RMiller

?Obviously, you?re unacquainted with the twisted, sexualized underbelly of competitive spelling.? Now that's one hell of a line. Nice chapter, and what a way to end it. Such a cute moment cut off right at the climax. It's a good thing you worked it over, it went very well. And if those are what concerts are like in real life, I want nothing to do with them. I was once in a mosh pit for one song and left it soaked, but not in my own sweat. Creeped me out. I'd like to say I can't wait for chapter 7, but I can. You are a good writer and I trust you to take your time and do a good job on the next one. And I really have no clue where you are taking the story after this, but it sounds like it'll be fun.

That's right. It's been 2 weeks since you said you would fix it, and we are all on edge. You'd better have a good excuse like finals or something. (I know I do.)

Weasels eat chickens, or didn't you watch Loony Toons? Anyway, that is entirely off topic. And I, too, am wondering when the next chapter will be out.

Thanks. I took particular care to make sure it came across well. That whole conflict was inspired by a straight boy I just couldn't get over. I loved him more than anything I could think of, and yet I had no intention of jumping him. After a summer of beating myself up, I discovered that what I felt for him was fraternal and not romantic. The main reason I wrote a second edition on Nifty was because the first edition handled the issue rather clumsily and carelessly. I wanted readers to understand what I was getting at, that love doesn't mean you have to get into someone's pants. That was really the point of the first story. OC, on the other hand, is something completely different.

Given all that, how do you think the story has gone? I know about the whole jock-meets-a-geek-and-they-fall-in-love thing, but I wrote that before it became a story with substance and couldn't change it. But I don't think it's a bad cliche.

Luckily, not much changed as far as the story goes. The characters just have a clearer voice and the narration flows better. And tell me what you think of Opportunity Cost when you get a chance to check it out on Nifty.

You like that kind of writing? Then just wait. Opportunity Cost will knock everyone for a loop. *smiles sadisctically*

I'm glad you like it, but it really wasn't the ending. Last spring, I sent chapters 1-6 to AD to see if it was up to their standards for publication. I guess it was interpreted as a finished product and then they posted it. The end of chapter 6, while a strong turning point, is not the end. It gets worse. Kyle finds more creative ways to get his heart ripped to shreds. Just go to http://nifty.bunkhouse.com/nifty/gay/highs...bonding-energy/ and see what I mean. You can also see the sequel, Opportunity Cost. It is still in the works and has a long way to go. But I'd love it if people could guess where it is going. No one has been right so far.

Great job on New Story. It sounds just like the struggle a writer would have while trying to make balanced characters. And kudos for getting us up and letting us down in a most artistic manner. I?ve always been a fan of bait-and-switch writing. Now that you have me hooked on your writing style, I?m going to be scouring the web for more.

I love the story so far and am completely enthralled with Mark. He is just quirky as hell. I love the part about putting on the bike helmet during the sex talk. All the Ritalin in the world couldn?t slow down his mind.

Ah, finally. I think I got the hang of this by now. This is Ryan, the author of Bonding Energy. For those of you who are wondering, the version posted recently on AD is an old one I submitted some time ago and the actual finished story is 9 chapters long and has been edited stylistically and grammatically. So, as soon as I can get a recent copy to the editors, it should be back up. This is good news, I?m sure, for those of you who felt that it just stopped too suddenly, and it did. And for those who felt misled since there wasn?t a raunchy sex scene, I?m sorry. I was going to have one in Chapter 3, but decided against it. I still don?t know why, but am glad the story had gone where it has. And about the sequel, Opportunity Cost: some people are mad that it got left on a cliffhanger, and that was not my intention. I had some major writer?s block and it lasted a good 2 months. But that?s over now, the latest chapter is up on Nifty and I plan to write quite a few more. I don?t know how many, but it will definitely be longer than Bonding Energy. If anyone wants to be put on a mailing list for the latest chapters, feel free to e-mail me at bluedragon314@gmail.com.