Uplifted Spirit

I spent a lot of time thinking about how I'd like this story to end. I appreciate your positive comments. It's still about friendship and love between two guys. But life for the two of them isn't than simple as I'm sure you've found out by now.

Thanks Jaro. Your comments mean a lot because of your comments on the previous chapters. I'm not sure why, but I felt all this as I wrote it.

Thanks for this. I'll check them out. I didn't realize I was repeating myself. I may have to add something or shorten them, otherwise it will throw the chapter numbers off. These things are good to know.

Interesting thought that you didn't think this chapter moved forward. But it's a setup for later chapters. I'm not sure I realized that as I wrote it. Actually, I did. Dillon had called out Matt's name while he was having sex with Andy and Andy ignored it and accepted Dillon's answer. But Andy is in denial and he will crash as you already know.

Jaro, you have raised a lot of questions and I know you've found the answers by now because I see you're already into Knots 2. I'm loving your reviews. Thanks again. It really helps to hear what others think.

Jaro, I have made that error of waste a number of times. It's not that I don't know how to spell it, I just get typing and when I read it for edits, I miss it. Lisa now catches me when I do it. I've talked to Lisa about editing the first chapters and between us we might improve them. If you'd be willing to help on those chapters, I'd greatly appreciate it. I have been losing readers and in those first chapters and it has concerned me. Elias

Ah, Jaro, you are caught up in the story. I guess you ended up being quiet surprise in the next chapters. That's great. But you caught the hint about Dillon calling out Matt's name. That was a little bit of premonition.

Thanks for the uplifting comment Jaro. I'm glad you kept reading. I'm not sure what do to with the first chapters. I was hoping you'd offer some suggestions. You did make an offer on some small edits. You said you were intrigued by the boys curiosity about each other. You are very observant because those early chapters are basically the original story. Dillon was added later. I got on a roll and managed to put more conflict in it. Of course, there wasn't much sex in the original chapters. Have any ideas? I welcome them. The idea of writing them over is a tough one, but I'd welcome any suggestions about why you thought they were weak.

Jaro Sorry I haven't written you back, but I'be been writing the next chapter of Knots 4. Hey, it keeps getting better. Again, thanks for taking the time to review.

Jaro Sorry I haven't written you back, but I'be been writing the next chapter of Knots 4. Hey, it keeps getting better. Again, thanks for taking the time to review.

Jaro Sorry I haven't written you back, but I'be been writing the next chapter of Knots 4. Hey, it keeps getting better. Again, thanks for taking the time to review.

SA So you're the one who managed to change everything for us. I went to change my story ratings and found they'd already been changed. Nice quick job. Thanks

Jaro, I watch The Young and the Restless, and the one thing I've learned is you have to keep your readers guessing. Hell, I keep myself guessing because sometimes I don't know what's going to happen next. You're right. Girls were available to Andy so he had sex with girls, but in the end, he knows he prefers guys. My goal was to use his sex with girls as a way of comparing later to having sex with guys. Sometimes I get the feeling that some gay guys act like girls are the enemy or the idea of having sex with them is disgusting. I often think we're born bisexual. Yes, we have the sex organs, but who we are and who we think we are is more than our sex organs or who we want to have sex with. After all many call it sexual preference. Andy in the end prefers guys, Matt doesn't have the slightest idea who or what he prefers. But Matt does make an interesting decision in the final chapter. So you'll have to read on to find out what happens.

Jaro, you are making my day. Your reviews are wonderful and make me realize why I want to be a writer. I think I expressed in my reply to chapter 12 that this story is really about friendship because I'm not sure you can have love or a good relationship without friendship. Because in the end, people hurt each other, but they can never let that ruin their friendship, which is really the relationship they have with one another. Sex will add to it of course. You will notice as you read more that Andy and Matt never lie to each other. They always tell the truth. This is something I feel that is the most important thing in a friendship, romance, or any relationship. Lisa said that I might have had Andy lie once, but I sure hope I didn't. I think if was a sin of omission and not a lie.

This story began and has always been about friendship and the knots that bind friends together. I think it is an unconscious thing, but I just expressed that thought for the first time. But I think it is in the story even though I'm not sure I consciously put it there. I like the image of twisting snakes writing together in a pit. I'll have to keep that in mind.

I haven't read this in awhile and I'm trying to remember the stats I quoted. Matt is confused. Andy knows he's gay and that helps him, but Matt, he doesn't know which end is up. I'm glad you're finding the story more enjoyable as you go along. I welcome any suggestions that would help improve the earlier chapters. I WELCOME ANY SUGGESTIONS THAT WOULD HELP IMPROVE THE EARLIER CHAPTERS. I've noticed that there is a drop off or readers in those chapters, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

It makes me feel good to hear you say I get better as I go. It's a challenge writing a new chapter every week. This first story was already written when I decided to post it here. That made it easy to post one chapter a week. I added some sex and more tension to the original, but in general it is the way I first wrote it with some editing along the way. I wish I had an editor earlier on. Lisa is great and keeps me on track.

Jaro, thanks. I try not to overdo the knots theme too much and for awhile I wrote a lot of chapters without remembering to mention knots. I make it a point to do it now, but in moderation. I don't want to beat the reader over the head with it.

Jaro, it's always great to hear that I've made someone laugh. I usually do it through Andy because he's a character, but the sweating incident with Matt was good because he's the one who was the most likely to let it bother him, and then of course Andy is a wise guy. I really appreciate you taking the time to review the chapters.

Jaro, this story is really me thinking back on my own time. Yes, it's fiction and most of these thing didn't really happen, but the story expresses what I remember about what I felt at the time. The teenage years are a confusing time for everyone even if they don't admit it. I went back to chapter 6 and deleted the repeats. It was hard for me to find at first, and I hope I got it done right. Thanks again for letting me know. Elias

Jaro, I thought I'd fixed that, but it must have been at Nifty that I fixed it. I didn't know it was posted twice here also. Thanks for letting me know. I'm going to take care of that right now. Lisa is my editor and she constantly reminds me it not called going to the show. You are the only reader who has pointed this out at this site. I believe I'm older than you, so you can understand how a little of that old stuff creeps in now and then.

Jaro, you are perceptive. So much changes in their lives as they grow and tie more knots. Most of my readers love Matt because he so solid. But he's still a teenager and nothing is stable when you're young. Matt ties some of his own knots.

They are a bit like Andy and Matt. Gina being like Matt and Emily like Andy. That wasn't my intent, but after reading your note, I realize it's true. But of course, live being what it is, things happen and knots get tied that change everyone's lives. Thanks for reviewing.

Jaro, you're right on when you mention the errors. I have had an editor since chapter 15 or 16 of Knots 1 and it's made a big difference. I would love your help in making corrections to it. I'm not sure what you had in mine, but the easiest way would be to email me and provide enough words for me to do a search and find the error and correct it. It will be greatly appreciated. My email address is eliassctt@gmail.com If your prefer not to write me there, you can write me using the site email. Thanks Elias

I like that you called this a sticky knot Andy created. I was trying to show how Andy lacks confidence even though he acts so confident. Otherwise he wouldn't have told everyone and ruined something special between him and Matt. Andy even speaks to that as he reflect on why he did it.