William King

Sometimes you read really crazy, sad, but very funny things: A woman has been sentenced to life in prison for shooting her husband dead – after her husband’s pet parrot kept repeating, ‘Don’t shoot! Don’t f***ing shoot!’ in his voice. Read more: http://metro.co.uk/2017/08/30/woman-gets-life-in-prison-after-pet-parrot-grasses-her-up-for-murder-6889177/#ixzz4rGMZMvvf

Okay, I understand the logic, but I don't agree. I like to divide chapters into sections, and the sections are each a scene. I might jump about in time and space with those scenes, but they all stay in the same chapter. The chapter is defined by reaching a certain point in the story that is a natural break. It could be arriving somewhere, it could be having resolved an issue. The chapters are also to some extent defined by length - maybe that comes from too much TV, but I like my chapters to be roughly equal in length, they are my episodes in the series. Oh and be careful about mixing water and electric - You could get a shock!

It is a bit laborious, but the following process works: COPY the online chapter text, PASTE to Word, CONVERT to PDF format online, DOWNLOAD and READ using PDF viewer/reader which allows you to bookmark. Phew! Better idea would be an online PDF version, don't think I can be bothered to do all that for every chapter, including renaming, filing the chapters, and filling up my storage... but it does provide for nice bookmarking 😁

@droughtquake Nothing in life is free and converting to PDF comes with a subscription to Adobe - at least that's what it says when I try to do it! If anyone has a recommendation for Android let me know.

YES - and it has nothing to do with the quality, but all to do with bookmarking. I have not found anyway to bookmark where you have read to, you know like with a printed book you can insert a bookmark or turn the corner of the page. So if it is a long chapter and you need to come back to it, then it is kind of a pain looking for where you got to. That's why short chapters work for online stories and long are not so good. The size? Ideally between 2000 and 4000 words.

Perhaps you remember those old Sci-fi adventure books from the days before everyone had a computer and mobile phone. That bygone time when boys set out on fantastic adventures that were at once scary, always carrying a hint of danger, and also something that was a challenge not to be missed. In this super tale from Geron Keys two close friends (boyfriends, this is after all a story brought up to date) discover something incredible, something long since buried, and something they have to explore. We follow the duo as they prepare to embark on their journey into the unknown. What they find holds promise, sadness and danger, but our two heroes have their ingenuity to help them succeed and each other to rely on. The story is so well narrated that you are right there with them and might find yourself reading faster just to see what happens as the suspense builds and we don't know if they will make it back. The author conjures up in our imagination a remote old farm in the middle of rural America that holds an incredible secret, and both need to be protected. At the end you will come away feeling that was a great adventure, but wondering what might happen next? Well that is left open for a possible continuation and sequel, which I would bet a lot of readers would like to see!

Uplifting... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3164749/Walking-tall-Teenager-left-bent-double-agony-freak-accident-stands-upright-time-months-thanks-miracle-doctor-just-time-graduation.html#v-4358973679001

Great story Geron, and a very clever idea. I too was right there with them and It was kind of nice how it ended with them bringing grandad along. I did kind of wonder if Derry's dad hadn't gone in there exploring and got lost! It was the element of going through the doors and not finding your way back that so perfectly captured the atmosphere created in those old Sci-fi books, excitement, thrills, and scary things!

Sounds interesting... let us know what you think of it when you finish 🤔

Here are some unrelated trivial statistics to ponder: On average a French man spends 4600 Euros ($5500) a year on their health and lives to 82, an American spends 8400 Euros ($10,000) a year and dies at 79. The population of Iceland is 330,000 inhabitants, the number of tourists visiting the country this year is expected to be 2.2 million. 70% of Google employees are men and 60% are white. The stock market valuation of Tesla is 57 billion dollars, 6 billion more than General Motors.

There is a place for reality stories, tragic or not, I like reading and writing in the real world. There is also a place for sci fi and fantasy, I like escapism too, but I like when it embodies something about relationships, the possible future or has a message, something to say. Then again, if it is well written and engaging, it could just be pure escapism! I like reality stories that show you another world, so it might be tragic, it might have a happy ending, but whatever it is, it takes you somewhere else. A good example is Cornfield Fraternity it puts you in Africa like you never knew that world existed, because unless you had actually lived there, how could you? That I find fascinating. It's a new book by a new (African) author.

@MrM you say it perfectly and eloquently. American stories are usually 100% predictable, the good guy will win, the bad guys get smashed. European stories are more true to life and do not necessarily have a happy ending, thus they are less predictable. Perhaps a survey of the stories on this (American) site would reveal (I predict) 80% happy endings. The other 20% with not quite so happy endings, but I doubt many stories finish in tragedy!

What I enjoy especially about your writing JKW is the dialogue, the way in which each character presents their own completely believable point if view. I'm listening to Joey telling Billy exactly what he thinks of him, and I totally agree. Then I'm hearing Billy giving his version of things, and I'm thinking like Brett, I don't agree with what you've done. But at the same time I can completely see it from his point of view, even if his point of view is wrong. Billy never gets it when people tell him he's acting like a shitty person. He just carries on, doing the same thing over and over. He does it by opening his big mouth, he did it to Dustin, and now he's done it to Joey. You just don't go up in front of the guy's parents in the middle of the church and say what he did!

@Michael36 Thank you for your clear explanation Michael, but not for the tone of your response, which does you no favours and simply portraits an arrogance and dominating personality, which as you said is exactly what you are. I will not take any further part in this group discussion, you have your clique of supporters, and there is no real debate or question and answers going on here. You say, or at least tim said, that you live this lifestyle in public, I wanted to discover how that was possible, but never mind. I wanted to be convinced of a loving relationship, but you never answered my first question, sometime ago. You say you are open to questions, but would seem not to be. In any discussion there should be room for diverse opinions, without bullying. No doubt everyone here will react negatively to this response and view it as an attack on your relationship and lifestyle. It is not - you can live however you chose, I do not have any judgement to make, but neither am I any closer to understanding. Only one person replied sympathetically and thank you to @MacGreg. The remainder of replies are simply a half dozen or so inane messages of support, which if you look back is always the response to the slightest hint of disention.

It's like walking on eggshells here. Okay, maybe weird was a wrong choice of word. But the point is - if the Dom dictated everything - and you answered it yourself tim - i defer to Michael in most things. So excuse me for labouring the point, but most things is not everything.

I found this old thread, by chance, looking at birthdays. Maybe it would be interesting to revive it? I wonder if anyone has moved since two or three years ago? I live in Nouvelle Aquitaine. Don't know where on earth that is? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nouvelle-Aquitaine I don't want to move, because when you have found your corner of paradise, why would you? Originally from London, I know life in a big city and another country.

What I find interesting in this discussion is the theme of dominance and submission, sadism and masochism, daddy and boy, top and bottom, it seems now to be all pervasive. Then the added notion of relationships that are manipulated, coerced – strong words, perhaps manoeuvred is more appropriate. Someone stated if I think I've found my perfect partner and try to win them over, is that manipulation? I can't put everything in a box and make a judgement, we all manipulate and manoeuvre relationships, all the time. The important thing here is not that, but taking advantage, and only you know that (you being anyone in this situation, I am not talking here about Michael). Getting back to the Dom/sub relationship, is that any different from most other relationships? The only thing I would find weird would be if the Dom dictated everything in the life of the couple. Dominance per se, like inflicting pain in sex, is not unusual. The Dom/sub thing is deemed a minority, but I kind of doubt that. Perhaps it depends how adventurous you are, but it isn't new to me, it can be a big turn on. How far you take it, that depends! One thing I would add, is that I never felt like I had to win a boyfriend. I mean you meet boys, men, you see there is an attraction. There’s some playing around, seduction, but essentially you are attracted, one to the other. You get it together or not sexually, all depends. If there is more than just sex, and if both partners want it, if that is what they are looking for, then a long-term relationship is possible. Love, that's the next question. Why? Because, I don't think gay relationships (let me qualify that, male gay relationships) follow heterosexual, straight, relationships. Maybe they do sometimes. But I think there's more emphasis on sex, a relationship comes after. For heteros it's kind of relationship first, then sex, the opposite way around. I am quite prepared the hear that it isn't sex first for gays today, because I'm an old guy. There was no AIDS when I was young, and that has without doubt changed things, but how much? I apologise if I have gone off topic, but the point was to dismiss the notion that Dom/sub is such a minority thing, and to see the relationship in the context of all relationships, to also make the distinction between sex and living together. To clarify that manipulation or manoeuvring, also happens all the time.

Thanks for the information. The only problem with clearing cookies is that I have some that I need to keep and I don't know if you can just clear the cookies from this site only? If I clear all cookies I will, when logging in to another site get a phone call telling me my device is not recognised - because their cookie has gone. I then have to go through a whole procedure of getting a code by phone to log back in proving I am me. Security on sites is getting more and more strict, which is why it's a big hassle to clear all cookies. But thanks for the suggestion.

I have never bothered to ask this question although it would seem to be a bug, I'm not sure, Often the system does not log me out. That's it. I log out, I can even go back on GA to check I'm logged out, close it, go do other stuff, and come back the next day to find I'm logged in without having to sign in. It has been doing this since the BIG update. Not all the time, only sometimes. It is not very important, only if someone else picks up my tablet which isn't very likely. Just thought I'd mention this in case anyone else has the same problem. Running latest Android version on Samsung Tab S2 using Samsung Chrome Browser. A Suggestion: whether or not it is a bug you could have the system log you out automatically after x hours of inactivity?

Or just knock it down - Berlin, November 9, 1989.

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

I'm Gay All the Way, but MrM that is not a man... no sir, that is a boy - although kinda androgynous, but then young girls could easily look like young boys - except for Adam Apple (but we can't see that)!

"...they make me wonder if it would be better to just fade into the background and whether anyone would even care or notice. The answer to that when I'm in the midst of a depression episode is no, but that's okay." That same thought occurs to me and like you I try to deal with it. I post stories which usually, though not complete, have a good few chapters written and I know mostly where things are going. I don't think, can't remember, having received comments that would influence the story. What does happen to me, which I don't think anyone has mentioned here, is that I get anxiety attacks after reading comments. That is because someone will say something like, "I hope he will be okay," and having written the story, I know he won't exactly be okay, so I worry a lot about what that reader will think when he or she reads the next chapter or the one after that. I even say to myself 'omg, should I have written that,' but as it's too late to change - even if I wanted to - I just worry. That is my writer's insecurity. I do also publish as I write, chapter by chapter, I currently have a story like that on hold. I do that because it's fun, and why shouldn't the author have some fun writing. What I did do though, knowing I might not publish regularly, is warn the reader. I said that I am publishing as and when with no real schedule so - it is then for the reader to decide. But as each chapter is sort of entertaining in itself, you can read it and, I suppose wait, for the next instalment.

I have a question: My opinion has always been that to make a relationship work - long term - you have to give somethings up, which means you have to allow, in part, the wishes of your partner to over ride your own. What did you give up in this relationship? I know this is very personal, so of course you are not obliged to reply, it is not a question directly about your life style, but neither does your answer (should you give one) need to be dramatic. For example, in my own relationship, when I was much younger I gave up a life style which included being vegetarian to live harmoniously with my boyfriend, to be, if you like, compatible, because I'd fallen in love. So why ask you such a question? Because, for myself, it demonstrates a loving relationship when you are prepared to give up something that means a lot to you for the sake of the two of you and that you did not simply manipulate things, quote: "After several months I was positive and I methodically went about making tim want me too." It is that statement that I find difficult to reconcile. If you were so in love that you did everything you could to win over the boy you had fallen for, that is very romantic. However, one might read those words as meaning you manipulated a perhaps less strong person into taking on a role that would please you, even if the other person was predisposed to that inferior position. I would like to know if somewhere in this relationship it's a two way thing, give and take, giving a home and material comforts doesn't count, that is a given, if you love someone you share everything. In any account, it has been interesting, educational, and mind opening reading about your relationship and lifestyle. I applaud you for being open, honest, and sharing. I hope that no one would attempt to lay any judgement at your door, we should all be free to live our lives how we choose with the one proviso that we try not to hurt anyone else. Thanks for sharing.

Our hero is Shinozaki-Sanderson aka Samurai Shinozaki, who the kid from middle America knew back sometime when he went by a different name. Now there is a whole sexy attraction that's going on here, because daddy knew the kid when he was eight years old and had a thing about collecting bugs. Now Bennet, the kid, carries a big rifle and wears a t-shirt proclaiming suicidal tendencies. Ordinary things can take on a different perspective in the words of our author, and whilst all the action takes place around Koi Hill and the pond, you have to be prepared for the odd bug or two and spidery costumes. The costumes fit skin tight, sexy, but that’s by the by, they need to impress the Empress and catch some crickets! You must know that Anything can happen. This is a tale about saving the world in one long night, and it’s about writing, about being an author – just like D H Lawrence. It's about the moon, and the Trespassers, and lots of other things, and the words will literally fly off the page (or screen – let’s be modern) and – yes, I know you've guessed, they will save the world. At least this time round – maybe! A written work that will draw you into this magick world, all you need do is suspend belief, go with the flow, and hope that Shinozaki and Bennet will triumph. If you really want to understand it on all it’s levels, because there's a lot going on, you might just have to read it over again. I recommend you take some time out to read this trip through another world which is strangely grounded in the mundane reality of a deadline. Remember all good books about love and saving the universe deserve your consideration. Nothing ventured!...