Wayne Gray

The "I read it" selection was rather insulting to me. Some readers used it repeatedly, and nothing else. I couldn't help but think "Well, why keep reading if the reaction to my work is the same as you'd have for the boring details of the newspaper?" If I'm not inspired to emotion by something, then I don't keep reading it. It didn't really make sense.

I’m liking “cheeky” too. More and more, it seems. Good morning, all. 🙂

I’ll get it fixed. Thanks for the correction. I’m gutted I got it wrong.

By the way, I love the very English word "gutted". Now that I know it, I keep struggling to find substitutions for it because it's the BEST WORD for certain things. "Missing that goal really gutted John." You know instantly what it means. It has so much more impact than "disappointed" and its ilk. I'm gonna start using it. I don't care. Stealing it.

Thanks. It's really nice. Quiet and calm. Helpful for planning/writing. 🙂

Good evening, folks. Tonight I'm listening to country music (to really get into the groove for my new story), working through my outline for mentioned story, and just chilling. It's a nice night here in Northern California. I hope you are all doing well.

Great word and gif. 🙂

I love the whole thing, but the last two lines most of all. Interest in another person often happens instinctively, but maintaining and building love really takes effort. It's apparent, you believe that is effort well-spent. Great poem, tim. 🙂

Oh, cool. I hope you like that one. It was nice to "go back home" through the main character in that story. As well, focus on what I already do well doesn't necessarily mean I will completely neglect trying to do better with description. I am always interested in growing as a writer. And I will circle back around to trying more description (all or most of the senses to describe a scene). I know that's where I'm weakest, and I'll eventually get sick of my lack of competency and try it again. LOL.

You know, I've tried expanding my description game. The story where I tried hardest on that specific aspect of writing was Bluegrass Symphony. I was inspired to try, based on a story I read by MacGreg, a writer on this site (Dissonance - read it if you've not). Honestly? I don't think the effort spent did much for my work. Yes, I like Bluegrass Symphony, but focusing on increasing descriptive elements took time, and the effort expended didn't feel like it paid off. I tend to write in a clipped way - efficiency of language" was how one kind reader described it. And I'm just going to do what I do best ... which is below. I do love food. It's a wonderful luxury to enjoy great meals. But really, I am a fan of emotion and dialogue. Those are my favorite things to write, and I do best when I focus on character interactions and the emotions that result from those. I'm happy you enjoyed the story, even through its clipped, short nature. I suppose it's not bad for an idea that started during a drunken lark. 🙂

Long done or not, I still appreciate the comments. So thanks for taking the time. I tried to get across what it'd be like to be and to be with someone like Wolfgang. Someone who could feel what their partner does. Someone who would never have to doubt or wonder. Then you've got Jed and the Beast, acting as an echo-chamber to Wolfgang. They're irresistible in the realm of the physical, but now they're connecting emotionally too - deeply. I'm glad you liked the scene! 🙂

Initially it was a mistake! I noticed it about a month back ... but ... I decided to leave it. Hint, Hint! 🙂

They are. But as you said, it's a step in the right direction. We've got many more to go, but this is encouraging, all the same. Every time I hear someone has gotten it, it makes me happy.

Fantastic to hear you got the first dose, Mac.

Jumping on the birthday train! Happy Birthday, @Reader1810 and @mollyhousemouse!

Thanks for reading and for the nice comment. I do like how this one turned out. It’s not perfect, but it’s about as well as I can do. 🙂

Good to hear from you, Chris. When is the next step for you? Surgery, right?

That’s so good! I’m really happy for you and your family, molly!

Howdy, all. I hope everyone is as well as they can be. I'm just kicking along, doing the best that I can. Some days, that's enough. Others? Ehhhh ... lol Anyway, I'll be around. 🙂

Hi there. Thanks for taking the time to comment! Fleeting Eternity is something I'm proud of, so I'm glad that you found it moving. I'll see what I can do about keeping on writing. 🙂 Have a great one.

You're absolutely right.

It's never easy losing someone. And we're never really ready ... Take care of yourself, Fae. We're here if you need to talk.

Thanks, rick. We all can use a bit of hope, and there's reason to feel it. Yes, we've a way to go, but we're going to make it.

🙂

I know it's easy to feel as if it won't end. I know the need to protect our hearts by tempering expectations, particularly when there's so much out there we can't control. Here too, we're depending on people to do the right things to stay in our current "tier". Just a few more average cases a day and we'll slide back down, and we will lose a lot of our loosened guidelines (indoor dining included). It's genuinely unfair to be some of the ones to follow the guidance, to adhere to the physical distancing rules, and to have others essentially ruin it by haring off and doing their own, seemingly self-destructive things. You can only ask "what are people thinking?" so many times before you arrive at the conclusion: they are not. They are not thinking. We're all lucky. We have a different administration in office now, and soon the US will have so much supply that we will have capacity to share with our northern neighbor. If it comes down to it, that's what will happen. Persons in our govt have already said as much. Estimates here put more supply than demand for vaccine in early June. So, if for whatever reason CA can't get shots in most Canadian arms by then, they'll come from the south. It's going to happen. I know you guys are doing what you need to do, and I'm glad. Stay healthy. We're getting there.