Andrew Q Gordon

I'll take a stab at this first, Anyta can weigh in later if she wants. First we had to decide what type of story. We tossed out different ideas and then decided to try to write something in the Genre that is most popular. So once we had the genre, we needed an idea. I think she tossed out the idea of a bet, and then with some back and forth we came up with the basic plot and mapped outed a rough outline of the story. We both wrote some of the chapters, I can't recall who did which at this point because if I wrote a chapter, I'd send it to her and she would mark it up, sometimes adding and subtracting sentences/paragraphs, other times sending it back saying - this needs to be re-worked. I'd do the same with her chapters. Some chapters had 5 or 6 rewrites before we were okay with it and moved on. About half way through we realized we needed to add a couple elements to the story - a love interest for Marcus, character traits for the characters, etc. So working those back into the story added a few revisions to a couple-three chapters. Finally we finished and we both did a re-read. Making sure things were consistent - which we still missed a few I noticed - for example: Marcus was sometimes Marc, but there are times when he shows up as Mark. Once I get access to the story I intend to clean those up. Basically it was - from my side - an amazingly smooth and really great experience. I'd get stuck on something and send the scene to Anyta and say - fix this, it needs emotions, or beats, or they need to do something but I can't figure out what to have them do or how to describe it. Then it would come back and I'd be 'wow, great!' What was really helpful is that there were chapters that both of us wrote that the other was 'Meh' this isn't working. We'd go back and forth and tinker, tweak and sometimes Hack apart the offending chapter until we both were satisfied. last I wanted to say this was a ton of work. Aside from doing all the other things we were/are both working on, we devoted a lot of time to this. We started the week or two after the contest was announced and didn't finish until a week or so before the deadline. 17 chapters back and forth took us a while to hammer out. I guess in the end the effort was worth it given the result. So thanks again to everyone who read and voted for the story. We were both totally stoked when we saw we'd won. Andy

I'm with J.C. - err. . . . well not with the editing thingy, cause you didn't do that for us, and not for the putting up with me - well maybe that but not for this, then again, maybe yes, because the formatting was screwed up and that was probably my fault, and of course, I really didn't bug you much, oh wait, yes I did but only because - never mind. Thanks for running this, posting the entries, counting the votes, getting all the stories posted to our accounts. Andy

Maybe you'll find you like Jack as much as other nameless characters from a story whose title must not be uttered.

Nice Job KC, I want to go back and re-read it with that context in mind. I'll be sure to leave comments along the way Andy

Really great job JC, you should be proud of this, everyone enjoyed it. What's next from you? Published author? Best Seller? Epic Novelist?

Well done, when I re-read and have time, I'll make sure to leave comments in the review section. I like these types of stories so I like what you did here. Andy

Lies, more lies and Damn lies, J.G is leaps and bounds better, but at least I won't embarrass myself with lack of subject knowledge. The key for me is trying to balance realistic court testimony with making it interesting. As for drama, Mike says I'm a drama queen, so hopefully that won't be an issue Thanks for reading and for always saying such nice things, [Even if I know they aren't entirely true ]

Thanks Louis, I hope you like it as much as think you will As for typos, Yeah. It always amazes me how many times I can read it, others can read it and STILL things slip by. Don't know how the professional editors do it. But here's my goal - I aim for getting the spelling close enough so people know what I mean

Being lazy so answering all three with one reply Yeah I hope a little, but hard to surprise folks when they know everything about it already. Well not the Guilty or Not Guilty part, but everything else. Easy?? what'd I do? I was just trying to set the bar low then deliver more than I promised. Better than promising one a week and not being able to deliver, right? Well you see, I'm more interested in my readers and less interested in read count. [i learned that trick from Mr. Arbour and Nephy] cause if I stretched it out, I have gotten more reads on Second Shot than I did, but I like to getter done and move on to the next one.

My dear Trevor you shouldn't tempt me like that. Is THAT all I need to do to get you to stop talking about Second Shot? Seriously, the ending is written, so as much as I appreciate the thought, I can't change the ending - or better said, I won't. If he's guilty, he is, if he's acquitted, he is. It's written and it's staying. But yeah it would suck if he was acquitted, wouldn't it? Stay with me and reserve judgement until the end. Andy

Well I guess we can add Eddie to the list of the stupid. Jase was right, he needs to stop trying to be a friend and be the parent. Guess it's easy said than done when the 'child' you're meetin for the first time is 16 almost 17. So now that Rory knows the truth will he give Eddie a chance? I suspect no. That would upset his world where he gets to be mad for a reason and then it's easier to go home. Really well done.

Yeah really nice work, Rory is an ass - so why do we still like him and want him to be okay? More like smack the crap out of him for being so dense. Nice bit with Luke and Rory and the pool - bet that would have been an eye ful to see

Since I usually review most chapters, I keep to that with this even if I am not sure you'll even get them. I think Rory and Luke are really strong characters who are really well written. I don't feel Jase so well, or Eddie to a lesser degree, but the boys I get. The ominous music sorta flared to life when you introduce Aaron - Rory's 'sixth sense' thought short of foreshadowed things. Not sure Eddie really meant for Rory to take to heart his offer to send him back so quickly - I mean the family bought a new house - yeah Eddie and Jase are 'brothers' right - so they fully expected him to stay, but he's already decided before he gave it a chance that he's going home - too bad, he has a chance to start over with someone - who until they both decided to be butt heads, could be like a brother to him. Oh well. teenagers - shutters.

If I promise to share, will you smile again?

Not sure what I expected the way everyone who talks about you does so in hushed tones with ample amounts of reverence and awe, but I tried to go in with an open mind. I'm not even sure you'll see this but if you do I figured I'd add my voice to theirs, well minus the hushed tones and reverence, I'm something of an atheist so I don't do worship too well Anyway, this was a great chapter/start. There is this element of feeling sorry for Rory but still wanting to beat the snot of him for being such a punk. That's hard to pull off. I sense Luke being a 'hard' problem for Rory. And yeah - he is about the dimmest bulb in the pack if he believes Jase and Eddie are 'Brothers' I don't need to read on to know that ain't true, but then . . . well never mind.

Hmmm candy - do you have any chocolate?

Welcome WriterX and Listen2 - always good to see new 'faces' and new authors.

Sorry for it being at truly the 11th hour - 11:59 to be exact - but had parenting class tonight - I mean didn't Mike know that Thursday was posting day when he schedule us for parenting classes on Thursdays?? Anyway, Chapter 15 is up. Things are coming to a head, and it is probably well past the time for Will to figure out the mystery that is Ryan. I expect it will happen soon - like 3-4 chapters soon. But what do I know anyway?

Mike, Nephy - also an attorney - is helping me keep things real - so thank her too Chapter three won't be two weeks. I'll post it next sunday. Who knows, I might get inspired and get everything finished and ready sooner, but I can't commit to more right yet - go a little something going on that I kinda need to focus on

Isn't asking questions all we're allowed to do here?

Several things - Perry Mason? OMG My Pop loved Perry Mason. When I graduated law school he kept calling me Perry . The other five all pled. Only Jordan took it to trial. In Chapter 41 of Sec Shot, Mary said she expected pleas because they had a strong hand. Jason predicted Jordan wouldn't plea - man that Jason - he and I sure do think alike Thanks Conner - as always I love hearing from you.

Plea Bargain? Dude, plea bargain time is LONG past when you pick 12. You heard the phrase, 'first to talk first to walk?' Jordan got his chance at a plea and turned it down. It's time to roll the dice and see. As for what will happen to Jordan, I never said he will or won't walk, I just mentioned I lost a trial where the murderer confessed, so anything is possible, that's all.

Juries are funny beasts - you can ask them til you're blue in the face but they rarely admit to bias. Remember you have to stand up in front of the judge and two lawyers and say yes, I'm a bigot, it rarely happens. -- -- -- As for Barbara - well she is what she is, she doesn't let go when she sets her mind to something. Rebecca made a mistake making her an enemy. She's about to find out the hard way

The court house I first practiced in was in Pennsylvania. Behind every three courtrooms there was a room where the judges kept their robes and would put them on before walking into court. it was also the place where they would take us for conferences that they didn't want to have in open court. So yeah, it's real. As for quirks, well I think we all have one or two we default to when were in trial. But I won't divulge mine - - - Thanks for reading Ramon.

Mike, Thanks for the note - the main character is me. . . . err . . . . the prosecutor Martin. Jason and Peter will be involved, I mean Peter has to be, but for the most part it will be a story about the handling of the trial and it's out come. Having lost a murder case where the suspect confessed - don't think for a minute I won't let Jordan be acquitted - just saying it could happen so don't get too confortable with the idea that Jordan Does Jail is the next companion story here