Richard Norway

This is an interesting and well written article. http://nymag.com/guides/summer/2009/57467/

Does anyone here classify him or herself as 'Emo?' I'm not too sure what it means totally either. They tried here. but then the Brits have a funny way of talking. This one seems to better describe the craziness. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7u9UnSJzJA...feature=channel *putting on his wig and black eye liner.*

I'm usually an optimist, seeing the good in people and giving them the benefit of doubt before reaching conclusions. And then I hear of something like this happening. It's a wake up call that we're not that far ahead yet; we have a lot still to do. We will never convince 100% of the people that we have a God given existence. There will always be a group of people that just can't think for themselves.

Obstinance seems to run in their family.

I've been obstinate sometimes and even downright stubborn at other times. (It's a Squarehead thing, you know?) I just wouldn't abandon IE7. Well today I got fed up with IE not responding and even locking my computer so I'm now on Firefox 3. So far it's worked wonders and I'm happy with it.

That was wonderful...and scary...James. What a trip dowm memory lane.

I looked at the site at the link quoted, and found a familiar name. On the right side of the page is a list of bloggers, and Dan Kirk is at the top of the list.

What? Did I just read that Des agreed with Pecman? Oh God, I feel the big one coming on!

Yeah! What Colin said, <--- Getting out the Pepto to calm down from the intensity.

California's constitution has always created a mess by allowing a simple majority to trample on the rights of others through it's referendum process. I think the Supreme Court's hands were tied as they couldn't rule on the right of same sex couples to marry, but rather on the "amendment" vs. "revision" debacle. Two things struck me: 1) The court had already ruled that same sex marriage was a right and was constitutionally permitted. 2) By allowing the 18,000 existing same sex marriages to stand, they were affirming their earlier decision to allow same sex marriages and saying to the California citizens to step up to the plate and give them something that they can rule on to allow same sex marriages to take place. California has always been a leader among our US states when it comes to human rights. I believe same sex marriages will eventually be allowed in California when it's worked through their legal system.

I like that word 'turgid.' tur?gid (t?rjd) adj. 1. Excessively ornate or complex in style or language; grandiloquent: turgid prose.2. Swollen or distended, as from a fluid; bloated: a turgid bladder; turgid veins. I look down and can't see the golf ball, so where is my 'turgid?'

Quite the contrary Colin. You may have opened with a 'wake up' scene, but it was far from the cliched norm. Where's the trip to the bathroom with the usual sounds of teeth being brushed, the toilet being flushed and the ever present dilemma of what to wear that day. No, your opening was far from cliche. The staccato of the opening sentences immediately had the reader anxious, even fearful. Within the first paragraph you had set the mood that you wanted to set. That was VERY well done.

I have avoided the "waking up" scene for a beginning just because I've read it ad nauseum. However I did use it in one piece of flash fiction because it did set a mood and the beginning of something very important to my character. I have to agree with Cole in this. It can be done, but the writer needs to have a clear understanding of what he wants to accomplish...not just to start a story.

**grabbing his camera and running to the Canadian hills**

My first novel (still not posted and in need of an editor) was written without reference to notes of any kind, and I learned from that. I'm on my second novel now, but this time I'm using 3X5 cards to layout scenes, dates and timeline, relationships, character growth, etc. There are many tricks that can be used to keep continuity, but the one that works best for you is just that...the one that works best for you. Many writers here have expressed that note cards stifle their creativity or force them down paths that they find should be given up on. Some people use notes to just address their characters personality and nothing more and let the characters go where they want. But, I need more to keep me on the path to final conflict resolution. Unfortunately, my method means that my story has to be almost completely figured out before hand. And that doesn't bother me, because my characters will still fight me and add more to the story then I could have imagined at the beginning. But I do need a path to follow. But on the other hand, my flash fiction is written from an idea to conclusion without anything but my muddled brain.

Maybe some of you have noticed that I have been less than active in these forums lately and I thought that I should tell you all why. I had a very good friend. He was young, gay, enthusiastic about life, full of promise and active in his community. When David and I first had the idea of starting a series of gay and lesbian centers in New Mexico two and a half years ago, he was one of the first to join our Organizing Committee. He was fantastic with his ideas, his hopes and his dreams for our project. He committed suicide a couple of weeks ago. He was 22. I will miss him. From day one, my passion for the Centers is to have a teen center and my first priority was to start suicide prevention programs. This hit my like a speeding freight train smashing my body and soul into oblivion. We're healing, and it will take time, but my resolve to stop this useless waste is tearing at me now more than ever. Each and every one of you here are my friends, and I thought you should know.

That was very good Maddy. I could feel the angst just below the surface.

WOW! That's all I can say. WOW!

I too was saddened to see it end. Cole, you need to think sequel. You need to get these guys into high school. From what I've read, it's the only way you're going to satisfy the hoard outside your door.

I guess I find the method of finishing a story before publishing it to be necessary to make sure that it's consistent. That's why my flash fiction is written, edited and posted in an afternoon, but my longer novels have yet to get out of editing. :(

I'm not sure if I see the humor in that photograph (as it seems to be made for that purpose) except that the sickness itself is sick. And that may be the point.

I believe you're more a part of this group than you realize. Writing IS introspection. And it's real bravery to have the courage to look at your own feelings and put them in front of the world to see...and also feel. There are people here under the age of 18 and people here well past retirement, but we all have one thing in common. We are not satisfied with what we've done and strive to do more. We are not finished with our lives and never will be. I get the sense that you're in that category, that you feel that there is so much still undone in your life. Keep writing. We're really not in competition here, but here to help each other. Welcome to our insanity.

That's awesome, Awesome.

OUCH!

What a truly amazing young man. We can sure use a lot more young men like him around the country with his vision and hope for all of us.