Fun at the M/M Group

I wanted to move from the previous scam-with-my-stories post to something more positive. There are a couple of fun things happening in the M/M Romance group right now.

One is a new playground for writers called "Flash Fiction and more... In this folder, twice a week there are writing prompts put up. On Saturdays and Wednesdays, Sue posts a picture to inspire "Drabbles" - these are little stories of exactly 100 words, no more, no less. And on Sundays and Tuesdays, Marc gives us a title or text to write anything from a haiku to a 3,000 word short story.

I've been playing with these. The drabbles are a good exercise in word choice and imagery, and I admit I've been mostly committing poetry in the text ones (although I did a little vampire snippet story too.) And yes, a limerick. Or two. There are a bunch of people who have posted, pros and amateurs alike, with some really good little pieces of writing (and a couple very funny ones.) Check it out (and join in if you like.)

The other thing, which you may have seen other authors comment on, is the voting for M/M Member Choice awards, for the best M/M stories and authors. I have a bunch of nominations - I didn't count them, but flatteringly lots. Plenty to make me feel all warm and gooey about the reception for Learning Curve, Sole Support, Nor Iron Bars a Cage, Unsettled Interlude and a couple of all-time best nominations. If you're a group member, think about voting. I was able to give the love back to some of my favorite reads from this past year (through Dec 2012) including The Magpie Lord, King Mai, Under the Rushes, Brothers of the Wild North Sea and more. I defy you to make decisions on those long nominee lists in less than half an hour though, so give yourself time. It's one more way to be reminded of how much good writing is published in this genre every year. And a nice pick-me-up for me, to see my books alongside so many other great stories.