C James

I don't see it as a cliffhanger at all. Eric was leaving, and the guys were unharmed, just soaking up a few rays, working on their tans. Eric even said "Have a nice day..." Now, come on, what kind of a cliffhanger has "have a nice day" in it? Of course, it would have been a cliffhanger had I ended it when Chris passed out... But I resisted Shadowgod's influence and didn't do it. BTW, when I sent the chapter to Shadowgod for Beta, I added a lot of spaces after Chis passed out, and had just the words "The End" in there. Steve! What must I do to convince you? Shadowgod is the :king: King of Eeeeevil Cliffhangers :king: and yes, he did sort of admit that LiS 26 was a cliffhanger, though how could he not? As for any that MIGHT appear in my stories, think it through... Shadowgod is the Anonymous Beta Reader. He often inserts things into the chapters. He's the :king: King of Eeeeevil Cliffhangers :king: .. So I'll leave you to figure out where any such cliifies might come from... Speaking of denial, you will note that Shadowgod has yet to fully embrace his title? So I think an intervention is definitely called for there, for Shadowgod... We might need one for Graeme, too; he seems to deny his own penchant for wicked cliffhangers (Like leaving his central character about to be rendered limb from limb).

I'd say this was a pretty darn good cliffhanger (though, I feel the need to remenind everyone; I never use them myself). My guess is; I agree with Jan, they've discovered his true age.

That's a good point... Okay, for the next anthology, we'll have the sign-up thread in the Anthology forum, with just a link here.

See? The Scar and Dimitri are good guys... Their methods might be a tad controversial, but they're just nice guys, off doing their thing... They haven't even done anything bad... (Well, unless you count that one airliner full of innocent people Dimitri brought down, but hey, nobody's perfect...) Well, sorry to dissapoint, but they do connect. Of course, I'm not saying it will be soon: it might be in the last sentence of the last paragraph, at a big concert which turns out to be a real blast... :nuke: and they band ends up going on permanent tour, carried by the prevailing winds along with the rest of the fallout... I've always believed in ending a story with a bang.

For anyone else looking, the rules and guidelines are pinned at the top of the anthology forum. Here's a link to the thread.

Oooopss... Well, Shadowgod is also the :snork: King of Eeeevil Hangovers, :snork: so it sort of relates? Actually, Graeme, I'll agree with you there; if I did indeed end a chapter with Chris passing out, then that would indeed be a cliffhanger. However, if I did not, then it proves MY point that I avoid 'em. Hint: FTL 22: "Fun in the Sun", ended with the words; Chris didn't pass out until early in Ch 23. Thank you for proving, once again, that I avoid cliffhangers.

Ack!!!!! But Steve... I never, ever use cliffhangers! In fact, I can prove my aversion to them! In FTL, after Chris blew up the Sheriff's house, I took great care to end the chapter with him almost safe... Had I ended it anywhere else, it would have been a cliffhanger... This, therefor, proves that I avoid hangovers!

Excellent chapter, Graeme! The scene with Rhys was hilarious, and also meaningful that he was willing to go. I certainly agree about reading it again once it is complete! Being "the Heart" is certainly a mixed blessing at best! Steve, I must disagree with you. The Tree is still in dire danger, so I simply must declare a cliffhanger!

Hrmmmm, well, close... But I was thinking more along the lines of Dimitri and The Scar for your new neighbors. You'd have a blast with those guys! Well, I could bring up something from the comments that I forgot to answer: The issue of Jon's "Gays are promiscuous" remark was raised. That's a good catch, and all I can say is we haven't heard the last of it.

:king: :king: :king: Happy Birthday, Ieshwar!!!!! :king: :king: :king: I hope you have a wonderful day, my friend, and an even better year!

Ayers Rock has been mentioned... So has how the two story lines interconnect... Okay, I hope the Echidna will forgive me, but here is one very possible plot outcome; The Scar's real goal is theft. He's after Ayer's rock. Now, that rock is well over a mile wide, and is even larger below ground than above, so he's got quite a job on his hands. That's why he needs to nukes; to get the thing moving. How do the storylines connect? Instinct is playing is playing to an enormous crowd in Alice Springs when the see Ayer's Rock lifting off in a glare of harsh light, over a hundred miles to the west.

Hrrrrmmmm, methinks they found something they don't like in Cray's wallet...

Oops! Sorry, I'm kind of over-tired right now, and your's quite right; Vote for Shadowgod or Graeme in the first two questions! Vote for me or undecided in the thrd! And I still suspect an antipodean conspiracy!

Awww.. Why is it that y'all our out to try and tarnish my precious reputation as a shy and quiet lurker, and now you're accusing me of using cliffhangers, too? Awww.. That's so mean...

Echidna!! Is this another attempt to steal for yourself Shadowgod's precious title ( :king: King of Eeeevil Cliffhangers :king: )? What Graeme is failing to mention is that his currents Story, "Heart of the Tree", has the central character in dire danger of being literally chapped to bits! This has been an ongoing threat, so the story is just chock full of Cliffangers! We won't even mention (well, yes, I will) poor, sweet aunt Cynthia, who suffered one lulu of a cliffhanger!@ So, it's either a choice of voting for Shadowgod, or Graeme; I'll let the readers decide. I suspect an antipodean conspiracy! Ieshwar! Most everyone knows that I never use cliffhangers! And Graeme does so use cliffhangers.. And how could you possibly think I'm evil... My stories are all sweetness and light! And Iseshwar, if you want to read a really good story, try Shadowgod's Living in Surreality, and take a close look when you do at Ch 26, then you'll come back and vote for Shadowgod, guaranteed. Or maybe Graeme.

Okay, I'm back. The Muse finally gave me a break, halfway through Chapter 14. Whew! I can't answer any questions about future events (the Echidna will make a pincushion out of me if I give any spoilers) but I see some great guesses! The title, now that I can discuss! Antici....pation. is sort of based on a song in the Rocky Horror Picture Show. I can't claim any credit for it; this one was Shadowgod's idea, and I loved it! (see? He does more than just add cliffhangers to my stories! ) And Yes, Graeme, I must agree; Dimitri is a nicy guy at heart. He's just... misunderstood. Now, I have a bit of bad news on the writing front. Prior to my writing blitz, I was having some delays due to trying to work out the detials on some plot issues. Long story short, Ch 10 went in quite late to begin the teams' work on it, and it arrived at a time when Shadowgod is swamped with his work and school (see his post in his forum about this). It's not ready yet, and I don't think it will be by Tuesday. Sorry. (I'm serious here, this isn't like my attempt last week to imply that I'd delay a chapter; this delay is real, and becuase I was running behind.) The good news is, my writing blitz has given us a cushion of chapters, so delays are less likely from now on. Now, speaking of Echidnas.... There is one thing that we could do to help and encourage poor Shadowgod, though; it seems that the Echidna, fresh from loosing his eeevill attempt to take Shadowgod's title :king: King of Eeeevil Cliffhangers :king: for himself, has launched yet another assault on Shadowgod, via another poll in poor Shadowgod's forum! So I urge you all, help defend our Anonymous Beta Reader, and go to this poll and vote for him in all three choices. If you can't find it in your heart to vote for Shadowgod, then go ahead and vote for Graeme. Just don't vote for me, becuase I can't be a party to this eeevil attempt by the Echidna to deprive poor Shadowgod of his hard-won reputation. :,( :,( :,(

Woody, welcome to the forum! I can't answer any of the question regarding what Brandon and Chase will or will not do; all I can say is, at the end of the chapter, the chapter ended. I'll reply more in this thread tomorrow, I promise, but its 4am here and I'm dead on my feet. I've been working during daylight, and writing for most of the night for two days now; I'm still on my writing blitz. I apologize for neglecting the forum for these past three days. I do read all the posts, but, I can't really explain it; Wednesday night I just got inspired on how to get write a section that had been giving me a lot of trouble, and as i wrote more inspiration hit. I wanted to spend as much time as I possibly could writing it all down before I forgot it. Since this writing started, I wrote most of chapter 11 (completing it), all of chapter 12, and I'm 2/3 of the way through 13. I also was suddenly hit by an idea for the fall anthology, which I wasn't planning on having anything ready for, but I wrote that, too. YEah, it's been one hell of a ride; I've never had a writing binge like this before. Anyway, I just wanted to say I'm sorry for neglecting the forum and this thread. I'll be back tomorrow with replies, I promise (This applies to several PM's I'm overdue to reply too, as well). I want to thank you all for the comments you've posted; I appreciate them more than I can possibly say. They are what keeps me motivated to write, and I enjoy them all, each and every one. Thank you all so much; You're the best. Your adoring fan, CJ

LoL! Wow, thanks everyone! And Bondwriter, those pics are GREAT! Sorry for my brief reply, my muse is on a rage tonight (morning now, actually) and I need to get back to writing. Thanks!! CJ

We've got just ten days left, (and a week more if you're submitting formatted HTML) so send 'em in! It's even possible to jump in at the last minute; I didn't think I'd have anything, but I might, as of a few hours ago.

Wow, everyone, thanks! I'm sorry I haven't replied to your posts yet, but I will try soon. Here's what happened; I have been fighting with Chapter eleven for days, it was only partially done (and had several false starts). Today I had a lot of real-world work to do, and once done I was tired and despairing getting any writing done at all today, when suddenly the muse struck and I went on a writing jag. I've been writing for close to 12 hours straight (well, I took a few breaks) becuase everything suddenly clicked, not just for Ch 11 but Ch 12, plus something else (More on that later). I'm not a fast typist (understatement alert) and I usually only write a thousand or so words a day. Today, I wrote considerably more than I do in a normal week and I don't think I'm done yet even though it's after 2am. So, my apologies for not replying yet, but when the Muse hits, I tend to put everything on the back burner. I've read every post (I always do) but I just haven't had chance to do my replies yet. Thanks you all VERY much, and thanks for understanding. CJ (who is off to write more before the Muse departs)

Again we agree that not everyone knows. Mea Culpa on that. The fact that not everyone knows simply cries out that we must strive to get the word out, don't you agree? Oh, and I'm shocked, shocked I tell ya, that you could possibly think that I use cliffhangers!

Actually, Graeme, I DO see your point! And in fact, I agree with it: Not everyone knows that Shadowgod is the :king: King of Eeeevil Cliffhangers :king: . Therefor, you are quite right, and it logically follows that we must strive to educate and inform people of Shadowgod's title, true? You will therefor, I feel safe in assuming, be joining me in this worthy endeavor? And I don't see it as misrepresentation; the votes are clear; Shadowgod is hereby, henceforth and forevermore irrevocably confirmed as :king: King of Eeeevil Cliffhangers :king: . I do admit I'm rather puzzled on the LiS 26 results, as I consider that Shadowgod's greatest cliffhanger, but apparently some disagree. I must therefor bow to the will of the majority and accept the fact that many consider (proven by the affirmation of Shadowgod's title :king: King of Eeeevil Cliffhangers :king: ) that some of Shadowgod's many other wicked, eeeviiil, masterful cliffhangers are considered even more of a pulse-stopping dangler. I do agree, thogh, that he doesn't use them excessively; they just pack one lulu of a punch when he does use 'em. Now, now, Bondwriter, we can't argue with the stated votes of the readers. Shadowgods title is clearly plural; :king: King of Eeeevil Cliffhangers :king: . Besides, everyone knows I never use cliffhangers.

Who? Me? Ok, big news! The "Yes" side is pulling ahead fast, and it's now 10-6 in favor of Shadowgod retaining his title! I'm expecting a concession speech from the Echidna any time now.

Steve, I'm delighted that you are going to college. I've said it before and I'll say it again; you are going the right thing.

But, but, but, I can point you to posts where I've said this before! Surely you can't doubt me so? Next you will be seeking to undermine my precious reputation as as a quiet and shy forum lurker. But surely even you couldn't be that evil?