Drew Delaney: Spring projects keep me away. And more coming up. I will be cleaning and doing repairs in my basement suite as the renters are moving out soon and another moving in. So sorry I can?t keep up right now! Miss you all and reading your work!!


Drew Delaney: I am lagging behind. Just want to say I am sorry to my fans for not being able to keep up. I hope to be more on track soon.


FanStory wrote to Drew Delaney: Letter To Young Self finished second in the contest "Na-Po-Wri-Mo National Poetry Month"
    LisaMay: Congratulation! Well done on your captivating series. -
    Drew Delaney: Thank you LisaMary! We did it! Your support was so appreciated! -
    Ulla: Congratulations! You did it, Drew. So well done! Ulla xx -


Drew Delaney: I appreciate your help and support especially this NaPoWriMo month. Writing a poem a day is quite a challenge for this brain.
    flylikeaneagle: Drew: you can do this. I've written 5 NaNoWriMo of 2000-5000 words/day for the 50,000 word challenge. Keep focused and don't forget to eat. flylikeaneagle

    (leave the dishes for the hubby to do -- lol. Stay well. )) -


FanStory wrote to Drew Delaney: Why Hesitate finished third in the contest "Did You See That?"
    Ulla: Hi Drew, congratulations on your third place. I loved the story. Ulla xx -


Drew Delaney: Sorry everyone! Not been feeling well these last few weeks. I hope to be back writing and reading more of your work soon. Would appreciate your prayers. Thank you! Drew xx
    damommy: Praying for you. Hurry back. -
    mrsmajor: Prayers for your well being, and also my best wishes.....Take Care... -
    Drew Delaney: Thank you for your prayers and support. Some days are good, and others not so. -


Drew Delaney: Well, I finally got my desire to write again. I had lost the drive two years ago. I just wish more people would read stories on though. Maybe it?s this Dickensian story that few are willing to read. I enjoy writing it so much, I don?t want to give it up so few ratings is what I?ll get then I guess.
    Eve Vasa: The poetry is where the quick money is, sadly. But the poets dominate the site, really. Keep going with your writing, and keep FS in perspective. It is a vanity site, and not at all indicative of how your writing would go out in the real world of literature, and there are a lot of reasons for that, but chiefly, the demographic. There are a lot of folks over 60 who are no longer in touch with popular culture, and they are not serious about making writing a career. I will keep my eye out for your work Drew, have a great day, wherever that may be, Eve. -
    Cindy Decker: Dry, it?s difficult more me to navigate this website, if you want to friend me, please add me.😊 -


Drew Delaney: I am back peeps! Finally after two long years. I have not written a thing since I left. Hope to change that bad decision in time. I just read that Dean Kuch has passed away. I am so sad to hear. Hope that there is no other bad news. Please inform me. Thank you and am so happy to see old friends are still hanging out here. Yay!!❣️


Drew Delaney: I guess I?m leaving all my friends here that I have grown to love. My membership is over and I feel I must spend more time writing than reviewing. Please e-mail me when you have time.
Love you and will miss you all so much! Drew xx ❤️
bhebel15@mymts.net
    Teri7: I wish you the best in all you do Drew! May God bless you! Teri7 -


Drew Delaney: So sorry friends and readers. Life has taken another direction for a time. My daughter needs help with her children due to a marriage breakup. I will be back as soon as I am able.
    rama devi: Sending you positive energies. Sorry about your daughter's situation. She'l lucky to have you to help. Come back soon, I hope! :) -


FanStory wrote to Drew Delaney: Driven finished second in the contest "3-5-3 "Water""


FanStory wrote to Drew Delaney: I May Be Going Mad finished second in the contest "Silver Lining"
    Drew Delaney: Wow! Thank you! I was shocked when I just looked. Yay! Thank you Irish Rain!! -


FanStory wrote to Drew Delaney: Rose Wine finished third in the contest "1-6-1 poetry"


Drew Delaney: I'd like to wish all my friends and followers here on Fanstory a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous and Happy New Year. Thank you all for reading my works and I hope that my muse will wake up and smell the coffee. Merry Christmas all!!
    michaelcahill: DON'T GIVE YOUR MUSE COFFEE!!!!!!

    Have you read one of my blathering stories? :))

    Merry Christmas to you and thanks for your wonderful reviews and work! -


Drew Delaney: Dear Fanstory friends -- I am taking a break for a while as you must be aware. I am nearly done with the deck, and the garden needs planting. There is much to do at this time. When I get caught up, I will be back. Miss you all!


Drew Delaney: Sorry if I don't get much writing and reviewing done for a bit. I'm redoing my deck and raking tons of broken branches before it's time to cut grass, and plant my garden in a couple of weeks. I will probably read more than write because I will be too tired to write properly. Just letting you know why I may not show up to review. Hugs to all my fans and writing buddies. Love you. Drew xx Will try to be back soon.


Drew Delaney: And every novel needs a series of intriguing, hair-raising, addictive events carrying the reader from the Hook to the Climax. You could just tell us the Climax? The butler did it? But long fiction is all about the wonderful, rollicking adventure building upon why that matters.

The hardest thing for aspiring writers to believe is that all this is holographic (Holograms are usually intended for displaying three-dimensional images): what's essential for the novel is also essential for the chapter, episode, even scene. Every single one of them needs a Climax, Hook, and some type of events leading from one to the other.

Read that again. Every single one.
    nor84: Not only every chapter, every scene. There should be a reason for every scene to be there. Conflict in every scene, movement in every scene. Conflict can mean a man struggling internally, two friends discussing a plan -- one is sure it will work, the other is skeptical. And then there's a resolution, a final decision for the screen and the story moves forward. -
    Drew Delaney: Thank you nor 84 for clarifying this. Every scene needs a hook, event and climax leading the main theme forward. -


Drew Delaney: Introspection and backstory are better sprinkled than dumped!

Backstory should be woven throughout the manuscript, rather than taking up long chunks of space in the book.
    nor84: Short sections of dialogue is a good way to bring in backstory, just as you would in normal conversation:

    "Where are you from?"
    "Originally? Montana. Raised on a ranch."

    "Hey, that must have been great."

    Sort of like that. A short back-and-forth, not a life history.
    -


Drew Delaney: The uses of em-dashes (--) and ellipses (...) differ slightly, both are used to indicate unfinished thoughts.
When a thought ends abruptly, either because the speaker ended it that way for effect or because he or she was interrupted, use an em-dash. When a thought trails off, use an ellipses.
    michaelcahill: You have no idea how helpful that it!! Thank you. :)) -
    IndianaIrish: Drew, isn't the example you give a hyphen? I thought an em-dash is wider so it isn't confused with a hyphen? -
    justafan: ellipses...so that's what they are called...I love them!!! -
    rama devi: Exactly! Indy...yes, but Fanstory editor does not have a way to make em-dashes. When you paste one in from Word, it changes it to something else. So, what I do here is to use two hyphens-- -
    DIS-illusioned: I thought a dash was simply a dash (em-dash?)--and a hyphen somewhat like a shorter dash in appearance, used to combine two words to form a compound word.
    Enlightening grammatical tidbit, Drew. Thanks. -
    Drew Delaney: So glad this has helped with the confusion. Yes, my Word doesn't make the em-dash correct, so I have to use a double hyphen, like RD suggests. I got the info off of Auto-Crit, an online Critter site. -


Drew Delaney: I'm struggling with self-confidence. Reading great books leave me feeling little.
    michaelcahill: I feel that way walking into a library or a book store sometimes. It just means that there are billions of people and some of them have great talent. You're in the group that fits in the library. :) -
    mrsmajor: No No, don't say that...Your pen is as good as any, when we make an effort to express ourselves, it becomes a part of who we are...There's no one out there exactly like you, remember that...it works for me, and should do the same for you...Hugs! -
    Phyllis Stewart: Drew, I know what you mean. But by reading them, your mind absorbs style, magically, without any conscious thinking on your part. Your writing is already very good. Reading really great books will make it even better with no effort on your part, so read and enjoy! :) I have a favorite classic, called "Notes from the Underground" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. It's rather depressing, but oh, what a terrific look into the mind of a mentally damaged person. He really nailed every feeling, every thought. THen, my favorite topic is always "the enemy within"... man/woman against him/herself. If you like to look into minds, this is as good as it gets. :) -


Drew Delaney: Happy New Year to all my friends on Fanstory.
    country ranch writer: THE CHANGES IN OUR WEATHER IN THE USA IS MAKING EVERYONE SICK ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH POOR IMMUNE SYSTEMS -


Drew Delaney:
Just want to share this movie with those who went to school with nuns. It's an old story called 'The Bells of St. Mary's", and with not feeling clear headed enough to read much or write, this story brought tears to my eyes. It would be good to watch if you are celebrating Christmas alone for it is very inspiring and enjoyable. Let me know what you think once you have watched it. OKAY???
    samsaysagain: Really nice, Drew. I went to school with the Ursuline Nuns order. I remember the Bell of St. Mary's. If I recall corectly It was a Bing Crosby movie. Now there's a man who can sing! Thanks -


Drew Delaney: I have a head cold and sinus problems. Feel like I'm living in a cloud. One where breathing normally is difficult. Hope to be back on full time after Christmas. Merry Christmas to all!
    Nosha17: Hi, Drew, sorry you aren't feeling well, I had bronchitis for about a month, only just going now. Hope you feel better for the festive season. Merry Christmas, love Fayex -


Drew Delaney: I will be busy for the time being. Anxious to get back to review and write. Blessings to all.
    Nosha17: Hope all is well, Drew. Looking forward to more of your book. Bye for now, Fayex -
    Selina Stambi: Take care. We'll be waiting. Merry Christmas, Drew. :) -

    Drew Delaney: This is POETRY and how to read it. I wish I could be half as talented. Enjoy! -
    Adri7enne: Held me mesmerized all the way to the end. Whew! Thanks for sharing. -
    write hand blue: This was brilliant, captivating and most inspiring. Thank you for showing this work of art... Mel. -
    Drew Delaney: Yes, it's brilliant and so well read. Loved it! -
    Showboat: Check out Vincent Price doing the same poem! OMG, what an incredible talent. -
    Drew Delaney: I did. Yes, as an actor, he performed and it was outstanding. Thanks for sharing that, Showboat. -

    ravenblack: Such a great clip from one of my favorite movies. Carpe Diem! -


Drew Delaney: I'm in the cave, like my kids call it. The basement suite. I am looking forward to being able to keep up with things for the winter and read and write and knit or whatever. I have a lovely gas fireplace, just waiting for a part that got over-dirty and so it doesn't hold the flame well. Also, just got in seven cords of wood to get cut and piled. Seven more cords are ordered, but being too wet, it can't get out on the bush roads.

Hope you're all having a great time reading, writing and doing your thing. God Bless!


Drew Delaney: There are 17 spots left to fill in the Gothic Contest due October 31st. Come and join me as we get creative in this great genre.
    trimple: Hi there Drew.

    I Looked at this prompt earlier on today, and enjoyed the two examples of what is considered to be 'Gothic writing'

    I have contemplated all afternoon what to write about.

    Hopefully, I may have something muscled up by the 31st October.

    Looks very interesting...


    trimple :) -
    Drew Delaney: Great! I hope we have some writers joining in. It's an interesting genre. My story was quite out of this world, but the character took over and it is what it is. -
    Drew Delaney: Mystic Angel won the contest. She did a swell job and was very deserving. Thanks to those who joined the contest. Hope you had fun. -


Drew Delaney: Hi everyone!
I'll be busy for some time while attempting a move and getting ready for winter. Sorry if I don't keep up with some of the authors of novels I've been following and of course, all of you who have inspired me.

Hopefully, I will still be able to drop in occasionally in the next little while. Love you all!
    michaelcahill: That sounds ominous, "getting ready for winter"... whatcha gonna do, hibernate or something? You're pretty upbeat and smile inducing. Hmmm. You're SANTA!!! -
    strandregs: You are one to watch
    Simon cowel would say
    I say Wow. -


Drew Delaney: Clearing through all my mother's belongings and getting rid of almost everything. I put out a free sign on the driveway, and anything I don't know what to do with, goes there. Each morning, I arrive, and everything has been taken. I hope it blesses the people who are needy.
    Veeb: What a beautiful and thoughtful gesture! You have been a blessing. I am deeply touched. -
    Drew Delaney: Thank you Veeb. I appreciate your kind words. -


Drew Delaney: I would just like to remind all you awesome poets about the Rondeau Redouble and the final date which is coming up on September 29th. 12 more spots are available. It's a somewhat difficult form, but if you are good with iambic pentameter, you won't have a tough time. The more spots filled, the higher the prize.


Drew Delaney: I am so pleased to have won the Gothic contest. I feel badly that I didn't leave it open to all writers. But then, I wouldn't have won. LOL See how desperate I am?
Thanks to all who voted for me. I think this is one of my best short stories I have ever written. That alone means a lot to me.


Drew Delaney: I won, I won a contest. Yippee!!
    Richard J: This is a most wonderfully exciting occasion to know about, Drew ... well-deserved and fully appreciated by one of your happy fans. : ) -


Drew Delaney: I realize this is old news, but I wanted to share this poem, named the rondeau redoublé.

I would like to try this form. Anybody else?

A more complex form is the rondeau redoublé. This is also written on two rhymes, but in five stanzas of four lines each and one of five lines. Each of the first four lines (stanza 1) get individually repeated in turn once by becoming successively the respective fourth lines of stanzas 2, 3, 4, & 5; and the first part of the first line is repeated as a short fifth line to conclude the sixth stanza. This can be represented as - A1,B1,A2,B2 - b,a,b,A1 - a,b,a,B1 - b,a,b,A2 - a,b,a,B2 - b,a,b,a,(A1).

The following example of the form was written from the point of view of one of the RAF officers carrying the coffin of Diana, Princess of Wales to the plane that was to carry it to England. (Rondeau Redoublé)

Guard of Honour by Paul Hansford

The burden I bear is more heavy than lead.
The physical weight is a thing that I share,
but the loss that I feel will not leave my head.
Why did you have to die? Why is death so unfair?

I am close to you now. Yes, touching my hair
the flag with its lions of gold and of red
that wraps round your coffin. I know you are there.
The burden I bear is more heavy than lead.

My comrades move with me in slow, solemn tread.
Our eyes are all fixed in an unseeing stare.
Our shoulders support you in your oaken bed.
The physical weight is a thing that I share.

As I feel the world watching I try not to care.
My deepest emotions are best left unsaid.
Let others show grief like a garment they wear,
but the loss that I feel will not leave my head.

The flowers they leave like a carpet are spread,
In the books of remembrance they have written, "Somewhere
a star is extinguished because you are dead.
Why did you have to die? Why is death so unfair?"

The tears that we weep will soon grow more rare,
the rawness of grief turn to memory instead.
But deep in our hearts you will always be there,
and I ask, will I ever be able to shed
the burden I bear?


Drew Delaney: I am so excited. Look to your right. Six-star ratings. That is because you have helped me to write better and by the end of my post time, someone decided I could use a six-star. Blessings to all who have helped me thus far. I look for help and then apply it, unless I totally disagree. Hugs to all!


Drew Delaney:
If this does not make your day, nothing will.

Two little boys, Tom and Danny, are excessively mischievous.
They are always getting into trouble and their Mom knows if any mischief occurs in their town, the two boys are probably involved.
The boys' mother heard that a preacher in town had been successful in disciplining children, so she asked if he would speak with her boys.
The preacher agreed, but he asked to see them individually.
The mother sent Danny in the morning, with the older boy to see the preacher in the afternoon.
The preacher, a huge man with a deep booming voice, sat the younger boy down and asked him sternly,
"Do you know where God is, son?"
The boy's mouth dropped open, but he made no response, sitting there wide-eyed with his mouth hanging open.
So the preacher repeated the question in an even sterner tone,
"Where is God?!
Again, the boy made no attempt to answer.
The preacher raised his voice even more and shook his finger in the boy's face and bellowed, "WHERE IS GOD?!"
The boy screamed & bolted from the room, ran directly home & dove into his closet, slamming the door behind him.
When his older brother found him in the closet, he asked,
"What happened?"
The younger brother, gasping for breath, replied,
"We are in BIG trouble this time!"
"GOD is missing, and they think WE did it!"


PLEASE DON'T LAUGH ALONE.

PASS IT ON!
    15ab3l: This is really funny! I love your work! -
    Selina Stambi: It is funny. I remember this being used in one of the Alpha course videos. -


Drew Delaney: This was quite a learning experience for me to write an essay called Food For Thought. Opinions are so difficult to digest sometimes especially if you don't agree. But I have come to realize that through it all, we are ever learning. Thanks to all who have helped me write this piece. It's not great and I'm not sure I ever want to write one again.
    Selina Stambi: Welcome to Fanstory, Drew. Popping in to say hello! -
    tbacha58: Hello Drew, welcome to Fanstory. I am sure you will be very happy here, as you mentioned, writing and sharing with us, will definitely help. We are here for each other. Hugs Terry xoxo -
    Drew Delaney: Thank you so much for the welcome ladies. Hugs to you both! -


Drew Delaney: Hardly a man in the world has an opinion upon morals, politics or religion which he got otherwise than through his associations an d sympathies. Broadly speaking, there are none but corn-pone opinions. And broadly speaking, Corn-Pone stands for Self- Approval. Self-approval is acquired mainly from the approval of other people. The result is Conformity. Mark Twain
    Kingsland: That's one of the worst quotes I have read from Twain... -
    vapros: Mark Twain knew people, and we are guilty as he charges. Conformity is populated by those whose self-approval derives from the approval of others. Deliver me from that. -
    innerworlds: When Mark Twain was alive, the rules of social acceptance were very different and much more rigid. These days, I'd like to think we're a bit more open and relaxed in our acceptance of others (unless you're a teenager with unsupervised texting!). As for me, I earn my own respect and self-approval by achieving goals and helping others. I'd bet that most of the writers on this site set their own self-worth...because we're writers! We speak our true thoughts and insights, popular or not. How do you all feel about it??? -
    Drew Delaney: I like to think you are right in this aspect. We achieve respect and self-approval because writing removes the masks we wear. We are open books in front of our audience. And we know ourselves better than most others do, because we analyse and notice and are more insightful. Doesn't mean we are better than non-writers, though. Just thinking out loud! -
    innerworlds: I wholeheartedly agree, Drew. Well said! -


Drew Delaney: Praise is like candy. We love it, but it isn't good for us. You can only improve by being told what's wrong.

Your book is your child. You can't recognize its shortcomings, any more than a proud parent could consider their child dumb and ugly.
    Twilightspire: True. Sometimes though, a story is stands on its own merit and deserves a piece of candy or two. -
    Drew Delaney: I agree. Too much praise without pointing out errors that need to be recognized (and changed) is wrong. I think we need to start reciprocating each others works so we can get read. What do you think? -
    Tina McKala: I totally second you! :) but if you start practising this - pointing out errors and not giving pure praise - you will be muted by majority of people here ;) -
    Drew Delaney: Are we here to learn or be praised for worthless work. I'm here to learn. I want good, honest reviews. Praise is nice too, but more importantly, learning skills is what I am after. -


Drew Delaney: Does anyone know how to put a You Tube on here?
    Imogen JH: 1) Log on to "YouTube.

    2) Select the video you want.

    3) Underneath the video you will see the word "Share" click that

    4) You will then see the word "Embed" click that and the code will be highlighted

    5) Cut and paste the code here.

    -
    Drew Delaney: Thank you Imogen JH. I did try that but it didn't work for me. I will try again. -


Drew Delaney: A snake slithered in front of me today while I was riding the lawnmower. Thank God I was up and he was down or I would have run for dear life. Eeeks!
    vapros: Can snakes scream? Does anyone know? -
    Michaelk: They don't scream they whissssssssper. :) -
    Drew Delaney: Actually, they hiss. I checked on Google. I scream too loud to hear any sounds. Yikes! -
    innerworlds: I have a garter snake (about three feet long and totally harmless) that follows me around the yard while I'm weeding. His name is Slinky and wherever I kneel down to work, he follows me, stretching out to sun himself nearby. He even looks like he's smiling! Not all snakes are scary. Besides, smiling instead of hissing is always a better thing...even in humans! (0:} -
    Michaelk: Innerworlds, if your pet snake offers you an apple, just say no. -
    Drew Delaney: I know garter snakes are supposed to be harmless, but my mum feared them and her fear passed on to me. innerworlds, just be careful he doesn't think you're a big frog or you could be his dinner. hee, hee! -
    innerworlds: Slinky's mouth is barely large enough to bite my little finger, and he doesn't have teeth. It would take him years to make a meal out of me! However, if he holds up an apple, I'm running! (0:] -
    Drew Delaney: It surely is a year for snakes in our area. I've seen a couple whereas some years, I don't see any. About 200 miles from here, snake pits filled with snakes, are roaming around the area. Once we went there for a week-end trip. I was riding a bicycle with my 3 month old grandson on a child-seat for bicycles. A snake slithered right in my tracks, I lost my balance, and the bike went over. My son grabbed the baby out of his seat uninjured, but that was the last straw. I wanted out of there. They were all over the place. -


Drew Delaney: I am excited to be here and hopefully learn to be a better writer. I write some poetry, and fiction mostly. Otherwise, I ramble on about day to day life and its ups and downs. Hope to fit in here and feel part.
    Kaila Mari: Welcome to this site Drew. I am also a newbie as I only joined last month. I am still finding my way around. So far it has been lots of fun.
    -
    Drew Delaney: Thanks for welcoming me, Kaila Mari. That is so sweet of you. Since you're a newbie as well, I welcome you in return. -
    innerworlds: We newbies need to stick together! This is one of the coolest groups of people ever! Now if I can just figure out to navigate this complicated site!!!! -
    bob cullen: Loved the video clip. Your writer's group sure have fun. Would love to join but you'd need to assist with my travelling expenses for each meeting.
    Best wishes from Australia. -