Comsie

Sometimes, while writing a story or series at length, where more characters get introduced, and new plot twists develop...there can be a lot of new challenges that pop up for the author that's creating the events taking place. Storylines become more complex, and characters increase in depth and personality, as the overall theme of the story is revealed. But what happens if things start to spin out of control in the writing? What happens if suddenly a lot of unneccessary scenes and dialogue begin taking the story in strange directions, or certain plot points get lost or forgotten about, or if things just plain unravel as the author has a hard time keeping things together? Is there a way to somehow 'anchor' your thoughts down to one solid story instead of having it go all over the place? How does an author figure out what is important and what isn't? Have you ever read a story that, somehow, managed to just lose the 'point' somewhere along the way? Let us know what you think! And if a story starts spiraling out of control...can it be saved through a few clever tricks to get it back on track?

There are three ways of speaking in the first person about yourself and one other person, right? "Me and Mikey" "Mikey and I" and "Mikey and me" The question is...which one is correct in what situation? I believe that "Me and Mikey" is only appropriate after the verb in the sentence has been placed. But it's been a long time since I've read the official rule on that. Anybody care to refresh us all on that?

I figured since Halloween is coming up this week, I'd ask about something that's in tune with the theme of the holiday. We've all heard ghost stories told since we were young. We've seen them on TV, in the movies, we've read them in books...and then we spread them to friends and family in the same fashion. The cycle continues. But what are the elements of a really GOOD ghost story? Something creepy, something dark, something that seriously 'affects' you JUST by the way it's written! What makes you cringe, squirm, jump, and look over your shoulder every time you hear a creak in the floorboards of your house? Let us know, readers/writers! When you think of a true ghost story...what stands out the most...and makes you stay close to the light. (Besides...you kinda need that light to read)

I've heard a few theories about this, and wanted to know what you guys thought. When writing out numbers in your story...is there a rule about whether to type the actual 'number', or spell it out as a word? For example, would you say, "Bobby and Kyle had sex 3 times before his mom came home?" Or "Bobby and Kyle had sex 'three' times before his mom came home?" Does it matter which way it is? Do you notice? I've heard that any number under twenty is supposed to actually be spelled out as a word, and after that, the actual numbers are ok to use. Unless of course you're telling the time, where writing, "His mom came home at 6:30." is more than acceptable at any time. I've also heard that the numbers should always be spelled out when it comes to words they're naturally linked to. Like 'one hundred percent', or 'ten degrees below zero'. Never '100 percent' or '10 degrees below zero'. Is there a ruling on this? Let us know!

Ahh love. It's happy, it's bright, it makes you feel all gushy and sweet inside. And then...as a nice bonus, you get to have all the hot but naked sex you want! It's a lovely thing, ain't it? And then...there...lurking in the shadows, is that evil demon in the dark cloak. The heartbreak, the mistrust, the jealousy, the infidelity, and the ever present 'misunderstanding'. Let's be honest, out of all the relationships that people have in their lifetime...only a chosen few are sure to last for any real length of time. And when that awful 'break-up' happens...it isn't always a 'sunshine day'! So...when approaching break-ups in stories between the main characters, what are some of the best ways to handle it in the writing? How do you build up to it? How do you make a conflict that's strong enough to split up your star crossed lovers...but not so strong as to 'demonize' them or make them out to be the bad guy? After all, I'm assuming that he goal is to get them back together at some point, right? Or...is it? A penny for your thoughts! A quarter for an actual post! ::Giggles:: Whaddya say?

This week is all about the almighty hyphen in certain words. I've seen hyphenated versions of these words, and I've seen unhyphenated versions. Words like mind-blowing, heart-breaking, nerve-wracking, stand-still...are they considered 'wrong' if spelled without the hyphen included? (if so...BOY have I got a lot of re-editing to do! Hehehe!) I never had an actual spell check before getting this new system about five or six months ago, and since I've been seeing that a lot, I've been attempting to put some faith in the idea that the spell check knows more than I do (so does most of the population of Earth and most lab monkeys). But is this a 'right or wrong' type of thing? Or can it be done either way without making readers cringe?

There's a time, in every story's life, no matter how enjoyable it may be, when it must ultimately come to an end. The final curtain has to close, the characters have to take their final bow, roll credits, fade to black, whatever...hehehe! And when that time comes, every author hopes that they have told a complete and compelling story that will live with the reader for a long time to come. But, there is also a lot weighing on the ending of any story This is this big show. This is the climax that is going to make your audience appreciate every last bit of writing it took them to reach this point. It's supposed to sum up the entire book, and bring us safely to the end of our journey. An if an author doesn't do it just right...if there's a slip up, or a loose end left to dangle...or if it's just plain 'anti-climactic' when compared to what the readers were expecting, all of that hard work can go right down the drain! The ending IS, after all, the last lingering thoughts that a reader has of the entire piece of work. And even if they enjoyed everything else up until then...a poorly written ending can leave a bad taste in the mouths of even the biggest fans. This week, the question is...what is the appropriate way to end a story or series? What should authors look for in case of possible mistakes or open ended questions? Have you ever had any experiences with endings that just seemed to take away from the rest of the story you just read? And to you authors...have you ever just been completely 'stuck' for an ending? Not knowing how to approach it no matter how hard you try? Let us know!

Very simple, very plain, this time around. Is 'ain't' an actual word? Now, most spell checks would catch this and say 'no'. But it's obvious an actual everyday word, and it's used enough to hardly even be considered a slang any more. I've heard that is actually a 'contraction' for the country slang "Aim not". (Don't know if that's true or not though. Sounds credible.) So what do you think? Is it a word? Is it a slang? Or does it just not exist at all as an actual literary expression?

There was a time, not so long ago, when books were actually printed on paper! Hehehe, hard to believe, right? I'm serious, it's true! And the books were huge, with long, adventurous stories that would fill the reader with wonder and amazement for days or even weeks after starting that first page. A little bit has changed since then. Books are online, stories seem to be getting shorter, and readers seem to be much more demanding of authors to 'hurry up and get to the point'. It's almost like folks are quickly skimming through pages and pages of character and plot building just to get to something exciting. And once they get their fill, they start skimming again. And in response, there are a lot of authors who have been shortening a lot of details and trying to keep the 'action', the 'sex', the 'conflict', going at all times. Every author wants to be true to their original idea, but they certainly don't want to 'bore' their audience. Nor do they want their most intimate text 'overlooked' by those in a hurry for something....um..."good"! Hehehe! So, I ask you guys...are reader habits beginning to change the way stories are being written? Are we all becoming a part of 'the quickening', where movie scripts need a big bang every 10 pages, TV sitcoms need a laugh every 19 seconds, and if you're writing...and go more than three pages without something 'profound' going on...you risk losing the attention span of your readers? Maybe there are still some patient readers out there these days...but would books like Brahm Stoker's Dracula, War And Peace, or even Lord of the Rings, make the same impact these days, when the audience is looking for thrills faster and more often than ever before? What do you think?

Ok, this one has been a thorn in my side ever since high school, and I KNOW some of you have GOT to know this one! Please tell me and the rest of us so I can (hopefully) stop thinking about it while I'm writing! Hehehe! What are the proper uses and tenses of 'to lay'??? Like...to lay something down. Or to lay back on the bed. I distinctly remember some of them sounding awkward, and I would never personally 'say' it that way, but when writing, there are definite rules concerning this. There's lay, laid, lain, laying, lays...different tenses and uses! Do any of you know how to clear this up once and for all?

I was wondering about maybe playing a little weekly game in here every once in a while. Hehehe, just because I think it might be fun. I figured that all of you guys in here either write your own stories, or have read enough to pretty much be able to write one if you really wanted to. I'm sure you all have some ideas floating around in your heads somewhere (Lord knows I always do)! So I thought about this.... What if, every week, I asked for a small description of something simple, and you guys took turns writing it out? It could be a sentence, a few sentences, or half a story, if you want...but it's just something I'd love to see. Like...if one week the subject was, "the bluest eyes I've ever seen"...then everyone reading could take a shot at writing a description for it. Hmmm...like.."His eyes were the color of ocean blue, and I was moved." Something as simple as that, or as elaborate and poetic as you wanted to get with it. You can be funny and joke around too, if you want. "His eyes were so damn blue I thought he was choking to death on a dog biscuit!" Hehehe, whatever! Just something else to have fun with! Any thoughts? Would you guys wanna try it out? Maybe on Wednesdays?

Hehehe, I don't need luck! Just a six pack of beer and some privacy, and he's all mine! ::Giggles::

Thanks Tiger! If you like the original "Nightfall"...the sequel steps things up a LOT! Hehehe, so you'll have to let me know what you think when it's finished! As for the submission...THANK YOU!!! Hehehe, we need so much more! New updates are gonna start in about two weeks! So look for it shortly after the debut of "GFD: Blood Ties" on Oct 11th!

One of the most compelling parts of any story for most readers is, and always has been, the characters the story is wrapped around. Whether those characters are meant to be loved, hated, feared, or pitied...it is the characters that drive the story forward, and ask each and every reader looking on..."Do you care about me?" Sometimes, it can be difficult to create a character that a majority of readers will like or relate to. (I say 'majority', because it's rare that EVERYBODY loves the same character. And those protagonists are reserved for 'Superman', 'James Bond', 'Luke Skywalker', legendary status! Hehehe!) But with the right amount of background information, some subtle motivations, and a distinct personality...you can build a group of characters that will hopefully carry the reader's attention, even when the story has to slow down a bit for a breather. The question this week is...how does an author create a character's depth? Either as a reader or a writer, what is it that you look for? What do you pay attention to? Is it the way they speak, or the way they act...or perhaps their impact on the other characters? What is it that you find interesting, and how can authors work to truly build on that interest to flesh the characters out even more? Whatever your thoughts are, let us know?

Hehehe, that was no slip of the tongue, believe me! ::Giggles:: He's sooo cute! Seriously! But we work different hours, so I don't get to see him that much. My boss is convinced that he's gay. He's 20 years old...but I dunno...I don't get any signals from him, you know? We'll see. The investigation continues. Hehehe!

You know...you're absolutely right! I just spent some time looking for links to the "Blood Bank" myself, and didn't find as many as I thought I would! Especially since it's almost a year old now! (Do I have my dates right on this one?) That's something I'll DEFINITELY work to fix in the very near future! So thanks for the heads up! I definitely support the "BB" 100%, and have a bunch of new exclusive stories that will appear on the website soon! (Including "Nightfall 2: Dark Angel", which is coming along nicely so far!) It was really built for the huge amount of artwork, stories, screensavers, and GFD related fan stuff that I've gotten over the years. Unfortunately...it seems that a LOT of people got REALLY shy when it came to posting it to the site. And that sucks, because a lot of that stuff was AMAZING! I have, in my email, drawings and stories and trivia and photoshopped pictures that fans from all around the world have sent over the years. But I won't post them without their direct permission. And they haven't given it yet. So it remains unseen by many. But hopefully some other folks will get inspired and help us to fill up the archive with even more stuff in the future. One can only hope. Anyway, I'll definitely fix the link problem, and let more folks know where it is. Cool? Thanks again man!

I just wanted to give everybody here a hug and a kiss! I've been reading, every chance that I get! I just haven't had much of a chance to respond lately! But I finally finished training my 'assistant' at work last week! So he can function all on his own now, and I can be a bit more social around here! Oh...and did I mention tha this new guy is *CUTE*??? Hehehe, seriously! I think I have a serious CRUSH on him already! He's suck an unbelievable sweetheart! And his personality is like an addiction to me! Add soft brown hair and softer brown eyes....and sighhhhhh....I'm swooning! He's awesome, you know? Seriously. Ahem! ANYWAY...I'm here, and I'm focused! Hehehe! So I'll seezya soon! And thanks for being patient with me! Seezya soon!

Thanks so much for the post dude! I'm sorry it took me a while to answer! Hehehe, I have been a BEAST on this keyboard lately! Anyway, it's awesome that you noticed the few subtle crossovers here and there! Will there be a major crossover in the future? Hmmm, I'm not sure about that one just yet. Even though "New Kid" has crossovers in "Kiss Of An Angel", "Arcade Junkie", and "Wil Power"...I don't know if there will be more in the future. But you never know? I might get a crazy idea or two someday. And ME? Run out of ideas??? Hahahaha! You guys just keep hanging in there! Because I doubt that I'll be running out of juice in the old dream factory any time soon! I've got about three lifetimes worth of stories to tell! And THEN some! ::Nods::

"The Iluminirae" - The word itself, ancient in origin, literally translates to "People Of Bright Eyes". Spoken now, only as whispers in the darkest corners of the world.... It is used to refer to the nocturnal creatures we NOW know as....'vampires'. "RED OCTOBER" IS COMING SOON!!!

You don't have much longer to wait! "Red October" begins on Saturday 10/11....and you won't want to miss a single second of it! The future is now.....

Thank you guys so much for the feedback on this. I didn't really want to change the master plan on all of these things...but if it was more frustrating than enjoyable to read the stories I've written so far, then I'm not above getting help from the 'peanut gallery', you know? I ALWAYS listen. Even when I get stubborn and tell ya that I'm not changing SHIT! ::Giggles:: It always helps to know what people are thinking though. So thank you for the help.

Now let's be honest....no matter HOW much we love the characters, no matter HOW much we like the writing, no matter HOW cute the whole concept might be...love stories CAN'T be all 'love, love, love'! They simply can't be. If they say "I love you" in chapter one, then "I love you" in chapter two, and "I REALLY love you" in chapter three...by the fourth or fifth chapter, a lot of readers are going to start losing interest. As with most stories...there usually has to be some sort of 'conflict' involved. Something has to come along, and 'rock the boat' a little, just to keep things fresh. Now, these events don't have to be neccessarily catastrophic by any means...but they're teenagers, falling in love for the first time ever. There has GOTTA be a few bumps in the road along the way, right? The question is...what kind of conflicts do you think authors should bring into their stories to keep things fresh? There's the obvious 'love rival', the 'betrayal' technique, the 'hidden secret', the 'sexual frustration' of not being together...there are limitless ways to go with a conflicted storyline. What draws you in 'personally' as a reader or writer? And how much is too much? Whatever your thoughts on conflict...fee free to share!

Despite the fact that the overall 'theme' of these stories online is typically 'boy meets boy'...it's pretty safe to say that not ALL cute boys that teenagers fall in love with are going to actually turn out to be gay. It's just not believeable to assume that everyone in your high school classroom is going to like boys, or that everyone in the gym locker room, everyone in the cafeteria, or everyone you share a tent with a summer camp...is going to be a homsexual, and instantly infatuated with your main character. So, sometimes...heterosexual characters (affectionately referred to as the "normal people" get added into the storyline. It might be a believable and realistic part of the whole 'gay romance' background, but there are a lot of readers who see them as a 'distraction'. Some even see it as a way of selling out, believe it or not. Including straight boys in a gay story can seem to have no purpose. And having GIRLS included can be even more frowned upon, for readers looking for a love story between two boys, and nothing more. Do hetero friendships, relationships, or even sexual encounters, take anything away from the stories you read online? Are they neccessary? Should they be played down a bit to make room for the big focus of the story the author is trying to tell? Or do they make the stories more realistic for you? Or maybe you don't even notice them, one wayor another...as it's simply life being unfolded out in front of you as the author sees fit? What do you think?

There have been many instances where a story that you love and support...might have suddenly 'fall off of the radar'. Maybe the author lost interest, or had life issues (either good or bad) that prevent them from writing it any longer, or just plain decided that they didn't like the story any more. And that can be frustrating for readers who are really into the storyline and have invested some emotion in the characters involved. However...things may change later on down the road. Sometimes it's a few weeks, sometimes a few months, and occasionally...it might be a few YEARS, until the story is picked back up again. And voila, you find yourself staring at a brand new chapter! But...will it match the older chapters? Do extended breaks from a story create a 'void' for you guys as authors or readers? Can an author pick up a story after such a long hiatus, and expect to really recreate the same feeling that was there originally, when so much drive and detail and momentum has been lost? And if so...will the new chapters end up looking more 'polished' than the older chapters, creating a feeling of disconnection between the two? I, myself, went back to 'Remix' "A Class By Himself" after a long break, because I didn't think the chapters would match up at ALL if read one after the other. So what do you think? Can a long wait be overcome by an author, or does it do enough damage where the best an author can do is try to cover up the obvious shift between new and old? Let us know!

Soluzo avimus sessiro carem iluminirae iternum jarirore provim vertillio. Egredio, osereo assivere e utirore erom soluzo provim! ::sommridere tresciva:: (Questions??? Stay tuned! All will be revealed in time!)