The AH Coffee Shop and Reading Room 09

[dmallord]

I think this is the fifth or sixth day in a row I've slept late. This is a fucking bad habit.

Sometimes sleeping late is caused by fucking... not that that is a bad habit.

 

[dmallord]

Donovan Milford's Timely Departure is up. A short 750-word tale of a guy's clock winding down. It should go well with dark coffee and cake donuts if any are left.

 

[NotWise]

I've now put four stories out in Romance. The scores in order are 4.86, 4.76, 4.69, and 4.51.

I can see where that trend is taking me. Maybe four is enough.

 

[Candy_Kane54]

It's time make sure there's fresh coffee brewing in case @Belegon needs some. The teapot is hot so @MillieDynamite can have some chamomile tea for her gunk. There are various pastries available on the counter, along with a clipboard where you can request something else.

It's going to be windy and get cold again so be careful today.

 

[dmallord]

I've now put four stories out in Romance. The scores in order are 4.86, 4.76, 4.69, and 4.51.

I can see where that trend is taking me. Maybe four is enough.

I've tried to open your latest, but something strange is going on with Safari and it will not open. Will try another approach.

If you are happy with the quality of your work and the effort you put into it, I would let that be the guide for writing more than a fickle score pattern that you believe is a trend. It may not be what you think it is.

Do the comments indicate that your thoughts are unwelcome? Worth considering... before you shift away from romance.

 

[NotWise]

I've tried to open your latest, but something strange is going on with Safari and it will not open. Will try another approach.

If you are happy with the quality of your work and the effort you put into it, I would let that be the guide for writing more than a fickle score pattern that you believe is a trend. It may not be what you think it is.

Do the comments indicate that your thoughts are unwelcome? Worth considering... before you shift away from romance.

I think the female character is the main reason for the decline. 1st story--a perfect ballerina with a commitment to public service. 2nd story--an artist breaking away from her family traditions, 3rd story--a divorced professional woman who likes sex. 4th story--a divorced office woman with a fear of commitment and a ticking biological clock.

Perfect characters get a cheering section. More complicated characters don't. I don't feel a lot of need to write perfect women, so the trend will probably continue.

Comments mostly indicate that Rachel in "Meaningless Sex," isn't Miss Popular.

 

[dmallord]

Working on an expansion of the 750-word story that is doing well. Expanding the mystical elements in the extended version.

Long ago, I had set a goal of writing a story in each Lit category. Fantasy, I realize at this point. But this one could go into the fantasy category.

Most of the story seems like normal people until the reveal at the end, when one is not. It probably doesn't read anything like the stories in that category. It should be really different and perhaps whipped soundly in scores. But it meets one more category in that foolish goal I set. I need to comb it at least one more time, but it looks 'done' at about 5,000 words.

So far, I have the title 'Jin and Donovan’s Final Path', subtitled 'Where fate, faith, and forgotten pasts intertwine.'

As of now, I am working on my fourth ! Thanks, Candy.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

4th story--a divorced office woman with a fear of commitment and a ticking biological clock.

Perfect characters get a cheering section. More complicated characters don't. I don't feel a lot of need to write perfect women, so the trend will probably continue.

Comments mostly indicate that Rachel in "Meaningless Sex," isn't Miss Popular.

I read it (partly because she sounded a bit like my character Rachel in a story called Meaningless Kisses). I liked the various messed-up characters (your Rachel has some similarities with mine, including a friend called Emily!), and it worked, but the ending was a bit rushed, which made their decision to settle together seem rather too sudden. If that evening had had another 500 words of discussion, I think it would have worked very well - though the haters wouldn't have been happier.

Scores tend to dip and then rise again when only people who use tags or follow you find your work. There's a correlation with quality, but probably even more of a correlation with giving readers what they want. My top story is a chapter in the middle of a 14-chapter series. It's adequately written but certainly nothing outstanding in literature. But it happens to be the chapter that ends with our hard-boiled widowed protagonist, who can't deal with emotions and refuses to have more than one night stands, realising he's fallen in love again. Aw, adorable, etc...

 

[YmaOHyd]

Still on my first cup of coffee. I'm trying to figure out what to do with my ongoing. On the one hand, my original idea is still live. There's no reason I can't do it. I want to do it. And I'll be a bit sad if I burn this setup without trying to do that story. On the other hand, like... the tone's not exactly what I had anticipated. It's more gauzy and romantic than I'd originally planned, and that doesn't quite match where I was intending to go. And I'm not sure the readers I have in Romance will be interested in going on that particular journey. And most importantly, I can see an ending to the story that I hadn't originally planned, and I think it'll be an earned ending that works for the story.

So.. stick with what I'd wanted to do? Or go with where the story seems like it's leading me?

 

[MillieDynamite]

The law of diminishing returns?

I've now put four stories out in Romance. The scores in order are 4.86, 4.76, 4.69, and 4.51.

I can see where that trend is taking me. Maybe four is enough.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Still on my first cup of coffee. I'm trying to figure out what to do with my ongoing. On the one hand, my original idea is still live. There's no reason I can't do it. I want to do it. And I'll be a bit sad if I burn this setup without trying to do that story. On the other hand, like... the tone's not exactly what I had anticipated. It's more gauzy and romantic than I'd originally planned, and that doesn't quite match where I was intending to go. And I'm not sure the readers I have in Romance will be interested in going on that particular journey. And most importantly, I can see an ending to the story that I hadn't originally planned, and I think it'll be an earned ending that works for the story.

So.. stick with what I'd wanted to do? Or go with where the story seems like it's leading me?

Oh, my stories always lead me!

 

[NotWise]

I read it (partly because she sounded a bit like my character Rachel in a story called Meaningless Kisses). I liked the various messed-up characters (your Rachel has some similarities with mine, including a friend called Emily!), and it worked, but the ending was a bit rushed, which made their decision to settle together seem rather too sudden. If that evening had had another 500 words of discussion, I think it would have worked very well - though the haters wouldn't have been happier.

Scores tend to dip and then rise again when only people who use tags or follow you find your work. There's a correlation with quality, but probably even more of a correlation with giving readers what they want. My top story is a chapter in the middle of a 14-chapter series. It's adequately written but certainly nothing outstanding in literature. But it happens to be the chapter that ends with our hard-boiled widowed protagonist, who can't deal with emotions and refuses to have more than one night stands, realising he's fallen in love again. Aw, adorable, etc...

I had a public comment to the effect that the ending was abrupt.

The more I re-wrote the story, the shorter the ending got, and I was happy with that. The final sex scene is an insemination more than it is love-making. That's the way I envisioned it from the beginning. The idea--whether it worked or not--was that the story already laid the groundwork for their ongoing relationship but it didn't work out because of Rachel's fear of commitment. She broke that barrier in the end and there was nothing left in their way. Her insemination sealed it for both of them.

Some ideas are more popular than others, or so the readers tell me.

 

[Rustyoznail]

Still on my first cup of coffee. I'm trying to figure out what to do with my ongoing. On the one hand, my original idea is still live. There's no reason I can't do it. I want to do it. And I'll be a bit sad if I burn this setup without trying to do that story. On the other hand, like... the tone's not exactly what I had anticipated. It's more gauzy and romantic than I'd originally planned, and that doesn't quite match where I was intending to go. And I'm not sure the readers I have in Romance will be interested in going on that particular journey. And most importantly, I can see an ending to the story that I hadn't originally planned, and I think it'll be an earned ending that works for the story.

So.. stick with what I'd wanted to do? Or go with where the story seems like it's leading me?

Welcome to the coffee shop,Yma. Looks like Candy has everything under control, except her muse.

I'm with TP. Sometimes a story wants to move in an unexpected direction, and you may pick up new followers along the way.

 

[Candy_Kane54]

Just checking in to make sure there's a fresh pot of coffee brewing and the teapot is full. There are some chocolate chip cookies on the counter for a late night (or early morning) snack.

 

[Rustyoznail]

Thanks Candy. Coffee and cookies are much needed. First day of puppy training, which went well. Good socialising, did most of the basics well.

It was very tiring for him.

 

[Duleigh]

I DO NOT Leave an empty coffee pot on the burner. I'm the one that leaves them on the back steps.

 

[Candy_Kane54]

@Duleigh - now I know where to look for the missing coffee pots. I had just assumed that the coffee fairies carried them off. There is a fresh pot of coffee brewing and the teapot is hot. There are pastries on the counter for those who want a snack with their drink.

Once my visitors leave, I'll try to get back to writing (if I can remember where the story was going when I stopped ...)

 

[MillieDynamite]

It is March 1st, and there are only 305 days left in the year, 299 shopping days until Christmas, 244 days until Halloween, 125 days until the Fourth of July, and 64 days left for the Fourth of May celebration. The year is rushing by at breakneck speed and we must write or die. I'd like a cup of Irish Cream Coffee with a boost please.

 

[HandleyPage]

Things are getting better, I think. I have been told that I look better.
I’ve still got troubles picking up stuff from the floor. but it ain 't as difficult as it was.
73
HP

 

[TarnishedPenny]

You’re back!

 

[Candy_Kane54]

It's great to see @HandleyPage in the AH Coffee Shop once again! Hey, what kind of coal does your dragon like?

I've got a fresh pot of coffee brewing and the teapot is hot. There are donuts on the counter and a large pot of sausage gravy and a stack of hot buttermilk biscuits next to the grill for those who want something more substantial.

I'll be back later. I'm just grabbing a cup of Earl Grey for now. I want to get back to writing but I still have to entertain guests for a couple more days ...

 

[Kumquatqueen]

Hey @HandleyPage ! Good to see you back. Perhaps you can train the dragon to clean the floor? It's missed you.

I'll have a cuppa, thanks. I've been hit by a huge attack of vertigo, which scuppered my lunchtime date plans (it's 15 min walk to the nice restaurant I keep being prevented from returning to). Got 100 yards being held up by the bloke, and we decided to crash in the local caff instead. Literally, he had to carefully drop me into a chair after I landed on the doorframe. Managed a bit of toast before being carried home again. Been triaged and confirmed I'm not having a stroke or heart attack, but ordered not to stand up or turn my head until the doc calls back, which I'd figured already.

 

[NotWise]

You know, I think this thread could die if KQ didn't kick-start it every morning. Thanks @Kumquatqueen!

 

[Duleigh]

So.. stick with what I'd wanted to do? Or go with where the story seems like it's leading me?

I always let my characters lead me through the story. I firmly demand that they somehow end up where I want them to end up. They tend to fight and drag their feet. Alan Scarlett Best Two Out of Three was planned for 85k words. We just blew past 110k and finally veered into the ending (another 5k words to go?). I let them piddle around, especially in dialogue. They may have a word in the creative process, but they have no say at all in the editing process.

 

[Duleigh]

February is FINALLY over! I don't have a single doctor appointment until APRIL! I'm FREE! The last half of February was insane - VA in Georgia, followed by VA in Jacksonville, Doctor on Amelia Island, back to the VA, Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville Beach, back and forth, tests, pokes, prods, guesses, Prognoses, and in the end the only thing that changed was my glasses (I got to put in a milage claim for 425 miles for those) But nothing has changed!

To celebrate, I want something really unhealthy. Gimme a cuppa coffee, with real sugar and whole cream. Sourdough toast with real butter and strawberry preserves.
I'll show them!