Bill W

Even though the first paragraph lets you know that this story won't end well, it is a captivating mystery with plenty of vivid action. If you're not turned off knowing this story's conclusion will be sad, this short story is well worth the read. It is well put together and the writing style will keep you entertained, so give it a try.

A well written and well told story, although pretty dark. Although I knew it wasn't going to end well, since we knew from the beginning that the MC was killed, it was still captivating and kept me reading until the end. Well done, W_L.

Momentum in storytelling is the vital forward drive that captures a reader's attention, builds emotional investment, and prevents a narrative from feeling stagnant. It relies on core elements like dramatic questions, cause-and-effect actions, and rising stakes. Why Movement Matters: Holds Attention: Keeps the audience actively engaged instead of clicking away or putting a book down. Drives Stakes: Makes outcomes feel consequential so the audience cares what happens next. Prevents Stalling: Moves the plot past boring filler and repetitive descriptions. How to Build Momentum: Intent and Reaction: Connect scenes through clear character goals, failures, and immediate reactions. Raise the Costs: Force characters to pay a heavy price for their choices, creating natural turning points. Unresolved Tension: End scenes or chapters with lingering questions or sudden shifts in safety.

The word momentum comes from the Latin root.s, meaning "movement", "moving power", or "Impetus", and is a contracted form of movimentum, derived from the verb movere ("to move"). It is formed with the suffix -mentum (used to turn verbs into nouns), yielding movimentum and shortened to mōmentum. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the noun momentum has its earliest known use in English during the Old English period (pre-1150), long before its modern adoption in classical mechanics. In the 1690s it was adopted into scientific mechanics for the "quantity of motion" (mass times velocity). In 1782 the first recorded use of the figurative meaning ("force gained by movement or impulse").

Gabriel is a young guy (not an angel) looking for someone to connect with and might eventually want a relationship. Unfortunately all the guys he hooks up with don't have the same desire and only want a casual relationship or there's other problems with them. Gabriel is about to give up hope when a slight mystery arises. If you like a romance story with a little mystery and intrigue involved, then take the time to read this short story. Although I came to despise one of the characters, it's a sign of a good author when they can rouse your emotions and get you to intensely like or dislike a character.

I'll admit I was a little confused at first. Seeing the name Gabriel and the title of the story beingCupid Complex, my first thought was that "Gabriel is the archangel". Silly me. Other than that, I felt sorry for Gabriel. As the song goes, he was looking for love in all the wrong places. Brad was a real dick to take the photo and spread it around. Denny seemed to be a good possibility, except Gabriel had the rule about not dating co-workers. There was a string of other guys we didn't really get a chance to know, and some we didn't even know their names, only that they were all only looking for a casual relationship (a hook up or a friends-with-benifits), but none of them wanted a relationship. Gabriel failed to seriously consider the guy that was right there! To tell you the truth, if I'd been in Avery's apartment and saw a picture with Avery and a girl, I would have said something like, "I don't want to be nosey, but whose the girl in the photo with you?" That would have saved Gabriel a lot of agony and trouble. Other than that, I enjoyed the story.

This is an Angel and Imp (demon or devil) short story, with this one focusing on Cupid Central, or CC. You'll also become aware of another group, Guardian (Angel) Central (GC), and learn how those two groups of Angels sometimes have conflicts. You even find out the meaning of the different color arrows the Cupids use and discover a lot about how CC operates. There's a great deal of humorous incidents along the way in this tale. It's a short and fun read, so give it a try. I highly recommend it.

Adi, another wonderful Angle and Imp short story, but this time without any Imps. I loved the back story of how Theliel became a full angle and how Theliel and Sabio got together. I also enjoy the explanation of what the different colored arrows mean. Thanks for the fun and informative tale.

Matthew and Ben have been in a relationship for a number of years. They are compatible in most ways, except one, but they came up with a plan to keep that from becoming a problem. Throughout the years, their relationship has become comfortable. They still love one another, but they've stopped giving each other Valentine's Day cards. They still buy a gift for the other one, but it's mostly out of habit. Does this mean their relationship is on the rocks? You'll have to read this short story to find out what happens.

This was an unusual Valentine's Day story, but still very interesting. It wasn't what I was expecting, but because it ended well, I think readers will find it enjoyable.

This is another mystery gift giver. After taking a vacation in late October, Fred returned to work, but he wasn't acting like himself. He was sullen and didn't do the things he used to do, such as decorate the office for Christmas and New Year's Eve. Several days before Valentine's Day, someone else decorated the office instead and started leaving Fred presents. Fred couldn't figure out he was doing this until one Friday. If you want to discover who it was and how things turned out, then you'll have to read this cute and tender short story!

Another sweet mystery, similar to the one written by Timothy M. I guess great minds do think alike. I had a feeling it was Nick, since he'd asked Carissa “Um … is everything okay with Fred? He seemed upset.” Then when Steve asked Nick if he was going to Panera with the others, Nick's response was “Fred, are you going too?” Nicholas turned to Fred, waiting for a response. Those were kind of the clues we needed, but it was still a cute story and I loved the presents.

If you like a little mystery, then check out this longer short story. Colin moved to Seattle after a bad break up and was hired as a PA in a securities Company working for a very demanding boss. After being there for nearly two years, he starts finding mysterious gifts on his desk every few days and he's determined to find out whom they are from. It's a delightful and enchanting tale with a happy ending, so check it out.

I enjoyed the characters and the mystery of the gift giver. Once I started reading, I was unable to stop until the mystery was solved. I'm no Sherlock Holmes, but I did get a strong feeling the first time Colin used the gym and ran into Kenneth. I figured that it had to be someone who frequented the gym to give him those gifts, especially the jock strap, hoping it would entice Colin to start using the facility. Great job, Tim.

An intriguing mystery that begins with Valentine cards showing up in the MC's locker. This short story has a surprise ending as well, and to find out what that surprise is, settle into your most comfortable chair and begin reading this endearing tale.

A cute mystery with a sweet ending. John got what he wanted, dating someone different from the girls he'd been going out with before, and so did the maker of the Valentine cards. I hope Eric and Tony are happy as we;; and that neither of these relationship ends with graduation.

What a surprise to discover a new chapter from Comicality in the tribute to him. He was definitely taking GFD to a very dark place and I wonder where he was going with the franchise next. If you want to catch a glimpse of what he might have had in mind, then get comfortable as you read and enjoy this short chapter.

What a fun alternative. I'm sure there were a few GA members that weren't around back then, others who can't remember if they'd read these stories, and still others that would enjoy reading them again. Thank you for giving GA members something else they can do in the meantime. At the same time, I'd like to pass along my prayers to @Cia as she goes through this emotional time and I want her to know the I, and many others, are thinking about what she's going through and praying that it turns out all right.

This story is witty, funny, and had me trying to figure out how the dead could text. That's when the author offers up a surprise. If you want to find out what that surprise is, then sit back and enjoy this marvelous tale.

This is a dark story about what happens after a physical altercation between boyfriends and now one of them is starting over. There are different ways to interpret what happened, so you'll have to read this short story and make up your own mind about what actually took place.

An awakening in storytelling is the vital turning point where a character realizes a deep truth, driving internal transformation, providing thematic payoff, and creating emotional resonance. Driving Character Growth: Breaking illusions: The character drops a comforting lie or false belief they held. Shifting perspective: They see their flaws or their world clearly for the first time. Enabling action: This clarity gives them the strength to face the main conflict. Delivering Theme and Meaning: Core message: It shows the audience what the story is really trying to teach. Resolving questions: It answers the big moral or philosophical questions raised by the plot. Engaging the Audience: Deep connection: Viewers or readers feel the emotional breakthrough alongside the character. Lasting impact: It makes the lesson memorable rather than just a dry piece of advice.

The word awakening comes from the verb awaken combined with the suffix -ing, tracing back through Middle English to Old English roots meaning to arise, spring into being, or stop sleeping. Originally meant "arising into life" or "emerging from physical sleep". It expanded by around 1600 to figuratively mean rousing to activity, and later applied to religious revivals and sudden mental or spiritual realizations. The earliest known use of the noun "awakening" in English is from 1599, found in the writings of William Shakespeare. Older Noun ("awaking"): Dates back much earlier to 1297 in Robert of Gloucester's Chronicle during the Middle English period. Adjective ("awakening"): First recorded in the late 1600s (1694) in the writings of theologian John Kettlewell. Verb ("awaken"): Goes back to the Old English period (before 1150).

Don't feel bad, Brayon, because I'm sure many of us had more than a few errors in our earliest stories. It's good that you took the time to fix some of those errors. Keep writing and it will become easier for you with every attempt.

Even though Carlos wasn't a fan of poetry, this was a beautiful and poignant remembrance of someone we all still miss very deaply. I'm sure that Carlos is looking down and smiling on this wonderful tribute to him. Great job!

An interesting, humorous, and touching coming out story. Adrian was planning on coming out at his mother's New Year's Eve party, so he could start the year as himself. Before that happens, however, he encounters a young man a few years older than himself and they guy has taken up much of Adrian's thoughts and attention. It's a quick read and you'll be able to imagine your own ending.