Kai Taylor

I'm sure many people here on GA know of Ron (Ronyx), owner and creator of themustardjar.com. I've been following his stories for many years and thought I'd catch up with him and do an interview. We touched on many different topics, from his stories, writing, and his thoughts on the genre. The interview itself is quite lengthy, so I've created a separate blog on GA to display it. You can check it out here: Ron Interview Let me know what you think and I hope you enjoy reading it! Kai Excerpt: Kai: One thing that you’ve made clear on your About Me page and during our emails is what writing means to you and why continue to do it. You’ve said that you try to help young, vulnerable people realise that they have a place in the world. Looking back over all your stories, do you feel that you’ve accomplished that goal? Ron: One word in this question popped out at me, and that was the word vulnerable. I write for young, gay readers. Even though many of my characters appear vulnerable, they all discover an inner strength that helps them overcome difficult obstacles. I believe that each of us possess that inner strength. Sometimes it is buried so deep, it is hard to discover. So that is what I try to accomplish through my stories. I want young readers to understand that no matter what life challenge he or she may face, a better tomorrow is attainable. A central theme to all my stories is that no matter how dark the storm, a rainbow always appears at the end. When I first started writing, I felt that if I made a difference in just one young person’s life, then I would have accomplished my goal. I have received numerous emails from young readers who said they have found inspiration and hope through my stories. And it is not just young readers. I have heard from hundreds of men and women who have been inspired by my stories. So yes, I've accomplished my goal and so much more. Writing has enriched my life more than I ever imagined. Kai: It’s great to learn that you’ve heard back from your audience, letting you know how your work has touched them. Reader feedback is another topic that’s important to you, as you note that it’s the only form of payment you receive from writing. Have you received any notable feedback that stood out to you? Ron: I don’t think readers realize just how important it is for an online writer to receive feedback from them. A published author can gauge their success by how many books they sell and the literary reviews of their work. The only way an online author knows if their work is being read and enjoyed is if they hear directly from his or her readers. It is extremely frustrating to spend so much time writing something that we hope readers will enjoy, and then receive nothing in return. I've communicated with several exceptional writers who suddenly stopped writing one day because they felt their work was not being appreciated. I have written rants in the past at TMJ because I was pouring hours into a story, and then have only a few respond. I cannot understand why someone would enjoy a story and not feel compelled to share that experience with the writer. I am more fortunate than most writers because I maintain my own site, and I know that hundreds are returning week after week. That tells me that they are enjoying the story. However, many writers who are hosted by other sites do not have that opportunity. I have had readers chastise me and say that I write because I have this inner need for acceptance, and that I shouldn't expect anything in return. That is utter bullshit. I write because I enjoy writing for others, and particularly gay teens. If I didn't feel I was positively affecting the lives of others, then I would shut down TMJ tomorrow. I’m on a rant again, but I want readers to understand that writers want and expect feedback from readers to reinforce that what they are doing is appreciated. Just a simple, “Thanks” from time to time goes a long way. As for notable feedback, I’ve heard from many young readers who have told me they came out to their friends and families because reading my stories gave them the confidence to do so. The story, A Delicate Situation, solicited so many positive comments from readers who were deeply touched by Dorian's speech. I’ve also heard from two school counselors who said they have recommended my stories for their gay students to read. That is awesome! Continue reading the interview here

Damn, so I nearly succeeded. Seriously though, it'd sure be nice to see more artwork like this hint, hint.

I like it. I also took the liberty to edit it a little. FishWingz style:

I think it’s important to consider one critical question: Why do people read fan-fiction? In my mind that there’s at least two differing parties that should be considered: Group One: The first group is made up of readers who want to experience ‘more’ of the story that they loved. These readers want to know what happened to the characters they adored after the end of the Half-Blood Prince. They want the story to continue. They want to know what happens next. Typically, these stories will attempt to adhere to canon, I.E. they will treat the original works as law and work within the confines of it. They won’t try to rewrite anything. Group Two: The second group are a little different, but are generally the most thought of when the topic of FF arises. They may share similarities with the above, but what they want to read is an alternate sequence of events. They may like aspects from the original works, but they like to ponder ‘what if?’ For instance, they might wonder: What if Harry Potter had been gay? The original books doesn’t offer an answer to this, but countless works of FF do. Taking the above two groups as a guideline, you can begin to see where issues can develop. Suppose a reader who prefers ‘group one’- style works reads a story aimed at ‘group two’. They’re unlikely to appreciate the alternate sequence of events approach and consider it spoiling the original. Someone has taken the characters that they liked, a story that they loved, and flipped it on its head. They’re not going to be happy with it, regardless of how much thought the writer put in. Bringing things back to GA, suppose a new, first-time writer came along and made a drastic change to one of DomLuka’s stories. I’m certain that there would be a considerable uproar. If however, someone came along and wrote a sequel to one of his stories while observing the original, I don’t think there’d be as much animosity. At the end of the day it really does come down to human nature. There’s some people who don’t appreciate change for the sake of change. Using the above as an example once more, they’re likely to think, “Why make Harry Potter gay? Why don’t you just create a new story with a gay wizard?” I don’t think there’s a right way or a wrong way to go about this, but I know for a fact that by writing anything fan-fiction related, you’re walking through a minefield. You may be lucky and arrive at the other side unscathed, but there can also be a lot of nasty surprises along the way.

Personally I just use Microsoft Excel to create an outline. I was inspired of the idea by JK Rowling, who used something similar with Harry Potter:

A huge thank you goes out to the two members of my writing team: TalonRider | Craig Together, they strive to ensure that my stories are the best they can be. Thanks guys! I really appreciate your support!

I have a feeling you may be waiting a while for those wars to reach some sort of conclusion A lot of people seem to love the Note, and you appear to be more Android-orientated, so it sounds like could be a good choice.

I'm curious, do you use any Apple products? You sure mention them a lot several of the topics but I can't recall what you said you use.

Don't drop it? As for whether I'd give a tablet to a kid. Sure, why not? I think everyone's seen the YouTube videos of the babies/toddlers playing around with iPads and stuff. With the right software (and a suitable case) I think it'd be a great thing to give to a kid.

I didn't think too much of the Karate Kid... again, it was entertaining but nothing too special. Haven't seen AVP2, but I did see the newer Predators film, the one with Adrien Brody. That wasn't so bad, though it was similar to the first AVP in terms of execution. Plot was original though.

I found John Carter to be quite entertaining and original in story. Not the best film ever, but I was surprised that it did so badly. Only seen bits of the second AvP film, but the first wasn't too bad. I think I went to the cinema to see this one and I have to agree, it really was great. Gotta love Krunk. Now you're talkin'! Maybe it didn't have the greatest plot or best acting, but man, it was a CGI feast! Okay, another one from me: Thunderbirds Yeah it's a little bit corny, but so was the original show... IDK. I think it was the move of turning it into a kids movie that damaged it. Still great though.

Q: Are there any movies that you enjoy but were universally panned by critics or tanked at the box office? I’ll start with one of mine. Speed 2: Cruise Control

Secrets. They’re the parts of ourselves we keep hidden from the world, the pieces we bury in the depths of our mind. They differ from person to person, varying in size and strength, but they all share a common trait: hunger. They eat away at you, consuming every ounce of rational thought and leaving behind only a mush of neurons. Acceptance is the only defence. To understand and respect the secret is to tame it. It can be done, though it only serves as a temporary relief. The only escape is t

Connection ‘Slice the loaf, take two slices and butter them up. Now lay the cheese, three slices of chicken, and some tomato. A handful of lettuce, a dash of black pepper, and a squirt of mayonnaise. Seal it up, wrap it up, and you’re done.’ “Someone’s looking like a pro.” Carefully folding the thin sheet of plastic around the sandwich, I finished wrapping it up and then neatly sealed it with a printed, sticky label. Placing it on a tray with the other freshly made sandwiches, I glanced up at

Christmas “I love it!” “Are you sure?” Mum shot me a skeptical look, “We kept the receipt in case you want a different colour.” Glancing down at the light-blue jumper resting in my hands, I shook my head, “No, I really do like it.” Her expression softened, “I’m glad.” I grinned back at her. Ever since I’d reached my teens, my parents had always been very hesitant about buying me clothes, worried that I wouldn’t like the design or colour. I appreciated the gesture, but unlike Georgina, who w