Comicality

Before I start, I sincerely want to give my love and hugs to all of you guys for the kind words up above! ::Giggles:: I wasn't fishing for compliments, ya know! But they're MORE than well appreciated. Thanks! Have I been affected by stories to the point where it spilled over into my own life? DEFINITELY! A lot, actually! The people who knew me when I started, can see how incredibly different I am now since I first started reading and writing these stories. Without them, I can honestly say that my life would not be as rich as it is right now. I NEVER would have come out to my best friend Mike, I NEVER would have come out to a few other friends of mine either, I NEVER would have flirted with cute boys at work, I NEVER would have written about my life, my love, my abuse, my suicidal thoughts, or my sexual attractions to teens! Basically, I never would have accepted myself the way I can now....had it not been for these stories. I still remember stories by "Savoir Faire" on Nifty, Jaxsper Finn and Dean Lidster (Who are like HEROES to me), and many many more! Then once I started writing stories of my own, just being 'colleagues' and friends with some of the amazing authors online who were also writing these incredible stories was even MORE inspiring! Eggman, IOMfAtS, Ty (Stormfront), JT Lizard ("Strawberry Boy" and "Sky InHis Eyes"), DeweyWriter, DaBeagle, and too many others to name. Just comparing notes and being side by side with what they were doing inspired me to dig even deeper into myself. And it gave me purpose, you know? I grew because of the people reading and the people writing stuff of their own. Nowadays, although I don't get much of a chance to read other people's stuff anymore (Not like I WANT to), I've found an amazing amount of enjoyment from the 'next' generation of people writing series online. "Carrots and Celery", "Just Hit Send", "Perry And Jesse", "Always Joey"....there's so much. Zustara Ourur, and MadBomber, and....just this wealth of talent coming from every corner of the net. If this is the new generation, than the people in the next generation that THEY are inspiring is going to be UNBEATABLE! That's so incredible to me. Anyway, the stories have molded my life in many ways, and I can honestly say that I'm forever changed because of them. It changed my life for the better. Believe me.

There are literally millions of stories to choose from online right now at this moment. All of them with their own special vibe and purpose. I'm sure that there are as many undiscovered classics online as there are undiscovered stars in the universe. And with all of these choices, there has to be something to truly grab a reader's attention if you want to keep them from passing you by. Some kind of 'draw' for an author's audience. If you bring it out too fast, it might make the story seem like you're skipping details just to get to the 'good stuff'. If you do it too slow...people may get bored with it and won't read long enough to get to the 'good stuff'. There's a definite pacing and technique involved when trying to pull someone into a story, and it's an important part of the writing process. So this week's question is... =What can a writer do to 'hook' a reader into reading their work from beginning to end? And how can they pace it so the story stays interesting and fresh?= This is for readers and writers alike. What is it that makes you start a story and get sucked into it almost instantly? Is it the word usage? The characters? The storyline? Sometimes it's the title. There are many people who don't judge a story until they've read it all the way through, but how do you give them enough encouragement to do so with that first initial burst of creativity? Then...once you've got them interested...how do you keep those 'hooks' coming at an even pace to keep things from 'sleeping' in between major events? The board is open! Let me know what you think!

The stories we've written and the stories we've read online, have become a part of our lives. For some, a BIG part of our lives. I know it has for me. The stories I've seen in the past few years have given me such a different outlook on things from what it was before. And I'm happy for that. However, I HAVE received emails in the past from people who know that, most times, life is far from being the neat package that is portrayed in many of these stories. In fact, it is much more difficult than any story can describe. So the question for this week is... =Are the stories we write, and the stories we read, giving a somewhat 'false' vision of what love and life is and what it should be?= Have the internet stories become the 'Barbie Dolls' in the life of gay teens? Where they think they have to be that or live that or expect that in their relationships? Do you think these stories give false hope, or maybe raise expectations to a level that can never be met? OR...should the stories be viewed as that magical situation that COULD happen to anyone at anytime? Maybe GIVING hope and a sense of confidence to those that are reading and have given up? Do you think that these stories show a sensitivity to teens that may not have known it was there before? The board is open! Let's hear what you've got to say!

I remember when I first found the Nifty Archive. It was years ago, but I remember it vividly. It was like a treasure chest filled with every answer to every question and every feeling that I had ever had. I can honestly say that I am a VERY different person today thank to finding that goldmine online. From my interaction with other people, from writing stories of my own, and from finding parts of myself in other people's stories. It's an incredible thing to be so moved by someone else's words that it affects your real life in such a profound way. The question for this week is... =Have you ever read a story online that has moved you to do things you wouldn't have normally done in your real life?= Have you been so inspired that a story could cause you to talk to that cute boy at school or at work? Or maybe it got you out of a depression that you were going through at the time. Or maybe it helped you find the courage to 'out' yourself to a friend. I know that it was a few well told stories that caused me to start writing online in the first place (Thanks to Dean Lidster and Jaxsper Finn for that!) and over time I've read some others that have made it possible for me to grow and change in the best ways possible. So...as readers, as writers, have you been uplifted by the work of others to a point of postive change? The board is open!

There were some really good points brought up in the last discussion, and if anyone else has further input, I'd love to hear it. It's true! A vast majority of interracial romance stories online are treated as fetishes or something from some 'other' category than your so-called 'normal' love story. Why is that? How can we all change that? I've had a few interracial stories myself that have never been completed or posted on my site (Except for "From The Heart", which was announced in 2002 and will finally be done this summer), and it would be great to see some good stories address this issue. I will be more than happy to have your stories posted on the Comicality Library on my site, and wish you guys the best! If anyone else has thoughts on this, please post them here! I'd love to hear more!

With all of the stories that you've read online, stories of gay romance and relationships, you would think that homosexuals would be overjoyed to find something that they can relate to. I know that when I first started reading these stories, I finally felt like it was ok to feel the way that I felt. And that was a truly special moment for me. However, you see movies and television and music videos and the like...where the everyday 'boy meets girl' scenario is displayed proudly. And a lot of times, we can find the same enjoyment. So, shouldn't it be logical that straight guys and girls could possibly find enjoyment out of what we write as well? The question for this week is... -What do you think the 'crossover' appeal is of our stories to a straight audience?- Do you think heterosexuals can truly enjoy and appreciate these stories the way we sometimes appreciate theirs? Why or why not? Is it not literature? There were gay themes in "Romeo and Juliette", and "Interview With The Vampire", and many other stories too. If the actual 'story' is more important than the sexual preference of the main character....does that mean that it's as universal a story as any other romantic tale ever written? Think about it. The board is open!

Even out of all the variety and all of the quantity of really good stories out there, there are still huge gaps missing in terms of content and storyline. Everybody has a story, and some of them never get represented in the stories they see online. So the question for this week is... =As readers, as writers, what concepts do you think are missing from the stories you read online?= What is it that you would 'like' to write about, or would 'like' to see someone else write about? Maybe there are certain situations that you've been involved in, and have never seen anyone else do a story on it. Maybe there's something inside that you want to express, but shy away from it. Maybe it's something too depressing, or too angry, or just something that you think you wouldn't be able to write well. Who knows? Bottom line, readers and writers are looking for a shared experience, and it's important to konw what we're overlooking. So tell us what you think! The board is open!

Ahh, yeah, the board is moderated. That's why. So you might post a story there, and even approve it...but it doesn't show up on the library until the moderator approves it. (Either me or Jalaki) That's why it didn't show up at first. I would love to have all of the boards updated at least twice a day, but it doesn't quite happen that way and we might get separated from it for a day or two. If you look now though, it should be at the top of the list. Kewl?

So far so good! Folks seem to be really loving the first chapter so far, and I thank each and every one of you for the comments!!! I wanted it to be big, but didn't want to dig too much deeper than an initial 'set up' for the first chapter. So hearing that you guys like it before it really gets into the "other stuff" means an awful lot! Dn't worry, it'll go from 0 to 60 really fast, so I hope you guys will enjoy the next chapter! (Untitled as of right now, but the wheels are turning) I'll try not to make the wait so long. There are some other sequels and extra chapters that I have been working on forever, as well as brand new stories, and I really want to finish them up. All of last year was spent trying to improve my writing and stretch out a bit more, and none of that work ever got posted. This year, you all will finally get to see the finished product of all that hard work ("Savage Moon" was the first 'improved' story to be posted). So I'll be showing more soon, k? There's no growth without challenge. So I hope I didn't stretch beyond my abilities on some of these. Hehehe! I'll seezya soon, and thanks again you all!

Well, I used to give exact dates on stories before, but considering that life tends to get in the way more times than not, I kinda stopped doing that. I CAN tell you that I'm working on it though. The next story should be "Left Without Words 2", and the rest are just gonna be posted when they're finished. So...soon means...um...later than right now. Hehehe! (Great Comsie. I'm sure THAT helps! Psh!)

As far as dialogue is concerned, I really do agree with what the both of you have said. It's true, the characters do have a voice of their own, and once they exist as real people in your mind, they begin to act and react as individuals. They guide me into what feels like a natural conversation, and I try not to go against that too much. I have some trouble writing everyday chatter sometimes, trying to make it somewhat interesting when there are parts of the story that I'm trying to 'get to'. For example, I might have two events that I want to happen in a certain chapter, and after writing one of those events out...I usually have a hard time trying to naturally build up to the 'next' event. You know? (I hope that makes some kind of sense) I try to put as much trust in the characters as I can as far as dialogue goes, but sometimes I have to give it a little push in order to get through it. Anyway, easily put, the more you concentrate on character, the easier the dialogue. They do all the talking themselves. Hehehe, The Eggman ("A New Life") and I usually joke about the fact that our characters are like tempermental actors most of the time. I ight have something in mind, and it's like they'll turn to me and say, "I'm not gonna say that. My character would never say something like that!" So I have to change it. It can be fun figuring them out though sometimes. Thanks you guys for adding to the board. I let the topic stay up for another week to hopefully get more info on it. ::Shrugs:: Who knows, maybe next topic. ps- Don't worry Taima! Hehehe, it's not you. Some folks are just LAZY! J/K Glad to see you put your two cents in though. Keep it up!

Within every romantic story written, there is a certain relationship between the two main characters. And occassionally outside characters as well. In order to make them believable, there has to be a three-dimensional feel to them and their individual personalities. One of the biggest ways to bring this across is with dialogue. There are very few stoies that can be carried without it in some form or another, and it really does wonders when bringing out the strengths and weaknesses of your characters. So the question for this week is.... =How do you create and write out meaningful dialogue in your stories?= What goes through your mind while trying to build a conversation between two people? How do you keep it from sounding choppy and mechanical? How do you keep everyone from sounding the same? And are there any times when you have TROUBLE with dialogue? Maybe it's harder to write something romantic, or harder to write something angry, or sad, or just typical everyday banter. Some folks have trouble with humorous conversations. Whatever your thoughts and feelings are on writing dialogue...share it with us! Both readers and writers alike are dying to know! The board is open!

Nope! I'll definitely be adding to this story soon! So look for "Pretty Poison 2" soon! (Originaly, it was only going to be a 2 part story. But I doubt it'll stay that way) Thanks dude! By the way, you can catch some cool posts from ysd at the Comicality LIbrary on my site! Don't be bashful man! Plug your shit! Hehehe!

THANKS TAYLOR!!! Yep, I remember reading your email, and I still have it somewhere in my email. So you'll hear from me in the near future. K? Thank you sooo much dude, and come by whenever you get a chance! I really want to see this Cafe grow! As for "GFD" and "MOE"..they will both be getting new chapters soon! But it will take a while, ok? I'm working on it though, promise! Take care! And I'll seezya soon!

Hehehe....me ignore an email? Nah, it doesn't happen fast! Of course there are flks who probably THINK I've forgotten, but chances are that it's still in my inbox somewhere! I'm sorry it's taking so long. I was doing both emails and "Savage Moon" at one time, but had to just concentrate on the stories because it wasn't moving fast enough to meet my own personal deadline for it. Plus, I've had some inspiration for some other stories too. (Which you guys will see soon!) Kewl? Hehehe, now don't go prnting out anything I write you! I'm a big idiot and it'll just look silly when you look back at it! I'll be talking to ya soon though! Promise. K?

Out of all of the stories that you've read online, you might have noticed that there's a slight divide between the types of stories out there. There are stories that you read to read, and stories that you read for...um...'other' reasons. Hehehe! No disrespect to either side, they're just different from one another. What's strange is that there doesn't seem to be any real set of 'rules' concerning what separates one side from the other. Nor are there any explaining those stories that walk the line in between. So this week's question is... = What separates 'porn' from 'romance' in the stories you read and write? = Is it length? Is it the 'amount' of sex? Is it cuddling up afterwards? Is it characterization? What is it? When I started, every chapter, every story, every series, had HEAPS of sex in them. Nowadays I don't indulge in it nearly as much, going for sexual 'tension' and a love affair instead. Then again, I've read stories that have gone from a wonderful romance to hardcore porn so fast that I felt like I missed a chapter in between. So where, in your opinion, is the line, and how do you flirt with that line when writing sexual situations into your story? The board is open! Let us all know what you think!

Hehehe! NO dude, you did great! Don't be nervous, I'm glad you posted. That's what I WANT! I want folks to talk to each other, trade ideas, announce new stories, ask questions. I'm not conducting a lecture here. ::Giggles:: Glad you stopped by Marcus. Missed ya, where've you been, anyway? To answer your question, it's kind of a hard thing to balance, the good and bad elements of a story. And you're right, nobody wants their story to swing from one extreme to the other too predictably or mechanically. Something I try to think about while writing is to have one with an 'awareness' of the other. So while something good is happening, there are references to darker parts of the story. And while situations are bad for the character, it's the thoughts of the good things that pulls him through. In storys like "My Only Escape", "Final Hour", "Taryn's Song", and "Gone From Daylight"...even when things are going badly, there's always a good vibe to latch onto that let's you know that there's a good chance that things will be ok. But while they're having a great time and life seems perfect, you're also aware of this impending doom just around the corner, and you know that it can't stay perfect forever. So there's a balance, but hopefully both elements are present enough at all times in the story, where nothing jumps into this sudden drama without warning. (Unless, of course, that's the intention) So when do we get to see this new story of yours M?

I honestly think that one of the biggest keys to keeping a series going is getting readers to care about the characters. Without that connection between an author and his audience, a lot can get lost. I try to give all of the characters some kind of three dimensional personality if I can, trying to get deeper into who they are and let everyone reading get to 'know' them a bit. That way, even when there's no bg drama or conflict or sexual tension going on, there's still a somewhat likeable character to hold onto. And that leads to more story ideas over time. After about three or four chapters, I usually start building up some kind of plot twists and turns that can further the story along in the future. It can be anything from a certain event, or the introduction of a new character, or just some random occurrence that I think I can build on later. I might drop little hints in chapter three that won't have an impact until chapter 6 or 7, and that little 'open ended' question kinda helps to keep people wondering where I was planning to go with that. So even though I'm telling ONE story from beginning to finish, I'm also hooking them with a little something extra. While one short situation is coming to an end, the other is just beginning, and while THAT one is going on, I'm working on another underlying story to take center stage later on. One example, in "New Kid", when the love between Ryan and Randy isn't the focus of the story, the tension between Tyler and Ariel is built up. When Tyler and Ariel are finally coming together, circumstances between Randy and Ryan's father are coming into play. Then there's two new characters, Cody and Sean, who will have another impact on the story. And by the time that situation is coming to an end, I can easily bring the focus back to Tyler and Ariel again. If you do it smoothly enough, it plays out like one long story, instead of a bunch of little chapters. That's how I want it to read. Like you're getting the chance to peek in on the lives of real people. So that's what I do personally. Create characters that folks will fall in love with, pull your readers along with multiple plot points when you can, and just keep things rolling as smoothly as possible. I hope this helps, for anybody reading.

I just started editing this past Sunday! I'm hoping to have it done for Valentine's Day!

Don't worry, "GFD: Prophecy" is already being planned and plotted out, a little bit has been written, some of it is leftover from the last chapter...it takes time, but it's always in progress. The thing about "GFD" and "Savage Moon" and "Magic Man" and stuff like it...it REALLY takes a lot out of me to finish one and get it right. It's more exhausting than you can imagine, especially if I'm working with plots and storylines that tie into something that happened earlier on in the series. (Everything that has happened to Justin so far in the story will have meaning and an impact by the time it is finished) So yeah, it takes a lot longer to write than it does for you guys to read. I'm SUPER glad to hear that you love it though! Hehehe, I could NOT read through it that fast myself! As for working on one story...not possible. If I just worked on "GFD", the "New Kid" fans would be furious (SOON, by the way! Before anyone even asks! Hehehe). If I only worked on "New Kid", "A Class By Himself" fans would be upset. And there's still tons more that have to be updated. I work on them all depending on what mood I'm in. Mostly because it's always gotta be fun, and natural, and filled with a true expression. In the long run, I think it makes for a better story. But like I said, don't worry. I'm working on something almost every single day. And even though that leads to 15 or 20 unfinished stories at once...they are always moving forward. I guarantee it. The stuff I'm working on now, will hopefully be a lot better than the stuff you've seen before. I've just gotta FINISH the damn things! ::Giggles::

In the years that I have been online reading these stories, I have found some extremely well written and thought provoking series in the gay erotic fiction genre. Some of them were finished long ago, some were unfortunately discontinued, and some are still going to this day. They truly touch their readers and pull them into a whole new reality with tales of romance. These series can get up to 10, 20, even 30 chapters sometimes. Many of them have gone beyond even that. And yet people are still drawn in to keep reading. The question for this week is... = How does an author keep a series fresh, new, and interesting, after an extended amount of time? = How do you keep people coming back again and again? What elements do you use to create new storylines, new plot twists, new conflicts? As readers, what is it that keeps you coming back for more? Novelty can't last forever, and some series never make it past 3 or 4 chapters before the writer is out of ideas, so there's gotta be something more to it. Give us your thoughts, and tell us how those incredible stories just keep coming! The board is open!

Honestly, the whole idea of adding that level of intensity to a story used to scare me an awful lot. I didn't want to complicate my writing with something so emotional. For the simple fact that it can be hard for people to take. Also, when I finally DID get the chance to add a piece of my personal life into a story (Around "New Kid" 20 and 21), I was really guarded and personal about it. So it was more painful than anything else for me to dive into it. Nowadays? A lot has changed, and I feel a bit more comfortable with writing about some pretty touchy subjects, no matter how close they hit to home for me. I believe that the most important part of the equation is finding a balance between the 'bad' and the 'good'. No matter what unbelievable pain and suffering you put your main character through...if there is something of value, some kind of hope and meaning, to balance it out, then it'll be ok. There is a fine line between realism and 'punishment' when it comes to providing an experience for your readers. If there's no real explanation or reason for the abuse, death, infidelity, heartbreak, rape...in terms of the story, if there's no impact on the character in a way that justifies what he's going through, then it becomes a bit brutal. In "My Only Escape", the abuse can be a bit harsh at times, and even then I've toned it down a LOT from what I remember. But that violence has meaning n the story. It has a purpose in developing the character. Same as in "Gone From Daylight", or "Final Hour", or "Someone For Me", or "Save Or Sacrifice" on my website. There are some pretty difficult situations that I wanted to flesh out and deal with, but that misery isn't just thrown in to make the story interesting. It makes a difference to the characters involved and the progression of the story. So it becomes more of a tool to further the plot than this horrible eyesore in the middle of the chapter. I guess the way to avoid losing readers and getting angry and frustrated feedback, is to not only balance out the bad parts with a few happy moments...but to also make sure that every bit of struggle and agony that the main characters go through has some kind of meaning. Because to have it happen needlessly can make the subject even more cruel and more upsetting than it has to be. I just hope that I can keep that balance going as some of the harder stories come along in the future.

Most definitely. I just spoke to someone this morning, who is truly being EXTREMELY helpful in getting the message board fixed as quickly and efficiently as possible. I was hoping that it would be done by now, but I want things set up right, security in place, and hopefully some answers given as to what caused this. That takes time. I wish I had more time online to handle things more aggressively, but for now I am doing all I can to help in resolving the matter at hand, and when it's all done, I hope we'll be rid of this situation for good. Kewl? ps- As for the seemingly obvious conclusion that Phelps and his horde of homophobic terrorists are responsible for this...there is evidence that suggests that this is not true. Thanks to some online friends and people who have also been affected by this, we are working to find out who is really behind it. Answers are coming. For now, the big concern is geting everything working again.

While trying to create a very realistic and emotional vision of life in our writing, it can sometimes become necessary to tackle some very heavy concepts in a story. These topics, like death, verbal and physical abuse, heartbreak, suicide, rape, and poverty, as well as many others, might be necessary in order to tell a powerful and often 'personal' story. However, this can be extremely hard for some people to read and enjoy. Even if it isn't the main focus of the story. The question for this week is... =How do you go about 'tactfully' dealing with disturbing subject matter while writing a story?= How do you keep your readers interested in your work while hitting them hard with some of the harsh realities of life? How do you resolve such issues in the long run? How much drama is 'TOO' much in your opinion? And is it possible to keep your story focused on a loving relationship when there is so much hardcore stuff going on? Let us know what you think! Not only as writers, but as readers too! I know that there have been some dramatic stories that I've read, that have been beautifully written and it adds to the story. But I have also read stories where it has been so much, so depressing or heart ripping, that the story was no longer enjoyable to read. Where is the balance? And how do you keep someone's interest through the rough parts? The board is open!

It's always been my understanding that the relationship between an editor and an author was supposed to be pretty equal. And it's just that, a 'relationship'. You'd have to really find someone who understands your work and what you're trying to do with it, someone who's on the same page, you know? The whole idea is to get someone, outside of yourself, to give you an objective opinion of what your story reads like. Other people catch mistakes that you might not see, and not just spelling wise, but plot wise too. I know that there are a lot of times where a story or a scene or a concept is completely fleshed out in my head and I can visualize it perfectly. But that's in my head. What I write and actually transmit to other people reading, might be missing some really important details or raise questions that I didn't even think about. Editors catch that kind of stuff. At least that's my personal understanding of what an editor does. I, personally, do all of my own editing (Even though I'm not the best at it). But it's pretty much for the same reasons you posted. I get itchy when it cmes to my own stuff, I'd freak out if it wasn't 100% me, you know what I mean? I'm a big brat that way. Still if you wanted to get a feel of how important a specific editor is and how to choose one, try one of these excercises that I got from a writing class in college once. Write a short story, beginning to end, and let three or four different people edit the same thing. Chances are, you'll get 4 completely different versions of it back to you. See which one suits you best. I think it really is something you have to feel out. I don't think it's anyone's place to re-write your story though, especially if you're not happy with the result.