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Valkyrie

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Blog Entries posted by Valkyrie

  1. Valkyrie

    Anthologies
    Last week, we explored Haiku as an introduction to writing poetry.  This week, I'd like to discuss free verse.  Remember that poetry does not have to incorporate rhyming or meter or stick to a particular form.  Free verse embraces that concept, which gives the writer virtually unlimited freedom to express their thoughts.  Free verse does not follow any particular form or rhythm.  It tends to follow natural speech patterns, but doesn't have to.  I think of poetry as painting word pictures - it's the ultimate exercise of 'show vs tell'.  It can tell a story or describe a moment in time, or be pretty much whatever you want it to be.  Here is an example of a free verse poem I wrote for the 2023 Poetry Anthology - Exploration. 
     
    Sandcastles
    I watch you sit cross-legged at the edge of the cliff,
    as white-capped waves resculpt what’s left of the beach.
    The route we walked just hours earlier,
    exploring and climbing crumbling shale precipices,
    submerged and inaccessible.
    Now sand and water collide,
    advancing and receding as one.
    New crevices create temporary ponds,
    blocking the path to the fallen tree serving as bridge
    between camp and water.
    The same bridge where you steadied me with firm hands,
    when my steps faltered.
    A sturdy log leading to the bright beach where we ran and laughed and
    sang songs around the campfire,
    Eventually realizing we were water and sand,
    a temporary structure waiting for high tide.
    Bright sunlight briefly peeked through the dark clouds,
    creating a halo around your auburn hair,
    contrasting the angry surf.
    In that moment, you were holy to me.
    Sacred,
    untouchable,
    a sandcastle slipping through my fingers.
     
    Now let's see what you guys come up with.  Let me know if there are any particular forms of poetry that you'd like me to dive deeper into.  And don't forget to RSVP to the poetry anthology event! 
  2. Valkyrie

    Prompts
    A lot of the US is experiencing record cold temps.  In my area, we came close to equaling a fifty-year-old record for longest cold snap.  I don't remember the last time we were above freezing, and temps in the 20sF felt like a heat wave this week.   Sadly, it's going to get worse before it gets better.  This weekend is on track to be the coldest temps yet, along with good ol' lake effect snow.  Is it spring yet?  Our local groundhog said it would be an early spring, but I don't believe him.   

    Since Jack Frost is in his glory right now, let's go on vacation and flip him off as we head to warmer destinations.

    PT Prompt #323
    Describe your dream vacation.  Include all the wh- words - who, what, when, where, why. 
     
    PT Prompt #324
    Take the reader on a sensory journey without explicitly telling us where you are.  Describe the sights, sounds, smell, tastes, etc.  
     
    Please include the prompt number either in your story/chapter description or title to help readers who would like to search for specific prompts. Also, please remember that stories less than one thousand words must be posted as part of a collection.
    If you check the subgenre ‘prompt’ in your story tags, then people/readers can find everything here:
    https://gayauthors.org/stories/browse/subgenre/prompt/
  3. Valkyrie
    Writing poetry can be an intimidating prospect when you've never done it before, but it doesn't have to be.  Like our Poetry Anthology theme this year - Choices - you can choose to give it a go and see how it turns out.  Many people think of things like sonnets, ballads, iambic pentameter, and rhyming when it comes to poetry.  Meter, form, and structure, oh my!  Some of these forms intimidate even seasoned poets.  But we don't need to be Shakespeare to express ourselves.  Start simple.  
    Haiku is a great starting point for beginner poets.  It's an introduction to form without being overwhelming.  Haiku are typically centered around nature, but they don't have to be.  They are composed of three unrhyming lines of five, seven, and five syllables respectively.  This is an example I wrote for National Poetry Writing Month (NaPoWriMo) in 2017:
    Happy Place
    Multi-hued valley
    Visible breath, pounding hearts
    Two legs astride four
     
    This poem was based off the following prompt:  “Field Guides” Let your poem tell of a small, resonating memory of a moment’s observation of the natural world. The suggested form was a Haiku.
     
    You can also choose to explore and play with this form.  During the same week for NaPoWriMo 2017 I wrote a "reverse" Haiku - following 7-5-7 syllables instead of the typical 5-7-5.
    Ruins
    Stone towers lie recumbent
    No longer reaching
    For blue, but consumed by green.
     
    So, try out some haiku and see how it goes.  Maybe you'll end up with enough to feature in the anthology.  Stay tuned to future blogs for more poetry suggestions! 
  4. Valkyrie

    Prompts
    I was recently looking for a new series to binge-watch during the nasty winter storm we just had and found a few that were promising based on the description.  Then I read the title "The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart".  Hmmm... intriguing.  I scrolled past, then said I couldn't pass up something with such an interesting title.  So over the next couple of days I discovered what the lost flowers were and who Alice Hart was.  It was a riveting story, and I highly recommend it if anyone is looking for something to watch.  Anyway, it got me thinking about titles and how they draw people in or turn them away.  
    Let's explore the art of a good title.  
    PT Prompt #321
    Choose an existing title and write a short story about it. 
     
    PT Prompt #322
    Think of a title first, then write the story. 
     
    Please include the prompt number either in your story/chapter description or title to help readers who would like to search for specific prompts. Also, please remember that stories less than one thousand words must be posted as part of a collection.
    If you check the subgenre ‘prompt’ in your story tags, then people/readers can find everything here:
    https://gayauthors.org/stories/browse/subgenre/prompt/
     
  5. Valkyrie

    Prompts
    I got a gift this Christmas of writing dice, so decided to roll them and use the results here.  My friends know me so well!  😁 I look forward to seeing what everyone comes up with.   

     
    PT Prompt #318
    Character traits:  stubborn, empathetic 
    Conflict:  man vs technology 
    Setting:  Foreign country
    Theme: Power
    POV:  first person
    Time:  Ancient history 
    Please include the prompt number either in your story/chapter description or title to help readers who would like to search for specific prompts. Also, please remember that stories less than one thousand words must be posted as part of a collection.
    If you check the subgenre ‘prompt’ in your story tags, then people/readers can find everything here:
    https://gayauthors.org/stories/browse/subgenre/prompt/
  6. Valkyrie

    Announcements
    Last week, Myr outlined some plans we have for 2026, and there are some exciting things on the horizon!  We had an outstanding response to our writing events in 2025, so I'm hoping we can equal or better it in 2026.  Stay tuned over the next few weeks for announcements regarding this year's anthologies.  Cheers to a great 2026! Let us know in the comments how you celebrated and if you stayed up till midnight. 
     
     

  7. Valkyrie

    Anthologies
    Now that we're past the annual anthology, it's time to look ahead to what's next.  We're not quite done with 2025 yet, since we still have our annual Prompt Team Event coming up.  Stay tuned to tomorrow's blog for more information.   
    In the meantime, I've been working on 2026's offerings, so....

    2026 Writing Events
    Poetry Anthology - April
    Secret Author Contest - summer
    Annual Anthology - October
    Prompt Team Event - December
     
    There may be some surprises along the way, but those are the major events we have planned for next year.  Stay tuned for updates and reveals!

    THERE'S MORE!!!
    Even though this event will not happen until 2027, I wanted to announce it now.  @Jeff Burton recently described GA as "a tribe of siblings always available to help and listen but totally willing to dunk each other in the pool".  I can't think of a more fitting description for the relationships we develop here at GA, right @wildone and @Krista?  With that in mind, it hurts us deeply when we lose one of our own. Sadly, there have been a few tributes in recent years to honor beloved members who have passed on.  
    We thought it would be fitting to host an event every three years to honor the memories of our departed friends. The first of these Gone, but not Forgotten anthologies will take place in 2027, so keep an eye out next year for more information.  
     
  8. Valkyrie
    Who's ready for some genre fun? For this year's Prompt Team Event, @Aditus and I challenged authors to step outside their comfort zone and write in a randomly-selected genre/subgenre.  @Myr and team have done a lot of work curating a list of genres/subgenres, so there was an extensive list to choose from! Eight authors took up the challenge and sent me stories to include in the event.  We have prompt stories ranging from Historical/Ancient Orient to Fantasy/Arcanepunk.  Without further ado, please enjoy the genre Prompt Team Event! 
     
     
  9. Valkyrie

    Prompts
    Calling all prompters!  It's time for the second annual Prompt Team Event! 

    Anyone who knows me and @Aditus will agree that we like to keep people guessing, so we're changing things up a bit this year.  Prompts are designed to help us grow as writers.  To push boundaries and explore ways of writing or genres we may not otherwise consider.  So this year, we are doing a genre/subgenre challenge! 
     
    To participate:
    PM either myself or Aditus.  We will assign you a random genre/subgenre. If you would like, you can request two subgenres to choose from.  Prompt responses may be any length, but if they are below 1,000 words, then they must be part of a collection.  If they are 1,000 words or more, then they may be posted as a stand-alone piece.  Responses must follow site guidelines.  Once the story is written, PM me with the link to the story or chapter (if part of a collection) by midnight EST on December 14th, and I will include in the December 18th blog. 
    ***Do not publish your story/chapter or set the date/time of publishing.  I will set the publish date when I create the blog.  
    I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with! 
     
  10. Valkyrie

    Anthologies
    There's still time to participate in the annual Prompt Team Event!  We've had quite a few takers so far, but the more the merrier. How are those stories coming along?  PM either myself or @Aditus if you would like to be assigned a random genre/subgenre.    Don't forget to send me the link to your unpublished story, so it can be included in the feature blog.  Details can be found here: 
     
     
  11. Valkyrie

    Prompts
    I've been wracking my brain, but sadly cannot come up with any kind of theme for the prompts this week.  So here are some random word lists.  Have fun and don't forget to enter the Prompt Team genre event!

     
    PT Prompt #314:
    Use the following words in a story:  fan, box, cat, snow, closet
     
    PT Prompt#315:
    Use the following words in a story: cheez balls, tree, raccoon, tuxedo, Empire State Building
    Please include the prompt number either in your story/chapter description or title to help readers who would like to search for specific prompts. Also, please remember that stories less than one thousand words must be posted as part of a collection.
    If you check the subgenre ‘prompt’ in your story tags, then people/readers can find everything here:
    https://gayauthors.org/stories/browse/subgenre/prompt/
  12. Valkyrie

    Announcements
    It's Thanksgiving Day in the US, unlike some other countries who celebrate a month early...   On behalf of all site staff, I would like to extend a heartfelt "thank you" for being a part of the site.  The community is what makes GA special, and the interaction between site authors, readers, and members is part of what makes GA so unique.  Thank you to all who participate in site events by writing, reading, commenting, and reviewing.  
    If you're celebrating today, leave a comment with your plans and favorite Thanksgiving tradition. We're getting hammered with a lake effect storm at the moment - oooh we just had thundersnow! - so my feast may end up being this weekend instead of tomorrow.    


     
  13. Valkyrie
    We had an incredible 23 stories for the anthology this year!   You guys rock!  All the comments, reactions, reviews, and comments are very much appreciated by our anthology authors.  Thank you to all who took the time to participate by writing, reading, and supporting our annual anthology.  It's a highly-anticipated site event every year, and we're already working on planning our events for next year.  Stay tuned next week for information on our final writing event of 2025.  

    Putting together the GA anthology is very much a team effort. A huge thank you to the team who made this year's anthology possible!
    2025 Anthology Support Team
    Anthology Coordinator
    Valkyrie
    Tech Support
    Myr
    Proof Team
    Lee Wilson
    Gary L
    Valkyrie
    Parker Owens
    rec
    Anthology Banner Creation
    Cia
    Thank you to Cia, Myr, and Wildone for their behind-the-scenes help and moral support with the technical aspects I sometimes struggle with. 
     
    If you haven't already, be sure to check out this year's amazing collection of Creature Features. 
     
     
  14. Valkyrie
    We had so many anthology stories this year, that I decided to spread them out over four weeks instead of three.  What better way to celebrate Halloween, than reading a bunch of Creature Features?  Here are five more stories to round out this year's anthology.  Enjoy and please comment, review, and react!  
     
     
  15. Valkyrie
    How has everyone been enjoying the anthology stories so far?  We've had 12 stories featured over the past two weeks, and here are another six.  And... drum roll... stay tuned for next week's blog because we're not done yet!  Keep those comments and reviews coming.  I know how much authors appreciate feedback, so please continue to show support to the authors who took time to participate in this year's anthology.  Now on to the featured creatures!
     
     
  16. Valkyrie
    It's here!  It's here!  We've been waiting all year, and it's finally time to release the beasts!  Uh... creatures... uh... anthology stories  

    We had a fantastic turnout for this anthology, so get ready to read, comment, react, and review! I'll be splitting up the submissions over the next few weeks, so if you don't see your story featured here today, don't worry, you're on the list for a different week this month. 
     
     
  17. Valkyrie

    Prompts
    It's super easy to get sucked into negativity, whether it's the news, social media, family, work, the weather...  I'm guilty of falling into this trap, but over the past few years I've been trying to learn how to find positives to counterbalance the negative.  Some days are definitely harder than others, that's for sure.  A dear friend of mine has been my inspiration in this journey.  They always know what to say to make me feel better, and their positive outlook on life is contagious.  We need more of this in the world.  

    Believe me, I know that things aren't sunshine and unicorns all the time, and I'm not saying they have to be.  I need a good ugly cry while stuffing my face with an entire bag of cheezy puffs every once in a while and feel no shame in doing so.  And I totally admit to flipping off more people than I probably should when driving.  But then I tell myself, maybe that a-hole who just cut me off after tailgating me is on their way to an emergency, or simply having an ugly-cry-cheeze-puff-eating day, and then sit on my hands instead of giving them the bird.  Anyway, enough rambling.  On to the prompts! 
     
     
    PT Prompt #310
    Create a negative situation for your character, then put a positive spin on it.  
     
    PT Prompt #311
    Write about how you handle negative situations like the traffic scenario above.  
     
    Please include the prompt number either in your story/chapter description or title to help readers who would like to search for specific prompts. Also, please remember that stories less than one thousand words must be posted as part of a collection.
    If you check the subgenre ‘prompt’ in your story tags, then people/readers can find everything here:
    https://gayauthors.org/stories/browse/subgenre/prompt/
  18. Valkyrie

    Anthologies
    Now that the anthology deadline has passed, it's time to look to what's next on the GA Writing Event agenda while we wait for the anthology stories to go live.  You guys were total rock stars this year, with 23 Secret Author stories, 17 tribute stories, and 8 poetry collections.  I challenged authors to at least meet, and hopefully surpass, the number of SA stories for the anthology.  Was that goal met?  You'll have to wait till next Thursday to find out    
    Our next writing event will be the annual Prompt Team Event, which will be announced after the conclusion of the anthology.  We're also working on finalizing what writing events will be offered next year, so stay tuned for that announcement as well.  We'll also be announcing a new writing event, in addition to our regular features. 
    With that in mind, tell us your favorite event this year.  To recap, we had Auld Lang Syne in honor of Carlos Hazday, Diversity - poetry anthology, our tribute to Comicality, and the Secret Author contest.  
    What events do you want to see next year?  

     
  19. Valkyrie

    Anthologies
    Who's frantically writing and working to get their story done in time for the deadline?  


    While I don't have the official number of stories submitted yet, I can say we are very close to matching the number of Secret Author stories.  This is going to be a great anthology, so stay tuned!  
    The Proof Team is hard at work proofreading the stories that have been submitted so far.  Please be patient as more stories are coming in every day, and we are volunteers with a life outside of GA (I know.. who'd a thunk it?)  We will get through everyone's stories in plenty of time   
    Who's excited to start reading about our featured creatures?  
     
  20. Valkyrie
    I'm super excited about this year's theme!  There are so many possibilities.... Do I go with a cute fluffy kitty?  Or maybe a fire-breathing dragon?  Or an army of Norse penguins fighting Canadian otters?  

    It's a good thing there's a lot of time before the deadline, although with my prowess at procrastinating, I probably won't start till the week it's due   The guidelines for this year's anthology are posted below.  So now that we know the theme and the parameters... start writing!  
     
    2025 Anthology - Due: October 1, 2025
    2025 Theme is: Creature Feature
    Feel free to interpret the theme in any way you want. The anthologies are not exclusive, but inclusive, so don't worry if you think your entry has only a tangential link to the theme. If you are inspired, then write a short story, poem, or play!
    Please read these submission guidelines carefully.
    You may address these themes in any style or genre you choose. Be creative! However, please note this is an anthology of short stories. By definition, a short story must stand alone and not require reading a prior story. It therefore cannot be a chapter in a serial.
    Who may participate:
    Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate. However, you must be a member here at GA with author or poet status (which is free and can be purchased through the Activities tab: Store link).  Please RSVP to the 2025 Anthology Creature Feature event (can be found by accessing the activity tab, then events) to receive reminders and also to give the anthology team an idea of number of participants.
    Submission Guidelines
    Submission Date: October 1, 2025
    Please Note: Submission date is for submission to the Anthology Proof Team.
    Non-Poetry
    No Story Limit: Each story submitted must meet quality and editing guidelines. Each story posted as its own submission Minimum word count per story: 1,000 Maximum word count per story: 25,000 Poetry
    Unlimited number of poems, up to 10,000 words total Posted as a single submission (a collection)  
    Submission Procedure *Please read carefully*
    Once your story is complete and has gone through your beta and editing team, please complete the following steps:
    Contact @Valkyrie via PM. Include in the PM the following information: Title, original editor, genre, synopsis, word count, and excerpt in the body of the PM. Attach your story file as a Word document.  Please send as a .doc or .docx if possible.  We have had issues with .odt documents.  You will be paired with a proofreader from the Anthology Proof Team who will perform a final proof for the anthology and return the file to you. *Please Note: Prior editing required before submission.* Once you receive your proofed file, complete your edits and submit your story into the GA Stories Archive. For help, please read How do I upload my anthology entry into GA Stories? o   Make sure the story stays unpublished (DO NOT click on either the publish or publish now buttons for the story itself or later when adding a chapter/chapters.)
      Select “Fiction” as the category. It will be moved later by staff.  A maximum of four chapters may be included, but submitting the story as one chapter is highly preferred. Due to site limitations, if there are multiple chapters submitted, one chapter will post every 24 hours. This is not something we can change. When submitting multiple chapters, DO NOT SET A DATE for the ‘story’ or the chapters.  Site staff will set the dates for you once they are moved to the anthology category. The ‘story’ and first chapter will publish on the anthology release date, and subsequently, additional chapters will post every 24 hours after that.  Not following this guideline results in a LOT of extra work for staff, and you will risk your story not being included in the anthology. Mark your story status as COMPLETE. Only completed stories are allowed in the anthologies Please note that once you submit a story it will NOT show up in your list of stories until the anthology has gone live. Copy the URL for your story (not a chapter page) and paste it in the announcement thread in the Writer’s Circle so your submission may be checked to ensure it meets submission guidelines and is moved to the anthology category.  ***Please do a visual check of your story once it has been uploaded to ensure that it posted correctly. If it did not, contact @Cia or @Valkyrie.  

    IMPORTANT: Please DO NOT do ANYTHING with your story once it has been submitted to the anthology. We lock edits to anthologies, but we can only lock so much and making ANY changes can cause issues with the system. If there is something with your story that absolutely needs fixed, added, etc, PLEASE contact @Cia or @Valkyrie. Thank you!
    Extensions
    Occasionally things happen that prevent an author from meeting the deadline. If you need an extension, contact Valkyrie before the deadline (not the day of or after), and something may be able to be worked out.  If you have NOT made arrangements prior to the deadline, your anthology story will not be included. You are welcome to post your story independently and include a story note stating it was originally meant to be part of the anthology.
    Story Titles
    Please do not use the anthology theme or your GA Username as a title. Be as original as you can. In case of duplicate titles within the anthology, we will request that titles be changed.
    Unacceptable entries & Content Warnings
    Entries that are obviously unedited (containing many errors) or that violate site guidelines will be either declined or changes may be requested as a condition of entry. For information on what is considered to be unacceptable, please see the Story Content Rules FAQ. 
    Please include a Content Warning in the story notes if your story contains sensitive content, e.g.: abuse-physical, mental, sexual, extreme violence, taboo topics, etc.... 
    Previously posted stories (whether at GA or elsewhere) are not eligible for inclusion into the GA anthologies.
    Editing
    All entries MUST be edited prior to being sent to the Anthology Proof Team. If you need an editor, please visit the Editors section of the Writer’s Club to request one.  Please make sure to follow the guidelines when requesting an editor.  The proof team is under no obligation to provide a proofread of a story until it has been edited. Proofreads should take no more than 72 hours once you have been paired with a proofreader. If you have not received your story back within 72 hours, please contact Valkyrie via PM. If you send your stories in within the last 48 hours of the deadline, you have 48 hours after receiving it back to upload it in order for it to be included in the Anthology.
    Copyright
    As with all content in GA Stories, the rights remain with the individual authors. Your story will post with a simple 2025 copyright notice, using your GA user display name. If you have another preference (for example, a different name, or a Creative Commons license, or specific copyright wording you'd like to use), please include that with your submission.
    However, with this anthology, by submitting your story, you are giving GayAuthors.org first worldwide rights with 14 days exclusivity. What that means is you are giving GayAuthors.org permission to archive your story on its website, distribute it via RSS, kindle, iPhone, iPad, eyeball… and you agree not to publish it anywhere else for two weeks.
    If you later decide to post your story at another site, please mention at the beginning or end of the story that it was first published as part of the 2025 Gay Authors Anthology – Creature Feature and include a link back to GA if possible.
    If you have any questions, please post them in the Anthology Forum.
     
  21. Valkyrie

    Prompts
    Today's prompt blog is going to be a little bit different.  Five years ago, @wildone featured some guest prompts after our prompt guru Comicfan sadly passed away.  One of these prompts was recently resurrected, with several authors taking up the challenge.  This is one of my favorite technical prompts, as it gets authors to consider their words carefully and approach first person POV in a different way.  So please check out the prompt and responses and give it a go yourself.  Be sure to post your links in the comments here and in the prompt thread.  Now start writing!  

    Technical Prompt Challenge:
    Write a story (at least 500 words) in first person without using the pronoun "I". 
     
    Please include the prompt number either in your story/chapter description or title to help readers who would like to search for specific prompts. Also, please remember that stories less than one thousand words must be posted as part of a collection.
    If you check the subgenre ‘prompt’ in your story tags, then people/readers can find everything here:
    https://gayauthors.org/stories/browse/subgenre/prompt/
     
     
  22. Valkyrie

    Anthologies
    There are just two weeks left to get stories sent to me for the Proof Team to review.  From the selection I've read so far, this is going to be a great anthology! The Proof Team has been hard at work, but we're always eager for more, so keep sending me your creatures to feature!  

    Hmmm... maybe something a bit scarier?

    Nah... scarier. 

    That'll do   
     
     
  23. Valkyrie

    Prompts
    It's starting to feel like Fall here, with a few hot days thrown in.  It's mainly been cool, and the trees have even started to turn.  I love it.  Fall is my favorite time of year, with the beautiful Northeast foliage and cool temps.  It's time to pumpkin spice all the things!  

     
    It's also back to school season, which means more traffic and lots of cranky people. Let's write about the beginning of Fall. 
    PT Prompt #303:
    You've decided to go back to college at age 40.  What prompted this decision, and what are you studying?  How do you relate to classmates half your age? 
    PT Prompt #304:
    Take us on a walk through the woods.  Be as descriptive as possible.  Maybe there are creatures to encounter and feature in the anthology.  
     
    @Inkognito took on one of my sensory prompts last week, and came up with a unique interpretation.  Be sure to check it out! 
    Please include the prompt number either in your story/chapter description or title to help readers who would like to search for specific prompts. Also, please remember that stories less than one thousand words must be posted as part of a collection.
    If you check the subgenre ‘prompt’ in your story tags, then people/readers can find everything here:
    https://gayauthors.org/stories/browse/subgenre/prompt/
  24. Valkyrie

    Anthology
    Proofreading vs Editing
    No, it’s not a writing smackdown, but two different parts of the writing process that go hand-in-hand.  Since the proof team is working in overdrive at the moment, I thought it would be a good time to rehash the role we play and the difference between a proofread and an edit. 
    Editing is an in-depth process that looks at all aspects of the story.  So in addition to punctuation, spelling, grammar, language-usage, and the technical aspects of writing, a good edit includes looking at continuity errors, plausibility, author voice, and the overall story arc.  It can be a lengthy process, depending on the editor, author, and amount of revision needed. 
    Proofreading is the final step before the story goes live.  So once an author’s editing and beta reading team have dissected the story and the author has put it back together, then it’s always a good idea to give the story a final proofread to catch anything that might have been missed.  When the proof team completes a proof on an anthology story, we are looking for spelling errors, misused words, incorrect grammar, and punctuation.  Even the best editors sometimes miss things, so our job is to catch those mistakes and make the story as clean as possible. 
     
    There’s a great discussion going on right now in the Anthology Discussion Thread in the Writer’s Club about editing experiences, scary or otherwise.  I’ve received some memorable comments from editors, and one of the most memorable was when I was told to “Get your head out of your ass, stop writing like Jane Austen, and start writing like Valkyrie again!”.  Let’s hear your most memorable comments from your editors. 
     
    Finally, I’d like to re-feature a blog post about the proof team members.  It’s a sometimes thankless job, but we have a wonderful team who work hard behind the scenes to make the anthologies the best they can be.  I’d like to extend a special thank you to @cia for stepping in and helping out this year.  Another great reason to participate in the anthology is the possibility of having GA's editing guru herself take a look at your work.  It's a learning opportunity to definitely take advantage of.  We’ve received a lot of stories so far, and I hope they keep coming in!  Let’s get to that twenty mark I set earlier!
     
    https://gayauthors.org/blogs/entry/19795-meet-the-anthology-proof-team/
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