Jump to content

Renee Stevens

Classic Author
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    8,392

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Blog Entries posted by Renee Stevens

  1. Renee Stevens

    Weekly Wrap Up (Jan 28 - Feb 3)

    By Renee Stevens,


    Weekly Wrap Up
    First off, let me just say that I'm sorry for the lateness of the Weekly Wrap Up.  And secondly, a quick reminder to go get your code from the newsletter and enter to win a copy of Barbed Wire Cowboy. Instructions can be found in the newsletter. The drawing will be closed to new entries after February 9th and the winners will be announced in the February 11th newsletter. Also, please consider helping me with new blog content by participating in one of the various blog opportunities. The list can be found in the Wednesday blog for this week or there's a list in the Weekly Wrap Up (the blog entry contains more information about each of these opportunities).
     
     
     
    Contests
    2018 Summer Novella Anthology: Summer - Due April 15th, 2018  
    Anthologies
    2018 Spring Anthology: Now or Never - Due May 15th 2018 Spring Anthology: Encounters - Due May 15th 2018 Fall Anthology: Fight Back - Due Nov 15th 2018 Fall Anthology: Good Intentions - Due Nov 15th  
    Blog Opportunities
    Story Critique: Open to all GA authors. Sign up here.
    Ask An Author: Send your questions for your favorite authors to @Carlos Hazday (no questions = no Ask An Author)
    3 Story Promo: Open to all GA Authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate.
    Author Interview: Open to all GA Authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate.
    Favorite Self-Written Story: Open to all GA authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate
    Story Recommendations:  Open to all GA authors & readers. PM Renee Stevens to participate.
     
    Premium Updates:
    Harbinger by Cia *Premium*
     
    Classic Updates:
    The List by Dabeagle
    You Promised Me a Tomorrow by Ronyx
     
    Signature Updates:
    A Love Story by CarlHoliday; Book 2 of Warnton Stories
    April Musings by Valkyrie
    Black Widow by Mark Arbour; Book 16 of Chronicles Of An Academic Predator (CAP)
    Cozy Contemplations by Headstall
    Denied by Cia
    Dinner is Prompt-ly at Eight by Cole Matthews
    Insomnia by CassieQ
    Mojo by AC Benus
    Photos Lately by Comicality
    Promptings from Valhalla by Valkyrie
    Shadow Honor by Cynus
    The Secret Life Of Billy Chase 9 by Comicality; Book 9 of The Secret Life Of Billy Chase
    Translation Trashbin by AC Benus; Book 7 of Verse
     
    Promising Updates:
    Disasters, Delights and Other Detours by Parker Owens
    Georgetown: Over The Rainbow by Carlos Hazday; Book 8 of CJ
    Only Prompts by Mikiesboy
    timmy's poetry by Mikiesboy
     
    ***Check out this GA Classic***
    Desert Dropping
    DomLuka
     
    Rory's mom just died and soon after the funeral his life is turned upside down when he finds out that his mom has contacted the father that he never knew. Now, he's forced to live in the desert with a family he doesn't know, a father he doesn't want to know, and to top it all off, Rory's gay and no longer has anyone to confide in. Friends will be made and the meaning of family will be found as Rory discovers that everything isn't so bad in the desert.
  2. Renee Stevens

    Writing Prompts #644 & #645

    By Renee Stevens,


    Prompts
    Hope everyone has had a great week so far. It's time for this weeks writing prompts. If you're stuck, or you're considering writing for the first time, these might be perfect for you. Don't forget that stories under 1,000 words must be posted as part of a collection.
     

    Prompt 644 – Creative
    Tag – First Line
    “I never would have expected that from you!”
    Prompt 645 – Creative
    Tag – List of Words
    Use the following words in a story – a corgi, a manuscript, a phone message, broken glasses, and a bill.

    Did you write a prompt response last week? Don't forget to share it below.
  3. Renee Stevens

    Get Featured in the Blog!!!

    By Renee Stevens,


    News Archive
    So, normally today would be an Improve & Encourage feature, and while I do have one, I am extremely low on blog content, so that feature will continue next month so that I can get the word out about the various blog opportunities available to authors. I need at least one more "Favorite Self-Written Story" and then I'll have one of those features ready as well. I am also adding a story recommendation opportunity so that readers can send me their favorite stories without having to write a full review. Simply PM me and make sure to put the feature you are sending in the subject box.  I hope to hear from all of you soon!
     
    Story Recommendation
    Open to both authors and readers. Simply pick a story you'd like to recommend and send me a link to the story and a single paragraph (preferably without spoilers) to say why you'd like to recommend that story to readers. I will do 3 - 5 recommendations for each feature, so lets get those recommendations coming in!
     
    Improve & Encourage *NEW*
    The idea is for an author to read a story by a fellow author and provide detailed feedback, both positive and negative (constructive criticism). This is also a great way to find new authors that you haven't read before. The way it would work, is you would read a story/poem (of your choice) by the author who's post is above yours in the thread. Then you would write out a critique following a set of guidelines and send it to me via PM or email (renee@gayauthors.org). You can find the guidelines and other information, as well as sign up to participate, in the thread. (If you signed up and haven't yet sent in your I & E critique, please do so soon!)
     
    New Author Advice
    Do you remember when you first started posting your writing? Is there something that you wish you had known prior to first hitting that submit button? Now's your chance to share your knowledge with other authors just starting out! Simply PM your advice to Renee Stevens.
     
    Writing Tips
    Have something you would like to share with other authors and readers about your writing process? This could be a number of things, including stuff like: building characters, grammar and editing tips, getting started, plotting, handling criticism, etc. Really anything that you can think of that has to do with the process of writing.
     
    3 Story Promo
    If you'd like to have your GA stories featured in the blog, send me the links to the stories, the description, and the following information.
    What gave you the idea for this story?
    What was your favorite thing about writing this story?
    Please tell us something about this story that is not already in the description.
     
    Favorite Self Written Story
    I'd like to know your favorite story that you've written and posted on GA. All I need is a link to the story and a single paragraph as to why that is your favorite. I will do 3 - 5 authors for each feature.
     
     
    Author Interview
    If you'd like to be interviewed for the blog, then please fill out the attached list of interview questions and PM it to me (Renee Stevens). You can also attach a short author bio if you'd like. Author Interviews will be posted in the order they are received.
     
    GA Author Interview.docx
  4. Renee Stevens

    Weekly Wrap Up (Jan 21 - Jan 27)

    By Renee Stevens,


    Weekly Wrap Up
    Hiya all!  Hope you all have had a great week!  Before we get into this week's wrap up, I wanted to take a quick second to point you in the direction of a giveaway that we are doing on GA. We'll be providing a code in the next couple of newsletters that will let you enter to win 1 of 3 copies of Barbed Wire Cowboy. For more information, check out the thread in the announcement forum!  Now, lets get to our weekly wrap up!
     
     
     
     
     
    Contests
    2018 Summer Novella Anthology: Summer - Due April 15th, 2018  
    Anthologies
    2018 Spring Anthology: Now or Never - Due May 15th 2018 Spring Anthology: Encounters - Due May 15th 2018 Fall Anthology: Fight Back - Due Nov 15th 2018 Fall Anthology: Good Intentions - Due Nov 15th  
    Blog Opportunities
    Story Critique: Open to all GA authors. Sign up here.
    Ask An Author: Send your questions for your favorite authors to @Carlos Hazday (no questions = no Ask An Author)
    3 Story Promo: Open to all GA Authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate.
    Author Interview: Open to all GA Authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate.
    Favorite Self-Written Story: Open to all GA authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate
     
    Classic Updates:
    The List by Dabeagle
    You Promised Me a Tomorrow by Ronyx
     
    Signature Updates:
    A Love Story by CarlHoliday; Book 2 of Warnton Stories
    Black Widow by Mark Arbour; Book 16 of Chronicles Of An Academic Predator (CAP)
    Denied by Cia
    Mojo by AC Benus
    Shadow Honor by Cynus
     
    Promising Updates:
    Disasters, Delights and Other Detours by Parker Owens
    Here Kitty, Kitty by Caz Pedroso
    timmy's poetry by Mikiesboy
     
    ***Check out this GA Classic***
    Shane
    Vlista
     
    Shane is a lonely, extremely poor 15 year old. He is abused by his family, and picked on at school. Follow him on his journey from the depths of despair to finding a loving home and boyfriend
  5. Renee Stevens

    Writing Prompts #642 & #643

    By Renee Stevens,


    Prompts
    I hope everyone is having a great week! It's time for this weeks prompts, 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.
     

    Prompt 642 – Creative
    Tag -  The storm
    On the way home from work you hear on the radio that a storm is building in intensity and due to hit your area in a few hours. You pick up a few things, especially some food for your pet, and head home. Within moments of entering your home the storm knocks out the power. What happens?
    Prompt 643 – Creative
    Tag – The dancer
    You walk into a room to find a figure dancing alone. Who are they and why are they dancing?

    Did you write a prompt response last week? Don't forget to share it below.
  6. Renee Stevens

    Featured Story: Confide/ant

    By Renee Stevens,


    Featured Stories
    Monday, Monday, Monday. What could we possibly have for you on a Monday? Oh yeah! We have a new featured story for you. This week, courtesy of Lisa, we are taking a look at Confide/ant by Sasha Distan. Remember, if you're reading a story (or have read one) that you'd like to see featured in the blog, simply write a review and send it to me!
     
     
    Confide/ant
    Sasha Distan
     
    Reviewer: Lisa
    Status: Complete
    Word Count: 47,554 
     
    Sasha’s third most recent story centers around Marty, a sexy high school rock star (Hrishi’s words, not mine) and Hrishi, a short, geeky high school nerd computer freak (Marty’s words, not mine).  
    Can these polar opposites find a common ground? Besides all the hot sex they’re engaged in. Oh no, not sex, “sexy stuff” is how Marty justifies it.
     
    Marty and Hrishi have this chemistry that jumps off the page. Even when they’re fighting and exchanging words (which is extremely often!), their chemistry is palpable.
     
    There is conflict, of course. It wouldn’t be a great story without conflict. Hrishi never hides who he is. Marty, on the other hand, spends his whole life hiding who he is. Hrishi refuses to be anyone’s dirty little secret, and he lets Marty know that in no uncertain terms. He is adamant they will never move forward physically, until Marty proves to him he’s not afraid to call out people who make homophobic slurs.
     
    Marty has a hard time doing this because he doesn’t want people to even think he’s anything but straight, and defending Hrishi against disparaging words might make others question him. Naturally, it’s Marty’s best friend and band mate, Leon, who makes the most homophobic comments.
     
    Can Mr. Rock Star defend Hrishi in front of others? Can he ever come out to his friends ─ to his family? Can the rock star and the computer nerd find happiness? Will they ever stop arguing? Inquiring minds want to know!   And you will too if you read the story. 
     
    Confide/ant is one of the most enjoyable stories I’ve read. I loved it so much I never wanted it to end. In fact, I purposely waited seven months to read the last few chapters just to prolong the ending. This is a story I could read over and over ─ not because of the scorching hot sex, but because of the amazing chemistry Marty and Hrishi have together. If this were a published book, I’d be the first in line to buy it. 
     
    Thank you, Sasha, for another awesome story!   
     
    Category: Fiction   Genres: Romance   Tags: young adult, adult, gay, fighting, parents, interracial    Rating: Mature
  7. Renee Stevens

    Weekly Wrap Up (Jan 14 - Jan 20)

    By Renee Stevens,


    Weekly Wrap Up
    Hard to believe that another week is already over!  I hope everyone has had a great week and a great weekend so far. Let's take a look at what happened in the blogs for this week.
     
     
    Contests
    2018 Summer Novella Anthology: Summer - Due April 15th, 2018  
    Anthologies
    2018 Spring Anthology: Now or Never - Due May 15th 2018 Spring Anthology: Encounters - Due May 15th 2018 Fall Anthology: Fight Back - Due Nov 15th 2018 Fall Anthology: Good Intentions - Due Nov 15th  
    Blog Opportunities
    Story Critique: Open to all GA authors. Sign up here.
    Ask An Author: Send your questions for your favorite authors to @Carlos Hazday (no questions = no Ask An Author)
    3 Story Promo: Open to all GA Authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate.
    Author Interview: Open to all GA Authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate.
    Favorite Self-Written Story: Open to all GA authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate
     
    Premium Updates:
    Strawberry Chapstick by Comicality *Premium*
     
    Classic Updates:
    The List by Dabeagle
     
    Signature Updates:
    A Love Story by CarlHoliday; Book 2 of Warnton Stories
    Black Widow by Mark Arbour; Book 16 of Chronicles Of An Academic Predator (CAP)
    Cozy Contemplations by Headstall
    Denied by Cia
    Mojo by AC Benus
    Northern Exposure by Mark Arbour; Book 8 of Bridgemont
    On The Outside by Comicality
    Shelter by Comicality; Book 1 of Shelter
     
    Promising Updates:
    Here Kitty, Kitty by Caz Pedroso
    Only Prompts by Mikiesboy
    The Poetry of D/s by Mikiesboy
     
    ***Check out this GA Classic***
    Buy Me A Drink
    A Friendly Face
     
    Aaron doesn't get involved in drama. Instead he prefers to sit back night after night in the local club and watch OTHER guys become ensnared by life, and the A-gay's, little games. All that unexpectedly changes one night with four simple words, "Buy me a drink?" Now all Aaron can do is hang on and see where this ride takes him.
  8. Renee Stevens

    Writing Prompts #640 & #641

    By Renee Stevens,


    Prompts
    Hope everyone has had a great week so far. It's time for this weeks writing prompts. If you're stuck, or you're considering writing for the first time, these might be perfect for you. Don't forget that stories under 1,000 words must be posted as part of a collection.
     

    Prompt 640 – Creative
    Tag – Alien
    Driving home you manage to get past dozens of cars that are pulled over or stopped to watch some sort of accident. You get home and just strip off, climbing into a hot shower and trying to let the day go. When you finally finish, you pull on some clothes and go to make dinner. As you enter your kitchen you hear a crash in your backyard. Rushing outside into the darkening evening you see a figure spread out on the ground. When you finally are close enough you find a figure sprawled out on the floor. The deep green blood and light silver skin make it clear that the figure is an alien. What do you do?
    Prompt 641 – First Line
    Tag – First Line
    “Do you honestly expect him to call you?”

    Did you write a prompt response last week? Don't forget to share it below.
  9. Renee Stevens
    We hope everyone has had a wonderful start of the new year. As always, it's been a busy week in the various news blogs, so let's take a look at what you might have missed!
     
     
    Contests
    2018 Summer Novella Anthology: Summer - Due April 15th, 2018  
    Anthologies
    2018 Spring Anthology: Now or Never - Due May 15th 2018 Spring Anthology: Encounters - Due May 15th 2018 Fall Anthology: Fight Back - Due Nov 15th 2018 Fall Anthology: Good Intentions - Due Nov 15th  
    Blog Opportunities
    Story Critique: Open to all GA authors. Sign up here.
    Ask An Author: Send your questions for your favorite authors to @Carlos Hazday (no questions = no Ask An Author)
    3 Story Promo: Open to all GA Authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate.
    Author Interview: Open to all GA Authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate.
    Favorite Self-Written Story: Open to all GA authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate
     
    Premium Updates:
    Strawberry Chapstick by Comicality *Premium*
     
    Classic Updates:
    A Bridge to Yesterday by Ronyx
    The List by Dabeagle
     
    Signature Updates:
    Black Widow by Mark Arbour; Book 16 of Chronicles Of An Academic Predator (CAP)
    Denied by Cia
    Mojo by AC Benus
    Northern Exposure by Mark Arbour; Book 8 of Bridgemont
    Promptings from Valhalla by Valkyrie
    Spirit of Fire by Stellar
     
    Promising Updates:
    Disasters, Delights and Other Detours by Parker Owens
    Here Kitty, Kitty by Caz Pedroso
    timmy's poetry by Mikiesboy
  10. Renee Stevens

    Writing Prompts #638 & #639

    By Renee Stevens,


    Prompts
    I hope everyone is having a great week! It's time for this weeks prompts, 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.
     

    Prompt 638 – Creative
    Tag – The Holiday Party
    You’ve been invited to your sister’s holiday party. When you arrive your brother-in-law apologizes, but before you can ask your sister rushes you into the kitchen to help her. Once the guests arrive it becomes apparent that she is attempting to set you up. Is this good or bad?
    Prompt 639 – Word List
    Tag – Word List
    Use the following words in a story – a gift, a winter coat, a nurse, a novel, and a glass of champagne.

    Did you write a prompt response last week? Don't forget to share it below.
  11. Renee Stevens
    Hiya all!!!!
     
    I hope everyone is doing well and had a wonderful Christmas!  This blog is going to be somewhat of a review of this past year and a look forward to what I'm hoping to accomplish in 2018!
     
    In April, I published my story "Barbed Wire Cowboy" (the pre-revision copy can be found in Premium under the name Studly Ranch Hands). It did okay, but not as well as I had hoped. Got some good reviews, and some bad, but over all I think it was well received.
     
    In October, I was able to go to GayRomLit (GRL) in Denver. There were a few hiccups, but it was a great experience overall and I met some wonderful people that I still keep in touch with and made a few connections that I think will be a great help to me in the future (if I ever manage to get back to writing).
     
    In 2018, I hope to finish the rewrite of Forging Trust and post it on GA as well as prepare it for possible publication. I also would like to do another short story for the Something Unexpected series. One other thing I hope to get accomplished with my writing during 2018 is the revision and publication of Puppy Love.  But, while that may not sound like a lot to do, there are some changes going on for me that may make completing these tasks a tad bit more difficult.
     
    Some might have noticed that outside of posting blogs, I haven't been very active on site lately and I may not be overly active on the site for days to come. Part of the reason for that is I haven't felt very well for the last couple of months, and sometimes being on the computer makes it worse, and on Doctor's orders have been taking it easy and I spend a lot of time resting on the couch. But don't worry, me not feeling well isn't necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it's actually a good thing, as it means things are going well. I know, sort of an oxymoron there, isn't it. Usually not feeling well is never a good thing, but in November, my Husband and I found out that if everything goes well, we'll be welcoming our son or daughter into this world in July. Due to some early complications, my doctor has me on just shy of bed rest. (His exact words were he wasn't putting me on bed rest, but it would be close to it). We're hoping it's just the supplements that I have to be on that are making me so sick, and I only have to be on them for a few more weeks, but only time will tell. I don't have the greatest history when it comes to pregnancies, but this one so far has been extremely different than the others, and we're taking me not feeling well as a very good sign since I've made it to the almost 12 week mark, so we're cautiously optimistic.
     
    So all in all, despite the lack of writing on my part, things are going well and look rather promising for 2018! 
     
    I wish you all a wonderful start to the year!
     
     
  12. Renee Stevens
    Please join the Author Promotion Team in congratulating Headstall as GA's newest Signature Author! Headstall has been a member of GA for about three and a half years and was first promoted to Promising in November of 2015. Since joining, Headstall has written a total of 19 stories, including Cards on the Table. If you want to check out Headstall's other stories, you can visit his author page and while you're there, you can check out his updated banner!
     
    Please join us in congratulating Headstall on his well deserved promotion.
     

  13. Renee Stevens

    Weekly Wrap Up (Dec 24 - Dec 30)

    By Renee Stevens,


    Weekly Wrap Up
    Happy New Years Eve! We hope everyone had a great week and a very Merry Christmas!!!  Things have been busy in the various blogs lately, so lets get right to it!
     
     
    Contests
    2018 Summer Novella Anthology: Summer - Due April 15th, 2018  
    Anthologies
    2018 Spring Anthology: Now or Never - Due May 15th 2018 Spring Anthology: Encounters - Due May 15th 2018 Fall Anthology: Fight Back - Due Nov 15th 2018 Fall Anthology: Good Intentions - Due Nov 15th  
    Blog Opportunities
    Story Critique: Open to all GA authors. Sign up here.
    Ask An Author: Send your questions for your favorite authors to @Carlos Hazday (no questions = no Ask An Author)
    3 Story Promo: Open to all GA Authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate.
    Author Interview: Open to all GA Authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate.
    Favorite Self-Written Story: Open to all GA authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate
     
    Premium Updates:
    Strawberry Chapstick by Comicality *Premium*
     
    Classic Updates:
    A Bridge to Yesterday by Ronyx
    The List by Dabeagle
     
    Signature Updates:
    1550 Loring Lane by Cole Matthews
    A Man in a Room, and other poems by AC Benus; Book 6 of Verse
    Black Widow by Mark Arbour; Book 16 of Chronicles Of An Academic Predator (CAP)
    Daniel's Gift by comicfan
    Denied by Cia
    GA Writing Prompts by Dolores Esteban
    Musings of a Mongoose by Cynus
    Northern Exposure by Mark Arbour; Book 8 of Bridgemont
    Promptings from Valhalla by Valkyrie
    Translation Trashbin by AC Benus; Book 7 of Verse
     
    Promising Updates:
    Disasters, Delights and Other Detours by Parker Owens
    Fractions for fun by Puppilull
    Here Kitty, Kitty by Caz Pedroso
    Musings of a Messed Up Mind by Mikiesboy
    Stars for the Star by Parker Owens
    The Christmas Cracker by Mikiesboy
    The Poetry of D/s by Mikiesboy
    Who is it from? by Caz Pedroso
  14. Renee Stevens

    Writing Prompts #636 & #637

    By Renee Stevens,


    Prompts
    Hope everyone has had a great week so far. It's time for this weeks writing prompts. If you're stuck, or you're considering writing for the first time, these might be perfect for you. Don't forget that stories under 1,000 words must be posted as part of a collection.
     

    Prompt 636 – First Line
    Tag – First Line
    “No way in hell am I going with him!”
    Prompt 637 – Challenge
    Tag – Emotion
    No one enjoys dealing with the sad emotions. A breakup, a death, or even a serious illness can put a character through hell. Create a scene where your character is given some bad news and what happens when they are alone and process it. Remember to show and not tell. Bring the anguish alive for the reader.

    Did you write a prompt response last week? Don't forget to share it below.
  15. Renee Stevens
    Merry Christmas Eve everyone!  I hope you have all had a great week!  Just a reminder that you still have another month to read Christmas stories to participate in next months CSR Discussion day. You can read more about the December and January CSR here. Now, since I'm running late with the wrap up, let's get to it!
     
     
    Contests
    2018 Summer Novella Anthology: Summer - Due April 15th, 2018  
    Anthologies
    2018 Spring Anthology: Now or Never - Due May 15th 2018 Spring Anthology: Encounters - Due May 15th 2018 Fall Anthology: Fight Back - Due Nov 15th 2018 Fall Anthology: Good Intentions - Due Nov 15th  
    Blog Opportunities
    Story Critique: Open to all GA authors. Sign up here.
    Ask An Author: Send your questions for your favorite authors to @Carlos Hazday (no questions = no Ask An Author)
    3 Story Promo: Open to all GA Authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate.
    Author Interview: Open to all GA Authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate.
    Favorite Self-Written Story: Open to all GA authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate
     
    Premium Updates:
    Angel's Heart by Nephylim *Premium*
    Dreams of a Father by dkstories; Book 2 of Dreams of Humanity *Premium*
     
    Signature Updates:
    319 Winesap Lane by CarlHoliday
    Angel's Heart by Nephylim
    Cozy Contemplations by Headstall
    Denied by Cia
    Musings of a Mongoose by Cynus
    One Hundred and Fifty-Five Sonnets by AC Benus; Book 5 of Verse
    So Weeps the Willow by Cole Matthews
    Translation Trashbin by AC Benus; Book 7 of Verse
     
    Promising Updates:
    Cider Press by Parker Owens
    My Perfect Christmas by Caz Pedroso
    Ripped by craftingmom
    Special Occasion Stories by Caz Pedroso
    timmy's poetry by Mikiesboy
  16. Renee Stevens

    Writing Prompts #634 & #635

    By Renee Stevens,


    Prompts
    I hope everyone is having a great week! It's time for this weeks prompts, 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.
     

    Prompt 634 – Creative
    Tag – The Romance Cover Model
    He is the man who has graced a hundred romance novels. His long hair, broad chest, and sheer masculinity has captured the imagination of hundreds of readers. You have been asked to interview him. What sorts of things would you ask, knowing he has been interviewed dozens of times before? How would you try to approach him so he comes away as more than just a piece of meat selling romance?
     Prompt 635 – Creative
    Tag – The Choice
    For most of your life things have gone wrong, but last few months were beyond perfect. Your job has seen your worth promoting you, and you are dating a man who loves and respects you. But the last forty eight hours have seen your boss offer you the job of your dreams, only it is in an office on the other side of the country. At the same time, your boyfriend proposes and tells you the child he had with his ex is going to be his now after winning his court case and he wants you to help pick out a new home for all of you that will be close to the school and his aging parents. Which option do you take and why?

    Did you write a prompt response last week? Don't forget to share it below.
  17. Renee Stevens

    Writing Prompts #632 & #633

    By Renee Stevens,


    Prompts
    Hope everyone has had a great week so far. It's time for this weeks writing prompts. If you're stuck, or you're considering writing for the first time, these might be perfect for you. Don't forget that stories under 1,000 words must be posted as part of a collection.
     
     
     
    Prompt 632 – Creative
    Tag – Snow Job
    You’ve rented a cabin up in the mountains to get away for a while. You barely settle in on your first night when a horrible storm hits, burying the area in over a foot of snow within a few hours. You are comfortably wrapped up in bed when you wake to a loud crash and as you look out the window you see the falling snow and flames a few hundred feet away coming from a car. You grab clothes and race for the door. What happens?
    Prompt 633 – Word List
    Tag – Word List
    Use the following words in a story – Soldiers, a bomb threat, a mouse, handcuffs, and a blanket.
     
     
    Did you write a prompt response last week? Don't forget to share it below.
  18. Renee Stevens
    I hope everyone has had a great week so far!  If you haven't already done so, please check out Myr's announcement about the Birthday Policy Change. If you find yourself feeling like you're going in circles, and that you can't seem to get 100% complete, check to see if you've selected a favorite genre! Trust me, that kept me at 67% until I realized what I didn't do!  Now, let's see what happened this week!
     
     
    Contests
    2018 Summer Novella Anthology: Summer - Due April 15th, 2018  
    Anthologies
    2018 Spring Anthology: Now or Never - Due May 15th 2018 Spring Anthology: Encounters - Due May 15th 2018 Fall Anthology: Fight Back - Due Nov 15th 2018 Fall Anthology: Good Intentions - Due Nov 15th  
    Blog Opportunities
    Story Critique: Open to all GA authors. Sign up here.
    Ask An Author: Send your questions for your favorite authors to @Carlos Hazday (no questions = no Ask An Author)
    3 Story Promo: Open to all GA Authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate.
    Author Interview: Open to all GA Authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate.
    Favorite Self-Written Story: Open to all GA authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate
     
    Premium Updates:
    Angel's Heart by Nephylim *Premium*
    Dreams of a Father by dkstories; Book 2 of Dreams of Humanity *Premium*
     
    Classic Updates:
    A Bridge to Yesterday by Ronyx
    Jamal and the Three Challenges by Ronyx
     
    Signature Updates:
    A Man in a Room, and other poems by AC Benus; Book 6 of Verse
    Denied by Cia
    Musings of a Mongoose by Cynus
    So Weeps the Willow by Cole Matthews
    The Hollow Hills by Valkyrie
     
    Promising Updates:
    Cider Press by Parker Owens
    Georgetown: Roar by Carlos Hazday; Book 7 of CJ
    Here Kitty, Kitty by Caz Pedroso
    timmy's poetry by Mikiesboy
  19. Renee Stevens

    Writing Tip: Keep in Mind

    By Renee Stevens,


    Writing Tips
    When deciding what to post for today, I took a look through some of the things I have in reserve. I found a writing tip sent in a while ago and when I took a look back, I realized I'd never used it in a blog!  So, without further ado, here's "Things to Keep In Mind" by craftingmom!
     
    Things I constantly keep in mind as a writer
    by Craftingmom
     
     
     
    1.  The Opening needs to grab the attention of the reader and be interesting enough to hold it.  Starting the story in the middle of an action scene engages the reader immediately.
    Example:
    At age eighteen, he was rather short and thin.  He had black hair and green eyes.  He loved to run and climb.
    Or
    He hit the ground.  Hard.  He gasped as something sharp pierced his side.  Damn rocks.  The air whooshed out of his lungs before he felt an arm press across his throat.
    Technically, you know more about the character in the first paragraph, but do you really care?  Are you anxious to know more?  The second paragraph often has most readers already on edge just from the first few words, and they will continue reading to know what is happening, even if they don't know much about who the person is yet.  
     
    By jumping into the story in an active scene, a reader is more likely to become invested in the character(s) and want to know more about them. 
     
    2.  Try to describe your characters and settings actively.
    Examples:
    Non-active:  Kathleen was sixteen years old and rich.  She had blonde hair and bright blue eyes.  She loved reading, and she usually had a book with her at all times.
    Active:  Kathleen's blue eyes flew open in surprise as she tripped over the edge of the ornate coffee table, the book she'd had her nose buried in flying from her hands.  She landed in a thud on the oriental rug, her long blonde hair falling in her face.  She cursed to herself, how many times in her sixteen years had she fallen over something because she was so engrossed in reading.
    Both descriptions tell you the same thing about Kathleen—she's 16, she's a blue-eyed blonde, she loves reading, and even that her family has money.  However, in the second paragraph, you learn even more about her because of her actions.  You aren't told about how much she loves reading (in fact, those words are never even used), you actually SEE it because of how oblivious she is to her surroundings when she does read.  The author didn't have to say "she loved to read" because you experienced it.
     
    3.  Use a thesaurus!!!
    I have Thesaurus.com open on my laptop every time I'm writing.  When I was younger, I carried a paperback thesaurus around.  It is too easy to fall into using the same words over and over again (I still do it sometimes, but I try to catch myself):  she was sad, he was happy, she was mad, he was tired.  Use words that tell more.
    She wasn't just sad, she was depressed, heartbroken, grief-stricken
    He wasn't just happy, he was ecstatic, overjoyed, thrilled.
    She wasn't just mad, he was furious, enraged, agitated
    He wasn't just tired, he was exhausted, fatigued, drained.
    (Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society, anyone?)
     
    4.  Be aware of repeating words. 
    My editor gets me for this still, and because of her diligence, I've become much more aware of when I do it.  Most of the time when I'm editing other's works, I'll see things like:  And then, he did ...., And then he went to...., etc.  And next, he...
     
    5.  Don't rush it, and be willing to accept constructive criticism. 
    Sometimes it's hard because you just want to get to the 'good stuff', but building your back story is just as important.  Be willing to listen to what others have to say.  Sometimes what you have in your head, doesn't get onto the paper, or you assume your reader might already know it.  You can't assume that.  You may know what the "Hurricane Mile" is, but your reader might not.  So you may have to spend some time explaining things you might not have thought about before.
     
    6.  Be willing to start over. 
    There are times when I've had to scrap a whole chapter.  It's okay to say 'this isn't working' and throw it away, even if it's 5,000 words or more. 
     
    7.  Dialogue!
    Dialogue makes your story more interesting and real, in my opinion.  Life isn't quiet; people are always talking, even if it's in their own head.   Keep your dialogue natural and fluid; write as they would speak. 
     
    So that kinda covers what I've learned over the years to help me become a little better writer.  Many of them are probably pretty obvious, but they weren't always to me as I was starting out.  My very early writing (in middle school and high school) was rather boring looking back on it.  Over many years, I think I've become a little better and hope others enjoy the stories just that much more.
       
  20. Renee Stevens
    I hope you all enjoyed the last Improve & Encourage feature, because it's time for another one. These features are meant to both provide feedback to authors and, similar to story reviews, point out stories that readers might not otherwise have found. It's similar to a review, in that the person doing the critique tells you what they liked about the story, but it differs in that they also provide constructive criticism. Each author signed up to participate, and sign up's are still open!  These will post once a month until we no longer have content. Once that happens, I will critique the last author that posted. If you'd like to provide a critique for the blog, sign up in the thread. I'm hoping to have a lot more authors sign up, and just remember, by signing up, you are also volunteering to have your story critiqued and featured.
     
    Genie in Flames
    Wicked Witch
     
    Critique By: Comicfan
     
    Please give us a short summary of the story you chose.

    Jo is a young boy who is lonely. He is dealing with coming to terms with who he is, but wants someone to talk with. He makes a wish upon a star and a genie named Yaidul comes to talk with him. I don’t want to go into too much detail and rob you of the reading pleasure, but this one leaves you feeling for the main character.

    What do you see as the strengths of the story/poem?

    Jo is shown to be a lonely soul. He has no one to talk to and is shown immediately sharing his fears with the fire. Wicked Witch gives many traits to Jo in a very short period, displaying the child’s generosity, thoughtfulness, and worry. This brings his loneliness and fears into sharp focus. This accomplished within a short period and with an economy of language.

    What so you see as the weakness of the story/poem?

    If there is a weakness in the story it is its brevity. You know poor Jo is worried about his future. While there are mentions of Jo’s parents, as a reader you desire to know more. What have they said that worries Jo? Why is this poor, sweet soul seemingly without friends? As a reader you just want more.

    How do you think the story/poem could be improved?

    I believe it could be improved greatly by tying Wicked Witch to a seat in front of a computer and keeping them there until a second chapter is completed. Barring that, just going back to expand and include a bit more in the details. Overall, you are easily drawn into the world Wicked Witch created for Jo, but you so want more of it.

    What was your favorite part?

    I’m a sucker for anything that pulls at the heart strings and Yaidul’s final line, “I’ll be here as long as you need a friend to talk to, Jo,” just breaks my heart. It leaves you feeling so sad for Jo.

     
  21. Renee Stevens

    Weekly Wrap Up (Dec 3 - Dec 9)

    By Renee Stevens,


    Weekly Wrap Up
    I hope everyone has had a great week. It's been a very busy week here on Gay Authors, so it's time to take a look back. Unsure if you missed any of this weeks blogs? Or did you miss any of the updates from our site's promoted authors? Now's your chance to find out!!!
     
     
    Contests
    2018 Summer Novella Anthology - Due April 15th, 2018  
    Anthologies
    2018 Spring Anthology: Now or Never - Due May 15th 2018 Spring Anthology: Encounters - Due May 15th 2018 Fall Anthology: Fight Back - Due Nov 15th 2018 Fall Anthology: Good Intentions - Due Nov 15th  
    Blog Opportunities
    Story Critique: Open to all GA authors. Sign up here.
    Ask An Author: Send your questions for your favorite authors to @Carlos Hazday (no questions = no Ask An Author)
    3 Story Promo: Open to all GA Authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate.
    Author Interview: Open to all GA Authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate.
    Favorite Self-Written Story: Open to all GA authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate
     
    Premium Updates:
    Angel's Heart by Nephylim *Premium*
    Dreams of a Father by dkstories; Book 2 of Dreams of Humanity *Premium*
     
    Classic Updates:
    A Bridge to Yesterday by Ronyx
     
    Signature Updates:
    Denied by Cia
    Hurricane Lamps by CassieQ
    Lyrics for K. by AC Benus; Book 8 of Verse
    Musings of a Mongoose by Cynus
    One Hundred and Fifty-Five Sonnets by AC Benus; Book 5 of Verse
    So Weeps the Willow by Cole Matthews
    The Secret Life Of Billy Chase 9 by Comicality; Book 9 of The Secret Life Of Billy Chase
    Translation Trashbin by AC Benus; Book 7 of Verse
    Waiting Outside The Lines by Comicality
     
    Promising Updates:
    Cider Press by Parker Owens
    Georgetown: Roar by Carlos Hazday; Book 7 of CJ
    Here Kitty, Kitty by Caz Pedroso
    timmy's poetry by Mikiesboy
    Why Research Is Important To Me by Mikiesboy
  22. Renee Stevens

    Writing Prompts # 630 & #631

    By Renee Stevens,


    Prompts
    I hope everyone is having a great week! It's time for this weeks prompts, 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.
     
     
     
    Prompt 630 – First Line
    Tag – First Line
    “When did I get so old?”
    Prompt 631 – Creative
    Tag – The Card
    It is your birthday and no one remembers. You go home and as you prepare to make dinner you notice a card in among your bills. Opening it you are surprised at who remembered your birthday. Who is the card from and why are you surprised?
     
     
    Did you write a prompt response last week? Don't forget to share it below.
  23. Renee Stevens
    Attention all GA Members! Put your pen and paper down and put on those reading glasses, if you have them. It's time to do some reading, as the 2016 Summer Anthology is now live for your enjoyment! We had seven authors take up the challenge of the Wicked Games theme and there are eight new stories and poems for you to go through. Don't forget, if you like a story, leave the author a comment to show them your appreciation. Now, without further ado, here's what we have for you.
     
     
    Adam
    aditus  
    The crackling fire is a surprise. He can feel its warmth and smell the woody fragrance of smoke. This is the afterlife? Curious, he opens his eyes, when pain erupts inside him, burns his innards, and brings back the agony and despair he thought he had escaped. Hell!
     
    He had known he was dying, so when the dark figure stepped out of the shadows, he wasn’t surprised. Black robes rustled as the Reaper stopped beside his cot, looked down at him, and finally took Adam’s wrist to suck what was left of his wretched life out of him. As he passed, words that had haunted him for so long echoed in his mind: ‘In the end, you have to do penance for your mother’s mating with the devil by burning beside her in the eternal fire.’
     
    Continue>>
     
    Angel and Imp: Mission Impossible  
    Timothy M.
     
    “I cannot believe we got another Gay Boy!”
     
    Imp rolled his eyes and retorted, “I can’t belief ya complain ‘bout it.”
     
    “But he is the twelfth one in a row!” Angel’s voice matched the pout on the cute face.
     
    “And?”
     
    “Don’t you get annoyed by the similar assignments? Or being stuck with each other?”
     
    Imp couldn’t help the small growl escaping as he conjured up more black pillows and sprawled on them in a deliberately bored manner. He was sick of Angel whining.
     
    Continue>>
     
    Bewitched  
    Valkyrie
     
    "What sort of wicked game are you playing on me?” I murmured into my lover’s neck, kissing him just below his ear.
     
    His cheek muscles flexed beneath my hand, lifting into a smile that never failed to send shivers coursing through my body.
     
    “’Tis no game, my love.”
     
    “You have enchanted me as sure as any warlock.”
     
    He frowned and paused, leaving me feeling delightfully full, but aching for movement. “Don’t say such things, even in jest. If anyone heard—”
     
    Continue>>
     
    Gillette  
    Cole Matthews
     
    Terry looked around frantically; his stringy black hair whipped around, stinging his left cheek. He’d looked in the barn and behind the hayshed. Before that, the twelve-year-old boy had searched along the creek in the pasture where they usually looked for tiny black minnows to use for fishing. The pond in the field across the road was the only place he hadn’t looked.
     
    Why were they doing this to him—again?
     
    Terry swallowed back the hot sting of his tears and the hard lump of resentment. This was just like last year. After the first couple of days, they would ditch him and go off without him. Last year he’d said something to his aunt. She put things right, but it wasn’t worth it. The other boys barely concealed their contempt of him.
     
    Continue>>
     
    Letter From Tom  
    The Eminent MGK
     
    Prologue:
    Tom could smell the distinctive odor of blood as he coughed. He had failed to defend his love for Tim and to reduce the pain; he had done the last thing he would do. He believed ‘A person has learned much who has learned how to die.’ So he had consumed the poison he’d bought for the rats in his dorm room.
     
    Letter from Tom
     
    Hey Tim,
    I know you’ll want to kill me the moment you hear my name. I will spare you the trouble by opening the wound you have inflicted on my heart and draining every drop of life out of it. When one takes his last breath, he sees the life he has lived and starts to think clearly. I am at that stage right now.
     
    Continue>>
     
    Love is a Wicked Game  
    The Eminent MGK
     
    Yearning for some care,
     
    Is what I do all the time.
     
    Wishing for a simple love,
     
    For that was all I could do.
     
    Continue>>  
    Wiki Games - The Music Business  
    Dolores Esteban
     
    October 14, 2013, France

    For Vincent Corey  
    This is only the beginning; he
     
    has worked with prestigious clientele
     
    and started a shop in Newport Beach.
     
    Continue>>  
    Witch Your Tongue, Demon!  
    Cynus
     
    The conjurer Druella lit the final black candle and set it on the edge of the circle. She inspected the runes, scribed in white chalk, one final time before turning to the ancient tome in her hands. The leather-bound book held many dark secrets which had aided her quest for power over life and death, though lately a thorn had pierced her side and nearly driven her mad.
     
    Several miles away lived a powerful witch, Priscilla the Wise. They had met in battle several times, and though Druella had youth and talent on her side, she remained no match for Priscilla’s experience. But she’d come across a beautiful summoning spell several days ago, as if fortune had finally smiled upon her. The wind had turned a page in the same tome she now held, and the moonlight struck the words in just the right way to reveal the name of a powerful demon she could summon for aid.
     
    Continue>>
     
    2016 Spring Anthology Support Team
     
    Anthology Coordinator
     
    Renee Stevens
     
    Tech Support
     
    AJ
     
    Proof Team
     
    Cia
     
    Rec
     
    Valkyrie
     
    Anthology Banner Creation
     
    Mann Ramblings
  24. Renee Stevens
    I know a lot of people have been looking forward to the release of the Fall Anthology. Luckily, the wait is over! Eleven stories have now been released for your enjoyment. I hope you find something you enjoy and don't forget to leave the author's a review to let them know what you think of their work! Thank you to all the Authors and their teams, the Anthology Proof Team for giving the stories a final polish, and Mann Ramblings for the Anthology banner! A special thank you to Valkyrie who took over pairing authors with members of the proof team. Thank you!!
     
     
     
     

     
    Willpower
    Northie
     
    Message Bringer
    C.T. Piatt
     
    What Happened to Mark
    Jay T
     
    Bugsy and Me
    Mikiesboy
     
    Big Boy Pants
    Headstall
     
    Brotherhood
    Valkyrie
     
    The Accident
    Defiance19
     
    Living Next Door to Alex
    Caz Pedroso
     
    Before I Wake
    Puppilull
     
    Turnabout is Fair Fae
    Valkyrie

    Under the Surface
    jfalkon
     
     
     
     
    2017 Fall Anthology Support Team
     
    Anthology Coordinator
    Renee Stevens
     
    Tech Support
    AJ
    Myr
     
    Proof Team
    Cia
    Rec
    Valkyrie
    craftingmom
    Parker Owens
     
    Anthology Banner Creation
    Mann Ramblings
     
     
  25. Renee Stevens
    Good morning, y'all! I hope you have all had a great week. Have you read the 2017 Fall Anthology? If you missed the blog announcing the anthology going live, or any other site blog for that matter, don't fret! You can see what you might have missed right here in the weekly update blog! Afraid you missed a story posted by one of our promoted authors? We have those too!!!!
     
     
    Contests
    2018 Summer Novella Anthology - Due April 15th, 2018  
    Anthologies
    2018 Spring Anthology: Now or Never - Due May 15th 2018 Spring Anthology: Encounters - Due May 15th 2018 Fall Anthology: Fight Back - Due Nov 15th 2018 Fall Anthology: Good Intentions - Due Nov 15th  
    Blog Opportunities
    Story Critique: Open to all GA authors. Sign up here.
    Ask An Author: Send your questions for your favorite authors to @Carlos Hazday (no questions = no Ask An Author)
    3 Story Promo: Open to all GA Authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate.
    Author Interview: Open to all GA Authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate.
    Favorite Self-Written Story: Open to all GA authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate
     
    Premium Updates:
    Angel's Heart by Nephylim *Premium*
     
    Classic Updates:
    A Bridge to Yesterday by Ronyx
     
    Signature Updates:
    1550 Loring Lane by Cole Matthews
    319 Winesap Lane by CarlHoliday
    April Musings by Valkyrie
    Big Boy Pants by Headstall
    Brotherhood by Valkyrie
    Denied by Cia
    Promptings from Valhalla by Valkyrie
    Translation Trashbin by AC Benus; Book 7 of Verse
    Turnabout is Fair Fae by Valkyrie
     
    Promising Updates:
    Before I wake by Puppilull
    Bugsy and Me by Mikiesboy
    Cider Press by Parker Owens
    Georgetown: Roar by Carlos Hazday; Book 7 of CJ
    Here Kitty, Kitty by Caz Pedroso
    Living Next Door to Alex by Caz Pedroso
    Ripped by craftingmom
    timmy's poetry by Mikiesboy
×
×
  • Create New...