Cia

With the upcoming anthologies, I thought I'd start this topic for tips and tricks to condensing that story idea you have into a short story. Some of us (me!) have a hard time keeping a story short. The idea might come for a plot, but actually refining it down to its basic elements and then fashioning a complete beginning, middle, end in less than thirty thousand words can be a challenge. First, let's look at the motivation and general story arc elements as I view them when I write a short story. How does this work? Take my short story, Coupled in Synchronicity, and how I fulfilled each of those elements with actual plot. Now, I haven't told the whole story. I have an EPIC novel planned out for this. But I introduced the main character and his personal "want", included a whole host of supporting characters, set the groundwork for an alien planet that is magical and has an unknowable sentience, created a personal obstacle and then a moral choice for my main character, and then had the character make that choice to give up what he originally wanted for a deeper desire that is for the greater good. In just under 7,000 words. That's super hard for me. I prefer to write novels because I want to explore and expand the characters and worlds I write to their fullest. But it's fun to explore different techniques and challenges when writing. What do you think? Do you prefer to write short stories or novels? If you've written short stories, do you plot out certain elements to ensure you write a complete story, or do you just start writing?

I can't say I'm one of your readers because your content isn't to my reading taste, but I hear fans of yours squee every time they talk about you in chat, especially after you stop in. You are, by and far, the longest consistently posting author on the site. Sure, you jump around from story to story, and you might not finish things because of that, but our system is built so that people can see 1) If a story is complete 2) When the story was started, when it was last updated, and if they look at the history, how often it was updated between those dates. If people don't want to make the effort to check that the work they want to read is complete or posting consistently, then that's on them. Tell them to bugger off and focus on what you want to do--after all, you don't get paid for this. It isn't a job, it's a hobby. They're just lucky you share it with them.

I left two guards at the house and headed over to Lydia’s house. On my way I called Park and told him to meet me there with Ritch. They could help me search for anything that might reveal what Henry had done. I hated to make Park face this so head on, but as my beta, I needed him. Plus, he’d know all the hiding spots in the house. I sat sideways on the porch steps and waited. The sun had gone down, and the moon was rising, but it wasn’t quite night yet. I leaned my head back against the handrai

There are a LOT of tips to posting things on here. In fact, we even have a whole FAQ to read before posting, while posting (a step-by-step guide), and then how to customize your profile/how to interact on the forums, etc... Just check out all the topics available through the Help tab in the red menu bar. I approve all the new author submissions that go into the moderation queue, so if you're having issues please send me a PM via a visit to my profile or by the little envelope in the upper right corner of the page and typing my name into the 'To' field.

We do allow stories with underage sex here, because it is a part of life, though there are guidelines of what is and isn't allowed, like under 13 is a no no and only like age groups, no more than 50% of the plot, etc... because there needs to be limits. That's the great part of the vast meta data Stories allows authors to use so readers can filter stories. If they don't like underage sex in their stories, they can search for no sex and teen if they don't mind it they can do teen and sex tags. You'll also find that some YA titles do have sex in them, though it's more common for those to have characters who are over 18 but still in school/at home with parents.

Congratulations, Ronyx!

*nods* to everything Graeme said. I can't imagine coming out to a partner--much less having it be exposed by infidelity like that article states. That, more than the sexuality, would be an issue for me. I wasn't publicly open about being bisexual when I met my husband, since I was only 16, but I wasn't exactly hiding it and he's always known I am able to appreciate other women--I even point out hot chicks to him--as long as it's looking and not touching. We made a commitment to each other, to a relationship between us, and intimacy beyond that is just not acceptable. Lies always hurt, but somehow, cheating just seems like a way bigger crime than the gender of who you cheat with, and that's what I'd not be able to accept. Relationships are about communication and trust. I suppose, if you're honest with each other from the beginning, having the kind of relationship in that article might happen, but so few would probably make it truly work because just keeping two people balanced in a relationship is hard enough. Oddly enough, me joining GA was more of a threat to him than you'd assume considering I'm a woman and bisexual but most of the members here are men and gay. I think there was a connection to people on the site that he felt he couldn't match because I was so comfortable and open here in ways I hadn't always been in person in regards to being something other than a cis straight woman. Then I was writing stories, about men. Of course they're usually men who want other men, so it's not a reflection on our relationship in any way, but it bothered him. It caused problems and conflict in our marriage because it affected our emotional intimacy in ways we had to spend a lot of time talking about and figuring out how to make each other comfortable.

Kraig waited in my sitting room off the bedroom. He was on the couch, huddled under a blanket. It struck me how short a time we’d had together since I found him. His ruff was still a golden stubble, his cheekbones still stood out as his muzzle punched forward more than his human face had. Part of that might be that he was still underweight, but I had the feeling he wouldn’t look human even after he recovered. “Mom.” Kraig’s voice broke as he stared at her. He glanced toward me. I nodded. “It’s

*Muahahahaha* We make Renee do her own promo.

I am glad so many of the active CSR readers/commenters have read this story and can participate! Just remember, and I'll remind everyone how to do it on the Discussion day, that any specific comments about the plot events should be hidden with the spoiler code. That way anyone who isn't completely done reading on the 31st still gets to enjoy the surprise of each chapter's events.

Happy October! This month we have an epic-length story, so get ready to spend all your spare time reading in order to be ready to discuss Dayne Mora's Wolf Like Me on Halloween. See the theme? Well, there are no werewolves in the story (sorry!) but there might be some nibbling. You'll have to read the story to find out! Due to the length of the story, don't feel like you have to complete it to come comment. I will encourage anyone doing specific comments to the story to use the spoiler code. Wolf Like Me by Dayne Mora Length: 125,742 Description: Cory, 18 year-old walking Texas stereotype who swings both ways, comes to Virgina Tech to play football and hopefully be less of a closet case. There he finds a sophomore wide-receiver who likes to bite, a pretty boy pre-med with a talent for name calling, and a grad student with a big...chip on his shoulder. (Formerly "Efrain and Cory") A Reader Said: This was such an amazing story! I've read everything, except the last four chapters, twice. Such great characters and depth, so good! I can't wait for the next book. Thank you. ~ blueirealand ​​ This month's Discussion day will be on Monday, October 31st.

See, the only time I was homeless I was 4 and it was the summer time while my dad earned enough for first/last rent and utilities. To me, it was all a vacation since we lived on the river and we had friends who camped out (they had a house) all the time with us/fished/swam, etc... But now, as an adult and parent, I can only imagine how stressed it had to have been for my dad. Or just any person to have everything ripped away and so many options cut off from what we think of as 'the basics' like a roof, running water, electricity, the ability to go get food when we're hungry... While not everyone on the street is there because they honestly fell on hard times due to no fault of their own and are trying to get back on their feet, we can't judge that just by looking at a person. I don't give money for that reason, but a handout can show someone you care.

I recently grabbed some breakfast and granola bars, water, lemonade flavoring, a few personal care items... and walked them over to a homeless lady on a corner of the freeway. I try to keep a few packets put together in Ziploc bags in the car that I can give away, but that day I was out. Some bulk personal care items, non-melty/smooshable snacks, a $5 gift card to get a warm burger or two... it's not much for me but could make someone's day brighter. Some guy was sitting in the car next to mine in the corner of the store parking lot, and he looked at me like I was nuts as I walked back. *shakes head* It can take so little to try and be a good person.

“Are you okay?” I asked Kraig after everyone left. He shook his head. “I don’t know how to be okay. With the things they... my dad?” He put a hand over the mark still livid on his wrist. “How could he?” His voice broke, and Kraig looked at me with so much pain. It was almost impossible to suppress my rage. Only the fact that Kraig needed me here, needed me to suppress my instincts to kill everyone who hurt him, kept me sitting. “I don’t know. We’re going to find out though.” “Can I... can we

Did you have a chance to read Puppilull's story, Thaw, for this month's CSR feature? I hope so!! I've asked her a few questions about herself, her writing, and the story itself so enjoy this month's interview and remember to share your thoughts about her story or the interview below. What's your favorite room in your house? Do you plot or write there? I don’t really have a favorite room, unless you count the bedroom since sleeping is very nice. My stories are usually plotted in various places, where inspiration strikes. I tend to ‘see’ scenes in my head, ‘hear’ a string of words that turn into key moments in a story. So plotting is done in bed, in the shower, on my bike on my way to work, running in the park… Writing is done on my couch (or, if I have a really slow day, at work, but don’t tell my boss…) What brought you to GayAuthors? I was reading stories on Literotica and the story I was tracking had ceased to update. As I recall, it was TimothyM I was stalking at that time. LOL I googled and ended up here. The site with the community feel was appealing so I started reading here instead, even if it took about a year for me to actually become a member and stop lurking. The stories here are better (although I sometimes go back for a little naughty naughty…) and I like the possibility to interact with authors and other members. Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? I’d say being non-native speaking and trying to write in a foreign language is hard. I can end up writing things that sound perfectly normal to me, but in reality isn’t English. For the most part, I aim to keep things simple without being simplistic. As for the stories themselves, I try to be imaginative and true to the characters. That said, I write for fun and have stayed away from heavier subjects. So reaching a depth to my writing, where you feel it in your heart, is a challenge. Maybe I’ll dare to try it eventually. Is your writing process a daily word count goal or more of a burst of inspiration writing flurry? When I start a story, I’m more dependent on inspiration. As soon as I’ve gotten to know my characters, the story tends to write itself. If I feel sluggish or uninspired, I can still jot down a scene or two and keep momentum. Maybe it’s due to my profession (lawyer) that I’ve learned that waiting for inspiration to write can make you miss deadlines. Just get the job done! What do you think is the most important thing to include in a story? How did that come into play with Thaw? I need to get to know the characters before I can get a proper feel for the story. This can take time, like when I wrote Lupercalia and didn’t get to know my MC until I was reaching the end. With Thaw, both Joel and Lucas were there from the start, Joel more so than Lucas. So I never had to think very much about how they would react to the events that transpired. The story just unfolded in a strange but amazing sort of way. I got a lot of input from reviews and that influenced the story, but not really the characters. How did you come up with the idea of the town having to move in Thaw? Since the setting turned out to be the end of the world, leading me to Kiruna which is actually moving in real life, that came by itself. Exactly how much fun was it to write your first cliffhanger? So much fun! It was a giddy sort of feeling, but at the same time I felt a bit mean to my readers. Still, I figured they could handle it. You include a few ‘iconic’ cold-weather hobbies in the story, like hockey and snowmobiling. Do you enjoy those too or just included them for the characters’ enjoyment? I love the snow when it’s -15 and the sun is out. Here in Stockholm, that’s rarely the case. Snowmobiling is so much fun and I figured the guys would do that for fun. It’s a big thing in the north of Sweden. Hockey isn’t my favorite sport, but also the logical choice for a big guy from Kiruna. The story focuses on a few different aspects of the law, with one main character a lawyer and the other a cop. Was this based on personal experience making it easier to write, or was it developed as part of the plot with research? Thaw was born during late night chat sessions with JohnAR and the idea of a character being a hockey playing giant cop emerged from just a few quick exchanges. Since our cop deserved a love interest, we joked around about someone different but who was able to connect. The love interest also needed to have a reason to show up in Kiruna, and that’s where my profession turned out handy. Lawyers do get their hands on a lot of information, sometimes sensitive and that could get dangerous. Since I know the business, I didn’t have to do much research. Anything new you want to share with us? I’m writing an entry for the fall anthology and there’s also a story brewing. Unfortunately, I got sidetracked by summer and other stories that sort of demanded my attention, but I hope to have something new for you all in the not too distant future. ​Okay, guys! Time to share your thoughts (Look how much she enjoyed that cliffhanger! )

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Cole Matthews' The Art of Being Gay was Monday's Signature Feature. Did you grab your copy of the signature banner so you can share your love for Cole's story? If not, you can do that here! Today we're featuring his chosen excerpt. Cole says... This excerpt gives you a glimpse at the tone and character of the story. It's a comedy, a farce really, and also gives the reader some of Roy's attributes. This segment also shows how Roy may not think he's ready to date, but fate really doesn't care about such reservations. Want to read more? Check out the rest of the story here!

The question was rhetorical. Which one had fled the streak? I was already grimly contemplating my response, but I was distracted by the thoughts of the death Henry had earned himself—once he confessed to everything he knew. No reason could justify drugging his own son. Nothing would excuse him from harming the alpha’s mate. “Oh my god,” Kraig gasped. I turned and saw the realization in his eyes which quickly filled with tears. He fisted his hands in his lap, taking ragged breaths. “My dad? He

Happy Birthday!!!

September's Signature Feature is The Art of Being Gay by Cole Matthews. This story came about because Cole was wondering what it was like for middle-aged guys struggling with these questions. He wanted the story to be organic, fresh, and not planned, so he posted each chapter as it was written, using the feedback from readers to influence each chapter. Length: 83,473 Description: Chad was outed, his life in shambles. His son, Justin, was his only lifeline to happiness. Roy had enough. His attempts to find love and happiness had failed. He decided to simply live without trying to find a companion in life. Together, they begin to learn what it really means to be gay. Reviews: Flamingo136 says... I've often wondered....just why is it so important to anyone as to what anyone's sexuality has to do with them as a person. Frankly, most people spend very little time having sex...sure we all think about it during our day but really it is not the only thing that defines us...gay or straight or anything in the middle. It makes me upset that a grown man, Chad, felt that he had to leave his home, family and friends in order to find himself. Shame on those who make it intolerable for Chad, making him feel that he must leave everything in order to find himself and happiness. Ok, I'm off my soapbox now....LOL...eagerly awaiting the next chapter and hoping that we get to ultimately see the butterfly emerge from his cocoon....Great beginning............Mike LadyDe says... And THAT's why I love cats!!!!! They bring people together. But Carlos said it best "a little lost pussy" Hilarious. Once again you put us on a rollercoaster, with no warning, and let us fly, with awkwardness, angsty nightmares, lost kitty and then yum yum!! Wonderful ending. Tyrell is an excellent friend who really knows his Roy Toy! Excellent chapter. Can't wait for the next chapter. Thanks, Cole Headstall says... Roy intrigues me like anyone does who is oblivious to themselves, yet understands what everyone else wants or needs. Sometimes we really are the last ones to know. Kendra's little talk with Roy was illuminating to both him and me. I love getting to know and understand a character as they interact with others...and I really enjoyed what and how you showed us about Roy through Kendra. Maybe I was wrong about the uplifting part...Chad's breakdown at work shows at the least that he is feeling guilt and the pain of separation from his son. His path appears lonely right now...like a broken toy. Remember to check back on Wednesday to see what excerpt Cole Matthews chose to share with readers! Want to show your support and enjoyment of Cole's story? Download the banner above for your site signature!

I'm Renee again! Not doing such a great job getting these out early, but she'll be back soon. In the meantime, who's ready to do some prompts? There's a featured prompt from last week, if you missed it, and 2 more for authors to be inspired by today. So, without further ado.... Prompt 530 – Creative Tag – First Line “Pull over! I’m going to be sick.” Prompt 531 – Creative Tag – The flood You’ve been watching on TV as the storms have flooded large areas of the state. As news has warned the flooding is now entering your area. What has caused such storms and what, if anything, can be done? And now to feature a prompt response from the last. I've featured Sasha Distan's East-Jesus-Nowhere inspired by prompt #526: Read more here.

Congratulations, Valkyrie!!

“That’s impossible.” I gaped at him. “Like having two werekin souls? Or a human werekin becoming a bonded werekin? We’re dealing with something no one has ever seen before.” Uncle Radford held up the papers. “This is science. Traditionalists are going to be screaming about desecration of souls and you know they’re going to want to kill Kraig.” I growled, the muscles in my neck and shoulders bunching as I stared him down. “Let them try it,” I said through clenched teeth. Uncle Radford backed u

Whoops! I forgot that I was supposed to Renee this week and was sidelined by a migraine, so this featured review is a bit late... which just goes to show that, unlike Mikiesboy, I could never remember to do NaPoWriMo. Unsure of what that is? Check out the review below by Aditus and then go check it out!! NaPoWriMo Mikiesboy Reviewer: Aditus Status: In process/Complete? Word Count: 3173 Poetry. I thought I would put the word right into the first line, in case you’d rather leave, thinking something along the lines of ‘Nah, poetry is not my thing’. I dare you to read further! April is National Poetry Writing Month (NaPoWriMo): Thirty poems in thirty days. According to the author, his first thoughts were: Mental! NO WAY am I going to try it (too much pressure). Luckily, he had nothing else to do (his words), and wrote a poem for Friday April 1, and then, while he was at it, for the other twenty-nine days too. Are you still here? Good! I can’t agree more and could go on and on about syllable count, rhythm, rhyme and many other formal poetry characteristics and forms, which Mikiesboy executes well but are just a means to an end to make us feel. He is a natural poet who concentrates of the essence of things—sometimes with brutal honesty. I will never forget Meat: Short— and so harsh it hurts. Or Baker Boy, which makes me smile each time I read it. For me, this collection of poems is a reflection of heartfelt loneliness and hope, grief and thankfulness, severity and playfulness, in other word(s): Life concentrated in small packages. So, even if you normally don’t read poetry, give it a try. If you do, but somehow missed this, I hope I made you curious. And if you already read it—why not do it again? Category: Poetry Genres: Comedy, Drama, Free-Verse, Haiku, Limerick, Prompt Tags: mature adult, teen, adult, bisexual, brothers, friendship Rating: Everyone