Cia

The knob was gone. I kicked the door. Nothing, no give, and I couldn’t get any leverage holding Deke. Who’d ripped off the knob? Tension sent itchy fingers through the hair on my ruff as my skin prickled. As quietly as I could, I leaned sideways and eased him down. Whoever it was, they had to have a reason to lock us in. To separate us from the rest? That indicated intelligence, not a feral creature like the one I’d killed. I moved down a step and crouched in front of Deke. The darkness was

Did you have a chance to check out this month's CSR story, The Others by Stannie? I hope you did and you're ready to share your thoughts, but first you can enjoy all his answers to my probing questions, including what he plans on posting next!! Chocolate or Vanilla? I don’t really like sweet food, so I’m going for chocolate. Real bitter pure chocolate! If you had 30 minutes of free time, what would you do? Watching, just looking around. When the sun is shining I’d go sit on my balcony with a cup of coffee, just to watch the people outside. I watch the children play, the elderly going for a walk, or the adults rushing towards their work. What do you like best about being part of the GA community? Motivation, to me, has always been a problem. Whether it’s at school, when working or when doing things I really like doing, I regularly can’t seem to get motivated enough. When writing for GA and getting feedback on what I write or getting messages when I didn’t upload for a while, it gets me motivated to do what I like best: writing. So, I think that means I like the support I get. Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? Writing in English. I think I mastered English well enough to have normal conversation, et cetera, but when writing a story you want something beyond that. I noticed I lack the ability to get something literary on paper, especially when it isn’t anything physical, like describing emotions. I don’t know many sayings or proverbs to illustrate what I want to say. How did it feel to finish posting your first novel on GA? Well, that was a little confusing, I’d say, as I never planned on finishing the story with this. Originally the story was way longer (and it still is), but I just decided to make a sequel. That was something I had thought about for a long time, because I normally don’t like stories being split into sections. With this story, however, I felt like the next part was a whole new story, a new part of Adam’s life, so that’s why I chose for it. Your character, Adam, has a taste for older movies (Monty Python) most contemporary teens probably don’t watch. Did you invent that for his character or is it modeled after your own preferences? I’m just a “teen” myself, so if I didn’t know those movies, I couldn’t have made Adam like them, so it’s kind of modeled after my own preference. It’s also based on someone else I met who is around my age, but listens to old music and watches old movies a lot, so I guess he had something to do with it as well. Do you believe people are inherently selfish or was that just Adam’s take for his blog? Yes, I truly do. I’ve had many discussions about this with people and every time I don’t get it why they don’t feel the same way about it. I challenge them to show me a situation in which someone isn’t inherently selfish, only to counter it by explaining what the selfish part was. It always works, unconditionally, unless it has something to do with having children. I haven’t been able to explain why people do certain things for children even when it doesn’t make them necessarily happier or something, so I guess that’s the exception to the rule. Sam says she likes, “The happy you” in chapter 6. Do you think that mood lift from the release of writing the blog that made Adam seem happier, or the knowledge of his Anonymous Reader’s identity and his feelings about him? Ah, that’s funny, because I actually talked about this today with someone. I stated that happiness without an obvious reason to it, is the best kind of happiness. It makes you feel like it doesn’t matter what happens around you, you can always be happy. I think Adam had the same thing here, as he thought to himself right after Sam said she like the “happy Adam”. He asked, being surprised: “I’m acting different?” Maybe it’s because it just feels right, you know? When you realise everything is okay, your life is going at a bearable pace and you found your position in the world in correspondence to the people around you. It feels right, and you are happy it does so. If you could sum up the theme of The Others, what would it be? I find that very difficult. When I started the story I just wrote 1 chapter and uploaded it. By then I wanted Adam to be a person with this secret second life, and I meant the story to be an interaction between those lives. It didn’t really work out (that’s why there is so much time between the first and second upload), so I decided the theme to be a book with a main character who isn’t necessarily likeable. I noticed that many stories have protagonists we sympathise, we feel sorry for, or just like a lot. Very plain feelings, in general, though when we think about ourselves and when we try to feel something about ourselves, it’s never this simplistic. We are complex organisms, and I wanted that in this story, so I made up Adam: a person who you can’t understand all the time (he doesn’t even do that himself) and switches between being liked to being hated. Not much for a summary, is it? What do you plan on posting next on GA? Of course, that’s the sequel of the Others, which will be about the travels of Adam.

Did you catch Monday's blog featuring this month's Classic Author ad choice, Goon by dkstories, selected by Timothy M? If not, go check it out and get your copy of a small graphic that you can use for your personal signature if you want to share the love for dk's story. Monday's blog shared several reviews from fans, but Timothy also got to pick an excerpt to share. Read on to find out what he picked and why! Timothy M said: Most of us have wished, at some point or another, that we could go back and change the past. Make another decision at a crucial moment in time, which perhaps would have changed the direction of our lives. Goon is a story built on this concept, and it's even better on a second or third read. Micah gets the chance to apply the knowledge and skills of his older self to an important period in his youth. I've chosen the moment where he first takes the alternate path and stops denying his feelings for the love of his life, even though he's unaware this is what's happening, and what the dangerous consequences will be. To read more, check out the rest of the story here.

Males came pouring out of the clan house. The betas were big, but from what Ritch said, they were bullies. I knew how to deal with bullies. I traded blows with the first to reach me, pain exploding in my jaw as he got in a punch before I could duck below it, but he missed with the second. I crouched and surged upward, striking in a sharp uppercut that knocked him backwards. He stumbled and fell, down for the count. I snarled when someone came from the side, hoping to catch me unaware. “Nice

Another oldie but very popular in its day goodie, Goon by dkstories, was nominated for a Classic Author feature by Timothy M. Originally a Premium story, this has been made available to everyone on the site. Have you ever wondered what life might be like if you had a chance to go back and fix something? A single moment, a day, a lifetime? The idea is intriguing, isn't it? Check out dkstories' take on the idea with Goon! nominated by: Timothy M. Length: 94,608 Description: Micah was a goon. He knew it and everyone else knew it. But he had connections and it put him in the wrong place at the wrong time. Miles Long said ~ This is another fun, creative tale full of political intrigue and fantasy. It's pace was a bit clumsier than other dkstories stories, but the character dynamics were so rich and the relationship between our hero and his lover were so solid, small things can be easily overlooked. If anyone on this site hasn't read this yet...stop, sit and read. Many thanks for sharing dkstories! Stephen said ~ THEY WON ! How brilliant... It all seems so simple now. But it's not, or has been so easy, has it? The second time reality was better when played out. If only... Thanks for the wonderful story, you can do that every day. -But then I'd get spoiled. Rebelghost85 said ~ I really admire your ability to stop a story at a good ending point, leaving room for a sequel or for the reader's imagination to finish the storyline. It allows you to cut your stories into manageable chunks and we get to clamor for sequels. Ron said ~ I can understand why this was a premium content story. That was one heck of a ride what with one unexpected thing after another happening. Highly unbelievable, highly fantastic and highly entertaining. Bravo! If you want to spread the word about dkstories' story, download the graphic below and add it to your signature! Make sure you come back on Wednesday to see the excerpt Timothy M chose to share!

Hey all! Quick question to those with broken signatures: Did you have the image(s) in your signature posted in GA's gallery and use that link to add the picture? There was a reorganization of the site gallery and doing that typically changes the information in the url link. You might find things such as images used in forum posts or your signature now have a broken link because that URL is different in regards to the path for the gallery > album > member album, etc... You'll still have the image available in the gallery, but you'll have to go to it and copy the new link and replace the broken one in your signature. Sorry!!

Sorry this is late. Totally spaced it being a Friday and that I needed to check and see if the prompts were posted. Whoops! These prompts were supplied by our prompt guru, Comicfan. Just a reminder, and for those who haven't worked with the prompts before: prompt responses under 1,000 words must be posted as part of a collection. Hopefully you'll find something in this weeks prompts to spark an idea and get you writing! Prompt 586 – Creative Tag – First Line Where are you planning to get the money for that vacation? Prompt 587 – Creative Tag – List of Words Use the following words in a story - a kilt, a coat rack, a video game, a flower, and a cat Jason Rimbaud - Prompt 584 Creative "List of Words" I gave myself five minutes to use the following words in this weeks prompt. Use these words; lunch box, wooden table, a white horse, menu, and a needle. I put my lunch box on the wooden picnic table and stared at the days lunch menu all the other kids were enjoying at Rex Harrison Middle School. It wasn’t that we were poor, it was just normal in my family that I wear my older brothers clothes after he outgrew them. That’s why I was adept with needle and thread. Everyone around me was laughing and joking with friends. For once the entire class was ignoring me. I pushed the menu away and opened my lunch box and removed my cheese sandwich. As I absently bite into the stale bread, I opened my notebook and looked at the doodle that happened in last period. I don’t care what the teacher thinks, it was a white horse, not a zebra.

Whoops! I'm late! Happy Birthday!!

“What are we going to do? Just surround the territory and attack? Use whatever means necessary on the bastard to get information on where the rest of the scientists are? It had to be that guy who followed us and Trein, or they would’ve been at that hunter’s camp.” Taking out the bastard what I’d wanted to do after Trein’s man attacked me to kidnap Ritch, but my personal desires had to be pushed aside. Now that we had evidence the man was complicit, and a murderer, I had free rein to kill the fuc

Awwwww

LOL, Thanks. Big & stupid... or maybe big & very, very smart... enough to play stupid? Hmm....

Thank you! I left a LOT unsaid, but that's the name of the game with flash fiction. There is a lot left to the reader's imagination.

Yep, it's a species trait, not just a feral one that Kraig experienced.

Quite!

LOL!!

I'm glad you're enjoying it. The length is a challenge, definitely, especially spaced out over a week, then over a year. It can make the chapters somewhat disassociated, no matter how hard I try to follow a master plot.

Oh yeah, the action is ramping up! I agree, definitely makes the leaving a bittersweet moment. Ass kicking about to commence!! A big part of the theme of this story is the evolution of mindsets about those 'different', even if we haven't really seen it in the overall clans. You just know with the new blood Deke brings as an Alpha that he's going to throw his weight around about it. I see you and raise you a Thanks for reading!

The alphas were skeptical of our report, until Deke showed them the footage of Trein’s attack on our streak. I gave my report, one hand clenched around the wrist of my opposite hand, as I stared straight at the wall. It took all of my control not to snarl when I shared what Ritch had told us. “But why did they take the human and not the werekin they experimented on?” one alpha asked. “I don’t know,” Deke said. “Unfortunately, I was waiting until the convocation to interrogate him. The

There is no delete for a story. You must contact a site staff member (typically me, unless I'm completely unreachable for some reason) via PM and ask them to delete it. I typically ask for 1) a reason and 2) a link to the story or chapter that needs to be deleted. I hate to accidentally screw something up, so giving me a link makes sure that I don't mistake what you want deleted because once it is done, it cannot be undone. You also lose all likes and comments from that content you have deleted, as an fyi.

The Advanced Search WAS broken. It wasn't filtering stories properly at all, only allowing you to search via one field, instead of all of them. It's a known problem that had been reported. But that is the proper way to do a complex search when it DOES work properly, and it was updated overnight and now appears to work properly (at least until we have another update or it breaks again, lol).

And just this fast, June is upon us and the year is half over. But the CSR event is still going strong, and I have a new story chosen for you guys to read this month. June's selection is by an author who's been on the site for a while but just completed posting his first novel. Let's all take a look at The Others by @Stannie and share some thoughts and comments on the site on the discussion day on the last Monday of the month, June 26th! The Others by Stannie Length: 74,750 Description: While pretending to be cool when he is with his friends and trying to be intelligent when he is editing his popular weblog, Adam actually is going through a lot. He is able to ignore his own problems by running from reality. It works, until someone in the real world becomes interesting enough to stay for. A Reader said: Looking forward to the next book, great job Stannie! ~ Scary Don't forget to come back and comment on the story on the discussion day set for Monday, June 26th!

Yay! I'm glad you liked it, Gary. I'd love to write more... just find me a few more hours in the day. Alas, sleep is still necessary. Yes! He has a good amount of time, but what will he find out? Will it be what he wants to know? The reassurance that the champions are sub-human and not being subjugated or that they are and he has a chance to help them? Thanks, Defiance! Thank you, ghanbrews! Yes, I like the them, and it can be a fun element when it's used in a futuristic story because there are so many different ways science and technology can go--but the issue of ethics and morality must be examined at the same time. Advancements aren't always used for the good of all. Thank you, Drew! I'm trying to make sure we all have lots of fun and encourage people to write and try new things. Plus, it's great to get a group of people encouraging each other like this.

Me? Create a situation that would lead to cliffhangers? Nooooooo.

This reminds me of Alice in Wonderland. You think you know what is happening, what place everything has in the story... then it all goes sideways, but you can't quite tilt your head to see it straight on, no matter how hard you try. LOL