stormydog
Member
Posts: 1459
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#243 · Edited by: stormydog
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Wow, who knew? I've been away for awhile, but clearly need to check back more often.
First, thanks to all that rushed in to protect me and the story. It is very good - and heartwarming - to know that I have such friends that will keep me covered when my back is turned. I appreciate your loyalty and integrity, and am sorry only that I do not get here as often as I used to, both to read and to write. It has been one of the joys of my life to "hang-out" here from time to time, both for reading and writing, but also to spend time with friends, and my frustration at my recent time limitations is mounting! This is my hobby, and my escape from the reality of everyday pressures, and I miss it - and all of you - dearly. Anyhow, thank you all for sticking up for me and for "having my back"!
Second, Bilgam, you're right; I do not have any copyright on this story, and you do have freedom of speech, and you can certainly post what you wish. Any of us that write here go into it aware of that possibility, and that along with the good comments we may also receive suggestions for alternate story lines, and some criticism as well. I've always been a little mystified at why anyone would bother tearing down something which was provided to them absolutely free and which nobody powerd them to read, but that's a whole other conundrum. As for here, and these stories, common practice and courtesy have mostly prevailed without need for copyrights, and we don't tend to jump into the middle of someone else's work except to say thanks and well done, in all its various forms.
Also, I appreciate that you enjoyed the story, and I understand your frustration with it sitting and stagnating for as long as it has; if you're frustrated with it, just imagine how I feel! I very much enjoy writing my stories, and would love to have time to do it every day, but my current life circumstances don't allow for that. I do, however, love this story (in part because it's very different for me to write this way, with a "coach") and have every intention of coming back and finishing it, and as I'm not THAT old, I expect to live long enough to accomplish that.
They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I suppose that continuation, or sequel-izing might fall into that same category, and so I'm going to assume that your intentions were pure, and no harm was meant, and that you were mostly just wanting to help. I appreciate that. On the other hand, because I do intend to finish this story, taking it off in a direction I might not have gone would complicate things immensely for me, and would inevitably take the story even further into the fiction realm than I have, and away from where the real "Laura" actually went. I am sort of following a script here (albeit loosely) believe it or not!
The idea that me and goodhusband, or me and timmy, or the 2 of them might cooperate on a story some time has been kicked around, but so far, to my knowledge, nobody has attempted tag-team writing here. The pitfalls of it are immediately apparent - especially because we are not in a position to sit down over a few takes and discuss it and hammer out an outline - and any resulting story might easily come out as choppy and disjointed rather than readable and enjoyable, perhaps cutting the quality by half rather than doubling it, and so we've never attempted it.
My preference would be not to attempt it now either. The thing is, you can write! You don't need my story to get you going, just an idea of your own, which you can take and run with. While I would suggest a little more effort at breaking down the story into paragraphs to provide a bit more structure and more "white space" to make it easier to read, easier on the eyes, otherwise, take it and run! If you want to do a spin-off or a sequel to "Laura" (although I'm not sure how you do a sequel to an unfinished story - perhaps it would be more of an alternate) by all means, give it your best - which I suspect might be quite good. Post it alongside - you can even bump the 2 of them up together, if you wish, to keep them listed side-by-side on the forum page for awhile until people find it and figure out what you're doing.
In other words, and to make a long comment short (I know, too late) yes, I would prefer that you move your "continuation" and start your own thread for it. I can't stop you from posting it here on this thread, of course; it would simply be my preference that you not do so. As far as an alternate story line, by all means go for it. Not that it matters, but if you care at all you have my blessing to go ahead with that. As I said, it could be very good, and you might develop your own group of loyal readers before too long - and you'd probably decide you could have more fun with your own unique characters. I hope you'll understand why I feel this way, and recognize that anyone's story represents many, many hours of thought and effort - red, sweat, and tears, if you will - and that you will respect the rights of others to maintain the integrity of their stories.
I also hope you'll keep writing. This site can always use another good, creative writer!
storm
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stormydog
Member
Posts: 1459
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Peak, GH, C-4-1, thanks. I agree that what was done here by Bilgam was ill-advised at best, and probably just plain rude at worst, but in the overall scheme of things is just not that important. My dogs still love me, as does my lovely wife, and the sun will still come up tomorrow...I assume. In no way does that diminish my appreciation of the way you leapt into the fray on my behalf and in defense of the integrity of all stories posted on this site. I am truly impressed and humred. Y'all are the greatest!
Bilgam, let me advise you for a moment: If you plan to get into a war of words with peak, first, I'd much rather you take it elsewhere; second, you'll lose. Even a hick American like me knows better than to battle an Englishman when the weapon of choice is the English language! Goodhusband wields a very sharp scalpel in this regard as well; I've often wondered if maybe he isn't (or wasn't, perhaps, if retired) an English or literature professor of some sort.
Anyhow, I'm still hoping you will edit your post to a simple comment rather than a long insertion into the story, and will take your alternate story and start a new thread to post it and any additions. I'd appreciate it - and good luck.
storm
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