Cia

Dan's Riders Pride is an excellent fanfic of Anne McCaffrey's Pern novels. Allen Smithee's Valdemar fanfiction is good if you like Mercedes Lackey. Myr has some interesting original science fiction and fantasy stories as well as some HP fanfiction. David MacLeod has some vivid fantasy stories, including a medieval one. If you check out the Authors section you can see a short blurb next to all the writers who are hosted and promising that often will give you some idea of what they write.

I am not really sure what will happen to stories that have been abandoned in e-fiction when the changeover occurs. I don't think that has even been completely decided yet. I do know that in e-fiction if you look at the story 'stats' just by clicking on the title you can see word counts, chaper counts, completed-yes or no. It is easy enough to see if the story has been finished or not which helps the readers decide if they want to put in the effort to read. I absolutely love to read long stories that allow me to become completely involved in the world created by the writer. Getting that involved and never getting the ending is frustrating to be sure. I try to remember that these people are writing and posting for 'fun' for the most part this isn't what they do so sometimes life gets in the way. It's still annoying but I try to understand. Then I try to track them down and nag them to finish stuff, that brings its own satisfaction

Don's Beloved. Absolutely my fav still. I adore many of the writers on here though the list would be way too long to expound here. The quality of some of the stories I've read on here provides me with a very lofty bar to reach with my own writing.

Thank you Andy! Honestly I am known to torture my characters a bit but I'm a sucker for a HEA. They just make ya melt

LOL. Sounds like you are in the seventh circle of hell. In other words, a town similar to where I grew up. There's a festival in the spring. Other than that, lets sit around and do nothing while looking at the tress or somethng. Booooring!

Thanks so much! I'm actually toast this round I'm about 80 votes behind, not surprising considering I'm paired this round with the story that has been getting the 2nd highest number of votes so far in the contest in the previous rounds. However, as this story was written last minute and it's the first contest I've ever tried to enter, 8th place out of all the entries involved is a great accomplishment. I found out the site is going to put all of the 32 semi-finalists into 3 separate e-books based on the story content and then host it on the website for free download for the next 3 years. That is a great prize!

LOL, double talk and vague assurances that we will get to know parts of what we want but not necessarily what that is. I see you have learned the fine art of teasing the readers. Great work and keep writing!

This site, Writer's Digest is good for some tips and tricks. They are heavy into sending out 'buy this writing class' stuff but just the site itself is good beyond that.

It varies for me. Tme, opportunity, if I'm reading something that gets me going or not. I've found time of day is a real factor. By the end of the day after chores, kids, cooking... I'm often just not in the mood. Still, based on what friends tell me after 13 years with the same partner 3-5 times a week is way above average. I won't even begin to say how many times alone though.

I'm a reader. If my life is too much for me I immerse myself in someone elses. After a vampire feeding, an assassin attack, traveling back in time or dealing with rabid animals chewing a body part off whatever I'm dealing with doesn't seem so bad

Busy man! I get you on the fear of the dark, I'm still a wuss about being out at night. Last time I went out to take pics at 1 am in my front yard a coyote came out on the road about 10 yards away though, so maybe I have good reason

I guess I should comment too I am working on the researach for a historical story set in 1500-1600s Scotland. I plan to throw a good bit of fantasy in though, Celtic gods and folk legends will have an important play on the plot and the lives of the characters. I've gotten books from the library as well as doing research on the internet. It's been a great bit of fun. Historical stories take so much thought, I want to be as authentic as possible even though there will be a strong fantasy vein in my story so I am having to consider the location of the story, the clan that held the land at the time, their tartan colors and pattern, the types of buildings and technology as well as getting accurate social hierarchy and interplay down. Thank goodness I love to research, though every answer I get seems to remind me of 2 other things I don't know and need to. So, do you plan to write your story as it comes to you once Nov. 1st comes or are you planning it out now by doing research and plot/character outlines?

So, who is participating in NaNo this year? Anyone care to share theme ideas or research thoughts? Here's a link to the website for anyone who isn't sure what this is all about and cares to learn NaNoWriMo

I can't even begin to point out how many of those things I am I love this pic. Too damn good of an opportunity to pass up to mess with that guy. Glad they had the gumption to do it! However don't you think that guy doing the jump and kiss routine should know to wear black socks with black shoes?

Happy Birthday!! and to counteract the old comment, wow, you're younger than I thought you were

I made it past the first round of voting!! The new round started this morning and voting is going for another week. The story I am up against this go round is very good though. Once again I've been paired with a published author. Quite the compliment. This is so much fun to watch. Thanks again for posting the link Libby!!

I like this. It definitely makes the last snippet make more sense. Okay, so stop teasing and start releasing the story!!

I am so happy for you guys. West, you are more eloquent than any man I think I've ever known. That you are willing to share your happiness with us is wonderful.

Actually I don't think that Tap could have stayed in the closet if he wanted to. Some people are just open and unable to hide who they are inside. I think that is the type that Tap is. The whole situation regarding Tap being gay and his teammates reaction will be told, so I won't spoil that, sorry Can I ask you a quick question though? What makes you assume that Dave is straight??

Happy birthday hun!!

Happy Birthday!! Hmm... a full and complete adult legally now. Woo hoo for you!

Oh Nephy and I share a love of torturing characters. A good bit of angst and agony just makes the happy endings, when they occur, more gratifying. Plus it just makes for some good reading! As for your questions posed to me.By names I meant sort of a mix of both. You use Royce, Dad, and Mr. Tellerman in reference to him and adding in 3 other adult couples at the same time, with similar switching of names made it a bit difficult to apply the correct names to the characters at first. Not a major deal but just a small drop from the flow of reading for me. What I meant to say was that Jason's interest in Peter did not seem that subtle to me. Not being a gay guy in the closet and understanding that this is a story so they most likely would end up together might have skewed my perceptions a bit. He really didn't want to hide his interest for too long anyway. I definitely think it is a non-issue really. Josh has always wanted a Ducati and I've seen a lot of people use motorcycles to add a bit of excitement. They are dangerous to a certain extent and that definitely gives riders of them a 'bad boy' feel. Even when you are talking a 15-20 grand sport bike The kid might end up being more dangerous to your mental health though Little buggers will drive you straight to the nut farm! Something I noticed, and bear in mind this is only me commenting having read the first 6 chapters, is the lack of specific martial arts action in the story. Maybe you've written it in and I just haven't seen it yet? It's great you are writing something you know but I was a little surprised it wasn't more prominently written into the story, other than being a central part of Peter's life. I always like to read stories that contain something the writer is passionate about as well. That often comes through in their writing and makes it more special.

LOL. He's got the right attitude about keeping the readers happy too Wonderful. Can't wait to read the next chapter. Edited to add: Umm, maybe I should be less of a smartass until he gets to know me. I agree with Nephy. You come first

All too often when reading fantasy or science fiction stories that intersect with modern society or a whole new world you have writers that give the details the reader doesn't know in huge blocks much like Q mentions. It's very textbook or encyclopediac. I don't like that either. Giving enough details to let the reader understand the story but not laying it all out there keeps the air of mystery and the little tidbits make you go 'ahhhh' as you read. I like that. You are doing that quite well. Like I said in my review, your story reminds me of the plot lines of several movies I've seen. That's not a bad thing. You have managed to put your own twist and blend on things and I like the alternate reality you've woven so far. The idea that this young guy can be so destructive and is in puberty is definitely scary. I also have the feeling that Mark has a huge crush on Cameron but Cameron likes Seth. So very complicated. I remember that situation so many times as a teen actually Darn hormones! I actually missed your prologue until I read in here that you had one. That's what I get for being unobservant. It did answer some of my questions but I also got a new one. The kid who created a crater sparking the round up for the victims of the Holman virus sounds like his power might be a lot like Cameron's. It makes me wonder if there is a connection. You have left me with plenty of questions to make me want to keep coming back to read your story as you post, so well done. Your writing style is very good. You have a good flow between the action and the dialogue and when your characters speak they stay 'in character' and that is very important. Writing what you know and the ages you know is working for you. The story line is great, a new twist which I am enjoying. Now on to the less than pleasant comments. You need an editor. You have words that you are using incorrectly and a lot of spelling and grammar mistakes. It is clear you used spell check and made the attempt to clean it up which is more than some stories I've read. You need someone to help you polish this. A beta reader is good for bouncing story ideas off of and talking about what you plan to write and how to write it but you are doing that really well. Right now your story is good but it could be so much better with a bit of polish. Check the writers support topics for the 'request and editor/beta reader program', there is an active community of people on here who help writers when they need it. Keep writing, your story needs to be told and I am sure you will have a good readership soon if you continue with the quality of the plot you've shown so far.