W_L

A lot of things inspire me, science, fiction, and science fiction, hehe! For my first story, Worlds of Difference, I guess what inspired me and is still inspiring me were frame of reference stories and movies: Slaughterhouse Five and Jacob's Ladder. Let me just say, many time travel and personal framed reference authors should commend and thank Slaughterhouse Five, which is one of the basis for most of our modern fiction. (Dan, you may not read this, but I am betting with 1 in million odds that you read that book at least once in your life, too) (I love the idea of free will versus destiny, which is basically coming down to something that I've subtly or not so subtly added into my stories' themes on the nature of an inorganic plan for the universe aka God's Grand design versus the chaos in "free will" in terms of human ideals.) Exodus was my second story and I was inspired by two concepts: the Battlestar Galactica concept was my most obvious with the fleet of exiles. The less obvious concept was the roots to human organization and functional society building. If a group of homosexual men and lesbians, along with a sizable amount of bisexuals, left to form a new society among the stars with a good deal of technology and experience of the innate evil present in humanity: How would they start? Would they fall down the same road the rest of humanity have picked? Dividing the true homosexuals from the bisexuals forcing them into a new norm. With the majority of the population teenagers and preteens on these ships, we're looking at a new culture and hopefully a new type of humanity. Third, for production sakes, Conscience, George Orwell definitely was major inspiration with Animal Farm and 1984. Additionally, I wanted to get into the mind of a person that wanted revenge and change for the better of gay rights, seems almost like Hitler in a scary type of way, but he has more conscience. It's a character study of Gay Rights' at its noblest peak and its possible darkest depths. Finally, sorry for the long thread, Fourth story on production was Love and Again, I already said it was based off Worlds of Difference concepts, but I am rethinking it. The more I think about the concept the more I realize I am actually basing this off a famous Chinese Novel, Liao Zhai. It's about love between humans throughout time, rank, nations, and even life/death. I am also incorporating more 19th century ideas based for this story. It's odd, but the notion of a repressive society and progressive desires from those under it seems perfect for this story. Jane Austen was just my first. Expect Dickens to come around, he's my favorite Briton. I might conceptualize Byron never written anything like his style before and he's also a fun bi/gay writer. Hugo is my favorite Frenchman, we have similar styles so it should be close. I am already thinking up new ideas and perhaps might even come out with a new short vignette sooner than expected. ------ Now after all that I hope it explains my inspiration.

hey we can have a non-political discussion over here on marriage.

Well I do write outlines for most of my stories, most of the time. I start off with an idea session for topics within a story, then try to see if it would work with the overall plot I wanted. I do outlines for short term and long term; highlighting how I want to end it and special moments that will come up within the story. The short term outlines usually run no more than 2-3 chapters, long outline are overlapping plot for a push to finale. There are exceptions to my conceptual formation, Love and Again for instance was born out of many failed concepts that I chose not to put into Worlds of Difference, because it did not fit or the historicity was just too difficult to work in for that particular story. So the story is a bit more of a piece in progress without a true defined outline, short or long term. Exodus and Worlds of Difference, along with the upcoming Conscience, were all thought out and expressed different concepts for where I want the characters to end up and what they shall endeavor to strive for. It really depends on how you want the story to work and what you want to write. I enjoy writing Love and Again, short vignette style, due to the exploration and freedom I have in experimenting without a precise outline. However, it is causing me headaches development wise to keep two characters true to their core beliefs and strengths/weaknesses, while working in evolution and development without a set plot. Right now; I am getting the feeling that Worlds of Difference will consume most of my next 2 months, because I want develop that story more. It will also give me more ideas on new concepts for next chapters of Love and Again. Having an outline is not the golden key to good writing; it can be a hassle to get multiple stories to certain points that you need them to be. One reason, why I am holding back Conscience for later like August or September release due to issues with getting Exodus edited, which is even bigger than all three other stories combined. Sorry for the long author talk; I hope you got something out of it about reaching for certain thresholds in outlines and delays within them versus fun anarchy in non-outlined stories but issues with new concepts working well together.

Italy is my favorite peninsula, but I wonder what triggered the earthquake.

Hey, you mean Goats don't you? <hears the terrified bah of a certain goat running off in the distant from an angry mob>

Well, let's see, this story started out as a concept with plots from Worlds of Difference that didn't make my final cut. Now, I think it's gone to be something independent of its roots. There is a evolution of relationships and complexities within society that keep getting stronger as time wore on. That was intentional on my part to develop more complex societal issues, when two people felt love for one another. Chapter 1- Where we begin Start of civilization and the beginnings of a long relationship with the city of Ur in Sumeria. I didn't mention it in my premise, but each story connects to the next one through subtle hints as they progress, but you will never know the destination of the next story, only a small hint. Chapter 2- The Twillight Struggle Now we are getting a mix of contemporary issues mixed in with semi-biblical ideas. Sodom has always interested me and making it the centerpiece of a long historic animosity between the Descendants of Lot, aka Jews, Christians, and Muslims versus homosexuals, seems to feel right. Of course, the numbers of Lots converts will always exceed the numbers of homosexuals, but the ideal to strive for a better world is set against these overwhelming odds. I consider this a small tribute to fallen crusaders of our cause. Chapter 3- Equal before the Sun Well, Karma is always going to catch up on you. Centuries of Nomadic Barbarism and destruction have caught up to the Descendants of Lot. I feel pity, which I hope that would be translated for the plight of these people. Slavery is a wrong, no matter how justified you may feel about it. Egypt and pre-Exodus story is another of my nods to the Bible; not really true account, but it works to complete sort of my revenge cycle between one of my main characters and Lot's people. Also, I placed a lot of subtle and not so subtle hints about sexism in ancient Judaism, very true to the facts. Sorry, if this portrayal makes people uncomfortable. Chapter 4- Beyond the Walls Ah, my final break from the ancient world bronze age era. The Dorians are a mystery and possibly a lie concocted by British Historians trying to explain migration patterns, but I contend that mythology is rooted in actual history. Heracles/Hercules is known to be bisexual, but his greatest lover is Aeolus. Heracles anger and love for Aeolus is deep and very heart felt; under necessity which the story hinted at, Heracles was forced to take wives and breed children at the urging of Aeolus to continue his royal line of Dorians. Well like most non-centralized warrior kingdoms, this dynasty broke down pretty badly after his death, resulting in the 200 year Dark Age of the Aegean. Kevin Sorbo would never portray a homosexual like that, so ignore the old TV show when reading this, but imagine the young Heracles and Aeolus engaged in their sex scene. This was my first large scale sex scene in any piece of literature. Hoped it was an equal to Nifty's many erotic archives, hehe! Chapter 5- Simple and Simplicity The turning point, at least in my storytelling techniques, I wanted to try emulating Jane Austen and what I came up with was a bizarre free form of consciousness. It is interesting and complex with certain areas that can be compared to the 19th century. Hmmm....Would we characterize the 19th century as the Dark Ages due to social stagnantation? By the way, the nod to Aeson and Timeus heading to Thebes is for the next installment, which will not be out for atleast 2 months so enjoy the wait. Discuss and argue? Maybe make a little love in between to get time accelerated.

This is just a general discussion on writing techniques/style. I feel like everyone has their own unique techniques and major themes for stories. For example, DK seems to favor a third persons perspective in a first person narrative with strong themes on family. It's an awesome technique and writing style found in his Do Over and Bully series. CJ seems to be more pure third person with action orientation on his stories. The Goat really impresses everyone with his unique twists and turns through such story elements. Myself, I am starting to see that I like the third person narrative with indirect first person emotional thought *(Thank you Jane Austen for inspiring me to put that in future stories) with themes of history, culture and relationships. This is beyond genre typification, DK writes Sci-fi, Fantasy, and traditional fiction with this underlying style. CJ crosses genres subtly within his stories working through adventure styled fiction and blend it with a common boyband oriented story that Gay writers have used for years. Everyone has a unique style and writing technique. So, I want to pick you brains a little and know how you write.

Wow time works fast. Happy Birthday Martin, Enjoy the 20's!

I just figured out another one: 3. I am afraid of tall guys beating me up. I guess it's something from childhood experiences in elementary school. Additionally, my ex-roommate who was extremely tall 6'6"; I had a crush on him after learning not to be afraid of him. Strange, I'm afraid of something that I might love.

Does watching old episodes of the L-Word help you out? I love lesbians, even though I might be gay. Strangely enough, I always was fascinated by Xena, the warrior princess due to the lesbian subtext and of course the shrill yell. However, some people might claim the show as a general sexual power relationship rather than a mutual one due one partner being the dominant versus the weaker partner. However, for fans that watch, the weaker partner gets progressively stronger and the dominant partner gets softer. I love that part about the Yin and Yang balance between lovers growing and developing.

Hey jail bait is awesome! Glad ot hear you are sorta-maybe-kinda involved, everyone deserves love in their life.

Life will throw a lot of things at you. I graduated a year early and am I going through Grad school at the moment. I know what you are feeling man; getting the scheduling done and overloading courses is rough. In this economy, you really cannot win; if you delay taking courses, then you must bear more financial burdens with lending still pretty tight for college students. IF you take forcing yourself into a very fast overload schedule, then you might burn out before its over. There is no absolute solution, but the best you can do now is calm your mind and think up what you can do and can't. If you think a specific type of schedule like only night classes for a few days of the week, while working part time might be a solution to your financial woes, then look at the courses possible. IF you want to adjust wait for graduate school like most people after a few years, when your situation improves that might be possible as well.

Wait, Empathy has a Birthday? Hmm, I wonder if Sympathy is his caring sister and Apathy is his emotionally stagnant preteen brother. Happy Birthday!

You know among the groups the X-Men represented, gay people were one of them. Magneto is what the creator thought would eventually come out of an oppressed set of people, a militant ideologue, who in his misguided desire to seek revenge harms the very people he want to protect, because the normals within society would want to intensify their oppression, which in turns intensifies Magneto's desire for revenge and ends in the oppressed becoming the oppressor. Gay Rights has not have a very militant leadership, except for a few writers that no one listens to, hehe! It's really sad what is happening to gay people across the world and Iraq is just one area of problems. Iran is far worse, since there is no news coming out of the executions of gays in that country. It is merely accepted and quite literally depressing to think about.

Awesome work and glad you have joined our motley group of Gay writers in exile....I mean bloggers of GA.

Next installment just got posted. Dorian Invasion, Political intrigue, Heracles and Aeolus, and a lot of myth mixing in with history. Hope you enjoy it guys. It is entirely original to my mini-anthology plot. If you guys want the rest of his 12 labors, just ask me to write a larger story, which I am actually interested in if people enjoy it.

Oh my, Belated Happy Birthday Ash! :great: :great: :great: Hope you enjoyed it!

We need New Hampshire to fall in line in the northeast to complete the New England stronghold. It's inevitable if Vermont succeeds in passage.

Well, I am not done writing this new installment. However, let me just give a good excuse, it is taking many more words than I expected. This is an original idea, not something that I am borrowing from failed concepts that never made it in Worlds of Difference, so this new installment might be a bit more than my usual vignette. Sorry for those readers that liked my short vignettes that were 1500-2000 words. If enough people enjoy this installment, I might just expand it into a large story (Kevin, my dear, please help me out if this idea really does work!), because this is one of the most expansive things I have written. Also, historically it is one of the most controversial concepts among ancient world historians to write about. I fully accept the blame for inaccuracy that might come out after finishing this story, but it is well worth it. By the way, Kevin I read your response to my religious ideas, we really should consider eloping. (In every joke there is morsel of truth, I really do enjoy your viewpoints and if you were closer I might actually ask you out for coffee or tea.) Okay, see you soon with my new installment: Beyond the Walls Interesting Name, wonder what it is alluding to?

True in the past with their multi-billion dollar powerhoouse, However, due to the recent economic crunch, those anti-gay groups cannot pump as much money into the fight. Gay rights group lost a lot of capital, too, but the rules of superior size and superior decline would dictate the anti-gay coalition lost more. There might be a mid-west judicial strategy now that no one ever thought possible if gay rights groups want to capitalize on this decision. Open up the dialogue in Wisconsin, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Illinois. If two or three of these four states declare similar rulings in the best case scenario, then the anti-gay groups have a three front war to fight in one their heartland regions. With the northeast legal issue of Vermont now in jeopardy to their cause, and the continued war of war-chest attrition now being fought in California over prop 8, the anti-gay groups do not have the financial capital to fight gay rights on too many fronts. Anti-gay groups will have to pick and choose on their battlefronts; most likely leave California and regroup their financing for death kneel fight in the mid-west. In other words, we can bankrupt them into a corner; there is no way they have enough money now to fight gay rights while being fiscally solvent all around if we open enough fronts for them to fight. So James, don't worry, I think this will be a fight that might get to be fairly fought.

I said it in my author's note, I had too many ideas during my outline for Worlds of difference that really could not work for that story due to historical uncertainty. Well, I removed that with this mini-anthology series. I wanted to have fiction backed by proof for Worlds, but I think this story is worth more as a romantic anthology. This is almost a prequel to the legendary story of Exodus and it stars our two souls. These guys have been through a lot, but the soul inhabited by Mattaniah or Matt is going to face something in his soulmate that he did not see from the get go. Zeke is still bitter about what the proto-israelites did to him, his adopted home, and his love. He does not know it, but divine retribution goes throughout history and it is a dish that works very well for him. He's been a conquering warlord/First Sumerian King, an arrogant trader turned artistic genius, and now a young Egyptian slave holder. I am trying to not go too far and appear anti-semitic even though the roots of anti-gay sentiment might be in Jewish law and the religion is still on pretty rough terms with gays, but I want to keep from going into the Nazi area. Equal under the Sun The link for the fourth installment. I think I can maintain a short 2000 word+ small vignette story a day, if there is an interest.

I feel your pain. German is the most difficult western language to understand. Chinese is the worst language to ever literally or expressly translate. Good luck with you future endeavors,

Let's see, I am still a bit apathetic towards life, but I am fine. I hope there is more opportunities in the coming year than what we have at the moment. As for writing, Worlds of Difference took a lot of planning and ideas that never made it through my own personal story elements. So I have a lot of excess stuff from this story, which in essence has form the GA story Love and Again I just finished the 1st and 2nd installments. The first deal with a simple story about ancient Sumer. The 2nd was an original plot from Worlds of Difference on Sodom and Gomorrah. I actually cried at the writing of the 2nd installment, because there is a poignancy and possibly a dark pretext that I am hinting at. I am also getting into writing a kind of semi-plot driven chapter Name for each short story in this little thing. The 2nd installment is called the Twillight struggle, a phrase borrowed from JFK in his speech about US needing to fight the ills of mankind, whether it be poverty, segregation, sexism, or any type of inequality. At the end, the struggle is as the sound of the word twillight creates; un winnable for our time and we must succumb to certain truths. My take on Sodom and Gomorrah is not the Biblican perspective, but that of some one with an imagination and also a more human reality at how hate and belief can drive toward death and destruction.

Nice 3 decades, Congratulation Lugh! Happy Birthday and know your life begins at 30! :D

Anyone ever read: Les amiti