W_L

Harper's style is based on the American Southern Gothic genre, normal spoken language of the locale, and settings that are personally based on one own experience. As for characters, Harper had a really good background to create a novel, but she needed a great editor to help her focus her message. The Draft book Go Set a Watchmen was far different from what we as an audience ultimately got, it was darker and character such as Atticus Finch were their polar opposites (Pragmatic traditional instead of honorably progressive). Part of the the story's success is due to Tay Hohoff, her editor, who helped shape the early draft's anecdotes and lack of strong moral center to what we nowaday praise as one of the best American novels of the 20th Century. You don't need to write with a southern drawl or New England alliteration to create stories like To Kill a Mockingbird, just be honest about yourself, your life, and the challenges you face. Then, find a writing partner aka an editor, who can channel your creative impulses and build a story from a draft. I know my stories without an editor are murky and labyrinth-like, filled with great ideas just unfocused like most writers, in order to bring out the best in me, I need an editor to help focus ideas. I can help others focus their ideas and story elements, too, but I can't be unbias towards my own creation and require lens of another viewpoints to help As @Kristanoted, if you haven't done so you should think about joining the Writer's Circle, we discuss everything in there concerning story elements, characters, and themes.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25543022-kick-at-the-darkness (Warning Spoilers ahead in my review) There's something about Zombies that fascinates people to write social commentary in their story. I guess the idea of a group of mindless merciless beings that consume the flesh of normal human beings or worse converts them into one of them has a lot of application to things such as consumerism, human exploitation, political satire, and "mob mentality". I enjoy well written Zombie stories, because they mirror some of the worst flaws in human society, the problem of the group. When I was young, I wasn't into Zombie stories, nor did my upbringing introduce me to the concept of Zombies. In recent years, Korean film makers have crafted movies like Train to Busan and streaming shows like Kingdom, which with its 16th century setting has retcon them into Far Eastern sensibilities. However, in traditional storytelling, East Asian stories don't have an equivalent to the Western Zombie; though we have stories of the undead, ghosts, and ghouls out for "Selective" vengeance. Werewolves are a different kind of story that is more niche than the variable Zombie-genre, which has grown in the last few decades. The idea of man becoming a beast is fascinating in its own right, but there is variability in the storytelling. In Western story tradition, Werewolves are usually viewed as villains, who like Zombie stalk human beings for sustenance and their bites can convert humans to their side. Essentially, the werewolf is portrayed as humanity in our beast state, who have abandoned the benefits of civilization for the nature. However, in East Asian story traditions, where creatures such as the werewolves exist along with foxes and deer who can shapeshift into human beings, they are considered part of the "natural" world, humans intrude on their domains or they are sent by nature to punish human beings for our misdeeds. In Far Eastern folklore, their presence is also malign, but the blame is not on them or their nature, rather it's humanity that prompts them to act, many times in self-defense, to destroy civilizations. Beyond a few odd horror fiction stories, I have rarely read a story that contains both elements until Keira Andrew's Kick at the Darkness. The Zombie-Apocalypse is an old narrative device now with The Walking Dead being a notorious example, but having gay characters confront the Zombie Apocalypse is refreshingly new. There's also a bit of parallel (and horror) if you compare certain early plot elements to current issues: A Pandemic spreads rapidly across the world, news spread with various loose or false narrative, and eerily the hope of people that "Authorities" will control the outbreak to no avail. Yes, this is a story that has aged better with COVID-19 pandemic, written 6 years ago before our current predicament means that the author is not out to make a quick buck from current events. ------------ The setting is not original, but the characters and how they deal with the end of the world are. Let's start off with our first protagonist character: Parker. At first, I found him annoying, whiny, and self-absorbed. His first few chapters feels like I am reading a caricature of a stereotypical Millennial. He's also the reason why he and Adam, co-protagonist, have to go on a road trip across Post-Zombie Apocalypse USA to reach Cape Cop in Massachusetts to find his family. Logically, it is insane idea to travel that far for what may (and eventually proves to be) a futile effort. As the story progress, we learn more about him and if you open your minds a little, enjoy his quirks. As a gay man, I can understand his innate fears and can imagine what he went through growing up, not in the closet but not accepted fully either. He has a very deep yearning to please and "meet expectations". In this way, Parker's self-esteem is probably the lowest of any character I've ever read in fiction. Whether its his father, who appears to push him into an acceptable profession, i.e. law school, before the Apocalypse, or his last relationship with a boy in high school, who used him as a Cum-dump and remained closeted himself. Parker is used to being degraded and pushed around. He's not just a snowflake by accident, he's been beaten up emotionally to the point where he expects others to treat him a certain way. He grows eventually, due to his love for Adam. Adam would nurse him back to health over 2 days in the wilderness, he found a guy who would not abandon him for his flaws or lack of "meeting expectations". He realizes he can't live without Adam, they soon become lovers. The Desert motel incident left him feeling incomplete and unsatisfied, which is sadly something I do want to touch on. I think at this point in the story Parker has developed a "sex = worth" issues, Adam loves him for more than the sucking and fucking, but Parker has never known that type of love beyond the sex. It's a testament to the author to display Parker's issues without psychoanalyzing him, he's got deep-seeded problems that a lot of gay guys can see. When Adam meets another werewolf, Parker feels his inadequacy and fears rejection due to the lack of sex as well. Parker's character breakout of this mold somewhat after he saved Adam from a mad scientists, but it remains unresolved (and continues to remain unresolved in Book 2 of this series Fight the Tide). Basically, readers, if you give Parker a chance and think about his motivations with the subtext that I noted above, he's a deeply flawed and intriguing character. Yes, he may come off as a complete bottom-boy stereotype, but I am glad that there's reasons for why he's that way, which asks some tougher questions. Now as for the 2nd Protagonist, Adam. He's basically....Mr. Spock as a Werewolf 😮 Yes, he's stoic and holds his emotions down, but he was trained from a very young age to control his "wolf". I find this take on a werewolf very fascinating. He has a lot of emotions and is deeply in love with Parker, but like Parker, he doesn't know how to express his love. Partly due to his werewolf secrets and partly due to the fact that he's a "lone wolf", since his entire family/pack died in a car accident (They were decapitated, which like a lot of horror stories would prevent supernatural creatures from using their healing factors). Then, there's the whole background of him being in foster case, trying to reveal himself to his foster parents (then being rejected out of fear), and him running away. His werewolf nature is oddly enough a parable for LGBTQ+ kids, who try to come out to their families and being rejected by them. Parker doesn't reject him, though and they became intimate with one another soon after establishing that kind of bond. Adam has an emptiness where his family used to be, which is one reason he became a film major, trying to capture the moments of joy and belonging that he has long lost. We learn a lot about the lore in this stories' universe about Werewolves, they have transformation ability, extreme speed, healing factor (possibly even immunity to Zombie virus), and a deep connection as a species with one another. I can understand why Parker is jealous of Adam's werewolf connection to an ancillary character named Ramon, but if you look at from Adam's perspective, it's a call of belonging that comes naturally to him. In the end though, Adam learns that his natural instincts had led them into a trap, but it's not his fault. -------------- At the heart of the story, I think the author consciously or subconsciously created a split between group dynamic/relationships and Individual drives. Parker is a character driven by his individual drives and seek to find fulfillment in goals/expectations, in romance he seeks his partner's sexual gratification as a result to prove his individual merits. Adam on the other hand seeks group dynamic/relationship, he is trying to fill the emptiness in his life left by his dead family and trying to connect with others, especially Parker, who he has bonded with. A self-centered individualist and a group oriented person is a good dichotomy for a relationship, learning to accept help from others and learning to reach personal goals help both of them in the end. The story ends when they reach a desolate Cape Cod town. I like the call outs and the sex on the Provincetown Dunes was cutely relevant (I know gay guys do that around here). They choose to go out to sea and find a new destination, where there maybe hope. --------- Overall, I give this story 9 out of 10, it was good and it didn't fall into any of the Tropes of Fantasy genre dealing with Werewolves. I also like how subtle the psychological issues human beings are displayed throughout the story. They aren't evil per se, but they are broken. Parker and Adam were broken before the Zombie Apocalypse, but seeing them interact with other survivors fleshed out how strange this new world has become.

🎈 🎈 Congrats @Myr 🎈 🎈

I love UFO studies from the purported crash landing at Roswell to the official investigation by the Air Force with Project Blue Book. I agree with @Myrsomething is going on with these strange aerial phenomenon, but it may be neither extraterrestrials nor human governments testing new technologies. We have nothing to offer an advanced civilization with contact and if they can traverse light years, they don't need to appear to us visibly, we already know how to create our own cloaking devices. As for countries with such Tech, it's possible, but such aircraft test flights could be dangerous if they fail or fall into your enemies hands, why risk such a close flyby, especially when the US Navy is testing Directed Energy Weapons now? Beyond those two explanation, more extraordinary ideas have to be put out there, stuff like: New terrestrial lifeforms, parallel universe/phase interacting with our own, or even leftover automated technology from advanced human/non-human earth-based civilizations. Our planet has been around for billions of year, I can't believe we're the only semi-intelligent species to develop in that time with technology.

I feel old re-reading my list from 2012 on the 1st page of this thread. I've been on this site for a decade Pokemon still seems to be the common denominator for a lot of us. Dorkly had a really interesting/funny video on differences between Pokemon gamers and generations:

I watched this last week and this song conveys so much humanity. It's still in my head. Back in the 90's Disney had its Renaissance of animated movies, but Dreamworks proved with Prince of Egypt, it could be a contender with amazing songs, voice actors/actresses (including Patrick Stewart, Val Kilmer, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helen Mirren, and Sandra Bullock). and a timeless story retold without being too stern or too cartoonish, there's good reason why this movie is considered an animated classic by audiences who grew up in the 90's.

That's interesting, steampunk and Norse/Celtic Gods are an interesting combination. As to erotica, I love the romance plots that makes the payoff between two guys worthwhile. A scene can last a few pages, but love between two well-developed characters lingers for readers. Gay Romance is one of my favorite elements in stories. Feel free to join the Author group and ask for assistance or ideas. A lot of us have written stories on various topics and subjects.

Thank you for reading and the review Thank you, I had considered this story for a longer novel, but decided against it, since I am working on a novel that is a bit more time consuming Thank you, the aim of this story was to try and be realistic. I hope I found a balance on how regular people live and love Thank you, yes money and fame isn't what makes HEA story works, it's sometimes just being there with someone you love. -------- Thanks to all the great readers for taking your time to read this little story

Good to know, I won't mention the "centre of the universe" I know Toronto is treated like Canadian version of New York, didn't even occur to me that the hate is similar for their sports coverage (American Football's coverage and booth reviews come out of New York as well, so lots of team hate the calls). Being a Bostonian, we sort of live in the shadow of Bobby Orr, who was an Ontario boy oddly enough and probably the youngest prodigy in the history of Hockey. He's among the short list next to Wayne as the Greatest Hockey Player of all time. I remember the stories about his father pushing him and negotiating with the Boston Bruins at the time about pre-draft details, squeezing the head office to make sure that Bobby got everything he needed as he was working his way up. Think about it, a 13-14 year old teenager with a lot of raw talent and getting scouted, I can't think of anyone in modern sports of any variety who would have committed to someone that young or a parent who would go out of their way so much to support their child to reach the professional levels. @wildoneIf you recall, I won one of GA's NHL bracket when we used to have them Also, I used to ice skate a little as a kid after school, there was a program for disabled kids, but I am rusty now. I love the free motions on the ice and cold blow of air on a rink, especially when it's unseasonably warm autumn day. It's cool that you had a few brushes with Wayne, I hope you had him autograph your helmet or stick. That sort of stuff is a keeper. By the way, did you by any chance meet his enforcer, Dave Semenko. I've seen the highlight reels from back then and I can understand why people called him Wayne's bodyguard. He deserved credit for Wayne's early success as well.

@wildone Wayne Gretzky was an amazing Hockey player and it's sad to hear his father passed. I only saw him towards the end of his career, but I was old enough to see the effect of the Gretzky rule and post-rule era in the NHL. Side note: Are you a Calgary Flame, Toronto Maple Leaf, or Montreal Canadiens fan? I know there are more Canadian teams, but those are the 3 that comes to mind that have beef with Edmenton Oilers.

Well, I have my old editor and I am writing again Today, I present for those who enjoy short stories of 5K words or less, Never Ending Struggle It's not a massive story with heavy plots or complex characters, it's just a straight forward slice of life story. I approach modern life and its issues with honest reflection in here. I highlight facts people don't think about from the lower paying and grinding work of teaching assistants, known as Paraprofessionals. That stuff is quite true and in many places in the US, these folk go underappreciated and unrecognized, many are barred from being part of Teacher's public service unions, because they are technically not "teachers", so do not receive pay increases or improvements in working conditions. It's a profession few want to be in, but some are forced to accept, because it's the only work they can do, like one of my protagonists, who suffers from Macular Degeneration, a real eye disease that will cause its sufferer to eventually go blind. Other details, I have been part of the Insurance industry in the past on the finance side. It is a really sleazy and cutthroat world of sales pitches and quotes. Then, even if you can meet those goals set by others, you may never get what you deserve for being the best in your job. Many major Corporations in the US have quota systems set up, where they try to promote an exact amount of individuals into positions, no more, based on gender/race/other factors to qualify for Equal Opportunity employer benefits. It's a tragic truth that sometimes, employers use the very institutions meant to prevent preference to maintain a system where the exact opposite happens. It's an ironic and ugly reality in Corporate world in the US. Beyond all the sordid details, I focused on two people and their normal lives within such systems. The world may never fair, but at least, you have someone to come home to at the end of the day.

Ten years ago, two young men met in college. It would affect the rest of their lives. Henry Kelley was struggling through his second year of college, having barely passed his freshman year. This was largely due to the merciful natures of his professors. Henry knew he was barely hanging on and felt insecure about his abilities. He knew his eyesight was worsening. When he was a child he received a Macular Degeneration diagnosis. He needed increasing magnification every trip to the opthomolo

This story chronicles a day in the life of two men, who met in college and fell in love. It is short story depicting their ordinary lives and ordinary struggles with many real world issues. It also highlights how despite there not being a happily ever after, it's what we end up with in the end that matters.

As it appears, there was very little interest in an old school Wilderness survival story, I've discontinued work on it. It will just go into my pile of abandon story ideas. Even so, I have just updated my request for editor/beta reader based on a new concept: Modern Romance Fiction editor/beta request thread I got inspired by a question in my mind after reading a few more Romance gay stories: What happens next? Then, I reflect on my own life and wonder, would I have ended up happily ever after with a gay guy, who chooses the blind gay guy as his one and only? What if I weren't as intelligent as I am? What if I couldn't finish college as almost half of disabled kids don't? What if despite all that he chose me in hugely romantic gesture? A happily ever after ending is incomplete, especially with so many things that affect modern people and our lives. Love may be the reason why two people stay together, but there's going to be consequences, doubts, and even regrets. That feels like an untold story of love, acceptance, and something else that I cannot put into words. I don't know if I can find another editor or beta reader like @Talo Segura or @Kitt, who were instrumental in both "0's and 1's" and "Comforting Touch" success. Someone, who may be interested in my new idea and my current bent to telling gay Romance stories. I know their both busy and I know most folks have their own lives as well, but I'd love to tell people this story.

Sounds like you are able to weather this storm on your own Does your stepson or his wife provide any financial support or are they just free-riders?

I'll give you some practical advice, if your resources are finite and you are unable to receive/can't get help due to your name/infamy, to me it doesn't matter what you have done, what you do now until the day you stop breathing is most important. 1. Meals on Wheels has program in Texas for home repairs, plus you can also check about getting food and other resources through their local affiliates https://www.mealsonwheelscentraltexas.org/home-repair-form 2. Seriously consider Senior housing and Section 8, it may not be glamorous, but it will at least solve some issues of a safe shelter in the long term. 3. Individually, do not be too proud to ask for help or feel you are undeserving based on what others may think of you.

As a New England native, here's some practical stuff for winter safety at home: 1. If you are using gas generators for energy/heat, make sure you do not seal your home completely or give your home a few minutes of open air each day if you are going to try to trap heat for the night. I know it's a waste of energy and heat, but trust me, dying from Carbon monoxide poisoning is not worth it. 2. Pipes: If they still work, try to run warm water ever so often to prevent your pipes from freezing up. Your temperatures are not as cold as New England in our worst winter nights, so you should have time to rotate the running of water. Again, it might be wasteful use of warm water, but it's better than paying $2-3K to tear down walls and replace interior piping. 3. Warm clothing: A sweater won't cut it throughout the night. You also don't want to be outside for an extended period of time without any winter clothing; exposure to the elements and low temperature are the basic ingredient for hypothermia, which may seem like nothing more than exhaustion at first, but can seriously become life threatening. Make sure you wear layers. If you need to go out and don't have a winter jacket, at least wear several layers and some waterproof jacket to prevent snow/sleet/rain. 4. Natural gas burners will work without electricity, you will just need a lighter or match, if your electric igniter doesn't work. Focus on simple foods like soups/stews that can be hearty and edible at various temperatures. 5. Frozen food in freezers may last a few days depending on the residual ice levels, but you may need to consider food in your refrigerator carefully, because without power it's debatable whether the internal temperature will be keep food fresh. Bacteria is a major issue there. Best to cook what you can and if you can do dry preparation of foods, the better. 6. Check on people: If you know there's family members or even neighbors who are elderly or disabled, check in on them from time to time. There's a lot of other stuff to consider, but hopefully Texas will get through this in one piece.

I know, I re-read them during the Pandemic It was my favorite too as a kid, I think I had my first "natural" hard-on, while reading the alternate story Brian's Winter, the scene when Brian jumps out of his shelter naked screaming after hearing the "tree popping" sounds. The idea of a teenage boy standing naked in the woods was hot, when I was 12-13. My untitled story is an old-school kind of story, but unlike Brian, I am not going to leave my main characters alone to survive on their own. The challenge will be significantly different though, because of their unique attributes: Being deaf is dangerous in the woods, especially if cannot hear the approach of wild creatures. Having ADHD without medication isn't exactly a Percy Jackson adventure, day to day survival requires focus on something and knowledge that this character does not have. Of course, as neither of my characters have experience in the wilderness, I did leave them some tools for survival early on rather than later as in Hatchet. Brian had full function of his body and mind, so it would be unrealistic for my characters to survive with their physical limitations.

1. Well, the names are optional and not final. I am still seeking a beta and editor I do take cues from prospective readers and can change the last names. 2. This would likely take place in the Canadian Wilderness in the Saskatchewan Province, which has both extreme temperature shifts from warm summers and arctic winters, along with an abundant amount of freshwater lakes.

I am happy to have so many new readers after such a long hiatus Thanks @Ozymandias, @Mawgrim, @Story Reader, @JeffreyL, @Canuk, and everyone who has read this series. It was fun to write

Comforting Touch Story #5 Hearth Keeper It is now live Some General Observations from this Author: 1. The series came out much better than I had ever imagined, I had originally conceived it as a one-off with Finding Warmth, but it just kept writing itself throughout December 2020. 2. I've learned a good deal about myself during the writing of this story, which, for those who know me, is about 60% factual and 40% fiction. It's a lot easier to write based on reality. I realized during this story, my life and family are kind of weird. 3. Relationship wise, I think ending it here between Ben and Jason is satisfying for me at least for now. I don't know if there's any readers who will push for a sequel or desire me to continue with my story. Ben and Jason have a decent ending, there are open threads and unresolved issues, but nothing is perfect. I am open to a reader push for a sequel, but I have no plans for one as of yet. 4. As to the ending of the story, I didn't want to end it with the traditional "ring" and gratuitous fanfare scene of many romance stories. Ben, like myself, relate differently than what most people may to how relationships should work. I debated the best symbolic gesture of what I perceived to be equality between partners rather than borrow a traditional symbol, which has a lot of negative connotations. A ring may be needed for public display as a social convention, but it is not what should symbolize the promise of an "equal" partnership. I think the gift I chose is appropriate for Ben and Jason, utilitarian and poignant. ------- Feel free to discuss here or on the thread

This is the concluding short story to the Comforting Touch Series. Ben and Jason attend Ben's Mother's, Cecilia Christmas day party. Havoc ensues, threats of violence, and realization is achieved. Ben and Jason are lovers, but they must be more to be together for the long term with the insanity of Ben's family life.

Comforting Touch Series, Story # 5- Finale Ben How do you define love? The attempt at love is probably the hardest single act any human being can endeavor. I believe in measured approaches. I believe in keeping to structure with realistic aims. Things like sexual pleasure can be targeted and may be enjoyed by both partners. I believe in open communication in order to maintain emotional connection. This aspect is part of what allows my demisexual attraction to flourish w

The Fourth Story is now live in Comforting Touch series: Relationships aren't fairy tales in real life and more often than not, there's a good amount of complications between even the most committed lovers. How you deal with it is what defines who you are and who your lover is in relation to issues and conflicts. Maybe to some readers, what happened to Jason in Fanning Flames is off-putting, being given alcohol and drugs to make you more pliable for sexual intercourse is a common issue for both heterosexuals and homosexual relationships. Sexual coercion is a form of sexual assault. It might not be as aggressive as the rape I described in earlier installments of this story, but it is no less an unapproved sexual encounter for the pleasure of another. Jason has been through both kinds of sexual assault and it does mess with his mental state, consciously or unconsciously. I hope I treated it with a bit of respect for the subject matter. Despite the former statement about trauma, sex plays a role in this chapter too for the better. It's not exactly traditional gay sex, nor the kink most people see in pornographic videos. Sex for them is part of their mutual relationship and how they communicate with their bodies; it is a purely emotional act of helping one another know they want the other to feel good. In terms of the discussions between Jason and Ben around literature and heroes, it reveals something very intriguing about Ben as a person and his rationalization of what is right and wrong. While Ben might be a Demisexual and focused on emotional connections, he's more complicated in dimensions than merely an bookish do-gooder. He made many mistakes in his past and have many regrets as well. I hope you all like it and feel free to discuss in the forum thread for Comforting Touch. See forum thread link

In Fanning Flames, a series of events led Jason into a compromising situation. Now, he and Ben must deal with the ramifications of what happened in relation to who they are and what they want from their relationship. This story covers the aftermath and their first Christmas Eve together.