Comicality

Trailblazing I think, as a creator, we all want to appreciate the honor and prestige that comes with the idea that we were able to tell a story that is truly unique, original, and just completely out of the blue...blowing your audience away in the process. It’s a lofty and ambitious goal to reach for...but it’s a high branch on the tree, believe me. So reach for it, but don’t be discouraged if you create something awesome while still falling a bit short. That begs the question...is it even possible to come up with a story that’s new and has never ever been done before? I mean, it’s a crazy to think about sometimes. Right? I have to admit that I go spiraling down that rabbit hole sometimes, myself. How can you escape your greatest creative influences when it was your greatest creative influences that inspired your passion for writing in the first place? How weird is it to think that the very concept of a ‘new’ story is simply the product of an illusion that you may never be able to escape from? Wild. I always quote one of my writing teachers in college and what he told me back then. “There have been no new stories since the Romans.” And in a lot of ways...he was actually pretty accurate with that statement. Between the Romans, Greek Mythology, and Shakespeare...they’ve tackled almost every single corner of the human condition in all of its many forms and expressions. Man versus man, man versus self, man versus society, the heroes journey, love, betrayal, paranoia, anger, murder, forbidden romance, war, karma coming back around to bite you in the ass...where else do you go from there? Especially with thousands upon thousands of other people already building off of that already solidified blueprint for storytelling in general. It’s a difficult task to tackle. Believe me, I know! And I keep trying really HARD because there’s a stubborn part of my psyche that truly thinks that it can be done! If anything, if I can write just ONE story that can be fully immersive and one hundred percent original...that would be the Holy Grail of my entire existence. Hehehe! Seriously, I am always trying to get around that impenetrable barrier of ‘been there, done that, seen it all before’ with the stories that I write...but so far it’s been an unreachable fruit on the vine. If any of you guys have tried to get around this barricade yourselves, or have been struggling with the same ambitions of making it happen...please let me know down in the replies down below. It would be really awesome to hear everyone’s thoughts on this issue. Who knows? We might be able to help one another reach the peak of that particular mountain and come up with a few new formulas. And then relay the message back down to the rest of us who were climbing up behind you. Hehehe! Brand new ideas in writing can be extremely difficult to come by sometimes. And that’s not even including the entire expanse of all of the stories that have been told over the course of fiction history...but even with the amount of stories that I’ve written personally over the past decade or two. And that’s just my catalog of stories alone, how can I not expect to make a definitive impact, regardless, when all I have is the same guiding light as everyone else? And even more so, ever hope to maintain that pace or possibly evolve above and beyond it? It’s a tough question...but still...I believe that it can be done. I just haven’t found it yet. Let me know if I come close! So, for me, the search for that literary Ark of the Covenant continues...and here are a few ideas that I’ve been able to formulate in my journey when it comes to maybe finding the real thing. First things first...it’s not the idea of the story, but your personal perspective of the story that will make all the difference. We’ll start with this one, as I think it’s probably one of the easiest ways to look at this...well...I don’t want to call it a ‘problem’, because it really isn’t. But it’s an obstacle. One that you are going to have to put some effort in trying to get around. I know that you don’t want to hear it...but it’s going to be a real chore to write a story of forbidden love between two people without touching on some of the tropes that were set up in and well executed in the story, “Romeo And Juliet”. There have been a million takes on it, a million different endings, a million different conflicts...but, chances are that somewhere along the way...you’re going to unintentionally trip over the Shakespeare classic. Even in this day and age. BUT...that doesn’t mean that your story isn’t original or a product of your own personal genius. It’s just a matter of being a product of of, what some might say, one of the greatest tragic forbidden love stories of all time in many literary circles. So don’t sweat it. It’s not your job to compete as a writer. It’s your job to share your own experience, evn if it may be with something similar. That’s all. The first movie of, “The Predator”, is great! I love it! Always have, and I always will. But is it a high tech science fiction version of “The Most Dangerous Game”...maaaaaybe. Hehehe! Doesn’t make me love it any less. Not because it was some mind-blowing new concept of fiction...but because they’ve taken the concept to a whole other level that I never could have expected. And I give them credit for that. It’s all in how you bring your own specific twist to the table. There are a lot of times when I started “Gone From Daylight” (https://imagine-magazine.org/store/comicality/) where I was constantly trying to check and control myself from past influences so that I could avoid them and make this series something of my very own! And it’s a challenge sometimes! It really is. I have to stop my thought process and think, “Ugh...this sounds too much like ‘The Matrix’!” or ‘No...this sounds too much like ‘X-Men’!” And I try to change course and try my hardest not to borrow from a lot of my own influences. I wanted something unique and innovative, and was way outside of my comfort zone. And even to this day, it’s hard to do. But If I’m writing that sounds or feels too familiar to me, I’ll go back and try to make my own creative spin on it and wrack my brain trying to trailblaze forward with something more genuine instead. It can make your head hurt sometimes, hehehe...at least it does for me...but the last thing I’d ever want to be is a copycat. So always remember to make your story your own vision of the events that are happening and sure to come, and how YOU would see them if you’re going through them yourself. The biggest difference between anybody else’s story and yours...is YOU! Don’t ever forget that! Another way to achieve this that I’ve been playing around with is in the formatting of the story itself. For example, I’ve written many ‘boy meets boy’ type of stories on the site...but, what if I changed the formatting from my usual prose to the idea of it being a day to day diary from a teenage boy who was living in that particular moment. Every feeling, every misunderstanding, every struggle, every school based fear of being discovered, every parental punishment? This is where “The Secret Life Of Billy Chase” came from. Now is this a trailblazing story that’s never ever been done before? I don’t know. I highly doubt it. But trying to tell one of my stories in an entirely different way was brand new to me. And I was hoping that it would open up the doors needed to make something truly unique out of it. And it feels like a new idea...but I still think that I can do better. Hehehe! The search continues. Ways of telling a story can vary drastically from one idea to another. There’s the whole flashback approach, there’s the “Princess Bride”, I’m reading a fairy tale to someone else approach, there’s the “Memento” telling a story backwards and out of order approach….if you ever find yourself getting tired of telling a story in the same old linear way and running out of ways to do so...try a different format and see how it works out for you. It’s a challenge, definitely...but you may find talents within you that you didn’t even know that you had. So what have you got to lose by switching up the format a little bit, right? And the third way? The devil is in the details, right? So make the details your focus and tweak and twist them in ways that you’ve personally never seen it done before. I remember that people online were telling me that I should do a zombie apocalypse story for the site, but at the time...”The Walking Dead” and its spinoffs were at their peak, and there were more zombie movies that you could shake a stick at. So...I wrote ONE chapter of a story that took place during an outbreak, expecting that to be the only one. But many fans of that first chapter wanted more, and kept asking about it. So, the first question that I asked myself was...how can I possibly do something new with the whole zombie genre and the people hiding away from it? I started taking notes and the biggest detail was...the zombies were always the same. Whether they were slow or fast. But what if they were just as different and varied as the people that turned in the first place? Which later became a matter of whether or not it was just a dormant gene that hit certain teenagers once they entered puberty? That became a metaphor for sexual awareness. When does it happen? Age 12? Maybe 14? Maybe 18? It can be so random...how do you track and make a blanket law about such a thing? And by varying the threat as well as the potential victims of the threat gave me an edge that I could work with. Who’s safe, and who isn’t? And even though...how do you know who’s a ticking time bomb or not. That’s the idea that made me want to continue on with “Shelter” as a series, and it’s still a very popular story on the site to this day! (https://gayauthors.org/story/comicality/shelter/) And from there, it led to a host of new characters, who each have stories of their own on how they survived the breakdown of civilization and find their way to the shelter in the first place! Hehehe, they’re GOOD individual stories! Promise! So please excuse my shameless promotion! Hahaha! (https://imagine-magazine.org/store/comicality/) But again….is this the most revolutionary idea to ever be added to the pot? Nope! But give me time! Hehehehe! I’ve done different things with vampires, different things with werewolves, different things with “The Boys From Widow Lake” just for an ebook exclusive….but trying to com up with something that’s NEVER been done before? That’s a tall order. Perhaps too tall for me to climb over. But that doesn’t mean that I’m not going to work my brain to total exhaustion trying. And if any of you have got that secret key within you...feel free to share! LOL! Or...just keep it to yourself and write that next revolutionary, “1984”, “Lord Of The Flies”, “Hamlet”, that we all wish we could use to beat you to the punch. Might as well, right? Don’t let the next “Catcher In The Rye” be buried with you! Write it! And share it! Whqat you have to say might end up inspiring millions! So what are you waiting for? I hope this helps, you guys! Go searching for those original thoughts in your head! There’s gotta be something that hasn’t been said or expressed yet, right? Find it! And then come back and let us know how you did it! Hehehe! Love you lots! And please stay beautiful!

Now I can get my comic book Comsie fix again! Hehehehe! Sweet!!! And the first episode of "Loki Season 2" was INSANE!!! I might have enough to see this one in the theater! ::Fingers crossed::

Humanity. We have definitely come a long way throughout history. Just since my elementary school days...the world has evolved and created a world that I wouldn't have even recognized way back then! Hell, we have innovative technologies running right now that were unheard of ten years ago. BUT... When it comes to 'humanity' as a whole...do you have any faith left? We're not talking about technology here. Humanity in general. Our ability to adapt and survive and communicate with one another in a civil society. Basically...do you still have faith in the goodness and heart of actual people in this day and age? Whether you're an optimist or a pessimist...where do you see mankind in the not-so-distant future? Are we ok? If not, can we fix it? Or are we just circling the drain here before our own eventual extinction? Let us know your thoughts.

Indeed! Taryn's Song is a prequel, and might explain a bit more, now that you know the spoiler secrets. Hehehe! New chapter coming for both stories soon!

https://gayauthors.org/story/comicality/gfd-sins-of-the-father/ As the "Gone From Daylight" series expands and evolves, it's really a lot of fun to be able to weave all of the stories together at long last without giving away too many spoilers or trying to match certain events with things that haven't 'technically' happened yet! Now I have a lot more freedom to build up the side stories and spinoffs the way that I had planned! So I'm having a balst with the whole experiment, and I hope guys are enjoying it too! MWAH!!! The newest chapter of the "GFD: Sins Of The Father" series is up tonight! So give it a look, and let me know what you think whenever you get a chance! Cool? Only one more chapter to go in this series, so don't miss out on the opportunity to catch up if you haven'te read any of it before! It'll matter in the end. ::Winks:: Seezya soon!

https://gayauthors.org/subscriptions/ The GA Premium series, "Lost In Question", has now been completed! Meaning that you can rip through the whole thing from beginning to end all in one sitting and not have to wait! ::Giggles:: Because...mass consumption and lack of self control? LOL! Anyway, chapter 11 is up, and that brings this tale to an end! I hope you like it! And HUGE thanks for all of the comments and feedback that I've gotten over its runtime! You guys are the best! Thanks! More Premium goodies on the way! So stick around! You'll love what's coming up next!

"GFD: Sins Of The Father 6" “No words?” He laughed sarcastically. “And here I thought we were going to have a great rapport, you and I. Brothers of the blade and all that. I suppose you’re much too stubborn for the pleasantries, but I have a great deal of respect for your legend. I must say that I have dreamed of finding someone who may match me appropriately...but I have business to attend to first. You understand, right?” I didn’t speak. I was simply keeping

Oh no, believe me, I did. I told them that I understood and was super patient about it. And about a week or two later I asked again. And that's when they seemed a bit 'frustated' about it. So I figured I'd stop being a pest, you know? Honestly, I don't want to be a problem. If I could fix it myself, I would...but I can't. So I'm asking for help. Now it's frustrating for me too, because everything was working just fine until THEY changed things up without warning. So I just want to know what I can do to keep up or correct it. And if no one can be bothered? Well...fuck me, then. You know? And I'd like to think I deserve better.

Thanks, guys. I'm going to try some alternatives to see if I can get back on track. I just...sighhh... You'd think after over 25 years of stories and loyalty...they might want to take a moment to keep me around, you know? I'm not trying to bother them or make things difficult, but helloooo? Can you at least take a moment to help me out here? Am I being a brat? I just want to give them more free material and stay in touch with my fans. I don't get it.

Ugh!!! See? Everything is working fine, stress free, and there aren't any problems! So NOW...let's just randomly CHANGE something to fuck it all up!!! Why do people DO that??? Just leave it the hell alone! Does this mean that I need to get a new public email address or something and try again? I swear, I hate having to waste time on this petty stuff. It seriously bothers me... Thanks for the suggestion, dude. I'll do what I can when I get a moment to breathe.

Story Parallels If ‘this’…then ‘that’. When I’m writing or even creating a new idea for a new story in my head...that’s always a part of the process. Always. Not only from beginning to end, but involving the characters that exist within the plot and the world that I ultimately built, just for them. There is just something that gives the story a very personal level of depth for me, and it’s become a permanent style when it comes to my writing in general. Everything has a cause and an effect in life, depending on how you feel about it...and those effects can vary according to who you are, and not just the circumstances that are surrounding you. That makes all the difference, you know? And it has been both the light and the darkness of everything that I’ve written so far. I definitely take pride in that. Both through the good times and the bad. But there’s a certain dichotomy that naturally add to all of my stories that just exists as a sort of empathetic view into what’s really going on there in my story overall. (Keep an eye out for my article on the empathetic gateway...coming soon!) With all of the content that I put out there, there is a contrast between my main protagonist and the people or situations that he is forced to deal with in order to navigate his way around certain obstacles to find the love that he is longing for. In “A Class By Himself”, for example, the main character is trying so hard to fit in with the other rich kids at his school, and getting knocked down, time and time again. But his love interest, Tanner, is actually much more excited about the life that our protagonist lives in, and would much rather be a part of that instead. In the story, “On The Outside”, our protagonist learns the value of living in a world where his love interest is out of the closet, and begins to wonder what it would be like to live life with that level of honesty and freedom, teasing and bullying be damned. There’s a comparison and a contrast to everything that I do, because it’s a natural part of who I am. Someone who’s straight versus someone who’s gay, someone who’s rich versus someone who’s poor, someone unfathomably beautiful versus who thinks of themselves as just being plain and ‘normal’. There are always parallels in what I write, and I just love being able to explore the whole idea with my fiction the way that I do. Writing with parallels just means having the ability to see most situations from two different points of view, which often times ends up appealing to a wider audience and even inspiring discussions between them on what they think about the events happening and what’s going on and why they think that way. These conversations show that people are really thinking about the things that you’re writing about, and they are truly invested in one side or the other. Now, naturally, we’re not dealing in a black and white, good and evil, type of world anymore. Everyone has agendas and motivations and self guided journeys towards what they want out of life...and being able to place the main theme of your story between those two extremes and allowing it to grow and thrive that grey area is a very intriguing and engaging place to be. You know? This is what keeps your readers awake, and forces them to chose sides...each side with it’s own set of rewards and consequences. I’ve always thought that these were the building blocks of a truly amazing story, because it personalizes the struggle within it, and makes your readers a part of it. Without giving out any spoilers, just in case...I think Marvel’s “Civil War” is an excellent example of writers using this idea to their advantage, and truly sticking the landing at the end of it all. You’re being given an in depth look at both sides of the conflict, and how it is totally in line with both characters and personalities on either side of that wall...and then you have this truly violent, but understandable, clash between them. PERFECTLY done! If you haven’t seen it...you might have to go on a long journey through all of the Marvel movies in order so you can get the full effect. Sorry. Hehehe! But if you HAVE seen it, then you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about, and will hopefully agree. These are still ‘movies’, sure...and they’re different from what I grew up with...but I’m sure you can read my stories and immediately see why I always credit comic books with teaching me story and character and how to write if you watch that movie as well as a number of others in the MCU! But ‘parallels’ are the point here. An action with an equal and opposite reaction. A positive versus a negative. I really do believe that it makes for an amazing story, whether your readers actually realize them or not. How can I say this in a way that makes sense? Hehehe…. Hold on a sec... Ok, you know the old cliché moment where you have the main villain and the main hero in the same room, sort of squaring off against one another...and the villain (Prepare for the overworked phrase) says, “We’re not so different, you and I!” Ok, that’s it. Right there. But don’t be so blatant and weird about it when you write it out! LOL! If you’re wondering whether or not people are sick of hearing it...th answer is yes! We’re tired of hearing it. But that doesn’t mean that you have to abandon the actual parallel between both of the characters. Just...try not to say it if you can get around it. And, hey...I understand...there’s not always a way to get around it! I get it. I mean, if the straightforward approach is what is going to work best for you as a writer and for your readers in that particular situation….then go for it. There’s no SHAME in it...just don’t use it as a lazy way out if you can help it, that’s all. Like, in “Gone From Daylight” (I won’t give any spoilers if I can help it), it’s like my main character, Justin, has a truly dark and abusive past. On that put him on a path where he internalized it and allowed him to become suicidal in the process. That was a major part of his transformation into who he was bound to become later on in the series. His pain and suffering has become a permanent part of who he is. And then, later on...readers are introduced to ‘Rage’. And Rage is meant to be a direct parallel to who Justin is as one of his main antagonists. Rage is who Justin could have become if all of his anger and hatred, instead of taking it all upon himself and becoming suicidal...what if he lashed out instead? H is the equal and the opposite of my main character, but there are many ways to show that without having to have either side say it verbally. It’s just a matter of taking two pieces of a puzzle and creating a situation where they simply don’t fit anymore. This is the genius of the story parallel. Imagine Batman...being the world’s greatest detective...being pitted against the Joker...who is simply insane and it’s nearly impossible to figure out what he wants, or if he wants anything at all! How could you find a more formidable villain than that for the main hero, who’s an expert at constantly trying to make sense out of what’s going on in someone’s head facing who acts with no rational motivations at all? Genius. But a perfect parallel, nonetheless. And I love it! For every character that I create, for every event that I put into motion in my stories...there’s something there to counteract it or balance things out in a way that creates one of two things...sincere understanding…or shameless hypocrisy. Either way, it becomes an important issue that has to be discussed and dealt with in the story. In “New Kid In School”...you can’t be jealous of your boyfriend having a cute friend and occasionally flirting with him, when you’re guilty of doing the same. And worse. That can’t work out until the issue plays out in the story, and this creates secrets and intrigue for your readers to be even more involved in. Again, it’s the parallels that add a little bit of spice to your story, and keep people from both sides of the argument fully involved. I wrote a story called “Save Or Sacrifice” (https://gayauthors.org/story/comicality/saveorsacrifice) after a painful experience of my own where two friends of mine...well, let’s just say, I was heartbroken from the whole situation, and I just couldn’t hold onto the hurt of it all anymore. It was tearing me up inside, and I just wanted to get rid of it. But I was trying my best to understand it all, and I wrote the whole miniseries as a story parallel. Where you got to see things from three different points of view, and could understand why these things happened the way they did. I mean, obviously, I didn’t know any of these things for sure, but I didn’t want to demonize anybody, and I tried not to let my current emotions overpower the story in a way that felt selfish of cruel. That’s not what any of that was about. I was just hurt. Deeply hurt. And allowing my feelings to see things from different perspectives and make sense out of it all...really helped me out in the end of it all. And once people read it all from beginning to end, the comments they left behind were really special to me. Like...they ‘got it’, you know? And that’s more than anything that I could have asked for. I cherish “Save Or Sacrifice” as one of my favorites, for that very reason. Writing parallels into your story is developing to put two ideologies, two opposing feelings, or two contrasting situations, against one another and putting them at war with each other until one of them comes out on top….but still seeing the value and empathy on both sides of the equation. Having an understand of the other side, and incorporating that into your fiction. If this...then this. It’s not just the event itself, but how the characters you’ve created handle the event that creates the ‘split’. It’s easy to most people to figure out right from wrong, moral from immoral, good from evil, in their own heads...according to their upbringing and understanding of these concepts... ...But what will your audience think and feeling when they get a peek at the motivations and rewards to be had from the other side of the equation? Inner conflict creates tension and anxiety...and that keeps people reading. If this...then that. Keep that in mind. Make it a mantra. Cause and effect. What you gain, may be a loss for someone else...and vice versa. I keep parallels in my stories because they end up being the most relatable parts of my fiction. People understand need, loss, temptation, envy...and the story can really thrive off of adding the antithesis of all of those things in the frame of another character or environmental obstacle. Something that you can dive into to provide insight and reason into the balancing out of the equation. If that makes sense, despite the weird way that I tried to explain it all...then awesome! You’re well on your way to having another literary weapon in your arsenal! If not...ummmm...questions? I’ll try to answer them as best as I can. Promise! Anyway, happy writing, you guys! I’ll seezya soon with more, but until then...just know that I love ya lots! And I’ll be seeing ya soon with more! ((Hugz))

Ok, so here's what's going on with that... I've been trying for weeks to post my last chapter of "Left Without Words" on the Nifty Archive, and my email can't get through because it keeps giving me an error saying that they're new system is detecting it as spam. I don't know why. I went through every single word to see what might have created that problem, but to no avail. Anyway, I wote in to Nifty to see if I could somehow figure out what I did wrong, or if they could help. They said that they had a new detection or secuirty program...but they'd look into it. I thanked them and waited to see if they could correct it. A week went by...still didn't work. Another week went by, and despite multiple attempts...it STILL doesn't work. And now, I guess I'm just becoming a 'bother' to them or whatever. I know they're busy, but like...so am I. So, I simply won't be posting that story there anymore. ::Shrugs:: It will continue here on the site and in the Library, but no more Nifty until they decide they want to help me fix it. I love posting there, but if it becomes a hassle for this series or any of my others, I'll let you guys know. K? Look for any notices here or on you can sign up for the mailing list at https://www.gayauthors.org/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1 in order to get any further updates. I tried, you guys. Sorry. I haven't tried any other stories, but if it keeps blocking me, I may not be able to post anything there anymore. Which would be a shame...but it is what it is. Help me spread the word if you can! And I'll seezya soon! Mwah! Love you lots!

I got drafted into family duty... ...But I don't mind. Hehehe, all kids wanna do is laugh and have fun. I love it! Either way, I'm still here. Just pick them up from school with the little number card in my front dashboard, put together some snacks, some TV and video games...it's a good time. But I've been pardoned now. ::Giggles:: Back to my dark little corner of silence! Torn between being Batman and Bruce Wayne, as usual. Luckily, I can do both! Alebeit slowly! Hehehe! This boy's HAIR, though! Hehehe! Makes my hands itch! I wanna run my fingers through it! The craving is almost unbearable! Gah!

The tenth chapter of the Premium series, "Lost In Question", has been posted! So be sure to hop on over, give it a read, and let me know what you think whenever you have a chance! Cool! https://gayauthors.org/subscriptions/ And be on the lookout for my next Premium story, "Smoke And Mirrors" soon! Don't miss out!

THREE new ebooks are now available! Thanks to some help online, I've been able to finally fix whatever it was that was keeping the books from previously being available, and I'm working through everything to make sure that it's top notch like I meant it to be! So click any one of the links below to find the ebooks when you get a chance! Cool? And look for them to appear in the Comicality Ebook Section ( https://imagine-magazine.org/store/comicality/ ) some time soon! Cool? And remember...the ebook version of "If Memory Serves" has a DOUBLE SIZED extra chapter added that you won't find anywhere else online! Enjoy! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJQTWC37 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CK4Z7CSL https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CK685ZTX

Immersion Something that I think about, mostly for science fiction or other genres of fiction outside of my normal fanfare, is finding out how to really pull my readers into this new world that I’ve built, often from scratch, and find a way to truly keep them immersed in it from beginning to end without having it feel like some sort of ‘trick’ or an illusion. You know how you have those really weird dreams that you don’t really recognize as dreams until you wake up, and you think, “What the fuck made me fall for that craziness when I KNOW that I’m a fully rational person and not completely insane? Hehehe, yes...I do that all the time! But during the dream, it seems like a perfectly logical set of rules and fears and choices for me to have and pursue until I wake up the next morning. Sometimes...THAT’S the quality that I want my stories to have! And I feel that I’ve gotten really lucky in the art of pulling that off over the years with a few of the stories that I write. Not always...but, let’s just say that I’m proud of my ‘success to fail’ ratio so far. Hehehe, and that is more difficult that most nw writers might think it is. So take heed, rookies! Let me and any other GayAuthors who want to comment on this guide you into the light! Because it’s a special skill to have when you’re writing, and even more so when you’re just getting started! So pay attention! ((Hugz)) For me, the whole idea is to pull my readers away from their everyday lives and trade it all in for a world of my own making. Absent of mundane tasks and brainwashed rules of civil engagement. All while erasing the feeling that it’s just a fictional story that they’re reading. It’s something more than that. It’s a transport to a whol other life through the eyes of someone who is living the life you always wanted to live if you could go back and do it again, knowing what you know now. How different would your life, or all of our lives, be...if you could go back and prevent some of the mistakes that you made growing up? And by ‘growing up’, I’m not just talking about childhood here. I’m talking high school, adulthood, family life, retirement years...hindsight is always 20/20...but you fiction is your time portal to explore all of those ‘multiversal’ parts of yourself where you made different choices, fixed some of those regrets, and imagine what could have been if it weren’t for...’whatever’. Hehehe! It doesn’t have to be super dramatic, depressing, or anything like that. It’s just you writing out your fantasies about what might have happened if you had been on the journey that you are on now and had maybe taken a few different forks on the road along the way. I mean...don’t you ever wonder about it? I do! All the time! And it’s a major focus for all of the writing that I do online! Well, there are plenty of readers out there who share that sentiment. Some of them even ache over the regret of not making those different choices when they had the chance. I’ll be honest...I do too from time to time. It hurts to think that my whole life could be totally different right now if I had only asked that on cute boy out on a date. Or if I had been writing stories instead of being so afraid of what people would say about it all. Or if had continued my acting career instead of getting discouraged when I was younger. So many questions, it’s crazy. But that’s where my writing frees me! That’s what I draw from as my greatest strength, and use it to build the kind of stories that I wish I could have lived through while I was curled up in the corner, sooooo scared of coming out or being exposed for liking other boys. I mean...looking back, I KNOW some of those cute boys were gay, and probably would have been thrilled to know that they weren’t alone! But I made the mistake of being too afraid to make a go of it. And now the rest is left up to the pointless fictional romances in my mind. Where is Comsie going with this? Hang in there. Hehehe, because adding theses elements to your writing can really pull your audience in and give them even more reasons to read and follow your work for long periods of time. No matter how long it takes. There’s no WAY that you can’t say that I’m a self proclaimed expert in this field! Hehehe, so don’t click away just yet! There’s a bit more coming! This is the goal, folks. And the goal is reader immersion. One thing that I’ve learned over the years when it comes to achieving this miraculous feat is by getting them to experience the story the way that I experience the story. Don’t worry. It’s not really difficult for any practiced writer to pull off if they want to do it. It just takes a slight tilt on the whole the ‘reader empathy’ idea. It’s a method that will bring your audience in and get them to lean a few inches closer to their computer screens (That’s bad for your eyes, ya know? Hehehe!) and throw a large chunk of their reality away for an isolated piece of your adventure...even when times in that world are going downhill in the worst way. As I’ve said in previous articles...it’s all about involving them in the process of the story itself. And, in this particular case, that all comes from surrounding your premise, plot, environment, character motivations, and story arcs around a single important question. Just one. How does this relate to you? Developing and building on that question is what is going to attract and hold onto your audience in ways that other stories won’t. So it’s definitely an important part of the process, and one you should practice until it becomes a subliminal part of you simply doing what it is you do with your writing. So, let’s get into it, shall we? Immersion is a skill that can’t really be taught, it can only be developed over time. It can only be understood...and the deeper your understanding of it goes, the easier it becomes. Otherwise, everything that you write is just words on a page. Great words, educated vocabulary, proper mechanics and structure, all placed in a certain sequential order with a particular rhythm and cadence to it...it can make for a decent story. But how will it make you feel while you’re reading it? What does it inspire in you? What moves you? Sure, it can deliver everything that you need to know to have it make sense...but so does the instruction booklet for whatever your latest gimmicky purchase was. If you ever look at your own work and wonder what’s missing? The answer is ‘immersion’. You’re not one with the story. It exists outside of you, and therefore outside of your readers. It’s just well written grafiti spray painted on the wall for other people to glance at as they walk by. The true ‘experience’ has been lost. But, worry not...this can be fixed. You just have to make it an automatic part of your process. And that can be done by keeping three rules in mind. Let’s all take a moment and be honest here...we’re all selfish. Hehehe! It’s true! Selfish beings, constantly trying to deny that narcissistic streak inside that wants everything to be all about us. Especially when it comes to our escapism and our entertainment. So...let’s start there. The three rules of truly engaging an audience begins with that one simple question... How does this relate to me? We answer this question with the stories we create. The three rules are as follows... - Common Desires - Common Fears - Common Obstacles If you can hook your readers into those three parts of your story, plot, and main character...then you’ve got the winning lottery ticket. Pretty much with anything and everything that you write from that day forward. They may seem vague in description, but that’s the beauty of it. Because even if your audience hasn’t been through this particular situation, whether it be a joyful reward or a devastating hardship, they can still relate to it because you’ve spoken to a part of them that goes deeper than that. That is what makes it work so well. When I talk about a ‘common desire’...it doesn’t have to be a precise part of your storytelling. Let’s say that you’re a gay man, with an infatuation for someone special to you, taking care of your little nephew after his parents died, trying to promote your band and gain funding for a new album. Now, that’s a pretty specific situation to be in, and there are very few people who can relate to that kind of thing. BUT...what they can relate to are the common desires of that story. Being infatuated, falling in love, caring for and nurturing a child, following your passion in life, and trying to elevate your station through your work. Don’t bury those parts of the story. If anything, you should be bringing them to the forefront. People can zoom in on the themes that you’re working with, and that will increase the level of immersion for your readers. Like, “Omigod...it’s like this story was written just for ME!” I do it too. On some level, we all do when it comes to the stories we really love and get a kick out of. The memorable ones that we quote on occasion and think about when we get a few quiet moments to ourselves. The same thing applies for the other two rules. Common fears should be written in and expressed. We all feel scared sometimes. Love is intimidating, unfamiliar surroundings create anxiety, threats of violence or even just ridicule triggers a ‘fight or flight’ response on a biological level. Why not on a mental or emotional level as well? What would you do in these situations? I mean...it’s easy to read a story and then sit back and think about it, and then complain about how you would have written it differently after the fact...but how would you have responded right there in the present moment? When all logic has been tossed out the window and your faced with, what feels like, a life or death situation? Bring your audience into that exact moment. Even if they come back hours later and complain about what they WOULD have done...hehehe, maybe, maybe not...but for those few brief moment, I had you locked into MY reality! And things here work MY way! So deal with it! The rule about common obstacles? Same instincts are put to work here. Obstacles likes social norms, like possible embarrassment, like poverty, like gossip and rumors, racism, homophobia, forbidden love, or simple insecurity about your looks, your age, your weight. These are all issues that people are forced to deal with on a daily basis. And even the ones who haven’t experienced it for themselves...the very concept of having obstacles in the way of you living your best life without judgement and harassment is enough for them to understand, and therefore bond with your story. They’re immersed in it now. And that will carry you much further than all of the poetic words and flowery metaphors ever could. Readers don’t just ‘read’. They embrace and personalize the fiction that they absorb. Like I always say, the success of any story isn’t just about the writer. It’s a symbiotic relationship between the author and their audience. What you write and what they feel have an equal part in this madness. Hehehe! So don’t just ‘tell your story’...bring them in. Extend an invitation to be a part of its success, and allow them to see what you see. Feel what you feel. Taste what you taste. Hehehe, that last one might be fun! Alright, that’s all for now. Some more food for thought as I try to explain my methods and share them all while I’m still alive and kicking. It’s actually been a fun exercise, trying to explain myself after 26 years of playing everything by ear. I like it. Sometimes, I think that putting this stuff into words makes me pay more attention to what I’m doing, and I’m learning the same way I hope you guys are. So happy writing! And I’ll seezya soon with more! Love you lots, folks!

I sometimes wonder what I would do in this situation, or if I had what it took to survive a zombie apocalypse after seeing so many shows and movies and seeing what people had to go through in order to make it through the worst of times. But honestly, after Covid...I don't think it would be all that difficult. At least for about six months to a year. I wouldn't run or try to leave town, first of all. The roads would be packed, and chances are I'd end up running out of gas and supplies in the middle of nowhere, or some place that I didn't know, around PEOPLE I don't know. So that's not the best of plans. Also, I wouldn't fight or go to war with a giant horde of zombies, because...why? I'm severely outnumbered and overmatched. So I'm either going to end up murdered or bitten and infected. Not a good plan either. I'd probably just fortify my house and see if I could have my family get to me somehow. Strength in numbers. And I would just stay isolated and look for any news reports or signs that things were getting better on the outside. I mean, I've got books, I've got music, I've got pens and paper...I do a lot of living inside my own head anyway. The only need for me to leave would be to go out on a supply run or to stock up on food. But if I made it quick and took maybe two people with me to watch my back...I think we could make it there and back without much trouble. I'm not like a big weapons expert or anything, but we've got big knives and meat cleavers in the kitchen. Hammers, nails and screwdrivers in the pantry. I'm sure that defending myself long enough to get away without a bit would be pretty simple if it was a life or death situation. Which, I'm assuming it would be. So, with all that being said, I think I could survive a zombie outbreak! I'd worry more about other people trying to survive as well. They're the murderous bastards that I'd have to keep an eye on! By the way...if anybody is looking to get into my house and stay with me? You're fucked! Hehehe, find somewhere else. Cute puppy...newborn baby...buckets of cash...I don't care. Kick rocks and keep it moving, buddy!

Sixteen more chapers here... And about SIXTY more chapters here... THEN....yes! Hehehe, "Taryn's Song"! But you're 76 chapters behind!

"GFD: Nights Eternal" isn't the last chapter. "GFD: Blood Ties" is what I'm working on now. You've still got a ways to go...

He put this together all on his own, and I LOVE it!!! Thanks, dude! I'm honored! ::Bows Down:: This from a solo "Gone From Daylight" themed story called "Nightfall"! And you can find the completed and improved version in the Comicality Ebook Section! (https://imagine-magazine.org/store/comicality/) Which has a much better ending, in my opinion, once I re-wrote and edited everything! But this is just an excerpt from the first chapter, and it's amazing! Check it out! CUTE voiceover too! Hehehe! Well done! Major applause, dude! ((Hugz)) And be sure to check out the whole story some time soon! Don't miss out!

If...and I'm just saying 'IF'...a sudden zombie apocalypse were to break out all over the globe...spreading like wildfire...what would you do? I'm talking about right NOW, as you're reading this...the windows of your house or your job get shattered, the sound of armed military planes flew over your house, and you look out of your front door to hear the screams of people running for their lives. Right now! Do you think you could survive it? What would you do? Would you try to run? Would you gather up weapons to stand and fight? Would you find a place to barricade yourself in and wait for the madness to pass you by? WILL it pass you by? What would you do for your friends? Your family? If neighbors or survivors begged you to let them in...would you take the risk? How long until you run out of food? So much to think about, and almost zero time to plan! But...it's fight or die! So what do you do? Let us know in the replies for our Halloween issue of Imagine! >:)