Comicality

Yeah, I know that Brody's eyes are hazel, hehehe...but he's about as close as I could come to what I had in mind! A new chapter is up! So run on over and check it out! Let me know what you think when you get a chance! Cool? Also, if you've ever read this series before, now is your chance to jump in at the very beginning! Just click the link below, and have fun! Love you lots! And I'll seezya soon! https://gayauthors.org/story/comicality/myonlyescape

I totally agree with you on that! I would honor and respect that, one hundred percent. If Youtube was just saying, "We're a private company, and we don't want to be associated with this kind of material", I totally get it. BUT...they didn't remove any of the short films from their server. (Obviously...because I've been posting them here!) I didn't MAKE these short films. Other people did. And I watched them ad thought, "Awww, cute. I'll add it to y favorites list and share them with other people." So, these films weren't 'dangerous' enough for Youtube to erase them from their server and stop making profits off of them. If anything, I'm HELPING them get noticed by a broader audience. All I did was click a button and add it to my faves list. WTF am *I* getting punished for? i didn't make the film, don't benefit or profit off of it, and if it's against Youtube's standards...shouldn't THEY be the ones getting punished? What did I do? You know what I mean?

"My Only Escape 35" Fatigue. It was tingling through every single part of my body. It ached in my fingers, nearly causing my hands to cram up in the center of my palms with a pain that caused me wince and frown up every time I tried stretch and flex them out in a feeble attempt to get them work their own knots out. My eyes were watering from the excess strain that I had put on them, my shoulders...sore from being hunched over that keyboard for so long. And yet...every last bit o

Have any of you guys seen something offensive or 'dangerous' about any of the past few short films that I had on my Youtube account yet? Yes? No? Keep a vigil eye out for anything awful. Being a gay teen is 'bad', after all, I guess. Maybe we can find out what I did so wrong together. Other perspectives more than welcome.

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 - "Hazel"

Well, between San Diego and Chicago...the weather doesn't lend much in the way of keeping a drive-in open. I remember going to one when I was a kid, but I highly doubt they exist anymore. But the movies in the park were always fun! And I was within walking distance at the time. So my friends and I were there almost every weekend, at least. It was fun!

The newest chapter of "Picture Me And You" is now up and ready to go! i hope you guys like it! And look for more soon! k? Let me know what you think when you get a chance! always appreciated! https://gayauthors.org/story/comicality/picturemeandyou/

"Picture Me And You 13" "NO!!!" I nearly shouted in a sudden outburst. Omigod! Oh Jesus! Calm down, Kevin! Breathe... "Oh..." Rory said, a bit surprised by my reaction. "Um...ok..." "No wait! I don't mean no as in....'no'. I meant no as in...ummm...hold on. I meant no as in 'yes'! not about the...well, if we're talking about...taking things slow, then I could totally...I could, like..." What the fuck was I talking about??? I'm ruining the moment! I was trying to get myself

https://imagine-magazine.org/ The newest 'forbidden' issue of Imagine Magazine has now been released! And it is waiting for you with our special Valentine's Day cover...which is...gasp worthy! 😮 Hehehe, let me just say that I had NOTHING to do with that cover! Oh my! ::Blushes:: But here we are! It's issue #69...we had to do something special, I suppose! Hehehe! So head on over and check it out when you get a chance! Be sure to leave your favorite authors a little love by hitting that green + button at the bottom of every page! And welcome to our brand new author, Richiama, with his story, "Mentoring Brandon"! Cool? Let's get this 'yin yang' 69 party started, you sexy beasts! Hehehe! Enjoy!

Sparkly!

Soooooo cute! Thanks! Happy Valentine's Day to you too! I LOVE it!!!

Thanks, Myr

When I was growing up, I can distinctly remember LOVING the old school martial arts flicks that they used to show on Channel 66 in Chicago on Sundays! "Incredible Kung Fu Mission", "Five Deadly Venoms", "Drunken Master"! A good Shaw Brothers original? They never failed to excite me and have me locked in to the point where, by the time it was over, I'd be fighting my own pillows and trying to kick couch cushions across the room with my non-existent skills as a five or six year old Kung Fu warrior. Hehehe, sad but true. But...one thing that always stuck out to me in those old movies was the idea of the bad guys thinking they'd be able to effortlessly take down someone that they thought would have been an easy win. If you go back and watch those movies, it was always the people that most would have written off as being helpless or of lesser strength or ability that would TRULY fuck you up if you messed with them! Little kids, demure and quiet housewives, hardcore drunks, old men, the handicapped or the disabled, etcetera. You could be the most feared martial artist in town...but if you go into a tavern and have to face off against a blind, one armed, swordsman...? Just walk away! You're going to get your ass handed to you! End of discussion! Whatever advantage you thought you had over them...leave it at the door. It doesn't matter. They are just as much of a badass as you are, and probably even more so. You would be foolish to think otherwise. That kind of thing could get you sliced wide open! Hehehe! The point being, the attributes and power behind those characters has nothing to do with how they appear from a distance. They're good characters because you wrote them that way. As it should be. When it comes to creating stories, I really do believe that character diversity is important, but not just for the sake of appealing to a certain audience or trying to show your readers how 'open minded' you are. It's simply a representation of reality itself. At least in my mind. I grew up in Chicago, where there were many different races, cultures, religions, sexual preferences and identities, and financial classes. So, for me to write a story that didn't include and represent different kinds of people in my projects comes off as unnatural and unrealistic to me. Including a variety of different people isn't forced or something that I do just because, it's just how I view the particular character that I'm creating at that moment. I mean, every love interest or supporting character that I write can't be a slim, blond haired, teenage boy with bright blue eyes and a pretty smile. That's not a default setting for what the world considers as 'normal'. I think I would be bored to death if that was all that I was allowed to write about. That's not the world that I live in. But how can a writer explore a diverse cast of characters without being patronizing or having their intentions be (or seem) disingenuous in the long run? Hopefully, this discussion will help writers and readers alike understand the difference between being diverse and being condescending. Because there is a difference, and it can sometimes turn your readers off if you get the balance wrong. So let's talk character diversity, shall we? One of my very best friends actually took improv comedy classes at Chicago's 'Second City', where the crowd calls out certain characters, professions, or situations, and the actors on stage are supposed to create a spontaneous skit from their suggestions. Now...the thing about this practice is that it ends up getting the actors to settle into certain stereotypes when it comes to portraying the kinds of people that the audience suggests. Not in a malicious way...but in ways that people will recognize it for what it is supposed to be. If you ask improv actors to be a cowboy, they might widen their legs as if they've been riding a horse all day and talk with a Southern Texas accent. If you ask them to be a rapper, they might sag their pants and talk with a certain slang. Ask them to be a gay guy, and they might show you a limp wrist and speak with a lisp. Again...it's not meant to be hurtful or insulting, but it's a series of recognizable gestures that people associate with a certain characterization or situation. And a lot of times it works out just fine for the sake of humor in the moment. However, when you're writing fiction, people are going to be genuinely more invested in the characters that you create. And stereotypes can become easily offensive to them if those types are the only thing that you have to lean on as an author. Let's go into detail... Having a character in your story that is black, Asian, gay, Jewish, overweight, or a woman...understand that this is not a character trait. That's a character DESCRIPTION. It's a look. An outer shell. And it doesn't let you off the hook when it comes to actually creating a real character of depth and meaning beneath it. Don't just toss them into your story for 'diversity's sake'. Even if you attach a bunch of popular stereotypical speech and behavior traits to these characters. That shouldn't be the only thing that defines them in your story. In fact, if you were to change the color of their skin, their gender, or their sexual identity, it shouldn't have that much of a major impact on them as a character according to the plot at all. Unless, of course, their skin color, gender, or sexual identity, is the main focus of the story itself. If not...then why does it matter? Think about that while creating them. Let your characters be more than their outer appearance. The same goes for characters that are elderly, or teenagers, or heavily religious, or extremely wealthy. These are not the traits that define them and make them interesting and important in the eyes of your readers. It makes for a few extra details, but it's not enough to say, 'that's the gay kid', or 'that's the transvestite guy', or 'he's the foreign exchange student'. That is a very small part of who they are as a person, and you can't rely on that security blanket view to carry you through your story if you're not going to give that character anything else of significance to do or to build them up in a way that's important to the plot. In the first set of videos below, you'll see some very strong female characters in lead roles for their own movies. And yes, they existed before Wonder Woman came along. But this time, pay attention to what's not there. The extra emphasis. You don't have to deliberately emphasize the fact that they are women. We can clearly see that. I think that's where the friction comes from. You don't have to say, "Yeah, she's a woman...but she's a total badass!" What? BUT she's a total badass??? Do you see the issue here? It's like...you're praising this one woman because...women can't be badasses unless we tell you they are. Not unless we use it as some sort of a 'gimmick' or try to make it look so out of the ordinary. Ok, mistake number one. Don't do that. The fact that the main character is female (much like the old school Kung Fu movies that I mentioned above) doesn't mean that she should be underestimated or highly praised for being 'the pick of the litter' for kicking ass. It's just a part of her character. That's all there is to it. There's no need to justify it, explain or make excuses for it, or even acknowledge it, really. Don't let the current buzzwords from modern day 'rant pirates' trick you into thinking that strong females in movies and TV were never a thing before the current media blitzes of today. Ripley from "Alien" was a strong female character. Sarah Connor from "The Terminator" was a strong female character. Princess Leia in "Star Wars" was a strong female character. The ENTIRE horror movie genre was built on the one strong female character that escapes at the very end of the movie, including Jamie Lee Curtis in "Halloween" or Nancy in "A Nightmare On Elm Street". We've always had a treasure chest of strong female characters to see on screen or read about. From Cleopatra to Joan Of Ark to La Feme Nikita to Fury Road. Don't pretend that this is some new conspiracy that popped up in the last few years. It isn't. So what was the difference here? The difference was the fact that their strength wasn't based on the fact that they were women. It wasn't BECAUSE they were women, and it wasn't DESPITE the fact that they were women...it was because they were written as strong characters. They displayed their strength through their actions and their ability to deal with the obstacles presented to them. And if any one of those characters had been written as being male, or black, or Muslim, or Latino, or had been put in a sci fi make up chair for four hours a day to make them green with alligator scales every day before filming...the actual 'character' should still remain just as strong and as important to us regardless of the visuals. Even in gay fiction, being a woman isn't a character trait...it's a character description. Same rules apply. Some good examples of strong female characters that never once had to scream, "I'm a woman! Hear me roar!" in order to be respected and enjoyed as great characters in their own right. 0000 I realize that we live in an era where everybody thinks that diversity is some sort of a sinister plot or hidden agenda to push forward and change the world, and for some creators...it is. But, I think for the most part, the whole heavy handed handling of the concept by some is what gives people that perception. Why is having a gay character in your story so controversial? That's ridiculous. Gay people are everywhere. To suggest that it's weird or some kind of trick to brainwash the masses? It comes off as really tone deaf, and it can come off as more insulting than appreciative if you're just forcing them into your story and doing it for the wrong reasons. The term 'woke' was never intended to be a negative comment. But, more and more, I see it being weaponized and used to attack people and make accusations that are WAY out of bounds. Why? Being woke is the opposite of being asleep. That's it. There are gay people where you live. There are black people where you live. There are poor people where you live. There are transgender people where you live. What's so wrong with that? Your art is supposed to reflect reality, right? So reflect reality then. The people you went to school with, work with, shop with at the mall...feel free to write them into your story if that's what you want to do. And if not, then don't. But if you're trying to paint a realistic picture of the world...you can't do it with just one brush. Just saying. Now, I don't want anybody to think that this is some 'push' to force anybody to create characters that they don't want to create for the sake of diversity. If that's not the story that you're trying to tell, or you don't think you can build something genuine with characters that don't fit your narrative, then that's fine. Write what you want to write, what you know best, and be proud of it. That's what the whole writing process is about. I just imagine my own characters as being representations of the people that I grew up around. My best friends and my classmates and my co-workers. Some of them were Muslim, some were Jewish, some were heavy metal rockers with piercings and tattoos, some were hip hop kids with tilted caps and hoodies, and some of them were rich kids with fancy houses and sweet automobiles. Some were tall, some were short, some were younger than me, some were older than me, some were heavyset or husky, and some were bony and thin. It's all fine. The variety of people inhabiting my world gave me the chance to really appreciate people for who they are, and not just what I could use to put them into some kind of 'category' that probably wouldn't fit them anyway. You know? I'm so thankful for that. The world that I live in gets channeled into the stories that I write. It's honest. And I draw from some of the most incredible people and experiences that I've ever had in my life. And...spoiler alert...they don't all look alike. So...yeah. Either way, if you want to add a diverse cast to your current stories or anything in the future, the one thing to remember is that people are people. Point blank, period. Changing their sexuality or their gender or their skin color shouldn't really matter. Unless (again) it is the main focus of the story. If your story is about homophobic bullying, then there has to be a gay character, or someone who is assumed to be gay. If the story is about racism, then you should have a character of a different race or color. If the story is about bashing atheists, then religious beliefs obviously matter. But if it's just a character in your story that has a desire and a goal that is relative to all of us as a whole...love, friendship, opportunity, comfort...then the outer description or belief system shouldn't mean anything more to the reader than the clothes that they're wearing. "She wears a red hood, she's atheist, and she's a lesbian." Ok, that gives us some information about her...but unless that's what the story is about, specifically...then you're going to need more than that. Develop their character with emotions and motivations and a backstory the same way you would with any other. Otherwise, it kind of looks like you just threw that in for kicks. And...why? Stay focused on who your characters are, and not just what they are, unless it directly links into the plot somehow. 0000 So, the big question is...how can you express diversity in your stories but not make it look like you're forcing it or being exploitative. It's not an easy question. It can be difficult to look like you didn't just do that to fit into a specific niche, appeal to a particular audience, or to take advantage of a current trend. The only way around that...is to simply put it out of your head. Seriously. As I've said in many articles before...don't write with the expectation of how your readers will take it in mind. Write from your heart and write the truth. How they take it? You can put more thought into that when you're in the editing process. Or have beta readers let you know if anything that you've done with a character's portrayal comes off as being insensitive. That's something that you can do if you just want to be extra sure. There was only one time that I thoroughly double checked a character that I wrote for "Billy Chase", and that was a transgender character by the name of 'Dizzy'. Mostly because I wanted more emotional info on what it's like, and I wanted to get it from actual trans members from the site. But, outside of that one time, I've never really worried about overly judgemental about any particular group of people in my stories. (Although, I will admit to sometimes giving the high school a bad rap for being bullies when I know that they're not in real life. But maybe that's just me being cliche. Hehehe!) There's a subtle way to navigate around triggering your audience with the idea of diversity... ...However...no matter WHAT you do, there's always a chance of stepping on the landmine of having to deal with people this... Hehehe, sorry. It happens. There will always be people who have justified reasons to be upset...and some people who are just plain upset and spend their whole day looking for reasons to justify it. Way it goes, I suppose. But, like I said, it's all in how you present and develop the characters. I have a character in the vampire story, "Gone From Daylight", named Jenna. Very beautiful, very sweet, a little on the sensitive side, and pretty quiet for the most part. Before becoming a vampire, this girl with the long blond hair actually came from a very wealthy family on the other side of the country. However, when Jenna and main protagonist found themselves under attack, she jumps right in and it's discovered that she can easily brawl with the best of them! Even better than the protagonist himself. And this was a moment of shock and awe for fans of the story when that chapter was first posted, because they didn't see that coming at all. Not because, "Whoah, she's kicking a lot of ass to be a little rich blond girl!" But because her actions were a complete left turn from what they knew about her as a character. It's a departure from her personality, her quiet voice, her sensitive ways. That's the focus of the scene, and that's exactly what I needed it to be. If you concentrate on every character in your story depending on their individual personalities, advantages, flaws, etc...everything else falls into the background. I didn't want to make Jenna a damsel in distress. I never had any plans to make her a rich brat, or some vain popular girl that was worried about her looks all night long. She's a three-dimensional character that adds something to the rest of the ensemble cast. Everything else is inconsequential. Another example would be Tristan's best friends, Lori and Michelle, in the story "Jesse-101". Tristan is a gay boy in high school, and while he's not overly effeminate, it's just enough to keep him from having a lot of guy friends. He has more in commons with his best girls instead. But when I write those characters, and the dialogue that they share, I wanted it to be clearly obvious why they're the best of friends. I wanted it to feel as though there was some history there between them. But Lori's not just a 'girl' for the sake of saying, "See? Female character!" That wouldn't do anything for the story. And she would eventually fade into the background, just popping up every now and then to remind readers that she's supposed to have a purpose in all this. Instead, Lori is a huge motivating factor for Tristan. She can be strong when she needs to be, funny when she needs to be, a shoulder to cry own, or a dedicated protector, or an excited cheerleader, when she needs to be. They feed off of one another. Gay stories can have awesome female characters, and straight stories can have awesome gay characters. Any character with any particular attributes can be used in any story if you want to use them, just don't let the shallow stuff overwhelm your plot or fall into the background if you can help it. A few nudges, winks, and jokes, are fine...but have your readers love them for their personalities and contributions to the project...not just for their description. Show...don't tell. 0000 Anyway, I hope this will give everyone some food for thought. Whether you agree or disagree, at least a little nugget will remain in the back of your mind somewhere to think about at a later date. Hehehe! Everyone would love to see a piece of themselves in their favorite stories and think, "That could be me!" And that's where most of my most loyal readers come from. not everybody can be the sexiest boy in school. They're not the sports team all-star, or the slick talker, or that incredibly brave kid that came out of the closet when he was ten years old and has no problem asking boys out on a date for the first time. Sometimes, your readers were just the awkward shy kid who's still dealing with his feelings. Or the artsy kid with on good friend that lives next door. They want to be represented too. If everybody was a young Justin Bieber...then the world would just go looking for something else. So reflect the world the way it is, and have fun. And now...speaking of having fun...Why don't I end this off by doing exactly that! Have a few laughs with me for a while, and always remember not to overdo the messaging thing. Hehehe, we get it. Enjoy! I'll see you next time with more! 0000

Thanks Affinity! And welcome!

And then he got full frontal nakey for "Total Eclipse" shortly after! ::Giggles:: Sighhhh....

Mine too! Hehehe! Just that little 'kick'? It makes my heart melt every time. ::Giggles:: I'm such a sap, can't help being a teddy bear sometimes.

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 - "Love Trip"

Thanks, dude. I needed that.

Had an awesome time, and so did she! We went all out for her this year, and it just warmed my heart to see her so happy. She totally deserves every last bit of it. Thanks, Mom! For being my rock, and my biggest inspiration. Love always... Alright, back to Comsie work! Seezya soon! Oh wait... (TACKLES Stefan Benz for being so damn hot!!!!) Jesus, that boy makes me lose my self control sometimes, hehehe!

You know...I was all in for "The Force Awakens", because it was setting up characters and a story that had so much promise. Then...Last Jedi deconstructed the whole thing, and Last Skywalker was just an exercise in trying to fix what was irreparably broken. So sad. But...it is what it is. Anyway, THANKS, Myr! Glad you liked it! ((Hugz))

There are so many times when I look back at my older stories, or even just older chapters of stories that I started years ago that I'm currently working on...and there are SO many things that I wish I had changed or done differently. Details that I could have added, 'wordy' and repetitious sections that I wish I had edited out for the sake of brevity and a more potent race to the point, or mistakes that I should have corrected before putting it out there for people to read. Sometimes, I blame that urge to change things on my own insecurities and weirdness as a writer. Sometimes, I blame it on reader pressure to take the story a certain way or have certain things happen that I hadn't properly planned for. But more than anything, I think that all writers simply mature over time, with practice and experience and a growing audience. I mean, don't we all have projects that we wish we could go back to correct and improve upon now that we can look back on them from a more 'battle-scarred' perspective? It might just be a word here and a word there for many authors...but for some, myself included, I always have this craving to do an entire overhaul of the original story and smooth out the all of the rough edges with a package of harsh sandpaper sheets to give the story the polish and the pleasing look that I always wanted it to have. That doesn't mean that I'm not proud of the finished projects that I've done in the past. I just wish that I could have tackled those themes and characters with the kind of knowledge and expertise that I only could have developed through many years of extensive trial and error. (Mostly error. But it is what it is. Hehehe!) And yet, I always hold on to the originals, because they exist as examples of where I came from, and where I can go if I just keep growing and learning new tricks along the way. It takes time, patience, a LOT of hard work...and maybe a few battles with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, to get the stew flavored just right...but keep going! You can do it. Keep going back and examining some of your older work to see where you've improved, and where there may be opportunities for even more improvement. I feel that it's always a good exercise to keep your older works handy whenever you're trying to challenge yourself as a writer. To examine your own growth, as well as take your talent to the next level. Still...even though I save and respect the original versions of my earlier projects, the constant yearning to update them and really give them a new shiny gloss sticks with me. And if you've read my older stories, you may be surprised at the new 'remixed' versions that will be popping up this year. I actually had a lot of fun rewriting and expanding on some of those projects, making them a bit more advanced than what they were when I first put them out there. The first big projects being brand new versions of "If Only In My Dreams" and "A Stepbrother I Could Love", which I felt had SO much more to say in their narratives when I went back to read them again! I've been having a lot of fun with those. So keep an eye out for them soon if you haven't seen them yet. DON'T worry, though! Your favorite classics aren't going anywhere! Promise. I'm not going to pull a George Lucas on ya! Some people love the originals, and I appreciate them for what they are. I just want to take another stab at telling a more complete story and seeing where those projects might go, now that I'm a little bit older and wiser than I was back when it was all passion and hormones, and not much else. There are characters that I want to explore with some more depth. Plot holes that I want to fix up. Themes that I want to approach from a more adult point of view, even though I'm dealing with a teenage cast. It's a new experiment that I'm eager to tackle aggressively this year, and we'll see how it turns out. ::Fingers Crossed:: So, for this discussion...just in case any of you want to go back to some of your older projects and do a little maintenance of your own to get them read the way you always wanted them to read...let's talk revisions! Questions and comments are always welcome, of course! I think that, once you truly become connected to your personal form of creative expression...it begins to grow and change with you. Especially if it's over a long period of time. While I may still be pretty consistent in my thoughts, beliefs, sense of humor, and approach to life in general...I am not the same person that I was when I was a 23 year old, fully closeted, hobby writer. I don't think I could write any of those stories now. Not even if I tried. Nor would a 23 year old 'Comicality' be able to write the stories that I write now. We might as well be two completely different people. But that doesn't mean that there isn't a connection there within the text that was typed out on his screen and mine. The heart behind the stories is the same, but I feel as though I've learned how to finesse the craft of translating those intense feelings a little bit better than I did in the beginning. For example...the abundance of sex in every chapter has been mellowed out to make room for more romance. More drama. More dialogue. More intrigue. It's still erotic writing, but I found my own personal comfort zone where love and lust can sort of find this coexistent yin and yang relationship between my characters. The romance leads to graphically described sex, and the sex circles around to enhance the sweet and fuzzy romantic elements. They compliment one another, and that's exactly what I always wanted from a gay teen love story. It feels good to finally find a balance between the two sides, and still have both sides be fun and exciting for anyone who might be reading. I've also strayed away from words like 'cock' or 'cum' or 'asshole' or anything that might have a more sexually explicit context to it (unless that was the intention, of course), for other descriptions that I felt might give the story's prose a little more grace when describing a young sexual encounter. There's nothing wrong with using those words, but it doesn't fit a lot of the stories that I'm trying to tell from the main character's perspective. I can't feel comfortable anymore writing a story in 2021 about an incredibly bashful teenage virgin, and then add the words, "I sucked his hot cock until he came buckets of creamy hot semen into my open mouth!" without feeling like my more blatant word usage and the character's previous inner thoughts about infatuation and bashful silence don't exactly match up. You know what I mean? I hope that makes sense. My apologies for the brazen description, by the way. Hehehe! But, I think that proves my point. You won't find an article like THIS in your favorite writing magazine! Eat your heart out, 'Reader's Digest'! LMAO!!! Anyway, the point is, we all grow. We evolve as authors. And we may look back at some of our previous accomplishments...and feel the need to give them a proper 'remix' from time to time. Even if it was well received, celebrated by your audience, and loved by many. There's nothing wrong with wanting to improve on a story you love. Go for it! Breathe new life into it. I've grown to love doing it myself. Especially with the Ebooks that I've been putting out on Amazon... (Shameless plug...Comicality Ebook Section at https://imagine-magazine.org/store/comicality/ ) I actually rejoiced over the fact that I could go back to older stories and series of mine and correct a ton of mistakes, inconsistencies, and formatting flaws, that had been haunting me for years now. But, more than that, I got to add soooo much more detail, enriching the descriptions that I had written before, and add whole chapters of new material that was never there before. Which, I feel, makes huge differences in stories like "Gone From Daylight", "Savage Moon", and "The Secret Life Of Billy Chase", where I got the chance to look at the stories from a different perspective now that they're so much further along, and I can better articulate the ideas and emotions that I once took a shot at so long ago. It was a fun experience, and one that I think we can all learn from if we give it a try. I went over and ran through every line of dialogue, every description, and every plot point, as if I was writing it for the first time. Except this time...I was able to look back at those previous chapters from, what I feel, was an elevated position. I had more chapters written in advance, and it helps to know exactly what comes later on when filling in the blanks for earlier chapters. Times change, and you find yourself able to pull off a few tricks that you were incapable of before. As an example, let me show you guys a movie scene that is considered to be one of the most iconic battle scenes in cinematic history. The original showdown between Darth Vader and Obi Wan Kenobi from the original 'Star Wars' movie. Seriously, this was like...a major achievement for its time, and there are MANY 'Star Wars' fans who can't quote this scene, line for line, without skipping a beat! Even if you've seen it before, watch it again right now. Study it. What do you see here? Check it out... Now, that is one of those cinematic moments that will stay with fans of the saga forever. I don't think a lot of people realize that when 'Star Wars' first came out...there WAS no 'Star Wars'. Think about that for a second. The idea of a dark and menacing robot in a cape and a skilled samurai monk fighting with laser swords was like...what the FUCK is happening right now??? There was no previous blueprint for that kind of thing at the time! Sci-Fi hadn't really reached that kind of fantasy level yet in most places. So, this stood out as something intense and innovative and absolutely mind-blowing to watch for the first few hundred times! Hehehe! Then...jump ahead about 40 years, and 'Star Wars' has a whole new look and feel to it than it ever did back for us 80's kids. Now there is a blueprint for lightsaber fights, and prequels and sequels and animations and fan films...there was a foundation to build from and improve on. When going back to revise or touch up your older projects, I think you should look at them the same way. You don't always want to wreck or destroy the foundation that made your story what it was. The heart was there. Sometimes, your first presentation is your most honest presentation. Your most passionate presentation. It's not about trying to figure out what you did wrong. It's about enhancing what you did right. Finding a few opportunities that might have been in your blind spot before you learned how to recognize them for what they were. With practice, you become more sophisticated and more comfortable with your voice and your technique. You learn nuance and complexity, your vocabulary grows...and these are all tools that you can use to enhance the vibe of your fiction without taking anything away from what made it so special to you in the first place. That's where the real magic lies. But, as with everything else, this too takes patience and practice to get the balance just right. Down below is a fanmade re-imagining of that same Darth Vader/Obi Wan lightsaber duel. And it is absolutely friggin' AMAZING! Better than all nine films! Hehehe! Now, remember, we have the prequels and decades worth of 'Star Wars' lore now. We have special effects and hardcore choreography and a whole different perspective on how 'the force' works. Someone took a long time and put in a LOT of hard work on this...and it would be hard to make it any more perfect. Again, it's not meant to take anything away from the original battle. But it enhances it, adds layers, and displays a level of sophistication that wasn't possible when the original came out. Take a look at this new, updated version of the same scene above... Watching that, it should give you a prime example of what I mean when I say that you should be able to update and improve upon your own original work, without trying to recreate the spontaneity and the passion that made it honest and unique. Sure, you have more tools at your disposal, and a mindset that is better equipped to finesse certain parts of your earlier stories...but you never want to try to improve on the heart and simplicity that gave your original project that particular brand of magic the first time around. Preserve that innocent quality as much as you can. Don't look back at a younger 'you' with disdain or unfair judgement. Instead, look at how you could assist a younger you in bringing his/her vision to fruition in the best way possible if you could go back and advise them, face to face. More times than not, when I go back to revise or repair one of my older stories, it's usually because of inconsistencies or loopholes that I found or other readers have discovered after the story had already been released. One great example of this is in the story, "Gone From Daylight", where a group of the main characters meet on the rooftop of an abandoned building for a private discussion. However, one of those characters is in a wheelchair. And a few fans of the story asked, "Well, how did they get him all the way up to the roof?" And, honestly...when I originally wrote that scene, I definitely wanted that character to be there...but I hadn't even thought about that. In fact, I skipped over it altogether. Hehehe, oops! So when it came time to re-edit and rewrite everything for the ebook version, that issue was addressed directly, and I made an entire extended scene that wasn't there before, explaining how that was possible and was even able to have a bit of fun with it. Multiple characters were involved, details were added, and the touch up helped me to expand on the story in a way that made more sense, all while connecting the scene beforehand to the scene afterward on the roof. I felt it was a great improvement without really scrapping the scene entirely or taking that character out of it completely. The original heart and soul of that scene remains in tact, but I was able to go back and polish it up a bit so it reads better, and (hopefully) works to keep from taking readers out of the moment. I guess it's the Snyder cut! Another ebook that I put out, "GFD: Nightfall", I was originally happy with how it turned out on the site. However, as I was going through it all for the ebook version...I had this feeling that the ending was really 'anti-climactic'. So, I took some much needed extra time to put a MUCH better experience together in my head for the grand finale, added details, increased the tension, and really worked hard to make sure that the end of the book was bringing the kind of sparks and fireworks that a story like that needed to have to go out with a bang. So the conclusion was a much bigger production than what I had initially written, and now I believe it reads a lot better. You might be surprised how many ideas can pop up when you're re-editing your older stories. It's crazy. Other reasons to revise my own stories? Some of them I've been writing for many years, and the world has changed a lot since then. Certain pop culture references may not be valid anymore. Certain technologies have come and gone since then. There just has to be a way to keep the story cohesive, and make sure that chapter two or three can match up with chapter twenty or thirty and not have the differences be so blatantly obvious. I have a young cousin that I look after from time to time, and he wanted to watch "The Ring". (He likes horror movies too) And while I think he 'gets' the idea of a VHS tape playing a movie...the first time he saw the static on the TV...he was like, "What is that?" I mean, he barely sees the use for a physical DVD or BluRay disc anymore...so a VHS tape is a totally foreign concept to him. And I have some older stories that fall into that same category. I have a story where two boys meet while searching for movies at a video rental store, or at an arcade in the mall, or they work in a CD store...and sometimes you have to update your references to make your stories more contemporary. (Or make the decision to make the story a 'retro' tale and place the events back in a past era) Whatever your reason may be to look back at your past works as an author, and decide to give them a little gloss and a little grace that they didn't have before...I suggest that you use it as an exercise to dive into every now and again, just to help you learn how to spot missed opportunities or add flair and details to scenes that might have seemed awesome at the time, but could still be taken to the next level. That in no way means that your original work was bad or that anything was wrong with it, but as a writer, if you're doing things right, you're learning and growing with every new project that you put out there. You learn how to phrase things differently, how to get more comfortable with your dialogue, how to better express yourself. And this is a GOOD thing! A great thing! It's not just mechanics and formatting. Read what you wrote on an emotional level and concentrate on how you can add a little extra flavor to the parts that you think need it the most. Take a look back at who you were, and appreciate the journey that led you to where you are now. That being said, I'd like to leave you guys with this fun little video of a college Froshman watching an old video of his high school Froshman self, leaving himself a message for his 18th birthday in the future. Just remember, we all grow and change over time, and if you have any projects that you think could be just a LITTLE bit better...then go for it. Why not? You're the author. You've got all the magic in the world in the palm of your hands. So give it a shot! Remember...looking at your own work and seeing room for improvement is not a criticism...it's a challenge. Step up and let the audience see what you're made of. I hope this helps! Give your writing skills a bit of exercise, and have a blast, guys! 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. Maybe I'm missing something here. Enjoy! This week's Short Gay Film - "Morning Announcements"

Today, I got this from Youtube. And all of the short gay teen films that I saved and liked for you guys...are gone now. Just gone. No warning. NOT porn, NOT abuse, NOT overly graphic or inappropriate (I mean, it was on Youtube...all I did was save it and share it with you. It's not like I was making porn flicks in my basement or anything.) This was the email that I received for my 'evil' ways... "Hi ComicalityShack, Our team has reviewed your content, and, unfortunately, we think it violates our child safety policy. We've removed the following content from YouTube: Playlist: 'Gay Like Me' Strike 1 We know that this might be disappointing, but it's important to us that YouTube is a safe place for all. If content breaks our rules, we remove it. If you think we've made a mistake, you can appeal and we’ll take another look. Keep reading for more details. How your content violated the policy All content that depicts physical, sexual, or emotional mistreatment of minors, or that contains titles, descriptions or other metadata of this nature, including aggregation within a playlist, is prohibited on YouTube. This may include, but is not limited to, content featuring minors engaging in provocative dancing, dares, challenges, and harmful or dangerous activities, such as fighting, child abuse, or inappropriate content targeted at minors." So just know that being a gay teen is now considered 'dangerous' and unsafe. Anybody who tries to make you feel normal or accepted or attempts to make *ANY* short films that speak to you as though you were a regular human being and not some animal that should be smothered in shame and self loathing...is no longer allowed. Just thought you should know. And while about ten years worth of heart warming gay films have been snapped out of existence as though Thanos had done it himself...I plan to keep posting those heartwarming gay teen films right here, and keeping my vow to all of the young gay teens that I promised to help out from the very beginning. I've never once posted anything inappropriate or unwatchable on my Youtube site. Never once in almost ten YEARS of it being online! So they're full of shit. The powers that be may not understand...but not a single one of us ever asked them to. Just leave us alone! Stop picking out random 'targets' and 'scapegoats' and punishing people for no reason! Now being open about being gay is endangering children who might already be gay? No. I don't accept that. Not at all. WEEKLY Gay teen films will be posted here starting tomorrow! And they will be the SAME exact gay teen films that I shared with each and every one of you on that exact same playlist! You tell ME if they seem unsafe or abusive or a 'mistreatment of minors' when you watch them! How about that? You be the judge. Feel free to tell me what went off the rails here. I'm not going to let their bullshit shame us anymore. Those pieces of shit will just have to deal with it. Seezya soon! EVERY Wednesday is now "Gay Like Me" Day from now on! Look for it! Bunch of BITCHES!!! Fuck 'em all! 😠

I've been wondering for a while now how I would adjust to things going back to normal. To be honest, I think I would still be a little bit hesitant, even if everyone started saying that it was 'safe' to just go back to work, to restaurants, to parties, to school, etc. Honestly, we've been lied to soooo much fort he sake of rich people wanting to keep being rich...that I don't know if I could trust anything other than the numbers of people who are still getting sick and dying on a daily basis. "Just go back and live your life again. It'll be fine." Says the millionaire broadcasting from his private studio in the basement of his house with access to nearly infinite healthcare options. I lost a good friend of mine to this. She got sick one day, and two weeks later she was gone, leaving her husband and kids behind. None of us could even go to the funeral because of the pandemic. I had to watch it online. Maybe this thing is no big deal to people who refuse to wear a face mask for fifteen minutes while they shop for their groceries at Whole Foods or whatever...but to me? I take it personally. I've had a few scares within my own family. I've had my relatives catch it, and I've had to babysit their kids so they'd be ok. My uncle (Who thankfully survived) had to be rushed to the hospital when he had trouble breathing. My mom's little brother. Do you have any idea what that does to you? Thinking that the last time you saw someone close to you...might actually be the LAST time you see them ever? We couldn't go to the hospital. Couldn't even call because they took his phone. This is a serious situation. And I've had a lot of near misses since it began. It's a helpless feeling. It really is. So, after living with that for a year now...I can't say that I could go back to regular 'life' without some apprehension for quite some time. I mean, eventually, the fear will fade and my precautions will relax a bit...but it's not like Covid-19 is just going to just disappear. Or the flu. Or the Chicken Pox. The Black Plague, Ebola, and Malaria, are still out there. And even if they were all cured and eradicated tomorrow...you still have heart disease and cancer to worry about. But you can't live life being worried about that stuff 24 hours a day. You just can't. At some point, we've all got to move on and get our lives back on track. But I will definitely be one of the ones who will be taking their time integrating myself back into my every day life. That's just the honest truth. I haven't been all that freaked out by the quarantine. At home, I've got this laptop, my stories, music, movies, video games, food in the fridge, and a steady supply of alcohol! Hehehe! Exactly where is it that I NEED to go??? Maybe I'm just not one of the 'outdoor' kids. And all of my closest friends are back in Chicago, so I can only talk to them online or on the phone anyway. So life has been pretty normal for me, personally. I do understand the desire to get out and go be social and gather in large groups and all...but not at the risk of your health and potential survival. That's crazy to me. That's like angrily storming out of the house and demanding that you be allowed to go to somebody's birthday party during a friggin' TORNADO!!! Like...WTF are you doing? There will be more birthday parties. Maybe you skip this one? Maybe? No? Well...alright. Good luck. So, as much as I'd love to go back to the mall and see fireworks on the 4th and take my mom out to a nice restaurant for her birthday...I think it will take some time. Call it Pandemic PTSD. Let me take a few weeks, maybe even a few months, to get used to shoulder-to-shoulder crowds again. Then I'll be fine.

Hehehe, did you see this one? LOL! I totally believe this conspiracy theory!