F.A.Q.

(Frequently Asked Questions)

I've gathered some of the questions I've been asked, and listed them here for your entertainment, education, and edification.

• We deserve an update! You haven't updated since (date)!

Obviously, this is not a question. However, I get this in the Shoutbox and in my email often enough that I want to address it.

There are very few people in the world that "deserve" an update. Thos few people are those who have assisted me with the site in some way or have donated to the site. I have yet to see anyone who has donated who insists they are entitled to an update. Interesting how that works.

I am currently unemployed. I have been unemployed for over a year now. Maintinaing the site takes money. I also have some peculiar disabilities, such as needing shelter, food, clothing, and medical coverage. None of that is free.

Don't tell me what you deserve. The more you try to push me to do what you want, the more likely I am to not only ignore you, but do the opposite. And don't try reverse psychology on me either, my mother was much better at it than you ever will be, and her crap hasn't worked since I was ten. I am quite immune to manipulation of all kinds, you can ask the police officers who tried to intimidate me the other night.

If you want something for me, don't pull the entitlement crap. Show me in what way doing something for you does anything for me. Otherwise, you can felch your brains out of your ass. Whether you visit my site or not makes no difference to me at this point.

• How do I use the RSS link? All I get is garbage.

I would suggest first of all that you choose a reader for the RSS. I use Thunderbird myself, it also handles most of my email.

Open Notepad or any other text editing program. This is simply a way to "store" the information you need.

Right click on the RSS link on the menu, and click on "Copy Link Location" (for Firefox users, anyway; Internet Explorer uses "Copy Shortcut"). Go back to Notepad and paste the information.

Copy the information from Notepad (this is to avoid the wrong information from being copied, some Windows programs will try to save the entire menu of the site instead).

Go to your reader and follow the instructions for adding the feed to your reader. Save the information, and you will get notified when there are updates to the site.

• Who maintains your three websites? Who pays for the hosting?

I manage all three sites: LunaText Publications (for my RPG publishing company), Prism & Ink (for my gay-themed fiction, non-erotica), and Dabbler.X. It's not always easy, and sometimes a nightmare.

Currently, the cost of the sites come out of my pocket.

• Do you accept commissions?

While I don't write stories to specifications by others, I do accept suggestions for scenarios. I don't guarantee the story will be finished by a particular date, however. Anyone who wishes to make a donation will be taken seriously, of course.

• What was the purposes of the patches that Malcolm put on Bill in "You're, Like, the Best"?

I am truly embarrassed that I did not make this clearer in the story. Zio Lorenzo and Malcolm like hairy, muscular guys. So the patches were a combination of testosterone and minor amounts of human growth hormone. In addition, Zio Lorenzo was adding some herbal supplements to Bill's juice to encourage hair growth.

• Will you be writing any stories focusing on leather?

Not leather alone, no. But I have a couple stories in the outline phase that have aspects of leather and bondage as focal points.

• What's the "outline phase"?

I actually use several different processes to write a story. The first is to start with an idea and let ideas flow. This can be difficult at times, because often I have to go backward and rewrite portions to accommodate changes that occurred to me later.

The other process is to start with an idea, plot out an outline, and then write portions according to the various details in the outline.

• Where do you get your ideas?

Ha! It would be easier to say where I don't get my ideas.

The truth of the matter is that I have Adult Attention Deficit Disorder. WHat that means is that my mind is usually going 115 miles per hour in 9 different directions. Anything from a hitchhiker walking down the road, a guy at a bar, or the front cover of a novel can start my mind working towards an idea for a good story. Or even a bad story.

• Why is it that you seem a bit put-off by compliments? You rock!

First of all, I have never been one to puff myself up. I've been writing since I was 13, and it's only in the past ten years that I have felt that I've gotten good at writing. But I still have my doubts.

Second of all, writers who view their work as the next Pulitzer prize winner annoy the hell out of me. I try hard not get arrogant about anything. I know what my skills are, as well as what my faults are. It makes no sense to me to lie to others by acting like I am the end-all, be-all.

• How do you get in the mood to write?

First of all, I need quiet. Distractions are hell on me, not only do they distract me from what I'm supposed to be doing, but it makes it harder to get back to the right frame of mind for whatever scene I'm writing.

I also play music while I write, to induce the proper mood, as well as drown out noise that can distract me. I don't play it loud, just enough to drown out outside noises, and little things like the air conditioner kicking on.

Another thing that helps is that I have to feel the scene I'm writing. If I'm not feeling the heat of a sex scene, then I'm not doing it right. The scene with Brubaker, in "Target Acquired", had me shaking with anger, for example. The emotional investment in a scene may be a bit rough on my nerves at times, but makes for better story-telling.

• Have you considered adding illustrations or art?

I'm working on it. I've had some offers, and I'm waiting to see how that works out.

• How do you take criticism?

I take constructive criticism very well. Constructive criticism is pointing out a problem or an error (like spelling, or the wrong person in the scene at the wrong time), and suggesting a fix. It is not a message reading "You fucking moron, you can't do shit right." I have a temper, folks.

However, nit picking and flame-wars are not to my taste. Complaints about not enough sex or the wrong kind of sex will annoy me, and if the so-called critic continues to berate me, they will find out what an asshole I can really be.

However, I don't always follow the rules of grammar to the letter. In dialogue, that is especially true, because most guys don't talk that way. In fact, I've written some dialogue that plays directly on the fact that a lot of speech is imprecise.

You'll notice that I use non-standard compound words. As I learned English, nouns do not modify nouns. Adjectives modify nouns. For example, it is considered correct to write "jaw line". To me, this is wrong; "jaw" is not an adjective. So I write it as "jawline". Microsoft Word hates me sometimes, but the feeling is mutual.

• What software do you use to write?

I use Microsoft Word to write up a story. I also use Mozilla Firefox and Google for research; not all of the tidbits of information I use comes from Wikipedia. I also use several name generators, including NameMage, calculators, conversion sheets, etc. I use Excel sometimes as well.

For maintaining the sites, I use EvrSoft's 1st Page 2000 (I don't trust the newer version) and Filezilla for FTP. When I am doing any kind of art, I use Photoshop, PaintsShopPro, and some freeware programs. The amount of software I use for things that you never see (such as floorplans and such) is staggering.

Currently, the site includes code from HTML, JavaScript, PhP, and CSS. And my programming skills are pretty much exhausted now, programming the RSS feed was three hours of pain.

I'll update this page as I get new questions. Updates to this page will not be referenced on the main page, as that would just crowd the information regarding story updates.

Remember, you can send me questions through the Contact page. I try to respond to every email within a day or two.