Tiff

That's an excellent way to handle things. But first, have a really firm talk and state that you can't be friends at the moment because it would hurt you too much. Then if you're feeling humorous, moon him. Or wait awhile until you're in that "kiss my ass (moons), look at what you're missing out on, bitch!" thing.

I agree with Krista. You may not be serious with Ryan, so it doesn't seem like a big deal if you call/text less and let things die on its own. However, I get the impression he's more into you than you are him, so obviously if you dodged his calls/texts and ignored him or made excuses, he might end up getting hurt or wondering what went wrong or if it was something he did. Even with friends, I hate when they suddenly start acting cold or ignoring me. I mean, if they don't want to hang out anymore, just say so! The same goes for someone you're dating even if you're in the awkward stage. As sucky as it may be having this talk, it's the mature and honorable way to go. It will hurt less this way, being upfront and direct and he'll appreciate it, well maybe not immediately, but it's better than being brushed off. Just be honest and genuine. He can't get mad at you for feeling the way you feel. Tell him you don't feel that romantic connection and would rather be friends. I did that a few months ago to this guy. He was getting way too serious too quickly and it was freaking me out. So I had to basically tell him I wanted to be friends and wasn't ready for a serious relationship. Unfortunately we're not friends anymore, but it was better than leading him on and totally ignoring him. Don't hurt someone else because you're nervous or dreading the "uncomfortable break up" talk.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIRL! Glad you popped into GA. I've noticed your absence and the absence of your wonderful new story. But that's ok. I'm patient for the good stuff. (A dose of flattery on your birthday. My gift to you. ) Anyway, enjoy your day and hope you're having an awesome celebration with fatty cake with lots of icing, and you get loads of presents and flowers, if they're your thing; I don't buy plants or flowers because they die really quickly in my apartment. Tiffani

Rest up Krista! I know it sucks being inside the house when the weather is absolutely gorgeous. I would recommend not looking outside, that's all. Whenever I start looking at the sunshine and other people walking around, I start feeling bad about being trapped inside. So um, close your shades! Pretend it's a blizzard outside. Other than that, just enjoy lounging and being lazy. It's really a lot of fun. Be well.

Hmm, perhaps. I never considered that before. I wonder what a dark and brooding song sounds like.....I know it's off topic, but now I'm quite curious! EEK. I think I violated the HUGEST no-no ever! The switching first person POV. Back then I had no idea how to write third person without messing up the pronouns. Ah well, like I said, writing has a learning curve. I won't make that mistake again. *shrug* I can only be convinced of his non-broodingness if I see it for myself. LOL. He seems chipper most times, but his stories show a different side of him. He'll forever be dark and brooding in my mind unless he comes up with some happy cheesy story. And what are the chances of that happening?

Archer's list is good and I wish I had laid eyes on it before I started writing, but it's never too late to improve. I mean, writing is a process and you're always getting better if you work at it. Well, now I know what things to avoid. I have violated quite a few of those guidelines/rules and while I can feel crummy about it, well, it can only go up from here. On the other hand, if you do use a few of the "no-no's" that doesn't necessarily make your story crappy. If it's tied in well and works for the story, then that's that. This is just a list and doesn't have to be followed exactly. It's a great general guideline, but really, there are lots of great writers who have different ideas, styles, and ways of manipulating the scenes and plot. One author doesn't have the final say. And what if a story is good overall? Doesn't the package deal mean anything? Nothing is perfect. And people do have varied preferences. It's different, but not necessarily better than the other. There are a lot of good authors and I can't get into their work even if someone paid me! Their writing is still good, but not to my liking. Dude, I thought you said you were dark and brooding? Now you're singing in the shower? Total poser, man.

I have the same problem with changing POV. I used to be so scared of third person, but I've been practicing it a lot more these days and I'm pretty comfortable with it at this point. Occasionally when I get tired, I start inserting "I" and then it becomes a big ol' mess, but for the most part, it's consistent. Btw, Demetz, I love your dialogue. Especially the last line! Sure, it wouldn't be original, but the hilarious dialogue might be able to save the story or at least give readers a huge laugh. Entertainment is good.

Spring Break is known for being a wild week. Winter break vacations you hang out with family and go somewhere warm, but spring break is all about your friends and having a good time. It's really the only time off we get during our spring semester (second term) and college students want to make the most of it. I think all the movies we see are somewhat accurate in terms of spring break being a crazy time. In the US the legal limit is 21 and going to places like Mexico or the Bahamas or wherever else really gives us an excuse to go all out, sometimes overboard even. But like I said, it's only for one week or so; live it up! Personally, I like spring break to be relaxing, such as going to the beach, and much rather not spend the evenings or the mornings sleeping in a toilet in case I get the urge to project anything. But again, a personal preference.

I'm glad you feel inspired to write. It's amazing when that happens; when you sit down and just write endlessly. I dropped a comment in the efiction thread. So far I'm hookedon your story. You have an engaging style. You are definitely meant to be a writer, so it's good that you have plans for more works in the future. Good luck on your date : )

Hey Knight! You're going to love it here. It's the best place ever for amazing stories and amazing people. Once you get in the groove of things you'll never want to leave. It becomes another home! WELCOME! Tiffani

Isn't David Bowie married to Iman, or whatever her name is? Some African model. That doesn't mean he can't be gay, but I have never heard anything about him until I read that long list posted by old Bob.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MYR! Hope you have a great day and celebration. Don't work yourself too hard. Everyone needs a little down time, especially on their birthday. Happy feasting on CAKE!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Oh to be 21 again.... Have a great day and celebration with friends, family, and other loved ones.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Have a great day and celebration with your friends and family. The big 4-5. But at least you impart your wisdom on us.

YAY, YAY, YAY! CONGRATULATIONS CORVUS! I agree that it was only a matter of time. You've received a lot of great feedback for you writing and you're in the right direction. Keep writing! I look forward to more of your work so I can continue stalking you! Good luck with finals and in Germany!

Yup, same here. Soon as I'm on the site, I look at the feed, then I go to the forums and check for any news, whether in the announcements section or the forum thread. Not all authors post their announcement, so after dabbling in the forums here and there, I check efiction and sometimes specific authors, but usually just efiction.

I have to completely agree with Gary. Even when I started college I was never in that wild party scene and definitely prefer more quiet nights overall, so I've always had an interest in older guys. I've never had problems connecting or getting along because I guess I'm a bit old and serious at heart. I don't think age should matter at all. Initially, it might be hard to get past for some people, but if you really get along and enjoy one another's company, respect one another, and all that stuff, it really doesn't make a difference. Why go for someone your own age if you can't stand them, clash all the time, and you treat one another badly? As for muscle, reserve all that power for the engines! Balance and moderation, please, unless they are competing. I hate it when I see guys who can't put their arms to their sides, or their neck is a foot wide, or their shoulders are all the way up to their ears because of the built up muscle. Lean and tone, even on the slender side is attractive. At least for me.

At the moment, I consider my personal relationship with myself the most important. It may change as I get older, or maybe was something different in the past, but after a rough couple years, I really believe how you think of yourself, get along with yourself, handle your inner demons and such, affects your ability to connect with others or have good relationships with others. It's the whole, you can't love others until you love yourself. I kinda feel strongly about that these days. Sometimes I get so angry and frustrated with my family- especially my Dad- and my super close friends, and significant others in the past, but the one thing that keeps me sane, keeps me going, keeps me feeling confident and some hint of self-esteem or whatever is how I feel with myself and perceive myself, and all that good stuff. You know, like personal qualities and personal character. Did any of that make sense? I had a similar conversation with my mother this morning before school and then again after school, so forgive e if my thoughts are a little all over the place.

You're not racist; it is what it is. Your attraction is beyond your control and if you don't feel it for a specific race, there's nothing you can do about it. As for race, I can go for anyone, really, as long as I genuinely click with them and find them attractive by my own standards. However, I do find that I connect on a much deeper level with minorities. Asians the most, then the other miniorities (hispanics, africans). As for a person dating someone within their own race, it's natural to gravitate towards what looks and appears familar. And usually, in America, where the population is so heterogenous, well, race means a lot. You want to be with people of your own race, so you feel some sort of relativity, or you have strength in numbers. Majority vs. minority thing. I've experienced this at my last job and at school. In other countries with a more homogenous population, it's more based on socioeconomic status. I had been previously discussing this with a friend. Did you know at my college, there is literally a hispanic/african campus, a white campus, and an Asian campus. Of course there are other races mixed in, but this is generally how the makeup is. As for whites being more attractive, I blame that on the media. Whites are portrayed as being richer, smarter, and better looking. Now, on commercials and stuff, I see more variety, but in the past, everything was white. Nothing wrong with that though; but other racial groups are just as attractive. One of my friends, who lives in a third world country, says the media is so strong that he only likes white guys, and his sisters married white guys. They aren't even attracted to other Asians; it's what they were taught or what was ingrained in their heads. On the other hand, maybe you're not attracted to a specific race. Maybe it just happens that all the guys you ever dated have the same qualities and they were from the same racial group? One big coincidence? I don't know. :wacko:

I think it's possible, and it's not a bad idea. Like others have mentioned, kids learn values and views through influences- whether verbal or physical actions, or examples. A child spends most of their time at school, with friends as they get older, and adults, like teachers, parents or some other important figure in their lives. With homophobic influences, at home, or with friends, it is harder to shake it off. The pressure is overwhelming, as is the fear of standing out, which is stronger the younger we are, when everyone just wants to fit in. But with a tolerance program or something, at least students are introduced to something positive. The more people who are taught tolerance and are open to thinking outside the box so to speak, well, they can spread it around. And friends have a huge influence. Even when parents tell you something, you don't believe it, but when your friend says it, all of a sudden it makes a lot more sense. And the younger this is implemented the better. However, the attempt is what matters because if you can change one person's attitude, hopefully more, then that's all that matters. Some people are lost cases; there is no hope for them because the hate is too deep seeded or continuously pounded into them and they have nowhere to look to. We have to strive for tolerance. At my high school, we had no tolerance on a lot of things. Racial slurs, violence, abuse, gay slurs were prohibited. Sometimes I feel like my school was run by the Gestapo, but then again, there weren't many fights or problems, and everyone got along pretty well, at least to my knowledge. To the openly obvious/ out students, people talked, but didn't treat them any differently for the most part. Of couse, there are the idiotic few and well, don't dwell on them. Just look to educating the next person.

I'm the same. I rarely say it, even to family members. I'm only close to my mother, but even then, I rarely say. If I do, of course I'd mean it, but I'm also one of those who show their love, like bending over backwards to do something for someone else. For some reason, I just have trouble saying it, whether significant others, or family members.

It really depends. I'm a social drinker only. I won't drink unless I'm with a group of friends. The last time I went all out was in Vegas and I was with a friend, and jeez, it was Vegas! I guess being away and with friends, and amongst fun conversations and joking, drinking lures me in. But I dislike being drunk, or consuming the empty calories, so I try to refrain.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Cake....mmm....

Hey now, you don't need it to be your birthday to party! Just get a CD player, some jello shots, a birthday hat, and some cake, and you're good to go! (Even if it's a lame, one-man party) HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Hope you have a great celebration.

Thanks indeed! So much work was put into the anthology- all the page designs and such. Thank you, thank you, everything looks beautiful. I have to extend a special thanks to those who did the reviews! Let me tell you, reading all of them and then summarizing it in an eloquent manner is NOT easy. Summaries are me nemesis and I'd never want, nor be able to review! It was amazing how many people participated this time. It's going to continue being a busy weekend as I try to read all of them. So much talent to choose from--where to look first. :wacko: