Valkyrie

Anthology stories are coming in, which is great! I'll be working on getting authors paired with proofreaders soon, by the weekend at the latest. I'll link to the full submission guidelines at the end of this blog, but I wanted to give a Cliff Notes version since we just had the Secret Author Contest and the submission guidelines are different for each event. Anthology stories need to go through the Anthology Proof Team for a final check before being published. The Proof Team does not replace an editor. We are looking for anything your editor might have missed, and to ensure the story follows site guidelines. We're looking for things like punctuation, spelling, misused words, and formatting. We do not beta read or make comments based on content. So, once your story(ies) are edited and beta read, then you'll send them to me in a PM. I'll need metadata, such as who your editor/beta reader(s) are, word count, genre, and a snippet from the story. This is so I can pass that information along to the Proof Team so they can decide what stories they are interested in proofreading. Attach the file as a Word document. It needs to be .doc or .docx, otherwise I can't open it. Please do not send links to Google docs or a link to an already uploaded story. I will then assign the story to a proofreader, who will be in contact regarding the story. Once it's proofread and returned to the author, then the author uploads the story per the instructions in the attached guidelines and posts the link in the Anthology Links thread in the Anthology Forum in the Writer's Circle. Which reminds me, I probably haven't done that yet...(I will soon!) If the link is not posted in that thread, then I will not include it in the anthology. To summarize: 1. PM Valkyrie your story 2. Make changes suggested by proofreader 3. Upload story and leave unpublished 4. Post link in thread This summary does not replace the full guidelines. The answers to any questions should be found there. If not, PM me and I'll be happy to respond. There's still time, so keep on writing!

This story sounds right up my alley! I'll be sure to check it out

I would suggest looking for an editor now. Sometimes it can take some time to find one. If you don't have any luck, then do your best to self-edit it and we'll go from there. And don't worry about dropping the ball. There's plenty of helpful people on the site, and if you have any questions, feel free to PM me.

That's after the stories go through the proof team. Authors should send them to me first, as an attached Word document, then after the proof team sends it back it gets posted, but not published.

Check out the anthology guidelines I linked to in the blog. If you still have questions, then PM me

Now that the Secret Author contest is behind us, it's time to focus on our next site event... the annual Anthology! We have two themes this year - Horizons and Unspoken. Which one is speaking to you? Or are they both? There's just about a month to go before the deadline to submit stories to me for the Proof Team to do their magic. I've already had some stories come in, and I'm excited to see what else this anthology brings. So, raise your hands... who's got something in the works for us? Feel free to share a teaser in the comments!

So you're still a 57-year-old virgin? Nothing wrong with that, as there are plenty of Ace people around 💖 I'm not missing anything visible, but I have had some of my innards removed. And no, one of them was not my brain I've spent the past 22 years working with adults with all kinds of disabilities. I remember one guy I used to work with as an outpatient. He had a right-sided traumatic brain injury, which can decrease inhibition and make someone a bit of a social nightmare because they act really inappropriately. He actually had remarkable insight about this, which is rare in right-sided brain injuries. Anyway, we got along really well and I made a joke one time (I honestly don't remember what I said - it was in response to something he said) and he said "Did you really just say that to someone who's disabled?". My response was "Do you want me to treat you differently because you're in that chair?" He said "No, I don't. I really like you because you don't treat me any differently". I learned two things from that interaction. Watch what you say, because like Steve said, it may not be funny to someone else. And I was glad to hear he felt like I didn't treat him any differently. As far as the sun, I have two settings. Bright white and burnt to a crisp. Thank you, Anglo-Saxon ancestors!

It is my sad duty to report the passing of a beloved GA community member and author, Geron Kees. He passed away in May, after a lengthy illness. Geron joined GA ten years ago and posted 70 stories since then, including the popular Charlie Boone series. He was a regular contributor to forum discussions and actively engaged with his readers. His positivity and kindness were reflected in his writing and interactions with other GA members, and were something everyone who knew him commented on. I got to know Geron a bit through discussing his story “Rules of the Road”. The story was set in New York State, and as a fellow NY stater, it resonated with me. Not just the setting, but the time frame and characters really spoke to me as well. We also spoke about his Dutch heritage, which he was quite proud of, cars, and writing. I enjoyed our correspondence, and I regret it fell off after a while. In his author bio, Geron stated he viewed the world through rose-colored glasses, and even when he took them off, he still viewed the world the same way. I will leave this blog with what Geron posted in the About Me section of his profile. Sincere condolences to his family and friends. Rest in peace, my friend. Without the readers of the world, there would be no writers at all. Reading is the input of thought from someone else. Writing is the return of thought to the world at large. Reading is solitary; writing is sharing. Without the writers of the world, there would be no readers at all. --Geron Kees

Thank you! I've been working with developmentally disabled people for over twenty years, so this story is very special to me. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

The posting of this year's Secret Author Contest will be delayed indefinitely due to Cia going through a tragic family emergency. Please respect her privacy and do not reach out to her and ask questions at this time, especially about when the SA stories will be published. We apologize for the delay, as we know this is a highly-anticipated event each year, but family matters take precedence, especially during a time like this. Thank you for your attention and understanding. Stay tuned for more updates as they become available. I thought it would be nice to feature some past Secret Author Contests, so decided to rewind back to 2016 and the Secret Admirer Contest. @Cole Matthews story Jager was the winner this year, and if you read it, you will see why. I will warn you - make sure you have plenty of tissues on hand. This story has stuck with me over the past ten years, and it's easily one of my all-time favorite SA or anthology stories. Check out all the stories and let the authors know how you liked them.

I totally understand. Now you have me thinking about if I read the other stories, for the same reason.

Prompts are designed to inspire and get people writing, so you can absolutely do any prompt at any time. You do not have to do both prompts and definitely can mix and match as you choose. Please copy/paste the link to your prompt story in the blog so people can find it. And you never know... we may decide to feature prompt stories in the blog too