C James

Congratulations, and welcome to the Millennium Club!!!! Thank you for being a great member of our forums!!!

Shadowgod's story threads, including "Shot of Bourbon" and "Living in Surreality" have been moved to his hosted forum Go say Hi!

Please welcome Shadowgod to his new forum! Congratulations, Shadowgod, you have been one of my favorite writers for years, and I'm thrilled to see you hosted.

I use a sort of "hybrid" approach too. I start with an outline of major plot points. For a serial, I tend to be writing about two chapters at once, piecemeal. On rare occasion I write a chapter linearly, but that's the exception rather than the rule. I do have a plot, BUT, I sometimes change aspects of it on the fly. In many cases the end of the story is what I write first; in the case of my current serial, the epilogue was the first thing written. For short stories, I need to know the ending before I write it, so I often write the ending first. I am also very comfortable writing multiple stories at once (today for example I've worked on a serial chapter for two different serials, plus a short story). My motto is; if it works for you, it's right. CJ

ROFL!!! Or, for an allusion to another TV show, one that features a 1969 Dodge Charger, what if the sheriff turns to Thaddeus and mutters "I never should have married your fat sister..." Let's just hope none of eat the chapter. But don't most places have office dress codes? No discriminations here! All the four-footed are very welcome! I think the upcoming one in FTL might provide a better eyeful. Uhoh. OK, this isn't an access issue, I've checked, and you aren't the first to report it. Could you, or anyone who is having this problem, please do me a huge favor and grab a screen shot of the error message, and also please let me know what operating system and browser this occurs in? Thanks for the pic repost!! But, um, I thought it was only your heart that was black?

Thanks Graeme! I'll see what I can do with that "now", because it felt a little odd to me too. Thanks Jack! I can't be too specific about the isolation; that's covered early in Ch 1, which will be posted at the same time as the final version of this. It's peripherally related to the second highlighted sentence, but more of a contributing factor. In answer to your question about dreams, the answer is yes. That's part of the story too. (Chapter one gets into that). I can say that the "formless" part was my was my way of saying that he had no real plans regarding how to become a model, just hopes (dreams) that he'd be discovered. Those are not his only dreams, however. Maybe it was the wrong way of doing it, but I kept the background info very limited in the prologue, using generalities and hints mainly to intro one of the protagonists (there are several), so that we know something went badly wrong for him, but not what. What I was trying to do was show this particular protagonist, where he's at, and what his past has done to him, without having to go through all that detail first. I can then reveal it during the story itself, having intro'd a main protagonist first. If I'd just done it linearly, without a prologue, I think it would have been a boring Ch 1 in this case as I'd have needed to write it quite differently. So, this being a prologue, the style is a little different, much more vagueness and allusion rather than specifics. That's what I was hoping, anyway (fingers crossed)

You raise a very good point. I did overdo it with the reader-teasing there. I was trying to avoid revealing Eric's parentage and the data stick contents in one chapter, so I put the initial revelation in the chapter break. I've only done the "narrator being unforthcoming" bit once before in FTL, waaaay back in Ch 3: (So I'm not surprised that it appeared incongruous, due to the elapsed time) Steve filled me in on his plan, finished by rubbing his hands together, vengeance on his mind. I told him "Yeah, sounds like a plan. That would sure solve our problems. I'm in." and then let the plan (the "dead mean tell no tales" hanging threat) itself play out in the next chapter. You also raise a good point on Eric; Thadeus and the sheriff are indeed brothers-in-law; so Eric is not, actually, a blood relative of the sheriff. Eric didn't call the sheriff "uncle", those were Mr. Williams' words, but I'll clarify that in CH 29. Also, this does make my "Blood is thicker than water" usage a stretch, I admit, because Eric and the sheriff aren't actually blood relatives. I can't comment on point #2 due to fear of your spines. Well, okay, I guess I can drop a few hints... OUCH!, hey, watch the spines! they won't be spoilers, honest! The "thousands of..." is accurate and a major clue. Of course, Chris could have been about to say "Ones and zeros, its a binary data storage device after all". Seriously though, the "thousands of..." really is a big clue, and the contents are revealed in full in Ch 29.

I feel there may be some confusion here... Emoe is the last name of the Fundamanralist preacher (and criminal conspirator) in my story. EMoe is my editor. Please note that the names are NOT the same. (small m vs. Capitol M). I'm sure that the similarities are purely coincidental. Of course, clarity is not aided by the fact that my editor seems to have a penchant for misspelling his own name. And EMoe (See, spelled correctly...) What a thing to say about Eric! Oh, and regarding Blackheart, the key word there is yet

That was a nasty close call, but I'm sure glad to hear that things are looking up for you! And aren't those skeeters the state bird? I'll bet they are real Texas-sized mosquitoes.

No, no, I've informed no one that Shadowgod is from outer space. I've merely claimed all along that there is a hidden sci-fi element in LiS (remember that dream sequence!?!?!? That was the first proof of it...). On the fact that Shadowgod is from outer space, i have remained silent. However, now that you have discerned his true nature, I guess his secret is out...

Signing up is not mandatory, nor is it binding, but it does help give us an idea how many will be participating. The theme is "The Rainy Day" And the guidelines are pinned at the top of the Anthology forum. I'll add my own name to the list for this one, at least I'll try to have something to submit. CJ

ROFL! Yes indeed, and given that it's amazing that he didn't turn out to be a bad guy himself. I once read somewhere that a writer should endeavor to make his editor feel like part of the story... But, Emoe should be thankful, he could have ended up with Blackheart's role.

Hehehehe... What? Me? Evil? Yep, Ch 28 was an effort to "get the reader's Goat" but there are real revelations in there too. For example, Eric really is a bastard, in the literal if not the figurative sense. Now we know why the Williams went away; she dragged Mr. Williams to a counseling center to tell him the news.

Before anyone lynches me for the "Data Stick Shuffle", I will say that the contents are revealed to the readers in full in FTL Ch 29. (no tricks this time). Quite some time ago, the point was raised (By Graeme, I think) that it was incongruous that a gang of criminals would accept a teen into their midst as they did Eric. The short-term "explanation" in the text was that he was providing info from the LVPD, but, now we know the real reason; It's a family affair! And yes, the "thousands of" is an important clue. There is other foreshadowing in the chapter, too.

The plot against Adrien was utterly hilarious! Can't wait to see how that pans out. I predict dire fallout as a result of the drunken 4, and the comments about the politics hit just the right note with me; great realism in that.

Thanks Conner! I couldn't resist the "got her goat" line. One other important bit of info in the chapter; we now know who Eric's real father is. Oh, and a comment from GRaeme on the last chapter; I can offer no other explanation other than Graeme is psychic; Dex didn't run out of $$$, but he got the rest spot-on (and this chapter was already back from Emoe before Graeme made that comment, so i didn't just copy the idea).

I have no objection to being kept an eye on, I just don't want to become lunch. Chapter 28, "Data Stick Shuffle", is up! Enjoy!

Thanks Conner! Sorry, no pool in the theater... But, there are pools in the story. Wow, thanks Ethan!! Sympathy for Gabe. eh? OK, does anyone see any problems, things they don't like, etc?

Ahh, but there is a goats-only forum! You just aren't allowed in there. You lack the prerequisite number of feet. There is an old saying: Be careful what you wish for, because you might just get it. The prologue for "Let the Music Play" is up in the sneak-peeks forum. The genre, BTW, is action/adventure though it is quite different from FTL. :nuke: WARNING: :nuke: This is unedited, un-betad, un-proofread, un-anythingd. Criticisms are very welcome.

Below is the draft Prologue (It became chapter one, and the story is now online here) to my next serial, "Let the Music Play". I must warn everyone; this is unedited, un-betad, un-proofread, so it is very much a draft. The Genre is primarily "adventure". I plan on posting the early chapters of "Let the Music Play" beginning in a few weeks, alongside the final chapters of my current serial "For the Love". Criticism is VERY welcome. CJ Let the music play Prologue The first sign of trouble came in the form of a muffled snap as the speaker, accompanied by its mounting bracket, came crashing down from the scaffolding. Brandon felt more than heard the sharp thud as it smashed onto the stage less than a dozen feet from where he stood. He turned in time to see the last skittering components of what, moments before, had been an expensive speaker come to a standstill. Sudden, overwhelming silence, the calm before the inevitable storm, was soon shattered by Gabe

Banned or prohibited, yet? Awww, what discrimination I face! It's not easy being a goatwriter... Condors are, fortunately for me, mainly scavengers of carion. In other words, very big vultures. I've only seen a Condor in this area once, though it was easy to distinguish; the biggest birds we normally have around here are Eagles, which only have a wingspan of about 6 or 7 feet (2 meters for our foreign contingent. ) The Condor has about a 10-ft wingspan, (over 3 meters) so nothing else is quite that big. Condors are very odd birds... But, they are called the California Condor, so some weirdness is to be expected. Now, now, goat-hunting is beneath a great raptor such as yourself! Surely you would prefer more challenging prey, a 747 perhaps? BTW, Due to my looming vacation in next week, Chapter 28 won't be posted at midnight tonight (monday, Arizona time) becuase it will be posted on Tuesday afternoon (the exact time depends on work, which I cannot predict, sorry). The double-length chapter, #29, will be posted Wednesday, June 6th. (Emoe and Bondwriter willing, that is, as I don't have it back yet) In further story news, I'll resume posting on a regular schedule when I return (so the hiatus should be under two weeks) and shortly thereafter I'll start posting, alongside the final 5 chapters of FTL, the first chapters of my next serial, "Let the Music Play". LTMP is very different in many ways to FTL, though it is still an action/adventure.

I'm very relieved! Thank you, Ieshwar! Yes, there is a reason I wear sunglasses.

Awww, me, grasping at straws? No so, my dear shadowy one! After all, I could always point out the biggest flaw in your Quarry; true, it could have water if the water table were high enough, BUT, been as it is located in SoCal it couldn't: Surely the fire and brimstone would make it all evaporate? And of course, you do portray your characters as driving from place to place, in complete defiance of the know fact that all of SoCals roads are so clogged with traffic that they are impossible to drive on! Tsk Tsk! Lets not forget Earthquakes, too... It's one thing to have the earth move in your stories, but not literally! Hrm, and don't forget, everyone from Southern California is crazy!

Just tell them that if they are so opinionated on what the subject should be, they should either write what they want themselves, or shut up.

Ch 14 is up! Wow, that was a lulu, a real roller-coaster. I had no idea anything was wrong until the "shattering shivers". Jack, that scene gave me goosbumps. Very well done, and a real heart-breaker. Loved the bit with Rachel's birthday! That was great!