Thirdly

I'd so be there (if you post another part or a spinoff).

I will never apologize for this. Ever. I'm also only like a quarter serious when I tell people they should have smuttier scenes. The stories don't really need the added smut. I'm just a perv.

Now, now. Don't be afraid, hermano. My comments and reviews are always my candid first impressions. Anything outside of that is just me talking out of my bum. 🤣

Holy crap! And I was still guessing all wrong left and right. 😂I also knew like 4 entries that I refused to list because they were freebies and everything! And yay, @impunity!!

And that was before I even realized it was you that wrote it. I was so freaking impressed. You do just keep reaching new heights with your writing.

Happy accidents lead to happy little trees? 😂 You can do it, Bennie.

I would squish you between my boobs whenever you want. 🤣Likely while brushing and braiding your hair.

1. What is your general timeframe from the start of a project to its conclusion? - That changes depending on the project. Even short oneshots vary. There was one I was able to crank out in a day, but another that took me months! Months! For a one-shot! OH! Did I mention how I just finished a story after 10 whole years just last week? 🤣 I didn't spend all 10 years on it; it was very much a stilted story. I had some loose notion of an ending 10 years ago, but I never went through with it. I picked it back up because I need to finish a spin-off story in that world, and then the ending turned out completely different than my first ending (and much better, in my opinion, though it's still far from perfect and is flawed up the ying-yang). Perfection is an illusion. You could have what you felt was the best-written story you've ever written before, and though you felt it was exceptional, it turns out to be a boring flop for a whole generation (or too new and riddled in modern slang to be understood by other generations, the reasons for disconnection are endless). Then, you write something you felt was "easy and quick" and that's the one that so many people love that you question why you put in so much effort in all your other stories in the first place. This happens in art, this happens in writing, this happens in music... it's all an illusion. You can't make everyone happy. Hell, you don't have to make anyone happy. Just keep making what you would want to see. (that goes for you too, @chris191070) Just keep going. Getting too wrapped up in trying to please everyone gets you stuck. And, yes, I love your side characters too much. But that doesn't mean I would rather have them be the leads. Your lead is more than fine (I'd squish him between my boobs platonically), and focusing on your lead is a great idea, though that is only my opinion and it does take two to tango, and the "two" I'm talking about don't even have to be romantically involved, it can be any and all interactions the lead has with the people around them. 2. Do you lack focus sometimes, even (or especially) when you have the time available to you? - Shiny things distract me all the time. Shiny things are distracting me this very second. You are a shiny thing. 😂 I found that when I try to create a "deadline" for myself, it sometimes helps me keep my head in the game. For example, the anthology this year is due in October, I believe. But I have surgery in October, so I knew it needed to be done before then. That helped keep me focused. But there are others that feel like deadlines are so constraining, that it'd be the opposite effect on them. 3. Do you write everything down first and then section it off into chapters, or do you build it up one chapter at a time? - I am a "hop around to different scenes" kind of writer because my memory is like Swiss cheese. If I don't jot down what comes to my head somewhere, it will be gone forever. I also have many projects and ideas, not just in the form of writing. I draw, I sew, I play music, and I game... if I don't alternate between these every now and then, I'd be filled with too much guilt when focusing on writing. Feels like I'm "turning my back" on the other parts that make me me. So, I alternate. I will never reach the highest level of any of them, but that's okay, because the more important part for me is getting it "decent/polished enough" to put it out there, any of my projects/art/videos/crafts. My biggest drive is to get things completed before I pass away and start all over again as a saxophone soloist in a Salsa band in my next life. Find what your biggest drive is. Why are you still thinking so hard about that story that you are so focused on it even when you are struggling?

So true!! 🤣

This year was such a challenge to choose. Everyone came after all my feelings with their stories. Joy, fear, sadness, anger, shock, confusion- wait, that one was only of my own doing. But, they all drew something from me! I was a wreck. And, of course, amazingly done to the winners! 🏆 🥇 🥳

So true!

And I'd have still read them. Now I'm curious to see what a Perry Mason episode written by you would look like. 🤔 I'd be zero help at this. I've been miscategorizing my work for years. Wait a minute, I have friends and family members who say similar things when they're on a manic curve. 🤔 Ink, are we related?

You are one versatile writer. My jealousy knows no bounds. 😂

And it totally showed that. Dave was the only one who tried to help him out. I was narrowing down on insignificant things on purpose. If I seriously thought those small things ruined the stories, I wouldn't have had such a hard time choosing my favorite out of all of them. They all made me feel something.

Wow. Congratulations! I'll be keeping an eye out for it. Nope. Didn't meander too much to me. I was just grasping at straws, as there was nothing in the story I didn't really enjoy reading about (even the graphic descriptions, as it totally made sense).

Like fire elemental salamanders?

No no no! Gah. I was only provoking to get different views from everyone. It was really fine as it was, I swear. Making you spiral was not my intention at all. I'd have never commented or reviewed if I didn't love it.

@kbois even admitted it was even written vague on purpose. I literally couldn't think of any way it could have been altered more to suit my tastes.🤣

Bennie, Bennie, Bennie. None of that was meant as negative, but as delusional. Just like when I claimed all stories for myself, I was commenting on how all the stories could have been altered to fit my personal agenda and preferences. And we all know if all stories were just like mine, it would be absolute chaos. Thus the disclaimer/warning and everything.

The problem is that I actually like Kyle's psychopathic behind and couldn't bring myself to kill him off even if it's pure nonsense fiction. I was joking before about not liking him. 😂

Oh no no no. That would make the cat the murderer and Kyle being the one snuffed out. That's not helping anything.

Alright, alright. I'll stop trying to provoke people into final impressions this SA season (or into spin-offs and more stories, like a sequel to Family Secret where Marky has a love interest or Angel's brother going on a date, or Jamie having an anniversary dinner after waking up from the 6-month coma... or an alternate universe where the cat in What it Takes lives).

He had me in his corner up until he snuffed the cat. I also still don't see what he sees in Oliver, but I'd rather he keep his focus on Oliver and not Alex. 🫤

Exactly. 😈