JamesSavik

If I join your legions, can I have Australia?

= Do different points of view and perspectives between characters help or hurt a story? = It all depends on how well it is executed. Sometimes it works out beautifully. Where it doesn't work is when the change in point of view (POV) is gimmicky, cutesy, confusing, or does not yield unique information or advance the plot.

At 38, you're still a pup!

There are some people that argue that homosexuality and Christianity are mutually exclusive. Thankfully, that is changing. Many Christian denominations that are more tolerant and/or accepting of gay people than they used to be. There is a large presence of gay Christians on the web. Here's a few sites that are particulary good. http://www.whosoever.org/ http://www.truthsetsfree.net/ http://www.gaychristian.net/ I come from a time and a place where churchs made it clear that they didn't want gay people around. It's a good sign to see this changing.

I'm gonna get a gun and I'm gonna hug it and squeeze it and call it Brian!

A writer can't help but leave his thumbprints all over a story. Consciously or unconsciously, writers always leave at least a little of themself in every story they write. In my writing, EVEYONE in it is someone that I have known or a composite of several people. I don't do this out of weirdness but in making the characters real.

Comsie- I'm new to your work, having only discovered your site recently. However, I can tell that your reputation as one of the masters of the genre is well deserved. As the clock is ticking on your departure, I wanted to take the oppertunity to express my appreciation and respect for your work. As a writer myself, I know that it doesn't just spring effortlessly from the wordprocessor. It is a lot of hard work. Your body of work is very impressive. You've written in several genres, short and long stories and in various formats. You do light-hearted and dark subjects with equal grace and ease and can make the reader laugh out loud or move them to tears. It takes another writer to understand how difficult that is to do. It is the mark of a very versatile and accomplished writer. You have set the bar high for the rest of us. I let Grasshopper get away before I could say goodbye. I didn't want to make the same mistake here. I wish you all the best in whatever lies ahead for you. May life give you as much happyness, hope and delight as you have given to others. With respect, admiration and appreciation, James Savik

Who could pick just one? Beck & Littleelm, JAP, the Twins, Phil- Is there perhaps a hidden message that they all have something special about them and by implication so do we?

I'm going to go off the reservation and suggest something not listed: more outreach! Bring in more kids that need guidance and a safe place to be. Start other Units: in the South, back East. Oh yeah-- JAP for President! Thanks Ghostryder! Love the story. I would have traded a kidney to have been a part of something like this when I was a kid.

Thanks Aleric- I think I'll start with New Kid since I always seem to end up being the "new kid".

Hey guy- as this is a delicate matter, I responded via PM. I hope things work out for you.

I am new to the works of the esteemed Comicality. I have read My Only Escape and The Secret Diary of Billy Chase. They are two very different types of stories but both have an insight and depth that is uncommon and refreshing. Is there any particular reading order suggested by the author or suggested by his fans? Where is a good place to start? -JS

I hate it... when it's time to change the cat box. :wacko: Oh my goodness cat! What did you do!? That's horrible! Ugh! No more tuna for you!

Cliffhangers are a good thing when used to dramatic effect. But don't leave the readers hanging to long and come back with something worth the wait!

I love it... I love looking into my lover's face in the light of a brand new dawn. I love when his eyes open and we greet the day with a smile and a kiss and a yawn. I love it when we make love in the morning and the feeling lasts all day long. I love it when there's love in my heart cause it makes me feel so strong. I love it when I can give a little away with a smile or word or a hug. The feeling of love and loving is more addictive than any drug. I love the beauty in a look or a laugh or a smile, It's like music to me and gets up and keeps me high.

I hate it... ...when somebody farts and gets off the elevator. ...when my favorite character in a story gets hurt. (Poor Peter! How could West leave him for the army? ) ...when my favorite author(s) get tired and fed up and go away. ...when jerks discourage good people. ...when good people miss the signs and fail to support discouraged people. ...when assholes shoot the wounded. ...when kids get bullied. ...when people that can make a difference couldn't be bothered. ...when egos clash and unity is dashed and we bitch and carry on, when the enemy is outside and we fight amoungst our own.

Thanks for getting the word out for us Pat. We've got a very talented cast and we're off to a very promising start. Two more authors have joined the crew: Ryan Keith (Kayden) and Tragic Rabbit (The Drama Club).

Bravo Rainbow. You nailed it.

I like it... but my stories aren't listed! How do I get in the database?

As a reader, Sex is OK in a story as long as it makes sense to the plot, characters and setting. Doesn't bother me at all. However- if that is all there is to the story, I'll get bored and move on. I know how to have sex. It's the succesful relationship part that is most fascinating to me since I so obliviously know nothing about having one.

What runs a good story off the rails? Actually, I think there a variety of things that can do it. There's a story that runs on another site that after 40 something chapters, the hero finally hooks up with his true love, goes to the prom and then JOINS THE FRIGGIN ARMY. Ok- so I hate the military. But it had nothing to do with the story or its quality- IT WAS ME. In another story that LOTS of people fussed about a much loved couple showed signs of breaking up. AGAIN- it wasn't the quality of the story, it was the emotional investment of the reader. You come to love the characters and hope for the best for them and then a little thing like REALITY that comes along and takes a great big stinky dump on the fantasy. In another story that broke my heart, after many chapters and much angst, the perfect couple broke up. I don't have to read fiction to get sad, hell I'll just think about my own love life. Well- if you get my drift here SOMETIMES it's not the story than ran off the rails, the reader just didn't like what happened. This is NOT the authors fault and the reader has to realize that every story just ain't going to turn out all hunkie-dorie. A lot of authors don't do themselves any favors by cranking out chapters when they are just plain lacking inspiration. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. I felt like if I didn't get out a chapter a week, my readers would be off to the next truck-driver romance they could find. NOPE. Wasn't the case. They are much happier to wait a while for quality than have something that isn't ready or is just plain uninspired foisted off on them.

There are some who would automatically stamp anything gay as pornographic. In fact, some politicians are attempting to ban books with gay themes or content from public libraries in the states. (ACLU- are you awake?) However, those of this opinion are people I don't give a rats ass about anyway. Porn and erotica are easily distinguished, I won't try to define either one. One appeals to our basest impulses while the other to our best nature. You know which is which!

L.I.E. - Long Island Expressway Careful- this one might mess with you.