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If someone sends you their story to read, it's because they're looking for an honest opinion from someone who is reading it from a different perspective. They're looking to see if it's enjoyable or not. Now, they say there's a fine line between constructive and destructive criticism...but there really isn't. In fact, I'd think the gap is pretty darn WIDE between the two! Hehehe! You may have an overly abrasive critic, or an overly sensitive writer...or both. But criticisms, with the right intention and wording, can truly make a good writer GREAT! And a great writer, PHENOMENAL! When faced with the task of having to tell someone what they could fix to make it better...what criticisms do you think would truly be helpful to another author? What would be helpful to you? Exactly how does one go about 'coaching' someone else, and bringing the absolute BEST out of their writing every time? Let us know what you think? And also...let us know what criticisms you would try to AVOID!

Often, when telling a story with multiple characters, a writer is given an opportunity for greater depth and subtle shifts of focus in the main story itself. If the main story is all about getting to know the dream boy and asking him to the dance...that might make for an excellent short story. But what if you wanted it to go even deeper. What if the love interest's sister has a crush on the protagonist. And he has to find a way to dodge her crush on him and get to his ultimate goal at the same time? That simple subplot can possibly take a 2 page story, and turn it into a 10 page story. And still be just as interesting, if not more so. Do any of you use subplots in your stories to create a more three-dimensional experience for your readers? If so, how? What strategies should writers be looking for to utilize extra characters and ideas to make a fuller, richer, story? If you all have any advice, let us know!

Joey, Josh, Billy, Timothy, Dillon, Brad, Eric, Tony, and Bob! What's in a name, right? Hehehe! When you're reading these stories, or writing your own...exactly how important is the 'name game'? I mean do you associate certain names with being 'cute'? Do certain ones give you a feeling of threat or menace? Do certain character names sound better together than others? I mean...even though it's mostly the actual story telling that's telling the story...can a character's name hold a certain 'feel' to it that enhances the experience for anyone who reads it? Do difficult or hard to pronounce names become distracting? Do plain or overly common names become boring or unoriginal? Or does it matter at all? Let us know what you think on this when you get a chance! Cool?

One of the main pulls of a love story comes from the idea that the main character can actually have a shot at the boy of his dreams. That despite fear, distance, struggle, social rejection, or a number of other problems...that little slice of heaven is still within reach. And that can be a very enlightening and 'grin inducing' concept for everyone reading. Now...when I say 'the boy of your dreams'...that doesn't mean that he has to be super teen boy model gorgeous. He's the boy of YOUR dreams! And that automatically mean that there is no set standard for what you like. As long as the emotion feels real, for the author, the readers, and the characters involved. This week's question is...how do you go about creating this almost 'magical' specimen for your stories? What parts of your life or your past do you draw from when creating the look and feel of this character? What personality traits to you try to put into him? What flaws do you insert? The 'love interest' role is an MAJOR part of the story. If he doesn't work out or seem appealing, it's gonna be hard to keep your reader's attention. So how do you go about making one up? Let us know!

Have you ever seen a story that a writer has already written from beginning to end, that's already complete and tells a great story...but then suddenly gets a 'sequel' later on? Like maybe there's just a bit more story to tell? Maybe the characters were so well loved by their readers, that the author decided to bring them back and continue on. It could pick up right where the last one left off...or maybe there's been a big lapse since the last chapter. Like from high school stories to...'the college years', or something similar. Whatever the reason, sometimes an author can go back and add on to a story that has already been finished. What do you guys think about this? Should these stories be given a sequel? I know some people who actually avoid sequels like the plague, and for good reason after many bad experiences with them. Is it possible to ruin a story that was fine like it was? Or can a skilled writer actually add to an original and make it just as good, if not better, than the first one? Would you ever think of going back to an earlier story to make one? Let us know what you think!

It would be difficult to ever let anyone read your own story if you didn't have some level of confidence in what you do. It's already scary enough putting your heart and soul on display for anybody to read, and possibly rip apart, whenever they feel like it. But courage is a necessity. And if you're anything like me, you've got to rebuild that courage from scratch again with each and every project you put out there. The question this week is...are you an actual FAN of your own work? And don't mean in a cocky or arrogant way (unless of course, you ARE, in which case, we wanna hear about that too!), but do you have a general appreciation for the stories you write? Some authors need recognition and approval from their readers or other writers before the feel comfortable with it. Some writers really WANT to put a story out there, but never find the courage to post them, or even finish them. And some just hate their own work altogether. So what do you think? Are you a fan of your stuff? Why or why not? And if you've got a million ideas, but haven't written them out for anybody to see yet...what are you waiting for?

With so many stories circulating online, some good...some...not so much...there has to be a selection process when it comes to what we want to read. Maybe we get drawn in by a catchy title, or by the name of a certain author, or maybe you just toss a dart at the virtual dartboard and see if you got lucky. Whatever it is, once you open a page, you want to see if you can find a good story within. However...sometimes, while you're reading...you come across something that makes you wonder whether or not you made a bad choice. Something that makes you hit the back button before you even get too far into the story and resume your search for something better. What is that 'certain something' that sends you running when your read a story online? Is it the language? The subject matter? Maybe the dialogue, or just a boring amount of detail? Is it a lengthy disclaimer at the beginning, or a hard to read format? What is it that completely 'ruins' a story for you, and makes you stop before you even really get started? Let us know!

One thing about writing a longer story, or a series/mini-series, is the idea of a cohesive plot and an overall theme holding it all together. It sorta keeps readers from feeling like it's just a collection of random events that don't have any real connection to each other. There's a center to it all. A premise or a problem that runs throughout the entire storyline. So you can ask someone, "What's this story ABOUT?" and there's actually a way to sum it up in a few sentences. But what happens if you get excited, and have a great premise for a story or series...and then find out that it's too small to actually carry a whole story on its own? What if you want to write five chapters, and only have two chapters of material. Sometimes 'boy meets boy', and that's all there is to tell. You can't really drag it out without completely changing (or possibly 'ruining') the original idea. So how are you able to spot a limited premise from a distance before you even get started? After all, you don't want to write two chapters and then just decide to leave it without an ending, simply because you ran out of things to say. So how do you know when to stop? And when to not even START until the idea is fleshed out a bit more? Let us know your thoughts!

There you are...you're writing your story, and you're trying to get from the beginning (Point A) to the end (Point as smoothly and naturally as humanly possible. You want to have a believable build up, and a natural progression between the major points of your plot. It just makes for a fun ride. But how does an author successfully go from one 'scene' to another without making it seem jumpy or weird? The characters can't just meet in the park, then you jump to them kissing, then jump to them getting naked in a hotel room three miles away. What happens in BETWEEN those moments? And how can you smooth that transition out in an enjoyable way without 'talking too much' or boring your audience? What techniques do you use, as a writer, to bring your readers from one event to the next without leaving out major details or giving the impression that your 'skipping' stuff to race to the end? Let us know what you think!

As the task of writing a story from beginning to end, or even a 'chapter' from beginning to end, can be quite a drain in itself...it's always a huge benefit to have an editor handy to find all of the mistakes that you might not be able to catch yourself. It can only work to make a story even better, and to have a good editor on your side is a blessing. So the relationship between author and editor would have to be somewhat compatible, don't you think? Makes sense. However, what happens if an author and an editor just so happen to come from two completely different sides of the planet? Where social, cultural, and language, norms might differ from place to place? Is it possible to find a comfortable middle ground in how a story is written and how it's edited. Is it 'ass' or 'arse'? 'Mom' or 'Mum'? 'Color' or 'colour'? 'Favorite' or 'favourite'? They seem like little things...but if your editor is used to writing and reading with (what might as well be an entirely different language), and with a different rhythm...how can an author bridge the gap to create that magic compatibility that will make it work? Or is it better to just avoid that situation altogether? What are you thoughts? Let us know!

Every author that writes a story for others to read has a certain attachment to it. And rightfully so, I mean it takes a lot of heart and hard work to put your inner thoughts and feelings out there for other people to see. It is, for all intents and purposes, a part of your 'soul'. But what happens when you look elsewhere online and see your work pawned off as somebody else's? Either they just stole your idea, or took your name off and posted it as their own? Or maybe they just plain took your story and added it to their pay site for profits without telling anybody? What do you do? How does an author go about getting credit for his work and putting an end to having their 'soul' stolen? Or...has the damage already been done? Maybe it doesn't matter as much to you personally, or maybe you feel disconnected from it once it's released? Whatever your feelings, let us know! I can honestly say that I've been the victim of all three scenarios over time, and probably some that I don't even know about yet. So tell me..what would you do?

I once heard a quote that said, "Criticism is the burden of genius." And since anything even remotely personal or artistic pretty much falls into the category of genius, it sometimes feels like this is true. No doubt about it...if you put yourself out there, you are going to be exposed to it. And sometimes it can just blindside you to the point where you end up getting really hurt by the comments being said. And you have to learn to grow a thick skin, as sensitivity is an unfortunate weakness when it comes to your art. Take the hit, and keep moving. But...what if it isn't just one hit? What if you have someone, or a bunch of 'someone's, constantly popping up in your email, or on your site, or in your forums, or at your book signings...whatever...and they seem DETERMINED to completely cut down everything you do as a writer? How do you deal with author hecklers? Or...have you ever been one yourself? Is it something to be hurt and angry about? Should you take measures to make sure that it stops? Or is it something that should just be ignored? Hell, maybe it's even something to be FLATTERED by! Sure, they complain everytime they see your work...but they are ALWAYS coming back for more! So maybe it should be taken as an envious compliment instead of an insult. What do you guys think? What are the motivations of an author heckler, and how do you deal with them?

As an author, you may find yourself growing and expand with every new idea that you put down in a story. With every project that you complete, and with every idea you have for other projects in the future. I, personally, always welcome a new challenge. Trying out things that I've never done before is exhilirating, to say the least. Even when it causes big problems that need to be worked out to get it just right. Even THAT part keeps me energized. It's how we all grow into the writer's we all hope to be. But, even though we're always moving forward, there may still be a lot of avenues that we're constantly avoiding. Maybe without even knowing it. Blindspots in our writing that we've never explored or expressed. Feedback is always a good way to comment on what you've already written, but does it really help you discover the potential for something totally different? How can someone go about discovering their own blindspots? And once you find them..would you pursue them? Would you tackle a story theme that you've never written before, just to see if you could do it? Or is it beter to write with comfort and ease, allowing the feelings pour out freely without stumbling over unfamiliar terrtory? Let us know!

It's always a slightly easier task to write about something that you know and are familiar with when putting a story together. We all remember love, heartache, rejection, infatuation, fear, and hope. Those are pretty much universal, and they feel like 'home' somehow. And, likewise, it's easier to write about the present time, a familiar setting, or an age and era that we grew up in. But what if you want to write something outside of the norm? In sci-fi/fantasy, you can pretty much write your own rules and make them up as you go along. But suppose you're writing a story that takes place in New York in the 50's? Or about Paris during the war? What if you want to write about the age of knights and swordsmen? Or Ancient Egypt? Or the Civil War? How should one go about researching that particular subject? (And DON'T just say 'use the internet'! Hehehe! WHERE on the internet is a good place to start?) How does the story change? How would people 'speak' to each other? What is the feel of that particular environment, at that particular time? There are a lot of things that are different now than they were just ten or twenty years ago. 14 year old boys didn't have cell phones in the early 80's. There was no FaceBook in the mid 90's. And nobody says, 'closet queen' during the first World War (I don't think). So how does a writer prepare himself for creating a period piece? And have you readers ever seen a story that made a lot of mistakes on it? Let us know!

Whenever writing, or reading the work of a particular author, it's common to see similar themes in their stories. It may be accidental, or it might have been done to create a certain level of familiarity...but it's there. It's almost like seeing Stephen King or Alfred Hitchcock in one of their own movies. But whether they're writing many different stories with a bunch of new characters each time, or a dedicated writer to one long series or novel...do these familiarities begin to bore you as a reader? Do they become predictable or tiresome? Or is it something that you look forward to with every turn of the virtual page? Let us know what you think! And if you write you're own stuff...how do you go about changing up the vibe often enough to make each story or chapter stand out as its own 'presentation'...instead of just another one for the heap?