blue

Hi, Dabeagle and Paul, Slightly off-topic to your points, but both your replies really should be moved to the thread in the Writer's Workshop to which your replies refer. -- I'll alert Dude to that; he's the one who has to do it or not as he sees fit. Dabeagle, I think most of the replies there pretty well hash out the issue. I can understand why you feel a little upset that it was discussed here. May I say, though, that I didn't know whose site was under discussion, until you mentioned it?

Edited by Blue to correct URL The Sigur Ros CDs and DVD that I ordered arrived yesterday. Naturally, the first thing I had to do was watch the videos. Then I listened to Agaetis Byrjun. I haven't listened to ( ) yet. First impressions: Category? What category could you put that in? At times, it's ambient; other times, it's psychedelic like the music in 2001 after Dave Bowman enters/joins the Monolith. Then it turns around with electronic synths like Vangelis or Tangerine Dream or Kraftwerks, and I'd swear there was a passage like the synths in the movie Forbidden Planet at one point. Then it takes a classical music bent. Then it goes for rock or punk. Add to that, natural sounds and then the chameleon voice of the lead singer. There are times the group sounds completely alien, musical but not human. Then there are times when the vocals sound like a choirboy. Occasionally, there is a purposeful dissonance, a cacophony. I don't know quite what to make of it, but I watched all the vids, then the video for Vidhrar Vel Til Loftarasa, with the two boys about three times and listened to the Agaetis Byrjun CD twice through. I looked at the CDs, a bit baffled, and looked online for lyrics and translations, and came across review articles, as well as the group's website at http://www.sigur-ros.co.uk/ -- and it's clear they have a few odd avant gard ideas. A CD with no titles, almost no text, and an insert of watered vellum sheets? It's a statement of something, but I'm not sure what. It's one of the weirdest, most unclassifiable things I've ever heard. Underthehoodster might think it's brilliant or might think it's too experimental and strange. I think it's going to take me a while to wrap my brain around this. But I like it. It speaks to my inner liberal arts major. Hmm. You know what's really weird? Two things. One, the music was trippy enough in places as to be almost, uh, orgasmic. That's a word I don't use much for anything other than a real orgasm. But, well, it fits here and there. The other oddity is that I can more or less comfortably reach the lead singer's vocal range, I think, whether in his high range or in his falsetto range. That is a little surprising to me, but in some ways not. My singing voice has a higher register, somewhere in tenor, and a lower one in a high bass or baritone. I've never figured that out, because the transition between them is not comfortable at all for me, and I tend to move in between them. It's annoying, because I know better, I have a good ear, and when I was a kid and sang soprano, I could be dead on. (I still get genuine compliments, I'm only an amateur, but I find my voice's range personally aggravating due to the two registers.) So it was surprising a little to realize that there's someone else out there with a similar vocal range, from the highs and lows he uses. And shoot, his voice is different but very nice. Well, I'm going to listen to the instrumental ( ) CD today. (That CD title must give the database people fits!) I'm sure I'll watch the one video again too. Mmm. Nice. So -- Many thanks, Nick, for the recommendation. I probably wouldn't have tried them otherwise, and I think I'll be stuck on them for a while. And Hoodster -- You probably can't make heads or tails of my review; this may not be your cup of tea for musical style, but since you love music, you might find the experimentation and unusualness of it interesting or inspirational in some way. I'd recommend you give it a try. I'd definitely recommend seeing each of the videos on the DVD. There's more going on under the surface of them. I'd definitely recommend the second video, for Vidhrar Vel Til Loftarasa. Two gangly teen boys discover feelings for each other, despite others' reactions. Very nice video, tastefully done, with some indirect meanings. Thoughtful. The scenery's not bad, either. ( Not quite a balanced review, but hey, I like the music and just found it. ) Thanks again to Nick and Dude for the recommendations. Glad I picked them up. Edited by Blue to correct URL

Underthehoodster said: Pecman said: Blue says: Good to hear you say that, Pecman. -- Your comments about replying to readers are very good, too. Hoodster, I'm really glad you're *not* a creep. Sensitive, yes; creepy, no, thank goodness. You're also a good kidder. I know many writers feel anxious about reader responses, from what I've read on other boards from some really good fanfic writers. They say they try to answer each reader's questions and think about it, and sometimes, as Pecman said, it makes them (the writers) notice some point they didn't see in their writing, so usually it's very good. I've also heard about arguments from some very pushy fans who had to be ignored. I know that some authors could get really defensive too. Nice to see the forum beginning to talk about things. I do hope more readers/fans will join the discussions too.

So often I see writers say they aren't sure if readers are interested in their stories, so they don't know whether to continue a story or not. Well, here's a thread to discuss that or other concerns writers have about reader responses. (What about that reader who says your story was crap and your mother dresses you funny? What about the reader who wants to rewrite your story?) I just wanted to say that many readers may really like a story (and be pretty disappointed when it isn't finished!) and yet they may not reply at all by e-mail or on a journal or blog or message board. Why? There are lots of reasons, but I think the most important one for gay stories would be anxiety and, in the case of teens especially, the lack of freedom to respond. Will it get me or the writer in trouble if I reply? What if the writer is some creep, even though his story was neat? And many teens aren't allowed to e-mail or surf the web without supervision, and so just the fact that they've *read* a gay story would be cause for all kinds of trouble for them, plus, they probably are worried about replying anyway.

I thought the story was, well, sweet. It avoided most of the conventional things, the story progressed realistically, and the ending was unexpected and bittersweet. I'm fine with it as a single-chapter short story. I hope to see more good things in the future. Nice work.

Although I haven't seen it yet, people who have (and liked it) said much the same thing: It is Moore's opinion, an editorial/opinion piece, more than a strict documentary. So his opinion will be instructive and influential, but might have reached a few more people in a more objective form. But we can't know that, for sure, because what we've got is what he wanted to say, and it will have an effect. Just the discussion from it is good for the debate among voters. -- The democratic process still works, thank heavens.

OK, now I understand what you meant. I thought you meant, earlier, that he did have some written guidelines. It's really a subjective judgment call, when you get right down to it. I don't know of many editors, though, who would say why they rejected a story and give an author the chance to re-draft it, unless it had already been accepted.

That's a great article. I have a slightly different take on it, expanding on a couple of things, with maybe a difference here and there. I'll post it in a while. But yes, the core issue, deep down, is not only how do others perceive or tolerate or accept youth and adults who are different in this way that our society finds so unable to face, but also how do people who are, who have, that difference view themselves. Then, what the heck do we all do about it? How do we find some middle ground on an issue that, at its heart, involves a judgment of what is moral, right, and wrong? Yes, particularly for the youth struggling with these questions (and all the things that go into them) it is just as tough or moreso now as it was when I was a teen. Those cable and TV shows you mentioned send a mixed message. When I was a teen, the mixed messages were there, but they were much less obvious. (Or were they? Something to think about.)

It is entirely the website owner's right to say what he will or will not allow on his site. If he feels a particular story or author crosses the line of what he considers acceptable for his site, if certain themes or situations or content is unfavorable to the site owner, that is equivalent to the editorial guidelines or house rules of any in-print publication. The site owner can reject something for publication on that basis. Yes, it is a subjective decision. It is more about house style than about censorship. Some other site or publisher may find the work suitable publication. A website owner is the owner and the chief editor. His name is somewhere on a dotted line for payment for his internet access, web hosting, domain name, and any other services, and it's his posterior that hits the fan if the site does not meet the service agreement about content. And any site that publishes written works or images or member forums runs that risk, whether they allow adult content or not. So people like our friend the Dude are showing real courage in what they do.

Haha, a little Tears For Fears, there, if anyone noticed. Trent, bud, please turn off that CAPS LOCK key, wouldja? My ears are fine. I'm just sayin'. :p Oh, what the hay, use caps lock if you wanna. Anyway, it's nice to hear another take on things. Maybe underthehoodster or someone else knows other examples of unusual instrument techniques, like using a bow on a guitar. ...Extra points if you know what a dulcimer or hammer-dulcimer is...

Maybe the reason all those handsome, hung guys are in those stories is that it's entertainment, wish fulfillment, a desire to escape from the reality of what it's like. Let me digress in a couple of directions that I hope will help explain my opinion. :arrow: 1 Now, let me say that I know almost nothing about the bar/club scene, street life, or very little about being out. I do know from my own experiences and from what I've read that there is a lot in common about how people are treated, even just for being suspected of being gay, let alone being out or outed. -- One of the things that surprised me most was how common my own feelings seem to be, over and over in non-fiction I've read. They're so common, I don't need to list them. :arrow: 2 One important issue for gays is the very practical one, most people have a much bigger pool of potential mates to pick from, but gays have only about 10% or less of that number, and half of those are the wrong gender, and nearly all of them are not making it obvious that they want the same thing. (At least, they didn't when and where I went to school, and I went to a large suburban high school.) :arrow: 3 A night or two ago, a story called Powerless Powers appeared on Nifty. The author grumbles about how he wants a realistic story, then has his character do an interior monologue that is discouraged, depressive, and possibly breakup-related. Unfortunately, it does describe many of the feelings of gay teens. It was not uplifting. :arrow: My Point, I Think If any of those side-points have any relevance, I think it is that because of those issues, many authors and many readers want a little escape in their reading, to a world where people like them (or us) are accepted, loved, welcomed, and where they can find someone who really wants friendship, love, and sex. Another thing about such stories is that they provide mostly-positive models and help give hope that somewhere out there, maybe there's someone for you or me or him or her, and friends who care, and a better life. I don't think it's any accident that the guys or girls in so many stories are hunky or cute, the boy next door, or the best friend or at least a good friend, or the new guy. I mean, how many of you didn't think about a friend or two at least once and wonder if you dared ask him if he wanted to do something? Yeah, I thought so. Me too. Maybe you even did something once in a while. If so, I hope it was a good experience. And if any parent or straight person is reading this, trust me, most of us (a) don't think about that about everyone we see, even our friends, and (b) we're way more interested in having friends than losing them because they didn't want that, so even if we were interested, we might not ever ask. Maybe, straight, confused, or gay, you can see how that can be tough to live with, especially if the person with those feelings doesn't know what to think about him- or herself, or doesn't want to feel that way about his or her friend. So I think the reason a lot of stories are unrealistic is because they aren't meant to be realistic; they're meant to be surreal, in the sense of "better than real." ----- Coming at this from another angle, I'd love to see more realistic stories. There are stories out there with a more realistic bent, or with parts of them that are drawn from real life or are very realistic. But I, too, would love to see more stories that deal with what it's really like to be gay or unsure or closeted. There's plenty room for stories that have some artistic license (hey, I edit one) or a lot of artistic license. They can also have a lot of truth and meaning in them. But there is also plenty of room for more stories about what it's like to really be gay or closeted or uncertain. So why aren't more of those stories being told? I think the answer is that they would have a lot of negatives in them and they'd be hard to write and hard to read because of that. Many writers, even new writers, I think are sensitive enough to the issues and who they are writing for (including themselves) that they don't necessarily want to write something with a lot of negatives, because someone out there reading their story might not be able to take that, and because, well, it hits pretty close to home and below the belt. (The double meanings were fully intended, there.) ... Uh, you've probably guessed by now, my informal writing tends to be long, wordy, and stream-of-consciousness. I do know better for formal writing, honest. ...

Well, I watched Flash Gordon in the theater, so yeah, I know the soundtrack. -- Did anybody catch the gay subtext to the scene on Arborea, the grunting in the woods? Maybe just me, but all I could think of when I heard that was, "sounds like a circle jerk." Nick, I've never even heard of most of the artists you mentioned. I must need to find an indie radio station. Of course, I know the classic rock groups (like those) and the singers you said (like them, esp. Sarah McLachlan). Isn't the Darkness the group that has that funny glam-rock retro sci-fi video, with the crab and the shag carpet? -- So zany I can't figure out if I love it or can't stand it. Radiohead -- heard of them, haven't heard their stuff. Wow, now I'll definitely listen to Sigur Ros. I'll try to find the video. I'm visually impaired too, btw.

Trent, LOL, wbms is not hatin' on Queen. I think you were teasing, but if you don't know, "that rocks my boat" means he really likes it. Think of it as a gentle rocking motion, like the motion of the ocean.... OK, this is a dfferent, non-gentle rocking the boat, but I can't help it, gotta quote: "Rock the boat / Don't rock the boat, baby / Tip the boat / Don't tip the boat over!" ----- My musical tastes are pretty varied. I like classic rock and 80's music of all kinds most. I also listen to newer rock groups. It seems like now there's a blending of styles going on which I really like. Everything from Jimi Hendrix to R.E.M. to Counting Crows to Evanescence, they all are on the shelf. So rock of most kinds -- but rap and metal don't usually do it for me. A little classical, a little country, synthesizers, movie scores (esp. sci-fi and fantasy) -- basically, I'll give any music a listen at least once. I've heard of Sigur Ros, but never heard their stuff before. I'll have to check them out. If Nick and Dude both like it, it's worth a try; besides, I like international things. I agree, if I didn't have music to listen to most of the time, I wouldn't be a happy guy. -- Gotta get up and dance around, dance and sing and play imaginary instruments occasionally, even if I do need dance lessons.

How much is too much? Where do you draw the line on content? When do you say the story is getting verbose or flowery (overly ornate with descriptions)? How much is too much narrative description and not enough dialogue or action? How much is too much dialogue and not enough description or action? (I doubt there's such a thing as too much action. I mean story action, not that kind of action, you doofus; if there's too much action, you'll get sore and maybe catch something you don't want....) What if the story blurs into an area you didn't want to go to? What if you start seeing autobiography in your stories? (That may be the "Mary Sue" story type, or just elements from your life or your friends' lives, when you didn't intend to do that.) ----- Why am I asking? Last year, I had a story idea and spent a few days basically non-stop writing. I cranked out several heart-felt chapters. The writing's good; I know it is and I'm not ashamed to say it. Then I had to rest. Unfortunately, the muse or plot bunny took a rest too, and I have to coax it back. Carrot, anyone? But when I had set it aside to try to figure out what to do next, I discovered a problem when I reread it. It was going in a direction I wasn't comfortable with. One character had shifted from an imaginary character to someone very much like me, and that made me uncomfortable, because I wanted him to be a character, not me. The other character was, in some sense, also me, but a much younger me. And unless something very different happened, despite objections from the older character, they were headed for something that I wouldn't approve of, under almost any circumstances. Maybe I was over-reacting, and both of them would've overcome and grown in different ways as the story went along. Frankly, I didn't know what to make of it. I know most of my issues and why I have them, but that bothered me. I'm thinking of picking it back up and hoping they will indeed be the better selves that I think they are. Any helpful opinions? I have another idea that started off from an image in the opening scenes of a story I read whose content I didn't like once I got into the story. But the opening images were powerful enough that they stuck with me. So an idea developed that I'm thinking of writing about. It most definitely wouldn't go in that direction, but the character would have a history that would require some explanation. Also, I have no experience with that or with living on the street or the club scene other than what I've read. So am I nuts? Am I being tempted by the Dark Side of the Force? I think maybe this is just me working through my issues. I've been in the closet a long time, most of it spent denying increasing feelings because of past experience and religious issues. (No, I wasn't abused, but I did have an early experience with a classmate that I'm sure was traumatic for us both.) So now I'm trying to face my feelings and figure out how, or if, I can do anything about them or come out, and how best to do that. (Don't worry, I have no intention of unsafe sex, and I want a relationship with someone, not just wild monkey sex.) I'm thinking of writing down my own experiences, separately, as self-therapy. I have no idea if they'd ever make it out of my file drawer, but I feel like writing them down. I've shared a little with two online friends, and that helped me realize a few things from an angle I'd never thought of, so perhaps at least writing them down is a good idea. I'm, uh, really laying a very private part of myself bare on this board, but it's what I've got for now. I'd appreciate your opinions, folks, both from authors and from readers, whatever stage you're at in dealing with yourself, and whatever age you are. Well, here goes, gonna press the "Post" button. (Well, OK, literally, it says, "Submit," but I'm not really into that....)

A comment as an editor, on editing. In real life, I have worked as a desktop publisher, and that includes editing clients' work. Sometimes, it has meant writing something for the client. It also means it's uncredited. I had college courses in literature; I am a mix of writer, artist, and tech, aside from being generally mixed up, perhaps. (I heard that snickering. ;) ) As an editor, I may discuss things that I think need improvement or that don't make sense to me. For stories, I also may make style comments or point out if I don't get something or don't like it. I correct spelling and grammar like crazy, where needed. But I don't rewrite, I suggest. I don't feel that it's being a good editor to rewrite an author's work, especially if it's fiction. -- I know that editors of books, magazines, and newspapers *do* rewrite and authors sometimes have little choice in the matter. I know that sometimes it's needed. But I prefer not to actually rewrite someone's work, because if someone did that to me, even if it was good or necessary, I'd be upset, even though it goes with the business. That's just my philosophy on editing. So when I edit a story, it's that author's words, not mine. -- You'll see a story from me eventually, and then I'm sure I'll have the same newbie writer issues, good and bad, despite knowing a little about the structural side of it. Also, as an editor, critiquing people's drafts, I have learned a heck of a lot. ----- Hey, all you newbie / wannabe writers, get those keyboards and pencils writing! Don't let all the hot air in this thread discourage you. (Who said we know anything, anyway?) The only way you'll know if you can write or like it is if you do write. You don't have to have a good grade in English or be any age to write. Hemingway wrote run-on sentences that drive me nuts, but he could write. Mattie Stepanek wrote poems that are from a much older, wiser soul than his 13 years would make anyone think; and his stuff does make you think, and sometimes cry, from its truth. J.K. Rowling had just a little success when her first book was published, and it changed her life and millions of readers' lives for the better. The best news is, you don't have to be some amazing talent to start writing. But you might end up as some amazing talent. So write, already!!

Pecman, it looks like we still disagree, and that's fine, we don't have to agree on everything. I'll just say this and then let it be. Writing's like anything else, particularly any art. The *only* way you can really learn is by doing it. So new, young writers have to play with the tools a lot to figure out what to do with it all. Yes, that was a pun. It applies to that too. Just be safe when playing with tools, yours or your friend's. Back on-topic. Even a writer with a talent for it has to learn how to write, and no matter how much he's studied about it or how naturally talented a storyteller he is, he still has to practice to get it right. The young new writers here are truly remarkable. It gives us all something to aspire to...reach for...uh, I must be more horny than I thought at the moment. I'm someone who wants to be a writer, a published writer. I'll also probably post stories in this genre. I've written enough and have enough ideas running around various places (my brain, disks, boxes of notes) to know that even with my liberal arts background, "it ain't as easy as it looks." (Saying "ain't" isn't easy for me, either, btw.) My goal for this year is to complete one short story and one larger story, at least complete them, just that will be a big step; attempting publication is a separate issue.

I'm very sure you meant irreverent there, not irrelevant. I visited his site recently; hadn't in a very long time; and discovered a note that he's leaving the net next year for some reason. I don't know why, and don't need to know his reasons, those are private to him, no doubt. But I hate to see a voice go silent. ----- Paul, you made a very good point. Ultimately, these stories are for the reader even more than the writer, and they are how the writer gets his fulfillment, by making life a little more, a little bigger, for that reader. Whether that reader is a 14 year old or an adult, it's much the same. I know how I reacted when I found Nifty, and more importantly when I found stories on Nifty that were more than just a quickie. I felt guilty for reading "dirty stories" but I was comforted by the ones that showed guys like me, or like I was as a teen, confused, lonely, and wanting someone to share with, but too afraid. Except in the stories, those boys did find someone, and often both boys were like guys I knew, not some awful stereotype. If, in junior high (middle school) or any time later, I could've found something like AwesomeDude with great stories and a forum, or something that discussed informed Christian views that didn't condemn being gay -- well, it would've made a *huge* difference for me.

(Aside: I agree about your comment on suspension of disbelief, the theatrical "fourth wall," and that a writer shouldn't do something that kicks the reader out of the story and reminds them it's a story and not an imaginary but real world.) However, on serial stories, I think I'm qualified to say something, because I had to adjust my thinking on that with P&J. I hashed that out with the author via e-mail and his lj, even after I'd begun editing P&J. I reached a couple of conclusions that, in hindsight, should've been obvious. An ongoing, serialized story is not a novel. But it is a legit. form of writing. (You don't object to the short story or novella formats, right?) Most TV shows are serials. Before that, many popular radio programs were. Before them, magazines of all kinds published serialized stories, both installments of novels and running serials. (Running cereals would be Wheaties, right? ;) Sorry, stream-of-consciousness.) Those serials included respected authors and magazines of all kinds. The format was and is immensely popular, and I don't mean anything negative in the word, "popular" there. It is simply a different writing style than most of us, particularly people with a writing background, oddly enough, are used to. It's even popular enough that fans of TV, movies, and books write fanfic to fill the need for more of their favorite book or show. If it helps, think of each chapter as an episode or installment, and each part as a TV season or book in a multi-volume book series. Hey, there are two more examples: the multi-volume book series or the multi-movie franchise. You mention wordiness or lack of plot as an objection to the serial format. OK, to a certain extent I agree. Keep in mind that many authors on the web, particularly many who write GLBT stories, are often young writers, whether new to writing or literally young. So they haven't figured out how to craft their stories as well as they'd like to. Heck, at least they had the courage to write and post it, and it was more than just, "wham, bam, thank you, man!" But here's where I really disagree on that. Often, such stories are "wordy" or have meandering plots because the writers are more interested in character development and emotional content than a quickie, and again, they are still learning how to write, how to construct using words. I've also read at least two stories where the author brought things in from much earlier in the story, which meant that he or she had planned that out at some point, no matter how much they were making up as they went along. Surprise! Those authors had an overall plot arch as well as subplots across episodes and plots entirely within a single episode. When I realized that, I felt really silly -- I'd been caught being a snob and didn't even know it. ----- Pecman, I'm not saying you don't have a valid point. I think I understand what you're trying to say. I know everyone who's found AwesomeDude has probably read stories that did have problems. I have. But I also know that writing stories is a lot of hard work, and new writers and serial writers, especially for GLBT stories, care about their writing and are really anxious about it, so they need encouragement...and some room to play and grow. OK, end of rant/speech. I'll get down off this soapbox and let someone else use it. -- I don't think you intended a personal attack on anyone, and I don't intend my reply as such either. I'm just saying, be gentle. Think of 'em as virgin writers. Oh, perhaps that wasn't the best metaphor, eh? (Grins.)

Nick started speaking French there, kinda sorta. The milieu is "setting the story into place." That's the time, place, and general setting of the story, including its "ambience," which is the atmosphere or feeling of the story, its tone. While we're on that, please avoid that blasted "mirror" or "laundry list" clich?. Too many new writers (gay or straight fiction) will start off their stories and the poor character starts off, "My name is John Doe, I looked in the mirror and saw blond hair, blue eyes, a killer smile, a great body, almost six feet tall, 160 pounds, and, gee, I'm unbearably handsome, at only 16!" See what I mean? Let all those things, uh, "come out" naturally in the story, not all at once. Do the same for the other characters when John meets them. He might notice all that at once, but he wouldn't tell it that way when he talks to his friend about it. When you tell your story, think of it as telling someone the story, saying it to someone. (Know the rules, so you know what you're doing and why, when you break them. It's OK to break the rules if you do it for the right reasons story-wise.)

I'd also like to contribute, and I hope that lots of writers (and readers) will check in. You don't have to have any special qualifications to write. All you need is the passion to write a good story. I can excuse a heck of a lot if the *story* is good. If you know your spelling and grammar aren't great, get somebody to check it over. -- Are you scared because it's one of "those stories" and you don't have someone you feel safe reading it? -- Are you scared an editor will send it back to you dripping in red ink and mean comments about your characters, plot, grammar, spelling, and weird ideas? Relax! There are people here who can look it over for you. (Hey, I'm in the closet, and I'm here.) I edit Perry & Jesse. In real life, I have worked as a proofreader and editor. My college major was English. I'm good at languages too; I speak French and Spanish, but I'm a bit out of practice. I can also help out in answering questions you might have about putting up stories in HTML web page format. If you read P&J (and I recommend you do) then you may wonder why it needs to be edited. Easy answer: Because the story is so good that the few errors were annoying. (That was an incomplete sentence, by the way. I only do that in e-mail and on forums.) A good editor isn't mean. He or she does not rewrite your whole story or cover it in (virtual) red ink. It's the editor's job to support you. Most authors don't have really severe story problems. If you do get your story back and it's covered in horrible red ink with lots of comments, *don't* give up and assume you have no talent and you're a bad person. Try not to take it personally. Spelling and grammar are things you can learn and improve. You can reorganize and rewrite your story. Even that "perfect" scene you're so proud of, you can rewrite. All writers rewrite. (Just keep the perfect copy and save the new one in another file, buddy.) If you do get a mean editor who starts telling you that you should change everything and, by the way, your English sucks -- then it's time to find another editor. It's OK to have multiple people "beta" (edit and/or comment on) your story. That can be really helpful. Listen to what they're trying to tell you. Also listen to your readers' comments. They cared about your story enough to read it and comment. Their words are passionate because they've invested in the story. That's great! But it can be scary to read them say why they can't stand John doing that to Jack, when you had a good reason for that in the story. Sometimes your readers are right. That's hard to live with. Sometimes your readers don't realize what they're asking for, and that can be hard to live with too. I mean, the story isn't very interesting without a little trouble and controversy. If everybody's perfect and life is beautiful, that's nice, but, well, it's kind of boring too. Most of all, have fun writing!