Comsie

Whenever an author is writing a story, whether it's all in one shot or chapter to chapter, the goal is for the reader to start at 'Point A' and flawlessly get to 'Point B'. And that journey is usually one that's going uphill. Meaning that with each paragraph, each bit of dialogue, each character action...the story is often expected to 'go' somewhere. And the events keep upping the stakes until we all ultimately reach a climax where the point of the whole story comes into focus. This is where the boys finally get together, or the sex, or the first kiss, or the hero fights the giant killer clam people from space. Whatever it is...the climax should be the highest part of the story, and should lead to a satisfying ending. (That's the traditional way of doing it, at least. Certainly not the only rule) The question is...how can an author create a big finish that's brings all of the story elements to a head and makes the whole thing worth reading just to get to that point? No one wants to 'blow their load' in the first few chapters (if you'll pardon the expression)...always leave them wanting more until it's over. Right? So what makes for a big finish for you guys as writers or readers? And if you have a show stopping grand finale in mind for the climax, how do you keep the rest of the story interesting without overshadowing the height of the story? Whatever your thoughts, let us know!

Whenever someone is writing a story, a piece of their lives and personality goes into every word. It's pretty much unavoidable. It might be in the 'kind' of story they tell, or something in the dialogue, or maybe it's just this invisible 'rhythm' in their words, that lets you know right away who it is. Even when that author tries to do something different...you can tell by their style that it's them. Don't worry...it's a huge compliment. It means their personal 'voice' is coming through. The question this week is...how can an author go about finding a 'voice' of their own? Something that is uniquely 'theirs' and no one elses? It's not like you can come up with a TV sitcom 'catch phrase' or anything, hehehe! But no matter who is writing, there is something special about YOU that nobody else has, and bringing that out in your writing is an ambitious, but attainable, goal for every artist to reach for! What do you think?

When writing a longer story, especially if it's a series of chapters stretching out over a long period of time, it can be easy for an author to lose track of certain details and elements that they put in the story before. Even with outlines and notes on the characters, little details can slip by if you don't wrap it up while the ideas are still fresh in your mind. How can an author avoid these mistakes before an editor gets their hands on it? After all...missing or incorrect details can drastically have an impact on the end of the story. And if the inconsistencies are MAJOR flaws in the telling of the story..you could find yourself rewriting the whole second half of the book to make it match up! (The mistakes aren't always that severe, but imagine..) So how does a writer steer clear of continuity problems and keep their characters loyal to their own personalities without getting mixed up along the way? Let us know!

The one thing about the stories online, is that every one can live the fantasy of getting that amazingly perfect boy that we always wanted. We can lose ourselves in the idea of making the move on that very first love, and having it all turn out aces. It's a wonderful feeling. The stories are about magic...why wouldn't we love them? But what about the vast majority of people who AREN'T extremely gorgeous, teenage/college boys, with perfect bodies and witty senses of humor? What about the average looking, average build, boys who live in small backwards towns, are too shy to talk to anyone, and don't have best friends and family who would instantly 'understand' their attraction to the same sex? Where is their story? Should stories be written to reflect their side of the table? Or are these stories meant to be fantasies with pretty boys and dream like adventures? Can the 'average' guy story really attract attention from readers? Or are they all looking to escape the reality of life and immerse themselves in fantasy instead? What do you think? Let us know!

Sometimes, when an author has gone through the long and often draining process of putting an entire story together from beginning to end...the only thing they have to look forward to is the almost 'painful' experience of editing that story down to bring out that special 'shine' they want it to have. So we go back and we fix what needs to be fixed. Tweaking little things as we go along. Now spelling and mechanics can be considered the 'easy part', I guess. But then comes the story itself. Maybe an author thinks some dialogue could have been better, or a character could use more depth, or a certain situation could really benefit from some more detail. That's where some of the real magic happens for a lot of writers. Giving it that glossy appearance that will give the readers what they expect. But...is it possible to just plain overdo it on the editing side? Can an author get so wrapped up in perfecting their story that they lose the original heart of the story and drown it in corrections and amendments that maybe don't belong there? How far should a writer go before they see their story getting weighed down by the extra work? How far can you go before you lose your natural instincts and end up killing the story that you worked so hard on? Let us know your thoughts!

It can be a lovely world when you're writing stories, right? Hehehe, what a wonderful place to be! The really cute, perfectly built, blond haired love of your life...just 'happens' to be gay and in love with you! And you just 'happen' to have a bunch of stuff in common, so you get along ALL the time! And he just 'happens' to be single (Because who would want a really hot blond boy with a sense of humor and a gorgeous smile, right?)! And your parents just 'happen' to be out of town this weekend! How crazy is that? The best part of a fictional world, is that a lot of things just 'happen' to fall in line for the main character. And that's awesome, because 'magic' is what these stories are all about, right? But how can an author write a good story with a feel good vibe throughout...and not make things seem just a bit TOO perfect to be believable? I mean, nobody watches a porn movie as asks themselves, "Gee, I wonder if these two guys will end up having sex at some point?" So how can an author throw a few unexpected curveballs at his readers? How can a story take a fresh approach that makes things a bit more unpredictable? Because if art is truly imitating life...things should NOT be quite that easy. Do you guys just 'happen' to have any suggestions on this one? Hehehe!

Occasionally, when writing a story about two boys in love, an author might look for ways to display a true connection and companionship between the main characters. And one of the most reliable ways of doing this is through their dialogue, and their interactions with one another. Playful conversations can add a few sweet moments between them, or inject a touch of humor, or display affection and trust during hard times. But..how do you know which conversations are really necessary, and which ones aren't? As much as certain dialogues can be enjoyed by your readers, they may turn out to have absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the story or series. In fact, they may be actually slowing the story down, or throwing it off track. And while it shows a level of friendship and comfort with the characters, if it doesn't push the story forward, it may be distracting. So how can you spot a useless conversation? How can an author avoid them? And if you DO use a simple scene of dialogue for the sole purpose of showing companionship...how can you use it to your advantage instead of drawing attention away from the main story? What do you guys think?

In any story, no matter how sweet and lovable it may be, there isn't much of a plot without a conflict of some sort. In online gay stories, that conflict can be any number of things. It can be society's disapproval, or a homophobic parent, or an inner struggle with the character's sexuality, or a rival in love. Whatever it is...it leads to the creation of a 'bad guy' in order to propel the story further Even if that bad guy is an intangible situation, or the main character himself. How do you go about creating a problem or an antagonist in a story? How do you come up with a significant threat that will 'test' your main character or love interest...but not crush them? And what are some ways to make the bad guy one of those characters that your readers just LOVE to hate? (We don't want to anger them to the point where they stop reading, after all!) Let us know what you think!

It can be a difficult problem to get around when it comes to dialogue. Especially where more than two characters are concerned. Have you ever seen this in a story that you were reading: "I don't know, should I ask him out?" Jeff said. "I say you should go for it. What have you got to lose?" Frank said. "Nothing but the most beautiful guy in the world." Said Jeff. "I know he's cute." Frank said. "But what good is that doing you if you don't ask him out?" "You're right." Jeff said. And 'said', and 'said', and 'said'! It's hard to get around, it's hard to find a lot of alternatives for the word 'said' that don't sound unnatural, and you can only go so long in a dialogue without reminding the reader who is speaking to who. So how do you deal with it? What are some tricks to get away from saying the same thing over and over while directing your dialogue? Any ideas?

One of the things mentioned in an earlier question was the freedom and individuality provided by writing stories online. You have to admit, it feels good to be able to just write what you feel without someone 'looking over your shoulder' so to speak, and telling you the 'right' way to do it. There IS no right way online. You speak from the heart, and you're able to reach people just the same. Even with the help of an editor, it's still your own. However, if it ever comes down to getting something you write published...the rules are bound to change. In THAT arena, there really ARE rules to abide by. And they will certainly be enforced on all submissions. How does that change an author's writing? Can it be a challenge that will eventually make a writer even better? Or is it taking a relaxing form of art, and trying to put it in a box? If needed, could you structure your own work for the public market without much struggle. Will editing consist of more than just spell checks and grammar when it comes to the big business machine? Would you have to compromise your freedom for 'success'? What do you guys think?

It's always a bit of good advice for authors to write for themselves, and ONLY for themselves. Once you get your mind wrapped around making 'this' person happy, and 'that' person happy, and keep 'these' people from complaining, and changing your original plan to make 'those' people keep reading...you end up being a slave to your own process. And a lot of times, the story can lose its heart. No author can please everybody, it's pointless to even try. But...on the flipside of that idea, is the threat that you might be writing and struggling and pouring your heart out on the page...and not getting any recognition at all for it. No comments, no posts, no feedback, no emails. Neither compliment nor criticism. And that can cause an author to go through the most depressing feelings sometimes. There's no real reward to self expression if no one is listening. The question this week is...is it possible for an author to write and share their work WITHOUT the 'visible' audience cheering them on? How much faith should an author have in the idea that people are reading and just not saying anything? And how long could any of you go without the love and support of a few replies before you just stop supporting the story yourselves? Artists do what they do because they love to do it...but what's the point of sharing if no one is willing to give back? What are your thoughts on this?

One of the beautiful things about the internet is that, even without the blessing of getting published and distributed in print, you can still have your work read by people from all around the world. From every part of the globe. If they have computer access, then they can find you. And you can have readers in places that you've never even HEARD of, much less have ever been to. The funny thing is...over the years I've noticed that this huge variety of different people, actually...shouldn't really have anything in common at all, when you think about it. People that I've heard from range from teenagers to grandfathers, boys and girls, straight and gay, from the USA, to South Africa, to Ireland, to England, to the Netherlands, to Australia, to Russia, and beyond. Different cultures, different religious beliefs, different politics, different senses of humor...what is it about the themes of the stories found here on GA, or at Nifty, that seems to bridge such a wide gap between us all? If we all keep these simple themes so close to our hearts, how is it that we so often can't find a way to get along in real life? Does this kind of thing only occur in print, or is it possible to 'connect' in reality the same way we connect in cyberspace? Just a little philosophical thought to dwell on, this week. What do you think?

The thing about the average 'artistic' mind...is that it is always trying to create. Trying to do something unique and original. I had a teacher tell me once, that every artist's true ambition is to create something so original, so personal, so amazing...that it can never be duplicated. Never once, by any other person in existence. And that ambition can fuel an artist's creativity until the stars burn out...indulging in new ideas that have never been seen before with each new achievement. But...can the 'artistic' mind go so far as to not be appealing to the general public any more? Can artists get so lost in the clouds and the smoke and mirrors of 'originality'...that they make their art inaccessible? Can a story get so complex and so 'out there' in concept and format, that people simply can't grasp on to the idea of it? And if so...should the artist 'tone it down' a bit so people can enjoy it? Or should they just enjoy being ahead of their time, and wait for the public to 'catch up'? What are your thought on this?

The thing about the average 'artistic' mind...is that it is always trying to create. Trying to do something unique and original. I had a teacher tell me once, that every artist's true ambition is to create something so original, so personal, so amazing...that it can never be duplicated. Never once, by any other person in existence. And that ambition can fuel an artist's creativity until the stars burn out...indulging in new ideas that have never been seen before with each new achievement. But...can the 'artistic' mind go so far as to not be appealing to the general public any more? Can artists get so lost in the clouds and the smoke and mirrors of 'originality'...that they make their art inaccessible? Can a story get so complex and so 'out there' in concept and format, that people simply can't grasp on to the idea of it? And if so...should the artist 'tone it down' a bit so people can enjoy it? Or should they just enjoy being ahead of their time, and wait for the public to 'catch up'? What are your thought on this?

As there are many respected authors out there, all writing stories of their own, it's natural that some of those creative juices would cross paths every now and then. It can be a truly exciting experience sometimes! Writing your own stories, and admiring the work of your colleagues...only to match wits on the same story somewhere further down the line. It's awesome for readers to see the difference in writing styles also! Especially if it's done by some of their favorites. Can't go wrong, right? But is it possible for writing styles and creative sparks to 'clash' in the process of trying to put a good story or series together? Do the varying styles throw you off as a reader? Or do they excite you even more? What do you guys think about author collaborations? And have you seen any great examples of what happens when two creative minds get together and do everything right? Let us know!

When an author truly pours their heart and soul into a story, it can be really difficult for them to just hand the manuscript over to someone else to bluntly tell them what's 'wrong' with it...and then have them fix it for them. Editors, they're called. I mean...this is your BABY, right? Imagine if you had a child, and had to go to a parent teacher conference at the school...and had to have a teacher tell you how 'screwed up' your son or daughter was? Hehehe, it's just not happening! You'd be ready to strangle somebody for even suggesting that what you created was 'flawed' in some way. Then again, there are many authors who simply write in the moment, and take a lot of comfort in the safety net that having a separate editor provides. Someone who can really help and provide some true insight and constructive criticism on their work before being embarrassed in front of a much larger audience. But...how do you find an editor that can truly help you express YOUR vision without changing little things here and there to suit their tastes instead? It can be hard to figure these things out sometimes, because not every writer/editor match up works. There's a balance that has to be maintained. A relationship that has to be developed. So what do you guys think? Should authors look for a separate editor to help them with their work? Or should they do it themselves? Only the author knows what he wants to see on the page. But how can an author correct his own mistakes without help? Sometimes it takes an objective eye to make it right. And...how would someone go about finding an editor that suits them to a tee? Whatever your thoughts are...let us know!

Some think of it as a writing excercise, some think of it as just a fun little game to play, but I wanted to bring it here to the Cafe for us to toy around with as we see fit. The game is simple. Look at the weekly 'concept', get a few choice words together, and write what you feel. It can be as short and sweet or as long and descriptive as you want it to be. You can be comical and funny with it, or write something really creative and heartfelt. Just enjoy yourself and see what you come up with. I'm willing to bet that a lot of you are MUCH better at writing this stuff than you think you are! It doesn't have to be a whole STORY, just a description of what is described below. Tell us what you're thinking. Give it a shot, I'd love to see what you come up with! Hehehe, but don't make it *TOO* awesome! You'll make me look bad! Today's Descriptive Concept Is: Our Very First Kiss

The thing about writing is, authors are being given a chance to finally take everything that's on their minds, and spill it out on a page all at once. Everything! From fantasies, to frustrations, to depressions, to joys, to fetishes, to long lasting regrets. And sometimes, that stream of consciousness can be somewhat overpowering if it's something that the author is truly connected to, whether in a good way, or a bad way. The question this week is...is there a way to cut out some of those long winded emotions and make for a better story? Instead of having someone ramble on endlessly about an emotion that is obviously so close to their heart...would you rather have the abridged version, and just enjoy the story as it is without being 'preached' to? Or...do you LIKE the rambling monologues that can sometimes occur with these kinds of emotional 'cleansings'? Let us know what you think!

So he's not only back, but he's writing again? That's the best news I've gotten in a long time! I always get blank pages when I try to go to other parts of the GA site, or other message boards, so I'm always the last to know these thing. Ugh! Either way, a big welcome back to Dom!

Wow! Thank you so much for such a beautiful review! It warms my heart to know that you enjoyed it! I can't wait to read the others myself! The anthologies are always awesome!

I just wanted you guys to know that I've been working hard on trying to come up with more writing topics to post on a weekly basis here at the Cafe. I hit a creative block somewhere along the way though, where I was literally running out of things to talk about. I think I have about another month or two worth of new discussions to have here, but I'm always looking for help and ideas. If any of you guys have anything at all that you wanna talk about, whether it's writing related or not, feel free to post it whenever you like. I'm always reading, but I've been dipping into the creative well a bit much lately...and the ideas for topics aren't as plentiful as I'd like them to be. Hehehe, hard not to repeat yourself after a while! ::Giggles:: gotta run, but I'll seezya soon with more!

Just curious, has anybody heard anything about Dom Luka in the last few months? He seems to have vanished completely. And he was such a sweet guy. Any clues on if he's alright or not?

Hahahaha! YES! That's exactly what I was looking for! It put a 'day-long' smile on my face to see your answers! I just didn't get a chance to reply! LOL! I've definitely gotta try this out some more, then! hmmm...lemme see.... "His eyes were as blue as the liquid Windex you find in the clear plastic bottle." Or "His eyes were as blue as a frozen drown victim pulled fresh from the lake!" (Kidding! ) Or To be more serious.. His eyes were as blue as a summer sky at high noon, completely unpolluted by a single cloud, or stray beam of sunshine." Hehehe, I'll definitely post more in the future. Just love playing a few games every now and then. Keeps us on our toes!

I've been gone for the last few weeks, and it's basically been a pain trying to juggle everything at once on my own. Hehehe, I still haven't learned that I simply can't be in ten places at once and not sleep in any of them. But I'm taking this week and next week to do nothing but fix everything that has been spinning out of control lately. Once I get everything back in working order, then I'll have a much easier time just writing and editing and I can start being 'social' again! Hehehe, what can I say? You guys complete me! I enjoy the interaction, even if I don't get a chance to say so. (Psh! Does that make even make any sense? I hope it does!) Anyway, this little two week vacation is gonna make things a LOT better for a while. So I'll seezya soon! And expect a little something from me in the 'GA Anthology' this Winter too!

Another very simple question this week. Is 'nowadays' a word? If you say, "Nowadays, gay teens are a lot more accepted than when I grew up." Is that a literary mistake? If you spell it out as 'now a days', it makes no sense at all. Is it a slang? Does it exist at all? Let us know!