• The Edge of the Forest

    The Edge of the Forest

    Menes speaks of a secret.
    from 2 reviews.
    Fantasy  Fiction

  • The Shelter of Thorns

    The Shelter of Thorns

    Protection and self-compassion.
    from 6 reviews.
    Commentary and Philosophy  Poetry

  • When Void Speaks

    When Void Speaks

    Mara learns the source of her spell-breaking.
    from 3 reviews.
    Fantasy  Fiction


K. Olsen: I cannot tell if I made a mistake with that last poem. I guess the word choice of unbecoming might not have been clear, unfortunately. I just could NOT think of another way to phrase it.


K. Olsen: Going back to adding chapters of "Within the Bone" that I have posted elsewhere, just for the feedback.


K. Olsen: Hopefully the latest chapter in Shattered Circle is not too technical. I know it handles swordsmanship, so there is a definite danger there. If someone could let me know if it is too much, I would appreciate it.


K. Olsen: Lioness of Shadi is in motion again! Finally!


K. Olsen: So I started The Shattered Circle here and I have expanded on it, but it ended up having a lot of (expected) darker elements. If anyone has thoughts on whether that should be shared or not, let me know. I am still learning site culture, since I am not on here a ton.
    Fleedleflump: Writing should not have limits, and I've always been supported on site in the past, even with some very dark content. Just make sure there's fair warning at the top of the page :-).

    Mike -
    Sandra Nelms-Ludwig: Most of my poems are dark. Write what you feel and remember to put the specific warning you need at the top. -


FanStory wrote to K. Olsen: Work of a Daughter finished first in the contest "What Is Love"
    Sandra Nelms-Ludwig: Congratulations young lady! I knew when I read your poem and awarded it a six that you had the possible winner. you had my vote! -


K. Olsen: I had to rewrite Chapter 14 of Lioness, which meant it was split into two chapters, so it might be a little wonky for whoever has been reading that.


FanStory wrote to K. Olsen: She Loves Me Not finished second in the contest "Unrequited Love"


FanStory wrote to K. Olsen: A Loving Lens finished first in the contest "If You Were An Artist..."


K. Olsen: I feel like I've been writing too much and should slow my roll slightly, which is a very weird sensation. I might just be guilty about the laundry I have been dodging, though. Also, it was very weird to sit down and write anything biographical. I hope it came out as intended, because it might just be scattered. I wanted to avoid it running too long, as that mistake is my usual problem.


K. Olsen: I have been enjoying the poetry vibe lately, but I am hoping to get something up for Witness today too, since it has been forever and a day.


FanStory wrote to K. Olsen: Silhouette finished second in the contest "Free Verse Poem"
    karenina: Great free verse!

    My heart is having aftershocks...

    Congrats! -


K. Olsen: I apologize if the bump of the first chapter of Lioness mixes anyone up on the order.


K. Olsen: I think I'm going to combine my poems into a book, just for neatness's sake.
    the13thpoet: Amazon kdp I already published 3 books working on the 4th. It?s very easy costs virtually nothing. -


K. Olsen: I swear I really am still breathing. I am very sorry if I owe you a response. I have been working , studying for the nursing entrance exam, and sleeping. Not much else. After next Friday, things should chill again and I might even get some things replied to. (I hope!)


K. Olsen: In the run up towards publishing, I want to post chapters of a story called Heart of Flame, but generally I am told the chapters are too long for the site. I have no idea how to thread that needle, because I feel like they are the correct length for a book.
    nor84: I suggest you send a private message to Tom, the site administrator and tell him the chapter lengths and get his opinion whether they are too long. -
    K. Olsen: For reference, we're in the 2,000-4,000 range for a chapter. I don't think I have any longer than that. -
    AJ McCall: Well, I think that's a pretty decent number if you asked me. And personally, I love long long books. ;) -


K. Olsen: Witness feels like it?s going well. I look forward to writing it, so there will probably be more updates now that treatment is really working.
    AJ McCall: That's good to hear! I've been praying for you... ;) -


K. Olsen: Going to be in the hospital for a bit. If you?re trying to contact me, please leave a message and I will get back to you when I can.
    damommy: Here's praying for a speedy recovery. -
    AJ McCall: Aww, I hope you feel better K!! Will be praying for your safety!! -


K. Olsen: Putting up something very old. It hasn?t got a lot to it, but I found it and think it might be a cool start.


K. Olsen: I have like ten chapters of Light of the Heavens that I could put up, but I have mixed feelings about how they have come out.
    Begin Again: We all have doubts at times, wondering if our stories are good enough or anyone will be interested. this is the place where you will find encouragement and support, not to mention a great deal of help if necessary. You won't know how good they really are until you take the chance and post them. Smiles, Carol -


K. Olsen: Trying to be open about certain mental health diagnoses is like shimmying through WWI no man?s land in a tight evening gown. All fun and games until you hit that poison gas patch.
    AJ McCall: It is hard to tell others, but it's if you feel comfortable doing so. -


K. Olsen: Undergoing transcranial magnetic stimulation for the depression now. Who knew firing a powerful magnet through your brain could reprogram it, along with the migraines and muscle spasms? On the bright side, starting to feel better and getting back to writing. I'm looking forward to reading as well. Thank you very much to anyone who needs it and I hope you all have a great day.
    damommy: That's wonderful! I wonder what other things it could help? -
    AJ McCall: That's great to hear K. I've missed you! I hope you feel even better soon! -


K. Olsen: Dealing with my crushing depression by going through old works and cleaning. Writing is a little hard right now, so I apologize to anyone waiting on anything.
    damommy: I'm so sorry you're depressed. It's a bad time for us all, being so locked down, not many places we can go. FanStory has been a life safer for me, especially after I lost my son in September. -
    AJ McCall: I hope you feel better now. Praying for you! -


K. Olsen: Map for Within the Bone is on Twitter in inked form if anyone wants to see it. You can find me @OlsenWriting.


K. Olsen: If anyone goes looking for Beneath the Iron and cannot find it: I am submitting it for publication through Draft2Digital, and the rules of Amazon say it cannot be fully available elsewhere. If you?re curious, send me a message. The first five chapters will be available on Wattpad for as long as I am able, albeit currently in less-polished form.
    robyn corum: K. When you create a piece, be sure to click 'no' for the 'share' button. This will keep it off the rest of the web. If you go ahead and click on 'copyright' after posting, this is another level of security.

    I have often had pieces here pubbed elsewhere - since this is a 'closed' site and only available to members, most publishers/journals/etc, don't consider this to be published on the web.

    Thanks and good luck! -


K. Olsen: Putting up something old for criticism as I clean it up a bit.
    AJ McCall: That's the Sol book correct? Man, I should take all of my crappy drafts re-do them, and put them up here. And when I say crappy, I'm just being generous. :) -


K. Olsen: So, I suffer from severe depression and it has bit like no other bug right now. To deal with venting some of the darkness, there will be a drabble coming out. I have no idea how long it will be and it is not a priority, but if you like the darker side of fantasy, it will be there.
    AJ McCall: Mmm... I pray you'll find yourself lost in the joy of writing, Olsen. I hope you feel better soon.
    And the dark twist on stories is always interesting, especially when it's based on real feelings or thoughts. -


K. Olsen: So I am having something of an inner debate, and it is vicious, over bringing a work onto FanStory for critique. I know it needs it and I always appreciate it, but there are two main points of contention to get past. 1) I do not know how well it would function broken up into isolated chunks where you do not get to know characters or plot in a continuous way and 2) two of the romances and the protagonist are not straight. I am not sure how it would fit here. Thoughts are welcome.
    trimple: As far as I'm aware, most people who write long pieces tend to break them up for easier reading in order to reach a wider audience.

    There is however, a writer called Sarkems who has set-up a 'long story club'

    If you click on 'social' at the top of your screen, there is a 'club' option.


    The fact that your characters are gay is neither here nor there. Many of us are not religious either, but that doesn't deter most of us from reading spiritual poetry/prose.

    tracey

    -


K. Olsen: The fact that Fanstory cannot deal with apostrophes in titles or profile posts drives me a little crazy.
    nor84: That often happens if you're writing in Word and then posting what you've written. If your writing program is using curly quotes, Fanstory uses straight quotes and the curly ones come out as question marks. -
    AJ McCall: I didn't know that happened... -
    nor84: It helps if you choose the Advanced Editor on Fanstory, but the problem is those curly quotes and curly apostrophes. There is probably an option to change to straight ones in your writing program, but all you have to do is go through and retype the quote marks, etc., after you paste to Fanstory. -
    nor84: Oh yes... Remember to hit 'save.' -
    K. Olsen: In-story text is fine, no issues. Typing on the site itself in an internet browser is when it eats them...I should write the dirge for their loss. -
    robyn corum:
    K, When I share things via my iPhone, I can be assured all my apostrophes will definitely become strange symbols.

    Once I figured out what caused it, I learned to avoid contractions in that setting - using 'I am' instead of 'I'm', etc.

    I don't know what situation you're speaking of for sure, but maybe that will help?

    [And to all you folks who suddenly receive odd, stilted language from me - now you know! I'm on my phone! haha] -


K. Olsen: The next chapter of ?The Lioness of Shadi? is under construction. In the meantime, I may start putting up chapters of another story that?s almost complete. It?s sitting at 32 chapters right now and I?ve worked hard on it over the course of the last 7-8 months. So if stuff materializes, do not be alarmed.