Krista

I don't do horror, so no.

First: Oh my goodness me, I decided to read all of the comments this chapter. Why did I? Why did I pick this very chapter to read all the comments. Mind you, you know the ones that I'm talking about. You filthy things. Also, leaders do not tempt fate, harm, or destruction when other people are involved. Michael is no leader. He shouldn't be leading this team, his mind isn't the most important asset. Especially since he camped right over a sinkhole. He's obviously inept at leading expeditions. Seb and Elmer should be the ones leading. Even if they had to hog-tie and gag Michael's ass... I would've gotten him off his high horse and back to PineCrest. The women shouldn't have even been up there, maybe aside from Esmerelda, since she's obviously trained in advanced aid and triage. As she seemed to assess what she deemed necessary. I don't know what Krista does. Roads closed or not, triage can be tricky and you lose people if you're wrong on the severity of their injuries. Dynamite at thirty yards and superficial face lacerations for Krista, probably dealing with a concussion for he and more severe one for Percy, both of which would have to be assessed for severity or other damages before either of them would've been allowed to sleep. Percy's head and body injuries do seem rather significant. I can't remember the exact criteria and/or determining factors for sleep/withholding sleep for brain injuries and concussions it has been a bit and not something I deal with in my field of practice. But yeah, safe to say they were beyond lucky. And the sinkhole and encroaching storm should have told everyone involved that the day was a waste. It is better to pick up and leave, lose the day... than to lose a life. I am disappointed in all of them. This better make all involved millions, because right now they're down damaged equipment. Their host in Percy. A Snowcat, which I have to google now because I'm thinking it is different than what I pictured earlier in the writing and didn't remember to look up when I was first curious. They nearly lost Elmer and Sheila to a support beam. Five to the sinkhole. Michael and Krista to the dynamite. The people you can't get back, no amount of money is worth five lives. Seb's story about his brother Leo made me cry. I didn't want to cry, so I am angry with you. But... the words are important, so I'll suck it up.

At least Five fixed the mess that was Ethan. Maybe Ethan will go quietly, he'll have to eventually. This whole new game the two of them has started is interesting. It seems they keep falling into these games and I think it goes beyond them just attempting to keep this whole trip organic and fresh. Also, to keep from talking about the important stuff, so par the course for them as far as that goes. At least legitimate distractions are there, they do have to behave themselves a little bit, tending to guests and not be rude. Krista might need to sharpen her knife and do some gelding if Michael gets too lippy. He needs to remember that he too is a guest. One that could've very easily been told to eff right off the property ages ago. Sheila seems quiet. Esmerelda - flirty..? Might need to watch her. Seb seems fun and laid back. All of them seem okay with the situation, Michael aside, but we'll see. It seems like a new game of chicken has started, but in reverse. Now it is all about self-control, and not crossing a line. We'll see who wins this one. I like Five not getting his way, the man needs to learn this lesson... too bad Percy has been playful with it, so the learning won't be as significant as it probably should be.

I think they've done some interviews about why there wasn't as much hockey. None of the actors are proficient enough with skating to actually do it, and they didn't want to do a ton of editing for body doubles, re-shoots, and CGI to make them look half-ass decent at skating, puck handling/stick handling - to make it worthwhile. That's why a lot of the shots on hockey are at a distance or extreme close-ups, and rarely depicted at all. Maybe they can take some lessons whilst they're on break between seasons. Although, I think most of the viewers of the show know as much about hockey as I do. None. And the uniforms are awful unless they're half on or off them in the process of dressing/undressing, so there's that too. Baseball still has the best uniforms, I said what I said.

The show isn't that groundbreaking. But, the first three episodes are a bit of a chore to get through. Or at least they were for me. I still think they sped through the initial progression between the characters and the set-up to what is supposed to be 'the' show. The back half of the first season is a lot better than the beginning episodes. I know they were having trouble shopping this story around for wider release and didn't want to sink a ton of money into the show, but it would have benefitted a lot if they had double the episodes so they could 'live' in the earlier parts a bit better. But, I'm a slow-burn person myself. So all this is my opinion.

I almost went back and edited my comment when I remembered the Sauce vs. Steaks don't need it discussion a few chapters back, but I didn't. I'm thinking it was a missed opportunity.

I think my exact words to you, is for you to remind me that the story I want to write needs to 'go' where I want it to go. That I can't deviate just because I feel a certain way all of a sudden with a character. That I have restricted myself to a plot, character dynamics, and did more pre-writing work than I have in the past. Not that you can slap me upside my head, sir. But you can try and see what happens. --- I think the only thing that would make Trace kick Joel out is if he says he likes his steaks, 'well done.'

Yeah, I tend to 'Cold close,' my stories now. A slice of time with the characters, there are some things unresolved. We live full lives with unresolved things, it's just sometimes something that we can't control. Or are close enough to the problem for there to be a resolution. The way you described his return home, I was smiling the whole time, because it is something I can easily see. Celia's warm smile. Him being open enough with them to explain things. Davin being curious about any details that Joel may leave out. Announcing that he gets to see Cody every Sunday. I like to think they'd take that in stride. It all happened in a month, yeah... But life or even some of the milestones within a life rarely ends in a perfectly wrapped box of resolutions.

It may just not be Ellis' time to be written about, who knows. I'm halfway through chapter three. The first two chapters introduced the story and the path I am beginning with it. Now the rest of them is going to have to build from that. I think I need to give myself a pep-talk every time I open an Ellis chapter. Be like, "You wanted to step away from, 'Coming of age' Romances, suck it up buttercup and get on with it." I wish I can say more, but that would mean me getting into character dynamics. But yeah, if not a short hiatus to retool and think of a different story if Ellis truly isn't going to hold any weight with them, so I can clean slate onto a different idea. Whatever that next idea is, I wouldn't know.

Yeah let's not ask to be spoon fed by GA with these themes. If you want a more detailed approach to a short story, there's plenty of Prompts to choose from. These themes are open ended and broad stroked to allow for loose interpretations. I can list you everything my brain has come up with for Horizon. I'll not do it though, for the reason above. I don't wish to spoon feed anyone. You may disagree, it is your right, but I found Cia's post to be constructive. There are many tools at our disposal to help get away from stagnant thought processes. She took the time to list some approaches to that, for anyone that may read or come across the advice provided, who may not have thought about those minor tips/tricks to jumpstart creativity. Like I said though let's not encourage the idea that we must be significantly guided in our creativity before it becomes worthwhile. We're spoon fed enough in everyday life, stretching our brains a bit will do us a lot of good, I'm thinking. But, for people who are stuck on at least Horizon and wish to pick my brain for the above and/or want me to post my take on the Theme, I will. I just didn't want to feel pushy. As for Unspoken, I've not allowed myself to focus on it as much.

Good luck. I made the attempt once, but almost 500k words for me, with my brain spoiling the next part because I suddenly remember what happens kind of makes it difficult for me to read. I'll have to forget more of it before I can settle in to read a story of that length. I've managed to read Ridley three or four times though. I've reread Ellis chapter one and two twice each already, still trying to figure out if I'm going to like the story enough to continue writing it. Beginnings are rough for me to gauge things. Hopefully it smooths itself out and unfolds a bit. Otherwise, I might be starting an extended writing hiatus.

Thank you for enjoying the story. Shows and films based in Europe with the school social dynamics within them and such are fascinating to me. And I'd be lost if I tried to do Soccer/Football? 😮 or Cricket. But yeah, writing sports aspects, the actual sports can be a little bit tedious to write. I went into deeper depth with my character in a different story that was a swimmer. I don't know if I would have it in me to do that for baseball, it would be quite the ask for my brain to manage. But I hadn't covered baseball, so that was mostly why I decided on Baseball for Joel.

I know, they're completely feral.

Thank you for enjoying this story. I know there's a lot of character stuff that's in the air, mostly side characters. Joel's story arc from lost to finding his place is over though. We left him in a good place to move along with his healing and growing.

I'm imagining a very high pitched voice saying you, because your butthole is puckered out of fear.

You used different fingers to point? Who points all their fingers in a general direction when they're making the same point to each of the persons they're pointing at? 😮 Who got the middle one?

Yes, yes I remember. Coincidently, I PM'd you with my answer to this prior to me noticing this. Yikes. Scary. And how quickly you sank... no, you poured gasoline on that boat them blew it up. At times. But you're not the only one, of course.

I keep having to bring up what my grammy used to say... When you start point that finger, you need to mind the three pointing right back at you.

I am glad you saw the errors and self-corrected. I was distracted by rambling, so I didn't get around to it in time. But you rectified yourself. But you can't then fuss at me, when you were the cause of your oopsie. I won the argument either way.

Okay This is my last big mushy thank you for this story. I am truly honest when I say I didn't expect the level of reading, engagement, and shenanigans that I received with this story. I am going to be one hundred percent honest with you, the story "Ridley," saved my writing life and my engagement with this community. I received so much love for that story, but before that I had every intention of stopping my writing. I approached the powers that be and told them that I was discontinuing my writing. I had just finished the writing to, "The Best Year," and although I was thrilled with the overall writing with that story, I thought I completely wrecked my relationship with my readers throughout the writing. I was late with posting new chapters, sometimes months passed between posts. I was having to constantly apologize for my lack of writing. Some of our older members passed away waiting for that story to end and they never got to see it. It felt like I failed and I couldn't and didn't want to see myself make that attempt with anything else. I wanted my stories removed, because I am the type of person that wants a clean and thorough break from things. If I wasn't going to be engaged with the community, writing, I didn't want to my online presence out there unmonitored. If I'm not using it, I want it gone, that's how I am with online things. When I stopped writing my GA blog, I wanted it gone, in the off-chance that I left the site I didn't want people reading my thoughts, about my life, and knowing me without me knowing them. I am protective of my writing, so yeah, it would've been deleted if I held on to that belief of me wanting to leave. I was told that my body of work would be a sincere and significant loss to GA and the community. That changed my mind, I suddenly felt a little selfish, for those people that enjoyed what I had built here, etc. So I decided, okay, I'll just take a break. So I took a break, only logging like once or twice a month, if I'm remembering correctly. I think that's why there's such a loss of engagement with me and comments on my stories some during that time. I decided to write Ridley, it was for an Anthology and of course it was late and too big. I decided to post it anyway, thinking that I 100% still wasn't forgiven with how I treated readers during the posting of, "The Best Year." I was genuinely surprised. I also knew I had a complete project in Ridley. Still had the final chapters of "The Best Year," left to post as well. And although I don't think a lot of the readers I lost came back to that story, some of them did. But I found such a warm reception with Ridley, that I felt better about the approach of writing a complete project, then posting. I learned that is the only way I could ever function as an author here moving forward. I was not going to go back to writing with an unknown posting schedule looming over my shoulder. With all that rambling, that's why I keep stating how appreciative I am for everything. How much love you've shown the writing of this story, to me, and even if we're just in here talking smack, being filthy heathens, up to shenanigans, or talking completely off topic, I've felt a lot more engaged with readers that I thought were long gone to me. I don't know if I'll have another story on the go soon. I don't know when I'll be posting anything as I haven't been working on anything else in the background. So with that in mind, I just want y'all to know with full transparency what you all meant for me as far as my writing goes, why I've felt the need to thank you all multiple times, and why I seem a little bit overwhelmed and surprised. I honestly don't think I deserved it. I know the story did a lot of the heavy lifting too. If the story outright sucked, then yeah... we wouldn't have a lot to talk about other than the sucking of the story. And I also want to thank y'all for taking the time to Review the story. I don't respond to reviews, as I have this big hang-up in my mind thinking that reviews are for Readers to leave and prospective readers to put weight to. Not me. I hope that hasn't put people off leaving reviews, me not responding to them. I have responded to a few in my earlier writing, but it just clicked in my head that reviews are for me to read, but not weigh in too heavily on, if that makes sense. Yeah, I'm a little bit strange, I'm thinking. Also, I think I promised posting the Character Sheet. I might do that in the, "Where I'm at..." topic later. And when I say Character Sheet, it is pretty much the only 'planning' I do prior to writing a story. And I add to it as I go along for quick references so I don't send @wildone on information gathering missions because I can't remember things. Thank him too, if you feel it in yourself to do so. Not so much that it will give him the big head... it is big enough, the cheeky thing. So, thank you for this story. Maybe there will be more writing to come from me. Not going to commit to any one project and say, "this is the next one..." learned my lesson doing that as well.

There were wet asses in, "Standing in Shadows," "The Best Year," and "Learned to Lie." I rest my case.

Hmm.. I think I remember who started it, but in the off-chance I'm wrong, I won't say. I will hint and their name starts with a C. For the person coming up with Javin, to clarify. So you diminished OUR Celia on purpose? How dare you! You monster. 😮 It goes against my better nature to give credit where it isn't earned. There was wet asses before you started reading Learned to Lie, and there will be wet asses after... And I hate that this is starting to sound like some sort of weird kink for me, I assure you that it is not. lol. Appreciated, but not elevated to kink level.