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LowFlyer
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Getting started |
Registered: October 2011
Messages: 6
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Sorry, hope this isn't an inappropriate thread for this forum.
Recently, I've started reading two different stories on the site only to find that they just stop half way through. In both cases, the most recent chapter was well over a year ago, leading me to assume they were complete.
I totally understand that some authors just run out of steam or time, but would it be possible to mark the stories in some way so that it would be clear from the start that a reader wasn't going to get a conclusion?
LF
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13756
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I have adopted a convention from an arbitrary point a while ago of marking stories either as Complete or marking them with the number of chapters the author is sending me or has sent me, or knows he or she will send me. Obviously I haven't achieved this with all authors and all tales.
That doesn't solve your reasonable disappointment where a story appears to have been abandoned. To be fair I'm not truly sure how to handle it. Often an author promises me that there will be updates, but the promised update fails to arrive. This is usually because the author has an honest intention of writing more. I can't make the judgement for them.
What I can do is to take notice when readers let me know that a story appears to be abandoned and try to flag them as Not Yet Complete. What I always hope is that readers will attempt to contact the author to ask them what their intentions are. As you can imagine, checking back through all the authors and tales is quite a large job. I'd prefer readers to help me by letting me know where there is a problem. There is but one of me as webmaster.
[Updated on: Mon, 17 October 2011 11:01]
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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LowFlyer
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Getting started |
Registered: October 2011
Messages: 6
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And you, too, make a fair point. I guess people don't deliberatly quit half way through and it's hard for you to keep up.
Perhaps I'll write to the two authors myself. It's hard to be sure how to phrase it, though, without sounding accusatory. After all, I'm not paying anyone for the stories so can't complain too stronly if they're not finished.
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13756
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The best email is "I love [story]. It was so [whatever it was] to read. I was looking forward to reading the conclusion. What plans do you have for completing it? I really hope you do"
[Updated on: Mon, 17 October 2011 11:37]
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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LowFlyer
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Getting started |
Registered: October 2011
Messages: 6
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I do write to authors when I've enjoyed a tale so I guess it's a small step.
At least one of the authors in question appears to be posting on the forum so perhaps some of them might get in touch with you themselves.
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13756
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I keep prodding Brody! He's just changed his occupation and is sorting his new timetable out. Feel free to prod him mercilessly!
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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LowFlyer
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Getting started |
Registered: October 2011
Messages: 6
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Well, I wasn't going to mention any names, but now you mention it...
And, since we're mentioning specifics now, I tried to contact Feangol, but the email address on the story chapters doesn't work. Pity - it's an excellent story now.
[Updated on: Mon, 17 October 2011 12:35]
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13756
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Feangol I shall handle now I have lost track of him. We met in person a few times. Nice guy.
[Updated on: Mon, 17 October 2011 12:55]
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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DesDownunder
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Likes it here |
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Registered: September 2010
Messages: 127
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I have hounded Brody, and he needs to be chained to his laptop until he completes the story. Whipping him won't help as he would just enjoy it.
My mother had the perfect words for shaming those who failed to write to her in a timely fashion. Once, I had not written to her for about six weeks, so she sent me a telegram which read,
"Hello my darling son, sorry to hear your arm is broken. - Love Mum."
I phoned her, long distance, straight away.
DesDownunder
Call me naive if you want, but life without trust in the goodness of others would be intolerable.
Religious indoctrination: It gets better, without it.
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I never thought of putting a message here. I have had endless difficulties this year in getting any writing time that works for me.
I won't bore you all with reasons but suffice it to say that sibling difficulties and major over running building works have caused me to stagnate.
Liam will be finished quite soon. There is one more Chapter (and that is over halfway done..) and there is a new story in planning... I fully expect to complete that in a timely schedule.
I'm sorry that matters have slipped away as they have it's been one of those years!!
Best wishes..
Paul Jamison.
[Updated on: Tue, 18 October 2011 09:10]
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LowFlyer
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Getting started |
Registered: October 2011
Messages: 6
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Glad to hear things are looking up at your end. I'm very much looking forward to the last part of Liam and the sequel.
I love the little scenario you've created and it's nice to read something with a UK setting once in a while.
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WASHINGTON -- Oct. 19 | If only I had a spare minute here or there to continue Meghan's story which is in outline and the next chapter is 1/3 of the way written- BUT, as Tim so kindly pointed out, I have gone from being a journalistic freelancer back stepping back into a corporate position as Washington Bureau Chief for a national publication.
Which at this point, doesn't leave me much in the way of 'spare time' to devote to Meghan & her story. I am however, planning on finishing it.
I should also note that the 'posting' here reflects a minute or two infrequently to bring the readership here news, opinion, and information that I find pertinent to the LGBTQ community at large, or in some cases to deliver a rant on the latest offence from "corporate christianity" or other opponents of equality.
~ Brody Levesque
Washington Bureau Chief
LGBTQNation Magazine
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LowFlyer
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Getting started |
Registered: October 2011
Messages: 6
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Sorry, Brody, I meant absolutely no offence when I pointed out you were "posting here" (actually, I didn't actually name any names...). Of course you're busy and being Bureau Chief in Washington sounds like a pretty big thing.
I'll look forward to seeing it whenever it appears.
LF
P.S. Timmy's right - that's one heck of a desk. It's a wonder you can even find your story notes...
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DesDownunder
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Likes it here |
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Registered: September 2010
Messages: 127
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That's not you work space Brody, the in-tray doesn't have enough in it, beside which, you can still see out the windows, the chair is still in one piece, there's no coffee pot, and there's a cat by the window, I think, eating the flower arrangement.
DesDownunder
Call me naive if you want, but life without trust in the goodness of others would be intolerable.
Religious indoctrination: It gets better, without it.
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... nor is the Superman "Bobble-head" cast in the frame by the bed; nor your youngest son's nude portait hanging over your desk.
Warren C. E. Austin
The Gay Deceiver
Toronto, Canada
[Updated on: Wed, 19 October 2011 21:16]
"... comme recherché qu'un délice callipygian"
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