C James

Perhaps insanity is required? That would explain why I can do it... Seriously though: sorry to hear that. I know that I'd miss out on a lot of fine stories if I couldn't.

I think I like really short hair as much as you like long hair! I also guess it depends on the definition of "long". I usually don't like hair much below the shoulders, but I've seen a few (very few) guys with hair down to the middle of their backs that looked good that way. Whenever I encounter a physical characteristic that is a "turn-off" for me, I usually just do a mental edit and imagine them the way I'd prefer. For example, if the story is about young teens, I imagine them at around 17 or 18, as anything younger just isn't my preference (no offence to anyone, just my own quirk).

I hope I don't get in hot water for posting this, as I'm not supposed to be able to read here let alone post here (I think a glitch during the main board redesign let me in) but I wanted to chime in on this thread. I'm attempting to get started in the world of online writing. I've sent in a submission for the summer anthology, and I have a couple of multi-chapter stories underway (just a few chapters of each, so far) that no one has seen. Therefor, this topic is of extreme interest to me. I was originally planning on the e-fiction route, but I will definitely add Nifty to that. I've learned a lot from the suggestions above, as indeed I have from the other threads here (especially the chapter length one! That solved a major problem for me!). However, one issue I don't see addressed directly is whether or not to have a Yahoo group (for Authors without a forum)? Is it advisable? I've heard that several of the top authors here had Yahoo groups prior to becoming hosted at GA (hence, my curiosity). Or, would a thread in the story cafe be a better option (for readers mainly from Nifty)? Or would both be better? Ugh, I've just realized that it's rather silly of me to ask a question here, as I'm unlikely to be able to get in again to see any replies. However, this might be of interest to others, so I'll post this anyway. I'd also like to say "Thanks!" to everyone posting in this forum, for all the great advice on writing that I've found in the various threads. CJ

My own two cents worth: I can see why this needed to be done, due to the increasing number of forums. It's a slight inconvenience (all of one click) but it does make the main board a little easier to navigate. One thing that I'd like to see (but would probably be too difficult to implement) would be a way for the user to sort the forums.

I'm glad that you were able to recover your data. OK, I'll add my comments, but please take whatever I say with a HUGE grain of salt, as I'm basically in the same boat you are. I decided to "test the waters" and submit a story for the anthology. I want to see what the response is, as a gauge of whether I'm on the right track or not, and to get as much constructive criticism as I can. You might try that, or perhaps the E-fiction area, and see what happens?

I like most of your predictions! I don't know if Ryan will have his breakdown (or whatever form his realization takes) in CH23, as LB might stretch it out to the following chapter or further... I think you are right about Cody and Toby... Totally agreed that Connor probably isn't over his attack. I think you have that spot-on. I wonder how LB will portray that aspect (if he does)? LB hasn't, so far, given us cut-and-dried explanations of the psychology at play here, and that IMHO is one of the things that makes the story so realistic. In real life, you often don't get to find out the underlying causes of psychological trouble, and rarely know the exact reasons behind someone else's problems (as, indeed, they often don't know themselves). I hope that you are right and that I am wrong, but given Ryan's recent behavior, plus the set-up of him being the only Donor match known, I suspect trouble is afoot in that department. Just a hunch on my part. I see your point with the lyrics, but right now Ryan IMHO isn't behaving rationally. We did see some appropriate behavior when Maggie called from the hospital, but that was the exception rather then the rule.

ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I suppose this is my comeuppance for predicting that DIR 15 would contain words? BUT, I really, really like your prediction that a new chapter will get posted this weekend! Given that DK is traveling, I had my doubts on that. (and, of course, if you happen to be wrong, you know I'll never let you live it down, right? )

I've long had a serious interest in geopolitics, and history is part of that. I'm not really knowledgeable at all about knives, nor about martial arts. My knowledge of the Ghurkas (and thus their knives) is from reading about the 18th century wars in the area. The Ghurkas and the British (actually, the East India Tea Company) fought a war, and though the Ghurkas lost, they so impressed the British that Nepal (the ruling family is Gurkha) became the UK's oldest ally in the region, and to this day the British Army has Ghurkas as both soldiers and officers. I often read the english-language version (online) of local papers worldwide, as that IMHO is the best way to acquire a good "ground truth" feel for the area, and see things from their perspective. I'm not really up on the 18th century weaponry, though. I am much more familiar with modern weaponry, mainly US and Russian, with a prime focus on aerospace weapons systems (such as aircraft, tactical and strategic missiles, and their associated countermeasures). I have an interest in physics which comes in handy for this. As for travel: I describe myself as a travel addict. So far, I've traveled extensively on every continent except Antarctica. I enjoy "off the beaten path" destinations the most, such as Ushuaia, Argentina (on the southern shore of Terra Del Fuego) and I especially liked the Falkland Islands. In the far east, I think I enjoyed Macao the most (back when it was Portuguese), Though I also greatly enjoyed Korea, Hong Kong, and the Indian Ocean coast of Thailand. I've been to China but I wouldn't rank it among my favorite places. I've only changed planes in Taiwan, but it is somewhere I'd like to see. In Europe I've traveled a great deal (including living there for a while), and have seen some of Eastern Europe too. Tallin, Estonia is among my favorites, though St. Petersburg Russia was another. In Western Europe there are too many to pick from, but a highlight has to be Gibraltar. When I present my passport at customs, I often get some very interesting questions regarding some of the stamps in it. LB, sorry for blathering about myself on your blog... I hope all is going well with your new car, and your situation with your folks.

It depends... "Curly" could have many connotations: It might be slightly curly, or it might be tightly curled. My own preference is for the former, not the latter, but I prefer anything to the "buzz cut" very short hair that a lot of gay guys seem to wear. But, if Luke wants to change his hairstyle, what about long hair? I've always liked long hair...

I read it, and found it extremely thoughtful and wise! The person below me has never visited the GA blog section.

Anyone have any predictions for chapter 3? My guess is that we don't get to meet Billy just yet. Something will go wrong with the "family reunion", delaying it for a while... My hunch is that it will have something to do with Demi's contract being bought by Tremaine.

Based on the events of Ch 22, does anyone have any predictions for Ch.23? My predictions for what will happen in Ch 23 are: Connor starts to think about "moving on" from Ryan, possibly due to temptations from their Cody or Ben. Ryan sinks even deeper due to whatever is wrong with him, and balks (at least at first) at being Toby's donor. Maggie finally reaches her limit, and reads Ryan the riot act.

I stand corrected! :: But the knives are still really cool ... I have a 6" and a 24" ... not replicas, either, but the real thing. Quite expensive, too. Those do sound cool! The Gurkha knives (Kurkis) are very famous, and rightfully so. BTW, you want to talk about arguing with the parents? I was in Nepal with mine, and wanted to buy an absolutely beautiful handmade 18" Kurki, complete with Karda, for $30!!!!! (today it would be far, far more, especially to get here!) Mom had a fit: she was sure I'd get arrested if I tried to bring it through customs! (she was wrong). I was 19 at the time, but they had paid for the trip, so I gave in and didn't buy it. A decision I'll always regret. Since then, I've even bought double-sprung stilettos (the blade both extends and retracts at the push of a button) overseas, and customs didn't take them off of me (I sorta forgot to declare them.. ) One that I picked up in Thailand is disguised as a fountain pen, and has a 6' blade. My favorite gadgets were some I saw (but did not buy) in the bazaars of Northern Pakistan: concealed firearms of every conceivable design! Pens, lighters, etc, etc, etc. VERY clever. Even a knife with a single-shot derringer built into the haft! Of course, I wasn't about to try and get those through customs, so I didn't buy any, but they were great to see.

I can certainly sympathize. When I came back from living in Europe, I moved in with my parents for a while, until I could go back to college. They played a great many control games, and even attempted to give me a curfew! (9pm!). Needless to say, we had many fights. It was probably a bit easier for me, though, as my moving back in was their idea, and had a definite end point (my return to college six weeks later). I hope things smooth out for you soon. Congrats on the new car, too!! Ummmm, one thing I wanted to comment on... OK, now, I know it's probably not a good idea to correct a Buddha, especially when said Buddha now lives on the same landmass that I do, AND is a black belt and happily acquiring weaponry... So I shall take a slightly different tack... LB, you have, um, perhaps slightly misspelled the homeland of the Gurkhas. It's spelled N-E-P-A-L, not Burma (or as Burma is known today, Myanmar). They are a very interesting people, and Gurkhas have been in the British regular army (not mercenaries) as both soldiers and officers since about 1820. They do indeed make very fine knives.

I'm Dyslexic, but I read in a weird way (even for Dyslexics): I taught myself to read before I began "real" reading lessons in school (they started in first grade in my school). I don't read word by word, but rather phrase by phrase, a sort of speed-reading technique (I just stumbled into it, as I had no idea how it was "supposed" to be done). This method works very well for me, but it certainly has it's drawbacks! For one thing, I'm the worst proofreader on the planet. When I see "unique" words, such as what you mention, it throws me for a loop. I can't read it without tremendous effort. This is a pet peeve of mine, too. I'd assumed that it was just a difficulty for Dyslexics, but this indicates otherwise. For me, it's the hardest when the names begin with the same letter and are also similar sounding.

Would you by and chance be the same Journeyman who wrote "Journey of Love" that appeared on the Eggman's old site? If so, you certainly have experience in writing characters with psychological depth and also a few psychological problems. I agree with all of the above, except for a slightly different take on Mikey: I'd say that Mikey still has the potential to be a real crisis (or major stress, I suppose) for Ryan, if Ryan feels guilt over the way he behaved towards his best friend. Having guilt towards the dead is an entirely different matter than to the living IMHO, as it is by it's nature unresolvable. What an interesting question! I hope that LB will at some point (perhaps after the story is over?) discuss it. I've heard many writers mention this situation before. Personally, I never beleived it, until I tried writing. totally agreed. Is Ryan actually on meds right now? Or, more to the point, is he SUPPOSED to be on meds (and perhaps isn't taking them?)? Or, my own hunch: He *is* on ADD meds, and that is the cause of his problem! ADD meds can have some nasty side effects, including psychosis, depression (to the point of suicide) manic behavior, etc. Some are extreme stimulants such as Dexedrine. Dexedrine is nasty stuff; it's full chemical name is Dedextroamphetamine. Starting to sound familiar? That's because it's an Amphetamine, like methamphetamine (Known as Meth or Speed). Dexedrine is a commonly abused drug (Take a guess where the name for the band "Dexy's midnight runners" came from). The big problem here is that in many cases, the "cure" is worse then the "disease" for ADD. A huge problem is that most ADD meds are prescribed by family physicians! GP's are NOT psychiatrists, and have no business prescribing psychiatric meds! Unfortunately, many GP's seem to assume their competence in many specialty fields, and disaster often results. So, I'm wondering if this could be a big part of Ryan's problem? If so, he's a definite suicide risk.. He's also a candidate for becoming violent. Edit to add: This is the 62nd post in this thread. Add to that the 28 in the Ch 22 pre-realease thread, and you have 90 posts for chapter 22.

That is very, very true IMHO. It's all too easy to expect Teens to act like adults, but most don't. The way LB writes them is very consistent with real teens, especially their inconsistencies. What? Derick/Ethan is now going to be Derick/Ethan/Jason? BTW, Kitty, if you find yourself truly in need of some typos, bad grammar, and other boo-boos, let me know and I'll send you the unedited draft of the story "No shirt? No problem!". It's got a lifetime supply! Good point! Real people indeed do, especially under stress, act in ways that they otherwise would not. One thing that IMHO makes the characters in SOOTB so real is that LB often seems to give them quirks and flaws, and occasional bad traits, without explaining in detail why. I think this works so well because real people are like that. We usually don't know every single reason why a real-live person is the way they are, so why should we in a story? I know that I have a tendency to do very stupid things when I'm faced with stress. Fortunately for me (but not those around me) this usually does not directly relate to the stress itself, but more often comes out in other ways. For example, I was recently under a fair amount of stress due to wildfires. I live in a remote area in the mountains, and there is only ONE way in and out (several miles of extremely rough Jeep trail). In other words, I can very easily get trapped by fire, as well as lose my home. A few weeks ago The conditions were perfect for wildfires, and we were having dry lightning in the area. This caused me a lot of stress, but there wasn't a darn thing I could really do about it. That caused me to act stupidly in some ways unrelated to the danger. As for the story, there certainly has been no lack of stress! I'm just hoping that one of the characters doesn't do something irredeemable and unforgivable as a result. One thing that is really making me wonder what will happen in Ch 23 is the mention that Ryan is the donor match for Toby. With Ryan acting like he is, and the hard feelings there (especially if he thinks Connor and Toby are together), could he refuse to be the donor?

That sounds rather ... Egyptian. Ancient Egypt, that is. King Tut, and all that. Hmmm... Good point.. And it's also darn hard to spell. Fortunatly, however, there is an easy answer to this dilemma! He's no longer in TW, so we could call him "The Artist formerly known as LittleBuddhaTW."

IMHO, a big part of this story is the theme of change: Connor is changing, as are all the other characters. Who would have thought, early in the story, that Connor would fight back against a bully, let alone win? Who would have thought that he would end up being the "rock" for so many of the others? Change can be bad, too. Who would have thought (in the early chapters) that Ryan would act like he has been lately? Just like real people: they change. That's the only thing you said that I take issue with: Please don't! I for one very much enjoy your posts. OK, the longest prior thread was 59 posts. this one is in the upper 40's last time I looked, so it should be easy to do (even if we somehow stay on topic!). Don't be silly! Everyone knows that they were busy installing good ventilation (screen doors) on those submarines! Wow, even a Goat can have a good point! I think you have hit the nail on the head: IMHO, when someone has Connor's past, or similar, they often have self-esteem issues. ADD alone wouldn't cause Ryan's problem, but it certainly would make it easier for him to have his problems. One of the "coping" responses to having ADD is best described as an addiction to focus: the person tends to fixate on tasks or concerns one at a time as a way of coping with the distractive nature of ADD. I see some of this in Ryan, especially in the reluctance to deal with the unexpected. However, I think you are right: there are deeper issues than ADD at play here. Just a thought: but we know that the end of SOOTB is fast approaching, just three more chapters IIRC. The story so far has IMHO largely been based around Ryan and Connor's relationship. What if the end of the story is due to the final end of that relationship (Connor moving on, or maybe Ryan's death?)? Just a thought. I suspect a real train wreck. Ryan will have a LOT of issues to face if he ever snaps out of this. Mikey's death, Toby's near death, Connor, etc, etc. Add to that the possibility that Ryan will refuse to be Toby's donor, and you have the recipe for disaster.

Howdy, Goat! What? Me, give Goats a good name? Nah, no fear of that with you around as a counter-example! ROFL! I recall reading some comments by Robert H. Heinlein quite a few years ago, where he gave an example of using incongruous words to that effect. His example was "the door dilated." I know this isn't quite the same thing, but it's what it reminded me of. That sounds like a good idea!!!! OK, so far, we have Lomex and Gospodin, and I think others that I can't recall offhand...

Or Northern Ireland, where the conflict is still simmering, or a host of other places with religious feuds dating back centuries. I see your point, but IMHO a better solution would be to fore all religions to recognize the fact that belief is an individual matter, and cannot be forced, in total or in part, on others. The idea of any religion, extant or hypothetical, being global (and thus mandatory) scares the heck out of me. I wonder if we will get a glimpse of life under the prophet in future chapters of DoH? Good point, I didn't know that... Thanks!

Happy Birthday!!! And thank you very much for all the great reading!

I hereby officially propose that Little Buddha's new Acronym be: LittleBuddhaTRIHPHOTESOTUS (Little Buddha Temporarily Residing In His Parents' Home On The Eastern Seaboard Of The United States) Welcome home, LBTRIHPHOTESOTUS!

Yes! Oh, you probably wanted a longer answer? Ok, in my case, there are several things in the story that really hit home on a personal level. Dealing with people who are having emotional withdrawal and denial is definitely one of them. Medical issues are another. Connor's fight with Trent Lomax bought back some good memories for me, and his attack in Ch 11 bought back some bad ones. It's definitely been a roller-coaster!! I know I keep repeating myself about this, but this story has incredible depth. Further, one very unique thing about this story (IMHO) is that, just like real life, not everyting is significant or clear-cut. For example, let's look at LB's post below: OK, like many things in the story, it appears that Connor's reaction to Maggie was not particularly significant. There does seem to be a long-running undercurrent of Connor having difficulty relating to female parental figures, but given his history, that's hardly surprising. What I'm trying (and doing badly) to get at here is that in a great many stories, everything is clear-cut, and if a character acts in a certain way it's highly significant. In SOOTB, though, there are many instances where things are not cut-and-dried, which IMHO makes it far more "real", because life is like that. A good example would be Mikey: we still don't know exactly what happened, which is just what would happen in real life in most cases.

To avoid any confusion, I thought I'd mention that Vance's story page is VLista on the hosted authors' menu.