Ron

Hi JS, although the focus is and should be here at GA, the proper forum for request of this nature is the Stories Discussion Forum. You might be more likely to receive a response in that forum. Hope this helps you find the story you are looking for.

Not bad, not bad, and tricky!

Not unless you delete this post, otherwise 'it's here forever!'

I have just sent off my votes and I can honestly say that I needed to make some hard choices in order to reach my final decisions. Good Luck! to all of you nominees for a job well done.

Chapter reviews are a mixed bag to be sure and I'm not convinced that authors should worry overmuch about an individual harsh critic to a specific action within a chapter. Mann Ramblings 'harshest' critic is a perfect example of this. Occasionally I too have fallen victim as a reader/reviewer to this sort of thing only to have the action proved effective through further reading. But if you are reviewing as chapters are written this sort of review response is bound to happen occasionally to the reviewer and the author. After all, as far as the reader is aware, the response makes sense to them at the time. As Mann said, you address it in the best and most appropriate way possible and move on. Some of my reviews are critical, most of those having been directed to completed short stories, expressing their merits and faults but they do not always follow the harsh definition. In every harsh case, the author has acknowledged them if not entirely agreed with them but I was honest in my assessment. I do think that an author of a short story is in trouble when there are many reviews and the only reader responses are little comments saying, 'I liked this part, wasn't that nice when so and so did, or this was interesting'. If that's all you are getting, your readers are doing you a disservice, they are being polite and your story is a flop or close to it. If on the other hand, it happens for a chapter, it generally means your readers are letting you know they are still involved even if they have nothing constructive to add. For every short story and story chapter I read, I read all of the reviews for each as they aren't merely feedback and learning tools for the specific author, but for this author as well. This is a great blog topic and the responses have been most informative. Thanks!

When I first began going to a local gay bar at twenty-one, one of the first groups that included me in after hours parties was the drag queens. They were so outgoing, and a fun group but they were brash, sometimes vulgar and definitely outspoken. Because of this, I would blush and they would rib me about it in fun. So, I find Mikeal's blushing behavior, if not actually always shown as a blush, realistically portrayed and endearing. And I love, love, love the chapter!

"...that young upstart Vince's..." It's amusing how people perceive others and the old man sure was taking the long generational viewpoint. I have an immense liking for this story, Kitt.

It does look interesting but the constant cutting to a new scene was irritating. I dislike when previews are like this, it doesn't allow me a good feel for the movie.

We've all watched and read enough to know that you shouldn't question these thing too close. After all, we might not welcome the true answer. Nice prompt! There is a good mesh with the characters. It's easy to believe they've known each other a long time.

What a superb report and I can agree wholeheartedly with the sentiment, JoAnn

I'm sorry, Dave. Change can come though and when, or if it does, there is an enormous sense of relief that comes with it. Surprisingly, it is felt more for the person lost than for yourself. You're so happy for them. I can speak of this, not for a son but for my only brother. He managed to recover from many of the things you mention and more, in his late thirties. If nothing else, there is always hope even if you need to be pragmatic about it.

The one that needs the Gun oil.

Apparently last July London sewer officials reported removing a 15 ton, bus sized blob of grease and wet wipes. Baby wipes aren't truly flushable even when they say they are and even Charming and Cottonelle butt wipes don't break down but the do shred. I did some web research and yes, like many others, I find it hard to believe that I'm writing on this topic. But, as a side note, I have been a great fan of the Cottonelle wipes since they came out.

Ha ha, great ending! Very nice.

Very nice, Aaron. The interposing of the description of the black diamond as metaphor was well done. Wonderful use of words!

Done. Has to be approved by Amazon but it was an honest review. It is live now.

I had no idea you were on here either. And, I haven't read the latest chapter yet - Thanks, Lisa! I'm probably not the only person to nominate you for the story, I'm sure, but you were on my nomination list.

There's no way in heck I would make them but I would eat one for sure. I hope to hear of your success and see the results.

You seem to have had a great trip, Trebs. Glad to hear you had fun despite the inadvertent fall. I enjoyed viewing the links you provided, especially the Musee Mecanique - I watched the video.

Love the set up for it, and la finition. It was smartly done.

Welcome TLM! Read to your hearts content, then drop a comment or a review. It's the writer's reward.

Geese, baking never worked like that for me. But, then again, my only strapping roommate was a straight guy. Nice take on the prompt. I enjoyed it, Mann. Good use of conflict resolution creating sudden confusion. My imagination is rolling over the possibilities supplied by the open ending.

There was a time when flattery would get you...well, I finally caught on to that ruse. Now, you have to whisper something really naughty in my ear. I liked it, Wayne. Easy and un-explosive is exactly what life is like the majority of the time. Who needs all that drama, anyway?

I'm glad Mann mentioned 'Save Tonight' and reminded me of the story, thanks for that by the way. I remember reading the story shortly after signing up for GA. I hadn't found my voice here yet and I was still stumbling around, afraid to write a review. It seems a long time ago and now I can say to you that I think it ranks with some of the best short stories I've had the pleasure of reading. It was awfully sad, awfully heartbreaking and awfully wonderful! It may be too many adverbs in a row for editors but I mean every one.

Scott’s grand gesture took balls if nothing else. Much as you singing, by the way, that took *ahem* as well. While I am on the subject of music and YouTube, your writing is appreciated, Fitz, as was your heartfelt video message. Although the video was not as polished as your writing - Good job with that. Wow, Scott, he’s a character. He is able to make smart decisions - Zak and the car episode - but give him something deeply emotional, that affects him personally, and he becomes a wreck and his life falls apart on him. Having been through the aftermath, along with your readers, of Steve’s murder, gives an understanding of his behavior after the baby died. Noah has the knowledge of it but not the true experience, it is easy to know a thing and not to know the thing, and Noah…well, the poor man is getting to live the reaction as Scott’s family did once before. The only good thing, is that Scott’s recovery, as thin as it is (he can't be well, what was he thinking), has come around in a relatively short time. If I were to attach a single emotion to the circumstances so far, it would be sorrow and for all of them. No one has been untouched.