comicfan

Welcome to Friday, and the warmer temps are still here in New York. I am looking forward to the changing leaves and cooler temperatures, but oh well. I don't want to keep you in suspense any longer so here are the prompts. Prompt 266 – Creative Tag – First Line “I don’t care! I still believe in you.” Prompt 267 – Creative Tag – Time Warp You had been watching an old music video from the 80’s, and laughed at the outfits and hair styles. Thinking how easy that time must have been for those living back then, you go to get up from the couch, slip, and knock yourself out. When you wake up, you find yourself dressed differently. When you look outside you suddenly feel sick to your stomach. As you reach for your cell phone you find it isn’t there. On the wall is a calendar that reads 1988. Somehow you are stuck in the past. What do you do? After last week's screw up, there were four prompts for people to choose from. Choices were varied, but I did get a few takers. One of my favorites was the one about changes. Prompt 264 read - It is the beginning of fall and the temperatures are beginning to change, the leaves are changing color, and the moods of people are changing as well. Create a story centered around the idea of change – whether it is physical, mental, or maybe even a change of location. Did you enjoy it? Wanna know how it ends? You can find it here - http://www.gayauthors.org/forums/topic/37728-prompt-264-creative/ The list of words prompt can be found here which includes Kitt's take on this one - http://www.gayauthors.org/forums/topic/37729-prompt-265-creative/ So go read, review, and write. Enjoy this weekend and see what inspires you to put pen to paper or fingertips to keyboard. Till next time. - Wayne

I thank you all for such glowing comments. :blush: Charlie was my way of dealing with things going on in my life. I made it possible for him to have what I had wanted, even if it never did happen easily for him. Sometimes the right idea comes along and you just have to write it. I was lucky to find an audience that embraced Charlie, Barbara, and the rest of the family as well as Reed and all those who crossed paths in Accident's Happen. I never believed a character should be have a simpler life or deal with more than is appropriate. Life tosses a lot of curve balls and you have to deal with them. Charlie's story takes place from September to December. That is such a short period of time, but there is plenty for him to deal with, not only is his life disrupted, there is also the upcoming marriage, the attack on his nephew, his mother's health, and that just names a few things. Sometimes the greatest thing anyone can do is just be themself and take time for those they love. Thank you all for reading and commenting on my work. I greatly appreciate it.

I'm sorry I am so late in leaving a review. I had actually read this story before the anthology went live but had to wait to leave it. I loved how you kept everyone guessing what was in the box, and just what was Pandora. The fact that it was a hedgehog just made me smile and read it over again. This story was so different from all the rest and a lot of fun to read. Can't wait to see what else you come up with Ron.

Nothing worse than when an adult in charge of children misuses that trust. Not sure I like a 12 year old to have to be that cynical or have to work that hard to protect herself. Interesting story none the less Kitt.

Thanks for reading it all Myiege. I do have pages for the prompts if anyone wants to post them now.

I always enjoy reading your work Dolores. You never do the expected. I loved the idea of the warriors repeating similar mistakes and not learning from them. I enjoyed the set up and how you delivered this poem. Nice job.

You have a lot of good things happening in this story. You have a flawed main character, who looks at what was, what could have been, and is unsure he had made the right choices. However, in the end all he has is Dan and they work hard at the end to survive. I like the way you handled the whole end of the world by zombies thing.

Oh, it is that time of the week again. Yes, I get to see if I can succeed in luring someone to pick up my challenge and write a new prompt tale. Interested? Well, let me show you what I have up my sleeve this week. Prompt 264 – Creative Tag – Fall It is the beginning of fall and the temperatures are beginning to change, the leaves are changing color, and the moods of people are changing as well. Create a story centered around the idea of change – whether it is physical, mental, or maybe even a change of location. Prompt 265 – Creative Tag – List of Words Use the following words in a story – duct tape, broken toy, pizza pie, ice cube, and a laptop computer. Well did one of those catch your attention? Do you feel the need to write? Don't let me stop you, go to it and then share it on the prompt pages so everyone can enjoy. Speaking of enjoying, I had hoped to post ones for last week's prompts. Of course, having had a bad day I forgot to actually create a page for them. Evidently no one wanted them because no one commented the pages were missing. ( ) Oh well. However we did have people who worked on the prompts from a few months ago. I really enjoyed one of them so I'm sharing it with everyone now. The original prompt read - You finally have found the perfect mate. Someone who listens to you, shares your tastes in music and art, loves your movies. However they have just one small flaw. What is it? Never Surrender took that prompt and made it her own. Is that how she ended it? Of course not, but I want to make sure you go back to read it. The story, in its completed form, can be located here - http://www.gayauthors.org/forums/topic/36897-prompt-226-creative/ So until next week, ladies and gentlemen, please remember to read, comment, and share your favorite stories with others. Till next time. - Wayne

Attempted

What are you planning on wearing for Halloween?

Sometimes life just keeps going forward. If you wait too long, the choice is taken from you. The problem is when you have people you care about and who could become more to you, you can't keep them swinging in the breeze. Chances are one or the other will learn what is happening and make their choice. In this case, Will felt he wasn't what was wanted. He still cared deeply, but he removed himself from the picture. Thank you for the review Cockamamie. Hope you find other pieces you enjoy.

Geez. No respect, no respect I tell you. I'm beginning to feel like Rodney Dangerfield over here.

Poor Sam. I think there are times we all blind ourselves to what is going on right in front of our faces because we just don't want to deal with it. I thought your story was really nicely crafted. Good job all around.

The idea of journals and the interview worked really well for this story. Having worked as a teacher it is easy to see how students can act like this to each other and if they aren't watched over, well it isn't hard to see them become something out of Lord of the Flies. Interesting take on the theme Andy.

I'll admit after all the hype around the damn diary, I was more than ready to sit down and read it. I was suspicious when there was talk of the party, ticked when it didn't happen, and ready to smack the hell out of everyone as he began going through the diary. The proposal was a surprise. It was a nice idea and definitely a different approach to the topic.

So from simple home improvement to Pandora possession. Funny, who knew that the gay man would be drawn in and taken by the beautiful evil wench. Thank goodness Kit doesn't give up and is willing to fight for Matt. However, you don't leave the bitch buried, but let her out once again. You are not nice.

So a group of friends go in where they shouldn't and unleash a new form of hell. Yeah, I can see how that would be like opening up Pandora's box. Enos manages to get escape back to his poor little home only to have the evil meet him there later. You made this a really twisted tale and I enjoyed every spine tingling second of it. Nice job.

Oh dear, it is Friday again and I'm a bit late getting this up. I'm sorry one and all. This is what happens when you work a weird work schedule in retail. It has been two weeks since I could offer you a new prompt. I hope everyone enjoyed the anthology that went live last week, but I shouldn't just keep rambling should I? I won't hold you up any longer so let's get right to the prompts. Prompt 262 – Creative Tag – Friday the 13th It is that time of the year again, and it is Friday the Thirteenth. Is this a good day or a bad day? Prompt 263 – Creative Tag - First Line “And you thought not telling me would be better than the truth?” We had a number of entries for the last round of prompts. That is the thing about them, you never know what the prompt is going to evoke in the author who chooses to pick up and write it. Some become comedies, other horror, but occasionally you get one that is sort of a mystery. Case in point, Dolores Esteban took a shot at the list of words prompt and began this story that she named Rose Garden. So what do you think? Want to read more? Of course you do, who doesn't like to know the ending of a story? You can find Dolores' story and many others that attempted prompt 260 here - http://www.gayauthors.org/forums/topic/37599-prompt-260/#entry433417 For those who want to see what can happen with a changeling check out the response to prompt 261 here - http://www.gayauthors.org/forums/topic/37600-prompt-261-creative/ Remember if haven't read the anthology yet give it a look over. There were a lot of great stories. They can be found here - http://www.gayauthors.org/stories/category/66 So please remember to read, comment, and let everyone know what you enjoyed. Till next time. - Wayne

Moonlight. Something so calming about walking in it. Rain or snow?

Thank you Ron. I always try to leave enough room for my reader to make their own decisions concerning some things. Charlie we know was abused, whether on the streets or at home. We know he hasn't had what he needs and had hit the bottom of the barrel to have found the Lunch Box. Pandora and Gus will make sure he is sorted out. Glad you like my story.

Thanks for the review Aditus. I always felt that hope was the gift to keep humanity from just blowing itself out of existence. My take on it is Pandora just kept working to make sure that hope would always be there for those who needed it. Glad you enjoyed it.

Life always seems to go in cycles. There are ups and downs, good times and bad times. I think we all go through them. My father went out to see my brother for eleven days. It was nice to have peace and quiet. While he was gone I probably did more than I should have. Today, knowing he was due home I went full out like I haven't since I hurt my back. At least the house is clean and he came home to a clean bed, fresh blankets, and no problems. As a result of the non-stop movement all day, my back is presently throbbing and my legs are cramping like I can't put into words. I took my muscle relaxers for the first time in over a month. Hello pain, sorry I really wasn't missing you, but I see you found me anyway. I'd been feeling slightly down. I get that way especially when you keep hearing everyone else seems to be moving forward in their life and I feel like I've stalled. It isn't that I have given up, just feel like I'm stalled. Well, it is amazing what friends can do for you. One of my usual postcard buddies sent me a letter letting me know she has been dealing with issues in her family similar to my own. Helped to put my own life into perspective. Then a dear friend sent me a package as a surprise from her trip to New Orleans. Everything in the package immediately became something I treasure, including an ornament that is presently hanging on the corner of my mirror. As if I wasn't blessed enough, yet another friend sent me a pick me up in the form of food. Who in their right mind wouldn't smile due to that? I have an incredible bunch of friends, and I am blessed to know and have them to keep me grounded and offer support when I need it. Then there is the woman who I think of as my daughter. I've known her since she is sixteen and been a honored to be a part of her life. She was there to support me when I lost my mother, and I was there for her and her family when her grandmother passed. Now she is getting married and is twenty five years old. I am to be a part of her wedding party. For her, I would do whatever was needed. She is one very special person to me and one who makes me smile just hearing her hello on the phone. We talked the other night for close to four hours and besides her mother, I was the second person to receive a picture of her in the wedding gown she choose. So been a bit busy lately. The anthology went live and I promise I still have many reviews to leave. Just been caught up in my life a bit. Hopefully all is going well in the lives of those around me. If I haven't been as attentive as I should, I do apologize. However, I have come back to myself so look out, there are many new beginnings for me and I can't wait to start them.

KC,Thank you for all the help with this. You know me, I like my myths. With an anthology entitled Pandora's Box how could I not go play with the original myth? Here is hoping you never lose hope and can always find it in your own part of the world.

Well I think a lot people lose hope. So the idea that Pandora would work bringing hope back to those who lost it, as a sort of penance for releasing all the evils into the world appealed to me. Playing with the idea of the jar or box that it was in, and turning it into the Lunch Box was just a fun twist to it.

Totallyy, if there was a category for Fairy tales or Mythology, most of my work would fall into them. I love to play in those areas, adding my own spin to what people feel they know. I am glad you enjoyed it