thanks--you rock! i'm gonna try to think up some questions for you, if that's okay...since you offer.

thanks, ashley--
i like that, the cultural pride in the Deaf community. i wonder how differently we filter the world...thanks for helping me understand a bit better.

Oh yeah,
I don't think I'll ever stop writing "it's" for its. My brain just will not accepted it. But thank you for pointing it out. One day I might finally learn.
-Ben

Thanks for looking at the Writing Life. I actually wrote the first half in present tense (which I'm horrible at) and then chickened out and wrote the second half in past. I had to go back and fix the first half, which was not as easy as I thought it would be. Hence all the weird "had"s all over the place.

In regards to the UTD, yeah, I think there are more stories there. I'll probably go back to that well some week when I'm really stuck for an idea.

-Ben

Thanks for the comments on Karma Repairman. I'm glad you liked it. I was afraid that not enough happened in the story, but no one else seems to feel that way, so I guess it's okay.
-Ben

Writing about frog lord of darkness? You're on!

As an aside, and this may offend or amuse you, the only things I know how to sign are "FROG LORD OF DARKNESS" and "BUNNY BEAR". One of my coworkers at a previous job was learning american sign language since he has a lot of deaf friends, so we would amuse ourselves during slow periods by learning to sign useless things.

woohoo! i'm gonna check the book out from work as soon as i finish what i'm reading now...thanks, ash!

Yeah, I know what you mean. Damn patriarchies!

yay! added you as well. you know a lot of people who've finished the 50k! that's impressive.
i think i'm gonna go with the werewolf western story this time. feels wide open to me.

i am! i'm lala68. are you participating this year? we could be buddies.

interesting you mention that, because i have the 'no plot? no problem!' book by chris baty, the guy who started and runs the nanowrimo every year--he espouses the 30-day novel, too. i did grind out a novel, with a story, but the plotholes and missing background of the thing are what's taking me forever to fix. i will check out the book you suggested! thanks!

I guess I have a more Deistic sense of "God". Why is "God" a male term? It should be gender-neutral. Any sort of supreme deity would be so far removed from our comprehension that words like "male" or "female" are completely out of the question. Of course, this comes from my obviously heretical/freethinking type view. Aristotle and his "prime mover" are probably to blame a little, as well.

*gurgle* thanks, ash!!
maybe you could give me some tips on shifting from writing short fiction to novels...i'm having issues with pacing..

Ummm, I have no idea why that island continues to be so heavily populated. It does a heavy tourist trade in the summer, and it has five teaching hospitals in the area; a huge portion of the population is below the poverty level. Maybe there's just nowhere for them to go?
My sister's okay. She spent the week in Austin, b/c it was her fall break; however, we've yet to find out how badly her dorm flooded.
Thanks for your concern. ^_^

I see we share a love of Terry Pratchett! Although actually this comment was to let you know that I love your profile picture thoroughly.

Not a problem at all. I'm glad to be part of a community in which ego takes a backseat to good writing, and I definitely enjoyed your work.

It pretty much is a totally different language, yeah. It's what English looked like before it assimilated parts of French and Latin and random other languages. English gets around a lot.

I think Modern English is definitely the way to go. If it was in Anglo-Saxon, nobody would understand it anyway. For example, this manuscript of Beowulf in the original anglo-saxon:: http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/themes/englishlit/beowulflge.html

groovy--looking forward to it.

yeah! i think you've got a lot of leeway here, a solid hook but plenty of room to flesh out a complete story. any specific ideas for the expansion, yet?

okay, hm. what if the personality you add to him isn't so much about the good, as details to allow us to root for him? i can follow a bad guy a long way if he's got a sense of humor, or a mission of some kind, or even quirks which make him more "real"? i'm just throwing stuff at you.

hmmm...he is kinda one-dimensional with the evil. what if you added more to him to balance? is he one of the novel's main characters?

hey, ashley--
i just read your chapter 2 of immortal child, with the dungeon. you've got some good stuff there! i'm looking forward to how this all connects together...

you're welcome, dearie!
you've got a great first chapter--i can't wait to see what you do next.
(don't forget about your necromancer, please! bring her back, too. )

(mother's maiden name + wife's mother's maiden name) + (last name + wife's maiden name)

hey, ashley--
thanks for your feedback! i always feel like i might know what i'm doing when you send me such encouraging comments. i'm setting tomorrow aside to read everyone's stories--i look forward to yours! wearing the pants, indeed.

how cool! i couldn't get my dad to sign up if i promised him beer and pretzels.
i hope he has a lot of fun, and gets some great writing done. thanks for suggesting he read my stuff! *gurgle*

Hello, fellow novelist! Would you have time to stop and look at a rough draft of my prologue? Back in action!

thanks for the crit on Nicotine Cat. I think in answer to the question, "meowl" was on purpose, and "withdraw" was a typo that I missed, so it was very helpful. I keep thinking about Dead Loving, can't wait to read more.

hey, maybe you and your r-rated imagination can help me with the next scene?

ha! i'm not telling....though anything's possible.

i vote for more marjorie! ride that wave, see where it takes you.
(unless you have another idea brewing already?)

Great story! By the way, loved St. Augustine. I visited there a few years ago, beautiful place, great Ripley's Believe it or Not.

hey, regarding this week's critique--i don't feel comfortable trying to critique your anecdotal story, ashley. i think it's charming and i'm taking it for how it was intended--a humorous account of a true-life adventure.
i hope that's okay. i just feel silly getting all "formal critique" with it.
i'll be excited to critique your first "official" ffff story this week (if weather permits you to post it!)!! or whatever story you'd like critiqued, if you have a preference.

yikes! be careful out there, missy. bunker down, okay?

whee!! thanks, sweetie!

coolio! i've got a few things ahead of it, so you've got time before my virgin eyeballs set their moist gaze on it.

Thanks for reading GLITTER. I know what you mean. I put it up because I wasn't sure what to do with it and wanted to see if people had any thoughts...it's got a ways to go.

Thank you so much for your critique, Phedre! You're a sweetheart. I appreciate your encouragement.

i'm on it! thanks again, ashley--you rock!

hey, ashley!
thank you for your feedback on my 'liquid' story! i was a little nervous, posting something a little out of my usual style. so, yay! i'm relieved and happy you liked it!
i can tell you the reason why this son is cutting his mother out of his life, if you like. i tried to leave hints, but may need to rework to bring it to the front a little more.

I thought you might...I totally dig that title.

Er...that was supposed to be a

Marbles, marbles... *searches all over the house* Nope, no marbles.

It is really so hard for me to concentrate on anything! (

Nom de plume! I love it!

Yeah, I know I need to be on here more. My brain is all scattered and there are so many things for me to do...

aww. zoe! i love that name! zoe's are all romantic and sweet...i'm all squishy now, waiting for little zoe to get here.

time to start picking out names! ashley, jr? eh? eh? think about it.

woohoo!! thank you for your fabulous comment, ashley! (and how is the wee bairn doing? all systems go, i hope!)
i appreciate you taking the time to tell me you like my story--it's an incredible boost, especially coming from someone talented in her own right.

Thanks very much!

hey, ashley--
you rock!!! thank you for all the information--priceless, really, and i need all the help i can get.
you're a generous person--you deserve all the success coming your way.
ps--thanks for the shawguides link. looks awesome!

I wondered if you'd grabbed your penname from the Kushiel series or if it was just coincidence, but I see it there in your favourite books!

awesome, i'll be keeping an eye on it thanks for enlightening us!

Hello Phedre,

I'm making some changes to the FFF to make it work better. Please check out my recent forum post for more info. I hope you can come along into the new FFFF (yes, I added an F).

-Ben

yeah definitely start a thread, i'd love to hear what it's like while you're there. i've never been to a conference but have always wanted to go to one. and don't forget to tell everyone about scrib so we can get some more people critiquing!

hey thanks for critiquing my piece! I wish I could put up more poems, but fricken scribophile won't let me :-\. Anyways, I love to hear that people appreciate my work! Thanks for reading!

hey phed, read your ad. Love ya and prayin for ya.. Jeanie

hope you are feeling well today. J

Hello Phedre, I dont' have this scratch pad thing down to a fine science yet so I'm sorry for the delay. I'll read Immortal Child shortly.

Hi Phadre, I hope you are submitting your work to publishers. You have such a terrific voice it would be a shame to hid it under a basket!

Hi, Phedre. I just came by to say that I will probably publish a part of And So The Lion Fell In Love With The Lamb tonight, so I hope you will be there to comment on it!
Write Back To Me Soon!

WOW!!! congratulations, phedre!! that's amazing news!
i can't wait to read stories from the lil bambino.

Hello, Phedre. I wonder, are there any other works from me that you want to read, comment, and vote on? I do have "Heart Break" for you to read when you get the time that is I hope that you enjoy it!

Heh, I read that when I work up in the middle of the night. I hope to post another work on here. It is called "And So The Lion Fell In Love With The Lamb", It is like the movie Psycho, but with different characters. I plan to get that story published. It is supposed to be a bit long, but when I post it, I hope that you enjoy it very much.

Hey, Phedre. I have just commented on "The Choker". Ya' know, the ending was kinda predicting in the edn, but in a good way. I will try to get to critique :Immortal Child when I have the chance. I was busy for a couple of days.

oh, man--i just noticed one of your favorite movies is 'stranger than fiction'! i LOVE that movie!!
'i brought you flours'. love it!!

ha! um...i better not answer that.
thanks for the groovy comment, phedre. i'm happy you enjoyed my story!

Just wanted to say hi, and encourage you to write on. that is like rock on, only different. I am swamped with classes this week. I procrastenated a little last week because I was perusing scrib... SO.. I have a midterm today in ASL 213 and one next week in ENG 104,, plus I am in the middle of a huge research paper on mainstreaming deaf kids... You got any opinions on mainstreaming? Let me know.. Email me... Later J

Hey, Phedre. Well, I just sent in my submission. Wish me luck

How about a metal baseball bat? That'll knock some sense into em'. Anyway, if you wanna read some works of mine, you are welcome to.

Oh! Thanks for your coment on my story. In fact, I had just edited it this morning before going to school. I thank you for the encouragement

MMMMMMMChocolates.... I get the big chunks.. Thank you so much... I will think of you with every bite I savor.... rock on

Haha, yes I do Technically I do like writing concepts of angelic romance(Sinclair, for example was a passionate angel in my work).
Thanks for giving me good luck for the contest. If I win, I will get published

Hey, Phedre. You can come by my profile and read Passions of a Tempted Kind of Angel and comment and vote upon it. Do it before May frist because I will enter that into a contest. I guarantee that you will love it. It is a story of romance and tragedy , so think of it as some sort of Romeo and Juliet.

Thanks so much for reading my poems. I was reading a lot of dark poems here, and thought I would see if I could write something cynical or dark; thus the Cesspool. And, yeah, that may be the proper name for it. IT really has lots of meaning. People get so sucked in by material things and fame that they will do anything to have it,, sleep their way to the top, kill for it, etc. It doesn't satisfy them. They go deeper, looking, and sometimes they just end up lost in unspeakable sin, hardened and souless. Drugs and other things can be the same, you are tempeted, you go for it, and then you are a prisoner to it. I have lost friends to addiction... literally suicide victims. This world doesn't offer anything permanent, and without a peace in your spirit, some spirituality, you will be subject to falling for anything. If you stay in the cesspool long enough, it can invade your very soul, and even if you are still breathing, your soul and potential to be human are dead. You become the living dead,

Morning. I hope you are hard at work
Frozen Chosen is another word for those folks who think that they are the only people who have an in to God, and that their way is superior. They are very self righteous and preach more brimstone and fire than love. They can sometimes be seen from the huge bank accounts that they personally own, derived from donations. Jesus commanded us not to judge, and these folks are very judgemental. they hate all gays, and they hate anybody that is not one of them. they hate other churches. Jesus didn't spend much time teaching fire and brimstone, although the message to turn away from sin was there. He spent most of his time loving and healing people. He hung out with sinners. His love changed their hearts, and without a change of heart, one can't overcome their sin. You can see a lot of this in politics right now. Politicians are pandoring to the churches, and getting huge donations and votes. Religion has taken the place of relationship with God, and with people.

Geez, I thought I already did. I don't know, It was late both times, and I keep having trouble with the puter.... Well Baby,,, you are a ten to me... I will go back and rate you.. I think your story is excellen. The few suggestions I made were not very many for that many words, especially with the dialogue. I am thinking you get a 5 for content. The other litle stuff is a piece of cake.
Your genius lies in your wonderful imagination and your ability to bring a character and a scene to life. Heck, lots of folks have ghost writers, but you don't really don't need even that. You will do just fine as long as you have a caring eye to catch the most obvious. When I was in court reporting, we never put anything out with less than one or two proof readers, and then a final proof after the edit. Thre is a reason for that. If you make a mistake the first time, you probably will gloss right by it because you knew what you meant to say, so when you read it back, that is all you see...

Hello girl,

I finally figured out where the scratch pad is. teehee, been lookin in my desk for days...

Thanks for reading my stuff... Does it take coins to use the scratch pad??

Oh, hey Phedre. I will promise to read it by today or tomorrow and I will read it as best as I can. But, if you want to read something that is truly disturbing and very fun to read, try reading Laurie Paulsen's work called "Scratching The Surface". And just so you know, you can comment on my works as well. Your treat. It seems to me that critiquing very in-depth truly takes me around an hour.

Hey! So, when are you gonna read my works? You know, you can read them tonight if you want. I hope that you enjoy them Take care!

Hey Phedre,
We would love to see more of you in the FFF. We're making some changes to make the circle more productive. Come on by and see if you like it.
-Ben

Hey, Phedre. Thanks for the message. You are welcome to swing by my profile and read "My Boyfriend's A Vampire!"

I have a work of horror on Edgar Allan Poe for you and your dad, to read/critique!

Answer 1; Daytime Answer 2: Clear. Also ask your dad if he wants to read Heart of Ice, he is welcome to critique it and so are you!

I have commented on your father's work. You can come read Heart of Ice (Unfinished but enjoy), Part 4 now. Hope your enjoy.

Hello Phedre. I have done some of Heart of Ice if you want to come and read it now! Take care!

Hello Phedre. I have Heart of Ice, part 2 up if you want to read and critique it oday.

Hey, Phedre! I have done A Heart of Ice again for you with your suggestions. Critique again and give a higher rating if yo like it today. I will get part 2 as soon as possible. Take care!

Hey, Phedre! Come to my profile just by clicking my name, scroll down to recently published works and read and critique Heart of Ice, Part 1. I could use some feedback on it because I may publish the short story into a book sometime soon! Take care and I hope you enjoy it!

Hey,

Thanks for your feedback, I appreciate it. Good luck in your class...sounds like its about the same as mine.

Hey Phedre! I see you have joined my circle, Short Story and Poems Haven! I have also known that you liked vampires. Well, then I have a story that I have written this morning. It is called "Mystery of TheVampire". Go to my profile, you should see it. Come read and critique it! I only have 311 words of it done,though.

hey, since you're looking at vampires and such, you may want to check out the series by Barb and J.C. Hendee. Not strictly about vampires (more about the Dhampir) but they're husband and wife and have a really interesting style to them, or at the least I enjoyed reading them. let me know if you check them out and what you think. I think the first book is called "Dhampir" and the series, I believe, is called the Noble Dead Saga.

Thank you for the thoughtful comment and input on my poem. To answer your question about the ending, the speaker is settling for a one night stand despite craving something more fulfilling. I hope all is going well with your novel

Hey thanks for all your feedback. I'll clear up all those grammatical issues you pointed out

--EMF

Wow. That's a big time chance! Hope next year you'll hit it big with your novel.

No problem! I can't wait to read it when I get a chance! Maybe tonight!

For the record, yes, fish-fin chips actually DID happen. *shudders*

Hiya!!! Glad to be here. I hope I get the hang of all of this...!

thanks for your comment!

Love the Kushiel series as well, one of my favorite reads.

A teacher? Wonderful, I approve wholeheartedly. What level of education? I'm looking to become a college professor, myself. It's exciting!

Thanks for the encouraging and helpful input you had on Memento Amore! You have a good eye. We'll definitely collaborate in the near future!