Chuck23: I've had a short story I've been working on for awhile, and decided I will need some help from other fanstorians to ensure I get this going in the right direction. I returned today expecting to have to reactivate my account, and was pleasantly surprised to see it's still active. I guess I better get to work reading and reviewing, so I can earn some funds to promote the story I need help with. I'm going to post it broken up into several sections, rather than ask for help on a longer work.
    I am Cat: Welcome back, we look forward to reading your work.
    Cat -

    Chuck23: I added this tune after watching my beloved Broncos lose big in this year's super bowl. Funny, every time I think about their loss, i think "bye, bye, ms american pie." I am so weird. I'll probably associate the two forever now. -


Chuck23: I just edited one of my shorts from about 3000 words down to 1800, I almost feel like I'm starting over each time I do that. It seems to make the story much tighter though.


Chuck23: I wish I could get motivated to finish something, and start putting up more shorts here again.
    shelley kaye: LOL! check out my portfolio! i have so many books going at once i lost count LOL

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    Chuck23: Looks like you write a lot poetry. I wish I was better at poetry. -


Chuck23: I was really pleased with then new story I added, then I read the first review of it. Suddenly I feel like it's the crappiest story I have ever written. Goes to show this is the one hobby I should give up.
    Anisa-: Why should you give it up? If you enjoy it...That's all that matters, really. -
    Taffspride: I agree with Anisa, Why would you want to give it up? Write for the enjoyment of it. -
    adewpearl: I just read the review that has you reeling - it doesn't sound half as critical as you make it out to be. I honestly don't think the reviewer believes it's a crappy story. You need to take a few breaths and lighten up on yourself :-) -
    Chuck23: I'm a perfectionist. I've rewritten it several times over the last few days to work out a kink that made it hard to follow. No-the first reviewer said it was "terrific", and also that they didn't see where it was going <- guess, I never fixed it... made me hate the story all over again. Nothing against the reviewer, I just no longer care for this story because I apparently never did fix it. Frustrated with my writing, because I invest so much into it... Nothing at all against the reviewer, they did not give it a bad review... I'm very temperamental.

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    green5587: Chuck, as one perfectionist to another, chill. We tend to create our own angst. Nothing you post on here will be perfect. Use the advice from reviewers and keep working on the piece. make yourself do it. You will feel better, I promise.
    Steph -
    green5587: After rethinking my comment, (sigh) there have been some perfect pieces posted here(thinking of the poet and writer of the year) but a perfectionist never thinks his/her work is good enough and can get really frustrated. I try to grab the advice of the reviewers and go from there. I never give up...I've read some of your stuff and you are good. Keep going.
    Steph -
    Chuck23: Thanks for the encouragement... I'm a little dramatic sometimes. I appreciate your encouraging words. I have really wanted to see something of mine published. I was submitting to various writing competitions quite a bit and decided I would have much better luck getting published if I go for anthologies that are accepting rather than competitions. While I try and save my best for those situations, and post the ones I don't have other plans for to my online collections, but I still expect those online pieces to be above average because I don't want to post anything that sucks.

    Had one of those moments, I thought this isn't suppose to be a hard piece... if I can't even get this where I want it, how can I ever expect to see something published. <- crazy... just had a moment there... appreciate your encouraging words. I throw my hands up in the air all the time, followed with why do I continue to pursue this? Then I sit down and write another story. -


Chuck23: I was just counting how many short stories I have posted on this site. I would like to post 45 short stories here. I have 33 posted currently. I post my stories here that were fun to write, but that I have no other plans for.

The ones I put a lot into, and don't post online, I submit to contests and anthologies. Haven't had one published yet, but hope 2013 is the year for that. In the meantime, I just keep on keeping on.


Chuck23: I had an acquaintance from fanstory that I would trade writings critiques with via email. Word to the wise, careful who take this extra step with in your writing. I began receiving emails from his wife attempting to involve me in their personal life. I do not answer emails from individuals who I did not provide my email to. I believe when you respond to such, you are encouraging further communication. I forwarded them to him, indicating it was between them and did not involve me. In turn, I ended up with a rediculous message on my facebook wall.

It may stem from my OCD, but attempts to embarrass me or degrade me receive the response of being left for all to read.

This may seem a bit personal to share as a profile thought, but I felt someone trying to include me in their personal life overstepped some serious boundries. It was the consequence of trading critiques, and working on a short story with an individual on this site.
    DIS-illusioned: "I began receiving emails from his wife attempting to involve me in their personal life."

    LOL! Some folks sure have issues, don't they? :-p
    I'm glad you informed your FS buddy about this. Can someone say 'Potiphar's wife'. :-p
    Bwaha! :) -


Chuck23: ""No, everybody's fine at home," I said. "It's me. I have to have this operation."

"Oh! I'm so sorry," she said. She really was, too. I was right away sorry I'd said it, but it was too late.

"It isn't very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain."

"Oh, no!" She put her hand up to her mouth and all. "Oh, I'll be all right and everything! It's right near the outside. And it's a very tiny one. They can take it out in about two minutes."

Then I started reading this timetable I had in my pocket. Just to stop lying. Once I get started, I can go on for hours if I feel like it. No kidding. Hours.""- JD Salinger "The Catcher and the Rye"

Gawd! I love Salinger. The man is so enjoyable to read. When I pick up one of his books, about half way through I start thinking, I can't wait til I have time to read this one again!
    RighteousLiar: Who the hell is Salinger? And whatever happened to the nuns? -
    Chuck23: Has work slowed down for you yet, so we can finish our story? -