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Trebs

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  1. Trebs

    Writing Prompts #192 & #193

    By Trebs,


    Prompts
    REMINDER - Today is the deadline for the Special Mayan Tribute Anthology "End of the World." If you have any issues posting/etc with the anthology, you can contact Cia, who is the temporary anthology coordinator.
     
    So, after you finish posting your anthology story, come on back here to try out one of our new writing prompts, courtesy of Prompt-Guru Comicfan. Please share what you come up with in our Writing Prompts forum!
     
    Prompt 192 –Creative
    Tag – List of Words
    Use the following words in a story – baseball, handcuffs, torn pants, dollar bill, and a nun.
     
    Prompt 193 – Creative
    Tag – The Rain Storm
    A huge storm has brought down buckets of rain flooding the area. However, as the storm leaves the rainwater has uncovered something completely unexpected. What was found?
     
    One of last week's prompts, #190, gave the following scenario: "You came home to find a note that listed everything about you, including your last lover, and where you hide your toys. There isn’t a thing listed in that note that is wrong. The bottom line tells you to meet the sender tonight at a very private and expensive club. You are even told what clothing of yours to wear. Do you go?"
     
    So - how did jamessavik play it out?
     

    He's got more here - but trust me, the last three words of his response are gonna have you glaring at your computer screen...
     
    Enjoy!
  2. Trebs
    Happy 12/12/12 to everyone - and to celebrate, here is a writing tip piece by Andy021278 that we hope you find useful. Enjoy!
     
     
     


    The Infinitive: To Split or Not to Split



    by



    Andy021278


     

    We’ve all seen it. We’ve probably all hurled expletives over it. And more than one of us has probably fretted over it at some time or another. It’s that annoying grammar check in MS Word, and other similar word processing programs, which tells you that you’ve split an infinitive. Well, just what is an infinitive, what have I done to split it, and why am I in trouble for doing it?
     
    First off, let’s deal with describing what an infinitive is.
     
    Infinitives 101:
     
    At its most basic, an infinitive is a form of a verb. Verbs are those “doing” words we all know, and love, and use so often: going, drinking, writing, running, jumping, eating, etc.
     
    Now it’s important to understand that there are two types of infinitive: one is the bare infinitive, and the other is the full infinitive.
     
    The bare infinitive is the uninflected (or basic) form of the verb that we find in the dictionary: go, drink, write, run, jump, eat, etc.
     
    The full infinitive places the marker “to” in front of the bare infinitive, giving us the verb form that we are more familiar with seeing in stories: to go, to drink, to write, to run, to jump, to eat, etc.
     
    It is the full infinitive that gets split, as it is impossible to split the bare infinitive.
     
    How have you managed to split an infinitive?
     
    Well, let’s look at what is arguably the most famous split infinitive known to exist. It has been around since September 8th 1966, and it is found in the opening credits to Star Trek: The Original Series.
     

    The split infinitive here is “to boldly go”. As you will (hopefully) remember from earlier, the infinitive is “to go”, and it has been split by inserting the adverb “boldly” in between “to” and “go”.
     
    So, a split infinitive is simply where one word (usually an adverb) has been placed in the middle of an infinitive. It is also possible to have compound split infinitives (this is a very modern term, and until the late 20th or early 21st century were simply called split infinitives), which have more than one word (usually an adverbial phrase) in the middle of an infinitive (e.g. to more than double, to completely and totally eradicate)
     
    Why am I in trouble for splitting an infinitive?
     
    The whole thing about split infinitives being regarded as heresy and anathema stems from the 1800s. Several cases were stated against splitting infinitives by various educated and learned people throughout the 19th century.
     
    One argument against splitting infinitives has been that in learned languages in use at the time, such as Latin and Old English, it is impossible to split an infinitive; however, this is because in those languages the full infinitive is a single word. So it was felt that the rule about not being able to split infinitives should be applied to English with the same veracity.
     
    The earliest record of regarding split infinitives as a solecism comes from an anonymous American writer in 1834:
     

    Then in 1840, Richard Taylor condemned split infinitives as a “disagreeable affectation”, and in 1859, Solomon Barrett, Jr., called them “a common fault”.
     
    However, the whole split infinitive heresy didn’t really take off until Henry Alford addressed it in his Plea for the Queen’s English in 1864:
     

    The truth of the matter:
     
    Actually, you’re not in any trouble for splitting an infinitive. There is not now, and nor has there ever been, a strict grammatical rule against splitting infinitives. There are pedantic linguists out there who will still chastise you for splitting an infinitive, and they will not rest until you have corrected your butchery of the language of Shakespeare. However, keep in mind that even the Bard himself split an infinitive in Sonnet 142, and the Oath of Office of the President of The United States contains the split infinitive “to faithfully execute”.
     
    In fact, in many situations the split infinitive allows for clarity and unambiguity in a sentence. Consider the following (the split infinitive is underlined):
     
    She decided to gradually get rid of the teddy bears she had collected
     
    The following are ways of unsplitting the split infinitive, but as you will see, it leads to confusion as to what the sentence actually means (these are all revisions of the above sentence, but which one means the same as the original? Obviously, none of them do):
     
    She decided gradually to get rid of the teddy bears she had collected
     
    She decided to get rid of the teddy bears she had collected gradually
     
    She decided to get gradually rid of the teddy bears she had collected
     
    She decided to get rid gradually of the teddy bears she had collected
     
    So, do you use one of the sentences without the split infinitive, or do you use the sentence with the split infinitive?
     
    Now, I’m not for one minute suggesting that you go out there with a meat cleaver, find every single infinitive, and split them in new and interesting ways. What I’m saying is, when you are writing your story (or anything else) and MS Word flags up a split infinitive, you need to go and make yourself a cup of coffee, have a biccie and say “To heck with it”.
     
    A notable exception:
     
    However, as one small contradiction to what I’ve just said, I would suggest that in any kind of formal writing (such as college/university assignments or academic papers being submitted to professional journals), or if you plan to submit your story for publication, it is recommended that split infinitives should be avoided like the proverbial plague. This is because there is still a pervading view in the academic world that the split infinitive is the sign of weak writing
  3. Trebs

    Featured Story: Come With Me

    By Trebs,


    Featured Stories
    This week's "Featured Story" is actually a "Featured Poem". Dark gives us a wonderful review of Promising Author Jian_Sierra's Come With Me. We thank Dark for this review - and if you can help us with a review, please let us know. We're especially in need of reviews of Hosted Author and Promising Author stories. Thanks!
     
     
     
     
     


    Come With Me


    By

    Jian_Sierra

     

    Review by Dark
    Status: Complete
    Word Count: 326
     
    I chose this poem because although I have no knack for it myself, Jian’s poetry always finds a way to speak to me. I feel that poetry deserves to be read aloud and this poem is one that I would love to hear one day.
     
    These words Jian have assembled would make a wonderful forward to any story. This is a light-hearted, wheedling entreaty for one and all to share in a writer’s world, to connect with the characters despite cliffhangers, plot twists, and unlikeable characters.
     
    The summary doesn’t really do this one justice; instead, I would place words from the poem itself:
     
    Let’s embark on a journey / To a world in my thoughts
    … So will you allow me / A few minutes of your time?
  4. Trebs

    Writing Prompts #190 & #191

    By Trebs,


    Prompts
    ANNOUNCEMENT - LAST MINUTE REMINDER!!! Entries for the "Desperate Ends" Winter anthology are due tomorrow - NO EXCEPTIONS! Remember that Cia has temporarily taken over anthologies so please let her know if you have any trouble posting your submissions.
     
    Thanks to our Prompt-guru Comicfan, we bring you two great new prompts:
     
    Prompt 190 – Creative
    Tag – The Note
    You came home to find a note that listed everything about you, including your last lover, and where you hide your toys. There isn’t a thing listed in that note that is wrong. The bottom line tells you to meet the sender tonight at a very private and expensive club. You are even told what clothing of yours to wear. Do you go?
     
    Prompt 191 – Creative
    Tag – The Holiday
    Describe your perfect holiday.
     
    Hmmm - two totally different but interesting prompts. I can't wait to see where people go with them. Try your hand at one (or both) - but when you do, share it with the community in our Writing Prompts Forum!
     
    So - Prompt 189 gave a premise:
     

    And while Mark92 has a great take on this, I think joann414's revenge - um, I mean alternate take made me smile quite a bit more.
     
    I hope you enjoy it as well - it is is in it's entitirety:


    " I can't believe we agreed to buy this house from Marky. Being in the country is great, but I still think it is pretty spooky." Jo Ann spoke to Cassie as they unloaded boxes out of her truck.  
    Cassie dropped her boxes to unlock and door and said," Look on the bright side. We got it for half of what it was worth and they had done all of the repairs that were needed. Stuby even hired someone to clean it before we moved in. The only drawback is having those two idiots as neighbors."
     
    " Having them as neighbors is bad enough, but that haunted crap still bothers me. After all, Mark admitted a few wierd things happened in the six months that they were here. Let's put the last of the boxes upstairs and light a fire and eat our pizza in front of it. There's a couple of bottles of wine in the fridge that KC sent over by Mark as a housewarming gift."
     
    " Sounds good to me girl because I am tired from lugging these damn boxes all day. The unpacking can wait." Cassie replied.
     
    A couple of hours later the two girls had finished the pizza and the first bottle of wine. Pushing herself up from the floor, Cassie took the empty pizza box to the kitchen and retrieved the other bottle of wine. Pouring both glasses full, she clinked hers to Jo Ann's and said, " Here's to perfect roommates and new beginnings." She jumped when she heard a loud thump from upstairs. " Those guys better not be in this house trying to scare us. If they are, they are going to have hell to pay.
     
    Jo Ann got up to retrieve her pistol from her purse, hoping that it was the guys so that she would not have to use it. Tip-toeing up the stairs, the two half drunk girls stopped when they heard noise coming from one of the bedrooms. Opening the door of the room a frigid wind greeted them because the window and shutters were open. Hurrying across the room to shut them Cassie shrugged and said, " I guess we left it open when we were airing everything out yesterday."
     
    Staggering a little as they went back down stairs, the dug out their sleeping bags, grabbed a pillow off the couch, and settled in front of the fire to watch tv and finish the wine. After an hour or so, the sound of glass shattering tore the girl's attention from their Christmas movie. Putting the wine glasses on the hearth, both headed to the kitchen, tiptoeing as carefully as two drunks could tiptoe. Jerking the door open, Cassie and Jo Ann gasped when they saw the tall whispy man standing in their kitchen. " Who are you and what do you want?" Jo Ann demanded.
     
    Turning toward them, the man replied. " What happened to the two guys that lived here? I got to live out my wildest fantasies watching them every night and now they are gone. Please, I am in limbo and until I can find happiness and contentment, I will not be able to crossover to the other side. I was the victim of a homophobic hate crime and my soul was finally finding peace when the boys moved in and I got to watch them live happily the kind of life that I had wanted for myself."
     
    Jo Ann and Cassie looked at each other, both fighting tears at the spirit's admission having no doubt of the validity of his story. Both reached for his hand, eyes widening when their fingers only passed through his, not feeling anything. Motioning for the spirit to follow them, they led him to the big picture window in the side wall of their kitchen. Drawing the drapes, Cassie and Joann pointed to the newly built cabin a couple of hundred yards away that was brightly lit with multi-colored Christmas lights around the edge of the roof and had a large decorated pine on the front lawn. Following the apparition out onto the front porch of their house, they could hear the loud Christmas music coming from Mark and Stuby's house and even see the two of them through the window as they danced happily to a catchy rendition of " Rockin Around the Christmas Tree." The ghost danced happily toward the house and the two girls dropped their wine glasses onto the porch as he danced right through the logs into the boy's cabin.
     
    The next morning Cassie turned in her sleeping bag to see Jo Ann putting wood on the fire. " Was it a dream, or did it really happen?"
     
    " It really happened. We gave our ghost to Mark and Stuby. " Merry Christmas to the three of them."
     
    " Mimosas?" Cassie asked.
  5. Trebs
    We're always grateful to our contributors, and especially to Libby Drew for this great article on traveling with Dorothy from a first to a second draft. Enjoy!
     
     
     


    The Writer’s Yellow Brick Road: Journey from First to Second Draft



    by



    Libby Drew


     
     
     

    First drafts are often wordy. We make them that way because at the divine moment we’re crafting a scene, adding words is the only way to get the details across. Soliloquies abound. Descriptions clutter. Characters chatter. We pour thousands of words onto the page, reveling when the moving, Technicolor scene in our head has been perfectly translated to the reader, undiminished. It’s beautiful freedom.
     
    Second drafts hurt. These edits are by far the most painful because now we must hack into our beloved masterpiece to find the balance between overblown poeticism and straight-forward clarity.
     
    When editing, keep in mind the reader’s motivation for choosing a story. They want to make it theirs. That’s the great philosophical unfairness of being a writer. What connects a person to the written word isn’t what we tell them, it’s what they envision. Let them choose their own details. Don’t always encumber them with yours.
     
    How do we find that balance? Well…with extensive editing, time, and experience. Isn’t that encouraging? It should be. (Don’t roll your eyes.) Every writer can do this. Every writer can excel at this. No special credentials required.
     
    Here are a couple of tips and examples to get started:
     
    1. Avoid, when you can, adverbs and qualifiers. Allow your writing to carry the scene.
     
    We may think we’re illuminating the reader when we add adverbs and qualifiers, but often we’re spoon-feeding. There’s no need to qualify. Trust me. Here’s a bare-bones example:
     
    Suzy’s father has been murdered. At his funeral, Suzy doesn’t need to “weep with profound loss”. Her brother doesn’t need to “scowl with disapproval” at her dramatics. Her mother shouldn’t be “twisting the pearls at her neck nervously.” Friends shouldn’t be “whispering softly” or “studying each of them with suspicion”. Give your reader some credit.
     
    “Suzy wept on her knees by the closed casket. Her brother stood over her, scowling, the toes of his shoes brushing her wrinkled dress. In the shadows amongst the flower arrangements, their mother kept vigil over them both, twisting her heirloom pearls around her fingers while friends of the deceased gossiped about which one of the three had killed him.”
     
    Why is the casket closed? Why is Suzy’s brother standing so close to her? Is the mother’s watchfulness concern for her children’s behavior or something else entirely?
     
    My point is: questions are good. They invest the reader and give the story depth. No two people, having read the above scene, will come away from it with identical impressions. They won’t agree on what type of dress Suzy is wearing or whether the pearls are salt or fresh-water. They’ll argue over the décor, the color of the casket, and the types of flowers.
     
    But I promise they will all understand Suzy has experienced a profound loss (or so she wants everyone to believe), her brother disapproves, her mother is nervous, and the friends are discussing their suspicions quietly. Dialog and narrative alone should be enough to ascertain what the characters are feeling. If they aren’t, rewrite.
     
    Not all qualifiers and adverbs are bad. But most are superfluous. Scrutinize each and err on the side of “not needed”.
     
    2. Eliminate unnecessary words.
     
    Advice we’ve all heard: cut unnecessary words; they add nothing. Actually, it’s worse: they bog down narrative. They muddy the scene. They make our writing less effective. And even though they were imperative for the first draft—when the story is spilling sublimely and flawlessly onto the page (smirk)—cut them.
     
    These edits can be even more difficult than the ones suggested above. We’re often too attached to our work to identify dispensable words. Our best friend is time—taking a few days (or longer, if we can stand it) and coming back to the story with a fresh set of eyes will help. Read aloud. Once on the lookout for certain offenders, they’re easier to spot.
     
    Here’s a short list of words and phrases that expand word count needlessly and weaken narrative:
     
    As a matter of fact
    It could happen that, As it happened
    It is interesting to note, Interestingly
    It is possible that, Possibly
    In all likelihood
    Of course
     
    Without changing the meaning of a sentence, you can almost always cut:
     
    Just
    Really
    Quite
    Perhaps
    That
    Actually
     
    Every one of us has been seduced by lush descriptions and adjective-heavy scene-building. We’ve also been swept away by tightly-woven, concise storytelling—the sort that leaves a firm idea of character, plot, and setting without having it spelled out. Which is better? As with most things, balance is key, but solid editing tips the scales.
    The first step to a breathtaking story is a well-crafted one. From there, all is possible.
     
    ~Libby
  6. Trebs

    Featured Story: Let's Make Love

    By Trebs,


    Featured Stories
    As the gloomy last month of the year is upon us, let's fill our eyes and minds with a sense of the erotic. We're thankful to joann414 for her review of Author Mark92's Let's Make Love. Enjoy!
     
     
     



    Let's Make Love


    by



    Mark92


     

    Reviewer: joann414
    Status: Complete
    Word Count: 3,396
     
    The beginning of this erotic tale lets the reader know that one of the two characters is without two of his senses because of his hands being tied, and a blindfold over his eyes. Well, sounds like kinky sexy huh? Nope, it is one of the most beautiful pieces of erotica that I have ever read, and at my age, I have read many.
     
    The author and his boyfriend are the characters in the story and needless to say the author is telling the story because the boyfriend is not able because he is too busy trying to stay sane and keep his other senses intact.
     
    Seriously, the imagery in the character's detail of what he is intending and is doing always keeps the reader on the edge of his seat wanting to crawl into the screen of his computer to see this wonderful piece of writing unfold and watch the actual portrayal of what reads like a lover's dance or a vivid, captivating act of seduction as told by the author. Every touch, sound and breath can almost be felt by the reader because it is written with such charisma.
     
    If you are looking for a romantic tale, or your typical gay coming out, falling in love with your best friend, or the high school homophobe, look elsewhere. But if you are looking for an enchanting, adult bedtime story that will set the mood for a wonderful night with that special someone then go get their favorite scented candles, find some soft music to play in the background and settle in to read them this bewitching story of lovemaking that not only lures him to you, but tests your own self control trying to finish the story before ravishing your mate.
     
    The flow of the words with such descriptive writing was some of the easiest reading that I have enjoyed here.
     
    It will literally leave you breathless in more ways than one.
     
    Go for it and make your holidays more fun. Read and review!
  7. Trebs
    This week, we're starting off with a wonderful story by Hosted Author Bill W. Andy021278 gives us this review of Bill W's The Castaway Hotel - Grand Reopening 1. I haven't read the story myself, but after reading this review, I plan to very soon! Take a look and see if you agree...
     



    The Castaway Hotel – Grand Reopening 1


    By Bill W


    Review by andy021278
    Word count: 164,814
    Status: Complete
     

    As I sit thinking about writing this review, part of me knows I will never truly be able to do Bill W’s “The Castaway Hotel – Grand Reopening” justice. On a cold Christmas morning in 2011, I finally overcame my unease about reading a story of this length and intricacy (ten books and four hundred plus chapters), but the series has been one of the best written and most heartfelt pieces of literature I have ever read. It is also a rare treat when an author, especially one who is writing for the sheer pleasure of the craft, takes the time and effort to rewrite and expand on a previous story.
     
    The story is predominantly told from the perspective of Josh Currie, who at the start of the series is the principal of the middle school. His wife had passed away a few months before the first book starts, and owing to the size of his house, a friend suggests he open a Bed and Breakfast to help alleviate the loneliness he is feeling - having lost his wife and the fact his children are all grown up with lives of their own. That is until another friend, Sally Swarthout, who works for the Department of Social Services suggests he takes in a foster child owing to the shortage of good foster homes. Although Josh is a widower and lives alone, she feels given his experience of having raised four children and that he is the middle school principal, he is more than ready for the challenge.
     
    Josh finally makes the decision to take in a child and we are introduced to Ricky Glover, who happens to be a student at Josh’s school – and is certainly my favourite character. We see how Josh adapts to raising, and being responsible for the life of, a child again; a child whose initial description in the book is “a whirling dervish who could only be subdued by a tranquilizer dart filled with a dosage large enough to calm a raging elephant”. Ricky is just the beginning of Josh’s new life, and while they are still trying to get to know each other better and trying to figure out how to live with each other, Josh receives a telephone call from Ms Swarthout about another boy she would like Josh to take in.
     
    The series follows everything from the effects this decision has on Josh, to the effects it has on Ricky and others, their friends, Josh’s biological family, and the community at large. Josh also harbours a secret, which if discovered, has the potential to spell disaster not just for him, but those around him. The story takes you on a rollercoaster ride as you run the entire gamut of human emotions, and be warned the author pulls no punches; so make sure you buy an extra couple boxes of tissues.
     
    There are a number of sexual scenes throughout the series; however, the vast majority are between loving partners and the scenes do not read as sex for sex sake. Bill has clearly conducted vast amounts of research prior to writing the series; not just into adoption, but into everything else that is featured in the series. This comes across in both the excellent quality of his writing and his attention to detail.
     
    I’ve read a few of Bill W’s other stories and The Castaway Hotel maintains the standards of grammar, plot and attention to detail I have come to expect from this author. His scenes are full of detail and are beautifully crafted.
     
    Giving The Castaway Hotel “10/10” or “five stars” somehow seems woefully inadequate. I will however, say that this wonderful series has replaced Jules Verne’s “Around The World in Eighty Days” as my all time favourite read. For a truly unique fostering/adoption themed story, make this your next read.
  8. Trebs

    Writing Prompts #188 & #189

    By Trebs,


    Prompts
    So Friday means another prompt day. And - um, if you were here last week, prompt day can get to be a little ... wild. I do have to thank joann414, Mark92 and K.C. for giving me a serious set of belly laughs.
     
    In addition to the above named trio, we have to always give thanks to our Prompt-guru Comicfan for two new fantastic prompts. I hope you try one (or both) but please share it with the community in our Writing Prompts Forum (though, you can also put it in the comments - but so that future readers, the Writing Prompts forum is a better place).
     
     
     
    Prompt 188 – Creative
    Tag – The Job from Hell
    You joked when you everything seemed to go wrong that you would take a job from the devil himself if it meant you could turn your life around and get out from under. A week later you got a job offer from Infernal Industries to work for one Lou F. Angel as a manager. Once you see what the pay and benefits are you quickly accept the offer. What happens when you realize you are working for the Devil? (Your new boss’s full name is Lucifer Fallen Angel)
     
    Prompt 189 – Creative
    Tag – Ghost
    You moved into your new place a few weeks ago. Once you thought you had the whole place the way you wanted it you noticed something was off. Things kept being moved around, furniture rearranged, and even pictures moved to different rooms. At first you were willing to think maybe you were just that forgetful but as you describe your new place to someone who has lived in this town their whole life you get a different story. Your new home is the site of a famous murder and it is suspected to be haunted. Who is your ghost?
     
    One recent prompt, #181 gave an intriguing scenario:
    After years of trying you get a letter from one of the many publishers that they love your book. It goes on to say they want the options to publish it and possibly even make it into a movie. As you read through the contract and the description of the book you realize that the book they have is not one of the ones you expected it to be. Instead of one your manuscripts, they have somehow been sent your journal. Will you allow it to be published and expose your every secret or turn the whole thing down?
     
    K.C. (of the now infamous trio), chose to answer the prompt and I totally enjoyed it:
     

    If you liked this start, here is the rest of his response. Enjoy!
  9. Trebs

    Writing Prompts #186 & #187

    By Trebs,


    Prompts
    Good morning and happy trypophan-coma day! One way to fight your way out of the sleepyness is to engage your brain with a good, quick writing exercise, say ... OH - maybe write a response to one of our great weekly writing prompts, provided by our Prompt-guru Comicfan. But it is only fair, once you've helped yourself out of your funk, to share your response with the community in the Writing Prompt forum so others can engage their brains and marvel at what you pulled together!
     
     
     
    Prompt 186 – Creative
    Tag – Youth at a Cost
    Everyone is going on about how great it would be to be younger. They want to look younger, act younger, and be mistaken for younger. Scientists and doctors have finally found a way to grant everyone’s wish, making them all back up so they look like they were sixteen, only with a body in perfect physical shape. No one is overweight, has acne, or the slightest blemish any more. However there is one catch to looking and acting so young, and it is a major catch. You can have the youth you want but you have to give up everything from your life now. As part of the surgery it wipes your mind blank and they replant memories so you fit into the present world as the perfect sixteen year old. So you start over as someone new, going to school and all. Is this something you are willing to do, give up your life and everyone in it now in order to be young and start all over?
     
    Prompt 187 – Creative
    Tag – First Line
    “Please, tell me that time is wrong or I am in so much trouble!”
     
    Looking back at past prompt responses, about a year ago we had Prompt 83: If a dream is a wish your heart makes, what is it if you are forced to live out a child's dream?
     
    Cia took the plunge and here is what she came up with:
  10. Trebs

    Writing Tip: Participial Phrases 101

    By Trebs,


    Writing Tips
    Participial Phrases 101, Or The First Thing Your Editor Is Going To Yell At You About


     
     
     

    By


     
     
     

    Libby Drew


     

    That’s not true, by the way. All editors are angels.
     
    So… a participial phrase. What is it? According to grammaruntied.com, it’s a word group consisting of a present participle (also known as an -ing form) or past participle (also known as an -en form), plus any modifiers, objects, and complements.
     
    If you find the English class gibberish definition confusing, you’re not alone. Just as a picture is worth a 1000 words, an example the best way to explain a participial phrase.
     
    Example (participial phrase underlined): Running down the street, Alice tripped and fell.
     
    Just like every other writing “rule”, there is disagreement on if, how, when, and how often participial phrases should be used. However, there is one way they should never be used. That’s what this post is about: Using the participial phrase correctly.
     
    When is it okay to begin a sentence with a participial phrase? When the sentence makes logical sense. The participial phrase construction implies that two events are taking place simultaneously.
     
    Incorrect: “His car flew up the dirt road. He came to a stop in front of the first paddock, then opened the door and got out. Running around the side of the barn, he thrust the key into the padlock on the back door.”
     
    The construction in the final sentence implies that the two actions—running and putting the key in the padlock—are happening at the same time. Physically impossible. Nor is it what the author intended to convey.
     
    It might be better to say: “After running around the side of the barn, he thrust the key into the padlock.”
     
    Or: “He ran around the side of the barn and thrust the key into the padlock.”
     
    Still, the participial phrase has its good points. It avoids the repeated use of the personal pronoun. Most of the time, that’s why we use it at the beginning of a sentence—as a tool to break up monotonous narrative. Just pay attention that, when you do, your two actions are indeed occurring simultaneously.
     
    A few grammar rule gurus tell us to avoid participial phrases altogether, which seems unduly rigid to me. As with most things, moderation is key. Treat participial phrases as you would adjectives. While editing, regard each with the utmost attention. Is this particular construction the best way to get the action across to the reader?
     
    Sometimes, a better solution is not to describe a character’s every action. It’s okay to leave out certain details. The reader can and will fill in the blanks. So the original paragraph: “His car flew up the dirt road. He came to a stop in front of the first paddock, then opened the door and got out. Running around the side of the barn, he thrust the key into the padlock on the back door.” could be rewritten like this: “His car flew up the dirt road and stopped in front of the first paddock. He jumped out and ran to unlock the padlock on the barn’s back door.” The reader knows the character needs to open the door before getting out of the car. You don’t need to tell him. Less is more.
     
    Why is all of this a big deal? Because starting a sentence with a present participial phrase has a huge potential for misuse. Writers often use this construction as an alternative to “She did this, then she did that.”
     
    Example: “Stalking into the bar, she flung her coat onto the stool and grabbed her husband’s elbow.”
     
    She probably didn’t do those things while she was walking into the bar. But that’s what the sentence construction implies. Here’s a simple way to test your writing. If you can’t put a 'while' or an 'as' into the sentence without changing the meaning, then a participial phrase is probably not a good choice.
     
    To recap (yes, I’m finally done), a present participle usually implies an action that is occurring at the same time as the next action in the sentence. If the actions can't occur simultaneously, it’s best to find another way to express the sequence of events.
     
    This concludes today’s boring as all get out grammar post. If you stuck around until the end, treat yourself to a cookie.
     
    ~Libby
  11. Trebs

    Weekly Wrap Up!

    By Trebs,


    Weekly Wrap Up
    ANNOUNCEMENT: We are very happy to be able to announce GayAuthors.org's newest Promising Author - SidLove. Please join us in congratulating SidLove!
     

    So, we come to the end of our first week of trying out our new format here at the News Blog. The team appreciates all of the feedback and input and REALLY appreciates all of the offers of help. We will be contacting many of you to follow up on these offers soon.
     
    Monday, lilansui gave us a great review of From the Heart, by Author Branflakes. Definitely an intriguing review and shows that Branflakes is an author to keep an eye on.
     
    For our midweek Wacky Wednesday, K.C. details their experience in Theft of a Story. A lot of lessons that were painfully learned, and we are so grateful that KC shared this so others may be able to avoid, or at least mitigate, a similar experience.
     
    The one feature of our format that didn't change at all is our Prompt Me every Friday - and I am so glad as we always have great prompts from Comicfan. It was a treat this week in showing a past prompt response to highlight a poem Mark92 wrote in response to Prompt 182 "The Mentor." I hope you check it out.
     
    So - how was your week?
     

    Anthology Announcements:
    Winter Anthology "Desperate Ends"- Due Dec 8th Special Mayan Tribute Anthology "End of the World"- Due Dec 14th

    NEW READING
     
    In Premium this week:
     
    Chosen of Honorus by Quonus10, Book 1 of Champions of The Gods
     

    By our Hosted Authors this week:
     
    Paternity by Mark Arbour, Book 12 of Chronicles of An Academic Predator (CAP)
     
    Orphic Revelations by Cia
     
    In the Arms of an Angel by Nephylim, Book 1 of Wednesday Briefs
     
    Odyssey by Mark Arbour, Book 6 of Bridgemont
     
    City Under the Waves by Nephylim
     

    By our Promising Authors this week:
     
    The Talents of the Fallen by JMH, Book 1 of Fallen
     
    Angels Ascending by JMH, Book 3 of The Centurion Cycle
     
    Refuge by David McLeod
     
    Protector of Children by David McLeod
     
    Spirit of Vengeance by Hamen Cheese, Book 2 of Adamagika Series
     

    Have a great week everyone! Read, Write, REVIEW!!!
  12. Trebs

    Featured Story: From The Heart

    By Trebs,


    Featured Stories
    So, we're going to try our new format for this week and see how it goes. So as today is Monday, we have a featured story review - this time a review by lilansui of Author Branflakes' From the Heart. Enjoy!
     
     
     



    From the Heart


    By



    Branflakes


     
    Reviewer: lilansui
    Status: Complete
    Word Count:2,205
     
    From the heart is a different kind of love story. I’m so used to reading about romance, that the message at the end of this story caught me by surprise. Randy, the main character in this short, is a man disillusioned by love. He doesn’t believe in true love, and juggles a number of relationships at one go. He wakes up in different beds, and as the story starts, Randy has just woken up in an unknown bed, and is questioning why he does this to himself.
     
    On his way home, he catches a glimpse of a couple who’ve just gotten married. His cab driver calls the sight beautiful, and declares the couple to be in love. For Randy, who has a different lover every night, the thought of settling down to one is an idea he considers boring. When he gets home, he finds a letter from a secret admirer asking for a dinner date the next day. He decides to meet this ‘secret admirer’. He figures he will just add this ‘secret admirer’ to his long list of current lovers. He even goes to bed early to make sure that he looks his best for this new lover. When he shows up at the designated destination, however, he gets more than he bargained that night.
     
    This is a story that reminds me of getting that eureka moment. When you’ve been bashing your head against one idea, one way of living, an unexpected incident, phrase or situation shows you there is a different way. Randy learns about love in this story; he finds out that love finds you. He discovers that you can spend a lifetime chasing after love while it remains elusive, unreachable. He learns that when you least expect it love finds you.
     
    Branflakes writes with command, his character is clear as he writes the scenes in Randy’s life. I wanted to reach out and tell Randy, ‘Hey, man, you’re hurting so many people living like this.’ The premise of this story actually reminds me of the movie, ‘Ghost of girlfriends past’. The general idea in the movie and how the Main Character lives his life juggling different women, not really knowing their names or who they are. I couldn’t help thinking of Randy that way at the start.
     
    The end was surprising, because the romance in this story is about understanding yourself as an individual. In the world we live in today, epiphany’s like Randy’s are harder to share, harder to come by without dire consequences, and the realization that it’s too late. Branflakes weaves such a powerful lesson in to the story. Randy’s path is halted and reversed in a single night making for a very interesting end to this story.
     
    I hope I have sparked your interest in ‘From the Heart’. Don’t you want to know what would make such a character make a change? Be sure to read ‘From the Heart’ and leave a review or a thought for Branflakes.
  13. Trebs

    Writing Prompts #182 & #183

    By Trebs,


    Prompts
    A rough week for some, good and bad news... but the best way to enter the weekend is to stir your creative muscles and just see where you can get your mind to go.
     
    Our Weekly writing prompts, courtesy of our Prompt-Guru Comicfan, are two very interesting creative challenges. We hope you take a try at them and share them with the community in the Writing Prompt Forum.
     
    Prompt 182 – Creative
    Tag – The Secret
    Your best friend has called you up in the middle of night and begged you to come right over. Without hesitation you get dressed and drive over. They meet you at the door in tears. They have a secret to tell you and beg you not to tell anyone else. What is the secret you have suddenly become involved with?
     
    Prompt 183 – Creative
    Tag – The Mentor
    When you first met it was as you tested each other. Eventually you came to respect one another and you turned to them for advice you trust. Who became your mentor and why?
     
    Again, out of personal priviledge, I'm going to share a past prompt response from a community member who is just starting out - Joann414. Her response to prompt 180, which was to "Use the following words in a story – ripped pants, Pilgrim outfit, sultry singer, dog toy, and an apple"
     
    And what she came up with so far is:
     

    Already CassieQ and comicfan have commented on this cute story and I hope that joann takes this, or some of her other short writings and goes for a longer length tale. Based on what I've read so far, she has the talent to do so.
  14. Trebs

    Featured Story: Paternity

    By Trebs,


    Featured Stories
    Paternity


    by



    Mark Arbour


     
    Status: In process
    Word Count: 434,181
     

    In addition to being one of GayAuthors.org's most prodigious authors, Mark Arbour is the author of Paternity, which with 542 reviews is currently the most reviewed story on GA.
     
    Paternity is book 12 of Mark's Chronicles Of An Academic Predator series and so far, there have been 68 chapters released. Rather than the usual review of Paternity, I thought it would be more illuminating to show a few of the reviews that Mark's various readers have given to Paternity.
     

    From LEN on Chapter 1:

    Now that the third generation has begun with paternal relationships defined which brings into play the dynamics of multiple sources of wealth, influence and power. The Dynasty(s) . What a base for the continuing saga. Well done Mark!  
    From Matthew k on Chapter 18:

    Great chapter Mark. Even though I haven't commented in a while, I have been reading, just spending less time on GA for the "full experience", I just read the stories I like now and move it, but I decided that you and the other authors I like do desrve "atta boys" for all your hard work.  
    From Rolfe45 on Chapter 32:

    Wow Mark, I'm not sure if I'm more shocked by the content of the past few chapters or the pace of your postings. Bravo on both accounts.  
    From Exterminator96 on Chapter 68:

    Mark, what can I say? Everyone has covered the chapter very well. But, damn you, another cliff hanger!!!! Just reinforces what a great story you are able to weave and tell. This entire series has kept me riveted to the story line. Thanks for another chapter in a series of great chapters.  

    Can you see the pattern? It's obvious why Mark has such a loyal following as each chapter he releases is so well written and just leaves you wanting more. I hope you check out his story (and the rest of his writings) as Mark is definitely a GA treasure.
  15. Trebs

    Weekly Wrap Up!

    By Trebs,


    Weekly Wrap Up
    Did everyone (who needed to) remember to "Fall Back" this morning? For our household, it's back to PST again (GMT -8.0). And the extra hour of sleep was great!
     

    For our GayAuthors.org News Blog, we started the week looking at one of our first Hosted Authors, Comicality, and his short story Of The Flesh. Radiant Renee Stevens gives us a great review of this short story and based on her review, it's now one for my reading list (which grows longer and longer...)
     
    We then had the first of our monthly "Interviews by Yettie" feature - with his fantastic Interview with NaperVic. Not only was the interview great, it sparked quite a few comments from our members. All I have to say is ARITE > SRITE... ;-)
     
    Guest reviewers are essential for us and Johnathan Colourfield gave us a great review of Promising Author Dolores Esteban's Absolute Zero (22 Hours from Now). This Author Showcase also included a review of Author Mann Ramblings' A Sense of Family.
     
    Thursday we greeted November with a highlight Tip Thursday: Happy NaNoWriMo! For those unaware, that stands for National Novel Writing Month - where authors, throughout the world actually, pledge and try to write a 50K+ word novel during the 30 days of November. For all here who are making the attempt, our best wishes and support!
     
    All Souls' Day (thanks Andy021278 for the reference) gave us our weekly Prompt Me! And this week's prompts - are... FANTASTIC. Prompt-guru Comicfan has outdone himself with these prompts. Prompt 180 is to use a certain list of words - and, well, I'd love to see where our resident dirty minds decide to take this particular list of words. We also have Prompt 181 "The Book" - which is so different but so compelling. Again, I'd love to see where our most introspective writers may decide to take this as it poses a very interesting dilemma.
     
    We finished the week looking back, this time our Blast to the Past brought back an article from May 2004 by Jevic on Waiting for the next chapter - lol, something we've ALL done.
     

    So - how was your week?
     

    Anthology Announcements:
    Winter Anthology "Desperate Ends"- Due Dec 8th Special Mayan Tribute Anthology "End of the World"- Due Dec 14th

    NEW READING
     
    In Premium this week:
     
    Chosen of Honorus by Quonus10, Book 1 of Champions of The Gods
     

    By our Hosted Authors this week:
     
    Paternity by Mark Arbour, Book 12 of Chronicles of An Academic Predator (CAP)
     
    Never More Lonely by Cia
     
    In the Arms of an Angel by Nephylim, Book 1 of Wednesday Briefs
     
    Adverse Effects by Cia, Book 2 of Saving Caeorleia
     
    Circumnavigation by C James
     
    Odyssey by Mark Arbour, Book 6 of Bridgemont
     

    By our Promising Authors this week:
     
    The Talents of the Fallen by JMH, Book 1 of Fallen
     
    Refuge by David McLeod
     
    Spirit of Vengeance by Hamen Cheese, Book 2 of Adamagika Series
     
    Angels Ascending by JMH, Book 3 of The Centurion Cycle
     

    Have a great week everyone! Read, Write, REVIEW!!!
  16. Trebs

    Writing Tip: Happy Nanowrimo!

    By Trebs,


    Writing Tips
    It's November - so you know what that means! Yes, it's National Beard Month!
     
    Well, ok, but it IS National Beard month too - as many of my co-workers annually remind me (I have never nor will never take that plunge but many of them do).
     
    But it is also National Novel Writing Month, or as it is so more familiarly known, NaNoWriMo. Started just over thirteen years ago, if you've never heard about it, check out their website or the wiki page on them. - I'm still amazed at the rapid growth of the organization and participants.
     
    The "rules" are simple - write either a complete novel of 50K words, or the first 50K words of a novel to be completed later. You can do some preparation, just a brief sketch of the main characters, or a one sentence describing the initial conflict, or a list of the main characters and their backgrounds. But actual "writing" can't start until November.
     
    Creating an account and periodically uploading what you've written helps - especially in seeing what you've completed so far, and how your friends are doing. Or instead you could just hole up somewhere and just start writing, hit 50K way before November 30 and know that you are done. But in doing do - you lose out on the best aspects of NaNoWriMo - the community.
     
    Just like here - they encourage, they cajole, they share their experience (and current word count), etc. And sharing here is always a good thing, We'll likewise help out any one taking the plunge with encouragement being abut to bounce story ideas off of, etc.
     
    The one thing that I've suggested in the past - do NOT think about editing, or an editor. Or looking back for more than to remember a quick detail. Just - sit and see where your fingers take you for that day. And - a week in, don't start despair of "On, I'm 500 words per day behind my schedule - I must push myself more."
     
    This is especially true of those what are just thinking about starting Now - this starts TODAY.
     
    Oh noes?!? I can't do it... I haven't prepared... I'm already behind...
     
    <COUGH> Um, Bull pucky! You CAN do it if you want to. To prepare, take 20 minutes, think of three quick plots and run with one (who knows, the other two may weave themselves in on their own). As to being behind - You'll have times where you are 5K ahead or behind. It all depends. I know writers who all of a sudden get into the groove and four hours later come out of it, not realize how much they just created;
     
    SO my GayAuthors.org community - will you take the NaNoWriMo challenge? Let us know in the comments, especially if you have done it before and what your experience was.
     
    Trebs
  17. Trebs

    Writing Prompts #180 & #181

    By Trebs,


    Prompts
    On the day of the dead, where the year too dies, must the youngest open the oldest stones...
     
    So - did everyone have a great Día de los Muertos yesterday? Here at GA News Blog world, we received two great new prompts from our prompt-guru Comicfan that I hope you'll enjoy. Take a look and try them out - and please share what you come up with, with the community in our Writing Prompts forum!
     
    Prompt 180 – Creative
    Tag – List of Words
    Use the following words in a story – ripped pants, Pilgrim outfit, sultry singer, dog toy, and an apple.
     
    Prompt 181 – Creative
    Tag – The Book
    After years of trying you get a letter from one of the many publishers that they love your book. It goes on to say they want the options to publish it and possibly even make it into a movie. As you read through the contract and the description of the book you realize that the book they have is not one of the ones you expected it to be. Instead of one your manuscripts, they have somehow been sent your journal. Will you allow it to be published and expose your every secret or turn the whole thing down?
     
    We all love a good story, and here we love it even better when it came as a prompt response. In response to prompt 172 "Use the following words in a story – pillow, evergreen tree, rabbit, storm cloud, and fishing rod.", Andy021278 came up with a Halloween story.
     

    Interested? I was - so here is the link to the rest of Andy's story. Enjoy!
  18. Trebs

    Tip Thursday: Constructive Criticism

    By Trebs,


    Writing Tips
    We love getting News blog articles and tips from members - and CassieQ has been a wonderful contributor. Here she writes her thoughts on Constructive Criticism - a very detailed article that shows a lot of thought. I hope you enjoy and let us know your thoughts as well! Also, if YOU have an article you think would be great for this blog, let Renee Stevens, Andy021278 or myself know. Thanks!
     
     
     


    Constructive Criticism



    by



    CassieQ


     
    I'll try to make this as painless as possible. It's a tough thing for many writers to have someone criticize their work. But any writer that is going to be worth reading is going to encounter criticism eventually and how they take it can make the difference between improving your craft or giving up.
     
    In my mind, there are four types of feedback. Here are some examples of each type.
     
    Non-Constructive praise: This is so awesome! I just love it! It's such a great story!
     
    It's nice and not many writers mind seeing it, but it's not really helpful.
     
    Non-Constructive criticism: This is awful and I hate it! You should never write another word you talentless hack!
     
    This will do you no good at all. Throw it away. Both of these give you feedback, but it is not specific enough to apply to your writing.
     
    Constructive praise: I like this story. I like Caleb and I told you that Noah is a bit boring to me as a character (as a bf I would take him and lock him in and never let him go ) but he fits the story very well. I like the ending though it is dark and even with the intention you had, it makes the story very round and interesting with a BANG of a final! Great!
     
    This is good, because it points out the things that the reader likes about the story. In this review (a real one, given to me by my beta), I learned that he likes my characters, even though one is boring and that the ending was well done, which is something he knows I struggle with sometimes.
     
    Constructive criticism:
     
    Also from a real review from a rough draft for the legends anthology: Legends, myth and fairy tales rarely portray complex characters, backgrounds and sometimes even treat logic like it is something that happens to other. But they all contain a motivation for the doings of the protagonists and some kind of purpose or moral to the story. You, aside from a wonderful setting and beautiful language, have no complex characters (which is totally fine), no background, a medium lack in logic and no real motivation and purpose.
     
    What I think weighs heavier is the overall lack of motivation. It all seems so… random. After I finished the last chapter, it left me like “Um… That’s it? *figuratively turns the sheet to look for a lost chapter* Really? Wow. Okay.” It misses the wow-effect. If I had read that as the first story from you, I would think “Good style, nice language, lacks a certain feeling and profoundness.” I don’t intend to sound harsh, but I don’t know if ItD would make me look for more of you. And I know you have very good, very deep stories, wonderful characters, well-thought plots, self-made worlds and realities that are profound and fantastic.
     
    That is only a small snippet. My beta actually wrote a full page of comments, ripping on everything from my characters, to my plot and everything in between.
     
    This is the most valuable type of criticism that a writer can get. It is one thing to show what your strong points are, in constructive praise, so you can identify your strengths and develop them to make them even stronger. But the weak points of your writing are the ones that you need to develop. Readers will notice these, even if they don't comment on them. And you will never develop yourself as a writer if you don't take these weak points into consideration and work on developing them.
     
    Constructive criticism can be hard to take, especially from a friend or someone you are close to, so finding someone that is not familiar to you to look over your work is best. Of course, that has its own set of issues, because you need someone you can work well with. That is why having a good beta reader or editor is important. GA is great with the Writing Support in the Editor's corner. Make sure if you utilize this resource to mention what kind of feedback you want, and if you don't think you can take up front, blunt criticism, ask for someone who is gentle and tactful (but still honest) with their feedback.
     
    Don't get discouraged by negative feedback either. No one is perfect and especially in the beginning, mistakes run rampant. A good beta/editor will guide you through these early hurdles and the more mistakes they help you see and recognize, the easier it will be to avoid them in the future.
     
    And don't ever think that constructive criticism is a bad thing. It isn't. It doesn't mean you have a bad story, on the contrary, it actually means the opposite. It means that there is something awesome about it and that the person leaving the criticism wants to see more of that awesome. When I read a story and think it is no good, then I won't say a word. I won't review; I just leave it and go read something else. If it has potential, if it has something that is awesome about it, then I would want to point out what is good about it and what needs improvement. But only if the writer is ready to hear it.
     
    So you've got your constructive criticism. Now what? Well, when I would get rough criticism, I would need some space. I wouldn't talk to my beta until I had some time to think about it and contemplate it. A person's first reaction is to defend their work, or justify why they did such and such. That is not going to help you. Take some time, walk the dog, go for a swim, meditate, whatever. Do something to clear your mind and then come back. Try to be objective and listen to what the person is telling you. If necessary, try to contact the person and ask for examples or specifics if you still don't see the problem. If your feelings get hurt, cry or punch a pillow or do what you need to do let them out, but don't let them get in the way. If you really do still have doubts, run it through a second person. Again, find someone who can be objective. If they point out the same issues, then you need to address them.
     
    But do remember, you are the writer and it is your call. But if you receive constructive criticism and learn to use it to your advantage, you will be doing yourself, your writing and your readers a great service and eventually, you might even learn to like criticism!
  19. Trebs

    Weekly Wrap Up!

    By Trebs,


    Weekly Wrap Up
    We had a great start to our week with a look at Hosted Author Altimexis's story Double Trouble. Or as sat8997 said in the comments "Yep, what they said. Can't go wrong with an Altimexis story."
     
    For our Toss-Up Tuesday, Cia wrote an informative article on the GA Store, "So many options! What Should Members Buy!" Good stuff to know about the GA Store.
     
    Our midweek Author Showcase gave us a great look at Promising Author KingdombytheSea;s Dare as well as a review by LouisHarris of Author SidLove's The Life of Him.
     
    CassieQ helped us a great deal by contributing our Tip Thursday, Constructive Criticism article. As usual, we had some great additional feedback in the comments. I always love reading what members think about our various News Blog articles.
     
    Prompt Me! on Friday gave us two great new creative prompts from Prompt-guru Comicfan. We also had the pleasure of looking at a prompt response from joann414. She hasn't published anything on GA.Stories - yet - but based on this prompt response, it is only a matter of time. Seeing a fresh new voice trying out one of these prompt responses is always a thrill - take a look yourself and see what I mean.
     

    Finally yesterday, for our Blast From the Past, we looked at an interview with Emoe57 from our April 2008 newlestter. Hard to believe it's been over four years since this interview - still fascinating reading.
     
    So - how was your week?
     

    Anthology Announcements:
    Winter Anthology "Desperate Ends"- Due Dec 8th Special Mayan Tribute Anthology "End of the World"- Due Dec 14th

    NEW READING
     
    In Premium this week:
     
    Chosen of Honorus by Quonus10, Book 1 of Champions of The Gods
     

    By our Hosted Authors this week:
     
    City Under the Waves by Nephylim
     
    Legacy by Altimexis, Book 29 of Naptown Tales
     
    Paternity by Mark Arbour, Book 12 of Chronicles of An Academic Predator (CAP)
     
    The Secret Life of Billy Chase 7 by Comicality, Book 7 of The Secret Life of Billy Chase
     
    In the Arms of an Angel by Nephylim, Book 1 of Wednesday Briefs
     
    Never More Lonely by Cia
     
    Circumnavigation by C James
     
    Odyssey by Mark Arbour, Book 6 of Bridgemont
     

    By our Promising Authors this week:
     
    Refuge by David McLeod
     
    Spirit of Vengeance by Hamen Cheese, Book 2 of Adamagika Series
     
    A Halloween Tale by comicfan
     

    Have a great week everyone! Read, Write, REVIEW!!!
  20. Trebs

    Blast From The Past!

    By Trebs,


    Author Interviews
    What's better than our typical looking back that being able to additionally highlight someone that I admire, who I've been fortunate to meet, who helps keep my husband's writings clearer... I'm talking about Emoe57, editor and person extraordinaire Here from the April 2008 GayAuthors.org old newsletter, the Gay Authors GAzette, is a member interview that was done with Emoe57. Enjoy!
     
     
     

    MEMBER INTERVIEW
     
    The GAzette will try to feature an interview on each edition, so this month we have interviewed an Editor, Emoe57.
     
    GA: EMoe57, our sincere thanks for agreeing to be interviewed.
     
    EMoe57: I'm honored to be asked!
     
    GA: So, let's get started then. What is the secret behind the screen name, EMoe57?
     
    EMoe57: I didn't know it was a secret... EMoe is derived from my name (first initial and beginning of my last name) and the year I was born. When I first tiptoed out of the closet back in 1977, I was in the Marine Corp. I dropped the 'E' on my first name and went by Rick. I thought it would make it harder for people to trace me. Silly, I know. When I came out on the Internet back in the '90s, I needed to create a handle and decided to give 'E' the prominent position to make up for hiding it back then. This was what I came up with and it has served me well.
     
    GA: That is quite an interesting tale. I'm curious though, how did you find GA?
     
    EMoe57: When I started browsing the Internet, I discovered Nifty.org with it's vast collection of stories of all stripes, but many of them left much to be desired as 'stories'. From Nifty, I found Comicality’s Shack Out Back. When Comicality moved over to GA, I came along for the ride and discovered I was HOME!
     
    GA: Yes, GA is like a home for quite a few of us. Has GA affected you or your life in any way?
     
    EMoe57: It got me to come out - as an editor of gay stories on the Internet to my family. I was already out to them as gay, but that is a whole other story Also, I already have my ticket and hotel reservations for the big meet-up in Dallas in June. Definitely wouldn’t be doing that without GA.
     
    GA: That's great. I'm sure you'll have a nice time there. Now, everybody here knows that you're an editor. How did you get into editing?
     
    EMoe57: For some reason, when I read, the goofs jump out at me - online or the printed page, doesn't matter. In conversation with other people, I’ve found their brain tends to auto-correct for them. I guess that means I’m defective DK was kind enough to accept me with no real experience editing and we worked out a routine that seems to function well for the other authors I work with. My regulars are DK, JHaze, BW & CJames. I've done some one-off work for others as well.
     
    GA: Wow! That is quite a list. Some very famous authors you have there. What is it like working with the King of Evil Cliffhangers?
     
    EMoe57: As I pointed out earlier, I usually don't know where the stories are going or how they are getting there, so it is as much a surprise to me when I read a chapter as it is when they get posted. I may be a chapter or three ahead of what is online, but I don't know the conclusion any more than you do. Will Joe Clump finally profess his undying love for - oh wait, you don't know about that yet. Well, never mind...
     
    GA: And you really did not have any background in editing?
     
    EMoe57: I was good in English and Writing courses in school but I never took Editing 101Perhaps because I enjoy reading so much.
     
    GA: Well, then I am glad you discovered this side to yourself. How do you go about your editing? Do you use features like Track Changes or you have some unique method?
     
    EMoe57: Track Changes ROCKS! Most changes are obvious goofs (Homonyms & wrong names), but sometimes, an author gets stuck with a word that appears over & over in a chapter and I try to change those and tell them why I made the change. Early on, I would inject my comments into the story to substantiate why – but those kept ending up posted with the story, so I don’t do that any more.
     
    After I’ve read it, I set it aside for a few days when time allows, then I go back and read it again. You’d be surprised how much more I pick up with that second pass. Another trick I use to help with consistency: when I receive a new chapter, I read the previous chapter first to help root the storyline in my head. And if a story has more than a dozen names (people, places, etc), a separate running description list is invaluable.
     
    I’m the first to tell you that I don’t catch everything, and my changes have been wrong on occasion. Most stories I’m involved in are series and I’ll only get the first couple of chapters. I have no idea where the story is going, so I can’t be much help with the flow. I do work hard to ensure that any changes I make still sound like the author wrote them. And all my authors know that any changes I send back are only my suggestion – what they use is their decision. I read a post where an editor whined about his author not using all the changes. Hello! It is their story to do with as they please. I’m just grateful to ALL the authors out there who are willing to share themselves via the written word.
     
    GA: Do you have any pet peeves (errors) when reading stories that you have not edited? Some common errors that authors make that makes you smack your forehead?
     
    EMoe57: For God sake people - SPELL CHECK! It isn't always the right word suggested, but it will at least get even the wrong word spelled correctly. If it gets too bad, I stop reading and find something else. I did that a lot on Nifty, but not so much on GA.
     
    I hear authors hate Word’s ‘check as you go’ feature because it interrupts their train of thought. No biggie – it can be turned off. Just hit F7 at the end – after you save, of course. Then, if you like what you’ve got – send it on to your editor. And every author needs an editor. Lord knows I can’t edit anything I’ve written – just ask the people I work with…
     
    GA: True, very true. There are some errors that an author cannot catch on his own. Your hobbies besides editing?
     
    EMoe57: Reading and old-style video games like Pac Man plus every Saturday night, I get together with a big group of friends and have a pot luck dinner and play our version of Uno Attack/Spin.
     
    GA: That sounds like fun. Your 5 favorite movies, stories (from GA or elsewhere), song, books....etc?
     
    EMoe57: I’m a big SciFi fan so the Star trek movies and original Star Wars trilogy, Lord of the Rings trilogy. I seldom watch a movie more than once – even when I loved it – and I’ve seen all of these more than once.
    As for stories, when I find an author I like, I tend to read all their stuff so I’m just going to list authors. Since I enjoy reading the authors I edit, I’m going to exclude them from the list: Driver9’s writing is superb and Grasshopper is right up there with him. Graeme; DeweyWriter; Jack Scribe; Draginacht; Brew Maxwell; Christopher Lydon (I bought his Falcon Banner books); Mike Arran; Tim Mead; Journeyman had me crying every chapter; I miss Jet. Oops, I ran over
    As for printed books, I just finished reading James Swain’s Tony Valentine series. I don’t listen to music unless I’m in the car going somewhere. Then, it’s the local smooth jazz station.
     
    GA: Wow! That is quite a list.
     
    EMoe57: I was concerned about space since I was getting a little long-winded here.
     
    GA: EMoe57, it has been a pleasure talking to you. Thanks a ton for taking the time to share something about you with us.
     
    EMoe57: Thank YOU for helping GA grow!
  21. Trebs

    Writing Prompts #178 & #179

    By Trebs,


    Prompts
    While it is great to read what some established writers do with these writing prompts, it is just so wonderful to see new authors, who haven't published any stories on GA.Stories yet, answer these writing prompts. These writing prompts are a great way to try your hand, see how you can do and get some great feedback. We're thankful to Comicfan for these prompts, and we hope you take a try and share what you write with the community in the Writing Prompt forum.
     
    Prompt 178 – Creative
    Tag – List of Words
    Use the following words in a story – blanket, red thong, snow, necklace, and salad.
     
    Prompt 179 – Creative
    Tag – First Line
    “Well that sure didn’t go as I had hoped.”
     
    A couple of weeks ago, Prompt 171 was "Tired of seeing the community in trouble you begin a program called Helping Hand. What is this program does?"
     
    As I said in the intro, it is always wonderful to see newer authors trying their hand at the prompts, and this week's feature is a perfect illustration of that. Here is joann414's prompt response:
     

    Thank you for writing this joann414 and more importantly, sharing it with all of us - I loved it!
  22. Trebs

    Writing Tip: Keeping It Legal

    By Trebs,


    Writing Tips
    No - this has nothing to do with pharmaceuticals or jailbait - it is a much more serious tip on how to avoid legal issues when publishing your writings. We thank KingdombytheSea for this great and very timely tip, as more and more authors are looking to take the plunge into being published. Enjoy!
     
     
     


    Keeping it Legal



    by



    KingdombytheSea


     

    The Copyright Police do exist, and if you’re an author planning on publishing, it’s a good idea to keep that in mind.
     
    When I wrote Social Skills and posted it on GA, I was blissfully unaware of having infringed on anyone’s copyrights. Because Connor is a violinist, music factors heavily into the story. In the second half of the book he joins a pit orchestra, and within those scenes I quoted a few lines of lyrics from a Kiss Me Kate song.
     
    As I prepared Social Skills for publication this summer, I handed it off to a beta/author friend, who immediately questioned my use of the lyrics. A little Googling revealed that all lyrics from any Cole Porter musical are copyrighted, despite the fact that they can be found scattered across the internet (Here’s a page with copyright terms in the United States as of January 1, 2012). But could quoting just a few lines really get me in trouble?
     
    Yes, it could. Even those lyrics sites can get in trouble, and though they may be too numerous to completely eradicate, some have already been sued. One just got hit with a $6.6 million default judgement a few days ago.
     
    Bottom line: When you publish/post something that contains copyrighted material, there’s a chance that someone might see, object, and sue.
     
    I didn’t want to risk it, so I took a second look at my work and decided to edit out the lyrics. Unfortunately, I’d really entangled them with the emotions of the scene, and cutting them out proved difficult. Meanwhile, my friend found a link to a site with information on Cole Porter’s Trust and encouraged me to poke around a bit and see what the legal process for obtaining permission entailed.
     
    The Trust put me in contact with the publishing company that now owns the rights to the lyrics, and that led me to their Permissions department. I had to email a copy of the book as well as separate PDFs of the pages containing the quoted lyrics. The initial price I was given was $255, which was too steep for me.
     
    I did some more digging (or pestering of the Permissions department) and eventually found out the price was calculated based on an estimated 10,000 print run. Many businesses have not caught up with the ebook trend—I won’t have a ‘print run’, and while I’d love to sell 10,000 copies, I wouldn’t mind starting off with a more obtainable goal. I emailed back and requested a 2,000 copy print run, and voila! the price dropped to an affordable $55. I mailed my check and received a ‘lyrics used by permission’ copyright blurb to stick in the front of my novel.
     
    Different publishers/companies will obviously have their own pricing structure in place—my friend recommended this article about author Blake Morrison, who wound up paying around $7,000 for his song lyrics usage. And I’ve already been warned off quoting Dr. Seuss, whose estate evidently does go after people for copyright infringement.
     
    From my experience, I’d give the following advice to authors:
     
    * Think carefully about any lyrics/books/short stories/plays/movies you quote from in your story. You never know when you might get the urge to publish or even make an ebook to release for free on Smashwords. Better to be safe than sorry, and it’s usually easier to reimagine a scene before writing than it is to change one that’s already comfortably sitting in your story.
     
    * If you are planning on self-publishing, you should be extra vigilant about copyrighted material, as you won’t have a publishing company to take any of the blame should you be sued. Also, some newer epublishing companies might not do thorough checks for copyrighted material, so as an author, it’s always best to be aware.
     
    * If you decide to quote copyrighted material or already have it in your story, do your research. It doesn’t hurt to question the companies that hold the rights or to try to negotiate with them. Perhaps they will one day catch up with the times and start taking a percentage of ebook sales instead of asking for a lump fee up front, but for now you can always ask for their pricing structure and do what you can to get to a mutually agreeable fee. This might involve lowering your estimated print run and then reapplying for permission should you exceed that number of sales, or quoting fewer lines.
     
    Though it may not make a whole lot of sense—especially in the case of song lyrics, where quoting almost seems like free advertising—this is the way the world currently works. Even when you attribute quotes to their rightful owners, you might have to pay for the right to use them in your story.
     
    So don’t forget to keep it legal, and happy writing everyone!
  23. Trebs

    Featured Story: Dare / The Life Of Him

    By Trebs,


    Featured Stories
    Sorry, today's author showcase is a bit late this morning - was having crashes with my computer last night.
     
    First we look at Promising Author KingdombytheSea's Dare and then LouisHarris gives us a great review of The Life of Him, by Author SidLove. Enjoy!
     



    Dare


    by



    KingdombytheSea


     

    Reviewer: Trebs
    Status: Complete
    Word Count: 5315
     
    If you couldn't tell from my reviews, I love a great short story. While novels are interesting and give us such rich texture, it is difficult to write a short story, to strike that balance between adequate description and overlong detail. Some of the classic tales that I remember reading are shorts - such as Arthur C Clarke's The Sentinel and The Star or Isaac Asimov's many Black Widower tales.
     
    KingdombytheSea knows how to write in the long form, as evidenced by his fantastic Social Skills, one of the top reviewed stories on GayAuthors.org. But in reading Dare, it is obvious that he is equally skilled at the art of a short story.
     
    At just over 5000 words, Dare is the story of Mark, who takes any dare given to him - as the very first line of the story sets the tone "C’mon, Mark. I dare ya. I triple dog dare ya."
     
    Mark has a great constant group of friends: Derrick, Sean, and Phil. Throughout their childhood, they watch (and prod) Mark's various stunts, always daring him to take one more step. Of course, dynamics change as they grow up and new people interact with these friends.
     
    KingdombytheSea weaves a enchanting story of these friends as they grow up and the bonds of their friendship is tested. I totally loved this story, told with a modicum of words but so rich at the same time.
     
    I highly recommend Dare as KingdombytheSea has definitely mastered the art of the short story.

     

    The Life of Him
    by
    SidLove
     

    Reviewer LouisHarris
    Status: In Progress
    Word Count: 100,509
     
    Brilliantly plotted, rich in characterization, abundant in pace and passion, The Life of Him is the unforgettable story of a multifaceted love story that will hold you riveted until the final, devastating denouement. It is an adventure, a love story, a story of grief and loss, of betrayal and persecution, but, above all, this novel is about survival, deliverance and discovery.
     
    Austin Reyes is a man with a past darker than a dungeon. Turn of events happen when a handsome man unexpectedly walks into his life. A porn model, who strives to give Austin a new life, tries his level best to break through his shell and in the process, falls in love with him. With Dylan, a beautiful future comes into view for Austin. But what price would he have to pay to get that happy ending? Austin works as a barman and, through no fault of his own, is raped, then fired. He discovers that his mother has committed suicide and leaves town. Without a job and a home, his purpose in life is threatened. He is insecure, and the hopelessness continues until he meets Dylan, a porn star. Their relationship is stormy, and it becomes more so when someone tries to kill Austin. Everyone is suspect, and it will take a miracle to bring the perpetrator to justice. A miracle that only Dylan can perform in his own, inimitable way.
     
    Sid adds mood and layers to this story. In bucket loads. He weaves the details in and doesn’t add them in long blocks. He creates exciting sentences. Sentences that move the reader the way he wants them to be moved. Like an artist, he has taken his palette of words and his PC and painted everything down to the smallest detail.
     
    This story took me on a journey. I encountered people and settings that I would never meet. He made this journey memorable for me. He created an image in my mind through simple, easy writing that flowed well and never let up.
     
    His characters, Austin and Dylan, as well as the minor characters are true to the homo fictus definition: Readers demand that homo fictus be more handsome or ugly, ruthless or noble, vengeful or forgiving, brave or cowardly and so on, than real people are. Homo fictus has hotter passions and colder anger, travels more, fights more, loves more, changes more and has more sex. Although I must admit here and now that the sex scenes are appropriate to context, they are not placed willy nilly wherever and forever. Above all, his characters have status and stature, presence and flair. They are memorable.
     
    This story makes use of the action/sequel chapter technique of writing. Each sequel moves the main character to create new short and long term goals, and this drives the story to it’s brilliant conclusion.
     
    Recommend this story? Of-course. It is one of the best stories I have had the pleasure of reading, and I know that every reader who picks it up, will feel the same way.
  24. Trebs

    Featured Story: Double Trouble

    By Trebs,


    Featured Stories
    I feel a bit odd, writing an intro to my own review soooooo... Here is a review of Double Trouble by our Hosted Author Altimexis. Enjoy!
     


    Double Trouble


    by



    Altimexis


     

    Reviewed by: Trebs
    Status: Complete
    Word Count: 14,081
     
    I fondly remember waiting for each new chapter of Love in a Chair when Altimexis wrote this beautiful story six years ago. So when I was looking around for something new to read, I saw Double Trouble and decided to check it out.
     
    I am glad I did - it is a fun short story. Jason and Rory are two fifteen year-olds, best friends who have been in love with each other for years who finally admit to each other they are gay and love the other. The story starts with them making up for lost time at Jason's house in Detroit, where his mom works late hours and his dad is absent, living in working in New York, where he spends about half the year.
     
    Problem is - Jason's dad is about to come home from New York for Thanksgiving and Christmas, so Jason and Rory are worried about a chaste month to come. One plot detail after another turn Jason and Rory's life from tranquil to surprised to challenging to ... well, you can see for yourself. The one detail I will give is I love how Altimexis puts into perspective the difficulty of two fifteen year-olds to pull off a scheme.
     
    Overall Double Trouble is an engaging story that I enjoyed. It is definitely a story to read twice - and once you finish it, I think you'll agree. The characters are interesting and well crafted. My only disappointment is that it seems that the ending wasn't as full as it could have been, compared to some of the detail in the rest of the story. It achieves its purpose - but after some wonderful detail, I guess I just expected a bit more. Overall, I give the story four of five stars and recommend it (as well as Love in a Chair). Altimexis knows how to write and weaves great tales.
  25. Trebs

    Weekly Wrap Up!

    By Trebs,


    Weekly Wrap Up
    Ack - spent the weekend helping the kids get ready for Halloween. Can't believe it is just around the corner (sort of like I couldn't believe the prices on the stuff they "needed" for their costumes). Oh well, just means we are getting colder nights finally - and can do big pots of soup and stew, with baked bread :-)
     
    So here at the the News Blog, we started the week looking at a beautiful story by Hosted Author Libby Drew. Radiant Renee Steven's reviewed Libby's The Art of Walking in Snow. I loved the review of this short Christmas story, and after reading the story itself, loved the story as well.
     
    Our Toss-up Tuesday gave us a great Interview with Cia - if you ever wanted to know more about this talented woman who does so many different things to help us here at GayAuthors.org, this is your opportunity.
     
    For our Author Showcase, guest reviewer Fozzie Bear came back and gave us a review of Three Hundred Years by Promising Author Wrathofmagneto while Zombie gave us a wonderful review of Author Podga's All That Matters.
     
    With many authors considering publishing their works, copyright violations are a very serious concern. For our Tip Thursday, KingdombytheSea shared his experiences in publishing Social Skills, and getting the legal permission to include various song lyrics in his published work. A fantastic read and we're grateful to KingdombytheSea for sharing his experiences.
     
    Prompt Me - our regular friday feature once again did not disappoint with two new creative prompt, The Mythical and Thief. Check them out - maybe try your hand at one (ot both) and share them with the communtiy. It is fun to read the prompt responses, whether they are just a few paragraphs or become a short story, like the one we featured, Time Out for a Life, a response by Promising Author Comicfan.
     
    And then yesterday, we ended the week looking back at our Blast from the Past, an article from our October 2006 newsletter, focusing on Poetry and featuring a poem by Luc and review of two of Luc's poems.
     
    So - how was your week?
     

    Anthology Announcements:
    Winter Anthology "Desperate Ends"- Due Dec 8th Special Mayan Tribute Anthology "End of the World"- Due Dec 14th

    NEW READING
     
    In Premium this week:
     
    Chosen of Honorus by Quonus10, Book 1 of Champions of The Gods
     

    By our Hosted Authors this week:
     
    Legacy by Altimexis, Book 29 of Naptown Tales
     
    GFD 12: Blood Ties by Comicality, Book 12 of Gone From Daylight
     
    Adverse Effects by Cia, Book 2 of Saving Caeorleia
     
    The Secret Life of Billy Chase 7 by Comicality, Book 7 of The Secret Life of Billy Chase
     
    Never More Lonely by Cia
     
    In the Arms of an Angel by Nephylim, Book 1 of Wednesday Briefs
     
    Lugh's Anthology Stories by Lugh, Book 1 of Lugh's Anthology of Anthology Stories
     
    Circumnavigation by C James
     
    Odyssey by Mark Arbour, Book 6 of Bridgemont
     
    City Under the Waves by Nephylim
     

    By our Promising Authors this week:
     
    Time Out for a Life by comicfan
     
    The English Year by Jwolf
     
    Protector of Children by David McLeod
     

    Have a great week everyone! Read, Write, REVIEW!!!
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