Meps98

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New story

For those still checking in, I hope to begin posting a new story in a month or two. It is 80% done but little editing has been completed. It will be another lengthy one (already 58 chapters). It is a new story, not a continuation of Team Spirit, though I have outlined a third installment in that series and it has been approved by Janice (with suggestions).

My next story and a possible sequel to "Severance Pay".

I first want to start by thanking both Marina Kelly and Robyn Hoode plus an individual who wishes to remain anonymous for editing "Severance Pay" I may have written it but they made it readable, correcting my many errors, pointing out continuity mistakes or chapters that made no sense or needed to be punched up, all on a strictly voluntary basis. Their services are invaluable and unsung. I am still in the process of minor re-writes of some chapters and will revise them at a later time.

My next story is 90% completed. It is titled (a least for now) "Five Hertz of Separation". Depending on how much time I spend on revising "Severance Pay", it may take me about a month or so to complete. After the review by my volunteer editors, it could be available for release in February or March of 2014. It should be about half the length of "Severance Pay".

I have some preliminary thoughts about a sequel to "Severance Pay" but it does not include any further true TG content. Patricia remains as she is, more or less, and no other characters go through any kind of physical transformation. I guess, the question is, would this audience want to read such a story? The relationships between the existing characters would continue to grow and develop and new characters would be introduced but the only TG content would be the fact that part of Patricia used to be male. I think I could do justice to the characters and write an interesting story but you can see my problem. I am interested in your opinions about this.

Also, I am interested in knowing how you felt about the way "Severance Pay" ended. In particular, one of my editors and I have been discussing the traditional thriller/adventure story structure where there is a building of tension, a climatic battle/confrontation and a quick, short ending. My ending was much longer than the usual one found in that genre, more like a very long ride into the sunset. Did you find the ending anticlimactic and therefore unsatisfying? If so, where would you have ended the story?

Finally, there is the debate about releasing a story in chapters verses a single complete posting. I've done chapters twice and received both compliments and complaints, which is why I offered the complete story to anyone who requested it. Should the next (presumably shorter) story be submitted by chapters or a single posting? Your comments will help me decide.

Thanks to all of you who have read my work, as ably edited by Marina, Robyn and Annon. And a special thank you to all who left comments, either good or otherwise. There is no small amount of ego inflation that takes place when so many leave both complimentary and insightful comments. I sincerely hope you all enjoyed the time you spent reading "Severance Pay".

I would like the opportunity to read anything you may write!

Severance Pay was so well written that I would like the opportunity to read anything you may choose to write in the future. If by chance you should write a story and not post it here, please at least let us know about it and where to find it.

All the many plot twists kept me guessing throughout the reading experience, and it was an experience. Also, I agree with you that Severance Pay was very well edited. Your editors deserve a congratulatory pat on the back for their solid efforts. Team Spirit was also well written. I did not enjoy it nearly as much though. The forced feminization and humiliation was a little to dark for my tastes to be able to truly enjoy it.

Here is my take on the conclusion of Severance Pay. It was perfect! I find it very dissatisfying to read a story that just stops and leaves a lot of things unresolved. One would not knit a sweater and leave the hem undone so that the whole thing would come unravelled. Your story came to a logical conclusion with all the loose ends tied up nicely. You did not however do anything to preclude a possible sequel.

Thank you for putting out the effort to write such an entertaining story.

_Bev_

Incredible. Exciting. Sublime. Sweet. Perfect.

Superlatives pale before your effort here, Meps. The ending was just right. Long enough to properly tie up loose ends, but short enough to avoid the Tolkien let-down. (Tolkien was famously not a professional fantasy writer, he was a scholar of languages. His Lord of the Rings trilogy [intended as a sextet btw] stands as one of the great fantasy efforts of all time, yet he did draw out the ending too far.) Your work avoided that nicely.

And please continue this story. I think most of us here want to know more of her life, and few of us are so completely hung up on the TG perspective that we cannot enjoy a great tale strictly from the woman's perspective. Heck, I for one read a fair number of romantic thrillers, and always enjoy the lady's POV more than the male's while reading them. If I need the male perspective I just have to look at myself. I read from the woman's viewpoint to get what I lack in RL.

So, keep on writing!

SuZie

Lord of the Rings

Surprisingly enough, I was thinking about "The Lord of the Rings" when I wrote the ending and it was just what you cited. Tie up as many loose ends as possible and give the reader a glimpse of the future but don't go too far or take too long.
I appreciate your regular enthusiastic comments.

Meps98

asdf

I prefer completed works over serials any day. I also liked the ending of SP, it was a nice relaxed conclusion that wraps everything up nicely. I think a sequal could be nice, but its not like it is necessary for wrapping up the storyline. And being a transgendered character seems like it should qualify it regardless of 'current transformation'.

'Severance Pay' sequel - yes please!

koala's picture

I'm just reading 'Severance Pay' for the third - or fourth - time, and enjoying it immensely (again). I don't do this with many stories or series, but I found it very well-written and well-structured - and the long ending was necessary to satisfactorily 'tie up' all the 'loose ends' in the plot line and create a tidy and 'feel good' end.
I can only paraphrase Oliver Twist - please Ma'am, may I have some more?

Koala

Inside every older person is a young person wondering what the heck happened.

I really enjoyed severance

I really enjoyed severance pay and would love to see it continued here. I would not wory about not having any new tg in the story since there are a bunch of other stories here in BC that have less tg and successfuly go on for very long runs.

Thanks for Severance Pay

HI, I had to register especially to write my thanks for a few day of really good reading ;] I really enjoyed the plot, and after your hint o sequel I have to ask.
I know is a little late (by dates of comments) but if you could post any info about it even about abbanding it i would be grateful. (I have to admit I havent look very thoroughly for it so my apologize ahead of time )

Some older user might still waiting for info.
To others users is by any chance you found the story posted elsewhere and couldn't by posted here leave a hint ;d

O sorry about my weak english.

Sequel to Severance Pay

I have a new story in the editing process right now. It is not a sequel to Severance Pay, though I am working on an outline for that sequel. There may be an intervening short story before that. Haven't made up my mind yet. Thanks for your comments and interest.
Meps98

Five Hertz of Separation

For those who wish to get the entire story at one time, contact me at [email protected] and I will forward it to you. My only requirement is that you not release any spoilers on the comments you might chose to leave that will ruin the story for those who are reading it one posting at a time. I will be posting five chapters on Wednesday and Saturday of each week until completion, though I might not manage to do that this week due to Thanksgiving in the USA.

For those interested in my

For those interested in my works in progress, I have completed a new noir style novel "The Venus Lily" which is to be released as an illustrated novel on TGComics.com. The story is done but the illustrations have not yet started. It may be several months before it is ready. There are three other stories in the planning/plotting stages.

Any news

Please come back. We miss you.

The images are being drawn

The images are being drawn for "The Venus Lily" so it might be available in ... 2 months? I'm also writing a shorter story titled "The Big Promise".
Unfortunately, I'm having some vision problems right now so writing is giving me trouble. New medication is on the way so we'll see what happens in the next couple of weeks.

Meps98

The Venus Lily, an Illustrated Story on TGComics.com

It's taken much longer than any of us anticipated but "The Venus Lily" has finally been posted as an Illustrated Story on Femur's site tgcomics.com as a Premium Comic for $10.99. I don't make any money off of this, letting Femur keep my share as a donation to keep the site going. So far, the reviews have been favorable so I suggest everyone at least take a look at the free sample chapters and decide if they want to pop for the entire story. I think it's on par with my other stories and you should enjoy it. Thanks for your support.

Meps98