Comicality

The weird thing is...I think I'm a little on the fence with this one. If it was me, and everybody around me was telling me to run for the hills and get the hell away from someone that I was in a relationship with? I think I'm more likely to tell them to stay out of it and let me handle things my own way. I'm more likely to suspect other people who might not understand the kind of connection that we share than to just take their word for it. And yet...on the other hand...their comments (considering they weren't coming from a place of jealousy or malice) might put me on 'alert'. Like I'd pay closer attention to see if I end up seeing what they see. I'd keep an open mind, but anyone just trying to talk me out of not being with someone because of their opinions...would be in for a rude awakening. At the same time...if I was trying to warn somebody else that I cared about from having to suffer through pain, heartbreak, or emotional abuse...I'd try REALLY hard to convince them to leave. But I'd have to be honest with myself and think, "If it were me...I wouldn't listen either." So, even though I might start by charging in like an angry bull...if they decide to stay, I'd have to back off, and hopefully they'll come to me when they need me. It's all I can do. I'd shrug my shoulders, like, "When you get done being hurt and crying yourself to sleep...come see me. Until then, I wish you luck." I think that's the best way to look at it. Then again, that's just me. ::Shrugs::

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Beneath The Surface There are many different ways to tell a story. And these are all stories that mean something to us (I’m assuming) on some deeper level that anything that most readers are able to pick up on right away. Even when the idea seems to be really obvious on the surface...there may be a lot of deeper meanings underneath it. And that can truly affect your readers in a fundamentally powerful way...even if only on a subconscious level. And that can end up being a very influential weapon indeed when you have something to say that many might find uncomfortable or difficult to deal with. Your fiction may have something that it really wants to say without really saying it...but the message can be delivered just the same if you know how to do it. The truth is...nobody wants to be ‘taught a lesson’, even if it’s good for them. No one wants to feel like they’re being preached to from an elevated pulpit, and told how to act, think, and feel. Even though a majority of people live that life anyway, they don’t want to feel it. Hehehe, yeah, I don’t get it either! But...whatever. However, if you can take whatever is on your mind...your joy, your sadness, your outrage, your personal philosophies...and put them within the context of a well written story...you just might end up reaching many more people than you ever thought you could have. And it’s all in the simple task of using metaphor to deliver your ideas beneath what’s being displayed on the surface of your average story. Now, I’m not talking about trying to push forth some kind of heavily determined agenda with your work. Hehehe, no need to be a bordeline fascist about it! But I totally understand the concept that sometimes writers just have something that they feel they need to say with their art. Sometimes it subtle, and sometimes it’s not so subtle. It all depends how you, as a creator want to place it on the scale. It’s your right to do so, so why not leave a courageous footprint behind that puts it out there the way that you see it? You know? I hope that I’m not inspiring anybody to write anything truly despicable with this article. That’s not the point of any of this, I swear. What I’m saying is that there are ways to approach certain issues by writing them into your stories in an almost ‘sneaky’ way. Let people know how you feel. How can you entertain an audience without any authenticity to self? It’s extremely difficult, if not impossible. Isn’t it? Please don’t use this as a license to be a total douchebag. If you’re one of those people who constantly get banned from Facebook or Twitter...then you’re probably taking your ‘freedoms’ a little too far over the line. So, you know...don’t do that. Let me use the show, “Them”, as a prime example of what I’m talking about here. Now this is more of a heavy bash over the head approach to the theme of the series, but I felt that it was expertly done. The show is all about an up and coming black family that moves into a really nice affluent suburb neighborhood back in the 50’s...and are looking to build a better life for themselves. And the current residents can’t let THAT happen, can they? Ugh! But the whole story is told through a lens of extreme frustration and madness that comes from having deal with that level of hatred, day after day, and whether it’s even worth it for the family to stay where they are, or if they should let their enemies win by chasing them away off of the property that they legally own and paid for. (People are SO fucked up sometimes!) I’m putting the trailer down below, and a scene to demonstrate how the story was being told beneath the story being offered on the surface. “Them” takes a very dark turn...being a combination of “The Conjuring” and “The Shining” in the long run. It’s a fascinating series if you’re interested in watching it. I highly recommend it. It messes with your head in a major way. From the racist neighbors, to the haunted house, to the horrific ‘Pennywise’ level, minstrel evil clown that pops up to push the patriarch further into madness. It’s crazy, and I LOVE it! A very underrated series, in my opinion. 000 Now this is a story about racism and life back when this sort of behavior was accepted and embraced. Maybe even celebrated. But the lingering effects of it on the people being discriminated against is being told with an overlying theme of it being a haunting ghost story. It’s like the theme of the fiction shines by giving it a bit of a creative ‘tilt’ that is both intriguing and mysterious. The main message is clearly being delivered either way...but as a writer, you can send it in a way where people can consume and digest it without really being conscious of it being the main point until later. It’s like a pitcher unexpectedly throwing you a curve ball. It gives your story an added layer of depth and meaning, and being able to interpret and discuss what’s really going on underneath the surface of the main story increases it’s longevity overall. Because every person that reads it will see it in a different way, pick out different highlights, and will want to talk about it with other readers in order to compare and contrast their own thoughts and feelings with them. Not to mention the urge to re-read the story from the beginning to pick up little breadcrumbs that they might have missed the first time around. All of these elements help to immortalize your stories in the hearts of your audience. And longevity is a good thing. Hehehe! Another example of a layered story that was extremely well done and not really ‘hidden’, but woven into the fabric of another story entirely...was Marvel’s Netflix show, “Jessica Jones”. Now, I sort of remember Jessica Jones from the comic books (Mostly from the Avengers nearly beating her to death! LOL! Long story…), but her story here involves her recovering from a long standing relationship with a villain known mostly as ‘The Purple Man’. Someone with the power of complete mind control. Like...you’re conscious of what you’re doing, but are unable to stop yourself from doing it, regardless. Which sucks in this case, because he happens to be a bit of a sadist about it. The whole first season is incredible if you ever get a chance to watch it. But the layer underneath? It’s basically a rape story. Rape and manipulation and abuse in a toxic relationship. It’s an edgy comic book show, sure...but you can easily see the underlying themes shining through in every episode. The idea of being controlled and forced to do things against your will...and the inner damage that it does to you over time. Jessica Jones is a truly intriguing and broken individual, and as a character, both vulnerable and standoffish at the same time (Played brilliantly by Krysten Ritter)...she shines brightly from the very first episode all the way to the last. Almost like a damaged, alcoholic, version of Wonder Woman, hehehe! And yet...superhero vibe aside...it’s a story of rape and domestic abuse in a lot of ways. That deeper meaning is the real heart of this series, and it touches a core part of anyone who has ever felt trapped in that kind of relationship. Which is probably why it did so well when it was first released. 000 The stalking, the control, the intimidation, the pursuit of friends and loved ones...you definitely notice it when you see it, but there’s a part of you that still sees it as a comic book flavored story of a hero being pitted against a very formidable villain at the end of the day. As a writer, you have the ability to take what you really want to say, and change the meaning, the context, the genre, or the dramatic effect of whatever it is that you’re trying to create. That’s a huge part of the power and the joy that comes with being able to do whatever it is that you do. So, whether you’re trying to do this professionally, or just pursue it as a fun hobby in your spare time...enjoy it for all that it’s worth. Your mind is the only limit you have when it comes to this stuff. Hehehe! All you have to do is fully embrace the context of your story before you get started, and make little tweaks and changes here and there until it begins to take on a different shape. Stories about bullying, domestic abuse, drug addiction, love obsession, or loneliness...can end up being different stories entirely without hitting your audience over the head with your content. Another story that I truly felt was an excellent example of this technique was a movie about severe loss, fatigue, and frustration...but it was basically told in the form of a horror story. And that movie was “The Babadook”...which, if you’ve seen it, then you probably already know what I’m talking. The lurking ‘evil’ of the film’s main monster ends up taking a backseat to a bunch of other issues that come off as much more relatable and engaging to any audience that has ever experienced the kinds of feelings and exhaustion that’s going on here. Even if you’re not a horror fan, you won’t have to worry about gore or anything disturbing your ability to handle it. I suggest you give it a look, and take a few moments to further study what’s going on beneath the surface here. There is an almost infinite number of ways of saying what you have to say without saying...but, you know...still saying it. Hehehe, if that makes sense! There are times for heavy blatant, heavy hitting, drama...and times for intimate subtlety. (Look for my article on “David And Goliath” soon!) The key is knowing the difference, and developing a natural instinct for when and where each option is most appropriate, and the most effective. It’s something that you have to think about and ultimately play around with until you get it right...but once you do, it doesn’t take much effort at all to bend it to your will and have some real fun with it. Give it a try some time! Try telling one story under the guise of another, and see if you can still have it work. It’ll be awesome. You’ll see. Alrighty then...I hope this gives you some insight on how I structured some of the stories that I’ve written over the year. I don’t want to list them here as it kind of ruins a bit of the effect, but I’m sure if you check out a great deal of my work, especially the sci fi or horror stuff, you’ll be able to pick out a great deal of underlying messages in there somewhere! I do enjoy them a great deal, after all. Have fun writing, folks! And never pass up an opportunity to expand your skill set with something that you’ve never tried before. Because, win or lose, there’s always more growth to be had. If you’ve already tried this out before, or just did it naturally, feel free to shar your experiences down below! Take care! And I’ll seezya soon!

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https://imagine-magazine.org/ Never in a million years could I have ever imagined reaching this milestone for Imagine Magazine. And it has been a much more exhausting task than I think any of you will ever know. Not just for me, but for the folks running the site, adding their own material, sending in ideas, sharing their time and their heart with the rest of us. It's a team effort of epic proportions to do this every month, and I couldn't be more grateful for the people who work so hard in getting this all together. And now...here we are at issue #100...provine to everyone who was ever reading that the struggle has been worth it. Thank you guys for helping us achieve the unachievable, and for participating in a project that started out as a bit of an inside joke between us...to being the massive success that it is today. A lot of love goes out to the Imagine team and all of our writers, and also to all of you who took a moment to answer the questions, share your stories, and just embraced and supported what it was that we were trying to do here. Thank you. Enjoy, you guys! And be SURE come back next month as issue #101 takes the first step towards the next major milestone ahead of us. I love you! And I wish you well!

Maybe my expectations are a bit high. But I seriously want to get those parts right, you know?

Geek Chic Now, I have to tell you all...I have always had a real soft spot in my heart for a boy who is a little bit of a geek. Hehehe, always have, always will. I mean, I love intelligence, I love a shy guy, and I love to laugh...so that’s like hitting the jackpot to me. They can just be soooo sweet sometimes, and I think they can be extremely fun to write as well. So have some mercy on me. I think that one of the elements of ‘geek chic’ that has always stood out to me is the fact that it can really be relatable to an audience, no matter what it is that you’re writing. Mostly because, whether people find they’re particular stride at a really young age, or don’t get through it until they’re older (if ever)...we all had to start out as a geek at one time or another in our lifetimes. Hhehe, and don’t you dare pretend that you didn’t! We all had to ask someone to dance for the first time in our lives, or ask someone out on a date, or lean in for that very first kiss...and it makes for the kind of moments that I really love to bring to life in my stories and for everybody reading. How can a story that cause memories like that to resurface again and not captivate you now like it did back then? These are memories that we’ve all come to cherish to the best of our ability and when we can read from any author who capture that feeling just right...then we’re almost immediately invested. No matter how it is used as a part of the story. Whether it’s the protagonist, the love interest, or a side character...it’s been my experience that they always end up standing out in the end. Sometimes more than anybody else that I’m writing about. I think there’s something very personable about characters that might come off as being a bit nervous in a story. A little awkward, a little clumsy. Finding that appeal in one of your main focuses seems to add an adorable feel to your cast. It takes your readers’ invested emotions and it taps into their most nurturing instincts, creating a bond and an engage that needs protecting at all costs. Basically, it triggers the ‘underdog’ appeal, and they become someone that people want to root for...whether it’s for good reasons or for bad ones. So, whenever I add an Ariel to “New Kid In School”, or a Preston to “Shelter”, or a Dylan to “Gone From Daylight”...they almost always steal the spotlight. Almost to the point where I have to find plausible reasons to send them somewhere out of the spotlight so some of the other can characters can get noticed too. It’s TRUE! And if you read any one of those stories where one of the side characters come sliding in with that lovable ‘geek chic’ appeal, I usually have to make sure that they’re out doing something else entirely if I have other important stuff to do with the main focus of the story. Otherwise, it all falls into the background. Hehehe, Ariel needed his own STORY to keep him busy! Now, things are obviously much different when the so-called ‘geek’ happens to be the main love interest of my story. Then I can keep his adorable presence around as often as possible, and it becomes a truly enjoyable part of the project as a whole. This is where I don’t mind having him take a lion’s share of the attention away from anything and everything that’s going on, and that adorable vibe can be used more to my advantage than as a distraction. Now I can really have fun playing around with all of those cut puppy dog antics and use them to create a more engaging character that was actually built to be the main focus of my story, and if readers fall in love with him...then great! Mission accomplished! And of course, for a more personal view of the geek chic narrative (Mostly because I almost always write in the first person)...I can adopt as a major part of the protagonist’s point of view instead. This has a much a different feel to it, because the focus on his constant thoughts and awkwardness is practically the entire idea of the story itself. It becomes the lens that all other characters, events, and one on one dialogue, is seen through. Something that I also have a lot of fun writing, but if you’re going to do that yourself...you have to understand that this is going to set the tone of the story, and the story arc, and it’s something that needs to remain consistent all the way through until something changes or their character arc helps them to grow out of it. So you have to make sure that that’s the story that you want to tell before getting started. Because flipping back and forth...will make for a sloppy and unfocused story. That being said...it can be great to have your protagonists play this role, and really enhance the feelings that go along with it with your readers. Those nervous jitters, those embarrassing accidents, those uncomfortable silences...you remember the excitement and the terror that came along with them, don’t ya? Hehehe, give them some thought. Think back to when it was you. It’s not really difficult to recreate if you can personify the feelings behind it, and try seeing life through that lens all over again. Sometimes high school, or getting a new job, or moving in together to start a new relationship, or going through your first big break up...it can be a really nerve-wracking experience for most people. Coming out of the closet, your first gay bar, bringing your partner home to meet your family...think about all of the things that could go wrong, and all the hard work you went through trying to avoid those things. Hehehe, congrats! You’ve had your geek experience! Now put it into words and translate those feelings for your audience to relate to and enjoy. That’s all this is. Not much more. Geek chic can be used for lighthearted comical moments, or it can be used for periods of tension and angst...some use it for drama, some for sad moments of self reflection, and some as a lone obstacle that has to b conquered so your characters can win the day. Whatever you decide to use it for, or what kind of character you give it to, I think it’s important for it to have some sort of a subtle purpose in your writing. Like...it’s great to have lovable characters, but you might want to have them actually do something in your story to earn their spot in it. All of your cast members should have a reason for being there, right? So always keep that in mind. What you want to decide is whether you want that purpose to be on the bright side...or on the dark side. Because there is definitely a dark side involved (unfortunately), and as sweet and cute as they may be...not everybody has the same experience with their position just outside of the circle of the ‘popular’ people. I want you to watch the clip down below, which I think displays both sides rather well. And it accomplishes its display of both sides in the same scene, which is kind of brilliant. It goes from “Awww!” to “Oh no!” to “Awww!” again to “Oh no!” again! This is the very beginning of a slasher horror movie called “Valentine”. Check it out...and see if you can see both sides! While I’ve spent almost all of this article talking about the lovable side of adding a somewhat charming and interesting klutz into your story to bring about a bright and fun appeal to whatever you’re writing...geek chic can also be weaponized into something much more depressing or even sinister as well if you really want it to. That sort of interaction with other people can also lead to mistreatment, bullying, being stolen from, rejected, taken advantage of...and if that is the story that you want to put out there, these become emotional torture methods that you can still use to your advantage. Because….watching the clip above...isn’t there still a part of you who’s rooting for him? Even if it means a horror movie about vengeance and death? That’s the power of geek chic’s darker side. Even when they’re bad...there are a lot of people who love these characters anyway. Whether it’s Syndrome from “The Incredibles” or Steven King’s “Carrie”….there’s still a yearning to see the underdog win the day, or at least geet some payback. So if you ever want to use that particular personality trait to heighten the intensity and increase the impact of these scenes or stories...this is a method that you can use for that distinct purpose. I’ve seriously seen some really dark movies pull this off in amazing ways, and they’ve got me, hook, line, and sinker, every single time. Of course, for the stuff that I write for the site, I usually hover around the brighter side of the equation and I’m looking cute moments and giggles...but...if you wanted to go dark with the whole idea? It makes for one hell of an origin story. And sympathetic villains kick ass. So try it out. You might like it! Alright folks, that’s it for this geeky little group hug of ours this time around. A few nervous giggles, some humiliating mistakes, a touch of truly awkward dialogue, and some seemingly forced isolation, can go a long when it comes to building a geek chic character. If you’re writing a darker story, the same method can be just as effective...depending on the surrounding circumstances and the way other minor character might treat them. And if you don’t want to cast a shadow on the more potent parts of your plot, make sure you give those characters something to do so as not to distract readers from everything else you’re doing. K? That’s it for now! I hope this helps you guys out with your writing, and maybe inspires a few new ideas for you at a later date. Enjoy yourselves! And best of luck!

"Quit playing with it, red light, green light go!"

I absolutely LOVE the John Wick movies!!! Easily one of my favorite top five franchises of ALL TIME!!! Four movies, and every single one of them is SICK!!! Well, a short 3-part miniseries (and prequel) to John Wick is coming out next weekend...and I'm literally quaking with excitement! I mean, an entire hotel inhabited by top notch assassins??? How can you go wrong? Omigod, it's gonna be so cool! I can already tell! XD Whenever I'm writing action scenes for "Gone From Daylight" or something, THIS is what is playing out in my head! But I can't, like...WRITE it! I can't capture the speed and intensity the way that I want to! But I'll get there eventually! Practice, practice, practice!

I'm not exactly sure this doesn't show up as being posted anywhere on the site, but I'm putting up the first chapter again in case you missed it, as it ties directly into the main "Gone From Daylight" storyline, as well as a couple of spinoffs! So check it out, and let me know what you think when you get a chance! Enjoy! And look for chapter 2 later on to see what happens next! I'm having some trouble posting here on GA for some reason...but you can find the first chapter on The Comicality Library at http://www.voy.com/17262/ if you want to start reading! Cool? I'll try to figure things out soon, but I've got a *LOT* to juggle right now! So trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong is gonna have to wait. Eventually, though! K? When rumors and sightings of the fabled 'vampire mimic' become a reality for all who dwell in darkness...the entire city is turning itself inside out and upside down preparing for battle...and an arms dealer by the name of 'Rizzy' is set to make a fortune off of it. But he's also in line to make enemies along the way! Is the mimic real? And if so...what then?

It has taken me sooooo long to finally get this finished! But now that it's done and ready to go through my super strict (Hehehehe, but not so much) editing process, the third book will be ready for release in the near future! "The Boys Of Widow Lake: Depths Of Devotion" is coming! And it will be creepier and sexier than the first two books combined! I can't wait until you guys see what I have in store for you next! You can find the first two books in the ebook section! (https://imagine-magazine.org/store/comicality/) Enjoy!

I know that it's a cover of a Drake song, but listening to a lot of Conor Maynard's lyrics over the years, I think that he's really experienced heartbrak, firsthand! You know? And here I can hear it in his voice. Like, "Dude...are you actually CRYING right now???" ((Hugz)) His version of this will always hit me in the feels. Every time.

https://gayauthors.org/story/comicality/leftwithoutwords/ A new chapter of the "Left Without Words" series has just been posted! So enjoy, you guys!!! And be sure to let me know what you think whenever you get a couple of extra seconds at that keyboard! K? More on the way! Seezya then! ::Smooches::

Sweet! I hope it helps! Being in the right frame of mind counts for a lot, after all!

Cool! I'll look for it! I might not be able to answer any before Wednesday though, k? You know me! Busy, busy, busy!

"Left Without Words 29" His solid grip on me was, quite possibly, the sexiest part of it all. Arms and legs wrapped around my body, with us sucking on one another’s tongue in earnest...the feeling of his silky smooth skin all around me, gently warmed by his irresistible outpouring of sensual body heat...the whole experience was orgasmic in itself. Almost religious in its total takeover of me from head to toe. I loved being able to hump and grind myself into him this way...inhaling th

It can be a very difficult journey to take, navigating our way through a relationship. Finding the right person, having them find you, lining up all of the things that you may or may not have in common, and trying to deal with quirks and flaws as they come along. I would never tell you that it's easy. Can it be fun? Sure! Can it be worth it in the long run? Absolutely! But...what if it's a relationship that is simply no good for you? Or maybe even toxic to you? Something that changes you and brings out the very worst in you? They may be extremely attractive, and you may have a bunch of good times together...but what do you do if the people around you are telling you that this person is simply not worth the effort you put into supporting them? What if it was one YOUR friends or family members? Would you feel the need to step in and talk some sense into them? There's a saying...it's much easier to fool someone than it is to convince them that they've been fooled by somebody else. Is it true? Does the illusion of love blind us all from the truth? Would we listen to anybody else telling us that we've been duped? Or should the person hold out and trust their own judgement, even when everyone else is telling them that it's a mistake? Let us know what you think! It can be a rough question to answer in certain situations! Let me know what you come up with!

Are you starting to enjoy yourself? 'No vampires...not interested.' Hehehe, keep going. The rabbit hole gets deeper from here.

THANKS, dude!!! ((HUGZ)))

The newest chapter of my GayAuthors Premium series, "Lost In Question" is up! So if you've got an account and want to check it out, as well as other stories from me and many of your favorite authors, drop on by and pick up your Premium account today! Cool? And coming up next on Premium? My newest story, "Smoke And Mirrors"! So don't miss out! https://gayauthors.org/subscriptions/ Love you lots! HUGE thanks for the donations to the https://paypal.me/Comsie account! It truly helps me out like you wouldn't believe!

A skimpy, wife beater t-shirt and some boxer shorts! Hehehe...those video outfits are getting smaller, babe! And I love it!

David And Goliath A few weeks back, I briefly mentioned the difference between being more brazen and direct with the content of your stories, and the subtle grace of tenderly sliding it past your audience...along with developing the natural instincts to know which is which. Well, here we are now. This time around we’ll be talking about when it’s best to just be straightforward and bluntly say what you need to say, and when that’s the best plan of action for certain parts of your fiction, where it hits hard, its aim is true, and you deliver a heavy blow when one needs to be dealt out to your audience. Sometimes, you just need a sledgehammer to make your point, you know? But there are going to be other times, when skill, experience, and finesse, is the better way to go. Not to avoid making your point, but in order to have it penetrate and seriously shine when many of your readers don’t even see it coming. You can’t always be so heavy handed with it. Use some style instead. It works too. There’s a balance that you have to set up for yourself and maintain in your fiction for the sake of consistency and solidarity of characters and events as they move forward on with another. This might vary from writer to writer, so please feel free to put your two cents in and add any tips from your personal experience down below. Me, personally...I like to try to create a balance of both whenever and wherever I can. It really depends on what I’m writing and how heavy the subject matter is. Even then, I attempt to keep both the power and the finesse methods as a part of my story, and I use them when I think they’ll suit me best. Before I get started, I wanted to use this as a metaphor to demonstrate exactly what I’m talking about here. Now this is a legendary martial artist by the name of Donnie Yen, and he’s going up against the legendary boxer Mike Tyson! Now...style and finesse wise? There is absolutely no WAY that Mike Tyson could win in a fight with Donnie Yen. He could dance circles around him all day long. It’s just not possible. Hehehe! BUT...going toe to toe with Mike Tyson, blow for blow, with his strength and aggressive approach….forget it! He’d break every bone in Donnie Yen’s body! LOL! I remember seeing Mike Tyson matches when I was younger and he was just hitting his prime...and JESUS! I wouldn’t wish that on anybody! But this is the pure representation of what you can do with the themes and messages in your writing if you work at it. Expertise and flourish can take you a long way, and you can win with that...but every now and then, one giant, POWERFUL, haymaker punch can really make one hell of a difference! And sometimes, the fight is over right then and there! Even though both styles were so different...they respect each other, and can be more compatible than most would believe...knowing which one to use and when can make all the difference. So this is what I’m talking about when it comes to being light handed or heavy handed. Being slick and tactical or skillful and lashing out with raw power. If you guys read stories of mine that are a bit more comical or romantic in nature...I think a light handed approach works better more times than not. So, I get a chance to say what it is that I want to say with the story, but there’s no need to clobber my readers over the head with the idea of two boys having a serious crush on one another and wanting to build that up so that it can eventually become something more. I do that with a bit of fear and worry, with a little bit of insecurity sprinkled in for seasoning. Hehehe! But they’re not racing towards each other with their horniest impulses on full display and expressing their undying love within the first few days of meeting in the cafeteria. I mean...I’m not going to say that kind of thing never happens...but romantic fiction’s sake….where’s the fun in that? Its 2023. People can swipe right on their cell phone and get that now. There’s nothing magical about it to me, you know? Why even bother writing a story, or even a short story, that’s no more involved or nuanced than the moving thumbnail on your favorite porn site? The would be heavy handed. And I know there’s a huge audience that just wants a quick, five minute story, to get off to and then simply rollover and go to sleep for the night...but I want more. And I’m always striving to create something that will give my audience an experience that they can remember when it’s over. Something that they might read again some time, or possibly recommend to someone who’s looking for the same. When it comes to simple themes and easygoing storylines and plots...I find finesse to be my best tool. It doesn’t have to be hardcore, you don’t have to be overly graphic with it, or struggle to really hammer home any points that you feel need to be made for that tale, unless you feel it’s a highly essential part of the story itself. Look at and analyze your content and story length to figure out whether you need to make it anything more than it is. It’s not always a good move to complicate a simple ‘boy meets boy’ story. Let it breathe, and be what it is. It may be exactly what someone out there is looking for at that particular moment in time. Allow them to have that without polluting it with a whole bunch of ‘extra’. Remember...there are going to be times when simplicity is key. We all have to learn to teach ourselves when those moments arise. Now then...if the overall genetic make up of my story is centered around a much bigger issue or a particular theme that I’m trying to speak on and bring to the forefront, even though I have my more ‘surgical’ parts where I’m dealing with it in a subtle fashion...if it’s something that I to burst through and become something much more significant in the narrative that I’m putting together at that moment...then there are going to be times when that blinding haymaker punch is going to really highlight whatever it is that I’m doing and add power and urgency to the message that is going to run throughout the entirety of the project. My best example for this practice would be in my completed series, “My Only Escape”, where the main theme is focused on the struggles and difficulties of a teen boy who is dealing with horrific domestic abuse from his own father. Now, this is still a love story, and there are many rewarding moments being offered in the story concerning the boy that he has fallen so hard for and is giving him hope better days in the future...but the abuse is definitely there in the story. If anything, it’s practically another character, having a huge influence over what does and doesn’t happen from the first chapter until the last. I can’t treat that with kid gloves. Those are times when the hard hitting slam of a sledgehammer is needed. Do you know what I mean? The story doesn’t have the same realism or the same impact if I just glance over the fact that this kid is dealing with horrible situations on an almost daily basis, and write a story that simply tells the ‘candy and gumdrops’ part of it all instead. It wouldn’t be saying what I want it to say. And it wouldn’t make much sense without the series of sucker punches that this story delivers throughout the protagonist’s journey towards getting through it. We struggle in search of triumph. Without the second part...it’s just gratuitous violence with no rhyme or reason. And it just doesn’t land the same way. https://imagine-magazine.org/store/comicality/ This is not to say that using a bit of finesse isn’t useful to you as a writer, because it most definitely is! It’s essential! Everything can’t be all black eyes and bloody noses, hehehe! That’s just ridiculous. What I’m saying is...if you can tell a simple story without a whole lot of excess drama weighing down...then go for it. You don’t need to have everything be a major epic story of man’s inhumanity to man and a commentary on the social condition. Some story’s are just stories...and that’s more than enough. Let them be what they are, and leave it at that. However, if the very core of your story is tackling subjects like suicide, homelessness, substance abuse, severe bullying, racism, or the loss or death of a parent...then how can you possibly ever hope to tell that tale by mere scratching the surface and not really digging deep into the emotions and involvement of your readers? Sometimes you really have give issues like that a much harder hit than some of your readers will be comfortable with. And then hit them with it a few more times. If you’ve got something serious to say, then say it seriously. It’s too late to beat around the bush. If you don’t use your sledgehammer when given the opportunity, then people are going to start wondering why you backed down and started pulling your punches now. Go hard, or go home, you know? So when do you recognize the need to use it or not use it? Well, as I said before, that really changes from writer to writer, and it also depends on what kind of writer you are. Some authors prefer the more direct approach, where others may find that be a bit too much like pushing an agenda on your audience and being manipulative when it isn’t necessary. Then again, other authors like to speak in metaphors and weave their deepest thoughts and feelings into their stories undetected. But occasionally, their readers may see that as being fearful or speaking in riddles in order to dodge the biggest, and possibly the best, parts of the story by mincing your words and needlessly fogging up the story when a bolder approach would serve you better. They key is to try things out and find yourself a comfort zone in the middle ground between the two extremes, and do it all within the context of the theme that you’re writing about. I hope that make some kind of sense. Hehehe! Anyway, just experiment a little bit with your writing and see how it feels. What can you come up with? How would a few of your favorite readers feel about it? It’s the only way to snuggle your way into a comfy little ‘pocket’ and use tactics like this one in ways that you never thought possible before. It’s all a part of your evolution. It goes way beyond mechanics and sentence structure. Way beyond character creation and world building. Most of you are in the advanced honors class now! Hehehe, you wouldn’t be here if you weren’t. So it’s time to start looking at the art of storytelling in three and fourth dimensions. And I know that sounds weird, but I found that to be true over the years. And soon...your creativity and skills will start to feel limitless in the process. Trust me on this one! Take care, folks! I’ll seezya soon! And, as always..stay beautiful! K?