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Valkyrie

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  1. Valkyrie

    Word Triggers

    By Valkyrie,


    Prompts
    Certain otherwise-innocuous words can be a trigger for some people.  Maybe it's a negative association with the word - a reminder of past trauma or a social faux pas.  It could be a word that becomes an inside joke - an innocent word given a not-so-innocent meaning.  These words make us cringe and avoid them and not really want to explain our reaction to other people.  For me, a certain spring-blooming flower is a word trigger.  I avoid saying the name of this flower because I have  negative associations with it.  A family member used to tell a quite inappropriate joke about it, so I cringe and get a little bit angry inside whenever I hear it.   I snicker whenever I hear someone mention a Mars bar (candy bar in the US) because in high school, my BFF used to use it as a euphemism for uh... let's just say "is that a Mars bar in your pocket or are you happy to see me?"
    Let's write some prompts exploring some word triggers.  
    PT Prompt #245:
    Your character freaks out over a trigger word at an inappropriate time.  What is the word?  What is the trigger associated with the word?  What are the circumstances that lead to the meltdown? 
    PT Prompt #246:
    Write a paragraph/short story/vignette telling the creation of a word trigger - positive or negative. 
     
    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/
  2. Valkyrie

    Write, Write, Write!

    By Valkyrie,


    Anthologies
    The deadline for the 2024 anthology is just about two weeks away, which is not too late to submit a story to the proof team!  Here are a few tips about participating in the anthology:
    Stories can be as short as 1,000 words
    The link to the theme can be tangential - it doesn't have to hit us over the head.  So, keep that in mind if the theme isn't speaking to you. 
    Participating in the anthology is a great way to get new readers.  A lot of people read all the anthology stories, so it gives authors exposure to a new audience. 
    Anthology stories are a fun way to experiment.  Try a genre you don't usually write in or a different POV.  
     
    Post your own suggestions/tips below and then get writing! 

     
     
     
  3. Valkyrie

    Anthology Check-In

    By Valkyrie,


    Anthologies
    The deadline for the 2024 Anthology - In too Deep - is fast approaching!  

     
    I'm about halfway done with my own story.  It's based on some experiences I had while visiting England earlier this year.  Comment below if you're planning on participating in this year's anthology, and feel free to post a short teaser! 
    There's still time to get a story written and submitted, even if you haven't started yet.  Don't like the theme?  Remember that the theme doesn't have to knock us over the head, as long as it's there in some form.  Here is the link to Anthology 101, which should answer any anthology-related questions.  
    Now stop reading and get writing!   
  4. Valkyrie

    Conflict Prompts

    By Valkyrie,


    Prompts
    A good story needs some kind of conflict.  It doesn't have to be over the top drama, but there needs to be something for the character(s) to work toward overcoming.  So, let's get conflicted!  
     

     
    PT Prompt #241
    Create a conflict.  Then add conflict to that conflict.  Then add even more conflict.  There cannot be enough conflict in this story.  
    PT Prompt #242
    Write a story with an unresolved conflict that still has a satisfactory ending. 
     
    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

    2024 Anthology Theme Reveal!

    By Valkyrie,


    Anthologies
    Thank you to all who voted for the 2024 GA Anthology theme!  We had six great themes to choose from, and the votes have all been tallied.  So now it's time for the big reveal!

    The 2024 Anthology theme is...
    In too Deep
     
    I already have a few ideas swimming around for this one.  Please see the guidelines below, and it's not too early to start writing! 
     
    2024 Anthology - Due: October 1, 2024
    2024 Theme is: In too Deep
    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 2024 Anthology In too Deep 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, 2024
    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 themes 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 2024 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 2024 Gay Authors Anthology – In too Deep and include a link back to GA if possible.
    If you have any questions, please post them in the Anthology Forum.
     
  6. Valkyrie

    Wee Nede Pruf Teem Memberz

    By Valkyrie,


    Anthologies
    First, the deadline for the 2024 Anthology - In too Deep - is fast approaching, so I hope there are lots of authors working on getting their stories ready for the proof team!  Mine is about halfway finished, and I can't wait to share it with you all
    Second, if the title of this blog entry has you twitching in the corner clutching your blankie, then you're just the person we need!  We need people with a good eye for catching spelling errors, misused words (such as they're, there, their), incorrect grammar, and punctuation.  Proofreaders are NOT editors.  Stories submitted to the anthology have already been edited and beta read, so we do not make editing comments outside of what I outlined above.   If you feel you can stay within those parameters, please PM me, and we will go from there.  

  7. Valkyrie

    Childhood Prompts

    By Valkyrie,


    Prompts
    Things that happen in childhood can affect us throughout life, whether minor or profound, positive or negative.  Sometimes these things can cause issues later in life, especially if they've been repressed.  Or maybe they manifest as quirky habits.  In my family, we don't say "cheeeeessseeee" when we have our pictures taken; we say "fuzzy pickle".  Don't ask me how or why that started, but it's something we still do.  I'm almost obsessive about being on time.  My grandma insisted on being twenty minutes early to everything.  I'm not quite that bad, but I had a friend once joke that if I said I was going to be there at a certain time, she could look out the window at that exact time and I would be in the driveway without fail.  I also have some quirks that are born out of childhood trauma, but I won't go into detail about those.  I'll just say that my reactions to certain things are sometimes misconstrued, and it's caused me issues at times.  Childhood incidents can be a great way to flesh out our characters' personalities and give them some unique quirks.  So, let's go back in time and do some exploring.  
    PT Prompt #237
    Your character has a unique way of celebrating special occasions.  What is it and how did it start? 
    PT Prompt #238
    Create a character whose quirks are affecting their relationship with their partner.  What is the quirk?  How is it affecting the relationship?  What is the origin of the quirk?  
     
    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/
  8. Valkyrie

    Last Call!

    By Valkyrie,


    Anthologies
    Entries for the Secret Author contest are due in less than a week! Send them to Cia and remember to keep your participation a secret...   
     
     
  9. Valkyrie

    Oh Sh** Prompts

    By Valkyrie,


    Prompts
    We've all had moments where all we can do is say "oh, sh**" and then either brace for the inevitable or stare in disbelief as the inevitable cockily saunters past.  For example, I was driving home from work one day and was sitting in my car at a red light.  There was one car ahead of me.  The light turned green, and the car ahead of me proceeded through the intersection.  For some reason, I didn't go right away.  I hesitated and allowed a good couple of car lengths between us before proceeding.  I then slammed on my brakes to avoid the driver who blew through the red light, narrowly missing me.  🤯It was like one of those slow motion movie scenes.  I could clearly see the driver and his passenger and the looks of terror on their faces when they realized the light was red, followed by them bursting into laughter.    I wonder if they realized how close they came to something that would have ended in tragedy, because they were going around 50 mph and would have t-boned me on the driver's side had I gone through as normal.  What caused me to hesitate, since I was paying attention and not distracted, and am normally pretty prompt about going when the light changes?  Let's explore and break down scenarios like this one.  
     
    PT Prompt #233
    Write from the POV of a guardian angel to an accident-prone individual. 
     
    PT Prompt #234
    You have three near-misses on the way to work.  What happened, and how were they avoided?
     
    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/
  10. Valkyrie

    Interview with the Wizard

    By Valkyrie,


    Anthologies
    Before I get into today's blog, I want to wish our neighbors to the North a very Happy Canada Day 🍁 and my fellow US citizens a Happy Fourth of July!  🎆
    I thought it would be fun to get some history and insight into the GA Anthologies from the Grand Poobah himself, our founder and fearless leader @Myr.  So grab a cuppa and and enjoy this interview before heading out to any festivities today. 
     
     
    What prompted you to start the GA anthology?  Let’s hear some GA history!
    The first anthology was in 2004 and we wanted to do a Christmas themed challenge. It was a small start with about 10 entries (Though only 7 are still visible).  It was successful, but we had a very small staff at that time and we didn’t do another until 2006.  We decided to do them quarterly for a while, one for each season and the first theme where was a Day of Silence.  We have maintained at least 2 anthologies per year since then. 
     
    What anthology had the highest number of participants?
    The first poetry anthology in 2011 had the highest number at 26.  On the story anthology side, we have two entries tied at 24 stories each with 2008 – Spring – Living in Shadows and 2022- Anniversary
     
    Why is the anthology important to you?
    The anthologies are a good way for writers to come together as a community and showing people the many different ways people can interpret a theme.  It is also an excellent showcase for authors, new and old, to introduce themselves to the community and build an audience.  I know I have more readers from people checking out my anthologies.  If only I had more time to write, eh.
     
    What’s your favorite anthology story that you’ve either written yourself or read (or both)?
    My first anthology story, Nick Cringle, always has a special place in my heart.  I enjoyed dropping hints and got some genuine surprise from a few readers.  It’s not like I’m every going to write a straight up fiction story after all. 
     
    Where do you see the GA Anthology in ten years?
    I very dearly hope that it is still going strong in ten years. I’d like to see more authors jumping in (and some more volunteers to help us out too!)
     
    What advice do you have for new anthology participants? 
    I very strongly encourage everyone to jump into the anthology for a number of reasons.  Selfish reason first, it’s always good for Gay Authors to have more new content to share with everyone.  But on the self-interest side for authors… The anthology is the best way to attract new readers!  It is a self-contained sale pitch that says “here I am, this is what I can do. You like this story, come read my other stories”.  We actively promote the anthology stories multiple times and we have members that make it their mission to read all the entries. 
    It can be intimidating looking at the list of rules, but really, it’s just writing a self-contained story that has been edited and is your interpretation of the anthology theme.  And you, the author, are the arbiter of that interpretation.  Don’t let it scare you off.  Bend it to your will and show others your vision.
    Gay Authors Anthologies are a gift to our readers and our authors.  Carpe Diem!
     
  11. Valkyrie
    Short stories can be many things – a complete story, a character sketch, or an experiment in form. They are, by definition, short, which may leave some readers readying the torches and pitchforks.  @wildone asked a question in our last guest blog about what to do when readers are clamoring for more, and you want to continue the story, but not necessarily at that moment. It’s a great question and one I deal with on a regular basis since I primarily write short stories.  I’ve gotten quite adept at dodging pitchforks and torches!

    These are some things I have found useful when I want to continue a story, but don’t have the time.  The most helpful thing for me is to write a copious amount of notes about the characters, world, plot elements and twists, and anything else that comes to mind.  Sometimes it may be a snippet of dialogue, the name of a character, or even the title.  Writing these things down while the original story is fresh in your mind will help refresh your memory when it comes time to write the continuation.  Keep the notebook handy to jot down ideas as they come to you. 
    Try writing some prompt responses set in your story’s world or featuring a character or two. Prompts are designed to be spontaneous and are great for exploring ideas, even if they’re not used in your follow-up story.  You never know where prompts will take you!
    Personally, I find that sometimes I need to let stories ferment and rattle around in my brain before I can start writing them.  So, taking a bit of a pause isn’t necessarily a bad thing, although your readers may disagree. When you are ready to write, I suggest re-reading the original story, which helps get you back into the setting and characters’ minds.  Then look at all those notes you jotted down and start writing! 
    Leave a comment with any other tips you can think of, and let's see some sequels this fall!  Just remember that anthology stories must be stand-alone and not require any prior reading,  but that's a topic for another blog  
  12. Valkyrie

    A Hard Habit to Break

    By Valkyrie,


    Prompts
    We are creatures of habit, and sometimes those habits can be a bit strange, especially to other people.  My best friend in high school preferred to walk on the right side of people.  If I forgot and walked on her right side, she would make me switch over to her left side.  It became a bit of a  joke between us, and it became a habit for me to walk on the left side of people, even if she wasn't around.  Over thirty years later, I still walk on the left side of people and feel uncomfortable if I walk on the right.   So, let's explore our quirky habits and embrace the weird!  
    Don't forget to post the link to prompt stories below.  It may be featured in a future blog.    
    PT Prompt #229
    Tell the story of how a strange habit formed.
     
    PT Prompt #230
    How does a strange habit affect a job/relationship/friendship? 
     
    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/
  13. Valkyrie

    Under Construction

    By Valkyrie,


    Anthologies
    Best laid plans... I've been working on an anthology blog post for the past couple of weeks, and every time I sit down to work on it, something seems to pull me away.    So of course, it happened again tonight, but in a good way.  I'm writing this on Wednesday night, 6/12, which also happens to be my birthday 🎂Without going into all the details, my day did not go according to plan.  What started out as an aggravating day turned into a much better one.  I had originally planned on stopping at the grocery store to pick up a nice dinner, since I wasn't planning on celebrating until Friday (which is now Saturday, so the thwarting continues), then didn't have time to do that, so decided on takeout delivery.  I had literally just ordered my food when I got a text from @Dabeagle asking if I was free for dinner since he was in town.  I now have lunch and dinner for tomorrow, since I have leftover steak from my dinner out  (thank you, Dabeagle!).  This is my long-winded way of saying there isn't a new anthology blog this week.  Please let me know if there are any specific topics you would like addressed in future blogs, or are willing to write a guest blog.  In the meantime, I promise to have the next writing tip blog ready for next week, and here is another reminder of upcoming events.  
     
     
  14. Valkyrie

    A Matter of Perspective

    By Valkyrie,


    Prompts
    Sometimes it feels like we’re losing the ability to empathize with each other.  Road rage, entitlement, me, me, me.  Recently, I was heading into a store and someone locked their car with that annoying car beep right as I was passing it.  I am extremely sensitive to noise, so it caused me to involuntarily flinch.  The person noticed, so their reaction was to beep the lock again.  I ended up going into the store right before them, and held the door for them.  Their look of surprise was worth pushing down the urge to let the door slam in the guy’s face.  Even though this is a pretty minor incident, it has me thinking about why this person felt the need to deliberately antagonize someone because they flinched at noise. I thought this would be a perfect subject for some prompts, so let’s take a deep breath and look at things from another perspective.  Both of these prompts are based on actual experiences I have had.
     
    Write each of these prompts from both perspectives. 
    PT Prompt #225:
    It’s rush hour and one driver is trying to turn right onto a busy 6-lane street.  A second driver doesn’t let them in, and driver one gets annoyed.  Later, on the same street, there is construction which has two lanes closed, causing drivers in those lanes to have to merge into the one open lane.  Now the tables are turned, and driver two needs driver one to let them merge.  What happens next?
     
    PT Prompt #226:
    Two people are in a car – one driver and one passenger.  The passenger is known to get carsick quite easily, which is made worse in stop-and-go traffic.  At a stoplight, the driver looks the passenger in the eye as they repeatedly creep forward, then put the brakes on.  They passenger asks them to please stop, and they don’t.  What is the passenger's reaction?  Why is the driver behaving this way? 
     
     
    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/
      
     
  15. Valkyrie

    Upcoming Writing Events - Reminder

    By Valkyrie,


    Anthologies
    GA's Secret Author contests are a fun way to participate in site activities and also to get your stories read by a wide audience.  There's plenty of time to get a story written and submitted to Cia!  Just don't tell anyone you're participating   Outside of your beta/editing team, of course.  Information can be found here:
    Guidelines for our annual anthology have also been released, and it's never too early to start and get your story(ies) to the proof team.  More information can be found here:
    We've also announced a writing event for next year; a tribute to Comicality.  More information can be found here:
    There may be another surprise or two coming up this year, so stay tuned to this blog for future announcements! 
  16. Valkyrie
    With the announcement of this year's Secret Author Contest - Hidden - I thought it would be a perfect time to take a look back at last year's winner, @Libby Drew If you haven't read her heart-wrenching tale based on the theme of "Secret", then I highly recommend you do so.  It's worth a re-read, even if you've already checked it out. So read Libby's story, then get writing for this year's contest!  
     
    Details for Hidden can be found here: 
    Remember to keep your participation in the contest a secret...   
  17. Valkyrie

    Freaky Friday

    By Valkyrie,


    Prompts
    Sometimes life can get a little freaky.  So let's get our freak on and explain the unexplainable.  

     
    PT Prompt #221
    You're running late to work and don't have time to stop for your customary cup of coffee.  Instead, you end up taking a completely different route to work and end up experiencing what can only be described as a 'glitch in the Matrix'.  What happened?  
    PT Prompt #222
    You keep having moments of deja vu, to the point where it's starting to freak both you and your friends out.  Then you predict a bombshell event that comes true.  What was it and how does it affect you?
     
    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

    Guest Blog - Writing Short Stories

    By Valkyrie,


    Writing Tips
    Today's blog comes to us courtesy of our resident Coyote Cub, @astone2292.  He's put aside his Ask the Author and Guess the Author hats to give us his thoughts on writing short stories.  Thank you, Aaron for sharing your ideas with us!  I would like to do a series of these blogs, so if there's a particular topic you would like to see addressed, please PM me and let me know.  Now on to our feature presentation!  
     
    Only one word comes to mind when I think about short story crafting:  Excitement. I might be considered a selfish dink when I say this but I am not thinking about a reader's excitement here. I'm thinking of my own. If I'm not excited for it, why would anyone else be? 
    Me, myself, and I, I tend to live in the now. If I find something funny, I'll be swimming in that proverbial pool all day. Retelling the event or joke over and over in my head, sharing with my friends and coworkers, and using that EXCITEMENT in my bounding gait for hours. That is the power of a short story, at least in my life. It's what I look for after reading one. Exciting things happen to us all in some shape or form, so why not use them in our field of expertise? 
    One of my favorite ways of crafting a short is using dad jokes. I know, I know, I feel several bullseyes on my person. But look at the core value: it's a joke that, albeit groan-worthy, will leave a lasting impression on one's mind and add itself to one's arsenal of conversation pieces. All you have to do is expand on it a bit. Why was the bicycle too tired to compete in the race? What was the true reason for the drummer to name his twin daughters Anna-one and Anna-two? See, I either made you giggle or grab the nearest can to pelt me with. Harness that emotion, grab your creative toolbelt, and run with it!
    I follow a piece of advice from one of my English professors in college. "If you don't have to think about it, don't." And I might as well have that line tattooed on my hand. I am notorious for my lack of brainstorming, and while it drives beta-readers up the wall, I can't help but cackle maniacally like an evil villain. Combine that with a golden rule Carlos Hazday gave me, "A chapter is done when it's done, regardless of word count," I have a fair idea when a story is done. Looking at the second story in my "Sticks and Stories" collection, I used 288 words to create a cute tale of a gingerbread man escaping a castle's kitchen. Did it need more? Heck no! I got my point across, and several people got their fair share of giggles. 
    So, with my rambling out of the way... What goes into a short story? Contrary to my advice of wild and rampant writing with no concern for whether your britches are being held, thought is required. Not much, but some. I recommend sticking with the basics: a beginning, a middle, and an ending. Refrain from branching out potential avenues, lest you tread into novella/novel territory. 
    Humble beginnings? More like crucial beginnings. This is the beast. The big game. This was my rambling earlier. What happened to pique your interest in creating a short story? Without the inspiration, you have nothing. Let's use... Oh, what's a good example? The too-tired bicycle dad joke! *dodges a thrown tomato* I was joking! Jeezums! In all seriousness, your beginning lays out the potential path to victory. Odds are you already know the ending, but you need to dissect the correct branch to form your middle. Trim the weeds, in this case, the audibles that speak for you to widen the story's length and winding road. Iron out the wrinkles of the chosen route that leads to the middle. 
    Speaking of, we're skipping the middle for now. The ending is the easiest part of the battle. How will your tale finish? Does the hero overcome his adversary or problem? Are you going to pull a Game of Thrones and lop off his/her head? Is it a happy-ever-after with a smoking-hot beefcake? I know my preference. *cough* But remember this: once you set your ending, you must coordinate it and your beginning to craft your...
    Middle! Oh, jeez. This can either be easy or challenging. Taking this year's Secret Author contest as an example, you have up to 30,000 words to use. What may be even more daunting is the concept of having one chapter to play with. Do you dare use every word at your disposal and create a lengthy document, or shall you cut it to make a precise piece? As an author, you must dance. Tango with the details long enough, and you lose your readers to repetitive boredom. Do the Lindy, and your readers will hop into the ending without realizing it. The key is placing your few plot points in proper beat to the rhythm of the short bop you're making. 
    Aside from all of the, what some may consider goofy nonsense, the most critical advice I can give for short story creation is to have fun. We're authors. We write because we love to express ourselves. I adore writing shorts. They consist of subjects or ideas that I want to put out there but don't have the proper time or attention span to give them. Do those ideas deserve more tender, love, and care? Probably, but I also have to conserve my energy. If I exhaust myself with novels, I'll be on the floor gasping for air in a forest cabin with no WiFi and a typewriter. Short stories are also an exciting way to throw spitballs on a wall. Readers will comment and clamor for more from certain shorts than others. That can signal you, the author, to expand on a story universe, thus creating a beloved tale, novel, or even a series. 
    For those who think they can't write a short story, I'm gonna poke you on the nose. You can do it. If some snot-nosed man-child from Banjoland, Kentucky can, you can. I found a home in writing novels. In the last year, I've popped out more short stories than I ever anticipated. I'm having an absolute blast! Toying with new ideas, giving dusty side characters new life, and experimenting with tones and emotions gives me writing energy. So, I'm challenging you, novel-exclusive authors. Make a story that resembles an elementary school science fair project. And if that paper-mache volcano explodes green goop instead of red, let it stain the gymnasium floor for all to enjoy for the years to come. In the end, you'll laugh and love it just as much as your readers. I promise you this. 
  19. Valkyrie

    Vacation Time!

    By Valkyrie,


    Prompts
    I just spent two wonderful weeks in the south of England, seeing everything from the Cerne Giant (Google it if you're not familiar...  )  to Stonehenge at sunset.  I could write an entire story about all the sights and experiences from the trip, but at the moment, will have to settle with two prompts based of actual things I experienced during my adventures. 
    PT Prompt #217
    After travelling for over 24 hours with pretty much no sleep and lots of Dramamine (motion sickness med that makes you very drowsy), you arrive at the house you rented in a foreign country with your friends.  You all enjoy a delicious dinner, then decide to hike up the local Tor to see the sunset.  Despite very little physical prepping for the trip, you make it to the top and celebrate this achievement!  On the way back down, in the dark, you encounter a man on his way up the Tor.  You stop to let him by, and end up talking for over ten minutes.  At the end of the conversation, the man tells you he loves you and then you exchange a heartfelt hug.  What was the conversation about?  What happens next?
    PT Prompt #218
    You've rented out the majority of a house for your trip with your friends with the exception of one room.  During your stay, there are other guests who have booked that room.  The one time you decide to cook breakfast instead of having yogurt or cereal, you set off the fire alarm in the kitchen. What were you cooking?  How do the other guests react?  
     
    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/
    As an FYI per Aditus' request, I wanted to let everyone know that he is taking a short break from his GA duties to attend to family matters.  Cole Matthews and I will be alternating weeks to continue to bring you prompts every week.  Addy hopes to be back by late summer.  
  20. Valkyrie
    I'd like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make this year's GA Poetry Anthology a huge success!  We had 16 poetry submissions to read, all of which are linked to below.  If you haven't already, I highly recommend checking them out and leaving our site poets a comment, reaction, review, recommendation, or all of the above!  I'm thrilled with the support for this year's poetry anthology, and I'm already working on next year's anthology.   So thank you, site poets for your incredible contributions, and thank you, site readers for supporting our poets with so many lovely comments and reviews! 
    Putting together GA anthologies is very much a team effort, so I would also like to thank everyone who worked behind the scenes to make this anthology possible. 
    Anthology Coordinator
    Valkyrie
    Tech Support
    Myr
    Cia
    Wildone
    Anthology Banner Creation
    Cia 
     
     
  21. Valkyrie
    It's week three of our 2024 poetry anthology - Seasons, and we have six more poems and poem collections to enjoy!  Be sure to leave a comment or review for the poet.  A reminder that I will be on vacation from April 7-22nd with limited availability to be on site, so please direct any technical issues to @Myr @wildone or @Cia
     
     
  22. Valkyrie
    Welcome to week two of our 2024 poetry anthology - Seasons! Enjoy these next five poems and poem collections and be sure to leave a comment or review for the poet.  A reminder that I will be on vacation from April 7-22nd with limited availability to be on site, so please direct any technical issues to @Myr @wildone or @Cia
    @Aditus and @Valkyrie both have two chapters, so be sure to come back tomorrow to check them out! 
     
     
  23. Valkyrie
    I am very happy to announce that we have 16 amazing submissions for the poetry anthology this year!  We will be featuring them throughout the month of April, in celebration of National Poetry Month.  Enjoy these first five poems and poem collections and be sure to leave a comment or review for the poet.  I will be on vacation from April 7-22nd with limited availability to be on site, so please direct any technical issues to @Myr @wildone or @Cia
     
     
     
  24. Valkyrie

    Let's Write Some Poetry!

    By Valkyrie,


    Prompts
    Since National Poetry Writing Month is fast approaching, along with the Poetry Anthology, I thought it would be the perfect time to feature some poetry prompts! 
     
    PT Prompt #213 - Poetry
    Write a poem about a feeling without explicitly naming what that feeling is. 
     
    PT Prompt #214 - Poetry 
    Use spring as your springboard to start a poem.  Embrace the fickleness of the season! 
     
    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/
  25. Valkyrie

    Why April?

    By Valkyrie,


    Anthologies
    Why did I choose April to feature the poetry anthology?  I thought it would be a perfect way to feature our site poets during National Poetry Month!  April is the month to celebrate all things poetry; so read, write, and if you're daring, participate in the NaPoWriMo writing challenge!  NaPoWriMo stands for National Poetry Writing Month. It's the sibling to NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) in November.  So what is this challenge I speak of?  Simple.  Write one poem per day (30 total) during the month of April.  Or I should say write one poem per day average.  If you skip a day and write two in one day, the challenge is still met.  There are many sites where you can get daily poetry prompts in April, or you might decide on a theme for the month.  Or write a mish mash with no cohesiveness whatsoever.  The goal is to write; not to write masterpieces.  It's a fun time to experiment with form, rhyme, or style.  Many GA poets have taken up the challenge over the years.  In general, participants post weekly throughout April.   It's quite interesting to see different takes on the same prompt, or what someone has chosen as their theme for the month.   
    I'm happy to say we've had a great turnout for this year's poetry anthology, so I will be featuring anthology submissions during the entire month of April.  There's still time to participate, so check out the guidelines, and feel free to participate, even if you are new to poetry!  
     

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