Shinerdrinker: Blog

I've gotten feedback for Mayhem before from individual emails from readers and I cherish each and every one of them. But a few days ago, I asked for people's own theories as to what was happening with my first story, "Mayhem in a Pill."

The response was epic. I usually get maybe 6-8 emails per chapter. And those are normally good responses and people asking questions. And for the most part, I answer them. But I got over 50 different emails from people who have been following along with my story and while the majority of theories were about the same there were a few different ones as well.

Needless to say, I was worried people weren't understanding where I was trying to lead them. Apparently I needn't had worried. The people following along with the adventures of Tim Murphy are following step by step. But I do have one thing to offer to all those who did write in with their ideas, some were close but no one was right on the money. People are in the neighborhood but knocking on the wrong door. Woo hoo!

Isn't that what a semi-decent story is supposed to do? Let people think they are on the right track then nudge them in a new direction but don't knock them off the road.

I like to think everyone reading each chapter is following along nicely and hopefully they will like where we are going to go.

The next chapter of Mayhem is with the editors right now and I expect to post it onto SOL maybe Monday or Tuesday. I'm starting to get a little quicker on these postings and hopefully everyone appreciates the effort.

Thanks again to all those who shared their theories. It is really a good feeling when you get writers of your other favorite works writing in trying to figure out your story. I had a little trouble walking through doorways with the inflated ego forcing me sideways.

Tee hee.

PS: Oh and to the guy who was waiting for the alien attack to begin and both young and older Tim were needed to run humanity's new interstellar armada... dude, you have access to some choice stuff and I DID NOT LOSE YOUR EMAIL.

I will be in touch with you for some new ideas!

I am nearly finished with the second draft of the next chapter in "Mayhem in a Pill" and was wondering if anyone out there have any theories about what happened when "Fat" Tim returned to the future after giving his younger self a leg up on all their dreams?

What do you think happened or is happening?

I'm actually trying to see if I have helped the reader along well enough for them to realize what, if anything, is happening.

Do you have a theory? Let me know with a quick email.

Thanks and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Okay, hold on everyone.


Mayhem in a Pill is not taking a strange turn. In reality, I'm finding myself growing up is an awkward way to put it. But a continuing story by a writer I absolutely adore had me thinking a little differently over the weekend.


Allow me to share.


This writer, who has been updating a wonderful story on a semi-regular basis, hasn't changed the basics of the story that I considered a favorite of mine since I first found SOL. I was reading the latest updates over the weekend and I found myself -- gulp -- skimming over the sex parts. They were not same old same old but rather I found myself saying out loud, "Enough already, let's move along the story."


That actually caught me by surprise. Sure I've done it on other stories before but I have never done it with any story by this particular author. The sex scenes are wonderfully written and there is nothing familiar about one scene to the next except for the participants.


Am I growing up and not wanting to read about the icky sex stuff or am I just wanting to read about the story itself?


Ugh. I don't wanna think about it anymore. That's it, I'm taking my ball and going home.


P.S. The next chapter of Mayhem in a Pill is with the last editors and should be posted really soon like tonight or maybe tomorrow.


Enjoy.

When I started writing this story I set an artificial deadline for myself of waiting until 10,000 downloads of the latest chapter before I would post the next one.

Slowly but surely the artificial deadline was reached a little earlier but usually three weeks to a month.

Chapter 19 of Mayhem in a Pill hit 10,000 in less than 48 hours.

I am totally blown away. And yes chapter 20 will come this week but I want to wait a little bit just to make sure the number stay high. This is in direct opposition with my natural laziness and I can see the writing on the wall. But then again I see the numbers, not really the votes since they seemed to be stabilized and I am slowly understanding that I should be happy it ain't dropping. Would I like to see higher vote totals, of course. But I am also happy where they are sitting.

Whew, 10,000 downloads for a single chapter in less than 48 hours. I'm still trying to get my head around it.

Friendly reminder, yes chapter 20 should come up this week and yes I am already working on 21. I don't know when that one will post but yes I'm working on it. Damn. This is all going against my natural laziness but fortunately, I'm just as interested in finding out what happens as all of you.

Thanks again for reading and all the support.

Guess who's first story on SOL today went over 200,000 downloads?

Okay, you in the back making noises all throughout the educational movie we were watching. No. Try again.

Yes! "Mayhem in a Pill" has crossed over 200,000 downloads!

Maybe you guys weren't lying when you said there was a strong possibility there were more than two fans of the story out there. If there really is only two fans out there then, you guys have been working REALLY hard to get me to 200,000.

Thanks again. I expect Chapter 20 to be posted sometime next week.