Comicality

"On The Outside 25" It makes you hate the whole world, you know? Just...feeling like you have to ask some divine order of self proclaimed 'judges' to accept you enough to simply leave you alone. People who are constantly making these little passive aggressive comments, or taking these little pathetic digs at your pride in order to tear you down. In some feeble attempt to embarrass you in front of others, I guess? I mean, I don't think I'll ever understand why it even matters. Wh

It can be a virtual No Man's Land sometimes when you're writing. A place where you may not be sure or feel quite confident about where your next 'peak' or your next 'valley' may come in terms of telling the story that you wanted to tell. And I feel like it's times like this when you really have your skills and instincts tested in a major way...all for the sake of keeping things moving smoothly. And more importantly...moving forward. For this article, I'd like to bring up the subject of getting lost in the middle of your story, how to recognize it as it's happening, and some possible ways that you maybe be able to get out of it once you get find your story stalling in a place where it shouldn't be. So let's find a way out of this sand trap, shall we? I can remember once doing a term paper on director James Cameron for school. I was such a huge fan that it was ridiculous. But he was making some of the biggest and most explosive movies of all time. "Aliens", "Terminator", "Terminator 2", "Titanic"...he was a total rock star to me. However, there was one little nitpick that I could always see in all of his movies. Nothing that really bothered me or anything, mind you. It was just something that I noticed. Once you notice it...you can't 'un-notice' it. When I watching "Terminator 2"...there's a second killer machine made out of liquid metal that is hot on the trail of our protagonists, creating tension and dread and this constant need to keep your eyes open for fear that he might be sneaking up on you. He was relentless in his pursuit, and it kept me on the edge of my seat every step of the way. Now...jump ahead about an hour in the movie to the beginning of the third act. The main characters are going to blow up an office building, the Terminator is shooting it out with the police, there's explosions and massive damage happening all over the place...and then...here comes Mr. Liquid Metal riding up on a police motorcycle to complicate things even further. And you know what one of the first things that crossed my mind was? "Oh YEAH! I forgot that he was in this movie too!" Hehehe, it's true. So what happened? The T-1000 hadn't really been in the movie at all for about forty to forty five minutes straight. It was a smooth transition to get back to the action that I came to see, sure...but I found myself getting invested in an entirely different aspect of the story that had absolutely nothing to do with the second Terminator in any way, shape, or form. So when he shows back up again, it almost feels like a shock to the system. And where did this giant separation from the main part of the plot happen? Right there in the middle of the story. Same thing happens with "Aliens", where the middle of the movie has no aliens involved at all. Even in "Titanic", I saw the iceberg and it was like, "Oh..right. This think is supposed to sink, isn't it? Now, luckily, James Cameron has the kind of finesse to pull of this particular trick with (seemingly) little effort in his crafting of a good story...but not everybody can do that. It can be fairly easy to find yourself lost in that storytelling wasteland when you're in the middle of your story. We get excited and anxious when we're getting started...because we have this whole treasure chest full of potential ahead of us, as well as the joy that comes from building up your characters and the world they inhabit and the overall theme and vibe of the story. It's fun! And then...at the end of your story, you get the thrill of knowing that it's almost over, that everything is coming full circle, and that you're prepared to give your readers that amazing payoff that they came for. Again, it's fun! But...there can be times when your exciting beginning is beginning to lose steam, and you're too far away from your big climax to expect to start working on it any time in the near future. And that can leave a lot of writers in limbo. Think of it like a long road trip with a bus load of children. You got them all riled up as they got on the bus and took their seats, they started making noise, conversations are flying back and forth...everybody's happy. And when you get close to your destination, that same fever hits them again. People get antsy and start wiggling and energized again. The middle of your writing project? This is the point when people start getting restless...they're running out of things to talk about...those seats get uncomfortable...and you start getting bombarded with, "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?" Yeah, that's not always a fun place to be. Hehehe! Now, when I talk about getting lost in the middle, I'm talking about this from a writer's perspective. Not the readers. This is more about staying on task, maintaining focus, and keeping yourself motivated by pushing the story forward to the next meaningful event or eye-opening revelation. Don't stray too far out from your original goal and lose the road map you created to take you where you want to go. I've made that mistake a bunch of times, myself, and it can create problems in my writing that range from slow pacing, to confusing off ramps, to getting readers more involved in another story or set of characters that were never meant to take center stage in the first place. It's best to avoid those little glitches in the Matrix if you can help it. Easier said than done, but far from being as much of a pain in the ass as you may think. And the first step is being able to recognize a lull in your writing, or a disconnect between your main characters, before they get too far off the planned path. I think the key is blending your central act of the story with pieces of the earlier excitement...while adding hints and giving clues about the grand finale to follow. Not much...just a sprinkle here and there. Something to remind your audience why they started reading, and to reignite their interest in what's to come. This will keep the 'middle' of your story from coming off as boring or off topic. It will also inspire you to press on through this part of your project without giving up or going for long periods of time without an update or any significant inspiration for that part of your story. It's all about balance. You can tell when your story is dipping into the quagmire of uncertainty when you, as an author, fell some of your own excitement dying off when you sit down to continue writing. You can feel it when it becomes more difficult to figure out how you're going to connect your current events to the next big moment in your story. Just as I described it...it can feel like a wasteland. You know where you want to go, but how can you get there naturally and effectively without suddenly skipping over details or rushing through any important scenes that may come into play later. Don't do it. You may end up diminishing the impact that you want future events to have if you just try to leapfrog your way to the next part that you're excited to write about. Pay attention to these parts of your story. What's your hurry? Really take a moment and think about it. That's not to say that you should slow everything down, pacing wise, to ramble on about things that don't matter. I'm just saying that you should take the time to figure out what the important parts of your story are, and flesh them out in their entirety before skipping ahead to get to the next big fight, or the next sex scene, or the next big secret. When you feel yourself stuck in the 'valley' section of your story...take that time to really build up your characters' personalities. Add descriptions and depth to their motivations. This is an opportunity to dive deeper into the world that you've created, and give your story a few extra interesting layers. I think that's important in any story. But I also think that it's easy to go too far with that technique, and veer so far off course that your story has quite a long travel when it comes to getting back to your main point. And that's a major focus of writing any story, in any genre, no matter what. Stay...on...point! Remember that you are the one who is guiding your audiece on this journey. They're going to follow you wherever you take them on this long hike towards the ending you had planned. A wide detour can either cause them to lose interest, change their investment in your main characters, or simply forget what the main point of your story was completely. Neither one of those options are going to help you to strengthen your storytelling skills. They can only weaken them. How do you do that? First of all...teach yourself how to effectively fluctuate between your main plot and your subplots in your narrative. Subplots are your friends. But remember...they are SUBplots! Maybe you're telling an action/adventure story, but you have a romantic subplot. Maybe you have a romantic story, but with a highly dramatic subplot. Maybe you have a close friendship between your two main characters, but with a sudden sci-fi twist. Whatever it is that you're writing...find your main focus, and stick to it. Even when you're exploring other characters and their motivations for doing what they're doing. If you want to throw a romantic connection in your story? Awesome! Do it! But always be asking yourself...is this the main focus of the story? Does it plug in to the main plot somehow? More importantly, if I begin writing this out at length, will it overshadow the rest of the story and mislead my readers by sending them down a different path? If you can't easily answer these questions...then there's a chance that you're drifting of course. Explore a few other avenues if you like, and experiment with your characters for a while if you feel the need...but then make sure that you get yourself right back on task. Get back to the main highway and remember your game plan. I love playing with my own storylines and occasionally just having people talk and laugh and interact in ways that aren't a part of the main story...but I always try to make sure that I treat my main goal like a powerful 'magnet' that is constantly pulling me back to where I need to be. It keeps me from pouring too much energy into my story's subplots when I need to get back to the task at hand here. Does it always work? Hehehe, no! "New Kid In School"/"Kiss Of An Angel", and "Jesse-101", are perfect examples of that. But I've been working to get better at it. I really do put a lot of thought into my side characters and subplots, because I love to create a realistic, three dimensional, world for my protagonists to exist in and interact with. But sometimes...I get stuck in that exact same sand trap...and I find myself struggling to get back to my two main characters and what I really wanted to do with my story from the very beginning. And it's been a steep learning process to try to find a better balance along the way. But, like I said, it can be done. So...be sure to watch out for that 'middle story slump' when you feel yourself even a little uninspired to rush towards the next part of your story. It happens. Sometimes the excitement dims, the thrill dips between the origin and the finale, and we can find our creative juices feeling a bit sluggish between the two points. But don't sweat it. It's not a bad thing. And it's NOT writer's block. You can get that creative spark back by just concentrating on your goal for the end of your story, and coming up with a few more interesting sprinkles of conflict, doubt, danger, surprise, and joy...to get you there. It doesn't have to be anything major. Just enough to remind you and your readers of where your story began, and where it might be going if they just stick with it. K? Hehehe, every time I read back over one of these articles, I wonder if I'm doing or saying enough to get my point across. I've been doing this for so long now, that I'm sure that there's a lot I take for granted. It's like trying to teach a kid how to swim, ride a bike, or tie their shoes. I mean...do I even remember how *I* was taught to do it at this point? But I still hope that it helps a bit. If you guys have any questions, feel free to ask below! K? Take care! And happy writing! ((Hugz))

Oh yes! Already knew about Brady last year! Definitely. ::Grins::

Awwwwwww!

Thank you, Blange. I mean that with all my heart. This truly makes it all worthwhile, and I'll be smiling for a week straight, just knowing that something that I wrote had a profound effect on someone who was reading. I hope that times are better for you now, and that you've found a few giggles of your own along the way. Thanks, dude. Love you lots for this. ((Hugz))

Hehehe, emotional overload in kids is so adorable! Been there, done that! Balled my EYES when I saw "E.T." for the first time! Like...I couldn't handle the emotion at all! Can you imagine me getting a PUPPY in a box??? No way! I would have been a total wreck! Hahaha!

LOL! I would enjoy that too! As there are plot holes in everything! Look up 'Pitch Meetings' on Youtube, and you'll get a hilarious commentary on some of your fave movies ever! Giggles! It's become really difficult to plant little breadcrumbs in my stories lately, but outside of red herrings...sometimes 'distraction' is the key. Like...pay no attention to the man behind the curtain like the Wizard Of Oz. Unfortunately, readers are getting savvy to red herrings too. UGH! It's like we have to have this Moriariti/Sherlock Holmes relationship between readers and writers now. Hehehe! Geez!

As a beginning to the Summer celebration on the Shack, leading up to the 24th anniversary on June 19th (just a week and a half away!!! Yay!), a brand new chapter of "My Only Escape" is up and ready for you to read! Cool? As you guys know, this has always been a difficult story for me to write over the years, and I'm happy to say that it has gotten somewhat easier over time. So thank you for the comments, compliments, and emails. You have no idea how much it helped me to put this bullshit behind me, and move forward to finding a better day just waiting for me. Each and every single one of you have been a part of that better day. So thank you for that. Enjoy the new chapter, and I'll seezya soon! The anniversary celebration starts right now! https://gayauthors.org/story/comicality/myonlyescape/

"My Only Escape 37" I don't know. Every second that my mind was able to wander back to that profane document in my backpack...the more nervous I became. What did I say? What have I done? I couldn't stop thinking about it. I was trembling to the point where it was starting to make me nauseous inside. What if he finds out? Seriously. What will my father actually DO to me if he figures it all out somehow, and realizes that I totally snitched on him and all of the things that h

Jamison definitely missed his older brother, Johnny, when he went off to college. Especially since he's the only person in his family that he can talk to about being a gay teen in high school. So Jamison is overjoyed when he gets to take his very first bus trip out to see him for the weekend. It's a three hour ride, but when he meets another boy who seems to be heading in the same direction...that may not seem like enough time at all.

I missed you, Sweetie! Shaggy hair, mustache, and all! MWAH!!! Dreamy!

I definitely agree, Mrsgnomie! Groundwork has to be done with a touch of finesse, if possible. Otherwise, the plot twist falls flat. I wrote another article called, "Leave Room For The Reader", where I attempted to explain the need for readers to use their imaginations to fill in the blanks, and 'personalize' the story. But I think that can be a bit of a coin flip according to responses. Some readers do, and others want to be guided from beginning to end by the writer. I guess both sides make sense. But I still enjoy allowing every reader to get the chance to sort of make everything I write their own in a way. You know? Thanks for the feedback!

I believe that one of the best ways to spice up a certain type of story, depending on what you happen to be writing at the moment...is to grab your audience and turn them upside down with an effective plot twist. As many of you have heard me say in past articles...the readers that you are doing your very best to entertain are much more savvy and experienced when it comes to reading fiction these days. This is the information age, and things keep speeding up. You're not speaking to folks with a local library card and a few notable classics sitting on their bookshelves at home anymore. Many of the people in your target audience have read story after story after story after STORY, and consume multiple concepts as though they'll STARVE without them! They gobble them up, ten to fifteen chapters at a time, before you can even post them! And that was probably in the last two or three weeks alone. There's no way humanly possible that you can keep up with that kind of hunger. They've seen the tricks, they know the character arcs, they're looking for clues the whole time that they're reading and attempting to beat you to the punch before you can give it to them. Let's face it...a lot of readers are like 'Neo' seeing the lines of code in "The Matrix", and now they're clicking on your newest project and looking at the first page with their arms stubbornly folded across their chest...saying, "Show me something NEW!!!" Well...what's NEW to them at this point? You know? How is anybody going to meet their expectations when their expectations are...godlike? Hehehe, now, I don't say all this to intimidate you guys! Honestly...as writers, you still have complete and total control over your own story. And if you're speaking from the heart, from your own personal perspective, you can deliver, satisfy, and entertain, your readers just the same. In the best of ways. But as your audience grows more sharp-witted...you have to try your best to do the same. Find ways to finesse your story around their watchful eye, and see if you can still sucker punch them with a few unpredictable twists every now and then. It can be done. Promise. This is the beauty of creating an effective plot twist in your stories. Or even multiple plot twists, if you think you're confident enough to pull them off without any loopholes or missteps along the way. (You know...the 'hard' part!) So let's talk 'plot twists'! What they are, how to create them, and what they can mean in the long run when it comes to giving your readers a thrill that they (hopefully) didn't see coming! What is a plot twist? I'm sure you all know what a twist is, but to put it into words...it's the art and craft of being able to sell your readers on one story...all while preparing to blindside them with a change in narrative that they didn't know was coming, originally. It is a vicious change in your story that suddenly shakes everything up and snatches the floor out from under your most careful and clever readers as they reel from this new dump of information that they didn't have previously. It's something that can really add a whole new layer of depth to the story that you're writing, and drop the jaws of your readers, if you can pull it off. Not only that, but it also creates a desire to read the story again after it's finished, for readers to look back and see what they missed the first time around. It's a total win/win situation. But it takes planning. And, as always...it takes practice. I realize that there are authors out there who aren't really interested in dropping any bombshells in their fiction, and others that may feel a bit skittish about trying to pull off such a feat for fear of messing it up or having it fall flat...but I'm willing to bet that you guys have written big plot twists into your stories before without even knowing it. It's a part of life. How could you avoid it? And what are we writing...if not a representation of life in general as we understand it, right? Plot twists are merely a method of addressing and dealing with unexpected circumstances...as told through the eyes of your protagonist. If any of you have ever tragically lost a parent or a family member? That's a plot twist in your life, or your personal 'story'. You didn't see it coming, and there was no way for you to prepare for it ahead of time. Even if you expected it on some level, through an illness or injury...it probably didn't happen on the exact day and at the exact time that you thought it would. If you've ever been suddenly laid off of work, had your heartbroken, discovered that you've been cheated on, found out that you or your spouse was pregnant, came out of the closet to those close to you...hell, the whole 2020 pandemic was a HUGE plot twist for a vast majority of us! It's, quite simply, of thinking that things are going to head in one direction, and suddenly having a monkey wrench thrown into the works...causing you to veer off course and take an unfamiliar detour into uncharted territory. That's all it is. It's not as difficult as some people make it out to be in their heads. The first part of crafting a proper plot twist in your writing is just understanding what it is. It's that car accident on the side of the road when you're driving to work in the morning. It's having your boyfriend coming home from work in a bad mood and starting an argument for no other reason than he needs to let off some steam. It's accidentally burning the macaroni that you were making for dinner. It's not as big of a leap of faith as you may think it is. The best way to surprise your audience is to think about your story and its characters...and end up surprising yourself. Hehehe, I've done it many times. Honestly! I've had some of my best ideas at random, and I LOVE that unexpected spark taking a hold of me and guiding me towards something even more awesome than what I originally had in mind! It's crazy. That's why I keep a pen and some paper with me at all times. Like, "Omigod! Let me write that down before I forget it! That would be awesome!" Here's the thing...while I was thinking about posting some of the BEST plot twists that I've ever read in books or seen in some movies or TV shows...I decided not to list them here. As, for many of them...the twist is the best part of the fiction. ("WHAT'S IN THE BOX?!?!?!") And everybody might not have seen or read them yet. So I'll save those thrills for you guys' enjoyment, so you can all experience them on your own time, and get the full effect. However, I wanted to give a few examples of what plot twists look like, how they become an organic part of the story itself, and how a slight or super sharp 'shift' in your story can immediately subvert expectations and force your audience to go back to see how you were able to trick them into believing something that wasn't true. I wanted to show a few effective plot twists at work, to help me bring the whole point home in some way. These are two short horror films that I've enjoyed sharing with a few other people online. I chose horror, because plot twists and big reveals are a staple in that particular genre. But DON'T worry! Hehehe, k? Nothing overly gory or something that will scare the living shit out of you! Promise. It's not anything more than anything that you would see in a Twilight Zone episode. Watch these two short films in their entirety, and pay attention to the methods and techniques that are being employed here to create the desired effect in the end... 00 Now, after watching those...do you kind of get the idea? Plot twists aren't really that difficult to pull off as long as you build up to them in your story in subtle ways and, eventually, deliver an ending that has a significant impact on your story as a whole. It breaks down into three simple steps... Groundwork. Gut Punch. Payoff. What you're doing here as a writer is merely creating a narrative where a potential 'secret' is being exposed at a moment that your readers weren't expecting to see it. And you accomplish that by getting your readers to totally invest themselves in one story...and then showering them with a bucket of ice water by introducing another story entirely. You are deconstructing everything that they thought they knew from the very beginning, and sending them on a different course from the one they expected to follow. There's a shattering of the story's reality and the rules that you have put in place to guide that particular narrative in a certain direction. And now...oh shit...there's an upset! The scheme of things that people were planning on and trying to figure out before you did...has now been turned upside down, and you've gained a new level of interest within them as they watch to see what will you will do next. I believe that the art of telling a compelling story, one that spans over multiple chapters, comes from the ability to occasionally surprise your readers from time to time. As I always say, the stories are all about a simple question. 'What if?' Plot twists work the same way. It's a bait and switch, but in a good way. Like..."You thought I was telling THIS story...but I was actually telling this OTHER story all along!" Or some personal variation on that concept. Hehehe! The way to pull this off comes from planning ahead of time. Now, you don't have to struggle with a heavy plot twist when thinking up the initial theme of the story itself. I mean, if the twist is going to be the defining part of your whole project...then yeah, plan that out waaaaay ahead of time. But, while I feel there's a need to be 'flexible' with your craft along the way, I think that truly effective plot twists should, more often or not, be a part of the original planning process. Know where you're going with your story before coming to that particular fork in the road so you can have a touch of build up to it. That's what makes it meaningful. And nothing ruins a good plot twist than just having it randomly appear out of nowhere without any apparent reason. That can make your twist more 'jarring' than surprising or exciting, and it takes away from the overall feel of your story while your readers try to recover from that sudden stumbling block and readjust to get themselves reattached to the story again. And since many big plot twists happen near the end of said story...you're not really giving them a whole lot of time to do that. That brings us to our three techniques... - Groundwork. This is where you begin to build a structure for your plot twist later on in the story or series. It's the act of knowing whats ahead for your readers...without letting them know that there's a big surprise just around that next corner. You leave little breadcrumbs along the way. You drop a few hints, a few clues, a few strange behaviors from the characters that will ultimately be involved in the big finish. But you have to be subtle about it. Not too obvious. If you're telling a zombie story, and you show your audience a giant machine that is specifically fitted with grinding razor blades and flamethrowers attached, and then you just walk away from it in your story...yeah. Some savvy readers will roll their eyes and immediately think, "Gee...Ill just bet THAT wont come into play later!" And they'll be looking for it. However...there are ways around that too. Which leads us to part two... - Gut Punch. Now, how do you deliver a big gut punch to your readers without them expecting it ahead of time. Hehehe, simple! You end up using their own strength against them! Like a 'Judo' move! If you truly have a collection of readers who have taught themselves the ins and outs of reading stories or watching movies or whatever...you can use that to your benefit. You can accomplish this by using certain tropes and cliches in your stories that you, yourself, might have seen a million times before. You know the ones. The damsel in distress getting saved by the hero...the untrustworthy ally that betrays the protagonist at the last minute...the villain that ends up shouting 'what have I done?' in the end and has a change of heart. You know how to build up these story tropes and you know where they lead. But...if your readers recognize them and the path that they're on...what happens if you completely upset the whole thing and shock the living shit out of them? Hehehe! The gut punch is the climax of your plot twist. This is what really counts when it comes to whether or not it's going to be successful or not. Reveal the secret. Decode the message. Shake things up, and send your audience reeling when they least expect it. And no matter what you do...make sure that you commit to it. No matter what. And enjoy the gasps to follow. Payoff. This one is the fun part, but just as important as the other two. When I'm talking about a payoff here...I'm saying that your plot twist (if you choose to pull one off) should have some deeper meaning, and a true impact on the story from that point on. Don't just toss one out there for no reason if it isn't going truly change things for your story and the characters within it. That's a plot twist wasted...so don't build up to something that doesn't really make much difference one way or the other. And don't use fictional breadcrumbs to make promises that you can't cash in on later. It'll come off as disappointing to your audience...and if this takes place near the end of your story, that will become a big part of the lasting impression that you lead with them. Even if the beginning of your project is mind-blowing...if a plot twist isn't adding another level to your narrative and changing the plot and behaviors of your main characters in some significant way...it wont matter. The end of your book is what they'll remember most. Hehehe, again, I don't want to discourage you in giving these methods a try. Like I said, if you decide to create one in your next story...they don't have to be anything HUGE! Just effective. The whole idea is, again...to sell your audience on one story, and then completely wreck that story by revealing what was really going on all along. It doesn't take any big speeches or exposition or explanations before or after the big gut punch. It's merely a way of causing your story to completely change course from what people were sure was going to be end that they were looking for. With that said, I'd like to end this article with a video where I think this is best displayed for you to see and think about for later. Once again, I'm using a horror/thriller model, as plot twists seem to be a special part of those particular genres. This video is an animated version of these stories that you might be able to find on Reddit or elsewhere online. There's only one rule...the story can only be TWO sentences long. So check out the video collection below, and notice how every story can easily use the groundwork, gut punch, payoff, method in such a limited space! As always, I hope this helps you guys out with your writing, especially if you're going out there and looking for new ways to grow or try out new ideas as an author. Take care! And I wish you well!

Almost forgot! You can also check out a TON of vampire "GFD" spinoffs under the "GFD: Worlds" link! It's time you knew the FULL story! >:) https://gayauthors.org/stories/browse/world/gone-from-daylight/

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 - "Turn It Around"

The newest chapter of the mentally twisted story, "GFD: Persona" has just been posted! A spinoff of the "Gone From Daylight" series, this story is sure to take you guys on a whole new journey! So enjoy! And let me know what you think when you get a chance! Cool? Enjoy! And be sure to stick with me up until the 19th of June, when the Shack celebrates it's anniversary! Starting on year 24, you guys! We're almost a quarter of a century old now! Thanks for sticking with me for so long! Love you lots! Always! https://gayauthors.org/story/comicality/gfd-persona/

"GFD: Persona 2" It was like being lost in a dream. More like a full blown nightmare, to be honest. I was so confused. I kept wiping my eyes...and I sat down on the floor to see if maybe I was hallucinating all of this. Vampire dreams can feel pretty real sometimes. I mean, they're not often THIS real...but maybe this is some kind of a strange anomaly that I haven't gotten used to yet. A vampire's mindset is changing all the time, right? Depending on how much stimuli my brain ab

If they can bring back "Saved By The Bell" and "Punky Brewster"...they can do anything!

You didn't think I was gonna let this HUGE milestone go by without celebrating, did you? No way! LOL! The only ones anxious and upset about where we're going...have obviously forgotten where we came from! We built this site and this family together as one, and I am eternally grateful for each and every one of you! So let's get ready for the celebration this site deserves! Buckle up, folks! I've got quite a ride waiting for you!

Nope! The artists that actually WROTE the song admitted it! I never would have thought that up at all! And wait until you hear the story behind "Yummy, Yummy, I Want Love In My Tummy'! LOL! Those classics are FULL of sexy stuff we didn't catch on to. Hell, did you know Marvin Gaye's, 'Sexual Healing' was about him calling his heroin dealer for drugs? WTF??? LOL!

Hahaha! Ya know, just because you sing it in French, which is cute...does NOT mean that this song is appropriate for young boys to be singing! LOL! It's funny that they keep making that call. I'm pretty sure it's not a mistake anymore. Although I think they at least changed some of the lyrics. I can't speak French. By the way..."I Want Candy" is about giving someone a blowjob until they explode in your mouth, and vice versa. Kid friendly stuff, you know?

Agreed! I love his voice!

I truly think that Mark Twain said it best... "A clear conscience is the sure sign of a bad memory." If that's the case...I wish my memory was a lot worse than it is now, because 'a clear conscience', I'll never have. And yet, I don't see that as a bad thing. Never have, never will. The truth is...I had to grow up at some point. And, yes...I made PLENTY of mistakes! I have plenty of regrets. Lost friends, created enemies, and made a lot of bad choices for selfish reason. But...you know what? It made me who I am today. And the mistakes I make tomorrow will make me who I plan to be in the future. And I'm ok with that. Growing up is a process that never ends, no matter old you get or how firm you think your hold on reality is. I embrace that. I'm happy with who I am as a person, flaws, scars, and all. And I like to bring those lessons that I've learned the hard way into my stories and attribute those imperfections to my characters in an attempt to reach out to others who may be going down that same road without even realizing that they're making the same mistakes that I once made. Maybe they can see a piece of themselves in the fiction and correct course before they go over the cliff, you know? But...how do I manage to do that as a writer? How can I tackle the themes of self reflection, harsh consequence, and the idea of a person who's trying to find a way out of a pattern of thinking and behaving when it's such a part of what they believe is their natural personality...without having my readers just...hehehe...absolutely fucking HATE them??? After years of dealing with this, I wish that I could tell you all that I have found the secret formula to giving flawed characters a chance to redeem themselves and keep reading, regardless of their endless frustration. But that wouldn't be anywhere close to being the truth. I still get angry emails on occasion over stories that I wrote years ago! In fact, I often have to go back to whatever chapter they site as their breaking point so I can even figure out what they're talking about half the time. Just to try to find a connection and maybe get some kind of understanding for their outrage. But, the fact of the matter is...I allow my characters to be flawed. Some, I deliberately write that way in order to teach them something during their journey from the beginning of the story, until the very end. And there's a reason for that. I just want readers to understand that I'm not writing a certain character a certain way...just to piss them off. That's not why I do it. (Well...hehehe except for "Billy Chase" Book 6...but more on that in a second!) My 'memory' reminds me what it was like to be lost in a few dark places in the past. I remember those mistakes. I understand why I have those regrets. And so I regress to put my main characters back in that mindset so that I can use my story to show readers how I was able to get out of that void and back on the right track. Not an easy road to take...but if they'll just be a little patient with me for a little while...maybe they'll be able to understand why I made the creative choices that I did with the characters, and how it works to bring the story together as a whole. Patience seems to be like a really difficult thing to ask for these days, I know...but I'm going to keep doing it regardless. I've got something somewhat important to say here. I think the most dangerous and risky part of writing a flawed or unlikable main character is preparing, and ultimately dealing with, the immediate backlash of it all. I won't lie to you...it can be hurtful. It is a corrosive ACID to your creativity and your writer confidence when you're getting an inbox full of angry comments...saying that your main character is so 'stupid', and an 'idiot', and having them judge and condemn him or her...chapter after chapter after chapter...without end. I'm not going to tell you that it doesn't hurt, even when you have a plan in place to redeem that character in the long run. Because it most certainly does. I can't tell you how many comments I've had, telling me, "FUCK this story!!! I'm not reading it anymore!" or "What an idiot! He makes me hate this whole series now!" Oh man...there have been times when I just had to close the laptop and walk away for a while. Hehehe! But, at the end of the day, you just have to try to have faith in your talent and remember that an angry response is better than no response at all. At least you affected them in some way, you know? People who never read your story again is one thing. But people who go out of their way to TELL you that they're never reading your story again? Don't sweat it. They'll be back. They won't be able to help themselves...so brush that bullshit off of your shoulders. K? The biggest curse isn't criticism...it's silence. Keep that fact close to your heart. Once I learned to let go of the emotional attachment to what some folks were writing to me in frustration and anger, I was able to have a dialogue with them to figure out what the heck I could have done that was sooooo wrong as to have them throw such a rage filled tantrum over the stories that I was writing. And you know what I found out? It was a very personal connection to the story and the characters themselves, as well as some difficult events in their OWN past experiences, that was causing a majority of the frustration. And then, it began to make sense to me. It wasn't about my writing at all. It went much deeper than that. "I had a sick friend when I was a kid!" "I was cheated on when I was in college, and he broke my fucking HEART! So I can't forgive the actions of these characters at ALL! EVER!" "I was REJECTED when I first came out of the closet! My parents disowned me, and I lost my best friend! So your story is unrealistic and wrong!" "I told my parents I was gay when I was 10 years old! Why is he waiting so long???" "When I was in high school, I'd NEVER cheat on my boyfriend with the hottest boy model on the planet! No matter HOW much I was tempted!" Well...I mean...when I write about love, or sex, or abuse, or teen angst...whatever...it's come from a place of honesty and, what I'm thinking, is a realistic take on the gay teen experience. Believe me, I'm not writing this stuff to trigger painful memories and repressed emotions in the minds and hearts of my readers. It's the world, how I see it. How I saw it growing up. And I think, as a writer, every last one of you should be doing the exact same thing. Tell your story. YOUR story! Readers need to calm down, sometimes. And understand that these tales...this new age 'mythology' that we work so hard to weave for their entertainment, isn't about what they want to SEE. It's about what the author has to SAY. Period. Again...is this their story? Or your story? Basically...characters that may begin with flaws and annoyances that readers don't agree with...they give the story somewhere to 'go'. That should be the point. There's not a single one of us that wasn't, in some way, born of fire. To deny that is ridiculous. It's like keeping the training wheels on your bike forever and never learning how to ride without them. Let your characters be flawed. It makes them interesting. Complex. Nuanced. I'm super honored that readers might be truly invested in the stuff that I write online. But, sometimes...it's like, JESUS! Chill out! He's a KID! An imaginary kid, at that. You've been a kid once, right? Give him a friggin' break and calm down. Is there a single one of us that can say we never did anything stupid in high school? How about college? How about in the last month? Be honest. Don't let the bad memory thing clear your conscience, people! Many years ago...hehehe, it still feels weird to say that sometimes...I began a series called, "Magic Man". I had such high hopes for that series and had a real inspiring message to bring to the table in terms of doing something that I had never done before. I planned to really get into people's minds and get them to look at themselves as well as their daily, monotonous, routine. Wishing for a way out...but not willing to really make an effort to make that happen. And...that story was obliterated with negative comments from day one! LOL! But, the main character, Gavin, was written to be somewhat depressed...and thus, 'unlovable', I guess. And that one really hurt, because I felt like no one was giving it a chance to unfold and actually build itself up to create the broad story arc that I had in mind. And it was posted on the site, and on Nifty, and the whole WORLD pretty much watched me fail miserably at it. Or...at least that's how it felt at the time. (No worries! "Magic Man" has gone through a major overhaul, and when the new chapters of Book One are finished, you'll be able to grab it as an ebook at the end of this Summer! It's still a story that I really wanted to tell, and I plan to do it my way. You can read the original at https://gayauthors.org/story/comicality/magicman if you want to see if it is as utterly 'awful' as they said it was.) But as I was editing the story again through new eyes...I realized that I allowed myself to get bullied out of sharing my voice with other people who might have really gotten a lot out of what I had to say. And I shouldn't have. The story was exactly what I wanted it to be, even though it was just beginning the first act of the project. I doubted myself, and abandoned it for a long LONG time. I don't do that anymore. If anything, I lean in to stuff like that. And that brings us into "Billy Chase", Book 6! Hehehe! For those who haven't read the series yet, I'm not giving away any spoilers. I'll keep it vague. But the events that I had planned for Book 6 were originally going to go in an entirely different direction than how it eventually turned out. And for those of you who were on the Library and the Shack at the time will know why. I gave Billy Chase flaws, had him make mistakes, have some regrets, and try to fix them...because, at the end of the day, he had a really good heart. He was just a bit naive, spontaneous, and sometimes a bit selfish. But, I mean...is there a teenager that isn't in some capacity? So, while working on Book 5...all I got was whining and bitching and complaints and this should go 'this' way and that should go 'that' way...everybody's an expert. Right? So...as hard as I working, as exhausted as I was...I'm getting hate mail? Ok...let me take all of their comments and give them exactly what they were asking for. I rewrote all of my notes, rehashed the whole game plan, and I did exactly that. "Oh, this is what you want? More of this? Less of that? You wanted a monster with no conscience and no fear of being found out? Does the angst bother you? You want more sex? You want LESS sex? He's stupid? He's an idiot? Why can't he just come out already? Everybody's angry? Ok...let's do it your way, then. You have all the answers, right? You know how to write this story? Cool. Your comments have now guided this teenage boy in this particular direction! Enjoy!" I wrote the story they kept saying they wanted me to tell. And I had the consequences pan out accordingly. Hehehe, sooooooo many people were OUTRAGED! Oh God, they HATED it! But, hey...writing stories isn't easy. You don't trust my plan? Let's go with yours, instead. I think the Comicality Library arguments were endless at the time. And eventually it was just like..."Can I go back to doing things my way again now?" And they were more than happy to agree. It really wasn't meant to be a punishment or anything, but sometimes...readers just need an author work their magic and see what happens. A creator's vision has to be seen through to the end in order to be appreciated fully. And if it's not your thing? That's cool. But leave the work to speak to those who are looking to hear what the writer has to say. As always...if you want to see your personal story being told online...then write it. You've got a keyboard too. It might be a huge hit with fans and readers who feel the exact same way that you do. Go for it. Why not? Don't ever be afraid to let your characters be flawed. Or mean. Or even downright despicable in the beginning of your story. You can make them the most loathsome character in the world if you want to. The way to keep people reading...is just a faint glimmer of hope. JUST a spark...nothing more. Until their journey begins, don't allow yourself to be intimidated out of making them an unlovable character. Those can sometimes end up being the best stories ever written. If you have a tale of true redemption or triumph that you want to tell...then tell it your way. Allow the characters to evolve and learn the lessons that they need to learn in order to trigger a change in them that will be long lasting and inspiring to your audience. Do it! Readers will stick with it, or they won't. I think that a writer's voice is extremely important when it comes to their main form of expression. So tell your story. And make no apologies for having a severely flawed main character as your protagonist. Give them obstacles to battle against, mistakes to learn from, trials to struggle through. And let the audience grow along with them as they find their way towards a better path. It makes for one hell of a great story...and they'll be cheering for the protagonist by the time it's all over and done with. Most importantly...keep your eyes on the prize. Meaning...stay faithful to the story arc that you're trying to build. Some people aren't patient enough to see it, and some will attack you with snap judgements that they make from the very beginning. You can't let that push you away from your own project. Not everybody is going to love everything that you write...but you have to have faith in your own projects. Ignore the negativity, and press forward until the story is done. K? I made the mistake of letting hurtful comments keep me from sharing expressions of my inner self over the years because I was scared that I'd be further humiliated and all of my hard work would go to waste. But I have a different perspective on that kind of thing now. I think I understand my role as a writer and the role of my readers much better now. And none of this works without us connecting in some way...even when it's a strained relationship at times. Hehehe! Anyway, I hope this helps you guys out! Flawed characters can be difficult to sell to an audience, but they can end up being some of the most compelling and most relatable characters that you ever write. It's just a matter of sprinkling a few glimpses of hope and redemption in your story, here and there (even if your main character relapses from time to time) to make them the guy/girl that readers love to hate for a little while. Find a balance. 'Humanize' the flaws that we all possess in some form or another, even if it's exaggerated in the form of this fictional character...and then find ways to help them get over, go under, or force their way through, it in a way that can enlighten your audience. It takes patience. I know. But...if you believe...then they'll believe. Happy writing to you all! And I'll seezya soon!

Today is the Shack Out Back's Random Cake Day! (May 28th!) Long story short...this is a call out to everybody here to go out, and grab yourself a slice of cake...and close your eyes, and ENJOY it! Hehehe! We do this every year! I'll give you guys until tomorrow go grab a piece of cake from somewhere though, because I forgot! Any piece of cake! Big piece, little piece...from your local bakery, or from the gas station! Hell, make one of your own if you want! K? Enjoy! And always remember to take a moment for yourselves every now and then to enjoy the simple pleasures in life! What would life be without them, after all! For the history behind our own personal holiday...find out more at https://imagine-magazine.org/releases/volume-60/random-cake-day/

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 - "The Language Of Love"