Drew Delaney

So sorry friends and readers. Life has taken another direction for a time. My daughter needs help with her children due to a marriage breakup. I will be back as soon as I am able.

rama devi: Sending you positive energies. Sorry about your daughter's situation. She'l lucky to have you to help. Come back soon, I hope! :)

October 25, 2017 at 8:06AM

Drew Delaney: Thank you rd!

November 7, 2017 at 8:41PM

Driven finished second in the contest "3-5-3 "Water""

I May Be Going Mad finished second in the contest "Silver Lining"

Irish Rain: Congratulations!!

August 17, 2017 at 12:09PM

Drew Delaney: Wow! Thank you! I was shocked when I just looked. Yay! Thank you Irish Rain!!

August 17, 2017 at 6:54PM

Rose Wine finished third in the contest "1-6-1 poetry"

Irish Rain: Congratulations!!!

August 3, 2017 at 9:57AM

Drew Delaney: Thank you, Irish Rain.

August 3, 2017 at 6:55PM

I'd like to wish all my friends and followers here on Fanstory a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous and Happy New Year. Thank you all for reading my works and I hope that my muse will wake up and smell the coffee. Merry Christmas all!!

michaelcahill: DON'T GIVE YOUR MUSE COFFEE!!!!!! Have you read one of my blathering stories? :)) Merry Christmas to you and thanks for your wonderful reviews and work!

December 23, 2015 at 11:10AM

Margaret Snowdon: HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPPY BIRTHDAY DREW XX

July 15, 2017 at 6:45AM

Dear Fanstory friends -- I am taking a break for a while as you must be aware. I am nearly done with the deck, and the garden needs planting. There is much to do at this time. When I get caught up, I will be back. Miss you all!

Sorry if I don't get much writing and reviewing done for a bit. I'm redoing my deck and raking tons of broken branches before it's time to cut grass, and plant my garden in a couple of weeks. I will probably read more than write because I will be too tired to write properly. Just letting you know why I may not show up to review. Hugs to all my fans and writing buddies. Love you. Drew xx Will try to be back soon.

And every novel needs a series of intriguing, hair-raising, addictive events carrying the reader from the Hook to the Climax. You could just tell us the Climax? The butler did it? But long fiction is all about the wonderful, rollicking adventure building upon why that matters.

The hardest thing for aspiring writers to believe is that all this is holographic (Holograms are usually intended for displaying three-dimensional images): what's essential for the novel is also essential for the chapter, episode, even scene. Every single one of them needs a Climax, Hook, and some type of events leading from one to the other.

Read that again. Every single one.

nor84: Not only every chapter, every scene. There should be a reason for every scene to be there. Conflict in every scene, movement in every scene. Conflict can mean a man struggling internally, two friends discussing a plan -- one is sure it will work, the other is skeptical. And then there's a resolution, a final decision for the screen and the story moves forward.

April 24, 2015 at 4:32AM

Drew Delaney: Thank you nor 84 for clarifying this. Every scene needs a hook, event and climax leading the main theme forward.

April 24, 2015 at 9:14PM

Introspection and backstory are better sprinkled than dumped!

Backstory should be woven throughout the manuscript, rather than taking up long chunks of space in the book.

rama devi: Good tip! :)

April 20, 2015 at 7:53PM

nor84: Short sections of dialogue is a good way to bring in backstory, just as you would in normal conversation: "Where are you from?" "Originally? Montana. Raised on a ranch." "Hey, that must have been great." Sort of like that. A short back-and-forth, not a life history.

April 21, 2015 at 3:05PM

The uses of em-dashes (--) and ellipses (...) differ slightly, both are used to indicate unfinished thoughts.
When a thought ends abruptly, either because the speaker ended it that way for effect or because he or she was interrupted, use an em-dash. When a thought trails off, use an ellipses.

michaelcahill: You have no idea how helpful that it!! Thank you. :))

April 17, 2015 at 12:11AM

IndianaIrish: Drew, isn't the example you give a hyphen? I thought an em-dash is wider so it isn't confused with a hyphen?

April 17, 2015 at 12:27AM

justafan: ellipses...so that's what they are called...I love them!!!

April 17, 2015 at 12:58AM

rama devi: Exactly! Indy...yes, but Fanstory editor does not have a way to make em-dashes. When you paste one in from Word, it changes it to something else. So, what I do here is to use two hyphens--

April 17, 2015 at 11:40AM

DIS-illusioned: I thought a dash was simply a dash (em-dash?)--and a hyphen somewhat like a shorter dash in appearance, used to combine two words to form a compound word. Enlightening grammatical tidbit, Drew. Thanks.

April 17, 2015 at 2:18PM

Drew Delaney: So glad this has helped with the confusion. Yes, my Word doesn't make the em-dash correct, so I have to use a double hyphen, like RD suggests. I got the info off of Auto-Crit, an online Critter site.

April 19, 2015 at 4:53PM

I'm struggling with self-confidence. Reading great books leave me feeling little.

michaelcahill: I feel that way walking into a library or a book store sometimes. It just means that there are billions of people and some of them have great talent. You're in the group that fits in the library. :)

March 22, 2015 at 1:37AM

mrsmajor: No No, don't say that...Your pen is as good as any, when we make an effort to express ourselves, it becomes a part of who we are...There's no one out there exactly like you, remember that...it works for me, and should do the same for you...Hugs!

March 22, 2015 at 8:06AM

Phyllis Stewart: Drew, I know what you mean. But by reading them, your mind absorbs style, magically, without any conscious thinking on your part. Your writing is already very good. Reading really great books will make it even better with no effort on your part, so read and enjoy! :) I have a favorite classic, called "Notes from the Underground" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. It's rather depressing, but oh, what a terrific look into the mind of a mentally damaged person. He really nailed every feeling, every thought. THen, my favorite topic is always "the enemy within"... man/woman against him/herself. If you like to look into minds, this is as good as it gets. :)

March 23, 2015 at 5:29PM

Happy New Year to all my friends on Fanstory.

Selina Stambi: Happy New Year, Drew.

January 6, 2015 at 8:19PM

country ranch writer: THE CHANGES IN OUR WEATHER IN THE USA IS MAKING EVERYONE SICK ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH POOR IMMUNE SYSTEMS

January 10, 2015 at 6:36AM

Just want to share this movie with those who went to school with nuns. It's an old story called 'The Bells of St. Mary's", and with not feeling clear headed enough to read much or write, this story brought tears to my eyes. It would be good to watch if you are celebrating Christmas alone for it is very inspiring and enjoyable. Let me know what you think once you have watched it. OKAY???

samsaysagain: Really nice, Drew. I went to school with the Ursuline Nuns order. I remember the Bell of St. Mary's. If I recall corectly It was a Bing Crosby movie. Now there's a man who can sing! Thanks

January 14, 2015 at 9:38PM

I have a head cold and sinus problems. Feel like I'm living in a cloud. One where breathing normally is difficult. Hope to be back on full time after Christmas. Merry Christmas to all!

Nosha17: Hi, Drew, sorry you aren't feeling well, I had bronchitis for about a month, only just going now. Hope you feel better for the festive season. Merry Christmas, love Fayex

December 16, 2014 at 7:57PM

I will be busy for the time being. Anxious to get back to review and write. Blessings to all.

Nosha17: Hope all is well, Drew. Looking forward to more of your book. Bye for now, Fayex

December 6, 2014 at 4:26PM

Selina Stambi: Take care. We'll be waiting. Merry Christmas, Drew. :)

December 9, 2014 at 8:27PM

Drew Delaney: This is POETRY and how to read it. I wish I could be half as talented. Enjoy!

November 19, 2014 at 8:17PM

Adri7enne: Held me mesmerized all the way to the end. Whew! Thanks for sharing.

November 20, 2014 at 8:11AM

Drew Delaney: He's a great narrator, isn't he?

November 21, 2014 at 1:38PM

write hand blue: This was brilliant, captivating and most inspiring. Thank you for showing this work of art... Mel.

November 24, 2014 at 7:48AM

Drew Delaney: Yes, it's brilliant and so well read. Loved it!

November 24, 2014 at 2:16PM

Showboat: Check out Vincent Price doing the same poem! OMG, what an incredible talent.

November 27, 2014 at 10:16PM

Drew Delaney: I did. Yes, as an actor, he performed and it was outstanding. Thanks for sharing that, Showboat.

November 30, 2014 at 4:28PM

ravenblack: Such a great clip from one of my favorite movies. Carpe Diem!

October 29, 2014 at 11:09AM

I'm in the cave, like my kids call it. The basement suite. I am looking forward to being able to keep up with things for the winter and read and write and knit or whatever. I have a lovely gas fireplace, just waiting for a part that got over-dirty and so it doesn't hold the flame well. Also, just got in seven cords of wood to get cut and piled. Seven more cords are ordered, but being too wet, it can't get out on the bush roads.

Hope you're all having a great time reading, writing and doing your thing. God Bless!

There are 17 spots left to fill in the Gothic Contest due October 31st. Come and join me as we get creative in this great genre.

trimple: Hi there Drew. I Looked at this prompt earlier on today, and enjoyed the two examples of what is considered to be 'Gothic writing' I have contemplated all afternoon what to write about. Hopefully, I may have something muscled up by the 31st October. Looks very interesting... trimple :)

October 13, 2014 at 6:07PM

Drew Delaney: Great! I hope we have some writers joining in. It's an interesting genre. My story was quite out of this world, but the character took over and it is what it is.

October 14, 2014 at 11:05PM

Drew Delaney: Mystic Angel won the contest. She did a swell job and was very deserving. Thanks to those who joined the contest. Hope you had fun.

November 7, 2014 at 12:06AM

Hi everyone!
I'll be busy for some time while attempting a move and getting ready for winter. Sorry if I don't keep up with some of the authors of novels I've been following and of course, all of you who have inspired me.

Hopefully, I will still be able to drop in occasionally in the next little while. Love you all!

michaelcahill: That sounds ominous, "getting ready for winter"... whatcha gonna do, hibernate or something? You're pretty upbeat and smile inducing. Hmmm. You're SANTA!!!

September 25, 2014 at 1:09AM

strandregs: You are one to watch Simon cowel would say I say Wow.

September 25, 2014 at 5:42AM

Clearing through all my mother's belongings and getting rid of almost everything. I put out a free sign on the driveway, and anything I don't know what to do with, goes there. Each morning, I arrive, and everything has been taken. I hope it blesses the people who are needy.

Veeb: What a beautiful and thoughtful gesture! You have been a blessing. I am deeply touched.

November 6, 2014 at 8:17AM

Drew Delaney: Thank you Veeb. I appreciate your kind words.

November 7, 2014 at 12:08AM

I would just like to remind all you awesome poets about the Rondeau Redouble and the final date which is coming up on September 29th. 12 more spots are available. It's a somewhat difficult form, but if you are good with iambic pentameter, you won't have a tough time. The more spots filled, the higher the prize.

I am so pleased to have won the Gothic contest. I feel badly that I didn't leave it open to all writers. But then, I wouldn't have won. LOL See how desperate I am?
Thanks to all who voted for me. I think this is one of my best short stories I have ever written. That alone means a lot to me.

I won, I won a contest. Yippee!!

I realize this is old news, but I wanted to share this poem, named the rondeau redoublé.

I would like to try this form. Anybody else?

A more complex form is the rondeau redoublé. This is also written on two rhymes, but in five stanzas of four lines each and one of five lines. Each of the first four lines (stanza 1) get individually repeated in turn once by becoming successively the respective fourth lines of stanzas 2, 3, 4, & 5; and the first part of the first line is repeated as a short fifth line to conclude the sixth stanza. This can be represented as - A1,B1,A2,B2 - b,a,b,A1 - a,b,a,B1 - b,a,b,A2 - a,b,a,B2 - b,a,b,a,(A1).

The following example of the form was written from the point of view of one of the RAF officers carrying the coffin of Diana, Princess of Wales to the plane that was to carry it to England. (Rondeau Redoublé)

Guard of Honour by Paul Hansford

The burden I bear is more heavy than lead.
The physical weight is a thing that I share,
but the loss that I feel will not leave my head.
Why did you have to die? Why is death so unfair?

I am close to you now. Yes, touching my hair
the flag with its lions of gold and of red
that wraps round your coffin. I know you are there.
The burden I bear is more heavy than lead.

My comrades move with me in slow, solemn tread.
Our eyes are all fixed in an unseeing stare.
Our shoulders support you in your oaken bed.
The physical weight is a thing that I share.

As I feel the world watching I try not to care.
My deepest emotions are best left unsaid.
Let others show grief like a garment they wear,
but the loss that I feel will not leave my head.

The flowers they leave like a carpet are spread,
In the books of remembrance they have written, "Somewhere
a star is extinguished because you are dead.
Why did you have to die? Why is death so unfair?"

The tears that we weep will soon grow more rare,
the rawness of grief turn to memory instead.
But deep in our hearts you will always be there,
and I ask, will I ever be able to shed
the burden I bear?

I am so excited. Look to your right. Six-star ratings. That is because you have helped me to write better and by the end of my post time, someone decided I could use a six-star. Blessings to all who have helped me thus far. I look for help and then apply it, unless I totally disagree. Hugs to all!

If this does not make your day, nothing will.

Two little boys, Tom and Danny, are excessively mischievous.
They are always getting into trouble and their Mom knows if any mischief occurs in their town, the two boys are probably involved.
The boys' mother heard that a preacher in town had been successful in disciplining children, so she asked if he would speak with her boys.
The preacher agreed, but he asked to see them individually.
The mother sent Danny in the morning, with the older boy to see the preacher in the afternoon.
The preacher, a huge man with a deep booming voice, sat the younger boy down and asked him sternly,
"Do you know where God is, son?"
The boy's mouth dropped open, but he made no response, sitting there wide-eyed with his mouth hanging open.
So the preacher repeated the question in an even sterner tone,
"Where is God?!
Again, the boy made no attempt to answer.
The preacher raised his voice even more and shook his finger in the boy's face and bellowed, "WHERE IS GOD?!"
The boy screamed & bolted from the room, ran directly home & dove into his closet, slamming the door behind him.
When his older brother found him in the closet, he asked,
"What happened?"
The younger brother, gasping for breath, replied,
"We are in BIG trouble this time!"
"GOD is missing, and they think WE did it!"


PLEASE DON'T LAUGH ALONE.

PASS IT ON!

15ab3l: This is really funny! I love your work!

August 5, 2014 at 12:19PM

Selina Stambi: It is funny. I remember this being used in one of the Alpha course videos.

August 5, 2014 at 10:48PM

This was quite a learning experience for me to write an essay called Food For Thought. Opinions are so difficult to digest sometimes especially if you don't agree. But I have come to realize that through it all, we are ever learning. Thanks to all who have helped me write this piece. It's not great and I'm not sure I ever want to write one again.

Selina Stambi: Welcome to Fanstory, Drew. Popping in to say hello!

August 3, 2014 at 11:06PM

tbacha58: Hello Drew, welcome to Fanstory. I am sure you will be very happy here, as you mentioned, writing and sharing with us, will definitely help. We are here for each other. Hugs Terry xoxo

August 3, 2014 at 11:33PM

Drew Delaney: Thank you so much for the welcome ladies. Hugs to you both!

August 4, 2014 at 10:36PM

Hardly a man in the world has an opinion upon morals, politics or religion which he got otherwise than through his associations an d sympathies. Broadly speaking, there are none but corn-pone opinions. And broadly speaking, Corn-Pone stands for Self- Approval. Self-approval is acquired mainly from the approval of other people. The result is Conformity. Mark Twain

Kingsland: That's one of the worst quotes I have read from Twain...

August 1, 2014 at 1:29PM

vapros: Mark Twain knew people, and we are guilty as he charges. Conformity is populated by those whose self-approval derives from the approval of others. Deliver me from that.

August 1, 2014 at 3:11PM

innerworlds: When Mark Twain was alive, the rules of social acceptance were very different and much more rigid. These days, I'd like to think we're a bit more open and relaxed in our acceptance of others (unless you're a teenager with unsupervised texting!). As for me, I earn my own respect and self-approval by achieving goals and helping others. I'd bet that most of the writers on this site set their own self-worth...because we're writers! We speak our true thoughts and insights, popular or not. How do you all feel about it???

August 1, 2014 at 9:24PM

Drew Delaney: I like to think you are right in this aspect. We achieve respect and self-approval because writing removes the masks we wear. We are open books in front of our audience. And we know ourselves better than most others do, because we analyse and notice and are more insightful. Doesn't mean we are better than non-writers, though. Just thinking out loud!

August 1, 2014 at 10:00PM

innerworlds: I wholeheartedly agree, Drew. Well said!

August 2, 2014 at 7:47AM

Praise is like candy. We love it, but it isn't good for us. You can only improve by being told what's wrong.

Your book is your child. You can't recognize its shortcomings, any more than a proud parent could consider their child dumb and ugly.

Twilightspire: True. Sometimes though, a story is stands on its own merit and deserves a piece of candy or two.

July 29, 2014 at 10:30AM

Drew Delaney: I agree. Too much praise without pointing out errors that need to be recognized (and changed) is wrong. I think we need to start reciprocating each others works so we can get read. What do you think?

July 29, 2014 at 3:21PM

Tina McKala: I totally second you! :) but if you start practising this - pointing out errors and not giving pure praise - you will be muted by majority of people here ;)

July 30, 2014 at 2:20AM

Drew Delaney: Are we here to learn or be praised for worthless work. I'm here to learn. I want good, honest reviews. Praise is nice too, but more importantly, learning skills is what I am after.

July 30, 2014 at 8:56PM

Drew Delaney: Enjoy!

July 24, 2014 at 9:17PM

Does anyone know how to put a You Tube on here?

Imogen JH: 1) Log on to "YouTube. 2) Select the video you want. 3) Underneath the video you will see the word "Share" click that 4) You will then see the word "Embed" click that and the code will be highlighted 5) Cut and paste the code here.

July 21, 2014 at 7:04AM

Drew Delaney: Thank you Imogen JH. I did try that but it didn't work for me. I will try again.

July 21, 2014 at 10:20AM

A snake slithered in front of me today while I was riding the lawnmower. Thank God I was up and he was down or I would have run for dear life. Eeeks!

vapros: Can snakes scream? Does anyone know?

July 20, 2014 at 5:47PM

Shirley B: No, but I sure can.

July 20, 2014 at 8:44PM

Michaelk: They don't scream they whissssssssper. :)

July 20, 2014 at 10:10PM

Drew Delaney: Actually, they hiss. I checked on Google. I scream too loud to hear any sounds. Yikes!

July 20, 2014 at 11:30PM

innerworlds: I have a garter snake (about three feet long and totally harmless) that follows me around the yard while I'm weeding. His name is Slinky and wherever I kneel down to work, he follows me, stretching out to sun himself nearby. He even looks like he's smiling! Not all snakes are scary. Besides, smiling instead of hissing is always a better thing...even in humans! (0:}

July 21, 2014 at 12:10AM

Michaelk: Innerworlds, if your pet snake offers you an apple, just say no.

July 21, 2014 at 6:08AM

Drew Delaney: I like that Michaelk. Funny!

July 21, 2014 at 8:52PM

Drew Delaney: I know garter snakes are supposed to be harmless, but my mum feared them and her fear passed on to me. innerworlds, just be careful he doesn't think you're a big frog or you could be his dinner. hee, hee!

July 21, 2014 at 8:56PM

innerworlds: Slinky's mouth is barely large enough to bite my little finger, and he doesn't have teeth. It would take him years to make a meal out of me! However, if he holds up an apple, I'm running! (0:]

August 1, 2014 at 9:33PM

Drew Delaney: It surely is a year for snakes in our area. I've seen a couple whereas some years, I don't see any. About 200 miles from here, snake pits filled with snakes, are roaming around the area. Once we went there for a week-end trip. I was riding a bicycle with my 3 month old grandson on a child-seat for bicycles. A snake slithered right in my tracks, I lost my balance, and the bike went over. My son grabbed the baby out of his seat uninjured, but that was the last straw. I wanted out of there. They were all over the place.

August 22, 2014 at 12:01AM

I am excited to be here and hopefully learn to be a better writer. I write some poetry, and fiction mostly. Otherwise, I ramble on about day to day life and its ups and downs. Hope to fit in here and feel part.

Kaila Mari: Welcome to this site Drew. I am also a newbie as I only joined last month. I am still finding my way around. So far it has been lots of fun.

July 21, 2014 at 7:18AM

Drew Delaney: Thanks for welcoming me, Kaila Mari. That is so sweet of you. Since you're a newbie as well, I welcome you in return.

July 21, 2014 at 8:57PM

innerworlds: We newbies need to stick together! This is one of the coolest groups of people ever! Now if I can just figure out to navigate this complicated site!!!!

August 1, 2014 at 9:36PM

bob cullen: Loved the video clip. Your writer's group sure have fun. Would love to join but you'd need to assist with my travelling expenses for each meeting. Best wishes from Australia.

August 3, 2014 at 7:16PM