Lugh

Ten years after receiving a birthday present, Caleb discovers the real gift.

you're welcome! yes there is one more and look for a summer release.

We've been having the Reader's choice awards since 2006. I thought it would interesting to take a look at past winners, so Wildone put together this list. Keep in mind that over the years the award categories have changed -- so here it is -- the 2006 to 2010 Reader's Choice Award Recap Best Hosted Story: 2006: Desert Dropping by Dom Luca 2007: Living in Surreality by Shadowgod 2008: How The Light Gets In by Ducan Ryder 2009: Bloodlines by Mark Arbour 2010: Millennium by Mark Arbour Best Shared/Promising Story 2006: Loving You, Loving Me by Formosa 2007: Jumping Over My Mountain by Tiffnay Chin (tied) 2007: Roomates by Krista (tied) 2008: Buy Me A Drink by AFriendlyFace 2009: Dangerous Liaisons by Nephylim 2010: Escaping The Pain by Cia Best eFiction/GA Story 2006: For The Love by C James 2007: Everybody’s Wounded by Duncan Ryder 2008: It Started With Brian by Dan Kinkaid, co-authored by Adam Phillips 2009: The Price of Honor by Cia 2010: Second Shot by Quonus 10 Best Anthology Story 2006: Days of Silence by Viv 2007: Category 5 by C James 2008: Street Life by Graeme 2009: It Was A Monday by Lugh 2010: A Chance Encounter by Jian Sierra (tie) 2010: The Search for Pandora by Graeme (tie) Best Poem 2006: I’ No More by Luc 2007: Who Am I? by Menzoberranzen 2008: Black Light by Corvus 2009: I Saw His Face by AFriendlyFace 2010: A Place Not Far by MikeL (3 way tie) 2010: Consider Arbitrary by Bugeye (3 way tie) 2010: The Greatest Sadness by Bugeye (3 way tie) Best Non-GA Story 2006: New Brother by Graeme at Awesomedude 2007: Heart of the Tree by Graeme at Awesomedude 2008: The Price of Friendship by Graeme at Awesomedude 2009: The Scrolls of Icaria by Jamie de Valen at Awesomedude 2010: The Scrolls of Icaria by Jamie de Valen at Awesomedude Best Story by a New Anthology Author 2007: What I’ve Done by L0st Cause (aka Meeko) 2008: If No One Notices by AFriendlyFace 2009: Curved Balls by Nephylim 2010: Sorry Mom by Duncan Ryder Best eFiction/GA Story by a New Author 2006: For The Love by C James 2007: Everybody’s Wounded by Duncan Ryder 2008: In Due Time by J_Ross 2009: The Price of Honor by Cia 2010: Second Shot by Quonus10 Best Antagonist/Villain (From All Stories) 2006: Aaron in Desert Dropping by Dom Luka 2007: David Martin in The Other Side of Me by Dom Luka 2008: Travis in In The Fishbowl by Dom Luka 2009: Neil in Man In Motion by Mark Arbour 2010: Bridget in Circumnavigation by C James Best Protagonist/Hero (From All Stories) 2006: Rory Norick in Desert Dropping by Dom Luka 2007: Justin in Gone From Daylight by Comicality 2008: Taylor in Hello, Stupid by Dom Luka 2009: Travis in In The Fish Bowl by Dom Luka 2010: Trevor in Circumnavigation by C James King/Queen of Evil Cliffhangers 2007: C James 2008: Mark Arbour 2009: C James 2010: C James Best Supporting Character From a Hosted Author 2006: Luke in Desert Dropping by Dom Luka Best Supporting Character From a Shared Author 2006: Storm in Jumping Over My Mountain by Tiffani Chin Best Protagonist/Hero From a Shared Author 2006: Dave in Loving You, Loving Me by Formosa Best Antagonist/Villain From a Shared Author 2006: Martin in Bad Seed by Empathy Best Protagonist/Main Character From an eFiction/GA Stories Author 2006: Steve in For The Love by C James Best Antagonist/Villain From an eFiction/GA Stories Author 2006: Eric in For The Love by C James Best Supporting Character From an eFiction/GA Stories Author 2006: Nicky in Indefensible by AFriendlyFace Best Protagonist/Hero From an Anthology Entry 2006: Jess in Once Upon A Blizzard by Ieshwar Best Antagonist/Villain From an Anthology Entry 2006: The Muse in The Muse by C James Best Supporting Character From an Anthology Entry 2006: Lucas in This Time Will Be Different by Bardeara Best Spring Anthology Entry 2006: Days of Silence by Viv Best Summer Anthology Entry 2006: No Shirt? No Problem! by C James Best Fall Anthology Entry 2006: Trick or Treat? by Graeme Best Winter Anthology Entry 2006: Right Up Until The Very End by Bardeara Favourite Family Member From a GA Story 2006: Grandma Alice in Desert Dropping by Dom Luka Best Boyfriend in a GA Story 2006: Seth Fisher in Desert Dropping by Dom Luka Most Romantic Scene in a GA Story 2006: ‘I Wrote My Number in Your Dirt’ in Desert Dropping by Dom Luka Funniest Moment in a GA Story 2006: ‘Connor Meeting Tatyana’ in Someday Out of The Blue by Little Buddha Most Anticipated Couple in a GA Story 2006: Nelson Larmont/Milo Trust in With Trust by Dom Luka Best Short Story 2006: Valentine’s Day Goes To the Dog by Dom Luka Best Cast Ensemble in a Gay Story 2006: Desert Dropping by Dom Luka Best Protagonist/Main Character in a Non GA Story 2006: Kayden in Kayden and Zac by Ryan Keith at The Mail Crew Best Supporting Character From a Non GA Story 2006: Adam in New Brother by Graeme at Awesomedude Most Moving Poem on GA 2006: Stone by Birsdsofafeather Poem with the Best Imagery on GA 2006: Tell No Secrets by Lugh

Watch out guys! We've got two up and coming stars here... CassieQ's series "Not the Sun" is well received by her fans, of course she's always looking for new fans. "Ground Rules" is in progress and is getting pretty lengthy as well as pretty interesting. One warning though -- there is a little violence so consider yourself warned. The reviewers, as well as myself, would highly recommend that you read each of these. Not the Sun By CassieQ by Renee I had read most of Cassie’s short stories and decided that I would read her Trilogy that starts with “Not the Sun”. I had only planned on reading a few chapters before going to bed, but once I got started on this story, I just couldn’t stop. I ended up staying up all night and working my way through each of the three stories. “Not The Sun” is the first story in the series and it introduces the majority of the characters you will find throughout the series. The story follows Brandon and Jordan, two very different boys that are tied together in ways that the reader quickly becomes engrossed in. There are many different aspects in the story that are unique and Cassie does an excellent job at explaining them so that the reader can understand what is happening, but even with the explanations, the flow of the story is not disrupted in the least. I became thoroughly entrenched in this story as it kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next, and the story is anything but predictable. One thing I quickly learned with this story is that in “Not The Sun”, things are not always as they appear. Cassie shows her skill in pulling the reader into her story and really making me care about her characters. I wanted to know what was going to happen to them and there were many spots in this story that were full of suspense. Luckily, this story is complete, so those moments that would have made me want to scream in agony at a chapter ending never happened, since I was able to quickly move onto the next chapter. There were very few grammar and spelling mistakes in “Not The Sun” and even the few that I did notice did not detract from the story in any way and were easily glosses over with the skill with which Cassie weaves this story. I strongly recommend this story to anyone, my only bit of advice is to ensure that you have a large slot of uninterrupted time. Once you get started, you probably won’t want to stop! Ground Rules by InTheMindOfSunshine Review by Intune To take a chapter title from the series, “Oh.My.Gosh.” Ground Rules is without a doubt one of my favorite new stories. The in-progress piece follows a set of boys as they face the reality of what it means to come out in a not-so-accepting high school setting. While the story takes a couple chapters to really find it’s groove, I assure you once there it is absolutely addictive. It is written from two first-person accounts, which really serve to draw the reader in. First there is Oliver, a sensitive artistic teenager, who has a giant crush on Atticus, a boy who he’s never even spoken to. Between a tenuous relationship with Oliver and his friends, and a struggle for him to get to know Atticus, you’ll find yourself rooting for Oliver as he deals in awkward and trying situations. Many of which are caused amusingly by himself because of a tendency to verbalize his thoughts. The other main character is none other than Atticus, who has quite a story of his own. His fears of being outed create a tense internal battle on how he can live up to his family’s expectations while still maintaining his relationship with his two male lovers and friends, Kody and Easton. He has to deal with the scrutiny of family and classmates, a problem that only gets more complex after Oliver is thrown into the mix. Through bullies, horrible family revelations, and friendship surprises, you will find yourself reading desperately to see how this tale unravels. It is brilliantly written so just as you feel you’ve got a handle on the situation, the circumstance shift, making the story all the more compelling. There is always a question of who knows what- and how the characters will deal with the uncomfortable circumstances they get thrown into. Although the subject matter could be depressing, InTheMindOfSunshine manages to inject light and humor into this complex story. The writing manages to engage me emotionally in a way much of what I’ve read has not; when reading Ground rules it is not uncommon for me to get angry on behalf of a character, sad for their difficulties, or to burst out laughing from their funny internal observations. The story is an easy read, the chapters literally fly by to the point I often wish they were about ten times longer. Fortunately, though, there are seventeen chapters already posted to go through and the updating is frequent. Otherwise, I don’t know what I’d do! Definitely give this story a read; it will be worth your time. Remember Read! Review! And happy writing!

How To Recognize a Head Hop Some of you may be asking, what exactly do you mean by a “head hop”. Head hopping is something that many of us have been accused of at one time or another. In this lesson we are going to look at how to recognize a head hop and ways in which to correct it. What is a head hop? A head hop is when you have a chapter or story that is from one characters point of view but you find that you have unintentionally included things such as thoughts of another character. These are things that your main narrating character couldn’t possible know unless they are a mind reader. Perhaps the easiest way to show this is by an example. I have taken this example from my own story, Chance Encounters. The one way that it’s not considered head-hopping is when the story is 3rd Person Omniscient. The below story is supposed to be 3rd Person Limited. So now we are going to look at what possible corrections could be done. I have shown both the original and what the rewrite COULD be. Head Hop #1: Old: "Not at all, have a seat Simon," Richard answered before nearly kicking himself as he realized that he had slipped up by using Simon's name. New:“Not at all, have a seat Simon.” Richard cringed and motioned to the seat across from him. Simon wondered at the slight tension, but shrugged it off. Head Hop #2: Old: "A couple weeks ago," Richard answered as he avoided meeting Simon's gaze. He hadn't planned on reminding Simon of that night two weeks ago, but once he had slipped up and called Simon by name he didn't know any way around it. It never occurred to him to make up something else, in fact, he didn't know enough about Simon to make up anything plausible. New:“A couple weeks ago.” Richard stared at something behind Simon, not meeting his eyes. Simon glanced over his shoulder but didn’t see anything that would hold the other man’s attention and turned back to Richard. Two weeks ago would have been when he’d gone to the club. Maybe… Head Hope #3: Old: "Not really," Richard answered, purposely not mentioning exactly what had happened. New: “Not really.” Simon felt like Richard was holding something back, but wasn’t sure what it could be. His non answers were beginning to get annoying. He wanted the answers to his questions and he wasn’t about to give up before he got them. Head Hope #4: Old: "I'm not so sure you want to know," Richard answered and was slightly taken aback to see the sparks in Simon's eyes as he rested his elbows earnestly on the table. New:“I’m not so sure you want to know.” Richard took a sip of his drink and stared down at the table. Simon glared at his companion and felt a slight satisfaction when the other man flinched. He wouldn’t have asked if he didn’t want to know. He needed to know even if he was slightly apprehensive about the answer. So, as you can see from the above examples, fixing head hopping can be fairly easy. It can also be very easy to recognize. Simply ask yourself while reading through your work if what you’re reading is something that your main narrator could possibly know. If it’s not, then it’s probably a head hop.

Those Pesky Words by Cia I was having a discussion with an author the other day about words. Why do we pick the ones we use when we write? What should the focus be on, the words themselves or they image they are meant to convey? When I first started writing, I used a lot of formal language. For example, from my first story, The Price of Honor: The strange color registered with his consciousness but he continued to stare blankly about, trying to process the abrupt dislocation that he had just experienced. Right. People think or talk that way. I don't think so. After getting advice from other authors and having readers tell me what works and what doesn't, I don't write like that anymore. I've realized, that for my writing style, smaller is better. I narrate my stories the same way I speak and leave formal language for dialogue by characters that need it. If I were to re-write that line now, it would be different and look like this: He noticed the strange color of the plants, but he stared blankly at the bush in front of him. He'd expected a city landing pad when he woke up, not this wilderness. They mean the same thing, but my words aren't getting in the way of the image in the second line. People know the plants are a strange color and he's in a wilderness that he wasn't expecting. That's all that is needed. Instead of flexing my vocabulary muscles, I'm letting the story speak in a voice that most readers will be more familiar with and understand more easily. I think it gives my stories a readability that they were lacking in the past. Remember Read! Review! and Happy Writing!

Ok, ok, bad, bad Lugh... What's new? Well we have two for you -- enjoy! The Mall by Mike00 review by Cia For those who love to read the unexpected, check out The Mall by Mike00. A teenage boy goes to the mall with his mother and something he never would have dreamed of happening, does. Lost in a bizarre new situation, he has to make decisions and face things he never would have imagined. First kisses, dreams, loneliness, and chocolate bars all come together in an enthralling short story with a twist. I don't want to give too much away since the story is less than 10k, but you won't regret taking the time to read it! Mike's talked about turning this story into a longer serial piece, and I'd love to see that happen. Review it for him, so that maybe we can convince him to get it going!! In Safe Hands by Riley Jericho review by wildone In Safe Hands by Riley Jericho is a recently completed story that has garnered the nomination of Best GA Story by a Non Hosted/Non Promising Author. It truly deserves to be there for the author’s true ability to tell a story. Elliott Carter, the near 14 year old son of a UPS executive, has found himself growing up as many different countries in his life than most of us would be able to travel to in a lifetime. The story begins with the introduction of his family and the setting is a short vacation in Spain before the family settles in America. Elliot is happy to leave the dreary weather and the self-imposed isolated living of the UK. With going to America he sees a glimmer of hope that he finally may be able to attend a regular school, rather than continuing the home education his Mom has provided to ensure they got a decent education. One of the biggest things to come won’t be the pending arrival to the US, but his meeting and befriending of Miguel Ortiz. Set over a length of couple of weeks finds the two making a lifelong friendship that Elliot had always avoided in the past. His anxieties about making friends when he would always know a move was around the corner had him protecting himself from the inevitable. Except this time, Miguel will break down those barriers that Elliot had carefully built up. It just so happens that Miguel also brings out feelings for the first time that have Elliot questioning who he is, what he is, and is he alone in the way he feels. The journey to discovery is filled with a lot of guessing, wishing, hoping and disappointment. I would hardly call this a teenage angst coming out story. If anything, more of the angst comes from Elliot’s 10 year old brother, one that we all seem to have in our past. It is more about a generally quiet, shy, introverted 14 y/o who begins to notice guys for the first time, or maybe not, and goes about it in a careful, calculated way. As readers we get to enjoy the journey of Elliot growing up quickly from his point of view as well as others in the story. Told in third person, the narrator feels like he is Elliot and you know what he is thinking as well as the ones around him. It is a comfortable easy read, that wants you to click on the next chapter without having a lot of tension at the end of the previous chapter. I invite you all to join this heartwarming and heart breaking story that drew me in from the first chapter and kept me following to the very end. Definitely a 4.5/5 on my scale. This story is supposedly associated with another Riley Jericho story, An English Teen, Circumcised in America, but you don’t need to read to enjoy this story to its fullest. I didn’t. Please read and review! Happy writing! And if you want a chance to review your favorite author... PM me.

This week our story is A Shot of Bourbon by Shadowgod. I hope you enjoy it as much as Conner did. So, give it a shot, and you may find you like... bourbon. A Shot of Bourbon by Shadowgod review by Conner This was the first story by Shadowgod that I ever read. I’ve been a fan ever since. For me, humour and intimacy are an irresistible combination. This story has both in spades. As stories go, this one is on the shorter side – 5 healthy chapters totalling about 38k. The story takes place in Bakersfield, CA, home to Bourbon, our protagonist, and his parents. Bourbon (a nickname bestowed on him by his parents) is a 17 year old high school student. He narrates the story. Every now and then, Bourbon takes a moment to speak directly to the reader. Humour with a touch of irreverence is the usual result. Rusty, the object of Bourbon’s love and lust, is a young lad of similar age who lives in the neighbourhood. Bourbon’s dad is an absolute sweetheart. He has a wisdom born of equal parts common sense and compassion. Bourbon describes him as “a very face value kinda' guy”. Bourbon has a dirt bike. Next to Rusty, Bourbon loves his bike. For those of you who enjoy the sound of a racing engine and especially for those who enjoy the feel of an engine between your legs – well, let me just say, you won’t be disappointed. A large part of the story centres around this activity. That said, though, this is very much a love story. While on the surface, there’s nothing really exceptional about Bourbon and Rusty’s relationship, within its folds, there is layer upon layer of intimacy that leaves you yearning for more. It’s a beautiful tale, beautifully told. The editing, by Viv, is excellent. Remember to Read and Review! Happy Writing!

Well, our week with Shane by Vlista is done. I do hope some of you enjoyed the story. Our tips this week were on Research and Plot Bunnies. Comicfan brought us two new prompts and we got to see a poetic response to one of our previous prompts. And finally our week wrapped up with a Blast from the Past -- featured poetry from 2006! Reader's Choice Awards -- Voting will end this SATURDAY, Feb 25, 2012. I've gotten mine in have you? Please READ THE DIRECTIONS as they are VERY specific. If you do not follow them your vote will not be counted. If there are any questions POST THEM AS PER DIRECTIONS IN THE THREAD. Anthology Announcements -- Spring Anthology "It Wasn't Me" Due March 8. Poetry Anthology "Cracks in Time" Due April 17th Novella Anthology "Secrets Can Kill" Due June 30? FSO Announcements -- none this week General Announcements -- Please remember our authors rely on your feedback so read and review. Not every chapter (although that would be sweet!) but at least every few on a longer piece, and at least once a story. GA Cleanup Please go through your old PMs, attachments, etc and reduce the clutter... honestly you do not need those "yes me too" messages from 2008. Also there are new guidelines for the storage in the gallery. Please abide by them. Many of you are over quota. Reduce and reuse space. Thank you. New Reading In Premium this week: Displacement DKStories By our Hosted Authors this week: The Experiment Cia St. Vincent Book 5 of Bridgemont Mark Arbour Hypnotic Book 3 of Carthera Tales Cia Paternity Book 12 of Chronicles Of An Academic Predator (CAP) Mark Arbour The Secret Life of Billy Chase 6 Book 6 of Billy Chase Chronicles Comicality On The Outside Comicality A Class By HImself Comicality Kiss Of An Angel Comicality New Kid In School Comicality Circumnavigation CJames By our Promising Authors this week: Pilots II David McLeod Aglanthol 3 - The Castle of Saelethiel (The Law Cannot Be Shaken) Dolores Esteban The Prompt You Say! Comicfan Purpose Quonus10 Durch Ferne Welten and Zeitung (or, "Swan Song") David McLeod Finding Danny Book 2 of 0300 David McLeod The Strange Life of Jonas Marks Comicfan Have an interesting week! Read, Write, REVIEW!!!!!!

How about some featured poetry from Edition 3, December 2006: His Hand by Nickolas James I used to reach for your hand when I was smaller Now sometimes I push it away. But I’ll never forget how you still loved me the day I told you I was gay. We fight a lot and you still yell at me Every time I act like I don’t care But the truth is I still idolize you From the way that you walk To the clothes that you wear. God blessed me with you But you say that I’m wrong You call me the blessing Somehow you stay strong. You’re the man in my life and you’ve taught me so much. How to be my own man How to always stay tough. I know you panic whenever I’m sick But then I get better and act like a prick Still you know I love you Even if I act out I hope in your heart there’s never a doubt Just because I’m not little I hope you understand. I’ll always be willing to hold my dad’s hand. © 2006 Nickolas James Nickolas James is now a retired author, however, comments are still welcome! Happy Reading, Writing, and Reviewing!

Today's writing prompts brought to you by Comicfan are... Prompt 112 – Creative Cue – Poetry, Haiku The Haiku is a Japanese poetry form. In English we usually use a 5, 7, 5 syllable line. The Haiku usually focuses on some aspect of nature and ends with a surprise. With that in mind try writing at least one of your own. Here is one of mine as an example. I hear the screaming And run to find him pointing At a spider. Squish. Prompt 113 – Challenge Cue – Sidekick The sidekick is the one the hero or villain turns to. They can be the best friend, the comedy break, or the sounding board for the ideas. Whether it is Dr. Watson to Sherlock Holmes, Ethel to Lucy, or Mini Me to Dr. Evil these characters exist and are an important part of the story. What sort of sidekick would you create? Look over your short stories and create one of your own. Spotlight: Before I introduce this week's spotlight I just have to say I would like more than six regulars to pick from... so if you are enjoying these prompts and the spotlights, etc... pick up your pencil and join the fun. Being great isn't the point... I like 'original'. Other than that.... kudos to Joe! In response to prompt 108 by JOeKEool: OBITUARY I did it. There. The obituary's done. It's Final.Finis.The race is run. She was here. Here.Now she's gone. I can't let go.I can't move on. She's so young? So happy?And so strong? And just like that. What went wrong? I can't stop now.I can't even cry. She didn't.She didn't.She didn't die. Come on.Get up.You've things to do. Be strong.Be tough.Make it through. They asked me how to lay her out. The red dress?Red.Yes,no doubt. Oh god!Her fish.She loved her fish. To her sister.Of Course.That's her wish. That night's ice cream is still on the table. Please tell me. It's all a dark fable. The blanket.We were all cuddled up. Five minutes.Five.To walk the pup. Come here little guy.You don't understand. Ow! Ow! You're biting my hand! This apartment.Her clothes.All of her things. Little guy. You don't know. The pain death brings. The blog team is looking for some more reviews if anyone is interested in helping out just PM me. Happy Writing! and as always Read and Review!

Um... hi again! Sorry about yesterday seems I had a med reaction to the new med. Needless to say I'm back, although not quite together. I'd like to bring to you an essay by Dark today. Hope you enjoy it. Plot Bunnies There’s nothing as nefarious as a plot bunny. Lurking in the corners of a writer’s brain like cockroaches, plot bunnies live to nibble on productivity. Those sharp front teeth bite and gnaw with a crunsh crunsh crunsh until single-minded focus turns into something resembling a writer’s version of Tourette’s syndrome. Praise be to the writers who can ignore these infamous creatures of the dark! Bow to the mighty bunny hunters! And pledge your allegiance to the wondrous few whose minds can twist along a plot bunny’s path and live to tell the tale! What is a plot bunny? Some say that plot bunnies are the spawn of reluctant muses; they are sent out to distract writers from their rightful path. Blame the muse or blame the author? It has been said that plot bunnies are to writers what senioritis is to high school students. That amazing chapter outline or a partially-completed draft is generally not as enticing as a new idea -- and lo! The plot bunny is born. There is nothing like working on something mindless like washing dishes, taking a shower, mowing the lawn, etc. for encouraging plot bunnies. They sneak in on the edges of sleep and insinuate themselves into random thoughts. A line from a movie, a snapshot posted on Facebook, an emailed joke, or that one snippet of song that got stuck in your head -- these are the birthplaces of plot bunnies. wikiwrimo.org reminds us of the John Steinbeck quote: “Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.” This begs the question, then, of how you handle something that can run faster than you can think and with less substance than a rainbow. Should you, in fact, even try to harness the power of the plot bunny? Many are they who encourage the snaring of these beasts, for they are a menace; these become writing prompts for other people, there to terrorize the unsuspecting. Another train of thought says that plot bunnies are the bane of writer’s block and as such become the brain food of muses. Stuck on a plot point? Then feed your muse a plot bunny! That should be a bumper sticker for writers. Whether stamping out these unwanted trespassers from perfectly choreographed writing time or luring them in with skittles and coco puffs, writers must manage these plot bunnies or subsist amongst the cluttered, ill-tended wasteland of a lifetime of half-finished story ideas. From Ilea For: “In order to capture a plot bunny, one must first be able to identify plot bunnies. Simply looking for a creature which appears bunnyish will only work in some instances. Much like the sweet potato, a plot bunny is a rabbit in name only.” There is an infinite variety of plot bunnies, so determining which plot bunny you’re dealing with can be a challenge. The first rule of plot bunnies is to pay attention! Though they are distractions, plot bunnies also answer the dreaded question, “How did you come up with this?” Your first mission, should you choose to accept it, is to take ten minutes and jot down the bare bones of the plot idea on whatever you have immediately available. This can later evolve into an outline or even the next best-seller. Remember, plot bunnies inevitably fade away … eventually. By writing them down, good plot bunnies can be revived at a later date. Or they become zombie bunnies. Whichever. What is known for certain is that plot bunnies don’t stay small and cute and loveable and inspirational forever. Often, plot bunnies devolve into the same drawn-out piece you were working on before. The trick, when working on one story at a time, is to keep all the plot bunnies that apply to your current work and discard the rest. Learning how to focus on what you’re doing is a hurdle all good writers must overcome. If you want to get rid of your plot bunny, one of the most effective tactics is to sic that plot bunny on somebody else. This can be done by posting your idea on any number of plot bunny adoption sites. Or, if you’d rather the more direct approach, chat up your favorite victim online and tell them all about your bunny. Plot bunnies take a little more coaxing, but like that song stuck in your head, they’re eager to latch onto the next person to come along. This option also has its drawbacks, in that you may decide (after explaining the idea to someone else) that you rather like this particular plot bunny and you want to give it more life yourself because no one else could possibly do it justice. And you must be careful with plot bunny discussions lest your plot bunny realize its mortality; because in cases like this, if you do end up taking it back, the plot bunny is unlikely to fully cooperate without some significant bribery. Last of these particular insights is an introvert’s ideal: think about and visualize your plot bunny. Without setting fingers on a keyboard or picking up a pencil, close your eyes and imagine what your plot bunny might be like as a novel in your favorite bookstore or a movie starring your favorite actor. Remember to ask all the ‘what if...?’ questions. Explore the idea in as much detail as you can, but spend no more than 24 hours mulling it over. Once you’ve decided to keep or discard your plot bunny, do it ASAP. At this point, Susan from The Prosers recommends going into your weapons arsenal and pulling out a holy hand grenade because: “… bunnies have a dark side. If I give in and pick one up and stare into those limpid eyes, that wascally wabbit mutates. What seemed like such a perfect, bouncy idea begins to contort. My plot grows fangs. And claws. It misbehaves. I know what kind of story the plot bunny should turn into, but it doesn’t cooperate.” Like a good writing prompt, a good plot bunny can become a grand story. One of the reasons a plot bunny is so tempting is because plot bunnies make writing exciting. When you’re slogging through a scene that even you find boring, a plot bunny can remind you why you ever decided to set pen to paper or click away on a keyboard for the nameless masses. You never know what a plot bunny is going to do or where it will lead. Writing when you’re excited about the subject/idea is easy; trying to write something you care nothing about leads only to writer’s block. Alternatively, plot bunnies are like iPhones; you love what you already have until the next one comes along. One caution: you have to be careful when deciding to give a plot bunny a home because they are sneaky bastards, always inviting their buddies. The shiny, new plot bunnies are very often an entirely new breed of bunny and pretty soon, if you’re not careful, you’ll be inundated with bunnies, whereupon drama and backstabbing ensues. Only the strongest and sneakiest survive, and bunnies, being the evil masterminds that they are, know all your secret triggers to draw attention to themselves. Each writer sees different varieties of plot bunnies. Wikiwrimo.org has published one of the most extensive lists of different breeds, among them the Luuuuuuuuv Bunny, a bunny who makes random characters fall in love, the WTF Bunny, a bunny of outlandish story plots, and the Two Things at Once Bunny, who always appears when writers are least able to write their thoughts down. Whichever breeds your bunnies arrive in, the most dangerous of all are the mutant bunnies. These are plot bunnies on crack. When they first appear, mutant bunnies seem like just another harmless plot bunny, but over time, they slowly evolve into a different breed that is more potent than the ordinary bunny. The only cure for a mutant plot bunny is a plot ninja. Plot ninjas are commonly found in NaNoWriMo write-ins and are not to be confused with plot bunnies. Nevertheless, write, write, write! Or the plot bunnies will get you. Happy Reading, Writing, and of course Reviewing!

Many of you noticed the little faux pas I made in the beginning of yesterday's blog. Oops. Well, I received some interesting feedback over it, including a shoutout to this little gem, so I thought I would share.... Cia on Research... So, I read an ebook recently. Big surprise there, lol. Several things jumped out at me as I read it that let me know that the writer was definitely NOT a resident of the state they set it in. Not only did they describe the summer weather as humid, which it never is, they mentioned a 6 hour drive between two cities that takes 3, maybe 3 1/2 hours, tops. This leads me to my topic at hand. Research. Why should you do it? What should you look up? How do you research? Now, if you're like me, research is fun. Take one of my stories, Two of a Kind. I took two hours to look up the flowers I used to describe the decorations on statues. I had to make sure they were native to the region I was using as the origin, the color variations possible and what they looked like. It may seem excessive for a single descriptive section of just a few paragraphs, but they were a vital part of the plot. Since I wrote specifics, I wanted to have the facts. I looked up fact pages on Wiki, always a good source, though one I cross check with other sites whenever possible. It is, after all, a site compiled of information by the people and sometimes people don't know their butt from a hole in the ground. Yep, I went there. I looked up flowers from the region on a wiki page, then looked up a few horticulture sites. Then I googled pictures so I could see the colors myself, which I find is the best way to cement them in my head so I can really describe them. I also found myself researching jungle animals, black jaguar melanin issues, plant poisons and cures, flight time between Brazil and California, weather patterns, driving distance from the airport to a city/mountain range I set the story in, antiserums and how they are created . . . just to name a few things. You can hit your local library for books on your subject, check online websites, find an expert or researcher in the field/area you are wanting to write about, or just go see for yourself if you plan to use local settings. Ignore the temptation to say,'Only this or that person would know this info is wrong.' Get it right from the start. An author who doesn't even take the time to get to know the region/time/people they are writing about is a pretty sloppy writer in my book. Make the effort to get to know your subject if you're going to use it. Or, do like I do so often when I can't figure out what I want in a modern story or the facts of the known universe contradict me; make it up! Fantasy stories are prime for making up your own rules and facts, like the alternate history of the Carthera people. Mixing the two takes work; you have to make sure you stick to the rules of the world you create when you write, but it can help you out of those sticky situations sometimes. Besides, learning something new every day is a GOOD thing! Happy Reading! Writing! and Reviewing!

Have you reviewed it?

well in my head the beatles sings it... I don't like the mama's and the papa's, only peter paul and mary and the beatles. so there. and on further investigation... the cowsills are much better than the mamas and papas... but it's still the beatles in my head.

Monday, Monday... (sung in his best Beatles impression) Time for a new featured story, so this week we bring you Shane by Vlista. Vlista has been a member since (gasp) 2005 and a hosted author since about the same time, which makes him one of the "older" authors (although he's not really old himself). I will warn you right up front that Shane is not easy reading. It deals wtih subject matter that will be difficult for many people to read. However -- it is dealt with in such a way that is compelling to read and worth every tissue and pointed look from your significant other. With that said, here is Andy's opinion: Shane by Vlista reviewed by andy021278 Shane is very well written and the darker subject matter is not only handled well and believably, it is written with such feeling and emotion. It makes me believe the author has firsthand experience with the subject matter (either personally or through a close friend or relative). Shane was the first story I read here on GA and I was gripped with this story from the very beginning, and felt a great sympathy for Shane right from the start. He is hated by his father (who blames Shane for causing the death of his mother during childbirth); he is hated by his older brother simply because his father does; he is hated by everyone at school for one reason or another. Shane’s only friend in the world is a neighbour’s dog. Shane somehow manages, even in the moments of his deepest sorrow, to find the silver lining in his darkest of clouds. When he finds that life is finally starting to improve for him, and things are finally looking up, his silver lining is threatened with a whole new set of challenges which drive him to the brink of despair and beyond. The thing which first drew me to Shane and still does (I have now read the story three times in six months) is that he has an amazing strength of character, and has a very “human” feel to him – which allows for a much easier and deeper connection to him as a character. Given the subject matter Shane could have been written cold and emotionless; but even with everything that has happened to him in his relatively short life he has not only maintained his humanity, but he has his own personality and sense of self which is uniquely Shane. As you are taken on the roller-coaster ride that is his life, the connection to him and the other characters around him grows and deepens. There are very few stories I have read where I can say I truly care about what happens to a character; whether they live or die; whether they win or lose; whether they win the heart of the guy or not. With Shane, it feels like when he suffers I suffer right along with him and when he laughs I laugh along with him. Unlike other stories I have read there are very few technical issues with grammar, spelling, and punctuation; certainly nothing which is noticeable to the point that it detracts from the reading or the flow of the story. The darker subject matter is a fairly standard theme of the other stories that have been written as well, but for me Shane is the best of the pick. The very nature of the content of the story and some of the minor aspects of the plot lines have drawn some unfair negative comments; it is so easy to get wrapped up in Shane, you can forget this is a work of fiction. There are times throughout this story that I fully suggest having a box of tissues at the ready. It is truly heart-wrenching, and I can’t remember the last time I cried so much. While it does have moments that are full of pain, it also has many light-hearted and heart-warming moments that will bring a smile to your face and might even make you chuckle a little bit. If you only ever read one story here on GA then it has to be Shane. A big 5/5. Well, there ya have it. Now go read it! and remember REVIEW! Happy writing!

Time to review for the kids in the back of the room! Monday: Featured Hosted's Story -- Jack Scribe's It Stay's in Vegas. Tuesday: Mark Arbour shared how he gets his motivation Wednesday: More than a Crush by FleetingRainbow and Social Skills by KingdombytheSea Thursday: Renee Stevens shared how to create a credible villian Friday: Comicfan brought us two new prompts and new prompt responses to read Saturday: Our Blast From the Past was a 2006 interview with Vlista Like the cliffnotes? Reader's Choice Awards -- Voting has started. I've gotten mine in have you? Please READ THE DIRECTIONS as they are VERY specific. If you do not follow them your vote will not be counted. If there are any questions POST THEM AS PER DIRECTIONS IN THE THREAD. Anthology Announcements -- Spring Anthology "It Wasn't Me" Due March 8. Poetry Anthology "Cracks in Time" Due April 17th Novella Anthology "Secrets Can Kill" Due June 30? FSO Announcements -- none this week General Announcements -- Do you Tweet? Join GayAuthors on thier twitter account. Please remember our authors rely on your feedback so read and review. Not every chapter (although that would be sweet!) but at least every few on a longer piece, and at least once a story. Many of these announcments are also on our calendar. If you would like a heads up on things to come, please subscribe to it by clicking the follow button or just take the occasional look by clicking on "calendar on the menu bar. So, are you one of the 29? Yep that's right, only 29 people have clicked on the 'follow me' button. To get notifications direct to you... click follow me! GA Cleanup Please go through your old PMs, attachments, etc and reduce the clutter... honestly you do not need those "yes me too" messages from 2008. Also there are new guidelines for the storage in the gallery. Please abide by them. Many of you are over quota. Reduce and reuse space. Thank you. Special Announcement Myr is hosting an End of the World Party, December 20, 2012 at his house (or nearby venue to be announce depending on RSPVs) please contact him if you are interested. New Reading In Premium this week: Displacement DKStories By our Hosted Authors this week: The Experiment Cia St. Vincent Book 5 of Bridgemont Mark Arbour Paternity Book 12 of Chronicles Of An Academic Predator (CAP) Mark Arbour The Secret Life of Billy Chase 6 Book 6 of Billy Chase Chronicles Comicality Acceptance of Fate Krista Circumnavigation Cjames By our Promising Authors this week: Redneck Trailer Park David McLeod GA Writing Prompts Dolores Esteban Aglanthol 3 - The Castle of Saelethiel (The Law Cannot Be Shaken) Dolores Esteban Durch Ferne Welten and Zeitung (or, "Swan Song") David McLeod The Funny Thing Is JWolf Finding Danny Book 2 of 0300 David McLeod The Prompt You Say! Comicfan The Strange Life of Jonas Marks Comicfan Translator III-Dragon Warrior Book 3 of The Translator David McLeod Have an interesting week! Read, Write, REVIEW!!!!!!

oldest as in been here the longest

current chapters are not eligible for consideration.... do not let this behavior influence your vote.

No, as stated it was done in 2006. I do believe you can contact him through his profile though.. try it. He might find he's still got people who love his writing... and decide to come back.

Don't you just love these? I do. This is from the third edition of the newsletter in December 2006. For those of you who don't know Vlista, or Vance, is one of our oldest Hosted Authors. He has been 'away' for a while and I miss him. So, here is a little insight into Vlista as an author and a person as well. Member Interview-Vlista GA: Hi Vance! Vance: Hi GA! How are you? GA: Great, how are you? Vance: Not too bad! GA: Ready to be interviewed? Vance: Yep I think so! I was so excited and now I’m just all nervous. GA: Lol! Don't worry; it's just like any other MSN chat, which hundreds of people will be reading. Vance: Okay GA: So, how did you get started writing? Vance: Well, I don't remember exactly I just remember always doing it. It was just always something I loved to do. GA: When did you start putting your stories online? Vance: I put Shane online the end of July in 2005, I posted it all at once, and I remember the day because I had to go to a party the next day and I didn't want to leave because I was getting fan mail and didn't want to wait all day to read more. GA: Fan mail so fast! Wow! Was that on Nifty? Vance: Yes, I was all set to post Tyler at another site about six months earlier, but I chickened out. So when I did Shane I just closed my eyes and hit send before I could back out. GA: I was sure I'd read Shane before it appeared on GA... Glad to see my memory was right for once, LoL. Was Tyler your first story? Vance: No I actually wrote Shane before I wrote Tyler. GA: I've heard a rumor that you don't begin posting a story until it is finished. Is that true for "Unbreakable Faith"? Vance: Yes, I wrote Unbreakable faith a year and a half ago. I broke my rule with Cameron when I got hosted at GA because I wanted to be posting something and it just solidified the fact that I don't want to post a story unless it's finished. GA: Does this mean that you are now writing, or have written, your next story to appear on GA? Vance: I am now writing it, I have a lot of stories that are half written but I couldn't really get into working on them, so I started a new one. GA: Any chance of some inside info? Maybe a title? <Hopeful look> Vance: Well you know me and my titles! Right now, it’s named 'Matt' after its main character. But once Sharon, my editor, reads it I'm sure we'll come up with a more suitable title. GA: I like your titles, so I'm not complaining! LoL! That sounds great! Many people have noticed some underlying themes in your stories: Overcoming adversity, and hope, and second chances. Did you set out with these as themes? Vance: That's just what I write about, I like to take bad situations and make things better. That's just what I always get inspiration for. It may sound weird but I don't sit and try to think up a story. They come on their own, hit at the strangest moments and I just write them. GA: Do you sometimes get "stuck" at a point in a story, and have to think about it before figuring out how to continue? Vance: No usually I have it all planned before I even start, most times a long sleepless night! Some stories I just fizzle out half way through like the inspiration just left which is why I have like 30 half written stories GA: Do you use written outlines, or do you just go by memory? Vance: I don't have an official outline, but I have a notebook I take with me most places when I'm in the middle of story because I'll be thinking about it and think 'ohh that's a perfect line for that character' or 'oh I need to remember to put in this scene' Because even though I have the basics down there's lots of little scenes that I come up with when I'm not at my computer. GA: That sounds like a great technique! Do you have any others that you could suggest for writers? Vance: Well one that I always use is having a list of characters. It's okay when you start out with two, but then you have their friends, and their families and it's way easier to look at a page with all the characters on it then to scroll back through the story trying to find what you named someone's father. GA: That is a great idea! Do you have any regrets with any of your stories, such as "Oh, I wish I had have done that differently"? Vance: I don't know if I regret anything I wrote into a story. But I can say that I didn't like the story Cameron, had I not already been posting it I never would have finished it. I haven't even gone back and read it since I finished it. GA: You didn't like Cameron? If anyone else said that, I think your fans would lynch them! LoL! I'm sure glad you posted it, because I liked it, a lot. What didn’t you like about it? Vance: I don't know, I was all into it for the first 10 chapters, then it just fizzled out. I lost interest and it was like homework getting a chapter written every week. I can't really pinpoint what I didn't like about it. GA: Which of your posted stories is your personal favorite? Vance: Shane with Unbreakable Faith coming in second. GA: Shane is definitely a classic; it is very well known on the 'net. I might be biased, though, because it is my favorite too. When you first posted it, did you have any idea that it would be such a hit? Vance: I had no idea at all. It was the first story I posted and I didn't even know if anyone would like my writing. It's funny though, because everyone says Shane is their favorite, but I got more fan mail for Tyler. GA: Vance, just between you, me, and the internet, what would you like to tell us about yourself and your life? Vance: That I am very happily, if not legally, married to the best guy in the world, I have wonderful cat, that can be seen in my profile and I have a job that I love most of the time. So basically I want to say that I have a pretty darn good life! GA: That is great! Is there anything else you would like to talk about, or be asked? Vance: Nope I can't think of anything. GA: Vance, thank you very much for doing this interview! interviewed by C James There ya go... hope you enjoyed it. So, now, go Read! Write! Review! and Happy Writing! btw... is winter screwing spring cause we're getting funky weather here....

Read the FAQ?

It's Friday! It's Friday! Whoot! Time for some jolly good reading. Our prompts this week are: Prompt 110 – Creative Cue – Creating Evil No one is just evil. They work from their own point of view. Your job is to create an “evil character” but you have to explain why they are that way. What happened to turn them into the person they are and why do they find that “evil” lifestyle so appealing? Prompt 111 – Creative Cue – The Quick Fix Everyone knows that there is no such thing as a quick fix, but to solve a problem people will hope to find a short cut. They have been selling this product to fix blemishes and you finally broke down and bought it. After using it for a while you’ve discovered it works but there are some extreme side effects. So now your skin is perfectly clear but what went wrong? ok this week's Prompt Showcase was a split vote, both were from Prompt #108 -- Use the following words in a short story: obituary, ice cream, red dress, fish, and apartment. Kudos both of you! Untitled by JamesSavik It was a cold, rainy Saturday morning when I heard. I slept late and finally got up around ten. I started breakfast and went downstairs for my paper. When I came back up the apartment was warm and had a friendly smell of sausage and biscuits cooking. While I waited for breakfast to finish, I opened the paper and began my usual scan as the biscuits finished cooking. My basketball teams lost. The economy sucked. Politicians were lying. Just another day until I hit the obituary page. Grief and memories swirled as I tried to wrap my head around a world with out Cheryl. I remembered the girl who loved ice cream and red dresses. I remembered the girl who loved to fish. I remembered my old friend who was just so cool that nothing else mattered. No pressure, no demands. Something precious was lost. Something that had been gone for a long time but death had finally slammed the door on. I burned my biscuits that morning. Valerie Woodward by Dolores Esteban 　It was a Saturday afternoon. I was sitting in my apartment, eating an ice cream and reading the newspaper. I gazed at the name in shock when I turned the page and saw the obituary. Valerie Woodward. Valerie Woodward had died? I read the death notice again. No doubt. The date of birth was correct. I remembered the date because I had invited her for dinner on her twenty-third birthday. That was twenty years ago. But I remembered the day in all detail. Valerie had accepted my invitation which had taken me by surprise. We had been working together for about six months and I had been into her from the moment she had been introduced to me. Valerie, however, had always ignored me. Whatever I had tried to attract her attention, it had never worked out. She brought a cake to the office on her birthday. We accidentally left the office together in the evening, and, without giving it a prior thought, I invited her for dinner. She accepted, to my very surprise. She asked me to pick her up at eight p.m. and so I did. I rang the bell and she opened the door. Her sight stunned me. More, it shocked me. She was wearing a short and low-cut red dress and her lips were painted dark red. I think I gazed at her with my mouth open. And Valerie gazed back at me. A moment or two passed, and then a frown crossed her face. "What do you want, Jordan?" she hissed at me. I swallowed. "Well, I invited you for dinner and you asked me to pick you up at eight p.m.," I said in a slightly indignant voice. She looked me up from head to toe. I felt totally confused and uneasy. What was wrong? I didn’t have a clue. "So why did you not come then?" she asked sullenly. "You see, I’ve other fish to fry." I gazed at her. I was feeling cold. What the hell was she talking about? "I’m right on time," I said slowly. She shook her head and shot me a dark look. "Look," she said, raising her left arm. She wore an expensive silver watch. I made a step forward and looked at her watch. It was twenty past nine. I looked up, feeling entirely puzzled. I met her dark look. Valerie lowered her arm and made a step back. She was about to close the door. I looked at my watch. It showed a quarter to eight. The scales finally fell from my eyes. My watch had stopped and I had not checked any other. I had dawdled away my time and I was totally late. I was about to apologize to Valerie when I heard a voice from the background. A half dressed man walked up the corridor. "Like I said, I’ve other fish to fry," Valerie hissed before she slammed the door in my face. I returned home. I was like in a state of shock as the truth dawned on me slowly. Did Valerie have a side job? Why had she accepted my invitation? Had she hoped to hook me up? Did she lack clients? Or what? We ignored each other at office the following weeks. And yet, I could not stop thinking about her. A month had passed when we finally talked with each other. Valerie admitted all. She worked as a call girl in the evenings. She was in need of money and she found her side job was an easy way to earn it. However, she had wanted to separate her official and her double life. She admitted that accepting my invitation had been a mistake. Valerie left the company two months later. I have never seen her again. But rumors had spread that she got involved more and more in the sex trade over the years. I don’t remember who spread the news. One of my co-workers, I guess. I have never seen her again. But I remember the day in all detail. I see her standing in the doorway in a short and low-cut red dress and with her full lips painted red. I looked at the death notice again. Valerie Woodward had died. I wondered what had happened. Only the names of her parents were listed. Had Valerie died all alone? I wondered if I should attend her funeral. But then I decided to refrain from it. We had had nothing in common. She had just entered my life for the briefest of time, for the glimpse of an eye. I had glimpsed at the true Valerie twenty years ago. I would keep this memory. But, for the rest, I would let her go. Keep your writing muscles flexed -- write a prompt today! And remember -- Read! Write! Review! Enjoy!

You know we all love a bad boy. We all love them better in our stories. But can we write them? Today's tip talks about... Creating a Credible Villain by Renee Stevens When creating a villain for your story, there are many things that need to be considered. Villains are not ALL bad. While they will have mostly flaws, they most likely will also have something about them that is good. This could be anything. A serial killer could also be a devoted family man. Your villain could be the go-to guy of the neighborhood, the one who watches the neighbor’s dog while they’re on vacation. When creating your villain, you need to decide your villain’s depth of evilness. Some plots will require your villain to have more depth and loftier goals. If the goal is complete domination, then chances are your villain is going to have to be more complex, more evil. If the goal is to simply make everyone’s life miserable, your villain could be someone who is just a bully. A school bully who takes younger kids’ lunch money, or a corporate CEO who fires people for a single minor mistake. Make sure the degree of evilness is relevant to the plot of your story. Also, keep in mind, that the more demented your villain is, the more likely he will be to succeed in what he sets out to do. Another thing to think of is, unless of course your villain is a demon that from the time of birth was evil, or a robot that was created to destroy a world, chances are that there is something in their past that was the turning point for them. What was this point for them? Maybe they watched their parents or spouse be brutally murdered. Maybe they were bullied in their teenage years. Be creative, but make this turning point be something that is believable. Whatever this point is, it's going to be the driving force behind your villain. When creating your villain, you need to decide what the villain’s purpose is. What is his overall goal? Does he focus on people like your hero and just set out to thwart them? Or does he hatch plots and set forth to make his goals a reality while the hero’s job is to thwart him? Essentially, the question here is: who is trying to do the thwarting? Once you have all of this, you need to decide what the outcome is going to be. Is your villain going to be evil until the end, by rejecting redemption, or does he end up being redeemed somehow? There should always be a chance of redemption, so you need to think of that throughout the story, because you will need to plant things throughout the story that show he is redeemable, especially if you plan to redeem him. Otherwise, a villain just suddenly becoming a good guy, it’s not going to believable to your readers and may leave them feeling confused at the end of your story. Think also, about what fears and weaknesses your villain has. These are what is going to allow your hero to win in the end, if that is your ultimate goal. Even if you are going to have your villain win in the end, everyone has some sort of weakness. It might not even be something that the villain will readily admit to, but these are things that you can use throughout the story for the villain to overcome. If you are going to allow your hero to win in the end, then these are things that he will be able to exploit to ultimately win the day. In the end, how you create your villain is up to you, but the above guidelines will help to create a believable villain. A couple other things to keep in mind are: your villain doesn’t have to lose every battle, your villain may hold a view that others can sympathize with, and with the exception of demons and things like them, many villains will have some good qualities as well as bad. Your villain is going to drive the story as much, if not more than, your hero. Good luck with creating your villain!!! Happy reading, writing, and reviewing!

Y_B = you bastard mine tells its own story.