curious2c

In my defense...and I'm not trying to duck under anything here, just stating facts. I began writing in 2002, my first story being Julie's New Job. My second story in order that I wrote, not posted online was 'The Assignment'. My second story ever...as in the second time I'd actually tried to write a story at all. In between Julie's New Job and The Assignment, online I had four other shorter stories I posted that seemed to pop up out of my head and I was able to blast them out over night it seemed.

I was new to writing and most of my works had grammar, syntax, punctuation and other issues. One of the more glaring issues I had during that time was making the characters seem believable. As I've always said, I try to improve with each story I write. In 2002-2003 I went through a lot of improvement... at least other people have told me so. I'd like to think I improved as well.

When I first started writing and submitting online I posted clearly on my little author blurb that I would not take a story down, edit it and change it. My stories will stay as is, unchanged from my early days, mainly so that people can read my works and see how I've (hopefully) grown as an author.

The Assignment is one of those stories that I've been both praised and vilified for over the years. I sometimes wish that the places I post to would put the stories in the time line they were written rather than alphabetically. They don't, so I can't really make it simple for readers to see the changes in my efforts over time.

Back then, in 2002 I posted nine stories but actually wrote about fifteen, in 2003 I posted three and actually wrote five stories. I guess what I'm saying is that when I first started I released my efforts without thought to making sure that they made sense, had any grammar or punctuation errors fixed or anything else like that. I'd write and then post them online the same day I decided they were 'done'.

It was only after a few very good writers/authors contacted me and invited me to join with them in discussing stories that I discovered editors, editing, and having others pre-read my works before I posted them online. Their efforts in reading what I had and making suggestions helped me tremendously I think.

I guess what all this is about is please note the date something I posted online was written and take into account what I wrote like then versus what I put out now... and think about that before ripping me a new one because you didn't like the way I wrote a particular story. I've found over time, that most of the stories I get blasted for came from 02, 03 and 04, while my later works I don't get ripped on nearly as much. A sign that I've gotten better as an author??? I don't know... but I like to think that is what it is.

Thank you.

This is just a addendum to let you all know that I am still alive and well. I have stories on the back burner and hope to start writing again soon. Thank you for your patience.

curious2c