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For 2020, I have decided my concerted efforts in writing on FanStory will be to finalize my book Astatula so many FanStorians have enjoyed since its conception. Each chapter contains previously unposted material along with the familiar storyline. So, even if you have followed his antics all along, why not appreciate Cody's adventures one more time?
HIGHLIGHTS:
Jump Seat finished 2nd in the Share Your Story Site Contest on December 21, 2019.
Pikesville finished 2nd in the Story in a Poem site contest for May 9, 2019!!!
Meeting Cody - Part Two nominated for Story of the Month for December 2017!!!
Unwanted Dog finished 3rd in the July 2017 Book of the Month Contest!!!
I Had My Chance finished 2nd in the This Sentence Starts The Story site-sponsored contest on June 6, 2018.
Pastrami finished 2nd in the Share A Story In A Poem site-sponsored contest on July 24, 2018
I am well pleased that you have discovered reading my writing is a wonderful way to spend quality time!!!
If you can not give my writing an honest review, instead of a FanStory good ole boy, I'll give you a five star review and in return you give me one no matter how atrocious the writing is, I would much rather you gave me no review at all as I do not have any intention of playing that game. Don't like that, get over it!
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BRETT MATTHEW WEST IS FOLLOWING |
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Brett Matthew West:
Just a quick note to those I owe reviews to: currently I am running between trying to at least keep up with responses to reviews I have received and my 12 year old being in the hospital, where he has been for the last four days. However, I will write these reviews when I get the opportunity.
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 November 7, 2019 at 5:26AM
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| giraffmang: All the best to your wee one, Brett. G
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November 7, 2019 at 5:50AM
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| Brett Matthew West: Thanks G-Man. Getting him home would go a long way in improving matters.
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November 7, 2019 at 7:46AM
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| judester: Get the young one home, we can wait. Bless you both.
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November 7, 2019 at 8:41AM
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| damommy: I'm so sorry to hear of your little one's illness. Hope he gets to come home soon.
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November 7, 2019 at 2:28PM
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WryWriter: Wishing your son a speedy recovery.
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November 7, 2019 at 9:27PM
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Brett Matthew West:
No matter how good a writer you are you will never be good enough...for the wrong reader.
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October 30, 2019 at 1:08PM
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Brett Matthew West:
Prose writers, are you aware there is daily discussion occurring in the Story Writing Forum? Why not join in?
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October 15, 2019 at 6:38AM
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Brett Matthew West:
What would you tell a newbie writer writing description for their first book/story?
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October 6, 2019 at 9:05AM
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Brett Matthew West:
If you had one character you have created that you would be remembered for as a writer, who would it be and how would you sum them up in a couple sentences? For me, I believe everyone on this site knows it's Cody Schroder from my Astatula series. He's everything I always wanted to be as a kid..and wasn't.
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October 5, 2019 at 6:08AM
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Brett Matthew West:
I just created a new contest for prose writers called Six Word Story that has two simple rules:
NO POETRY. Automatic DQ! and must tell a complete story.
Couldn't make it an easier than that.
Why not check it out?
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October 3, 2019 at 5:34AM
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DragonSkulls: It's a shame most people can't seem to grasp the concept of 'complete story' and that it's most likely doubtful that the committee will actually DQ any that aren't. What can you do?
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October 3, 2019 at 12:22PM
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| nor84: What's so hard? A complete story has a beginning, middle and ending. Main character has a problem (beginning) Main character tries to solve problem (middle) Main character either solves problem or he can't (ending.)
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October 3, 2019 at 2:28PM
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| Iza Deleanu: Can you open more spots?
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October 3, 2019 at 6:18PM
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| Brett Matthew West: WOW! Didn't expect this much support. Thanks to all who entered. Good luck to all!
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October 3, 2019 at 6:34PM
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Brett Matthew West:
Why isn't there a club dedicated to prose writers? Would prose writers support such a club?
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October 2, 2019 at 9:17AM
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| nor84: I was the first to start a club for prose writers. I wanted prose writers to share techniques, perhaps do a bit of teaching for those wanting to improve their craft. Nothing happened. People joined, but the only thing the clubs were doing was having 'events.' After a while, it was as if I were talking and not being heard. I gave up. For one thing, I didn't understand 'events' and no one seemed to want to share techniques.
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October 2, 2019 at 11:49AM
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| Brett Matthew West: Would like to see more interest generated on this site for and by prose writers. Just not sure how to go about helping to create that interest. Ideas from prose writers welcomed.
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October 2, 2019 at 11:56AM
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| Jannypan (Jan) : The clubs are designed for 'events'. One cannot do much in the way of teaching. . . unless... you use the discussions tab to post Then to respond, one has to locate that, add their response, then wait for any reply--if any. The club active participation is waaaay down.
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October 2, 2019 at 2:31PM
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giraffmang: I also had one running where we were looking at various aspects of writing but I let it run down due to a lack of interest....
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October 2, 2019 at 6:48PM
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Brett Matthew West:
Do you ever generate a character profile before you create a new character?
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September 29, 2019 at 9:28AM
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| nor84: No. Sometimes characters seem to grow. I've read it is wrong when they do that, but I disagree. It's wrong when you let them take over the story but not if it is the Lead character who sees the new changes in what he thought was just his nurse. Nurse became best friend and a knife-carrying psycho when Lead was threatened.
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September 29, 2019 at 4:17PM
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Brett Matthew West:
Have you ever been writing something, then when you almost finish the piece, realise the horrible monster you have created? What did you do? Keep going? Burn it? Or what?
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September 28, 2019 at 7:39AM
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| mrsmajor: I've spent hours writing a poem, using a difficult form, and when its completed, I don't even know what the hell I was trying to say...No choice but to junk it..
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September 28, 2019 at 5:37PM
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| giraffmang: Tuck it away. It's amazing how much time can change your view on something. there may just be some really great bits in it which can be recycled.
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September 29, 2019 at 11:53AM
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Brett Matthew West:
The biggest assassin of creativity is to ponder if we are good enough.
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September 26, 2019 at 10:44AM
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Brett Matthew West:
I attended a writers' seminar today presented by Harper's Magazine. The Editor who presented the material offered several insights into how to improve one's writing. There is no need to answer this question in this forum, but it is something to consider. One example he used was when you write do you write "The chicken crossed the road" or do you write "The chicken crossed the road that led to my dead Grandmother's house which brought back fond memories of my childhood"? The point he was making to better improve one's writing is that one action should lead into another and then another and then another and so on.
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February 23, 2019 at 6:15PM
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| damommy: Good point. Thanks for sharing this.
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February 23, 2019 at 8:38PM
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| jlsavell: Awesome! Thank you! Have a great day!
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February 24, 2019 at 9:42AM
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| Randa Dayle: That is so true...we need to expand our thoughts!! Thanks for sharing!!
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March 4, 2019 at 8:55PM
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| Possummagic: I like that suggestion. It?s so easily done. PM
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April 17, 2019 at 7:41PM
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| Stephen Force: Thanks for sharing, sounds logical great tip.
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April 28, 2019 at 8:59PM
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Brett Matthew West:
"We {writers} cannot replicate genius by copying another's idiosyncrasies-we need to cultivate our own." Robert Weibezahl, playwright and novelist
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February 16, 2019 at 8:49PM
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Brett Matthew West:
The best script characters attempt to achieve a goal, or avoid something, no matter what obstacles litter their way. (Think of your favorite television programs or movies.) A script formula that leads to success is characterization + desire = goal, and goal + conflict = story.
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February 15, 2019 at 5:04AM
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| Short Works |
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| Scripts |
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| Review Stars |
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 | Jump Seat finished second in the contest "Share Your Story" | December 22 at 12:13AM
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 | Fortune Queen reached "Recognized" status. | September 29 at 10:08AM
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 | Cheater reached "All Time Best" status. | September 19 at 5:25AM
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| Swamp reached "All Time Best" status. | September 14 at 5:25AM
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| Swamp reached "Recognized" status. | September 11 at 10:08AM
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| Cheater reached "Recognized" status. | September 8 at 10:08AM
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| Pikesville finished second in the contest "Share A Story In A Poem" | May 10 at 12:13AM
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| Pikesville reached "Recognized" status. | April 21 at 2:08AM
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Up For ReviewStand Out WritingAdditional Reading
