rec

It's sometimes hard to refrain from editing while doing proofreading. As one solution during proofreading, put all edit suggestions in comment boxes when such suggestions cannot be suppressed.

A nice twist.

I've been running it now for about six months -- as a pre-release tester. It's done well. The only issues have been with an app or two that did not adapt early enough and some of the new ways of doing things, but the old ways are still available. In fact, it felt more like a normal Windows 10 update than anything particularly special.

I was led to A to Z after reading Double Concerto and its fine writing. I appreciate what you've done in both stories--the fresh similes and metaphors, the development of characters, the near-absence of cliches. Well done. I'm proud to be a fellow proofer for the GA anthologies and offer my help to you if you wish. rec

I'd be happy to take a crack at it. I self-edited Palouse, so you can see my work. Also, Cole Parker's stories over at Awesomedude.com rec aka vwl

Thank you, alexlittel. I enjoyed writing it, and after seven years just re-read it. It holds up. rec

Bacon, yes. It's late summer and BLT season. With an heirloom tomato, tasty bread toasted, and crispy bacon. I can't resist the Kroger chains' (various stores around the U.S) thick-cut bacon from the meat counter or hard-to-find Beeler's bacon. [No commercial advertisement intended.)

Over at AwesomeDude.com, a fine story by Nigel Gordon is beginning today--one I helped edit, by the way, to its end. The ex-wife dumps her gay teen-age son at her ex-husband's doorstep after a long estrangement from him. This starts significant changes in the ex-husband's life involving well-rounded characters. Highly recommended.

5:54 a.m. Pacific

Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving to be on a Thursday.

It's Sunday, and I just noticed that my story was featured. Thank you, GA, and thanks to the readers for all the nice comments.

One problem with bureaucrats such as Child Protective workers -- as with any bureaucrat -- is that there is little upside to taking a chance, but he or she can't go wrong in the eyes of management by enforcing a rule or regulation. The problem is endemic to bureaucracy.

To MrM I think you left out one 'lesson learned' and that is to post regularly. If I know a story chapter is going to be available, say, every Saturday (or every Wednesday and Saturday) then I can look for it; moreover, I'm more likely to retain the story line or can be refreshed of it in a couple of paragraphs of the new chapter. The trouble with long delays is that I have to often have to commit to rereading the earlier chapter (chapters) to remember where the story sits and who the characters are. I suggest two approaches: 1) have the story finished and release chapters on a schedule (which is what I did with my Jake's Side and Jake's Hand and Palouse stories and a story, posting weekly at GA now, that I edited, Between the Push and Pull); or 2) a la Graeme above, have enough chapters of the story written and edited ahead (plus a clear idea of where it is going) and be able to release it on a schedule. This latter usually means that there should be four or five chapters in the "outbin" at any time, rotating one to publication and replacing it with a new, written and edited chapter. A prolific writer with a regular schedule can have a chapter available weekly for years, all of which enhances a loyal following.

Thank you. Unfortunately, there won't be a sequel -- unless I can convince someone else to write one.