The story of Tocarra, a transgendered girl in an alternative high school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is told by her teacher in the publication, Rethinking Schools. It's a tragedy, but like all tragedies it shows the triumph of spirit. The opening paragraphs of the story follow. Click on link to read complete story.

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As part of my quest to get better at writing I've decided to actually follow the advice I keep seeing out there - yeah, I know, that's a radical idea and all, but it just might help... So, I found a nearby writer's group and intend to go there next week.

But that leads to my question. What to expect?

I hardly ever write for the blog. I've recently read a story that deserves all the praise I can heap on it. It's very good. There are a few grammar and spelling errors, but you quickly lose your critical thinking as the story gripes you. Got your attention? heeheehee

The Story is "Zapped" by the late Bob Arnold.

I have all these story ideas in my head, mostly just taking up space and gathering dust unfortunately. I try to get them written down, but by the time I start to actually do so, my mind has wandered off to the next great story idea. I just can't stay focused on a story long enough to actually really write it. I even made a long list where I have written down the gist of most of these story ideas, though many are still not even in that list, but the actual writing of a story never really happens.

For the possibly two people actually interested, I figured I'd post a progress report on what I've been working on recently.

I have a couple of post that are the same with just a different format to them .. If you want to run with the story line in them you can .. As i see three different directions for them to go. . So feel free to take them over and put your own spin on them ... Lets make these Stories BCTS.. I would luv to have every one put there shilling's worth in to them...

The BBC is reporting that Lou Reed has died.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24697765

I wonder how many people have been inspired by 'Walk on the Wild side?'

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Just feeling a little melancholy and shaky this morning, and I have to sleep before I get up at 7:00 AM. I've been approached my a PHD Doctor from a big local university who tells me that he knows that we have not been treated very well, and he wants me to help him make that better.

Those who know me, can confirm that I live a quiet life, and try to avoid the drama and hand wringing that makes so many of us miserable. I am no activist, not one bit. And, I am pretty much a prude, just trying to do the best I can to live like billions of other women.

Okay folks it's update time.

I had originally planned to release the second part of the story I posted here on the 31st of this month. However alarmingly I have become aware that there could be some kind of major fault in my work so a question...

I cannot find the follow-up story to Ambition, where Hallie and Co go to Crete to dig. Please tell me how I can, I have searched both BCTS and Stardust.

Or is this another "button" debacle?

I keep checking boxes, but nothing ever happens.

... that I wish I had.

"of all the people like you I've met, you were the one most comfortable in their own skin. You're a very pretty woman, and you're very lucky."

My apologies that the promised 'few weeks' before starting my next story has turned into nearly five months. It has been a busy summer! However, I have now written 25,000 words towards a new story entitled Dancing Queen. This should be enough to keep me going with weekly postings until the New Year (by which time I hope to have written the remainder). Bronwen is currently correcting my punctuation and pointing out mistakes, and I am looking for a suitable title image so that I hope to begin posting next week.

Louise

So I'm sitting here debating whether or not I should post the unreachable on the site. The problem, it's long.... really really really (don't make me write it 100 times) long. It comes in at 185k words. The transgender part doesn't show up until 150k words in. So I'm wondering if I should or would people think it a big waste of time.

We often see comment here about some of the more repellent representations of the Transgender community on TV. However...

I haven't posted anything here for a while, but I haven't been idle. I've finished several first drafts recently, and would like to get feedback on them from beta readers before I do final drafts and post them here, or offer them for sale on Smashwords and the Kindle store.

spent most of yesterday at the hospital because I have some kind of growth on the bottom of my foot. I love the fact that I can go to the hospital without worrying about how I'm gonna pay for it ....

The best they could tell me is it isnt a bone spur or something like that. They think its an infection, so I will be on antibiotics ...

ah, well.

So I thought I would take a moment to post pics of our NinjaBaby....

Kinda hit a dry spell, might be a bit before I have another story for you all.

Sorry.

Well, I decided to try to finish one! Those that know me know my muse takes a vacation whenever I ask her for anything.

In a few days I will take the final step on the first part of my way:

After Halloween I'll drop my male disguise completely.

But did Lashes Chapter 10 disappear off the front page?

Sorry folks, the day has caught up with me and I just don't have time to write an episode tonight, hopefully normal service will resume tomorrow.

I just wanted to say that there are so many great Costume contest stories it is going to very hard to vote for the best story KUDOS to all thank you for your writing skills and time posting :-) Richie2

The reference is to the old Chinese proverb, of course. Did I expect to settle down to a quiet life? What do you think?

Apart from the various medical issues, there are a number of other upcoming activities which have to be addressed, of which writing is, regrettably, only one.

Just an announcement of my posting an entry to the October contest. This is my first self posting so if it is not as neat as it should be it is all my fault. There is nothing seriously intended by this entry in fact it should be considered as a bit of humorous fluff exploring the most dreadful phrase a person could hear. We Need To Talk.

Bailey,s misbehaving Faerie Huggles

Well, and a statement.

Sorry but I'm done for now. I'm tired of writing. I write for a bit but as the story goes along I get bored with it. Sorry to anyone who was counting on me to finish things but I don't want to finish a thing anymore.

I am overjoyed! Yesterday I had a Cardiac PET Scan Stress Test and they just called me to tell me that my cardiac arteries both large and small are in great shape and if you knew my heart history for the past 15 yrs you would be amazed too. No results on Echo-cardiogram or Carotid Ultrasound till 11/5 but that is good news in and of itself. If there were bad things she would have me in sooner.

Well, I have a quandary, and I need opinions.

See, I was thinking about publishing some stuff on Kindle, but I am conflicted as to what I should publish.

So here are the choices:

Are you an Alien? During a surprising encounter with a rather highly placed member of my faith last night, he made the observation that the reason I like to write about "good aliens", is that I feel like an alien. I immediately knew this to be true, though it is doubtful that the joy of writing stories that have good aliens will grow tiresome.

I just posted the last of God Bless the Child and published Unreachable. That is going to be it for me. It has been a great ride. I had some laughs, shed some tears, but I'm really not cut out to be an author. I don't have what it takes and it has become obvious. There is a certain level of attention to detail to produce a good story, and I don't have that ability. It is more than just not getting reads and comments and kudos and reviews.

When I saw this article on the BBC website about some of the more desperate attempts by Jamaican criminals to avoid arrest three thoughts went through my mind:

Got laid off today. Money was tight before. Now? Time to prepare for the siege.

I had this job for almost 12 years. Got a decent severance, which is going to help a lot.

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Hi everyone,

surfing around the net I've found several interesting role playing games that are played in forums. One form, where the gamemaster essentially write the story, fascinated me very much. The players decide by vote what the character does and the game master rolls to decide wether that action succeeds and what the consequences are.

I thought that we could maybe do the same here and wanted to ask if some of you would be interested. That wouldn't mean commitment to anything, I just want to know if people would be willing to check in and vote for the next action once in a while.

Well, my subconscious is clearly trying to tell me something.

So how do I begin this one. I guess I'll start out by saying my transition is going well. If anyone wants a link to my Transition log or E-log as I like to call it, feel free to PM me and I'll see about sending you a link to it. but anyways I digress, This past week I took adive off the deep end. in a matter of speaking. The past week, I met this guy in my reading class who asked for my number to do a study group session. later that week I got a text asking if I wanted to go out. At first, naturally I was scared. I hadn't been on a date in years.

I wasn't really ready for this when I found it on Facebook, but I think it needs to be widely shared and read. The author has done what I never could do, and expressed it well.

We're going to try a new capability here after a recent request. Now you can subscribe to your favorite authors to be notified when they post new stories. :) At least, we hope this works. Consider it to be in test mode right now.

Well, today is Canadian Thanksgiving, and has become tradition, I will list some of the things I'm thankful for:

For Kyile: Because she has become something precious to me.

It's three fifty-six and my wife and I landed at SFO an hour and a half ago from Italy. Got up at 4am local time and flew to Paris for an hour and a hlaf layover. We then flew direct to San Francisco, yep it's a long flight and to make matters worse my Kindle died half way through Karin Bishop's I should have known. Need less to say I'm just a little tired right now and will start editing Lashes as soon as possible, probably tomorrow afternoon, but I have some real life issues to take care of first, Like making enough money to pay the mortgage.

Results of which of my serials you'd like me to write a new episode is - Totally Insane.

I will therefore endeavour to produce one of these in the next couple or so weeks.

Beverly Taff's wife is in hospital suffering from an incurable brain tumor. They have operated and removed all they can get of the tumor. Beverly is such a good person and I would like to ask all of you, whatever your faith or beliefs, to send prayers and good wishes to Beverly and her wife.

Bev is a great writer and a good friend.

Thank you all.

Catherine Linda Michel

I know people are probably getting tired of my blogs about my attempt to join the published world, but...

I want opinions, and this is the best way to get 'em alright?