Cia

Okay... that's a bit vague. What are you having trouble with? Did you read the faq topics, which can be found through the Help tab in the red menu bar?

That's easy to do when you don't have kids, or smoke filling the house making you need to get out (there will be more information on why he rushed Micah out of the house). Unfortunately I burn myself a lot, and I've been forced to wait for relief to finish what I was doing or handle the mess. Cold water definitely helps, though!

Thanks, ninecila! It's really calling to me, too!

This will likely be my next Briefers plot! Thanks for reviewing Belann!

“Ow. Ow. Ow.” Evin slammed the oven door shut with his knee while simultaneously dropping the cookie sheet of charred teething biscuits into the sink. He turned on the cold water, fanning the air desperately to try and get rid of the thick fog of black smoke. It didn’t help nearly enough, so he opened the window even though it was pouring down rain. He wanted to stick his hand out in the frigid drops to ease the fiery burning, but he didn’t have time. He ran into the living room and grabbed Mi

Do you have any writing mechanic tools you use, or do you outline in Word? Or do you just open a story/chapter as a blank file and start writing?

Have you found that angst-lite is a preference for you, or do you gravitate to lots of drama in your recent work? Does length of a story dictate that for you at all?

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!!

Maybe they can. Or maybe it's too big for them... for anyone! There is more to come, though, so keep following!(I know, I know the 1k limit is killer).

The mystery is deepening, but only because we're getting to the root of it. As for your not-quite-awake idea, no spoilers, so I won't say yea or nay, lol!

You did know. The beta/gamma dynamic is important!

The question is... for what?

You caught the little details. I like that! Good job.

Aww, sorry! I keep posting each week, though! They did know quite a bit about Schvesla... though there's a lot more to come that hasn't been shared quite yet.

Thank you! The sticky web really hit me and super appropriate for this scene.

I have Wii Twilight Princess. I got all the way to the last battle and quit. I'm perverse that way. Honestly, I'm not a fan of video games, but my 8 year old likes playing it from time to time.

I blinked. “Why do you ask?” I spoke carefully, casually, but I could tell from their expressions my caution was like openly admitting my parents were up to something bad. “Our parents sold us to the king,” Chester said bluntly. He crossed his arms over his chest. “Just like yours sold you, even if you don’t know it yet.” Teddy’s mouth dropped open. “You can’t sell people.” Chester snorted. Bart elbowed him. “I’m afraid it’s entirely possible. It’s not even that much of a stretch. What is app

I didn't quote you, because I wasn't speaking just to your comment. But your point that parents don't remember being 15 is far too broad, and I would respond to that. I'm a parent. I remember being 15. Thankfully my kids aren't teens for a few more years. Yet, I also see the many of the teens of my contemporaries who had their children as teenagers are now not really capable of making great decisions; they don't think of the consequences of their actions and tend to be very 'in the moment' even if they're engaging in dangerous behavior. That's even with the very clear example their parents made of "Don't do what we did!" Teens really shouldn't be having sex. Reality is that they will, of course, but if they just waited until their brain could catch up with their body it'd be far safer.

The main issue within the news topic is not the age of the teenager having sex in relation to just being sexually active, but in the fact that the person involved with him was 1) so much older and 2) in a position of authority. There are some people who such acts are even more egregious because their whole purpose is to protect and nurture children and teens as they grow to adults--and it's the rare 15 year old with the mental stability and maturity to make adult decisions.

Please remember, reviews are supposed to have some impartial standard when done on random work, but when it comes to these, reviewers are sharing their thoughts--and usually love of--a story they enjoy on the site. Some might not agree with the view of the story, but that in no way should reflect on the reader's right to share their thoughts with the author and other readers.

I grew up in a small, still backwards, area where things were easily shrugged off. A high school male shop teacher reported for telling a girl who asked him for a screw for a project to "Bend over, and I'll give you one." wasn't even brought before the school board. When I, as a 4th grader, burst into tears during one of those simulated 'Tell an adult' skits, was questioned the school officials the day after they called home, where I'd been told to keep my mouth shut about the past because it was in the past, nothing went further. Why? I kept my mouth shut. I knew I'd get in huge trouble if family secrets got out. My best friend growing up was fostered and then adopted into a home where the parents also had a natural child, and she always dealt clear double standards. I grew up in a blended family, and did as well, so we all had that in common, but since it wasn't overt, horrific abuse we just lived with it. We didn't know any better. Now we do. We both still have personal and family difficulties based on our pasts, but we've both helped each other to remember we don't want to be our parents. Our kids don't have to live the way we did. Social mores are less important than protecting the innocent, to the detriment of those who hide in places where they hold positions of authority, like the clergy and teachers. Our society still makes mistakes. People who shouldn't have kids do, all the time, and those kids pay for it. People who think it's okay to ignore the hurt others because they want something, or believe their wishes are more important, aren't always viewed as the criminals they are. The only thing we can do is focus on being the best person we can be and helping others as much as possible. I see commercials all the time that say something that seems kitchy, but it is actually very profound: Not every person can be a foster parent, but every person can help a foster child. It's true, and not just foster children who've been identified and should be getting help. Anyone can help anyone else. Small things DO matter when viewed on a community-wide scale, because the more we try to improve our society to raise the wellbeing of everyone in it, the more people are likely to see a good example and learn from it. Share food with someone who's hungry if you can't make a monetary donation. Serve in a soup kitchen or homeless shelter. Donate your gently used goods or take the initiative to offer clean blankets, hats, and gloves to homeless people during winter if you can afford it. Sponsor a family during the holidays for food and gifts or go visit an assisted living facility and take handmade cards if you have few resources because a smile, a pat on the hand, and a Happy Holidays shows you care to people who are often forgotten by those still stuck in the hustle and bustle of their own lives. This is the foundation of my non-religious denomination belief system: We should always be on the lookout to help our fellow men and women, girls and boys. As human beings our duty is not just to not hurt our fellow people but to help others within our capacity to do so because it is the right thing to do.

Thank you! I firmly believe some people just sync, and that's really what I want their relationship feel like. Thank you so much for the reviews, Gary!

I wanted them to just be themselves, even if it was in front of Miah's folks--probably especially then. They just work as a threesome.

Definitely an uh oh moment. I hope you continue to enjoy the other chapters!

Yay! I'm always glad when I can take a reader outside their norms, and they actually enjoy it.