Comicality

Oooh...another good point made. So the repeat audience value is pretty much diminished by the fact that once the story is read, it's pretty much complete. Now, I know that there are books that people read over and over again, oth on and offline,but that's definitely something to consider. Thanks Matt!

Oh yeah, there will definitely be more "Magic Man" on the site. I think it's an important story about change. I think I made a big mistake with the first chapter though, because I was trying to make the character a bit 'unlikeable' by trapping him in a constant routine. Which I think people took as just me being monotonous. The first chapter got some pretty awful comments made about it (OUCH! I was a bit 'wounded' after that one! Hehehe!), and it was hard to motivate myself to write the second one, you know? I wanted Gavin to finally discover how his life was going in circles, and suddenly start making an actual 'effort' to change instead of always just sitting around trying to find reasons to be sad and sulk all alone. So hopefully this next chapter will go over better and folks will be able to see what I'm inda trying to do with the story. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. The story does have a small but loving fanbase though, and for them (you included) I'll keep writing anyway. You'll have to excuse me if I ignore all comments and questions about it until LONG after it's posted. Hehehe, another hit like that, and I'll quit writing completely.

About a year ago, I thought about having a 'collaboration' type story on the website, where a different author could contribute a different chapter as the story progressed. With different people, different writing styles, different ideas about how things would go. Originally, I was going to make it a spinoff of "GFD", telling the story of a vampire 'hunter' that had suddenly lost his memory during the battle, and now had to find his entire life all over again. (Leaving a lot of open opportunities for an author to interpret the character anyway they want to, and build a history through short flashbacks and memories) And all this while battling feelings of love for a new vampire newblood that he has fallen in love with since waking up in all this confusion. All of your fave authors would be invited to join in, and anyone new who wanted to jump in as well. I started writing the first chapter a long time ago to set the stage and let everyone else sorta run with it. But I dropped it to work on other stuff. Whaddya think? If I picked it back up and posted that first chapter, would you guys be interested in reading or writing on something like that? Of course, the whole 'vampire' thing was just the original idea. We could always do a more traditional teenager in high school idea as well. Or we could do both. Or we could do something entirely different. Whatever it is, if you guys have some ideas, let me know. I'd love to get working on this and post it on the Shack. Afterall, you guys are the life's blood of the place, so why not be posted right along with all the other stories on the list. Any thoughts writers/readers?

That would be awesome! I'd love to have a version of the series printed off myself. Maybe in different chapters! That would be SO cool! Besides, my system doesn't have a page count thing on it. So I'd love to know exactly what the page count is for the entire "Gone From Daylight" story at this point. I'll bet it's HUGE! I'm dying to know! If you decide to print it out, please let me know! K?

That's ok! Don't feel sorry. I think that's a valid criticism. So thanks! Actually, I've caught some bad comments on the scene at Nifty (Which I thankfully cut shorter. I had a lot more authors that I wanted to mention in it. I had a list, and after a while I had to say to myself...'ok, this is just too much. I should stop here.). I'm glad that I did it, and the authors that got mentioned were extremely surprised. Even the ones that I didn't know were reading my story to begin with. So that was really cool, and despite the possible 'corny' idea of mentioning them all, I stand by it. These are my colleagues, afterall. Anyway, as for rushing through the chapters, I really haven't been. If anything, I've been trying not to. I took a LOT out of this chapter and the last one in an attempt to finish before the deadline. I've combined a lot of characters and conversations as well. So some scenes that were going to subtley play out over two or three chapters, happened all at once in this chapter. (Like the slow break between Trevor and Michael, the relationship between Dion and Dylan, and the disconnection of Comicaity from his student) Three characters were completely omitted (although I would love to add the 'jewler' in again at a later date), and I was working on "Born Of Fire" at the same time so everything would match somehow. But I hopethat the next chapter will run a bit smoother than this one. Hehehe, it took months longer than I thought it would. I make extra EXTRA sure that everything is perfect for these chapters (content wise anyway. As far as mechanics, the only thing worse than my spelling is my typing! Hehehe!), and the first four chapters were pretty much a breeze to write. I might have become excessively worried about the series since then. I worry about this one more than anything, and there are actual fans now that know the story much MUCH better than I do! And the want to know more about the rules, and the elders, and the hunting, and means of support, and what kind of blood the dog drinks, and the history of all the characters involved. Which is REALLY cool in one respect, and extremely terrifying in another. Because now I have NO room for error. But I'll be keeping my eye out mistakes, I promise. And when it's all said and done, I hope to have a damn good story that you can keep with you always. Thanks so much for the comments. ALL of you! Wow...I think this might be the most replies we've ever gotten to one topic in here! Thanks a ton, and I'll seezya soon with a new "Savage Moon"! (Yeah.I'm worried about this chapter too! But I'll take the risk anyway! ::Giggles:

No thanks needed dude. Really. The stories I wrote in the first two years of the site were pretty much my way of trying not to EXPLODE! Hehehe! Between living with my best friend, who I loved with all my heart, and being in the closet, and being completely infatuated with this guy, Ed, at work, and Nifty, and Jaxsper Finn and Dean Lidster and the like...I had to express myself before my head blew up. It was such a release. It really was. It makes me feel SO good to know that you feel a bit more connected to yourself. That is the most liberating, most beautiful feeling in the world. Don't ever lose that. It's easier to lose sight of oneself that it seems. I learned that the hard way on a couple of occassions. Thank you so much. Honestly, I take it as a *HUGE* compliment to have someone say 'you affected me'. To a writer, or painter, or film maker, or any artist in general, I imagine that is one of the best compliments that you can possibly pay to somebody. So, for that...thank you. ((Hugz)) ps- I LOVE the rain! Especially storms! Makes me squirm to hear the sound of rain hitting the windows. Hehehe! Sighhhh....

You know, while I agree completely with the idea that such stories would probably be met with a huge controversial blockade in terms of getting on shelves and getting bought, I am stuck wondering if it'll always be that way. I mean, I can clearly remember when there was no gay literature section at the bookstores around here. (Not that I can remember) I think I was 18 before seeing it for the first time. Now it's a standard section of any major bookstore. And the previously titled "occult" section used to be two or three shelves hidden in the back of a store, and now it's larger than the religion and philosophy sections put together. (They call it 'new age' now) I wonder if there's a chance to possibly break through the controversy of it all by starting now. Like...the first books, I'm sure, will get attacked and criticized...but what movement hasn't been ridiculed at the beginning? Basically, I guess I would love to see the stigma behind the idea disappear so that it COULD be possible one day. One thing I DIDN'T think about, however, and thanks you guys for bringing this up...is the fact that buying a book like this in public, and reading it in private online, are two completely different things. That's definitely a factor in all this. It would take the support of a huge community to support the idea and actually go out and spend money on the books that make it to publishing. Without that, the whole concept would fall flat. (Or get crushed by whatever groups decide to attack it) But...if the books actually made a lot of money, and it became a 'business' opportunity...I imagine that tons of companies would suddenly jump on the bandwagon whether they agree with the idea or not. Instantly. It's like...unavoidable then. Do you think the companies care that some religious groups are protesting the Harry Potter books for their acceptance of the 'occult'? Psh! Harry Potter books make money! LOTS of money! So those protests can be pretty much ignored. I'd like to think gay erotic fiction could be accepted like that after a while. Just a thought. Man...I remember being 14, and ALL I WANTED was to see pictures and watch movies and read stories about kids like me. And there really weren't any. At least now we have "Wil and Grace" and "Queer As Folk" and the like, but in the late 80's and early 90's, we didn't even have THAT. I'd love to see things get better more quickly. Thanks for the input ladies and gentlemen! You've given me some more to think about.

I was talking to someone about this in an email, and I was thinking that it might be a question for the cafe. So feel free to comment. Do you think that the online gay erotic genre would generate as much of an interest on bookshelves? I mean, if authors published their works, with all of the sex included, and even the ages kept the same...do you think it would be the next 'big section' at your local bookstore? There's tons of romance novels for housewives and the like, right? So why not? Just curious. Maybe the publishers out there are missing out on a big market here. Because online, people are reading these stories every single day. Millions of them!

Aw, thanks! And yes, the next part is definitely coming! There's a few more in front of it before it's all finished and posted, but it won't be too long. Cool? I'm glad you liked it, man! ((Hugz))

((Tight Hugs)) Wow...I don't know what to say, other than thank you. I mean that. When I first started writing, I didn't really want to dig too deep into my personal life or my history too much, because it was just a scary place to revisit, you know? But getting emails and posts like this one, connecting with people who understood and really could relate, made it possible for me to dig deeper. And I take it as a huge compliment to reach folks who felt they needed reaching. So thank you. And I'll keep writing until everything is all said and done. I promise.

Hehehe, you 'heard' stuff about me, huh? That can't be good. As for the spinoffs, there's a kiss and a cookie for ya if you can name all *4* spinoffs of the "New Kid" series! By the way...I think you just made my smile a bit wider than it was before. Anyway, I'm happy to hear that you liked the new chapter. I'm working on the next one, and I think I like it a bit better than this one. But that's just me. I wish you could have met Ariel in real life...he was an absolute doll all through high school. One of the most lovable boys I've ever known. Sighhh....

Hehehe, oooooh no! I'm not gonna give a date, because then something always goes wrong and it doesn't come out on time. I'm not falling for THAT trick this time. It's already taking a few weeks longer than I thought it would. What I CAN tell you is that it's getting very close to being finished, and I hope to start editing it all in a few weeks. I'm happy with most of it right now, but there are a few parts I kinda wanna touch up a bit. I'm a stickler for my own work, so it has to pass a pretty harsh inspection before I start letting people read it. But I'm working on it as you read this. So it won't be too long. K?

1) Oops! Hehehe, sorry about that, severe force of habit. Dudette it is! I'm 'flexible'. ::Wink:: 2) Thanks! And look for "Kiss Of An Angel 2" this week to add another spinoff of the series. Cool? 3) Hmmm....any suggestions? You can whisper it in my ear if ya wanna. ::Grin::

The story that started it all returns to the Shack Out Back! Be sure not to miss it!

I haven't had a chance to read it yet myself, but I hope to get a chance sometime soon. The folks on the Shack have recently recommended a story called "Shane" in the high school section of Nifty. It's supposed to be really good, a few folks swear by it, so run over and check it out when you get a chance. And remember, if you like what ya see, drop the author a line to let him know!

Kewl! Thanks so much dude! ((Hugz)) You definitely put a permanent smile on my face for the rest of the weekend! (Which is gonna hurt come Monday) I'm glad you like the stories, and I hope you like the new stuff that's already on its way!

All of the released and unreleased articles that I wrote for the Gay Authors Newsletter last year have now been added to the "Website Plus" section of the Shack. So if any of you guys are interested, feel free to stop by and give them a read. I'll be back to talk more later on. Seezya!

All excellent comments and advice on the subject! And it's really true. No matter how much planning and scheduling and plotting you do for a perfect story, once you actually start writing it out, your natural instincts just take over and it turns out completely different from what you originally planed. Just think about your characters and how they would act and react to certan situations...they'll guide you where you need to go. I write most of my stories with a few 'key events' in mind that I want to take place, and pretty much just make it up as I go along from there. However, if you ever feel confused, try writing notes to yourself on a pack of index cards. It's a method that I read about from John Carpenter. You write out a certain scene on one card, and another scene on another card, and when you have them all written out, you can physically put them in order on your bed or our floor. It helps to make your thoughts 'concrete'. Put them out there, look at them, and change hem around at will. And if you want to add something, add another card. I've done this with "GFD" sometimes whenever I was getting confused about how things were going to go. Also, notes help to get a lot of thoughts out of your head. Once they're on paper somewhere, it's like your brain clears space for more ideas to come. Write them out. Get a small notebook for your pocket, and jot down ideas as they come to you during the day. Trust me, if you do this for two or three weeks, you won't be able to STOP! I hope this helps! And remember, everyone here on the Cafe would love to see what you come up with! So let us know when you start. I also have a Library if you wanna post a story among friends for feedback. More than anything, just remember that writing is just like a muscle. The more you work it out, the stronger it gets. So practice often, and believe in your instincts. If you write from the heart, you'll never go wrong. Best of luck!

I went through a short period for a few weeks where I had trouble posting on this forum because of a virus (mixed with a heavy dose of procrastination concerning me fixing it). But it is fixed now, and although I've stepped away from the 'publicity' of the writing and all...I still would love to see this particular forum thrive and keep going forward as a source for talented authors to discuss the whole writing process and what goes into it. I would still love to see readers come here to comment on what they like and don't like about the stories that they've read in the place. I believe that there's a lot to be discussed here, and if any of you have questions or ideas on how to keep things running, please let me know. Cool? Readers, writers, newcomers...offer suggestions, ask questions, ask for advice...whatever. I'd love to participate in discussions concerning writing your own stories or talking about what distinguishes a favorite from one that you avoid like the plague. So speak up, let me know what you're thinking. Some of your favorite authors are reading this. I know, because they've told me so. Take care, and I'll seezya soon!

Thanks so much to all of you for all the comments made! I've definitely put them in the memory banks for now, and I'm always happy to get the feedback. ((Hugz)) The new chapter is coming very soon, and will get much more into Rage and more info will be given on the 'Beast'. But before then, there's a few more site favorites that will be getting some attention. "Savage Moon" is the next BIG one coming, followed by "Magic Man", and I hope you guys enjoy them both. So look for those to be next in the sci-fi trilogy. Thanks again, and I'll seezya soon!

Heya Justin! I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to get back to you yet, but I do remember getting your email. (Mostly because there was another online friend of mine who used the name 'Justin Case' with an 'i'. He passed away a few years ago, and you wrote eerily close to the anniversary) That aside, I am answering tons of email right now, and I hope to answer yours soon. Hopefully this week. K? Sorry for such a long wait. As for "My Only Escape" I am definitely going to finish the series. There's only two or three chapters left, and the next one is almost done. It was suggested that another reading of the second half for radio or cd should be done, but there's no plans for that as of yet. But the first cd set is still available until September 1st if you want it. K? Thanks a lot, and I'll seezya soon! Expect to hear from me in the near future!

It's a bittersweet feeling, honestly. Because I reall do miss you guys terribly. So I don't want you to get the wrong impression with this post. But, in all honesty...this past week has been f**king INCREDIBLE!!!! Omigod! I feel SO good right now! You have no idea! And this is just ONE week since being away! Imagine how I'll feel after a month! ::Giggles:: I hardly did anything at ALL online this week! And instead of feeling extremely guilty about it, I just smiled and let out a sigh of relief. So many things that I take for granted...getting a few extra minutes of sleep in the morning, watching tv after work, catching up with friends on the phone...I'm enjoying them again. My muscles feel much more relaxed, my room is clean again, I've actually been going to SLEEP at night before sunrise, I have energy...it's amazing. My mind feels free of a lot of extra clutter, and the air just...smells a little bit sweeter outside. (Even in 95*+ heat!!! ::huff puff: People around me in real life actually notice an actual physical 'difference' in me already. One girl at work asked if I had gotten laid. (Psh!) They must think I'm on drugs. And that's just what it feels like. There are literally times, when I have a quiet moment, and I kid you not...I close my eyes and just enjoy it to the fullest. My whole body tingles. I have nowhere to be, nothing that HAS to be done, nothing HAS to be worked on or solved or straightened out, no sudden emergencies, no rushing through stories, no huge looming responsibilities, no hectic crusades to catch up...just me and a perfect silence. I can't describe it. It's been at least five years since I've felt this kind of peace. I wish I could bottle it and send to every one of you. I never thought one week would make such a difference in how I felt. I miss you all, and I'll definitely post more stories soon. But...I wanted you guys to know that I'm *HAPPY* right now. Not just 'trying to be happy to keep from bringing anybody else into the muck with me', and not just 'being able to laugh despite the weight of the world', and not 'just happy enough to smile'...but completely, physically, emotionally, spiritually...*HAPPY*. I'm enjoying myself a ton. Even checked out the Taste of Chicago! (SOOOO MANY HOT GUYS AT THE TASTE!!! From ages 14 to 35...ALL GORGEOUS!!! MMMMMM!!! If only they had ticket prices on their asses like everything else! I saw a set of Australian Twins, about 19 years old, that nearly made me drop to my knees and Thank GOD for my gay tendencies! Hehehe!) I didn't get to go to the gay pride parade because I had to work, but the 'show' on the train ride home was a blessed one, believe me. Anyway, that's all. Life is paradise, and I get to 'enjoy' it this time. I love you guys lots, and I hope life is great! With sound mind, and completely sober... Comsie

Sup? Sorry about the delay. I have to answer some emails and probably erase some favorites in order to keep my system from being so damn sluggish. (Doing ANYTHING is a pain in the ass right now! Grrrr!) Oh, as for the posts of "GFD" on Nifty, they were getting only one section every two days. Which would have been fine if "GFD" had been posted on Saturday like it was supposed to be. The extra part was just cut off of the end of the Library posts because it would have been an odd place to end it. That's all. (I thought the Zero part was better) Anyway, I've got tons of shit to do now! Gimmee a few hours to set things straight, cool?

Wow...are we up to topic FIFTY already??? Hehehe, cool! Especially considering all the weeks I missed! Anyway...think about this. You're reading a story about 'Tommy', following his exploits, learning all about him and getting into his thoughts as a person. Then...'boom', you see a few line breaks in the text, and now...the story is being told from 'Jimmy's' point of view. Giving you a whole new outlook on the situation. Weird, right? This week's question is... = Do different points of view and perspectives between characters help or hurt a story? = Do these different perspectives give you a much broader view of the series by showing it from someone elses eyes? Do they help to give the reader more information about each character, and maybe help to move the story forward by truly giving a three dimensional outlok on the story? Or do these changing persectives confuse and distract the average reader? Does it lose you or break the feeling that you have during a story? Let us know. Then again, it may depend on how well the change of perspectives is done. With neccessity, skillfully, and with both parties sound completely different from one another. Maybe it works for some stories and not others. Who knows? Let us know what you think! The board is open!

((Hugz)) And a huge thank you for this. It means SO much to me dude. It really does. I tried a lot of times to write stuff online and get noticed. I tried to have people readit an maybe get some enjoymen out of what I had to say. But it wasn't until the Shack Out Back, that I really dug deep into who I was and actually found my niche. It wasn't until you guys that I began to find myself, and my voice, and an ability to truly express what I wanted to with words and stories. To have someone recognize the struggle behind doing that, is the greatest gift. So thanks a bunch, dude. ::Smooch:: You put a smile on my face to last me a long long time. Thank you.