Comicality

The weird thing is...they KNOW they're in the wrong. Youtube can't shut down the actual videos because that would be discrimination. But they can shut down any list or channel that PROMOTES these short films. They literally erased my whole playlist of gay teen short films without warning one day...but the movies are still on Youtube. I guess they just hope that teens will never find them? Who knows? It's just so silly to me. How petty are they to even bother to go through the motions of doing this shit?

A little. But nobody beats my Stefan. I've got such an embarrassing crush on him. Hehehe!

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 - "Running Without Sound"

LOVE that movie! Great flick!

As all of the side stories are now beginning to intersect and make sense, I'm happy to bring chapter 3 of "GFD: Sins Of The Father" to the site! So enjoy! And let me know what you think! https://gayauthors.org/story/comicality/gfd-sins-of-the-father/ And be sure to look for the many OTHER "Gone From Daylight" spinoffs in the "GFD: Worlds" section as well! There's a LOT more going on than you can even imagine right now!

"Sins Of The Father 3" As the men flooded into the area, I held my blade ready. All human. Hooded ones with mirrored masks. A shame. The other clans would use his human allies as pawns in his deadly game first. A cowardly move, but a strategic one. However, unlike some...I have no conflicts when it comes to cutting down any enemy that dares to stand in my way. They get one chance to come to their senses, and one chance only. After that, whatever happens to them is out of my hand

Thanks, sixxone! Mwah!

Wait...MORE??? Jesus! That actually looks kind a funny!

And his voice changed too, but he can still hit high notes as smoothly and effortlessly as he ever could before. It's kind of amazing to be honest...

A brand new chapter of "MOTW" has just been posted tonight! So, go on over and check it out if you get a chance! And be sure to let me know what you think when you're done! K? HUGE thanks for the birthday wishes yesterday! MWAH! Love you all sooooo much! And I had a good time! So, life is grand! Enjoy the new chapter! And if you've never read this series before, you can start it from the beginning at the link below! Cool? Seezya soon! https://gayauthors.org/story/comicality/myonetrueweakness/

"My One True Weakness 8" "This can't keep happening every day, you know?" Colin smiled as we walked towards the back door. "Hehehe, do what?" "Just hang out every day like this." "Why not?" I asked with a smirk. "I'm willing to bet that we can do this as much and as often as we want to." He sighed, brushing his fingers through his hair. "Yeah, but...at this rate, we're going to end up accidentally becoming friends or something. And that's going to be weird. Hehehe

Hehehe, see? I told ya movie energy and feedback was much better! Marvel knows! ::Nods:: That is a LOT of movies coming in the next year and a half! Geez! How can they just keep going like this? That's crazy!

Good LORD, that's a lot of movies!!! How can they just keep going like this? That's crazy! Guess I might as well start saving up for the future movies now!

I KNOW, right??? XD

Stefan gave me an early B-Day prezzie! ::Swoons:: Thanks, babe...

There are plenty of times when I like to just throw in a few extras with my stories when I'm writing. Sometimes, it's just for a little nod and a wink to the readers and fans of the many stories that I've written over the years. And other times, I do it to poke fun at myself. Hehehe! Because I think it's important to have a sense of humor when it comes to even my best efforts to be error-free, and to giggle at my biggest mistakes and failures. Either way, it makes for a good time, you know? It's fun! However...there's something else that I really love to do that can be fun as well. There is a process that I like to refer to as 'story folding' when it comes to having my own storylines connect or criss-cross into one or another at certain points in time. After years of having all of these characters coexist in what's, pretty much, the same space...I figure that they're going to run into each other every once in a while, or at least have a few locations or situations in common. Right? I mean, for Stephen King...his place is in Maine. For M. Night Shyamalan...it's Philadelphia. For me? It's Chicago. Almost all of my stories take place there, and even a few of the places that I just made up out of the blue, exist in more than two or three of my fictional stories at some point. It's sort of like 'world building', I suppose...but for more than one project. So...story folding! What is it, and how can you get some joy out of it whenever you get the opportunity? One of the things that I always do, mentally, is contemplate the world that exists outside of my own personal life 'story'. Not just when I'm writing online, but in the real world. Like...just imagine...how many branches spread out in every person, every news article, every scandal, that you've ever read or seen on TV. Take a second and think about it. Think about how many buildings and office workers saw an airplane pass by their windows before they hit the Twin Towers on 9/11. Think about the fact that Jeffrey Dahmer had neighbors, co-workers, friends, family. Think about the kids that teased a young Stevie Wonder in school, or that record label that turned down Lady Gaga, or the publishers that rejected Mary Shelly's "Frankenstein" novel. I know that it's not the main story, or the most interesting...but that doesn't mean that those side avenues don't all have stories of their very own. Story folding is the art of realizing that there's a bigger world at large, gathering all of those multiple stories and points of view, and having them 'touch' one another every once in a while. (Hehehe, that sounded sexy!) But what happens in one story might have a minor, or even a major, effect on another story. It's sort of a six degrees of separation type of thing. The first time I ever did this in my stories was years ago with the miniseries, "Will Power", where the two main characters were passing a couple of other cute boys in the high school hallway, and heard them whistling the Tootsie Roll theme to themselves with a smile. (A call back to the original "New Kid In School" series.) It was brief, and it was simply meant to be a little Easter Egg for fans of the site's number one story at the time, but it gave the readers the idea that these events were all happening in the same place, at the same time. Even if the other characters didn't know it. Also, the readers have knowledge of what's going on there that the main characters don't. So that's a bonus. Since then, I've folded over a lot of other stories in a variety of ways, where...if you read them all...you'll be able to see where they all connect, and get a bit of an omnipotent view of all of the stories from above. The idea is to create a larger narrative beyond the current story that you're writing. 'Plot' happens within the story...but 'Story' always goes beyond the plot. Keep that in mind at all times. Consider it a challenge to use on occasion for practice. Something to keep your instincts sharp. It allows you to look at your project from many different angles, and cultivate a three-dimensional view of your stories without even thinking about it. Practice how to show your other characters reacting to what's going on in the main storyline and you'll be able to find ways to make your stories a bit more nuanced and complex over time. It simply teaches you how to think differently about the situations that you create to keep your story interesting. I find it hard to describe here in words, but you'll know it when you feel it. It doesn't seem like it would make much of a difference, but it really did for me. I think it helped me to grow a lot since I first started writing online. This is, yet another, technique that I got from reading comic books when I was growing up as a kid. The biggest example of this, being the "GFD: Worlds" section on the site (https://gayauthors.org/stories/browse/world/gone-from-daylight/), where the vampire stories not only reference one another in many places in connection with the original "Gone From Daylight" series on the site, but span over many decades of time, different eras, different characters, and different pieces of a MUCH larger puzzle going forward. Again, it's a challenge, but it can be done with a certain amount of skill to make it all work. As always, that takes practice. For one thing, I believe that the stories you're trying to merge or weave into one another have to be somewhat 'compatible' with one another in order to work. I think that's a must. One of the things that I've always had a problem with was the idea of Batman and Superman in the comic books. Especially with the movie, when Gotham City and Metropolis were, literally, across the lake from one another. I mean...WTF? Why is there so much crime in Gotham City when Superman is like...right there??? He can fly half way around the world in a couple of seconds, but can't help Batman stop the crime on the other side of the lake? Weird. To me...those two stories aren't always in sync. I'd work to make sure that both characters belong in each other's world first. You can't fold two stories together when their whole existence clashes with their counterpart. You know? But, jumping out of the superhero genre...since I write mostly stories about high school boys finding love for the very first time...it makes perfect sense that they would occasionally run into one another from time to time. Even if it's just in passing. Maybe they hang out in the same places (I made up teen hangouts like 'Frankie's' or 'Cheesey Pete's'...but they show up in multiple stories as a brief mention here and there). Maybe they share a friend or acquaintance. And...sometimes the main characters actually run into one another and interact for a brief period. It can be fun, combining stories in this way, and if you've never tried it, I recommend giving it a shot. It always makes me smile. The key is to make those interactions short and simple, if that's the route you're taking. Don't let it drag if it's just a tongue in cheek moment. Otherwise, you end up taking your readers completely out of the immersion of the story they're reading. That's a no no. Make it quick, and then get back on task. For example, in "New Kid", I had Randy get sick for a while and his boyfriend, Ryan, came over to spend the day with him to make him feel better. And he brought over the "Billy Chase" TV series for them to watch together. Hehehe, now 'Billy' is another story entirely, but it was kind of fun to make it seem like it was a 'binge-worthy' series for two gay teens to watch together to have a good time. So I folded one story over onto the other, gave my audience a quick smile to let them know that I was just poking fun, and got right back into the meat of the story. It was meant to be a joke...not a distraction. Something else to keep in mind. Now...there is also a much more elaborate form of story folding that you might want to get into, which can be even more fun! And it can really be beneficial if you're collaborating with another writer and you decide to write from two different points of view. But it does take focus and a great deal of finesse to make sure that you get it right and don't find yourself dealing with a ton of inconsistencies that ultimately don't add up from chapter to chapter. Just a few slips, here and there, can cause things to splinter off and spin out of control faster than you would believe. This method can be tricky. So you've got to bring your 'A' game to the table. One story that I did this level of folding with is (Again) "New Kid In School", as it was the story that I was most familiar with at the time, and I mixed it with the "Kiss Of An Angel" series. Now, both series run simultaneously, with two completely different stories that come from two completely points of view from two completely different characters. And I try to write them together whenever they intersect so as to keep things consistent between them without losing my place. However, that's not the real issue with folding these two stories together. The issue is trying not to write the exact same story twice in a way that will come off as boring or repetitive whenever they're together. This is where you have to find a way to craft two separate stories out of one shared moment. And that takes a bit of writer savvy. While writing both stories...I might have both main characters having a face to face conversation, and I'll probably quote some of the same dialogue, word for word, to show that, yes, this is all happening in the exact same moment...but I always draw attention to the emotions behind said conversation instead of just having it be words on a screen. The character's motivations for saying what they said are going to be different from the person hearing it. And the response will be different from what the other character is expecting ahead of time. What's going on in each person's head while being engaged in this particular dialogue. What are they saying? What are they hiding? What is their relation to one another, and how does that affect their interaction with one another? All things to think about when pulling off this particular literary magic trick. Like I said, the most difficult part of story folding is having every interaction feel fresh and unrehearsed. You don't want you readers to feel like they're reading the same thing in this new chapter that they read in the last chapter. What I usually do is take out certain parts of the dialogue on one side or the other, and have the main character briefly 'describe' what the other person is talking about without repeating it. I'll concentrate on their reactions, their emotions, and their personality's...instead of just copy and pasting the entirety of their dialogue to repeat what my audience already knows and has heard before. Here is an example of a shared conversation between two characters that I made up for this particular article. Try to notice the difference between both points of view, and see if each fold feels a bit different on one side or the other...while still having both sides feel connected in some way... As I sat there and watched Brett help out with the heavy lifting in the college AV library, I found that I couldn't really take my eyes off of him. At all. Jonathan kept talking to me about how excited he was about going home for the weekend, but Brett could be awfully distracting sometimes. "I'm telling you, Matt...it seems like it's been forever since I got some decent loving from anybody. But, I'm trying to be faithful, so...I'll just have to hope that it's worth it in the end." Jonathan said. "Uh huh..." I answered. I wish I could have somebody waiting to give me some loving when I went home from the weekend. Little does he know that I've never had any loving from anybody at all. Not once. So I guess there really isn't anything to miss. He kept talking to me, but I was too busy trying to fight off the feelings of intense envy that I was experiencing by watching my beautiful Brett interact with other people in this really pleasant and friendly way. He was always so cheerful. You couldn't help but to be entranced by that sweet smile of his, deep dimples and all. I couldn't hold back an occasional sigh whenever I was forced to share some personal space with him from behind this counter, but I did my best to keep it quiet. "Brett again, huh?" Jonathan said. That snapped me out of my trance immediately, and I suddenly forced myself to look Jonathan in the eye to keep from letting him know that I was unnaturally infatuated with another guy. I came to college to start over from scratch and get my life back on track after that particular 'incident' in high school. But I'm never going to lose the stigma of that messy existence if I get caught falling back into old habits. "Brett? Huh? Oh...no, I hadn't noticed him. I'm just...I've got a lot on my mind. I'm sorry. I'm listening. You were talking about getting some loving when you went home, right? I'm sure that'll make for an awesome weekend." "Yeah. I hope so." He said. "Who knows?" So, this is a scene from the mind and perspective of a single character, told in the first person, and giving you (as the reader) an idea of what's going on and how this particular character feels about the space and the situation that he is in. It conveys the needed information, reveals that he has a crush on a boy in the AV library, and tells the audience that he's a bit nervous about making a move in that direction to approach him on a romantic level. BUT...with Matt being the main character, and Brett being the love interest...they are not the only ones taking a part in this scene. There is something going on that stretches beyond what you just read. This...is story folding. Read the same scene down below, but being told from Jonathan's point of view... I don't know why I keep playing this game, but it's become an automatic part of my public personality. Pretending to be straight. Pretending to have a girlfriend back home, when really...all I have is some boy who lives down the block from me. One that takes turns with me when it comes to relieving some of our pent up sexual frustration when we get a chance. It's not love. Not even close to it. But there's no way that my parents would ever accept me if I told them I was gay. It's simply not an option for me. So...I just slip into 'hetero-mode' whenever I'm around Matt. Even though...I secretly wish that I take a chance on asking him out someday. Wishful thinking, I know...but I babble on about my fake girlfriend to hopefully throw him off of my scent until I know for sure that it's safe to maybe...take a few steps closer to the truth. "I'm telling you, Matt...it seems like it's been forever since I got some decent loving from anybody. But, I'm trying to be faithful, so...I'll just have to hope that it's worth it in the end." I told him. But he seemed distracted. I kept following his stare to the other side of the AV library, and all I could see was Brett and his strong arms and his cute dimples...moving stuff around and being cooler than I could ever hope to be. Why is Matt so enchanted by him. Ugh! I HATE that he likes him so much! I'm sitting right here. Please...just give me a chance, dude! "Uh huh..." Matt said, absentmindedly. I doubt that I even existed in his little dream world right now. Why doesn't Brett go away or something? He's stealing SO much of my thunder right now. I swear...I think Matt actually sighed at the sight of those deep dimples of his. Trying to get his attention back, I said, "You know...before I go back, it might be kinda cool to catch a movie or something. Nothing major, I just want to get out for a while and have a good time. There's a new horror flick at the dollar cinema on campus." No answer. "Maybe...like...maybe we should go. I'm down to buy the popcorn if you're interested." Did Matt even hear me? He was still gazing across the room. Obvious, much? "Brett again, huh?" I asked. Suddenly, Matt became super alert and started fidgeting in his seat. "Brett? Huh? Oh...no, I hadn't noticed him. I'm just...I've got a lot on my mind. I'm sorry. I'm listening. You were talking about getting some loving when you went home, right? I'm sure that'll make for an awesome weekend." I take it that he missed my entire invitation to the movie then? Whatever. Maybe I'm just wasting my time with him anyway. "Yeah. I hope so. Who knows?" I said, putting my hetero mask back in place...where it belonged. So...when folding stories, you get to approach the exact same scene, and even use a lot of the same dialogue...but you can add extras and actually enhance and enrich the whole experience by adding a new point of view. You can add layers, create a deeper backstory, do some foreshadowing...and whatever information you're getting from the first scene is going to be different from what you're getting from the second. So any reader can read both of them and come away from it feeling as though they read two different scenes entirely, instead of reading the same scene twice. Do you know what I mean? Hehehe, I always have to wonder whether or not I'm making sense. It's much easier for me to write my stories than it is to explain HOW I write my stories. Anyway, if you ever want to try some story folding of your own, have some of your works crossover, or just want to have a few fun moments where some of your characters' lives, popular locations, or certain major events, overlap or send out ripples throughout some of your other stories...this is a good place to start. Train yourself to think outside of your main characters and their current situation. Everyone that you create should, in some way, feel as though they have a full life outside of the one that you write for them. They have friends, family, jobs, homework, parents, children...don't veer too far off the road, but ask yourself what's going on around them while they're doing whatever it is that they're doing. When two people are having a conversation in order to move the plot along...what are the motivations and thoughts and emotions of the person they're having the dialogue with? If you're not thinking about that, you know what you have? You have exposition. Just because you put a face on it and give it a character name...that doesn't mean that it's not just an info dump of exposition. And you won't fool a lot of dedicated readers with it, either. Trust me, I've tried. Hehehe! Anyway, this was a long one! (That's what HE said!) Sorry about that! But I hope it helps. Food for thought! Best of luck to all of you writers out there! Talk to you soon!

Hiiiiii...Greyson! ((Snuggles)) Now, by your own admission, you said, "Oh no! I don't dance!" Hehehe, looks like you're doing pretty good to me. See, you've got a little bit of groove in ya! Sex-ay! "You'll be begging for me, hot and heavy, in the morning!" Hehehe, yes, Greyson! ::Nods:: Yes, I will!

Happy birthday, Maxwell Jenkins! Give Chicago a big ol' hug for me, Party Boy! My best friend, Mike and I have been sort of partying long-distance for the past week! So I'll be back with you guys right after this weekend! (Sunday is my birthday! And then things will return to normal!) Cool? HEY!!! I think Max took a dive there! >:O I lost 50 GRAND on that fight! Dangit!!! Love you all and I'll seezya soon!

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 - "First Time" (Hehehe, I always thought this one was sweet)

Hehehe, I remember high school. And I also remember that, sometimes, it only takes ONE Summer to make a big difference!

Hmmm...I'll see if I can give the abridge version... When Justin was looking to seek out the Jeweler for the first time, Doc was able to pinpoint his location but wanted to clear things with Bryson first before Justin went charging in without being prepared for what ight be waiting for him. So, in a moment of desperation, Justin literally 'stole' the information right out of Doc's mind without his permission. Making Justin, what the others would call, a mind thief'. A very bad thig to be in that place, seeing as the last time a mind reader was with them, she killed the love of Bryson's life and nearly tore the entire family apart. So, there's some friction there. Also, when you asked about Richie, you must have missed a chapter, because Justin went to visit him in the chapter right before the one you commented on. He was still asleep, but he went to Jeremy's lab to check on him to see how he was doing. All while trying to go back to the lot and face what he did before leaving. K? I can't stay long! Busy busy busy! But I hope this helps!

Yep! Brand new chapter! Not the one I just posted not long ago! We've got more to come! So stay tuned! Enjoy! And let me know what you think! https://comicality.gayauthors.org/stories.html

"Gone From Daylight: Blood Ties 57" It looms over me, you know? That sense of dread. That feeling of panic, as I feel it getting ever closer to me. And to the boy I love. With every passing second of the night...with every exasperated breath that I take when I gaze in to those bright green eyes of his and see him smile...I'm forced to wonder just how much time I have left on this ticking time bomb before I'm strong enough to prevent it from happening. What is it that I have to l

::Swoons All Over Again:: Sighhhh....

There's an old proverb out there, and I'll have to paraphrase as I don't remember it word for word...but it says 'the Sun doesn't enjoy its own brightness. The river doesn't drink its own water. The tree doesn't eat its own fruit. And living without giving...isn't really living.' As a writer, I really do believe in that. Being able to create something out of nothing and then share it with people who really enjoy and relate to it brings me a lot of joy. That's my way of giving to my readers. And the more they love what I do, the more inspired I am to give them even more. But...there is one part of the process that I have to admit that I truly FAIL at when it comes to giving something back. And that's why I thought it was important to approach the topic this time around. So, let's talk about feedback. When it comes to writing, it takes a lot of thought, time, and energy to pull off a completed story. Or even a single chapter, for those of us who write in a 'serial' fashion. It can be emotionally draining at times. But every now and then, the payoff for all of your hard work is more than worth it. Sometimes I get an email from a new reader finding my work for the first time, a dedicated reader who's been with me for years, or some young teen who's still struggling to find their place in the world...and their love and support really touches me. I feel a wave of satisfaction just knowing that my words were able to reach out into the ether somewhere so other people can have access to it...and they took the time to reach back to say thank you. There's no greater reward than that, in my opinion. No amount of money could ever compete with that feeling of connecting with someone else's humanity, simply by expressing my own. However, I do write an awful lot...and I don't read nearly as much as I used to. I simply don't have enough hours in the day to catch up anymore. And one thing that I definitely want to get better at is giving praise to my fellow authors when they totally deserve it. I have read some really amazing stories on nifty and here on GayAuthors and on Jeffsfort...but I haven't really taken the time to send a personal email with my comments about the kind of genius that these authors are putting out on a regular basis. I mean, when it comes to well written stories, plots, and characters...I'm a fan too! I don't get to talk to people individually often, so I seem a bit isolated at times. And I don't want to play 'favorites' where I'm commenting on this person's story, and not that person's story. But I really hope to correct that in the near future and give more feedback when I'm enjoying someone else's hard work. I definitely do what I can to promote as many talented authors as I can and give them the attention they deserve, but I think I could take a more personal approach and send more comments and reviews when given the opportunity. I think it's important. You see...we, as readers, are the cheering section. We are the fuel that a writer uses to keep going and maintain interest in the stories we love and get all wrapped up in. Without our input, some of the best stories that we've ever read could end up fizzling out right before our eyes. I can't tell you how many times over the years I've had people talk to me in email, or post on the Comicality Library, trying to get them to tell their story and share their experiences and really GO for it...but gave up on their projects due to a lack of response from readers. And, believe it or not, I've even had readers come back to contact me months or even years later, asking about 'that one story' and what happened to the author. Well...you ignored him/her the whole time they were writing, so what do you think happened? You're the fuel. You didn't take a few seconds to let them know what you felt about their story...so they quit. And now...we all lose out. Hehehe! What did they expect? Again, I'm definitely guilty of doing this myself. And I need to get better at giving my thoughts when I read something that I think is awesome. Or even to give some constructive criticism when I think the story has major potential, and can be even better if the author tweaks a few details here and there. It really helps an author out to know that they have an audience that's paying attention and appreciating the effort that they put in. I speak from experience when I say...sometimes it just plain sucks to look at one of my chapters on GA, and in the first 48 hours...it has 300 views...and 2 comments. I mean, I appreciate the 2 comments, for sure...but that means that 298 people RUSHED over to read the story the second they got the notice (They were THAT hyped for it!), but when they finished? No comments. No hitting the 'like' button. No email. Nothing. Just 'gimmee gimmee gimme' and 'gobble gobble gobble' and then they roll over and go to sleep. Gee, thanks. Glad that at least ONE of us got something out of this! Hehehe! Imagine performing on stage in front of crowd of 300 people, dancing or acting or playing music, whatever...and when you were done...TWO people clapped for you. Two...out of 300. Yeah, sometimes that's what it feels like. And authors need that from time to time. Nothing much. Nobody is asking you to share your life story or write complicated stanzas of poetry. No one is asking you to get down on your knees and bow and scrape at the feet of a writer, or spit shine their shoes from a place of total submission. Just be, like...'Hey, I really liked this story. Thanks.' Or, 'Wow. That was cool.' That's it. Thirty seconds worth of typing at the end of a chapter can really do WONDERS for the writers that you truly love. Don't just think it in your head. Let them know. Say it out loud. Leave a comment. Hit a 'like' button. It's an important part of the symbiotic relationship between writers and readers. Don't be greedy and make this a one way street. We should all feel compelled to do our part, you know? I want to give an example that may help to demonstrate the feeling that an author gets when people are actually participating in the process of sharing their work and expressing themselves in the hopes to be understood and appreciated... Over the past year, since the pandemic and all, going out to movie theaters hasn't really been much of an option for a majority of us. And that sucks, because I still love going out to the movies. I love the 'energy' that's provided by being in a crowded room with people who came out to have a good time. I love laughing with them, cheering with them, gasping with them, jumping during horror flicks with them...it's so different than just watching a movie at home on a streaming service. Or, even worse, watching it by myself on my laptop screen. I think this is the best way to describe the difference between a writer having an audience and a constantly participating source of feedback, over a writer who keeps putting out material without much outside support. This is the final battle scene from the "Avengers: Endgame" movie (Spoiler warning, if you haven't seen it yet), and it is one of THE most badass, most amazing, most hardcore cinematic superhero throw down scenes in movie history! Watching this in the theater for the first time, I couldn't even mentally process what the hell I had just seen! Jaw dropping! Jesus! Go ahead and click the video below, even if you've seen it before, and just imagine what it must have been like, and how much hard work went in to filming, choregraphing, and creating, this whole scene! Editing it, adding the soundtrack, incorporating all of the characters, and just making it such a mind-blowing experience for everybody watching!!! When anyone pours that much heart and passion into their craft...they want us to notice. I mean, wouldn't you? It's not an ego thing. Creative minds just don't want their efforts to feel so...thankless. You know? And if you're getting a million dollar paycheck to write stories online, well...then at least you have a decent incentive to keep writing more. But if it's just a hobby or something that a writer does to clear the cobwebs out of their head on occasion and share it with the rest of us? The ONLY thanks they get comes from us actually saying the words 'thank you'. That's it. Nothing else. We're the only thing keeping those fires burning. And if we don't openly support what we love...it withers on the vine. Imagine how many awesome stories we've all missed out on because we didn't say something to the author when we had the chance to. I've read some really amazing stories that got abandoned because nobody stepped up to support them. And, like I said, that's a loss for all of us. Reading these stories is like tending a garden. If you feed it, fertilize it, cultivate it...it'll grow. If you neglect it and never pay it any attention...well, what did you expect the result to be? Support the things that you love! Why not? Too tired? Too busy? Too shy? What is it? What's the excuse? Do you have any idea how many gay story websites were out there when I first started writing? I couldn't even keep track of the number. And I'm one of very few sites that has outlasted them all over the years. And NONE of that could have been possible if it wasn't for the comments and friendships that I've made since then. I would have burned out a decade ago if it weren't for the support of my readers, and I try to give thanks to them every chance I get. And I think ALL writers need that kind of encouragement when the have the courage to bare their feelings to an invisible audience and are looking for some kind of validation for their efforts. Now, I want to show you the SAME "Avengers: Endgame" clip from above...but this was filmed in a theater on opening night. This is with the audience's participation, experiencing this epic moment for the very first time. This is what it feels like when a writer puts their heart and soul into their work, and actually gets to see and hear what the reaction is to their efforts... Hehehe, are you smiling? I mean, do you see the difference in the intensity of the energy provided by having an audience that is really enjoying themselves? Compare that to what you felt in the first video. That's all our favorite authors want from us. Nobody puts in all of that hard work without expecting at least a little bit of appreciation. And we are all working on our own projects, and that's totally understandable...but every once in a while...give someone a wink and a nod and a little applause for their efforts. Seriously. Imagine if only two or three people in that entire audience was openly having fun while everybody else was stubbornly remaining silent. Not as cool, is it? Bottom line, as readers, we are the messengers of appreciation to every writer who ever sat at their keyboard and created these fantasies for us to enjoy. And as fellow writers, we can consider ourselves colleagues, which has an even more meaningful impact. They deserve our attention. Where are the 'likes'? Where's the support? Where are the donations? Where are the comments? Where are the recommendations? We have time to read the stories, but suddenly don't have time to say thanks when we're finished? It's something that I definitely want to change about myself, and I hope I can bring some others into the trenches with me. Give a few ratings. Send a few emails. Spread the word to your friends. Because, when we stay silent, we end up discouraging the very people that we claim to love so much for their work from ever creating any more content for us ever again. And it's too late to complain when those talented writers have given up and moved on to other things. Our feedback gives writers the passion to keep going. It allows them to finish their projects, it gives them the confidence to stretch out and challenge themselves, and it is the best way to maintain our garden. So don't be stingy with your support. Give them some love. It doesn't have to be every day, or every month even...just...once in a while, send them a message to say, "Hey, thanks for the stories! I really enjoy them!" That's it. Don't let more talent go unnoticed and fade away because you couldn't find thirty seconds to say something positive about something they wrote. K? That's it for this round! Hope it gave you guys some food for thought! It certainly did for me, and I want to improve on giving comments more often myself. So, please don't think that I'm preaching! Hehehe! I'm probably more guilty than you are when it comes to giving feedback. But I'm working on it! Promise! Seezya soon!