dude

I thoroughly enjoyed this tale! Military life... even for a conscriptee can be pretty grim... but these guys actually enlisted for it... The humor with which the author handles the whole thing and the way he treats his characters makes this a fun tale. And we all enjoy when the villain get's his 'just desert' in the er... end, don't we?

This story -by Gabe's own admission- is kinda dark. At least it starts out that way. And if the first two chapters are any indication is going to defy some conventions. Very short chapters... full of action and intense emotion... Chapter 1 in the first person... then Chapter 2 starting, almost like an out of body experience in the colder third person. Then back into the present and 1st person and addressing a player in the story as if she might be reading it. Wow. Comments?

That's very enlightening too, Blue.

I have no idea what aj just wrote?

Despite some misgivings about the main character, I DO like New Brother! There are enough likable characters -important to me- to offset the confusion David is going though. I said some weeks ago that I like to have a wide variety of stories on the site and that I do like to push the envelope a bit. This is just a variation on that theme. I feel duly put into place by Aaron who points out the "generational difference" between us! Moded! Heh heh... Just wait, you won't always be 16, Aaron! Anyway, I hope this provokes some of you to say how you feel about stories here... which helps all of us to develop... whether we be readers, writers or editors.

I'll take this opportunity to be a bit more specific at my lack of comfort with having a homophobic narrator tell the New Brother story. What puzzles me is where does David's homophobia come from? He is brought up in a loving household with no strict conservative religious values being drilled into his head. His brother is open, loving and tolerant as are both his parents. He is otherwise -we are led to believe- a normal boy who loves animals. Is it his schooling? No... doesn't seem to be. Among his friends and even his girlfriend, he is the only real homophobe other than the totally whacko father of Aiden. From what The Pecman and others tell me about plots I learned that what happens should naturally be the result of things that come before. A kind of cause and effect relationship. This is what puzzles me in this story. There seems to be no cause for the intense homophobia we are witnessing. And since the homophobe is actually our narrator, there is nothing in his stream of consciousness that gives us a hint as to what his problem is. Now if this totally unjustified and irrational homophobic reaction to Adam's being gay puzzles me, then what kind of a signal does it send to gay or bi or questioning youth reading this story? Other than not enjoying stories with unlikable main characters, this is my biggest concern with New Brother. While reading the thought has come up many times that the homophobic aspect could have been covered in a more acceptable way if Randy had been the narrator. Well, having never written any fiction for publication, I have to say that all my observations are purely as a reader. And we still have many chapters to go. I am not bailing out, but am -like aj- taking it slow.

Well, it's been a long time coming, but Another Day In Paradise is on its way to noveldom. I'm glad WBMS took all the encouragement to heart and decided to build upon that first chapter. Having already built a good foundation with two good characters... Bam Bam, whom I liked immediately and Tibor, who remains a bit of a mystery but interesting, the intoduction of Maxfield adds still another character of interest. I am a sucker for good characters. As to plot, the death of Diego and incarceration of poor Ernie is a good start, too. The possible homophobia and arrogance of a teacher adds a bit of tension as well. With two good chapters now online, the story has definitely captured my interest.

Really pleased to open the thread on this one! Well, what do you think?

This is a great story set in Scotland at a boys boarding school. It is by the well-known author, Joel who brought you Aladdin's Awakening, which we hope to bring you as well in the near future here at AwesomeDude. It is -like most stories here at AwesomeDude- a love story first. But there is no shortage of erotic moments, either. For me it was just the right balance of the two. Let's welcome Joel and hear some discussion about the story, as well. Thanks to Tragic Rabbit for bringing us together.

Well, I'm going to be the one to start this thread. Based on one of the best stories I've read in a long time, Tim Comes Home, I jumped at Nick Turner's offer to join in the serialization of Dancing To The Music Of Their Hearts. He had just posted Chapter 1 on Nifty and AwesomeDude actually got first shot at Chapter 2. I don't know what it is.. but the story has just grabbed me and is carrying me along. My loving the sea and sailing... especially cruising... was only part of it. But it is the way Nick has with characters that hooked me on this story as it did in Tim. Only downside, I have to wait same as everybody else as the story develops, chapter-by-chapter. Tim was complete when I got it and was able to sail along with as much time as I could steal from work or other pursuits. I hope you are all communicating with Nick about his stories and since he has now joined the AwesomeDude Forums, you can do it right here. Welcome to AwesomeDude, Nick!

Graeme has sent us a short, short piece. It is under short stories. Comments? :)

OMG... an 18 year old who knows who Dorothy Parker is... Gabriel, you are a gem! 8)

It didn't take much begging, Wibby! Once I put aside a few moments to read the story, I was --like you-- hooked. We were not sure that Nick had a version formatted so that it would easily be html convertible, and quicly postable. Therefore I didn't mention it in the October 3rd News & Views. Later in the day, however, he got me the original manuscript which was easily put into html and I went ahead and got it posted. My feelings about and personal response to the message of this story will be in next weekend's Oct 10th News & Views. Nick is a super nice chap --I could have guessed-- and we will be having first crack at his newest story now in serialization. Watch for it in a few days. Thanks again, Wibby, for putting me on to this excellent story!

Well, finally we have Graeme's story for you, New Brother. As Graeme has agreed to participate in the New Writers Series we ask you all to welcome him and ply him with constructive comments and feedback as he makes his way through the story. Graeme has long been a loyal contributor to the AwesomeDude Forums and it is with great pride that we welcome him and his story to the story pages of AwesomeDude.com![/b][/i]

Er... don't know that I'd EVER download anything from a place called terrorware.com. :p

Yes... welcome back Paul... you have been a champion in my book in the way you stepped forward to help Mitch and his family in their real time of need. I hope that smile on Mitch's face remains a permanent fixture! :)

Blue?s lived in the closet now for years To be found out as gay among his fears Got set up for a date But was thwarted by fate Spent the weekend in the bathroom in tears

Ditto, that Blue. It seems like we were just buying Joey's training wheels a few weeks ago... how he is cruising around on a Harley Hog! I am seriously considering revoking his New Writers status!

Michael made some excellent points on Ryan's One Life, but unfortunately they were posted far from the original thread so I'm going to try to bring them closer to home here at the New Writers Series forum. It is technically tricky to do this with the limited control I have over this forum software so here's what we'll do. With this message, I'm locking this thread. The thread will continue under ONE LIFE - POST MORTEM below. Please go there for further postings as the ending of the story is out of the bag ... or closet. If you haven't finished reading Ryan Keith's One Life, please do so now as the following thread will have spoilers for you you. Thanks,

Warren Powers was our first New Writers Series victim.. er participant. He came in early and was recipient of some mentoring help. He has since gotten his drivers license and a car and has apparently discovered that great American institution "the back seat!" Unforunately, at 6'7" I wouldn't expect him to be able to make full use of it. Maybe he could pick up a used car from the set of Six Feet Under... ? For whatever reason.. it has been a hell of a long time since updating his story, Journey Through Kahahri. He won't listen to me.. as I'm too familiar to him so I'm going to ask you all to help coax him back out and to finish the story he got going so well. Go take a look at it again... polish up your comments and suggestions a put 'em out here. Maybe we can get him back on the path to the millions that can be earned by writing gay fiction on the web. Thanks gang!

And it may be noted that some Americans seem to have some pretty weird interpretations of their "borrowed" language, English. We'll save that for another thread on another forum when I take on the CNN-led dumbing down of American English. Welcome Tien... post away. The basic feeling must be there before we get to polishing the poems. You have it and it is a great start. I'm just sorry the moderator of this forum has more or less abandoned us, perhaps to pursue what the carpet-bagger Illinois Republican candidate for US Senate calls "selfish hedonism." :twisted:

Welcome Gabe to the New Writers Series. Gabe has submitted his Beer and Camping short story here for your coments and suggestions. You can see some interesting traces of humor and irony here with this young boy scout who, while protesting that he is heterosexual, seems to lust after other young men to an inordinate degree. All the time he is trying to avoid the lecherous advances of his scout master. Not so, however, the man's son who shares his tent. I see a lot of potential for this story. How about you?

Welcome Mail Crew! Glad we are going to hear from you guys as well as about you! Glad to have you aboard. :D

Er Blue... The Least Of These is hosted here at AwesomeDude. I don't think it is on IOMFATS.org. I have checked with several computers, 4 here at home and two at the office. Tien, Blue's suggestion about clearing your cache may help. It is definitely something particular with your system. If you still have a problem, contact me at dude@awesomedude.com. If you do, let me know whether you are using a PC or Mac and what version operating system as well as which web browser you use. Thanks :)