gypsycaravan

gypsycaravan: Help. I want to post another photo at the end of a short story. How do I do that?

FanStory wrote to gypsycaravan: Congratulations the January 2015 Recognized Writer

gypsycaravan: What? Did the purple on everyone's site just turn green or are my eyes playing tricks?

gypsycaravan: So many different and varied contest challenges for the poets here on FanStory. I certainly wish we had more contests for prose writers --stories no longer than 1000 words so maybe a few would get some reviews. I still think the answer is a different and better reward for reading prose-based maybe on word count. Would certainly give a better chance for the prose writers to get more r/r to obtain more help and/or recognition. I also think there should be a reward (member dollars) if you read all the entries in a contest prior to voting. Just a couple thoughts this morning. My head is beginning to clear from the "Chinese congestion crud" I brought back from our recent Asian trip. Ugh.

gypsycaravan: Okay, Fan Story friends. I leave in the morning for a week in the Eastern Caribbean. I will be on a cruise with my wonderful hubby. We are both photographers (amateurs) so we look forward to recording all our adventures. I will miss all of your great writings while I'm gone but will catch up post-haste upon my return. Keep writing and no fighting, kiddies. LOL

gypsycaravan: Recently, I wrote a reply to a review that was interpreted by the reviewer as being rude. I sincerely hate it that my words hurt anyone here on FanStory. It was a wakeup call that I wanted to share with the rest of you. Written communication doesn't truly share what you mean? It doesn't show that you may be smiling and chiding them a bit. We all need to be more careful in our replies or reviews. Words can be misinterpreted very easily. Saying you are sorry after the fact doesn't take away their hurt so we must be careful. I hope this will make us all think before we write and that it keeps others from being hurt like I hurt this person. Gypsycaravan

gypsycaravan: For anyone following and willing to read this small posting here on my profile, I have a couple things I want to say. Can you imagine that, a writer with something to say? I made a pact with myself that the only money I would spend on FS would be my membership fees and I've held to that position since I came back here this year. I post my own writings solely with member dollars from a few small prompt contest wins and/or from reviewing. Doing a lot of reviewing is like attending a class in writing for me. Reading what works and what doesn't are the lessons we writers need to learn. Writing should always be slanted toward the reader and not formed to fit into the mold of some instructor. So for those who believe you must spend lots of money to win a contest on FS, that is bunk. Spend none, read and write a LOT. Sooner or later, your writing will attract the right audiences and off you go.

gypsycaravan: Does anyone know who is on the committees that judge the contests? Just curious????

gypsycaravan: Goodness sakes. It seems that 5 or 6 are the only acceptable ratings with a great many people on this site. If you feel the need to rate with a "4," and offer the reason why and a couple suggestions to improve, you seem to get back either a smart-aleck reply or a "revenge" review. So childish. Reviews would be better if none of this star business was part of it. Any thoughts on this?

gypsycaravan: Now a poem in a "write a story" contest? Am I missing something?

gypsycaravan: Seven poems under the books and chapters list today. What gives?

gypsycaravan: Just sent a suggestion to the powers that be concerning the grouping together of both short works and book chapters. I feel there are probably more like me who like to read short works exclusively, or at least most of the time. Having to scroll through all the book chapters to find them is time wasted. I asked if they could be listed separately on the home page and under the "read" tab. Anyone else think they'd like this?

gypsycaravan: Just got back from a 4 day trip to Key West with my wonderful hubby. I realized while I was there that I had been spending much too much time on Fan Story the last few weeks. i refuse to buy member dollars and I learn so much by reviewing that It takes many hours a day to review enough to be able to post and promote my own work for review. That being said, I am going to spend those hours for now writing more, traveling more, painting more and taking more photographs. I also maintain a family website and photo website that I've done for years. I have no huge goal to go anywhere with my writing except for friends and family so promotion is not on my bucket list. I've met so many nice people on this site and learned so much. Thanks to all. I will stop in from time to time because I'm nosy. Ha

gypsycaravan: I replied kindly, but it's hard when the words read, "This is horrible. Should never have been written at all. What were you thinking? I didn't feel this type of review belongs on FS and is certainly not helpful, but since it was a "biggie", I guess the little guys will keep getting kicked.

gypsycaravan: I've been reading some pretty fabulous writings here on FS lately. Ccongrats to all my fellow writers.

gypsycaravan: I'm learning more every day just by reading all the wonderful offerings on this site. I read a lot more than I review. If I can't find ONE good thing to say about a piece, I move on. I never want to be responsible for stifling another fledgling writer. "Constructive" is the key word. As a reader, I spot problems much quicker than editing my own stuff. When I spot something that doesn't sound right, I go back and look for similar mistakes in my own writings. You may not believe me, but the rankings, stars and attaboys are not nearly as important to me as the "learning." I crave improvement.

gypsycaravan: Traveler, photographer, writer, painter, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, nurse, homemaker, friend. The hats are many. Some are fairly new and some well-worn. All are treasured. My writer's chapeau is the most recent participant in the Easter parade. Each day, I type diligently adding new feathers and ribbons to the hat's design. My plan is for these added decorations to attract attention from publishers, editors, and writing contest judges. As my hat becomes more glamorous, I hope the reading public will become fans.