I have recently discovered the author, Paul Phenomenon, and am thoroughly enjoying his story "Protect and Serve", which I highly recommend. I noticed that Paul has not posted in years. Does anyone know if he is still around, maybe writing under another name? Or has he retired or passed on?
There is no mention of him in the Inactive Contributors List. It has been 14 years since he was writing, but he has been on the site recently since not all of his works are beyond the paywall.
There is an "Inactive Contributors List"? Interesting. Where would I find this list?
On SOL's Home Page, to the left, at the bottom there's a section called "Links." The next to last one is "Author Info." Click it.
AFAIK it is volunteer effort that isn't directly related to the site, so not "official" although there may have some level of working relationship, but if I understand it correctly, it mainly relies on user reports.
Someone has used his account within the last four years (I think it's four nowadays) otherwise his stories would be premier-only.
Those directions don't work for the browser on my phone. No links section.
Here is the link, which I already had.
https://readerinfo.net/inactivecontributorslist#posC
I want to thank everyone for letting me know about the "inactive" site. It is very helpful, although, I wish it had something on Jay Cantrell, another of my favorite but missing authors on this site.
The fact that he isn't listed, indicates that he has at least logged onto SoL within the last 2 years. As a matter of fact, he posted a new Blog 2 months ago.
jimq2, this is some of the best news I've heard on this site in a long, long time. I had not checked Jay's blog in a while so I'm so glad he is still around and, to quote his blog, ....."To those who have wished for me to finish Azkoval or put together something new … I'm going to try!" Which is fantastic news.
There were references to that blog in several "where is Jay Cantrell" forum threads shortly afterwards. I'll believe it when I see it, but now am hoping to see it.
When Don Lockwood resurfaced he was inundated with requests to finish https://storiesonline.net/s/42289/rewind - 8 months later he's still keeping a very low profile.
I suspect that if you been away from a story you wrote for a while it is very difficult to pick up the story line again.
I suspect that if you been away from a story you wrote for a while it is very difficult to pick up the story line again.
Especially since Don Lockwood ran out of that story in the first place. I think he could have easily finished the story at high school graduation.
This is a point I have always wondered about, at what stage does a do over story complete?
There are many that just stop when the author seems to lose momentum and there are several that actually do get an ending when the characters are in their 40's or 50's.
I just wonder when is the best time?
rlfj's https://storiesonline.net/universe/787/a-fresh-start (also on https://storyroom.com/n/11679/a-fresh-start as one story) stops with the MC retired at age 68.
Al Steiner's https://storiesonline.net/s/30059/doing-it-all-over stops with the MC aged 31.
In both cases that was roughly the age of the author when he wrote the story.
This is a point I have always wondered about, at what stage does a do over story complete?
There is a wide variation. Some, arguably, should be complete when the specific regret is addressed by doing something different. Some which emphasize coming of age, should end when adulthood is reached -- perhaps high school graduation, perhaps college/start of work, perhaps marriage.
A few go to the end of life, hopefully with the MC having being satisfied with his new life.
A couple go heavily into alternate timeline, with the MC going far into science fiction/long life category (e.g. Retreads by Rotedrachen).
Lazlo's https://storiesonline.net/s/18499/emend-by-eclipse
starts in 1974 with the MC's reset and ends 9/11/2001 when the many nudges against the prevailing timeline come to fruition.
IIRC A Fresh Start ends at the beginning. I'll have to reread it.