Coaster2: Blog

I'm getting some mail about an anachronism in this story. In the first chapter, I mention Ian's age at 9 when his first act takes place in the spring of 1965. Later, I make a reference to him having a home computer when Symphony comes to live with him. That's jumping the time line by a bit. In fact, it would be a least three or four years before that was likely to take place. So, I've decided to re-date Ian's first adventure in heroism to 1969 and hope that doesn't mess up any other parts of the story.
I also make mention of "safe sex" and that's a reference that some think is out of sequence as well. However, in my part of the world, condom was not a common word in the seventies. More likely to be "French Safe" or the more technical prophylactic. I'm not going to mess with that. It won't damage the context it was used in.
Cheers and I hope you continue to enjoy the story.
Coaster2

Once again I am surprised and humbled at the positive response and strong scoring of The House at Sand Pines. It wasn't meant to be anything more than a conventional romance, but apparently, you found it enjoyable.
My next posting will be a while since it is still in the editing stage. However, I think you will find it a change of pace.
Cheers,

I held off on posting Yakima for some months, feeling it wasn't quite what I wanted the story to be. Finally, more in frustration than conviction, I posted it. I'm astounded at the reception from my readers. the score is well above what I expected. The feedback has been positive. I guess that's another lesson learned. The only critics that matter are the readers and I should be trusting them to judge my work.
Thank you all,
Coaster2 (Steve)

As you know by now, I am posting my current story, Yakima. The logjam was broken by my very able and long-suffering editor, ErikThread. He finished his work and returned it with the notation that it was (I'm paraphrasing here) a Coaster Story, with Coaster Characters and Coaster Dialogue. He's right, of course. It's what I write and what I'm confident with. By the look of the response to Yakima, I shouldn't have worried about it. I'm very pleased with both the score and the feedback.
Now that I'm back in the saddle, I'll be following Yakima immediately with The House at Sand Pines. I've also sent a new story, freshly written, to Erik entitled Accidental Hero. The response to these three stories will tell me if I'm on the right path. I've still got three more in an unfinished state, so there's more to come after a fairly long dry spell.
Cheers,
Coaster

I haven't posted anything for some time. The reason is simple: I've run out of ideas that appeal to me. I have six unfinished stories and lack both the motivation and inspiration to finish them. With two or three of them, I know how I want them to go, but I still haven't got the drive to complete them.
On top of that, my editors are seeing what I'm seeing. The stories are all "of a kind." I keep hoping I'll find some inspiration in other writer's work, but so far, nothing has clicked. I know I'm not alone with this problem. I've read (and heard) from other writers that they are suffering the same problem. I've posted nearly seventy stories and it's become very difficult to find original ideas.
Anyhow, that's my update of Coaster2's activities. I haven't quit, just stalled.
Cheers,
Steve