Comicality

I think that I spend more time avoiding the whole topic than actually dealing with it. I mean...it was different when I was a teenager. My mom didn't really expect me to be to be dating and getting laid in Junior High and High School (Although...I was DEFINITELY getting laid in Junior High and High School! LOL!), so it was no big deal. I don't think there was any real suspicion concerning my sexuality until I didn't want to go to prom. I think that might have been a bit of a red flag. Then I went off to college, and she probably just figured that my college life wasn't really something that I openly shared with anybody. But as time goes on, and my friends and cousins and stuff started to date more, get married, have kids...I mean, there's no way that my mom doesn't know at this point. But it's become one of those things that she never asks and I never answer. Nothing's changed between us, of course. And if we sat down and actually had that conversation, face to face...I doubt that anything would. But it's uncomfortable for me, you know? I doubt that will ever be a talk that we'll have in this lifetime. But to think for one moment that she doesn't know or would be shocked to hear it at this point would just be silly, in my opinion. It's something that I wish I didn't have to think about at all. And I have friends who are completely straight and are still bachelors too. But I'm sure that she's not completely clueless about the fact that I like guys. Now...the whole 'teen boy' thing is...hehehe, no! We're not having that discussion! Not ever! But I think we have a silent understanding of what's going on here. And there's a part of me that wishes that I could get married and give her a few grandchildren, etc...but for now, the love and support is there. And I'm thankful for that.

"Zack is a fighter not just a survivor." I really like that. Thanks, @TaylorWfor the comment! ((Hugz)) And I actually did bring out Book Five! Hehehe, just in case you wanted the complete set! https://imagine-magazine.org/store/comicality/

Nick is a bisexual man who is enjoying a 'friends with benefits' situation with a Jenny, but when she gets him to help her and her younger brother move out of the house for the very first time to go to college, they take a road trip that has him experiencing feelings that he was never able to act on before. Her brother, Maddox, is beautiful, both inside and out...and may be hiding a few secrets of his very own!

Do you really think they don't know? It's a question that I've banged my brain with for many years now, and my sense of self denial is constantly at war with my common sense concerning the idea of whether or not my mom knows that I'm attracted to the same sex. In fact, I can go back and look through my high school yearbook right now, and I'd be like, "Yep! Him! And that boy too! And he was definitely gay!" Looking back on it, I can easily tell the boys and girls who shared a same sex attraction, even if we werent particularly close as friends at the time. It seems so obvious to me now. How can my parents who have known me from birth and caught m in almost every lie that I've ever told not know? BUT...parents have their own sense of denial too. Maybe he hasn't found the right girl yet. Or maybe he'll grow into it. Or maybe he's confused and will come out of this phase at some point. So it's possible that you and your parents are stuck in some sort of denial libo where neither side is willing to say what needs to be said. Who knows? But be honest with us here...do you really, in your heart of hearts, think that your parents or guardians don't know? Even if your just curious. I'm not talking about finding you internet history or catching you kissing another boy by mistake. I'm talking natural instinct here. Do you think they know? And if they do...does that scare you? Or give you a moment of relief? Just wondering. Let us know what you think when you get a chance. SPEAK UP!!! Stop being all shy and lazy. I really want to know. K? Tell us what you feel! Anonymous answers are more than welcome as always. I just want to share some wisdom with some of the youngsters that stop by th site and need help with stuff like this. Because they're being suffocated in schools right now in terms of being taught anything about this stuff at all! And it makes me SICK! I want to help. And I want you to help me, help them. K? ::Fingers crossed:: Hopefully you guys will find some time to answer this one.

@JamesSavikcheck this out!

Only 2 weeks away!!! Am I ready??? I never thought I'd live to see a live action Moon Knight! Squeeeee! So excited!!! I still wish it was R-Rated, but I'll take what I can get!

AWESOME!!!

Hehehe, it's because Covid had everybody going through Ruel withdrawal!

I can remember a time when this particular term didn't make much sense to me at all. 'Earn your moments'. What does that even mean. I wanted to have a special moment in my story, or my comic book, or my TV show, or my movie...I put it in there...and then you have people out there who are like, "I don't really feel like they earned that moment." Well WTF is that supposed to mean? It's been years and years of trial and error, obstacles and challenges, triumphs and failures...and I believe that I'm starting to understand it. Or I'm at least breaching the surface. So, please allow me to share what I've learned with you guys, and maybe act as some kind of a light in the fog of this whole idea. 'Earning' our moments as writers. Let's give it a go. I truly believe that the very idea of earning much of anything is perceived by how hard someone had to work to get it, and the moments in our characters' lives aren't all that different. You can't just decide that you want something one day...and then go out and get it. Mission accomplished, yes...but does it make for a good story? There really isn't anything to tell. If I was just independently wealthy, and I was out shopping and saw a brand new bicycle in the mall that I thought looked really cool and might help me get out more and get some exercise...so I went in and bought it? Well...ok. But where is the 'story' in that action? Where's the journey? What are my obstacles? They don't exist. I wanted it and I bought it. It might make me happy...but it isn't necessarily a story that I would tell at parties. So, how can you take something like that and earn the moment of purchasing that bike in a way that would make it special and engaging for your readers? What if you had a little kid who sees the bike in a store window? He doesn't have a job or a steady income, and his parents are dealing with rent and bills and can't afford it. Trying to go out and nickel and dime his way towards a brand new bike would take forever, but he really REALLY wants that bike! What does he do? How does he get it? How does he begin his journey, and what setbacks will he face along the way? NOW you have a story! That's something that your audience can invest their time and emotion into, rooting for your protagonist as he struggles to win the ultimate prize. So when he finally gets the money he needs and runs into the store all hyper and full of joy...buying the bike becomes an exhilarating experience that your readers can share in and truly enjoy. It tugs on the heartstrings, and it's relevant to something that most of us have all felt before in our lives. Often multiple times. Reaping the rewards of what you've worked so hard to achieve is a joy that some people have never known before. Let them feel the beauty in it. Another way that you could go... Maybe I went in and decided to buy the bike on the whim, and I had plenty of cash to spare...but my goal was to actually start riding it around the neighborhood every morning until I lose weight before the end of the Summer. And I start out the first day, and come home all tired and sore, and fall asleep on the couch. The next morning my alarm goes off and I just turn it off. Fuck that, I hurt all over. So the bike sits in the garage for a week before I decide to try again. Maybe I make excuses because I don't feel like doing it, or I'm never going to make it in the time I have left, or I pig out at a family barbecue, or it's raining outside, whatever. BUT...eventually, determination sets in, and I begin to think, "I'm not going to let this beat me!" And I start getting up every day whether I go riding or not. Then the rides get longer and further away from home. Then I start getting faster. Suddenly, the clothes that I used to wear begin to fit a bit differently. I get on the scale and it's less than it was yesterday, creating more momentum for me to keep going. And there's your story. A compelling story. One that inspires confidence, persistence, and a cheering crowd of readers that are looking for the protagonist to triumph in the long run. So when you reach your big moment, the gravitas that goes along with it carries much more weight. That winning moment has officially been earned by the writer and the characters in his or her story. The key to pulling this off in your work is by firmly defining a 'goal' early on in your project. What is your character's motivation? Where are they trying to go? And what is their current plan for getting there? This is absolutely essential when it comes to earning your moments, because it will feel like your main character's journey is simply wandering around aimlessly without any real purpose or direction at all. This can sometimes KILL all interest in a story. So be extremely careful about glossing over this step in the process. Let your reader know what your protagonist wants ahead of time, and that will allow them to follow them along on their journey. Are they any closer to achieving that goal in the middle of the story than they were at the beginning? Are they taking any steps forward, or has a recent obstacle caused them to take a few steps backwards in their progress? How are your readers going to know what is what if they don't have a clearly defined goal to look forward to in the distance? How can they determine the stakes? How are your characters going to hold their interest if they just want something and then go out and get it without any problems and opposition at all? These are all things to think about when crafting those beautifully romantic, brutally painful, or adrenaline packed epic battles, that you want to add to your fiction. Because if there's no real build up to it...it kind of falls flat in the end. Basically...this is the perfect time to make a mountain out of a molehill. As a quick example of what I'm talking about, I want to show you guys this music video. The artist is 'Matty B', who started making videos on Youtube when he was a tiny tyke, hehehe and just happened to gain a lot of attention over the years. And he's still making music to this day. Anyway, I think this is an excellent example of what I explained above. He's (obviously) the protagonist of this story, and he looks back at his younger videos with a touch of embarrassment because he couldn't dance. So...his 'goal' is to learn how. An entire story compacted into a three minute music video, and an 'earned' moment at the end. Check it out. Very simple, right? Three minutes, and an entire story arc was displayed from beginning to end. Now, how boring would that story have been if he wanted to learn how to dance, then walked into that dance studio, and they were just like, "Wow! You're a natural! We need you on our team to win the international dance finals!"? Like...what? Hehehe! In this very short story, he goes in to try to learn, but he's not really good at it at first. He quits. He'd rather save himself the humiliation and play basketball instead. But he has someone who believes in him, and she comes back to ask him to try again. And he doesn't get it right away. There are some stumbling blocks along the way...but he gets better over time, and eventually he's able to do things that he didn't think he'd be able to do before. There's a struggle and an awkwardness there that compels you to keep watching. And then, when he finally gets the steps right, it makes for a sweet little payoff at the end. That was a moment that was worked for, and therefore...a moment earned. You see it in movies all the time. Sometimes on a bigger level and sometimes on a smaller level, but it's there. It's Luke Skywalker finally being able to take on Darth Vader for the first time. It's getting the lift right in 'Dirty Dancing' for the first time, it's Nancy finding a way to fight back against Freddy Krueger in 'Nightmare On Elm St', it's Rocky Balboa shouting, "HEY! One more round!" These moments don't just 'happen', they actually came from somewhere. It's a product of an enthralling journey that your readers were able to be a part of. It's an interesting character fighting against the odds and making it seem possible that they can come out on top in the end. No matter what their enemies, or society, or their limitations, or life in general might throw their way. They are going to keep fighting the good fight until they either win...or simply have no more fight left to give. That's how moments are earned in your stories. It doesn't only apply to one genre or type of story. It applies to all of them. The idea is to bring your audience into the journey and allowing them to 'keep score' on how your main characters are doing when it comes to reaching the goal that they set out to grab a hold of from the outset. Whether it be a sweeping romance that they're looking for, a dream job or career that they want, finding a way to display their true potential, solving a particularly difficult mystery, or overcoming a great loss or heartbreak...it is the conflict that's keeping them from it that becomes the most intriguing part of any story that you're trying to tell. That's where the magic lies, so build it up. Don't be afraid to put your characters through hell every now and then when you need to get them where they need to go. Hehehe! I also have used this in my own stories when I'm writing. Angst and heartbreak aside, I do try to have the characters' trials and tribulations have some meaning when it comes to any of the story arcs that I'm trying to create. In my story, "Kiss Of An Angel", the character of Ariel is experiencing his very first relationship with his very first boyfriend. And this is something that is extremely difficult for him in the beginning. This is a spinoff of the "New Kid In School" series, and Ariel has a serious problem with being painfully shy, as well as a bit of a klutz whenever he gets nervous. BUT...I can't just have that be his 'trick' from chapter to chapter and no show any forward progression towards his goal of finding true love with someone that he believes is the cutest boy in the entire school. There has to be some evolution in his character over time through little baby steps where it becomes visible to the people who are reading. The people who are riding along through his journey. So, in "New Kid In School" and "Kiss Of Angel"...he is so bashful that he can't really make any big confessions or say anything embarrassing without asking the other person to turn around first, because he can't stand to have them looking at him while he's bearing his soul to them like that. It just became one of his unique character traits. However...later on in the "Kiss Of Angel" series...when his new boyfriend prepares to turn around so that Ariel can speak freely...Ariel decides that he wants to say it to his face instead. Without being too scared to do so. It's an affectionate moment that shows growth as well a pursuit to go even further than he ever had prior to that exact moment. And after all the build up and the expected behavior from that particular character...he earned a truly beautiful moment by changing things up and just going for it. It was a moment that would have been meaningless, in my opinion, if he treated it like it was no big deal. It was a gesture that didn't fall on deaf ears where my readers were concerned. They really enjoyed that. And I began to dig more deeply into the idea of earned moments, over just adding in dramatic scenes for drama's sake. It's not the same thing. And it doesn't have the same feel. The effect. To actually understand how hard it was for Ariel to be able to do that for the first time after failing to gain the courage to do so on many other occasions...made a much more powerful impact on the scene itself. Why? Because Ariel worked and struggled and fidgeted and fought against his greatest fears to earn it. And it paid off. That's where those warm fuzzy feelings come from. There's just a sense of 'justice' to it all, you know? Hehehe! And that makes the rest of us feel good about the world. One more example. I just want to add this here, because it's another great demonstration of my point in all this. And because it's a gay teen short film that always makes me smile. It's really sweet. But watch it all the way through, and see how the end of the film is earned by paying attention to all of the little moments that come before it. Again, a very simple story that was beautifully told, with a comedic twist (Showing that you can define your main characters' motivation without putting all of your cards on the table for people to see in the beginning), and a well earned moment at the very end. You're introduced to the protagonists, you're able to see and understand what their goal is, and there are a series of mishaps and obstacles that stand in their way...all while keeping you interested long enough to find out how it's all going to end. If this video had been ninety seconds long, it wouldn't have been anywhere near as entertaining. Not that it would have been BAD...but I think this was definitely the most entertaining way to go with this concept. And they pulled it off brilliantly. Bottom line...a lot of people look at the biggest moments and surprises of their story, and rush to get those thrown into their narrative without the proper build up. And because of that...I feel like some of them make for good stories...but not GREAT stories. And you want a series of GREAT stories under your belt if you're trying to create a fanbase that will keep coming back for more. Am I right? When it comes to earning your moments in fiction, foreshadowing is your friend. Let it build to a crescendo. Don't give your readers the instant gratification of a big payoff without making them hungry for it first. That's like an afternoon 'quickie'! Hehehe! It's not awful...but don't your readers want a little bit more? Think about it. When it comes to getting to the top of a mountain...some people focus on the summit. Others focus on the climb. And the climb is the interesting part of the journey. K? Alright, so that's my take on it all as I understand it. I hope it makes sense. I'm still learning more and more with every story I write, so who knows what I might figure out tomorrow! Hehehe! For now, though...I hope this helps. And feel free to comment below if you have any questions or think there might be something that I missed along the way. Seezya soon! And happy writing!

I hope you guys like it! Please take a moment to let me know what you think whenever you get a chance! And give me those like button hits! Hehehe! Yum yum yum...they're like snacks! LOL! Enjoy! https://gayauthors.org/story/comicality/myonetrueweakness

"My One True Weakness 10" After an awkward minute or two...I began to wonder if I should just get up and leave. I was trying to be honest about my feelings here but...it looks like that was a big mistake on my part. Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut and just suffered in silence instead of trying to go for something that was obviously far out of my reach. Maybe spending my afternoons naked with Joey is all I should expect out of love. Hell...maybe it's all that

Awwww...I always thought Adam Sevani was so damn cute! ::Melts::

Hahaha! Well, I try to block it out when I can.

It was always a coping mechanism for me too, believe me. Thus the name...'Comicality'. Well, that and Mortal Kombat! Heh...

One of the many pitfalls that a writer might face when taking a more 'organic' approach to writing a story is possibly running into a flurry of decisions that you made in the heat of the moment and may change your mind on those decisions later on. When I talk about an organic approach, I mean having a certain structure and plot in mind...but still giving yourself room to create on the spot as new ideas come to mind. I definitely write that way, and I feel like it connects me to my stories in ways than trying to stick to a rigid game plan without any deviation, whatsoever. I don't know, it just takes a little bit of the freedom out of the process for me. However, that puts me in a few difficult places from time to time...and I'm sure that some of you have experienced this as well. Who knows? Maybe you come up with a much better idea further into your story arc. Maybe you have elements in your story that you feel just aren't working for you, or maybe they're not being received well by your readers. There might be whole characters in your story that end up doing more damage to your story than good. Whatever your reasoning might be as an author for taking a sideways look at your work and decide that you want to fix it...it can be done. Now, what I'm about to talk about this time around...I want it to come with a 'Comsie Disclaimer'. 😛 If you write your stories in full before you start posting them in public, or even if you have beta readers and usually give them all of the chapters, from beginning to end...take some extra time to be sure that you want to make these new changes and won't end up running into the same problem further down the road. And then...make all of your changes before putting it out there for other people to read. Even if it's just one or two trusted editors. Straighten it out, and smooth as many of the rough edges as you can before you make it available. K? However...I happen to be one of those authors that releases my stories one chapter at a time. And I know plenty of authors who have completed stories already and also only release them one chapter at a time. For anybody in either one of those categories, you may run into a few of these issues somewhere along the way. And sometimes, your only salvation may be trying to turn into the skid and correct course before you end up flying off of the road. But beware! Only use this technique if you absolutely have to and don't have any other way out of it. Otherwise, it can end up putting a bunch of dings and dents in your story as a whole, if not potentially ruin it altogether. Obviously....that would be a bad thing. So only use it as a last option. And if you do...be smooth with it. Trust me, it matters. So today...let's talk 'retcons'! I've written some stories in the past where I attempted to add certain elements into the series that ended up not really fitting in with a lot of the other plot points that I had going on at that particular moment, and I wanted to write those elements out of the story so I could focus on the details that were really helping to move the story forward, while some of my other ideas were beginning to hold it back. I had plans for what I was doing...plans that I wanted to stick to...but ultimately ended up writing them out of the story gradually until they just weren't there anymore. Hehehe, I could tell you which ones, but I'm sure that you can pick out plenty of mistakes in my writing without me pointing even more of them. Anyway, I could sort of 'feel' the not connecting with me, or the story, or my readers, the way that I wanted them to. Luckily, I caught them earlier enough where I could pretty much fade those ideas out as quickly as they had been introduced. And with time and practice, you will be able to develop those instincts as well. And then, when it comes to the editing process...you might be able to go back and cut those parts out of your story altogether. This is a method that you can use if you think you can make an easy transition from having it in your story and not having it in your story. But... ...This isn't what a 'retcon' is. An actual retcon is used when you've completely woven a certain idea or character so deeply into your plot and ultimate writing strategy for that story...that they can't just simply be 'removed' without leaving giant plot holes and changing the nature of your entire narrative with no way to repair or write your way out of it. A retcon is the act of actually moving forward with your story, but altering certain details to correct issues that you've had in past chapters. This is NOT easy! And yet, like I said...it can be done. You're going to have to finesse the shit out of it though! LOL! So be careful! If this is something that you need to do to write the best story that you can, here are three things to try to keep in mind while trying to figure it out. After all, half of putting a story together from scratch is problem solving. And this particular problem can be a big one. #1 - Identify the problem. That's the first step in this process. What is it that you, personally, felt went wrong with your story? I say 'you, personally' because you are the architect of this whole thing. Just because a particular character or a plot point isn't a fan favorite...doesn't mean that your audience won't understand and grow to love these parts of the story further down the road. Remember...you know how this story plays out...they don't. So examine it and see if there's really a problem at all. After that, if you do detect a few problems that you feel need fixing...try to gauge how closely related they are to the main story itself. How much damage do you think it's doing to the rest of your project? And don't be afraid to cut your losses if you have to go back and simply take something out of your story in order to stay focused and tighten your storytelling up a bit? Do it. Just make sure you go back and make sure that you won't have any gaps or confusing jumps that don't make any sense later on. Look for references to events that may have never happened once you're taken them out. Look for places where dialogue or plot points are based on anything that you're getting rid of. If that means starting from scratch and re-reading, re-editing, and re-writing, a great deal of your story...so be it. If you do all of that, and you still need to add a retcon in there somewhere? Then things will be a bit more difficult. For example...I saw a trailer for a brand new 'Boba Fett' (Star Wars) TV series not long ago. Hehehe, well...I know that Boba Fett is dead. I watched him die on screen. So...I'd be interested to see how they work that out to bring him back to life again! "Oh...I managed to get out using my, ummm...Lazarus resurrection powder and my super freedom laser!" ::Shrugs:: Ok. I'll buy that. Hehehe, just give me some more Boba Fett! THAT would be a retcon! 'Star Wars' does this a lot though, so I'm used to it. Which is why Luke can make out with his sister and we just conveniently forget that part in later movies. #2 - If you're going to do a retcon on your story...be SUBTLE about it! Or, at least try your best. Remember, you're taking something that your readers has already accepted as a permanent part of the story, and completely turning it on it's head. Changing its meaning. Flipping perspectives. So this is where your finesse comes into play. Instead of forcing your readers to take some giant leap of faith in order for you to alter your own storyline...think of ways to soften the blow by having it make sense within the context of the rest of the story. Remember, every time you alter something major in your story, you're creating a stumbling block for your readers. You force them to pause and readjust their entire vision and understanding of what's going on. The bigger the leap between your original plan and your great new fix for the problems you found in the story...the more distracting it becomes. Imagine if you were reading 'Little Red Riding Hood', and halfway through she gets to Grandma's house and sees the wolf...and then she slowly reaches over her shoulder to take a hold of her shimmering katana blade. Wait...WTF??? And the writer was like, "Oh! I never mentioned that Red Riding Hood used to be a ninja assassin and trained killer? Well...yeah, she was. But she gave it up. Anyway...back to the sword and the wolf..." Yeah. That's not subtle. Hahaha! That's one hell of a reveal, but it has nothing to do with the beginning of the story, nor the end of the story. So it sounds like you just threw it in there for the sake of being weird. When creating a retcon, it may be extremely difficult to change past events, but if you're going to tackle that task...you want it to be as unnoticeable as you can make it. It can be done, you just have to find the best way to do it according to your particular story and style of writing. Effective retcons are all about how you introduce them into the story. If you have events or characters that you can't remove completely, and you can't write them out afterward...then you have to figure out all the ways that they fit into the story and build a quiet 'off ramp' so you can get them out of there and have them fade away into the background until the more interesting parts of your story slide into the spotlight and take center stage while those other elements are eventually forgotten about. The idea is to craft a sneaky exit for the elements that you don't want without having anybody get struck by lightning, hit by a truck, or ravaged by a pack of hungry wolves, out of nowhere with no explanation, and no ties to the actual story. Hehehe! That comes off as a serious 'cheat'! And, make no mistake...you ARE cheating! But there's no reason to let everybody else know that. So...how do you keep things subtle while still changing a major part of your story while erasing their history in previous chapters? Well...that brings us to tip number three. #3 - See if there is a way to somehow complete those character arcs or loose ends in your story in gradual pieces. But quickly. What I mean by this is...don't leave stories left to dangle without any kind of conclusion. Whether you, personally, liked those parts of your story or not...chances are that your readers are still paying close attention. And it'll be unsatisfying for them to reach the end of your story and immediately think, "Well, what happened to 'such and such'? i guess I'll never find out." I've read a lot of stories like that, seen movies and TV shows like that too. Not to mention that I've written many loose ends, left wide open without a conclusion. And that takes away from the story in general in my opinion. If you have something in your plot that you were all hopeful and excited about adding into the mix, but later decided that it just isn't working...examine it, condense your plans for it, and try to wrap it up over the next chapter or two if you can. Take longer if needed. But don't leave it open or it becomes clear to all of your readers that you clearly were looking for a way to abandon that part of your story. But if you complete that storyline, even if it feels a little short, at least they have some closure for it and can forget it and move on without looking back with the expectation that it's going to come back into play some time later. Or...you know...at least that's the goal. Hehehe, it doesn't always work. But, hey! This is YOUR retcon, not mine! So figure it out. Trial and error is the only way to gain the skills to do it right! So best of luck! Anyway, I hope this helps you all out in some way! Just remember that it's better to not use retcons than it is to find sneaky ways to do so. But...if it becomes necessary, these few tips should, at the very least, give you a few ideas on how to pull it off. I've failed many times at it, myself...but I can, thankfully, say that I don't find myself in that trap as often as I used to. So the best way to do a retcon is to NOT do a retcon. Just know that if you've gone too far to turn back and start from the beginning again, there are options available to you. So go to work, ladies and gentlemen! And I'll seezya soon with more! Happy writing!

Shhhh....you'll disturb the crickets. You guys didn't get all shy on me, did you? Any thoughts?

Thank you all for all of the lovely comments! ((Hugs and Stuff)) It was worth it. Writing it all out, it was really worth it. It's one of those things that, like...if I do nothing else with my life from here on out...at least I did THIS. You know? For more, in case you were wondering, I wrote an article for Imagine Magazine about it. You can see it here... https://imagine-magazine.org/releases/volume-81/saying-goodbye-to-moe/ Thanks again. And always remember...I love you too!

Sleep sucks, but it happens to the best of us! Anyway, long story! Part two of the last chapter of "My Only Escape" is up! Farewell, good friend! I'll miss you! Mwah! Now I've got another 'Complete' notch on my literary belt! Woo hoo! Enjoy! https://gayauthors.org/story/comicality/myonlyescape Also...if you liked this series, check out "The Secret Life Of Billy Chase" as well! You'll love it!

"My Only Escape 41" "I love you..." I said, an exhilarated whimper of joy escaping me just moments before his lips met mine again. "I love you too, Zack..." The last words spoken to before a freshly drawn out session of kissing and caressing one another in the most intimate ways all over again. Except, this time...as I moved my legs to straddle his lap...his hardness touching mine, I noticed that he was more than 'wet' enough to make things a little bit easier...or at least

Hehehe, partially...yeah.

Oh believe me, I used to do the same. I had to find ways to think about how much work and development that I was going to have to put in ahead of time. Otherwise, my brain just goes all over the place.

Youtube decided to start censoring all gay teen short films, and wiping out all favorite lists that include anything that MIGHT make the gay youth feel okay and normal about who they are. Just out of nowhere, for no reason. Saying that it violated their 'child safety' rules and regulations. But that's bullshit! So I'll be posting ALL of the stuff that I had suddenly 'removed' from my youtube account without warning. You guys please feel free to stop me when you find a short film that you think is 'dangerous' (Their words, not mine) for gay teens. K? What's so offensive about liking and sharing the stuff that I find on Youtube? Why am *I* getting a strike on my account??? Wednesday is now "Gay Like Me" short film day. Since 'shame' is the agenda for those who don't have to live with it these days. Every week! Every Wednesday! I'll be right here with another one! FUCK those people! Seriously! These are all gay short films that I had on my account that, for some reason, they found so dangerous and offensive. Like I said...you tell me what YOU think about them, and why they needed to be erased from my account. Is *THIS* what they were so afraid of??? Maybe I'm missing something here. Enjoy! This week's Short Gay Film - "Zero One"

Hmmmm...do I think that it can work? Honestly? The optimist in me wants to think that love beats all, and anything is possible. But, truthfully, I don't think that it can work out, ultimately. Not for most people. I mean, I'm not going to say that it hasn't worked in the past for some loving couples who have gotten together and found some kind of middle ground that's comfortable for the both of them. So...never say never, you know? But at the same time...being attracted to the same sex is a pretty big part of who you are as a person. It's not the ONLY part, but it's a pretty big issue. So, whether you're in or out of the closet...I don't know how both parties can be mutually happy and satisfied with the whole situation, because either side would have to sacrifice a fundamental part of who they are as a person. I feel like that always leads to friction and conflicts further down the road, whether the couple is totally in love or not. I feel like there's always going to be a struggle for the 'out' guy to PULL his boyfriend into the light, and the 'closeted' guy is going to be constantly trying to convince his boyfriend that it's nobody else's business. And how can that not lead to big problems in the relationship later on? They are two different ideologies about life in general, and they both have reasons for feeling the way they do. Reasons that their boyfriend probably won't understand. "Why can't you understand that I don't NEED everybody to know that I'm gay???" "Why are you LYING to yourself? Just stop and come out already so we can be happy together???" It's an emotional stalemate, you know? And it's going to take it's toll on both parties over time unless one side or the other makes a huge sacrifice. And that can be a lot to ask of somebody. Even when you're in love. So...my answer? No. I don't think it can work. If there are people who have made it work in the past, or are still doing so at the moment...then God bless you both! Hehehe! Please tell me how, just in case I need to know for the future. But for now? My answer would be 'no way'. It's a little too complicated for either party to really have any fun being together in public. And that's a big hurdle to jump for a lot of people.

If any of you guys or ladies are still in the closet about your sexuality, even in this day and age when it's a lot more accepted than it was when I was growing up...I assume you have your reasons. And if any of your guys or ladies came out of the closet about your sexuality, to live free and feel comfortable in your own skin...I assume that you have your reasons as well. I mean, there's no 'right or wrong' here, it just depends on who you are and what you feel. But...what happens when the proverbial irresistible force runs into an immovable object? Basically, what do you do if you meet someone that you find truly beautiful, funny, intelligent, and caring...who shares a ton of your common interests...and you two find yourselves on opposite ends of that socially acceptable fence? Can it work? And if so...for how long? I mean, if you're out and proud...can you be fully happy with someone who isn't comfortable with having other people know about their sexual preference? And if you're in the closet...can you be fully happy with someone who doesn't see your biggest secret as 'no big deal' and wants to be openly affectionate when you're in public? What do you guys think about this one? They are two different ideologies, and some people can make it work, but others can't. Where do YOU, personally, stand on this? Can a relationship like this work without an eventual power dynamic getting involved, with one side trying to get the other to loosen up, and the other side trying to get the other to tone it down? Have any of you been involved in a similar situation? Spread some wisdom! Hehehe, I'm sure that a lot of people, especially the younger teens reading, could use the help! As always, anonymous responses are more than welcome! And if you want to put your two cents in, it would be great to see things from your perspective! So let us know what you think! And thanks in advance!

I FIXED it! I was having problems with the code showing up in the finished version, and couldn't figure out what was going on because I had an update that reset all of my personal settings. Grrrr! So every quotation for dialogue and every apostrophe was showing up as super weird and made things unreadable. BUT! I figured it out, and the final ebook has been sent in to be published tonight (for the second time), and I'll be posting it here as well simultaneously! The ebook link will be soon to follow! (The first 4 are already online!) I'm dividing the last chapter into two parts for the sake of chapter space and continuity, but I'll be able to post again when the 8 hour embargo is listed. So...midnight my time, I guess? Anyways...enjoy! And thank you guys for many years of patience and support! I love you all! Let me know what you think when its finished! (Can't WAIT to change the status to 'Complete' tonight!) https://gayauthors.org/story/comicality/myonlyescape