Libby Drew

Thanks, corvus. That's high praise, my friend. This IS it. This is it. I'm not even crossing my fingers behind my back. I had the end in mind before I began, and I'm not even sure where I'd take the story from here because, well, I'm torn, frankly. I want Sam to both call and not call. I want a happy ending and a more realistic one. Yep. I'm going to leave off here. Let it stand on its own. *sits on hands*

You can hog it anytime you want, Kit. Thanks for reading. While I waffled for a while about the aura, what finally convinced me that less explanation was the proper course was what made me worry about it in the first place: reader reaction. I've learned to love how each person interpreted Seth's unique aura and listen to their opinion on how it affected the story. Thanks again. Knowing I was able to entertain you through these several stories is the best gift an author could get.

Thanks again, Kit! I like knowing when readers clued into the "mystery" in this story. In retrospect, I can agree on the wordcount, though at the time I threw a tantrum fit for a five-year-old. Which just goes to show you that too much planning can stifle how a story should be told. Thanks! Many long discussions have occurred on my journal over the short story form, which I'm very fond of. I think because so many of the 'rules' can be cast aside. There's incredible freedom in the short story, but, for me anyway, it's more difficult to get right. I'm still learning. Thanks again for the feedback. I'm glad you enjoyed the story.

Thank you, Kit! Feedback for this story always puts a smile on my face. There really wasn't any melodrama involved in the situation this story was based on. Just...negotiation. Thanks again for reading and commenting.

Made it home in one piece? Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading.

Totally agreed on your first point. It's one of the reasons I love the short story form so much. I like seeing just how much 'story' I can get into a 'snapshot', but when it's over, it should be over. This was a gift for a very dear friend, and the pleasure of making her happy outweighed my reservations. It was short! I was short on time. And the recipient didn't really ask for a buildup of intimacy, but I'm afraid I put it in anyway (or it would have been even shorter). Total romantic sap here. <-- One huge downfall to sequels, that I've found anyway, is that once you open the door for more, it's so difficult to shut it again. How much more is enough? The snapshot becomes two, more doors open, and before you know it, the message of the original story is lost. /babbling Thanks so much for reading and for your feedback. I really appreciate it.

Oops! And here I thought I should've warned for infidelity.

Hi, Kit. No, you're not wrong. It's a typo. Thanks for pointing it out so I can get it corrected. I'm glad you enjoyed the story. Thank you very much for the comment.

Here be the discussion thread for Undertow. I was thinking I'd go into all the reasons I wrote it, and why I chose to blend certain themes together, but...eh, I decided that kind of navel-gazing just wasn't all that interesting to anyone but myself This is a stand-alone short story with no planned sequel. Thanks very much for reading.

Happy Birthday, Steve! I hope today brings you everything you've wished for. Thanks for all kindness and support.

Happy Birthday, James! Hope you have a great day.

Amazing start! (As if I expected any less.) Everything you write is many-layered, a journey where I'm left wanting more and wondering where you'll take us next. I can't wait for chapter two. Your prose is, as always, smooth, well-paced, and flawless. Your name came up conversation with another writer a few days ago. I said I don't know how you continue to top your own efforts, but here you go again, doing it easily. Bravo! And where's chapter two???

*happy sigh* This one took a lot out of me. There were tears. And it's not the tightest, most compelling thing I've ever written, but as so much of it is personal, every word of positive feedback means so much. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Thank you. Again! It behooves me to remind myself that many young people are still quite innocent in some things. Many of those things pleasantly surprise me sometimes. Thanks for reading and commenting. I'm glad you enjoyed the story.

Thank you! I originally had this story go quite a bit further, then took a look at the word count, and knew it would never fit within the parameters of the submission guidelines, so reworked it. It's definitely sad, but not hopeless -- at least I'd like to think. Thanks for your kind words. Thanks! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. And happy you felt the hope at the end, because that was my intention. Your feedback is much appreciated.

Thank you! Especially for your comment on Thomas' POV. I didn't realize until I started how difficult a blind person's POV would be. Thanks for the words of support. This story does have a little sequel. Nothing too earth-shattering, just a little first-time ficlet called Learning by Touch. Thanks again for the feedback!

Thanks very much for reading and for your comment. I've had to put this story on haitus, which saddened me, but it was time to be realistic. All the free time I saw on the horizon sort of evaporated, and I've got two other WiPs on the table as well that need attention. However, I'm determined to finish Between Lives, and knowing that people are enjoying it make me even more determined to follow through when I can. Thanks again and take care.

It's a statement that gets to the bones of the matter. It's fun and informative to read about what works for others, but only you can decide your own motivations. Writing can be a habit -- the more you do it, the easier it becomes (and the better you get at it) -- so there is merit, at least I've found, to sitting yourself down every single day and writing something. Sometimes I don't have the creative energy to write new material, so I edit. Or plot future scenes. But I still try to write a little every day. I know a few people who pick arbitrary numbers, like 250 words, and others who impose time limits on themselves, say a half an hour, for their daily output. My system seems to involve finding an hour or so of peace, whether that be at 5am or 5pm*. Do what works for you, but above all else, DO IT. *For the record, 5pm is never a peaceful time. ;-p

Great point! And Marco, Cyn liked my "then" piece, which I still consider to be overly formulaic, sloppy porn. (Sorry, Cyn, you know it's true ;-p) The point is, you never know what's going to resonate with a reader. Keep your creations. If nothing else, they're a diary of sorts -- of where you've been, and where you're going.

I have a sudden and inexplicable desire to write a sequel. Think this subliminal stuff would work on my kids? I really need the car washed. Anyway, thank you. I love the name Seth too. To me it says strong. Confident. ;-p Isn't is funny what a simple name can do to our perceptions? If I were to expand this universe, Seth would be the strength at the beginning (while Thomas finds his footing), but it would be Thomas' spirit and fortitude that would carry them through the end. I honestly think he's the strongest of the two...he's just a bit lost. Sequel. Yes, I'll consider it. Thanks again!

Well, entrants are challenged to write the worst sentence they can possibly manage for the contest. All I know is, I bet some of these people had a blast crafting them.

Flatterer! I'm glad you enjoyed it. I don't shy away from writing sex, but I don't do it very often because, well, to make it new and different and fresh and edgy every time is hard. ;-p I do my best not to fall back on cliches and overused terms. Not sure if I always succeed. *does the limbo under your bar*

You have quite a lot of faith in me. ;-p I think you couldn't be more right. It's a concept that could lead to a staggering physical experience. The challenge for the writer is to create that with a lack of visual cues. Until I wrote Sight of Stars, I didn't realize just how much I rely on them. For you, I'll give it some serious thought. I'm always a sucker for a good idea. Thanks again for your thoughts and feedback.

The Bulwer-Lytton Contest results are in for 2009. Bulwer-Lytton, also known as 'the dark and stormy night' competition, challenges people to write the opening line for a fictional novel...and to make it bad...but enjoyably bad. Longer is not necessarily better, but it seems they do tend to favour longer entries. I think this is my favorite from this year's winners: The serrated butter knife tossed capriciously onto the 38th Street sidewalk amid the detritus of Salem cigarette butts and a Mentos box was devoid of zero trans fat margarine, but glinted invitingly in the sunlight nonetheless, poised for the opportunity to be repurposed to cut up a Snuggie, and Vladimir took it. Some of the winners made me laugh a lot, others not so much. I thought we might be able to do a bit better around here. Anybody interested in giving it a go?

Way to make me blush. Glad you liked the story. Chris' character was inspired by a real person -- a very, very brave young man. So maybe one day you will meet him. The world can be a small place. Thanks for reading and for the feedback!

Happy Birthday, Jessi!