Question Question for the audience
- elrodw
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Topic Author
This question is stirred by a general feeling of emotional burnout. I had a really shitty year at work last year - being sidelined in an attempt to ruin my career (which appears to have succeeded), plus normal family crap, and now feeling that my stories are being sort-of ignored. I've got stories I feel like have to do to get us to and through the summer so Kristin and Morpheus can jump into tales at Whateley, but in the emotional black hole I'm in, I'm just not feeling it.
So the question I'm wrestling with is simple. Should I even bother with a summer Kayda story or should I just say screw it and let her fade off the stage (and not write a plot that involves Fey) and focus on trying to find energy and enthusiasm to write Knockoff and 'Shine and Danny? Does anyone even care about her anymore?
Never give up, Never surrender! Captain Peter Quincy Taggert
- Malady
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elrodw wrote: reading hits are down, comments are way down; it's like no-one really gives a rat's ass.
This question is stirred by a general feeling of emotional burnout. I had a really shitty year at work last year - being sidelined in an attempt to ruin my career (which appears to have succeeded), plus normal family crap, and now feeling that my stories are being sort-of ignored. I've got stories I feel like have to do to get us to and through the summer so Kristin and Morpheus can jump into tales at Whateley, but in the emotional black hole I'm in, I'm just not feeling it.
So the question I'm wrestling with is simple. Should I even bother with a summer Kayda story or should I just say screw it and let her fade off the stage (and not write a plot that involves Fey) and focus on trying to find energy and enthusiasm to write Knockoff and 'Shine and Danny? Does anyone even care about her anymore?
Wha? Looking at the stats to see what you're talking about... Need to find our member count to see what the hit count means. As people might re-read, so that changes numbers.
Is this 'cause I said I blanked out from a Perspective Flip? I'm actually gonna see if the texts are different 'tween Galatea and Buffalo-Dragon 3...
EDIT: And they are... And apparently, I'm just really forgetful, as my re-read's giving me deja-vu...
Also, are you talking about comments in general, comments on the story pages only, or forum comments? 'Cause it seems like your stories are getting a normal amount of forum comments... Buffalo-Dragon has 14 pages, Penance has 24...
- E M Pisek
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I for one am hoping to have a summer story about Kayda, Danny and the others. The other process is our egos. As with that I'm referring to what you and many hope for is some form of feedback even if its a quick response of 'Nice Story' or it just sucks, to thats not my cup of (insert favorite drink) but overall its (fill in the blank here).
As for work and so forth its been, I'm sure both emotional and taxing for you and your family. But I would say to look at it on a more positive note if any. You were able to put some of your frustration into the story. And here, I hope, to enjoy some of the fray that's been going on, to lighten the mood for you.
So please write a summer story, leave it out of Whateley if you wish but please continue to allow us to read your fruits of labor. I know I'm coming across as some high amount of sugar but for me it gives me a bit of relief and I'm sure others, of their own situations.
So take heart that there are those that 'want' to read more, even if they are reluctant to say so, for if they didn't I'm sure they would say so otherwise.
Ibi



What is - was. What was - is.
- elrodw
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Topic Author
Malady wrote:
elrodw wrote: reading hits are down, comments are way down; it's like no-one really gives a rat's ass.
This question is stirred by a general feeling of emotional burnout. I had a really shitty year at work last year - being sidelined in an attempt to ruin my career (which appears to have succeeded), plus normal family crap, and now feeling that my stories are being sort-of ignored. I've got stories I feel like have to do to get us to and through the summer so Kristin and Morpheus can jump into tales at Whateley, but in the emotional black hole I'm in, I'm just not feeling it.
So the question I'm wrestling with is simple. Should I even bother with a summer Kayda story or should I just say screw it and let her fade off the stage (and not write a plot that involves Fey) and focus on trying to find energy and enthusiasm to write Knockoff and 'Shine and Danny? Does anyone even care about her anymore?
Wha? Looking at the stats to see what you're talking about... Need to find our member count to see what the hit count means. As people might re-read, so that changes numbers.
Is this 'cause I said I blanked out from a Perspective Flip? I'm actually gonna see if the texts are different 'tween Galatea and Buffalo-Dragon 3...
Also, are you talking about comments in general, comments on the story pages only, or forum comments? 'Cause it seems like your stories are getting a normal amount of comments... Buffalo-Dragon has 14 pages, Penance has 24...
CBHD - 14 pages for 3 parts. Gen 2 NYCWC - 12 pages for 1 part. Most of Penance comments are arguments about whether I represented Liz and the punishment correctly.
Story page comments are fewer, too.
Never give up, Never surrender! Captain Peter Quincy Taggert
- Domoviye
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1) It was the holidays. No one was really commenting much on anything because they were spending time with their families, vacations, parties, and catching up on work.
2) A bit of burnout. Kayda has been filling in a LOT of the Whateley verse, and we've talked about her a lot already. This is not a complaint, and it IS NOT yours or Kayda's fault. But in the last half year, we've gotten a bit of Imp, some Tansy, Whisper, a decent amount of Loophole, a little Silver Ghost and Kayda. And when it's Loophole and Tansy in it, Kayda was there in a big supporting role.
There's not much you can do about that right now. But once the Fall term starts and there are more characters without Kayda front and center so much, we can step back and look at her interacting wth others in new ways giving us more to talk about. Right now you're wrapping up plotlines and setting up things for the future. As fans we've discussed a lot of this already, so we need new ground. The summer months, with Charge, Headrush, Ayla, Fey and others, will give us that.
3) Funny gets more comments than pain (Unless you're getting hate mail).
I know you like Tink, so I'll use her as an example. Tink was written as a funny idiotic character that was suppose to be a short story. I have NO idea how she became so popular in the fanfics, except that she's a zany ditzy character.
My other character Glitch, who is angsty andseriously messed up, is I think better written, but has half the attention that Tink gets. Humour sells better. People respect both, and you do Kayda very well, but a good funny story will get more comments or at least clicks in the end.
Which is why Danny is getting a decent amount of attention, and will probably get a lot more as his story expands. He's being set up perfectly as the unlucky character who will have to muddle through insane situations.
4) Burnout.
If you don't mind me saying so, you've written a LOT of Kayda over the last two years. From personal experience while writing about one character or storyline is fun, it wears on you after a while. Especially if the story is dark.
Stepping back and focusing on other things for a few weeks is usually the best cure for that, and you can get back to it with fresh insight.
I'm not sure if you can realy do that right now, but finishing up the summertime fun, and taking a step back for a bit to focus on the others with Kayda in a big supporting role as appropriate, and then returning to Kayda after three or four months, could be exactly what you need.
Hope this helps.
- Domoviye
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Gen 2 is a special case. It's the start of a new-ish, verse, so it will have a lot of comments. Also a lot of that is arguements on if it gives enough detail, if there are too many characters, etc. So don't hold that up as competition, it's apples and oranges.elrodw wrote:
Malady wrote:
elrodw wrote: reading hits are down, comments are way down; it's like no-one really gives a rat's ass.
This question is stirred by a general feeling of emotional burnout. I had a really shitty year at work last year - being sidelined in an attempt to ruin my career (which appears to have succeeded), plus normal family crap, and now feeling that my stories are being sort-of ignored. I've got stories I feel like have to do to get us to and through the summer so Kristin and Morpheus can jump into tales at Whateley, but in the emotional black hole I'm in, I'm just not feeling it.
So the question I'm wrestling with is simple. Should I even bother with a summer Kayda story or should I just say screw it and let her fade off the stage (and not write a plot that involves Fey) and focus on trying to find energy and enthusiasm to write Knockoff and 'Shine and Danny? Does anyone even care about her anymore?
Wha? Looking at the stats to see what you're talking about... Need to find our member count to see what the hit count means. As people might re-read, so that changes numbers.
Is this 'cause I said I blanked out from a Perspective Flip? I'm actually gonna see if the texts are different 'tween Galatea and Buffalo-Dragon 3...
Also, are you talking about comments in general, comments on the story pages only, or forum comments? 'Cause it seems like your stories are getting a normal amount of comments... Buffalo-Dragon has 14 pages, Penance has 24...
CBHD - 14 pages for 3 parts. Gen 2 NYCWC - 12 pages for 1 part. Most of Penance comments are arguments about whether I represented Liz and the punishment correctly.
Story page comments are fewer, too.
- Wrayth
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I have to agree with Dom, that you have written A LOT of Kayda's stories, and might be in need of a break. Hell, when is the last time you put words down for MAU? Don't burn yourself out on any one thing, Elrod. You really are an awe inspiring author with a ton of words under your belt. If you need a break take a few weeks off from writing anything and recharge.
Wrayth
- ~Archangel~
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Which is also an bit of hiccup with stories moving from site-to-site, I might need a flow chart to keep the stories straight and in chronological order.
As for the rest, yeah I can understand how Real Life crap can beat you down, my life is massively screwed up right now due to physical and mental health issues that are likely not to be resolved soon, but I try to keep writing even if 90% doesn't go anywhere but the circular file bin. As for your writing all I can say is vent on your characters rather than yourself, it's healthier for you, and they can't fight back, and since they will likely recover from whatever you inflict on them they can help you recover as well.
Dammit now I have to read the Kayda stories...urgh ok they start where and progress in this fashion...but crossover with...ok I need a drink and maybe a TARDIS.

Many people hear voices when no-one is there.
Some are called 'mad' and shut up in rooms where they stare at the walls all day.
Others are called 'writers' and they do pretty much the same thing.
-Ray Bradbury
- mittfh
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To Sleep - 1,794
Penance - 3,184
Medicine Girl - 2,677
Galatea - 3,087
CBHD1 - 3,327
CBHD2 - 2,107
CBHD3 - 1,578
---
SGGA - 3,881
Gen 2 Announcement - 2,864
Calamari - 2,913
Compare that to content migrated over, which tends to be in the low hundreds, and factor in activity levels over the past month or so will have been lower than average due to the Christmas / New Year period (some won't have been able to visit the site at all, while others will have been sneaking glimpses on mobile devices which are better suited to reading than commenting), and you're not doing that badly!
Besides which, I assume you're not getting lots of comments / PMs along the lines of "Kayda sucks!"
However, since characters we haven't seen for a while tend to get more attention than characters we've seen a lot, if you're primarily interested in a big reaction to the next Kayda story, wait a few months...
On the other hand, if you're not getting actual negative vibes, 14 pages of comments probably translates to at least half a dozen people who are motivated enough to not only read the story but write something about it as well. Forget for a moment this is a virtual space, and imagine reciting the story to an audience of around 1,500 people. You'd probably be thrilled if half a dozen stayed behind to discuss it and ask you questions. Numbers aren't everything - why are you writing? Is it for your own pleasure or to get over 3,000 hits and dozens of pages of comments per chapter/episode?
Perhaps you should take your signature quote to heart...

As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!
- Mister D
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Take a break, sort out your personal life, de-stress from your job, and come back with a fresh head.
As someone who's been a professional musician/composer/performing artist for over 30 years, i can entirely understand what you are going through.
Creating and writing while you have a day-job and a family isn't easy. Tou will go through rough patches, and you will go through times when everything flows well.
Don't worry about the hit rate. Those stats are irrelevant.
The important question is whether you feel good about what you have created.
Your characters are well constructed, your stories are well written, your stories are worth re-reading, and you've got some chewy ideas.
Also, try some daylight simulation bulbs. I didn't realise how much the winter was affecting my headspace until i tried them.
I'm looking forward to your next work, whatever it happens to be, and whoever you are writing about.
Measure Twice
- Isodecan
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- DanZilla
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I'll throw in my comment on this and say that I'm definitely not bored with Kayda... I did get burned-out by all of the constant crap that kept getting thrown her way and it's left a bad taste in my mouth toward appreciating her as much as I used to. Even now that you seem to be lightening things up a bit it's hard to not feel like I'm waiting for the next load of shoes to drop.elrodw wrote: I'm starting to wonder if perhaps everyone is bored of Kayda or her tales, or tired of my sometimes overly-angsty plots or writing style - reading hits are down, comments are way down; it's like no-one really gives a rat's ass.
If it's not the time of year then I think a lot of us are having bad times right now and in some definite doldrums.elrodw wrote: This question is stirred by a general feeling of emotional burnout. I had a really shitty year at work last year - being sidelined in an attempt to ruin my career (which appears to have succeeded), plus normal family crap, and now feeling that my stories are being sort-of ignored. I've got stories I feel like have to do to get us to and through the summer so Kristin and Morpheus can jump into tales at Whateley, but in the emotional black hole I'm in, I'm just not feeling it.
So the question I'm wrestling with is simple. Should I even bother with a summer Kayda story or should I just say screw it and let her fade off the stage (and not write a plot that involves Fey) and focus on trying to find energy and enthusiasm to write Knockoff and 'Shine and Danny? Does anyone even care about her anymore?
I know I've been getting more depressed lately and that's on top of the stuff I've gone through over the lat few years which were definitely not good. A lot of that has led to my not being as active in the forums as I've been in the past.
Are you feeling like your stories are holding-up things in getting through the summer and into the fall? If so then maybe throw something short together as a return to school and back-fill later. I think a lot of us want to read about the trips Kayda's taking with Adalie and Alicia but we'd rather not see you hurting yourself emotionally to feel like you're forcing yourself to get it done to any sort of time schedule.
I'd hate to see her fade-away but I wouldn't mind seeing some shift of focus to the other characters. I do still care about the character but would rather you give us something your heart's in than something written half-heartedly and perhaps showing that. Have you thought about a rotation with your characters. Maybe after something Kayda you work on something from one of them and then back to Kayda or one of the others. Perhaps something old and then something new alternating even. We'll all still love Kayda's stories even if we don't get them every single time your name appears in the byline.
You've taken on a lot of responsibility over the last few years with regards to writing so many stories and helping wrangle the 2nd gen into place and participating in that. I want you to realize that we appreciate that so much and look forward to hearing from you whenever you feel like sharing your stories with us.
- Kristin Darken
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Also, I think putting the direct links to the stories in the Front Page News (or one of the other changes to site structure that I made) impacted the tracking count in some way. After all, in the first month or so here, the Front Page News was getting more hits than anything else... which made sense from a perspective of it being on the landing page. But if you look at the moment, we have fewer than 200 counts of the current front page news being loaded. And I KNOW that that can't be right, because I know how many times the front page has been hit from Google Analytics this week. and its WAY more than that.
Personally? I'm actually looking forward to your summer and fall semester stories, Kayda or otherwise. That's not a negative in your corner so much as it is that I'm 'done' with this school year. We've picked up the pace some this past year (a great deal of the credit for that is yours and E.E.'s), but in general, I feel we've crammed too many things/events into too little time and things are coming a bit unraveled for me. But starting the second school year? That's exciting for me. Even if we see some of the same characters in the next school year, we will see them in context of a new crop of freshman and without those seniors who have left. I think the flexibility and the influx of new will perk ALL of the original timeline up some and I really do look forward to getting us some new playmates for the sandbox. But not, I hope, at the cost of current ones.
Burnout is always a real danger for creative projects... but don't forget that getting Gen 2 on its way has been as big a deal for you as it has for me. And with a project that 'big' its almost like giving birth and your kids heading out the door to college rolled up in one. It's amazingly exciting... but at the same time, you're just plain wiped out. You've given everything you had to it for so long and now its out of your hands and back and forth between that. For pregnancy its... post-partum.. for the creative world, its that post project crash. Don't let it kick your ass. If you're prone to depression cycles, it can hit you really hard if it hits at the same time as your depression swing. And I can tell you from holiday shows that if you have holiday blues, that THAT stacks on post-project crash too.
Best thing to do? Find something that inspires you and let yourself recharge.
If you are looking for a television series or movie to take a look at that is something unexpectedly badass ... I just had someone tell me that MTV (of all people) turned Terry Brook's "Shannara" books into a television series that just released this month. Episodes 1-4 are currently available on the MTV web site, I've gotten through the first 3 and... its awesome. It's been ages since I read the original trilogy so I don't know how accurate it is, but considering I had no idea it was even being worked on... it's really good. That not what you need? Then lets chat. I know you've been feeling the edges of burn out for a bit now... lets talk about what you want to be doing that will give you the fuel you need.
Fate guard you and grant you a Light to brighten your Way.
- Valentine
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I think you tried to wrap up too many of these storylines in her first semester. I expected the security guard storyline to last semesters, if not years. The same with Magic Mikey's harassment.
I want to read the Summer story, I'm hoping that it is a bit less life and death than the previous stories. I want to see the girls teasing Danny, find out what is happening with Julie, what the Sioux Falls League are up to. See what Headrush's family is like. Watch Charge go nuts trying to talk all the Cajun speakers. Catch up on Charge's family and HGB.
Don't Drick and Drive.
- ~Archangel~
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Also to add to the suggestion pile, and I'm firing blind here since I don't know your taste in entertainment, you might try 'The Expanse' very good sci-fi show, the science is quite hard for it being on TV, it takes off slow but by ep 4 you realize that you just been introduced to the background and characters. It's not the typical hit you over the head with all the intro material 15 mins in and cue the needless action/T&A scene.
What else? Well I'm going to plug Jim Butcher's 'Dresden Files' and 'Codex Aleria' as awesome reads with alot of good humour in them, of course there is always Terry Pratchett's 'Diskworld' which is high fanasty with the Marx Brothers. Then again you could just fire up YouTube and binge on the comedian of your choice.
You are a good writer, I've following you since you wrote 'In the Stripper's Image' on FM, and although as I've mentioned before I haven't read the Kayda stories yet (I'm working on it, I promise) I gave a big mental 'Waahooo!!' when I saw that you and Morpheus had joined the Whateley-verse. That right there is a measure of how much you and your stories are appreciated, that when I read that you had joined the Canon Cabal (yes I know there is no Canon Cabal

One example of how much the Kayda stories have achieved recognition is how often they are mentioned in other threads, when someone makes a reference to or compares another character/situation to Kayda. Your influence around here cannot be measured by 'Hits' on your stories, or feedback, but in the 'Dents' that Kayda et all has had on the collective conscience of us forum junkies and fan fic writers. Hell some fan fic writers are comparing their stories suffering and angst to Kayda's situation.
Think about that, you inspired a measurement of suffering and angst in others stories, in a humorous tongue way true, but in the back of alot peoples minds they are rating other stories on a Kayda scale. That my friend is impressive.
Many people hear voices when no-one is there.
Some are called 'mad' and shut up in rooms where they stare at the walls all day.
Others are called 'writers' and they do pretty much the same thing.
-Ray Bradbury
- Mogman
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- Jarjaross
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elrodw wrote: I'm starting to wonder if perhaps
everyone issome people are bored of Kayda or her tales, or tired of my sometimes overly-angsty plots or writing style - reading hits are down, comments are way down; it's like no-one really gives a rat's ass.
Yes. I can say with full confidence that my altered statement is true. Then again I never really like Kayda all that much. I still read every story but that's because Kayda is the new Ayla, if you want to know what is happening in the Whateleyverse you read the Kayda stories.
I'm not going to say you should stop writing Kayda, I'm going to say maybe other characters should get the spotlight for a bit.
My dreams take me to far off lands and times of distant past and future. They tell what has been done, what will happen and who I am. They show me things beyond the machinations of any man. Tell me, what are dreams to you?
- Amelia_R
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crystalhall.org/storiesSort2.html
I have no idea if the hit counts from there are accessible any more.
I do like Kayda as a person and as a well thought out mutant character, but you can add me to the list of those who think the angst and death threats are becoming a bit much.
Maybe Kayda needs to meet the Monkey King.

- elrodw
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Topic Author
Amelia_R wrote: Something else to factor into the hit counts is that there are still some of us, I couldn't guess how many, who are trying to read all the Gen 1 stories in rough chronological (by Whateley calendar) order. At the moment, it is still far easier to do that using the chronology and links from the original forum, at
crystalhall.org/storiesSort2.html
I have no idea if the hit counts from there are accessible any more.
I do like Kayda as a person and as a well thought out mutant character, but you can add me to the list of those who think the angst and death threats are becoming a bit much.
Maybe Kayda needs to meet the Monkey King.
With the exception of closing up the MM thread with his final attack, the death threats and nastiness ended with Riddle of Sappho.

Never give up, Never surrender! Captain Peter Quincy Taggert
- Valentine
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elrodw wrote:
Amelia_R wrote: Something else to factor into the hit counts is that there are still some of us, I couldn't guess how many, who are trying to read all the Gen 1 stories in rough chronological (by Whateley calendar) order. At the moment, it is still far easier to do that using the chronology and links from the original forum, at
crystalhall.org/storiesSort2.html
I have no idea if the hit counts from there are accessible any more.
I do like Kayda as a person and as a well thought out mutant character, but you can add me to the list of those who think the angst and death threats are becoming a bit much.
Maybe Kayda needs to meet the Monkey King.
With the exception of closing up the MM thread with his final attack, the death threats and nastiness ended with Riddle of Sappho.
With the exceptions of Snakey and his sons, various elements of the MCO (admittedly there are other elements not out to get her), part of her home town, the "mysterious Grey Skies," the gay bashers at Whateley (although she seems to care less and less about their opinions as time goes on)...

Don't Drick and Drive.
- konzill
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But Whateley isn't really just TG fiction anymore, Increasingly more and more of the major characters aren't Trans at all. She Beast, Nacht, Aquerna, Charge, Loophole, Solange, the Imp and Mischif in the Original Canon where all born female and stayed that way through their mutation. I belive the same goes for quite a few of the 2nd Gen Characters. The mutant future aspect of Whateley is growing in importants, and from this persepective Kayda's story isn't quite finished yet, as she still pluaged with doubts about her abilities, and hasn't quite become the hero she has the potential to be. But maybe she has had a little too much of the spotlight lateley, so maybe make the summer Adventure focuse on Adalie and Alircia a little more with Kayda more just along for the ride.
- elrodw
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Topic Author
Never give up, Never surrender! Captain Peter Quincy Taggert
- Dreamer
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Please don't do anything hasty like that. I love your stories about Kayda and everything involved, even the angst. While I would love to read a summer story with them, if you are feeling burned out please take a break, work on something else you enjoy, and come back when you feel refreshed for writing about Kayda and her tales again. I would rather wait to read more stories than see you do something you might regret later.elrodw wrote: Or Kayda, Alicia, Charge, and Danny die in a fiery plane crash over the Atlantic en route to France ......
Thank You for story comments appreciated and help me know me they are being read and liked.

- Domoviye
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elrodw wrote: Or Kayda, Alicia, Charge, and Danny die in a fiery plane crash over the Atlantic en route to France ......
Gah! Stupid IPad.
I had a scenario where everyone of Elrods characters die a horrible death right down to Punch, RPG, and even Delwin, when hit a wrong button and deleted it.
It was awesome with plane crashes, suicide, insanity, demons murdering people and brave last stands and its gone! ALL GONE!
- Valentine
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elrodw wrote: Or Kayda, Alicia, Charge, and Danny die in a fiery plane crash over the Atlantic en route to France ......
Write Knockoff's exciting trip to Whateley. You know the one where she travels with a well known supervillain while being chased by the MCO. Oh, wait that is Sphere's story. Write Knockoff's boring drive to Whateley with her mom and their car accident with some hick from Tennessee on his way to some exclusive school in the North East, alcohol definitely was not involved.
Write Jaunt's combat final.
Don't Drick and Drive.
- E M Pisek
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elrodw wrote: Or Kayda, Alicia, Charge, and Danny die in a fiery plane crash over the Atlantic en route to France ......
WAIT? WHAT!? Who's anguish are you trying to get up now? Theirs or ours?
And yet I bet you have some sort of cloning machine available to bring them back as Teenage Ninja's from some Dark Force Awakens plot.
What is - was. What was - is.
- Dawnfyre
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Finish off this year as/when you can and take the break from writing about her pov.
write some stuff that is completely non related to WU get yourself the mental break from the WU efforts.
I have enjoyed every single Kayda entry, outraged at points, frustrated that she just keeps getting hammered, that effort is draining on you, creating such a vivid character and getting the readers to respond is a huge effort.
Stupidity is a capitol offense, a summary not indictable one.
- Jarjaross
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elrodw wrote: Or Kayda, Alicia, Charge, and Danny die in a fiery plane crash over the Atlantic en route to France ......
No! Don't Kill off two characters I like to get rid of one character I have no strong feelings for!
Seriously though although I find Kayda boring Alacia and Charge are interesting. Charge has the whole redemption arc and a romance on the notoriously rocky Ayla ship and Alacia is one of Imp's students,
My dreams take me to far off lands and times of distant past and future. They tell what has been done, what will happen and who I am. They show me things beyond the machinations of any man. Tell me, what are dreams to you?
- ShockHawk
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elrodw wrote: Or Kayda, Alicia, Charge, and Danny die in a fiery plane crash over the Atlantic en route to France ......
If this happened I might just quit reading anything Whateley...
Then again... the world, either ours or Whateley's, is far from a predictable place...
One of the most powerful things about potential is that it may never come to be what it could be. There is not one person I know in my life who couldn't name at least one friend/acquaintance/relative who lives far below their potential or who passed on before there time...
The valedictorian to be killed in a drunk driving accident...
The celebrated author suffers a heart attack before he can finish his best selling trilogy...
The up and coming Olympic athlete who badly injures herself in training and must give up the sport...
The rookie cop who gets shot responding to a domestic violence call...
The loving father killed on active duty only four years out of basic training...
The young almost-mother unable to accept her miscarriage...
I say all of this because, to me, Kayda represents someone who has faced some of the worst that life can throw at them and come threw it not only alive, but well. Yes she has scars, who in this world doesn't? She is a survivor and overcomer.
It may be that many readers, especially young and inexperienced ones such as myself, lack the words to really express what your stories do for each of us, Elrod. I know such is the case for me, but if it helps I can try...
When I read Kayda's stories, I see a person who doesn't quit, who never gives up. She comes very close sometimes, but because of the people around her (the friends, allies, instructors, and even sometimes enemies), and her own strength of character and conviction, she sees herself through to the other side of her challenges...
When I read Kayda's stories, I see a person with real issues. Most people my age have absolutely zero concept of what surviving a rape entails, but the experiences of people very close to me very closely match what you portray in your stories. Kayda's struggles between what she wants to do and what is right or expected of her are struggles common to every human being on this planet...
When I read Kayda's stories, I see a person who cares for others. This may not be a big thing for some people, but I have seen far too many uncaring and cold people in my life for it to not matter to me. Some of my favorite moments with Kayda were 'The Zica Encounter' and her interactions with Cav and Sky...
In short, when I read Kayda's stories, I see the kind of person I strive to be. A real, honest, caring person who doesn't ever quit.
Whether or not Kayda fades to the background, I don't think I could ever get tired of reading about her. I at least will greatly miss her if she gets too quiet. You do great work Elrod. I realize that I've rambled quite a bit, but I hope that something in this mess of text helps.
- Against Evil Forces
- jmhyp
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Don't add more characters to the shelf just because of hit counts or number of comments about the story. Frankly, I've curtailed my commenting on Part 1s and Part 2s of stories because there's some level of hostility against speculation. Or someone will express disappointment about some facet of the story that the writers know turns out completely differently in the next point and the cabal becomes anxious over it. So, I save my comments until the story ends at which point most of my speculative questions have been answered and there's not much to say besides, "Good job".
- elrodw
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Topic Author
jmhyp wrote: Just noticed this thread (I don't come to the Quad often), the last thing the Whateley universe needs is another character stuck up on a shelf: Chaka, Jade, Sara, Fey, Petra, Chou, Hive, Eldritch, Murphy, Seraphim, Aquerna, Ayla, Josie, Tennyo. All of them had several POV stories that made you want to see more. And that more will likely never come. Seeing them here and there in the background is not as interesting as hearing their thoughts and dreams center stage. Tossing a character on the shelf should not be done in haste as it is the characters that maintain the continuity of voice in the stories. Rereading the canon is much harder than I thought it would be since you get to, for example, Jade 9 and you know this is it. Once I read this, Jade vanishes into the background. It's a melancholy that repeats itself in each and everyone of the above characters.
Don't add more characters to the shelf just because of hit counts or number of comments about the story. Frankly, I've curtailed my commenting on Part 1s and Part 2s of stories because there's some level of hostility against speculation. Or someone will express disappointment about some facet of the story that the writers know turns out completely differently in the next point and the cabal becomes anxious over it. So, I save my comments until the story ends at which point most of my speculative questions have been answered and there's not much to say besides, "Good job".
I really understand this comment - having lost authors, we all know those POVs can never be recovered. But I can try - without a full Ayla POV story - to make Ayla a little more visible in Charge stories (e.g. Wine, Women, & Ayla). I will be making Fey a little more visible in an upcoming summer story. I know that's not the same thing, but it's the best I can do.
ShockHawk wrote: ...
I say all of this because, to me, Kayda represents someone who has faced some of the worst that life can throw at them and come threw it not only alive, but well. Yes she has scars, who in this world doesn't? She is a survivor and overcomer.
It may be that many readers, especially young and inexperienced ones such as myself, lack the words to really express what your stories do for each of us, Elrod. I know such is the case for me, but if it helps I can try...
When I read Kayda's stories, I see a person who doesn't quit, who never gives up. She comes very close sometimes, but because of the people around her (the friends, allies, instructors, and even sometimes enemies), and her own strength of character and conviction, she sees herself through to the other side of her challenges...
When I read Kayda's stories, I see a person with real issues. Most people my age have absolutely zero concept of what surviving a rape entails, but the experiences of people very close to me very closely match what you portray in your stories. Kayda's struggles between what she wants to do and what is right or expected of her are struggles common to every human being on this planet...
When I read Kayda's stories, I see a person who cares for others. This may not be a big thing for some people, but I have seen far too many uncaring and cold people in my life for it to not matter to me. Some of my favorite moments with Kayda were 'The Zica Encounter' and her interactions with Cav and Sky...
In short, when I read Kayda's stories, I see the kind of person I strive to be. A real, honest, caring person who doesn't ever quit.
Whether or not Kayda fades to the background, I don't think I could ever get tired of reading about her. I at least will greatly miss her if she gets too quiet. You do great work Elrod. I realize that I've rambled quite a bit, but I hope that something in this mess of text helps.
Shockhawk - reading what you wrote is exactly what I needed to read - to know that it touches people's hearts. Sometimes it's hard for a writer to see that reaction in the readers.
As to my general depression, I had a couple of minor items that have put a small ray of sunshine in my life. Another field center wants me (Ironic that another field center knows more about my work than my own management!) and it looks like the only thing left is a memorandum of agreement. That will involve travel, it will involve periodic separation from my family, it won't be easy. But I'll feel appreciated at work. And maybe some periodic separation from my family is what I need right now so we all stop taking each other for granted. If I spend 3 or 4 weeks on TDY, I won't have much to do in the evenings - except my EW2.0 life program and writing. Counselor asked me to make a list of life goals, and when I did that, she asked why I'm not working on them. Awkward silence. So I have been working on my EW2.0 program - with a prominent daily schedule and reminders - including refreshing and expanding my German language skills, reading some classic lit I wanted to but never MADE time to, and exercising to strengthen myself so my joints don't feel so fragile. It's not a New Year's Resolution to be tossed by mid-January, as my counselor reminded me, and she asks every time I see her how I'm doing on my goals. It's almost part of my routine now, so I'm close to it not being unusual but part of life, and that's the objective.
With these things, I'm starting to see something positive again. And I was able to write some on Odds and Ends, the combat finals collection. Some of them I think you're going to really like. And it's not a Kayda or Charge POV story. No Kayda-angst. I promise.
Never give up, Never surrender! Captain Peter Quincy Taggert
- FiddlerFox
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The world is not always a happy, fair, just place. Quite often good people get way more $%^& then they should have to deal with, while horrible people sometimes land in gravy. Yes, most people read stories to escape our own real world version of this, but honestly... Kayda's stories remind us that the Whateley-verse isn't all sugar and roses. Similar to the Artificer death, birth, everything sucks angle they give a grounding to the other stories. Some characters will have a relatively easy life and happy thoughts. Some will have their definite ups and downs. Someone was bound to just get "A Raw Deal" through no fault of their own, and in some ways be used for other people's purposes and manipulation. Mutants here are one in a million (the expression, not statistical numbers) and as such they are a focal point, positive or negative, for every organization, positive or negative.
Hmm... Kayda is Batman.
No seriously, go with me here.
Massive tragedy. Misunderstood and attacked by those she in some ways helps and protects. Rises above the early negative strong trauma and influences to become someone who still continues to do good because good needs doing.
She has been through a crucible, but now she's more than she was when she went in. How can you show someone's true potential without trial?
I don't think she's over-angsty. As a parent with two teenage age children and a youngest with we're pretty sure is Asperger's, she's not over angsty. In some ways she's the most realistic teen we've read yet *grins*
Now, I am really looking forward to seeing the summer trip with her, Charge, and Headrush. I'm looking forward to Danny. I'm looking forward to the new directions with the coming of the new year. Kayda's carried a lot of weight, but I'm not tired of reading about her. If anything, it'll be interesting to see her grow and interact with all the new things that are going to happen.
So... break, sure. Finished? I hope not, because that would really suck.
"Uh-oh." "Don't tell me - we're about to go over a huge waterfall." "Yup." "Sharp rocks at the bottom?" "Most likely." "Bring it on."
BBOOOOOOOOYYAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!
- Domoviye
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Kayda is a dark story, but I really like how she keeps heading up towards the light, which is the important part of her character.
And Elrod, I'm really glad things are starting to improve. I'll keep my fingers crossed that it keeps going.
- jmhyp
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I'm not complaining about the existing losses. They are lost until someone is brave enough to try to climb into those crazy heads. I'm more interested that you won't be adding to the list of losses. Sure, write some other characters if you feel Kayda is overexposed. But don't abandon her. She still has things to overcome. And we want to see them.elrodw wrote: I really understand this comment - having lost authors, we all know those POVs can never be recovered. But I can try - without a full Ayla POV story - to make Ayla a little more visible in Charge stories (e.g. Wine, Women, & Ayla). I will be making Fey a little more visible in an upcoming summer story. I know that's not the same thing, but it's the best I can do.
And remember, you can't please all of the readers, all of the time. You shouldn't ever try to.
- elrodw
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Topic Author
jmhyp wrote:
I'm not complaining about the existing losses. They are lost until someone is brave enough to try to climb into those crazy heads. I'm more interested that you won't be adding to the list of losses. Sure, write some other characters if you feel Kayda is overexposed. But don't abandon her. She still has things to overcome. And we want to see them.elrodw wrote: I really understand this comment - having lost authors, we all know those POVs can never be recovered. But I can try - without a full Ayla POV story - to make Ayla a little more visible in Charge stories (e.g. Wine, Women, & Ayla). I will be making Fey a little more visible in an upcoming summer story. I know that's not the same thing, but it's the best I can do.
And remember, you can't please all of the readers, all of the time. You shouldn't ever try to.
I was being (mostly) facetious about killing them in a plane crash. Kayda is too much a part of me now - my characters tend to grow on me like that. (the worst in that regard was Tommi Sue from Op Rescue: New Co-Ed.) Consider my posting a cry of anguish at the crap I'd been handed in my real-life, an on-line venting if you will.
Words are flowing again, albeit slowly. The combat finals framework is coming together, and I think I have only 3 more combat finals to insert. You're going to love some of them. Most of them. A couple are just hilarious and unexpected.
Never give up, Never surrender! Captain Peter Quincy Taggert
- Domoviye
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elrodw wrote: Words are flowing again, albeit slowly. The combat finals framework is coming together, and I think I have only 3 more combat finals to insert. You're going to love some of them. Most of them. A couple are just hilarious and unexpected.
So...
Not counting Jades, which has to be the funniest, which combat final is the second most hilarious and/or unexpected.
I have cookies for a good answer.
- Kristin Darken
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I don't think I've ever been so nervous about people seeing something I wrote...
Fate guard you and grant you a Light to brighten your Way.
- ShockHawk
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Kristin Darken wrote: Ugh... the more everyone speculates about Jade's final being the funniest ever, the more it makes me want to pull it back out and leave it as a noodle incident.
I don't think I've ever been so nervous about people seeing something I wrote...
I don't care how funny it is. I just want to see it. I'm sure it's great Kristin.
- Against Evil Forces
- Domoviye
-
Sorry.Kristin Darken wrote: Ugh... the more everyone speculates about Jade's final being the funniest ever, the more it makes me want to pull it back out and leave it as a noodle incident.
I don't think I've ever been so nervous about people seeing something I wrote...

I promise to keep my lips sealed until I see it. And unless you have it really depressing, there will be no booing.
<Quietly shoves pail of rotten tomatoes behind the door, while whistling innocently.>
- Kristin Darken
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Wait... maybe that's the other way around.
*realizes she has a captive skunk in the thread*
Uh... I'll be in the staff lounge...
Fate guard you and grant you a Light to brighten your Way.
- Dreamer
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Thank You for story comments appreciated and help me know me they are being read and liked.

- Domoviye
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Never been sprayed by a skunk but one time a skunk decided to stink up my basement apartment several nights in a row making everything in it reek. Really wished I'd had a gun to shoot the stupid thing.
- NeoMagus
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... . . -.- / .--- ..- ... - .. -.-. . .-.-.- / .-.. --- ...- . / -- . .-. -.-. -.-- .-.-.- / .-- .- .-.. -.- / .... ..- -- -... .-.. -.-- / .-- .. - .... / -.-- --- ..- .-. / --. --- -.. .-.-.-
- Domoviye
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- elrodw
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Topic Author
I could suggest that I have it and could publish it whether she wants or not, but she has the controls for final access and publication, so my threat would be hollow. Needless to say, it IS a well-written piece.
As to the others - we have Ayla, Star League Junior, the Grunts, Greasy, Wondercute, Venus Inc, G-Force - and that might be it, but I can't remember off the top of my head. Oh yeah, I think we're getting Jadis. So it's a good assortment.
Now, fear not, Kristin - the audience will LOVE the Jade final. I guarantee it.
Never give up, Never surrender! Captain Peter Quincy Taggert
- Kristin Darken
-
Well, that's where the tomatos came into play. The acid in them breaks down the oil in the scent and washes it out. Any time one of the dogs tangled with a skunk, we just tomato juice bathed them. Considering how much juice and sauce we canned every year, there was never any lack of it... even when we had some really dumb dogs.Domoviye wrote: Throw a box of baking soda in with the clothes when you wash them, it gets the smell out.
Never been sprayed by a skunk but one time a skunk decided to stink up my basement apartment several nights in a row making everything in it reek. Really wished I'd had a gun to shoot the stupid thing.

Fate guard you and grant you a Light to brighten your Way.
- Domoviye
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True, but for clothes, especially whites, baking soda is better than tomato juice.Kristin Darken wrote:
Well, that's where the tomatos came into play. The acid in them breaks down the oil in the scent and washes it out. Any time one of the dogs tangled with a skunk, we just tomato juice bathed them. Considering how much juice and sauce we canned every year, there was never any lack of it... even when we had some really dumb dogs.Domoviye wrote: Throw a box of baking soda in with the clothes when you wash them, it gets the smell out.
Never been sprayed by a skunk but one time a skunk decided to stink up my basement apartment several nights in a row making everything in it reek. Really wished I'd had a gun to shoot the stupid thing.
Elrod, that sounds like a good group of combat finals. Can't wait to see them.
- elrodw
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Topic Author
Never give up, Never surrender! Captain Peter Quincy Taggert
- Phoenix Spiritus
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Kristin Darken wrote: Ugh... the more everyone speculates about Jade's final being the funniest ever, the more it makes me want to pull it back out and leave it as a noodle incident.
I don't think I've ever been so nervous about people seeing something I wrote...
Hey! Writing Noddle incidents is fun!
- ~Archangel~
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Many people hear voices when no-one is there.
Some are called 'mad' and shut up in rooms where they stare at the walls all day.
Others are called 'writers' and they do pretty much the same thing.
-Ray Bradbury
- Kristin Darken
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Sure. And writing jade is really fun... but I am not exactly on the."go to" list for comedic writing.Phoenix Spiritus wrote:
Hey! Writing Noddle incidents is fun!
Fate guard you and grant you a Light to brighten your Way.
- elrodw
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Topic Author
Kristin Darken wrote:
Sure. And writing jade is really fun... but I am not exactly on the."go to" list for comedic writing.Phoenix Spiritus wrote:
Hey! Writing Noddle incidents is fun!
I read it. I already told you, "ya done good!"
Don't make me come out there to tell you directly

Never give up, Never surrender! Captain Peter Quincy Taggert
- Kristin Darken
-

Fate guard you and grant you a Light to brighten your Way.
- Domoviye
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Pretty please.
- Kristin Darken
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Fate guard you and grant you a Light to brighten your Way.
- Domoviye
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So Calimari pt. 2 tomorrow, and Jades combat final on Monday.
THANKS!
- Valentine
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elrodw wrote: No matter how nervous Kristin is, Jade's combat final is GOOD. It may not be uproariously funny in each and every word, but it is GOOD and it's nice to see her style again.
I could suggest that I have it and could publish it whether she wants or not, but she has the controls for final access and publication, so my threat would be hollow. Needless to say, it IS a well-written piece.
As to the others - we have Ayla, Star League Junior, the Grunts, Greasy, Wondercute, Venus Inc, G-Force - and that might be it, but I can't remember off the top of my head. Oh yeah, I think we're getting Jadis. So it's a good assortment.
Now, fear not, Kristin - the audience will LOVE the Jade final. I guarantee it.
No Jaunt?

Archangel leave Hazmat out of this, although I bet he could come up with a great anti-skunk smell chemical. Although on second thought I think I would wait for the Mk 2 version, the Mk 1 version is likely to leave the smell and dissolve whatever it was put on.
Don't Drick and Drive.
- jmhyp
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I'll second this motion.Domoviye wrote: Excellent!
So Calimari pt. 2 tomorrow, and Jades combat final on Monday.
THANKS!
All in favor....?
- cprime
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Is your muse looking for inspiration? Send them to Parkerville! Welcome to Parkerville is the latest edition in my series of writing prompts.
- marie7342231
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I loved Shine and Knockoff, and while I would love for things to move forward, I am eager to see the summer trip fleshed out. If you'd rather create a shorter version, perhaps the story could be a series of vignettes at the end of the trip. The girls are in a coffee shop and recalling their favorite moments of the trip. It could be out of chronological order where certain pieces that don't make sense at the beginning become clear as more details are revealed - a la Pulp Fiction.
Hope this helps. I know I only make the count ticker go up one more notch but your stories mean the world to me and I am grateful.
- elrodw
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Topic Author
But now it's over. Downside - I'll spend about 1/4 of my time on TDY in another city, so I'll be away from family periodically. Upside to that - I'm not a party animal, so I'll hole up like a hermit without wife, kids, dogs, and household chores to distract me, so I should have some very productive bursts of writing.
It's a profound relief.
Never give up, Never surrender! Captain Peter Quincy Taggert
- konzill
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- Domoviye
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Congratulations!elrodw wrote: I got some very good news today. A job opportunity that I'd been hoping for and wondering about came through; management sent out a memo to other managers informing them of the situation. This is hugely to my advantage; I'd been shunted aside, ignored, even shunned by managers for over 14 months. That is highly stressful - more-so than you could imagine.
But now it's over. Downside - I'll spend about 1/4 of my time on TDY in another city, so I'll be away from family periodically. Upside to that - I'm not a party animal, so I'll hole up like a hermit without wife, kids, dogs, and household chores to distract me, so I should have some very productive bursts of writing.
It's a profound relief.

When do you start?
- ~Archangel~
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elrodw wrote: I got some very good news today. A job opportunity that I'd been hoping for and wondering about came through; management sent out a memo to other managers informing them of the situation. This is hugely to my advantage; I'd been shunted aside, ignored, even shunned by managers for over 14 months. That is highly stressful - more-so than you could imagine.
But now it's over. Downside - I'll spend about 1/4 of my time on TDY in another city, so I'll be away from family periodically. Upside to that - I'm not a party animal, so I'll hole up like a hermit without wife, kids, dogs, and household chores to distract me, so I should have some very productive bursts of writing.
It's a profound relief.
Congrats about the job and sympathies about the traveling. Some quiet time on the road might be what you need to decompress mentally. Best of luck.
Many people hear voices when no-one is there.
Some are called 'mad' and shut up in rooms where they stare at the walls all day.
Others are called 'writers' and they do pretty much the same thing.
-Ray Bradbury
- Phoenix Spiritus
-
- Kristin Darken
-
That's awesome. I know the way they've been treating you has been dragging you down for a good while now. Everyone deserves to work with people who appreciate them. And so few do.elrodw wrote: It's a profound relief.

Fate guard you and grant you a Light to brighten your Way.
- Dreamer
-
Thank You for story comments appreciated and help me know me they are being read and liked.

- ShockHawk
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elrodw wrote: It's a profound relief.
Glad to hear it, Elrod.
- Against Evil Forces
- Mister D
-
One thing from my own experience of working like this, make sure you put the time in to keep the relationship with your children, and your partner working well.
Long-Distance Relationships aren't easy to maintain, and you'll maybe need to make sure that you don't drift apart.
Measure Twice