to GA originally though.
     
    Is there a writer you’ve considered a mentor?
     
    When I first posted here, CJames helped me a lot. Not only with getting the feel of forums and writing, but we did talk via private messages a lot. I bounced some ideas and sent him some of my earlier anthologies to read as well.
     
    In the beginning the person that had the most influence on me and my writing was actually my very first editor. I met him when I posted my stories to a different site and he contacted me and told me that, although my writing is good, it needed editing. So he and I talked a lot while I sent him chapters to edit. He told me of his life, I believe he was in his mid-thirties. HIV+, but always generous and optimistic in his e-mails. I lost contact with him after I finished my first story, he had told me during our conversations that he wouldn't be around much as his HIV had really started to drain his energy. Eventually he stopped sending e-mails completely a month or so after that. I'd say he was my first online fan and my mentor while I didn't know what the hell I was doing...
     
    Right now as I continue on, I'd say, Wildone the ornery Canadian has been my mentor. The person that I discuss my stories most with, bounce ideas off of, and trust wholly when it comes to my creativity.
     
    Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
     
    Passive voice, I've always had past/present tense issues as well, and I have this terribly annoying habit of capitalizing things that have no business being Capitalized.
     
    When did you originally write Roommates, in comparison to your other stories?
     
    Are You Christian was on hold about fourteen or so chapters in. I found myself really lacking motivation with that story. So I dabbled around and started two more, the one I fell in love with happened to be Roommates. Mostly because the characters were entirely different. I wanted to write an angst-free or at least angst-lite story, when Are You Christian bogged me down on all the drama and angst. So in-between Are You Christian and my later story Standing In Shadows.
     
    Did the characters or the plot for Roommates come to you first?
     
    Characters. Always characters with me. Most of the time I don't know what I really want from a story until I get a sense of what I want from my characters. Then I just try to limit the plot to fit them.. and try not to let the plot spiral out of control too much.
     
    If Roommates was made into a movie, who do you picture playing the parts of Brett and Will?
     
    These characters were a bit mid-twenties to late twenties. For the hot factor.. since I believe Brett and Will just liked to undress themselves an awful lot, so on screen meat would be a big factor in casting... Luke Mitchell for Brett and Robbie Amell, I'd say. Although back when I wrote this all those years ago.. Ryan Reynolds and Chris Evans would have played the parts.. but they're just a bit too old now..
     
    What was your favorite part of Roommates?
     
    Will's coming out actually was a major theme in the story, but the way he finally did it is my favorite part.
     
    What are your future projects?
     
    A story called Force of Nature. Another story where the characters are well into early adulthood, but not really knowing what they really want out of life. Similar to Roommates in that regard, I guess, but everything else is completely different. I'm experimenting with a protagonist that may be difficult to like during some parts of the story.
     
    Then I have a story on hold that I am biting at the bit to get back to. If you talk to Wildone, he'll say I have a ton of projects, too many and they probably change too much for him to keep track. I mean we still have our joint writing venture on the table.. that I do so badly want to post one of these days.
     
    My projects change a lot, so I don't commit to anything long term until I have a significant portion of it already written. I have failed anthology attempts that I still want to tackle... I think I'm up to three of those now. With that said though, I do have the prologue and three chapters written to the project that is firmly behind Force of Nature on my list. If it stays there, we'll have to wait and see.
     

    So what did you think of Krista's story? Thoughts on the genre? Fan of another story of hers? Share your thoughts here!!
  12. Cia

    Ga's Newest Promising Author: Aditus

    By Cia,


    News Archive
    Please join us in welcoming Aditus to the ranks of Promising Authors on GA! Aditus has several stories to his name, including a novel, a series of shorts, and a lot of prompt responses for readers to enjoy. He's also part of our Author Promotion team--giving back to the site and volunteering his time to uphold our quest for quality fiction on the site. Please take a few moments to congratulate Aditus on his promotion--then go hit up some of his stories and leave him a review!




  13. Cia
    Some authors--and apparently teachers--are assholes. Yep, I said assholes. I've seen the ego on small-time so-called "professional" authors get large enough to capsize a cruise ship, and apparently Ryan Boudinot (who I have no personal connection to, but could not believe what he posted) is not only an author, but supposedly a teacher whose job it was to guide others. His article exposes a blowhard whose personal views beat them all. Out of every single thing he said, I can agree with only one comment he made, though I really hate to agree with him about anything on principal.
     
    You can see his article here, titled oh so politely as: Things I Can Say About MFA Writing Programs Now That I No Longer Teach in One. Or, as I'll dub it: Blowhard Speaks Out
     
    I do believe, whole-heartedly, that writing should be done to entertain, and not to self-aggrandize. I don't care how intellectual your underlying theme is, if you can't wrap a fictional tale up in a plot or characters in such a way to interest me in them without bludgeoning me over the head with your agenda, I'm not going to read it. Or worse, if you really irritate me, I'll give it a critical review as I've found most people who fall into that type of author group to be extremely egotistical and not open to less-than-fawning commentary.
     
    Like I said, it pains me to even admit to agreeing with him on that. But for the rest of that guy's drivel?
  14. Cia

    Weekly Wrap Up

    By Cia,


    Weekly Wrap Up
    Surprise! It's me again. Renee took over my Signature Background this month, so I'm giving her a bit of a weekend break. This has been a busy week!!
     
    Monday was the announcement of the CSR featured story, Roommates by Krista. Don't miss out on the discussion day on Monday, March 30th.
     
    On Wednesday, Dark graced us with another of his Ask an Author... #25!! He shared questions answered by Nephylim, Stephanie L. Danielson, and Aditus. Want to know what they were? Check it out!
     
    I brought you the Weekly Prompts on Friday's blog, #400 and 401!! I also featured the first line from all the prompts posted in the previous seven days.
     
    Anthology Announcements:
     
    ***NOTE: All Deadlines (except Poetry) are for submission to the Anthology Proof Team***
    2015 Spring Anthology: Full Circle - Deadline Passed! Look for the stories to be released soon!! 2015 Poetry Anthology: Remember - Due April 15th (Poetry Anthology is exempt from the Anthology Proof Team) 2015 Summer Anthology: Road Trip - Due June 3rd

    In Premium:
     
    The Harvest: Taken Now Complete!! Look for a new story coming next week!
     

    By our Classic Authors:
     
    Long Day by Dabeagle
     

    By our Signature Authors:
     
    Prompt Ramblings by Mann Ramblings
     
    Cosmic Inception by Cia
     
    Fortitude by Cia
     
    Veil of Shadow by Stellar
     
    Leopard Spots by Graeme
     
    Global Explorer II by David McLeod
     
    A Prompt a Week by Comicfan
     

    By our Promising Authors:
     
    2015 Prompt Responses by Valkyrie
     
    Sanctuary by Sasha Distan
     
    London and Love by CarringtonRJ
     
    The English Year by JWolf
     
    Barbed Wire Heart by Cole Matthews
     
    The Hollow Hills by Valkyrie
     
    Runner Up by French Canadian
     
    Don't forget.... Read, Write, and REVIEW!!!
  15. Cia

    Writing Prompts #400 & #401

    By Cia,


    Prompts
    Happy Friday, everyone! Unless Friday isn't the end of your work week, or your weekend work-at-home is just beginning... or any other non-fun Friday vibes are hitting. Either way, celebrate or distract yourself with some fun writing prompts from the flash fiction guru--Comicfan.
     
    Prompt 400 – Creative
    Tag – First Line
    “But I heard you were dead!”
     
    Prompt 401 – Creative
    Tag – Infection
    It started at a lab in Washington, DC. It seems people began to morph and become a human animal hybrid. At first it was just a few but it slowly seemed to spread across the country, infecting one out of every four people. Was this a lab experiment gone wrong or something new in the evolution of mankind?
     
    To be fun, I'm going to post the first line of every prompt response promoted by the author in the Prompt forum over the last week!
     
     

    Check out these prompts and more in the Writing Prompts Forum.
  16. Cia

    March Csr: Roommates By Krista

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    This month I thought I'd feature something many readers can enjoy, since the weather's been so bad and we have four full weeks to read--a novel length college-age story by Krista. I hope you'll enjoy it! March's CSR Discussion day will be on Monday, March 30th!


    Roommates


    by Krista


     
    Length: 72,249
     
    Description: About best friends from college.
     
    A Reader Said: I know I say this about every story, but I really did love this one ~ Gene63
  17. Cia

    Csr Discussion Day: Pierced By Jvaughn

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    This month, a shorter than usual one, I also went with a shorter story. JVaughn's Pierced is a solid read, for all it's only about 20k in length, that I really enjoyed. I was happy to feature it this month, and I hope you're ready to enjoy learning a bit more about J, too. Don't forget to leave your comments or questions. J will be "live" on the blog from 4-6 PM, PST today to talk to you--so make sure you're ready!
     
    Single people often have more time to write. Are you single?
    Technically, yes. However, I have two teenaged daughters who live with me half time. I also have a more-than-full-time day job to work around. So, finding time to write can be a challenge.
     
    Who do you like best, Jerry or Tom?
    Are you talking about the cartoon? If so, I have to say I don’t like either one of them. It’s been many years since I’ve watched that show, but if I recall, neither character is particularly ethical. Tom is not very bright, and Jerry is just plain mean. I do like cats better than mice though.
    If you’re talking about some other Tom and Jerry, then I’m not cool enough to be aware of them. J
     
    What are you wearing (and no fibbing!)?
    I am wearing various shades of pink: sweats, an old rugby shirt, a torn pullover, and socks. Very comfy—my usual attire for writing.
     
    When did you first consider yourself a writer?
    I had been writing for a number of years before I considered myself a writer. It wasn’t until I was partway through my second novel, had an editor, and was publishing regularly on Literotica that I finally started thinking of myself as a writer.
     
    Do you have any writing rituals?
    I almost always write first thing in the morning, so of course I always have to have my coffee at hand. I don’t consider that a ritual though, more of a necessity. I don’t think I have any actual rituals. I do have two modes, though, when I write: flow mode and edit mode. When I’m in flow mode, I’m just trying to get words down on paper, move the story along, and capture the basic essence of what I want to say. I try to write steadily and not worry about the wording. I may use the word “beautiful” four times in six paragraphs. Then I’ll go back and edit what I wrote, word-smithing, cutting, embellishing, etc. I probably spend six times as much time editing as I do writing in the first place.
     
    My usual routine is to edit what I wrote the day before to get me back in the proper headspace. Then I’ll go into flow mode until I run out of time or until I run out of steam.
     
    What brought you to Gayauthors?
    I was originally encouraged to check out Gayauthors by a writer on Lit. That was a number of years ago. I read and enjoyed quite a few stories up here, and thought about posting here myself, but I’m usually super-busy so I never go around to it. Then recently, within the same month I think, both Cannd and metajinx, friends from Literotica, encouraged me to post here. So I finally made the time for it. I’m glad I did. I think it’s a better forum for what I write than Lit. When I put sex scenes in my novels they’re usually pretty graphic, but most of my writing is character/plot-based and the sex is just added for fun.
     
    How did you come up with the title for Pierced?
    I usually have a very difficult time with titles. Sometimes it’s harder for me to come up with a title than it is to write the story in the first place. I knew there was going to be some piercings in the story because that was part of the prompt. I didn’t title it until I was finished, considering and rejecting quite a few title ideas along the way. I finally settled on “Pierced by Love” but I still didn’t like it all that well—it sounded cheesy to me—but I was running out time to find another title. One of my beta readers suggested just “Pierced” and I liked it better, so that’s what I went with.
     
    Did any single prompt from the Goodreads contest inspire the story or was it just a matter of fitting them all in?
    I came late to the Goodreads writing party, so I tried to pick up the prompts that no one else was covering. The main prompt left was the non-con/dub-con theme; no one else wanted to touch that one. I had my doubts about it as well, not because I’m not comfortable writing with that theme, but because both the trilogy I had just finished (RoughBoys) and the novel I was working on at the time (The Valjevo Encounter) had non-con scenes in them. I would rather have done something entirely different.
     
    However, I took one for the team and made that the central focus of the story. All of the other prompts were surprisingly easy to fit in. I didn’t put all of the possible prompts in, but I got most of them, hopefully without it seeming too contrived.
     
    What do you think is the best part of the story?
    Hmmm. I like the scene where they take a shower together. Not only was it sexy and fun to write, I think that it is a turning point for both of them. Kyle realizes that he’s capable of getting turned on and having sex again without being overwhelmed by memories of the rape, and it’s Paul’s first time ever being with another man. After he’s had the real thing he knows he will never be satisfied with just his fantasies again.
     
    What are your future projects?
    I’m currently finishing up Christmas in Zonei. I had originally planned to finish it for Christmas this year, but as usual my schedule got away from me. I will publish it for Christmas next year in eBook format with a cover and everything, but I’ll keep it free as gift to my fans.
     
    I have quite a few ideas running around in my head for what to write next, but I am still undecided. I may do a poll on my author website to see what will draw the most interest. I suspect people will want a sequel to either The Valjevo Encounter or Christmas in Zonei or perhaps even Pierced.
     
    I’m a couple of chapters into writing a historic novel—a cowboy/Indian story—that I’m having fun with. I also have a plot for a fantasy novel that is just bursting to come to life. So, yes, still undecided on what to do next. Suggestions welcome.
     
    I can't wait for a free copy of Zonei, myself. Okay, so let's get to chatting! Thoughts on Pierced? J's interview? Suggestions?
  18. Cia

    February Csr: Pierced By Jvaughn

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    February is a month many people focus on love. But sometimes two people have to face seemingly insurmountable obstacles and there's no guarantee having a connection can be enough. I really enjoyed this story, so I decided to feature J Vaughn's short story for this month's Can't Stop Reading Book Club.


    Pierced


    by J Vaughn


     
    Length: 19,210
     
    Description: Paul is a college football player and deeply in the closet until he stumbles upon a rape victim who needs his help. Kyle is out and proud but dealing with the aftermath of a brutal attack. They are both strongly attracted to each other but will a relationship be able to flourish in spite of the obstacles? Paul will have to come to terms with his sexuality and Kyle will have to get over his fear and depression, but together they might be strong enough to help each other heal.
     
    A Reader Said: What a beautiful and heartwarming story. ~ Joann414
     
    This month's CSR Discussion day will be Monday, February 23! So take the next three weeks, read it (it's only 19k, though you'll wish it was longer!) and come prepared to chat about your thoughts on the story. Happy Reading!!
  19. Cia
    Britain approved 3 person IVF‏.
     
     
     
     
    In this process they'd remove "faulty" mitochondrial DNA from a cell and replace it with mitochondrial DNA from a donor female egg to help reduce genetic diseases before implantation. Examples of "curable" mitochondrial genetic diseases: Diabetes mellitus and deafness, blindness, multiple sclerosis-type diseases, some epilepsy, liver disease, heart disease... The mitochondrial DNA doesn't affect genetic information like hair and eye color, personality, etc...
     
    This is a fascinating area of study, but quite a debated one. I can see the controversy of designer babies vs. removing preventable genetic diseases to prevent suffering and death becoming a wider-reaching hot button subject since this decision has been reached.
  20. Cia

    Csr Discussion Day: Joe The Welder By Robert Rex

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Today's CSR discussion is all about Robert Rex's story, Joe the Welder. A very popular story from one of our newer authors, I thought this would be a great start for CSR's 2015! Did you guys like the contemporary romance? Make sure you share your comments below, as well as questions for Robert. He'll be here 'live' to talk with readers from 7 to 9 PM, CST, if you can make it. If not, remember, just leave your comments below and Robert will answer!
     
    Who do you like best, Jerry or Tom?
    Hm....Starting off with a tough question! Tom, I think. He's like me and lots of us: despite our plans and schemes and best efforts, things rarely go as planned. He's the lovable klutz who, despite his rivalry with Jerry, still maintains a solid relationship with him.
     
    The truth is, it takes both of 'em to make it work. So I may hafta rethink my answer!
     
    Do you eat your fruits and vegetables?
    Yes. I grew up in a small rural town in north Louisiana. My family had an interest in a small farm, and it was easy access to good fresh stuff. Spoils you, though. Once you have truly fresh food, grocery store items will never do it for you again! Thankfully, I live in a rural area just north of New Orleans, so still have pretty easy access to the good stuff. Try a fresh, vine-ripened tomato, still warm from the sun, and tell me it can get better than that!
     
    Are you a person who makes their bed in the morning, or do you not see much point?
    Yup, bed is made as soon as I roll out of it. Kinda forces me to keep the rest of the room a little neater if the bed is made. I'm not a neat-nic by any means, but it kinda helps me think the day has started out a little more organized. And it's a luxury for me to climb into a made bed at night—like it's waiting just for me.
     
    What first brought you to GA?
    “Joe” is my first story based on a dare from a drinking buddy, and I'd published it on another site—one far more erotic than GA. It's a good site, but I wanted more. I wanted stories that focused on the story, and treated sex as an integral part of the story—not it's exclusive focus. I'd gotten 40 or 50 emails from readers at that site with generally positive reviews, but I wanted more. I wanted to be able to find out how many people had viewed/read the story, and that let them have easier ways of commenting than just by email. (Yeah, we're lazy, and creating an email isn't something most people will do. And yeah, I'm like most writers on here who crave input.) Finally, although I was pretty much happy with “Joe”, I certainly realized that I needed help and resources to nurture what I'd discovered to be the rewarding and challenging experience of writing.
     
    GA offers all of that. I get to read great stories where the plot matters and characters become real, not just rough outlines for sexual purposes only. I get to have metrics on my writing and an easy way to get reader feedback—or give my feedback. And God knows, help is available from every direction if I'm smart enough to take advantage of it—from editors, to beta readers, to friendly people who'll point me in the right direction for research. And most of 'em aren't “word Nazis” who beat you over the head with their knowledge—they're really here and eager to help!
     
    As an aside, I'd be in heaven if all the folks that read here on GA would start leaving feedback. The likes, the comments on the chapters and stories—all that makes a difference to the writers (especially me!). The “newbies” may feel intimidated by the quality or volume of the work here, but they got to GA with a love of reading and the reading skills that authors appreciate—and a newbie voice matters.
     
    Do you have an author you consider a mentor?
    Unfortunately, no. But it's like winning a Screen Actors Guild award on those occasions when I get reviews (critical comments included) from authors here. The opinions of the heavy hitters, those prolific, incredibly talented writers here provide both encouragement to keep writing, and motivation to “up the game” in terms of writing quality—and the fact that they're commenting on your work (especially if they point out good things) is a thrill. It's the recognition of what you hope will be a peer group.
     
    I have gotten encouragement from several writers here....and Carlos Hazday had read “Joe” on the other site, and encouraged me to port it here—so blame him! <grin> I'd been concerned that “Joe” was far more erotic than the usual fare here, but Carlos reassured me to press on. And OKFlash735 and I had built a friendship from the other site, and when I discovered GA, he encouraged me to publish it here, too.
     
    I'd hope that all the authors here would make a point to not just read, but comment on, works of new writers here. Based on my own experience, you'll never know the impact you'll make to encourage a “newbie” writer!
     
    Is there anything you find particularly challenging when writing?
    Yes—sex. Although I've “been around the block” (stop those giggles!), and I like to think I pretty much know what I'm doing, there's a world of difference being doing and describing. And sexual descriptions without bringing in emotions or all of the senses is dull to do, and dull to read about.
    I'd hope that sex scenes are hot because they're a complete picture of what's happening between partners; not just “insert tab A into slot B” descriptions.
     
    The other issue is that I tend to write the way I talk/think. So as a result there are lots of commas, lots of parenthetical remarks, and lots of dashes and semicolons to break up the sentences. Hey, maybe it's indicative of ADD? Oh look, there's a squirrel... Anyway, the current trend in most writing seems to be to eliminate as much punctuation as possible, and that's not the way I speak or was taught to write.
     
    Do you have any writing rituals?
    Generally write in the mornings after a night at the bar. (I sell real estate full time, work in the local gay bar a couple or three nights a week. I'll take the following morning off from real estate to “recover” from the previous long day/evening at the bar.) Lots of coffee and a few cigarettes are critical to get the heart pumping and clear the head—I'm not a morning man even in the best of circumstances—and have got to happen if I'm gonna attempt to have something approaching quality writing. (If I could just set up a coffee IV, I'd be far more productive!)
     
    I also take regular breaks—my brain runs faster than I can write—so I'll make notes on thoughts at the time, then walk away to get more coffee, grab a smoke, feed the washer, whatever. The writing seems to flow better if I give ideas time to “percolate”.
     
    Was the choice of using the character’s name “Joe the Welder” deliberate instead of using another type of title?
    It was deliberate. I used it as a tentative title, and it seemed right, since it was about the development/changes in Joe, and it stuck. As it turns out, it told a story of changes between Joe and Rex, and how they explored their emotions both verbally and sexually.
    Looking back, I might not do it again. I think if you use a name/title in the story's title, your character has to be so compelling it drags the readers along through the end of the story. I'm not convinced my writing of a character is that good, so I'd seriously consider renaming the story.
     
    Did the main character or a plot scene from the story come to you first?
    The dreaded “chicken or the egg” question! I'm an observer of people, and it's especially fun in a bar. People will come in, I'll make up stories in my head about 'em from time to time. A guy stopped in the bar one night when I was bartending; nice guy and totally straight. (It's a bar kinda like a gay “Cheers”--everyone's welcome!) So my character was the starting point. Then later that night, when having an off-duty drink with a buddy there at the bar, he dared me to write a story. (“You always tell good stories, you need to write 'em!” Yeah, I'm the old-time bartender in the dark bar that everyone talks to, tells everything to, and interacts with as a friend/buddy.) The plot developed pretty quickly on its own from there.
     
    What was your favorite part of the story?
    I'm a sucker for a happy ending—so the last chapter really did it for me. I'm especially proud of the epilogue, since it really filled in the “ever after” part.
     
    Having said that, the scene in the hospital with Rex standing by, helpless but faithful, was also a high point. Interesting to see this hard-boiled business guy reduced to base emotions—and to see how he allows his more human side to come through.
     
    What are you currently writing?
    I'm currently working on “Landfall”, in progress exclusively here on GA. It's the story of a straight guy, who after the accidental murder of his wife, falls for his FBI “handler”. It's a totally different story from “Joe”, far less erotic, far more nuanced, as the straight guy works through his emotions. Is he now gay? Is he bi? Is he straight, but gay in the circumstances? Is he only gay for his FBI handler? It's been an interesting story to write! And the characters are real enough to me that I feel like most of the time I'm not creating a story, I'm merely reporting it! I'm hoping the readers here will check it out, and give feedback on how I'm doing—I'm hoping they'll find my writing has improved since “Joe” was first published a few months ago and find the story interesting.
     
    And Joe and Rex will appear in “Landfall” shortly, and may play a big role in the story line. You'll hafta read “Landfall” to find out the details.
     
    What are your future projects?
    I actually have several I'd like to explore.
    I'd love to do a story on a May/September romance between an early/mid-30s professional guy and his newly-found late 50s/early 60s or older lover. Ageism is rampant in American culture, and especially pronounced in LBGTQ culture. Think that story would offer lots of options for plot/character development, and be interesting to see the hurdles they have in building a long term relationship, including varied life experiences, expectations, and the range of emotions each man brings to the table. I've kinda got a working title, thinking at this point of “Lion's Lair”. (If older women are “cougars”, are older men “lions”?) I've got a science fiction story I've batted around—and it's so far beyond my comfort level it's intriguing to me. (Love sci-fi and have been an avid reader, but never attempted to write it, obviously, since “Joe” is my first story.) What happens when a disc (say from Voyager or another probe from a later time) is discovered in the ruins of a bombed out library on a far-distant world—and it's filled with music. What if all the music is trapped in the damage disc, and their disc reader can only read just a few bars of a haunting melody and vocal? What does the music say about the people of its originating planet? How does the music's discovery affect the people who discover it? And what does the storage of music say about those who curated it into the library? In my mind's eye, it'll be called “Earth Songs”, but still thinking that through—and trying to find the courage to start on it. And yeah, it'll have both action and romance in good measure. The other story line is set maybe 10 years down the road when gay marriage is fully in place. How does marriage affect the dating rituals of gay men? Does Grindr go away? What takes its place? If marriage is acceptable as adults, is there a simultaneously mutual change so that gay dating in high school becomes commonplace? Are there other impacts on society when two men (or two women) legally partner? Think there's a bunch of impacts to gay marriage we haven't really explored. This is still in the rough sketch stage, but you get the idea.

    There are a couple of other ideas out in play, but those seem to be bubbling to the top right now. I'd love input on what readers think about those.
     

    Thank you for such a great interview, Robert. Okay folks... I asked my questions, now share yours!
  21. Cia

    Space Vampires!

    By Cia,

    Okay, this is funny because I am posting the third story in what has been called my 'Space Vampires' trilogy. That, and it's just soooo true at times!
     

     
    " data-width="466"> Post by Jena Gregoire.
  22. Cia

    January Csr: Joe The Welder By Robert Rex

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    This month I thought I'd feature one of our newer authors, Robert Rex, and his story Joe the Welder. So how about some contemporary romance to kick off the new year?


    Joe the Welder


    by Robert Rex


     
    Length: 28,206
    Rating: Mature
     
    Description: A gritty story of a casual meeting that turns into more than you might expect. You'll meet Rex, a real estate agent, Joe, a new-to-town out of work welder, and watch as people and events occur that shape their lives. You'll have a first row seat to a story that reflects adult situations, adult language, sex--and personal development--as well as a fun approach to life.
     
    A Reader Said: You are a gifted storyteller. ~ Charlieocho
     

    This month's discussion day will be Monday, January 26th.
  23. Cia
    No, I'm not sharing my own advice for writing--I'm sharing one of the sources I use to explore and research various aspects of the business from figuring out those pesky grammar and punctuation rules to questions about publishing you might not know you need to ask.
     
    Writer's Digest.
     
    Seriously, if you're an author, but you're not hooked up with this site and getting their free newsletters via email--you're missing out on a valuable free resource you should be using! Today, they've put out what they view as their top 50 articles from last year, so go check it out. Then sign up!!!
     


    Writer's Digest: 50 Articles on Writing to Help You in 2015

  24. Cia

    Csr Discussion Day: Space Pioneer By Dolores Esteban

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    This month just flew by! I hope everyone enjoyed their holidays. Did you have time to read this month? Hopefully you didn't miss the chance to read our CSR feature, Space Pioneer by Dolores Esteban. Due to the time/language barriers, Dolores won't be doing a 'live' Q&A, but she does plan to pop in off and on to reply to reviews and comments/questions posted here, so make sure you share your enjoyment of her story! To get the ball rolling, we have a great interview with Dolores to share, along with a sneak peek of her sequel to Space Pioneer!!


    Space Pioneer


    by Dolores Esteban


     
    Single people often have more time to write. Are you single?
    Yes, but I don’t feel I have more time to write. I have a full time job and often help my sister with her business on the weekends. I’m an accountant
     
    Do you eat your fruits and vegetables?
    Yes, plenty.
     
    What are you wearing (and no fibbing!)?
    Blue jeans, a black sweater, and a red scarf with white flowers.
     
    What brought you to the GA?
    I was looking for a place to post my stories and stumbled over the site.
     
    Is there anything you find particularly challenging when it comes to writing?
    Writer’s block. I can’t write when my muse is absent.
     
    Do you have any writing rituals?
    No.
     
    You have 54 stories on GA. Do you have a favorite?
    I like the Aglanthol series, and Space Pioneer is actually my favorite.
     
    How did you come up for the concept for your alien cultures?
    I didn’t plan the story. The story developed as I wrote it. I wrote a lot of historical pieces and a few fantasy stories. I wanted to write something different.
     
    Overcoming the language barrier is often an interesting subject in sci-fi stories. Your way seemed to mimic the way a non-native speaker often fumbles with becoming fluent in a new language. Did your own experience as a non-English speaker, writing stories in a foreign language, contribute to that element in your story on purpose?
    Not on purpose, but the way Jeff learned the Daglon language seemed natural to me.
     
    Which of your main characters came to you first? Jeff or Lest?
    Jeff. I saw Lest for the first time when Jeff saw the captain.
     
    What was your favorite science fiction element in the story?
    The Daglon warship and the trips through space. I would like to have a spaceship of my own, and I would want to be the captain. *lol*
     
    You shared the fact you wrote the sequel to Space Pioneer. When do you think that’ll be ready to publish on GA?
    I wrote several parts of a new story (or maybe two even) during NaNoWriMO. I usually write chronologically, from beginning to end, but this time I jumped a lot between scenes and parts of the story. I need to combine the parts, add and delete scenes and then edit the whole story a couple of times. I plan to start the process after the holidays, but it might well take until spring next year. I can’t really say.
     
    Can we get a sneak peek at the beginning of your sequel?
    Sure. This is a sneak peek of The Titan Plot (first draft).
     

    The Titan Plot
     
  25. Cia

    Writing Prompts #378 & #379

    By Cia,


    Prompts
    Surprise! It's me again! This week has just flown by, and we're a bit late posting these. Whoops! But hey, we're not going to leave you hanging without your prompt fix. I have two great ones to share with you.
     
    Prompt 378 – Creative
    Tag – List of Words
    Use the following words in a story – gift, broken shoelace, brown coat, scarf, and a zebra.
     
    Prompt 379 – Creative
    Tag – Birthday Revenge
    Four months ago your partner’ had their birthday. They told you they didn’t want a party, just a nice dinner out. Of course you decided you knew better and huge party was put together that they absolutely hated. They smiled sweetly and through clenched teeth told you that you would pay for this disaster. Tomorrow is your birthday. Will it be what you expected or a case of birthday revenge?
     
    Several of the authors here on GA are writing ongoing stories with prompts for each chapter, and I thought I'd feature Timothy M's response to Prompt #328: You expect me...
     
     
     

    To read the rest of the prompt response (or the story if you haven't been following along) you can find them here: Timothy's Terrible Prompt Stories
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