jlori10

Yeah, I get exactly where you're coming from. I wrote a side story to my largest original story and it was pretty rough compared to what I normally do. I'm normally more about the warm and fuzzy feelings. Don't get me wrong, my readers say that I'm evil because I like to put my characters through some really terrible things. Still, the short story I mentioned was just horrible. I felt it gave the readers a chance to get some background on a character in my main story though. But adding that to the story itself would have raised the ratings and required a zillion codes, so I kept it separate. Not that I felt the need to apologize for it or anything. It was worth reading, just fairly graphic. It allowed my regular readers to decide for themselves whether or not they wanted to be exposed to that type of content without turning people off of the whole story.

I haven't really written all that much so far but what I have I originally started out with a specific ending in mind. One story I'm working on has followed very closely to the plot line and ending I'd planned in the beginning. The other... not so much. I'm half way through it and have no clear ending in mind at this point. Basically, it took on a life of its own somewhere along the line and decided that it wasn't going to do what I wanted it to do. lol Does that make any sense at all? I guess my point is, whatever happens happens. Starting something without a clear ending in mind doesn't mean the story will ramble endlessly any more than starting one with a clear ending in mind means that it will actually end the way you planned. I think what's most important is the character and plot development done before hand. Then again, I'm definitely not an expert. Just thought this topic looked interesting!

I try to review every time I read a chapter. If not then every other or so. If it's just horrible I won't leave one at all. Then again, if it has potential I've been known to throw out a suggestion or two. It really depends on the mood when it comes down to so-so stories. I absolutely hate it when authors use reviews to threaten readers into reviewing. I have no issue with writers requesting reviews or even going so far as to promise an earlier update in exchange. The whole, "If I don't get XX number of reviews I won't update," thing annoys me to no end though. I kind of understand where they're coming from since it takes a lot of time and energy to write a chapter or develop a story (I have a couple of stories of my own so I get it) but flat out threats are just....... Another thing I will never understand is why people believe they have the right to flame others. Of course, that type of reviewer usually couldn't write their way out of a paper bag. They also tend to have a bad habit of reviewing without logging in or leaving an email address. Go figure huh? My stories have been chewed up and spit out on several occasions. Usually by someone who doesn't know the difference between lose and loose. My most recent encounter with rude reviewers involved someone who claimed to be sick of my cliffhangers. They even went so far as to tell me that "You need to straighten up your act and write a decent chapter or at least finish it before posting!" Wasn't that sweet of them? At first I thought I'd been scolded by my supervisor but then I remembered that I didn't have one anymore. Just to make sure, I ran to dig out my last pay stub but didn't see their name on it anywhere. I've never been the type to appreciate being treated like an indentured servant, or an idiot for that matter. Needless to say I was irritated. Talk about a bad attitude. You'd think if my chapters had been so terrible that this person wouldn't have stuck with the story for 33 of them. Yes... 33. Don't get me wrong. I'm all about constructive criticism. 'This doesn't make sense or you misspelled that. Your grammar is a bit off on this paragraph. Your flashback needs work because it was confusing. This character isn't very realistic. That event could never happen in the real world.' etc. etc. etc. None of this should bother a serious writer. If anything they should thank that particular reviewer profusely for pointing out things that they obviously failed to notice or consider. But just being mean or nasty is a complete waste of time and it's discouraging.

I have to disagree strongly with this statement. (Nothing personal to you Shikubokubo. It's just that I've heard this so so so often and find it stereotypical at best.) As someone who's been married twice and who has been in several serious relationships, I'd have to say that, in private moments, a lot of guys actually do talk like that. It's a given that most won't be lining up in the isles to publicly shout their emotions to the world. However, in my experience, most men don't have an issue with spouting poetic and romantic things to someone that they have deep emotions for. Not to say that I haven't known many men who were incapable of this feat. In those cases, it is generally a case of insecurity covered by a front of 'macho man attitude'. They're like 'Look at me. I'm a man. A manly man. I have no emotions because I'm so incredibly manly that I make robots look like emotionally driven pussies. Now bow down and admire me in all of my manly glory!' Okay. You get my point. Men are human. Period. They have all of the same emotions as females do. They get angry, sad, happy, whiny, lovesick, angsty, and sappy. It's part of the human condition. How they show these emotions tends be to a reflection of their upbringing. If they are raised in a home where the people are demonstrative and outgoing with their emotions, then they tend to do that as well. If they are raised to believe that 'real men' don't show emotions, then the likelihood that they will be the type to shower their partner with pretty words is less likely unless something dramatic happens. People who have experienced a lot of loss in their lives also tend to be more demonstrative (or less depending on whether or not they decide to protect themselves from future loss) than most. I think that whether a character is the type that spouts flowery, poetic love declarations or goes into long, dramatic explanations of their feelings shouldn't be determined by what sex they are. Because, in real life, it just doesn't always work that way. Case in point, I find that I'm not the type to spout my undying love for my partner. It makes me feel queasy. Hugging people (even close relations) makes me feel awkward and uncomfortable. Does that make me a man? Not particularly, and I have the equipment and a couple of kids to prove it. Whether a character is emotionally/physically demonstrative should be determined by the how the author interprets the character based on the background, upbringing, and personality that the author has developed for that particular character. If a character is lonely or alone in the world, and desperate for some close connection to another, it would be perfectly acceptable (in my humble opinion) if that character started declaring their undying love for the one who'd made their life complete. On the other hand, if the character is a bad ass biker who lives his life on the edge and avoids emotions at all costs, even if this person did find the one they want to devote themselves to, they're not very likely to go into a long, detailed diatribe about their feelings on the subject. I guess my point is that this is an individual thing and should be determined by the individual character. Bear in mind that I'm referring to mature, adult men here. This will most likely not apply to a teenage boy who has made it his life's mission to prove his manliness and who turns the practice of machismo into a true art form. Just thought I'd throw that out there for clarity's sake.

There's also a good chance that the ones writing the Mpreg have already had babies and just thoroughly enjoy the very idea of seeing men suffer through it as well. Bwhahahaha! As an admitted 'screaming fangirl', who is currently in the process of writing an Mpreg story, I must say that this is a distinct possibility. Of course, I wasn't nearly so generous as many of the others. I didn't give my character a vagina because... Well, that's just kind of gross. I decided to let my character's baby rip right through his abdominal cavity. That said, he'd better hope to hell that there's a doctor around when that baby's ready to come out! Woohoo! Hurray for Mpreg! BTW I noticed that you guys didn't even begin to discuss the intricasies of breastfeeding. Hmmm. What's with that?