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You are here: Home > Forum > A Place of Safety > General Talk > Hello there!
Hello there!  [message #69930] Tue, 14 July 2015 09:08 Go to next message
hillage is currently offline  hillage

Getting started
Location: USA
Registered: July 2015
Messages: 8



Hi guys (and gals?) !

I just wanted to stop by and say hello. I've been around for a bit and finally decided to post something, mainly a big Thank You!

A bit of a backstory about me, I went through many tough times, and during one of my low points I found this community. Some of the stories here (esp. Grasshopper's JHS) as well as browsing the forums really helped me out through those times and I wanted to say Thank You to those who are a part of this family.

I'd love to chat with anybody still around Smile Also any suggestions on some top stories? Sadly I finished all of Grasshopper's, they were my favorites!
Re: Hello there!  [message #69933 is a reply to message #69930] Tue, 14 July 2015 14:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Matthew is currently offline  Matthew

Toe is in the water

Registered: February 2015
Messages: 73



Hey there and welcome to the forum Smile

I would recommend Andrew Foote's stories, they are amazing and i think you will really enjoy them

Boy on the towpath is my favorite of his stories, with Loneliness a very, very close second.

Smokr has some great stories as well and i am finding Jeremy's swimming lessons to be very interesting and well written.
Re: Hello there!  [message #69935 is a reply to message #69930] Tue, 14 July 2015 15:08 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Kitzyma is currently offline  Kitzyma

Likes it here

Registered: March 2012
Messages: 215



Hello and welcome!

Collections of stories are like boxes of chocolates. Just because some people like Turkish Delight doesn't mean that you will, too. It's very much a matter of personal taste. Some people like fruity soft centres and others prefer chewy caramel or rich truffle. Personally, o really enjoy a story I have to like the writing style as well as the story line. If you haven't tried a particular author before, maybe you could take a quick look at one of his shorter stories. In my experience, if a story hasn't grabbed me in the first page or so then it's unlikely to grab me at all.

Maybe you'd like my stories on here?
(shameless plug!)

Kit
Re: Hello there!  [message #69937 is a reply to message #69935] Wed, 15 July 2015 04:17 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Smokr is currently offline  Smokr

Likes it here
Location: the burning former USofA
Registered: July 2010
Messages: 399



Heya Hillage. Welcome. The stories brought me here a long time ago too. You have to give everyone a shot by reading a short story or the beginning chapters of a longer story and see if it hold your attention or if you find yourself wishing you'd started some other story. It's hard to suggest any, there's just so many good ones. Like Kitz said, this place is like a box of mixed chocolates. Take a taste of one, and either finish it off or spit it out.
Good hunting!



raysstories.com
Re: Hello there!  [message #69942 is a reply to message #69937] Wed, 15 July 2015 14:46 Go to previous messageGo to next message
The Gay Deceiver is currently offline  The Gay Deceiver

Really getting into it
Location: Canada
Registered: December 2003
Messages: 869




My, my, Kitzyma® you're going all Forrest Gump on us.

hillage®  there is so much to enjoy on this web-site, and this apart from what you have discovered in The Story Shelf and of course here in The Forum.  Be sure to mine each and every nook and cranny for all they are worth.

Too, kindly, let me add my welcome to the others.

Warren C. E. Austin
The Gay Deceiver
Toronto, Canada

[Updated on: Wed, 15 July 2015 14:48]




"... comme recherché qu'un délice callipygian"
Re: Hello there!  [message #69949 is a reply to message #69930] Thu, 16 July 2015 01:14 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Mark

Likes it here
Location: Earth
Registered: April 2013
Messages: 275



Hey there!  Welcome! Smile

As for story recommendations, what kind of story - or at least genre (general fiction, fantasy, mystery, etc.) - do you like?  I only ask because there's a lot of stories here, and knowing what you like (or dislike, as the case may be) might help us to narrow things down as far as recommendations go.
Re: Hello there!  [message #69953 is a reply to message #69933] Thu, 16 July 2015 03:02 Go to previous messageGo to next message
ChrisR is currently offline  ChrisR

Likes it here
Location: Western US
Registered: October 2014
Messages: 136



Welcome to the neighborhood!

I'll second the motion regarding Andrew Foote's fine work. I enjoy a story where I learn new things along the way on a variety of topics. He's got that ticket punched in spades!

But the other comments here are equally true - just scrounge until the lightbulb goes off in your brain. Then drop back over here and let us know what gem you've found!

Chris
Re: Hello there!  [message #69954 is a reply to message #69930] Thu, 16 July 2015 06:10 Go to previous messageGo to next message
dgt224 is currently offline  dgt224

Toe is in the water
Location: USA
Registered: May 2011
Messages: 81



Welcome! I would suggest (because they happen to be favorites of mine) a number of stories by Mihangel, in particular
  • The Scholar's Tale
  • Xenophilia
  • Nights and Days
  • A Younger Orogeny
  • Kingdom Come
  • Clouds of Glory
  • Not Understood
  • Those Old Gods
  • Ashes Under Uricon

The Scholar's Tale is probably my favorite story here, although there is certainly a lot of other great reading to be had, and I haven't even come close to reading all of it. I can't even keep up with the new stories at the rate they're being published, which I think is a good thing, since it means more good reading waiting for me when I have more time to devote to it.
Re: Hello there!  [message #69966 is a reply to message #69930] Fri, 17 July 2015 04:48 Go to previous messageGo to next message
hillage is currently offline  hillage

Getting started
Location: USA
Registered: July 2015
Messages: 8



Thanks for the kind welcome guys!

I'll definitely check out some of the stories recommended and respond with feedback. Smile
Re: Hello there!  [message #69970 is a reply to message #69966] Fri, 17 July 2015 21:58 Go to previous message
timmy

Has no life at all
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13738



Quote:
hillage wrote on Fri, 17 July 2015 05:48Thanks for the kind welcome guys!

I'll definitely check out some of the stories recommended and respond with feedback. Smile

--
Venture into all the authors and sample their work. Some will appeal, some will not. Each is worth bringing here to discuss. What we tend not to do is a 'Literary Critique' for this is not a critique site. Many of our writers, me included, will not come out of a Lit Crit with honour. They are specialised things intended to further the writer's skillset, and do noting for the reader.

We like to know that a story is, at least for one of us, worth reading. Spoilers are to be avoided, naturally

And never forget that the author would like to know, by email, what you think, even if they fail to reply. More than one of our authors is no longer living, probably more than I know about



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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