Comicality

As someone who has been doing this for a long long time now, I can honestly say that I personally am amazed that some of the stories I've written have lasted as long as they did. Some of them, I never expected to get past the first chapter (especially my first outing into the erotic gay genre). So there's definitely a lot to be said about any author who has stayed dedicated and focused on their story for long periods of time. However, I am also aware of a lot of stories that never really get finished at all. Some might suddenly 'end' with a quick fix, or simply drop offline without a trace. It leaves a lot of people wondering what happened or what COULD have happened, had it been given the chance. So, for all authors and readers reading this... =Have you ever felt yourself 'burning out' on a story beore it's completion?= For writers...do you suddenly get to a point in a story where you feel like you don't want to go on with it? Or that it's not 'fun' anymore to work on? For readers...have you ever started a story, and then, during the course of the building chapters, suddenly lose interest? Readers can definitely burn out on stories too. Also, can writers 'feel' a reader's burn out? Can readers 'feel' a WRITER'S burn out? Sometimes, while in the middle of the series, life inspirations can change drastically, and what was once a shared experience between reader and writer...can become a much more labored relationship. What do you think? The board is open!

If I had the words to describe my reasons for leaving, I would. I really don't. And if I did, this wouldn't be the place for them. Let's just say that my number is up, and I recognize the call when it comes. I'm going to miss you guys sooooo much when I leave. I really am. I'm not going to know what to do with myself without you guys there. You've been my family for so long now. And the ones who have just recently started talking to me, I'll miss the potential for more. I just want everyone to understand that this has to happen. K? There is a wealth of writing talent here, and on tons of other sites. New authors are writing stories everyday, inspired by the wonderful things that others have done. It's their turn to step up and take my place. It's YOUR turn to step up and take my place. And then go far beyond it. Don't think for a second that I won't miss you, because I will. Just make sure that you all think of me once in a while and smile. K? It's all I ask. Love you lots!

MY first ever experience with 'advertising' a story was on Nifty. It was the only way that I thought anyone could read a story of this manner at the time. Back then, I didn't know of anyone with a website except for authors that were already established on Nifty. There were a few with the typical 'f**K and suck' storylines, but the kind of stories that I wanted to write were only on Nifty. If it weren't for them, I never would have been noticed at all. After that, and setting up my own site, I found other websites that had similar material to what I wanted to do. If I read a story I really liked, I'd write and tell the author so. They'd sometimes write back (On occassion, they would be really flattered and say that they had read my stuff before! I always thought that was mindboggling!) and we'd trade links. Almost like the 'buddy system'. Whoever was reading their site could read mine and vice versa. Shortly after that we became a whole 'network' of sites, and that helped to get everybody heard. No matter where you went on Nifty, if you found one story and followed it back to the website, you were bound to find ONE of us. Hehehe! And the other authors were awesome friends. I miss talking to them sometimes. The only other tip for advertising a story is to KEEP WRITING!!! Seriously. There are people who have been reading my stories from day one who (six years later) have NEVER written an email. You just have to believe that people are reading, and keep writing with your heart and soul until a few emails trickle in here and there. They're out there, just believe that. The sites mentioned above (Thanks Paul! ) are also good ways to get noticed if you don't have a site of your own. Not to mention that they are surrounded by a family of really sweet people that you can grow to love and care about. They will give the most honest feedback you can imagine. It's encouraging most times. Most importantly of all, you have to remember that you're not so much 'advertising', you're giving the public a chance to see your work. The story will advertise itself if you've truly put your heart into it. Exposure is just a game of chance.

The only thing more exhilirating, more uplifting, about actually WRITING a story, is the incredible feedback and heartfelt recognition that you get back from your efforts! Theres nothing like it in the world. There's no paycheck big enough to match the feeling you get, knowing that you really inspired someone else to think differently, or maybe even LIVE differently. That's the best. But in order to do that, in order to get that response, you have to be seen! So the question for this week is... =How does an author go about 'advertising' his story and getting people to read it online?= You've got the story written and finihed....what now? Where do you post it? Do you set up a website? What if you don't get any feedback right away....what then? As readers, how did you come across some of the works that you've come to love and enjoy from time to time? They say that the greatest stories ever written went unseen because no one ever noticed them. Let us know how to avoid being invisible among the masses. The board is open!

Well, to me, a character is much MUCH mor than a 'description' at the beginning of the story. One of the reasons that my stories begin with some kind of 'monologue' is because I need the person to be much more 3 dimensional th your average teenager. One of my writing teachers taught me once, that there is a huge difference between 'story' and 'plot'. Because the 'story' can exist sooo much further outside of the 'plot'. The story creates a history for the character, and a future. It explains his actions and reactions to certain things. Smeone with an abusive past will respond differently to criticism, heartbreak, or disappointment, differently than someone who grew up withot it in their lives. Someone who has never been in love before, will respond to sex, flirtation, and fear of rejection, differently from someone who has been there and done that. So creating a full 'life span' for my characters always helps. And I can go even deeper into those life spans like I did with certain spinoffs like "Ryan's Heart", "kiss Of An Angel", and "Taryn's Song". That helps. Also, all of the characters are different parts of my own personality. Even the ones I've based on real people. The way they tak, the way they hndle certain problems, the way they..um....have sex. Hehehe! But I try to put as much of myself into the characters as I can without suffocatng them or denying them room to breathe on their own. To me, characters are one of the most important parts of ANY story. And should be treated with care and respect. I TOTALLY agree with the mention of them not wanting to do what I tell them to! Hehehe! There have been times when I had to build the story around their whims, because they refused to do anything 'out of character'. (I guess...as any responsible actor would) So the character can move the story into avenues that I never would have considered without their 'input'. Thanks for the answers you guys! I really appreciate the feedback on these questions. I hope the next generation of quality writers are taking notes. Just remember, ALL of the past topics and their replies are available in the "Comicality Cafe Archive" just above! So any tips you need, or any questions you want to ask, they can be found there. K?

Thank you dude. And you will go with me as well. I'm gonna miss your emails something awful. Most times, I think you understand the stories better than I do. I'll miss you man...

"I wanted to take this opportunity to say something.....for all of you that are reading. It's because of this website, and all of you who have helped me to breathe life into it, that I am who I am today. I will never be the same person that I was before this Shack was built here oh so long ago. Nor would I want to be. For the last few years, you guys have given me the strength to beat the sadistic circumstances that have been beating me down since I was a little boy. You allowed me to truly express what was in my heart, and you freed me from a prison that I had built for myself from the very beginning. You all helped me to make a difference, to leave a footprint in this world, no matter how small...and leave my mark behind. It's all I needed in this life. All I wanted. Because of you, I felt like a king, and I can't thank you enough for that. This Saturday is June 19th, it is the 6th anniversary of this website. I plan to celebrate. ::smile:: I hope you all will stop by. I have an announcement to make. K? No matter what, keep smiling, and know that above all... ...it was worth it." I meant every word of it. ((Hugs Soooo f**king Tight)) You've been my support for a long time now. Longer than most people. And I thank you for being there when you could. Each of you posting here, sending me emails, reading the stories, coming to the chats...you've changed a life here. Mine. I'm forever grateful for that. Just needed to be said...

Whenever I'm reading a story online, or even in a book at home, what I find that connects me most to the plot is a general concern for the characters. Honestly, even a simple story with a mediocre or everyday plot can truly be interesting to me if the people in the story are lovable and realistic. I think it's a big part of the experience for me, getting to know somebody new through someone's writing. But is it just a coincidence that I latch on to these 'fictious' people? Is it a direct skill implemented by the author? I guess the question I'm asking is... =How do you go about creating original and interesting characters in a story when you're writing? And for you readers, what is it about these characters that you can relate to and enjoy?= Do you care about these characters? Do you picture them having lives outside of the structure of the story you've been 'given'? Do you give them faces, looks, and voices in your mind? Or could they just be anybody, in any story, and it wouldn't make a difference? Some things to think about. I'd be interested to see what you think? This week's subject is the 'life' given to ficticious characters. The board is open!

I greatly appreciate the comments fellas, thanks. To be totally honest, I'm definitely one for expressing myself through my writing, especially when it comes to personally 'difficult' topics (of which I have many, unfortunately). However, I'm still learning how to let go all the way. In fact, there are still parts of my life that I haven't touched yet. Probably won't for a long long time. I shave layers off of the surface from time to time by fictionalizing it and toning it down a bit. But there have been times when I've been writing something and felt myself 'digging too deep'. And I'll pull it back a little bit. It's a bad habit, I know, and I DO try to just express without restriction most times. But like I said, I'm still learning. I think I've gotten better though, since I started writing small pieces just for me and not for anyone else to see. It helps to unload a lot of pain, a lot of anger, a lot of sadness, and it truly aids me in getting some of those feelings out where other people who might be going through something similar can see them. So yeah, sometimes the 'bad' bothers me. But I try. The only thing I've ever posted on the site without holding back or toning it down whatsoever was "My One Fallen Angel" dedication. I hope to one day be able to let my emotions show as freely as I did that night in the rest of my work.

Thanks man!!! I really hope to keep up with "New Kid" a lot better this summer. I look forward to it.

I see. So you guys are saying that you actually 'prefer' something that's close to home. Right? I can definitely relate to that. Sometimes it's eerie how someone else can speak your mind so vividly. With me, it's usually music that does that. But what if it's BAD? What if it's a place that you really don't want to go to again? Do you think you would avid that story, or would it be better for you to read it and maybe find a solution through the storyline? Good answers by the way. And you're right dude...Grasshoppers stuff is EXCELLENT!!! It's the kind of heart that people look for in these stories!

One thing I always stress whenever anyone asks how to begin a story, is to simply 'write from the heart'. It's not as easy as it may sound, but it can be done. When you tap into a true piece of yourself, a fictional story can truly become a monumental part of someone's life. It's a special connection that many authors make unknowingly, and it truly shows us the power of words. However...there are some stories that seem to hit too close to home. Sometimes for the reader, sometimes for the author. And it can be extremely difficult to keep a series going strong when that's an issue. So the question for this week is.... =Has there ever been something that you've written or read online that has been so close to home that you were almost 'bothered' by it?= The story itself might be an excellent piece of fiction, but sometimes it can just be too much. People who have had their significant other cheat on them, or feelings of suicide, or a history of abuse...these things can be tough to relive for those involved with the story. Have you ever been 'scared off' by a story because it related to your current or past situation TOO MUCH? Have you ever backed away because it represented a friend of yours or a relative, and what they went through? A true expression of self comes out in any art you persue. Sometimes painting a picture that vivid can be damaging. What do you think? The board is open!

I hope you guys like it!

Just a short note to let you guys know the the story is now up in its entirety on the story archive of the Shack. Please let me know what you think, good and bad! I really want to make this one stand out. Once the third chapter is posted, I hope to have this story reach a new level of perfection. So feel free to drop me an email, k? Enjoy...

::Blush:: Thank you. Now I just hope I can keep this standard up until all has been said and done. I really do try hard, and I'm glad you guys like it. ((Hugz))

Sorry....CORRECTION! THIS weekend (Memorial Day Weekend), is reserved for "Savage Moon". NEXT weekend (D-Day) is for "New Kid" And "Angel". K?

Thank you. I really mean that, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart, you guys. I think every writer expresses himself or herself with the hope that it will somehow be able to reach out and touch people the way you described. Hearing that lets me know that I've done some good. ((Hugz)) It's the best gift you could give me. ps- Memorial Day Weekend. Mark it on your calendar. That's the special date I set aside for "New Kid In School 37" and "Kiss Of An Angel" to debut on the website.

Thank you all for your expert opinions on the topic. And on the many before it. I truly TRULY apreciate your input. I learn a lot from what you guys say here. And hopefully you guys do too. Anyway, I'm working on coming up with another list of good questions to ask here on the board. Something that everyone can get into. So I hope to have something decent up here soon. Thanks again, you guys. ::Smooches::

Thank you guys sooooo much. You know how I worry. Anyway, thanks much, and in a few days I hope you'll like this next part of the chapter. There's more to come. I'm REALLY glad you guys enjoyed it.

The first half of "Savage Moon's" first sequel is NOW available at the Shack Out Back! Go to the "Library" and check it out! And look for the second half of the chapter on Friday, May 7th! Enjoy!

Definitely dude! Don't feel as though you have nothing to add. If anything, you've got a fresh and open mind that will be able to touch on a perspective that I can't reach. And that's needed, you know? I can honestly say that I've learned something from all of the posts made on this board. Hearing what other people think feed my creativity, and it helps me to study my own work to make it better. So please feel free. I'm interested.

I've noticed that the last few topics have gone unanswered for the most part, and that participation has been a little slower than what I'm used to. So I'd really like to hear from you guys, anyone who is reading, as to how we can get things moving on this message board. It's not a complaint, believe me. I've been really enjoying the thoughts and posts that have been made here since the board's creation a few months back. I would just like to know how to improve on the board and make it as enjoyable for you guys as it can be. So any and all suggestions are more than welcome. Remember, this isn't MY board, it's our board. That's how it is with all of the ones that I host, and it means more to me that you guys enjoy it than for me to just have it exist for my own gratification. There are HUGE amounts of talent out there, I know, because I've seen it, and am in the process of writing them to let them know so. Let's work together to inspire even more in the future. Seezya soon. And let me know what you think. Be honest.

Thanks dude! And you'll be happy to know that DESPITE 'Tripod' being a big asshole today and not letting me into my files (What's going on with them, anyway?), I'm working on the story from remote sites and are still moving towards completion for this weekend. So it shouldn't take more than a few days to edit, and will be up April 30th. So look for it to be on time (for a change). Thanks again bud. I know you'll enjoy it. Now if I can just get "Gone From Daylight" finished soon. Hmmmm... ::Wicked Grin::

Yeah...I think I do. I didn't mean to 'stump' anybody. Hehehe, but the last two topics have evidently not been popular with you guys since it hasn't warranted any replies. So.....any ideas, you guys? I don't want to alienate anyone.

Just dropping a note to let everyone know that the newest chapter of "Save Or Sacrifice" is in the Shack Library as you read this, and will be on the site's story archive soon. Also...you're all just two short weeks away. "Savage Moon: Communion" is coming....