I just sent Erin a question regarding the February Short Story contest. It had to do with word counts. I was wondering if there is anyone other then Erin to ask (actually bother) with questions like this about the site operation or problems. I know that there is a group of folks here who help run the site, but I do not know who they are.

Perhaps something can be done to identify them so questions and concerns can be sent to them and not Erin, especially if they are not critical issues.

Rami

"Stop it, Jeffrey."

"Stop what, Susie."

"Obsessing over whether 'a' or 'the' makes the line funnier."

"One wrong little word can kill the comedy, Susie."

"Not with me, Jeffrey - I could read from the list of Huntingdonshire cabmen and still raise a horse laugh."

"I think that may be a joke too far for here, Susie."

"As is a lot of our stuff, Jeffrey, but we can't do anything about it now, so let's expend our energy on some pre-publicity and see if we can waylay a few new unsuspecting readers."

After reading Dorothy's Blog, I decided to go to My Account to see how I was doing (Yes, I am that vain. I'm weak, I know. Somebody spank me?). Anyway, I noticed a Favorites that really shouldn't be there, but I can't seem to remove it (I don't have permission?). I know what happened, sometimes when I hit "comment" I accidentally hit the Add to Favorites tag. I really do need better glasses! How can I clear out my favorites file so I can add the stories I really love? If I keep adding favorites, will the old ones be pushed out of sight?

Wren

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/22/baltimore-transgend...

Folks who've read my recent story "Our State Fair" may be interested in some of the background information that I, uh, fictionalized. As one commenter on my story has noted, a uterine transplant was apparently performed in Turkey last year. The medical communities of several countries are, in fact, vying to be the first to perform viable uterine transplants; I thought I'd make it easy on them by having the transplant occur between siblings. But now let's talk about food ...

Melanie's Rules For Writing That Doesn't Suck

(Or: Why I Stop Reading Stuff)

Just got back from breakfast with my mom. I was in pants, sweater, and coat, no wig, and the server said, "what can I get you two ladies?"

Nice. Felt good.

I hope shalimar's blog the other day didn't put off anyone's sending me anything to edit.

I poster before that, that I might be a bit slower than usual getting to a story, but I had only one day I was so weak i didn't make it to the computer, or feel like even having them bring one to me. I looked forward to having to get up, walk to the computer room ( Family Services) and check my emails. I needed to get up and walk, and sit up, and time at the computer was better than just sitting on the couch in my room. I did receive and returned 3 edits while in my quite pleasant gaol.

I've asked Erin to remove Assassin from my story library because I am going to try to make a few cents on Amazon. I've asked that it be left up for two more days to give anyone that's reading the story time to finish it. Sorry for the inconvienence, Arecee

Can anybody tell me why it is, that when I click on a story name, I get the "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage"? I thought maybe it was just one story, but I have tried clicking on them all that I could see on the main page, and I get the same thing for each story.

Love & Hugs,
Barbara

One of the members of my trans support group and her amazing spouse treated me to a shopping spree at a second hand store. It was .... fantastic. I'm so, so blessed.

A lot of dramatic writing can involve the ide of conspiracy, of groups organised for evil, and I tried to get some of that across in a couple of my tales. Young children being offered for abuse, taken from town to town, raped.

Sex-changing Treatment For Kids: It's On The Rise

Saw this on-line thought it might be of interest.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/20/sexchanging-treatme...

From the Guardian, so it must be good (evil laugh).

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/feb/18/gender-dy...

Angharad.

The Family Girl Blogs (aka "The New Working Girl Blogs") Blog #30: About Jetlag and Writing To see all of Bobbie's Family Girl Blogs, click on this link: http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/book/28818/family-girl-blogs

I always hear a lot of stories about people having to cope with jetlag, and all the little tricks one can do to overcome it. Well, did you know, besides being a wonderful website, BCTS is also good for avoiding jetlag...

CNN has an article posted on their web site about the problems of children who do not conform to gender norms.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/20/health/child-gender-nonconform...

I just have to say this, and I can't resist any longer. In Part 9 of The Girl Most Likely To ... there is a couple of comments about the story being fast paced, almost warp speed.

Well, the way these other stories are being posted must be faster than that because Part 10 was posted earlier today and already is on page 4. I mean, that is faster than war speed.

Love & hugs,
Barbara

to anyone who may have liked Noircoleptic, another adventure of Peabody Aloysius Dirkenhammerwoodsteinovitch (the P.I. what knows what he knows) will be coming hopefully before the end of February.

This is the true story of a family which was totally devastated by the outcome of bullying on a son who might have been gay. I read it and wept, it is so sad. It involves suicide so please if this pushes your buttons don't read it.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/feb/19/dominic-crouch...

Angharad.

I just posted a story and made a couple of errors. I've fixed them now.

I accidentally posted it twice, then realized a table I'd included didn't make the transition and everything in it blended. I did a quick redit.

If tyou were a first reader, sorry.

Hope you enjoy!

Jennifer Sue

Everybody is surprised to see a "change" in Rachel. But if you remember in the first part, when Renée and Sandi were passing the door marked Principal, they heard crying from inside. That is all I am going to say without giving the whole story away. Thank you all for reading and commenting, it is greatly appreciated.

Love & hugs,
Barbara

First, the fantastic part. A friend from my trans support group had heard I was struggling with feeling ugly, and invited me to come to her house for a bit of a makeover. It was absolutely amazing what difference a pretty blouse, a new hair style, and some lipstick could make. Then she listened to me as I talked about my situation, and helped me with the memories of my rape.

I have just posted 'Too Little, Too Late?' 62nd chapter, and that is the end. The reason will be apparent in the reading. I will take up the tale later, effectively a second book, but that's all for Jill at the moment.

Holly is tired and will not be able to do any editing this weekend, maybe longer. So far nothing major.

I will keep you posted. If no note by Monday, you may send her something.

Last week, my kitty Bandit was eating less and sleeping maybe a little more.

I haven't posted a blog in awhile, or at least I haven't posted a serious blog in awhile :-) Like the title? It sort of came to me after talking with Ashleigh about something that's been on my mind the last couple of days: the "H" word.

Sorry folks, but I've been out helping some friends lose a quiz - I expect we came last, but I had to leave before the end to catch my train. So it's a bit late to scribble an episode, I know I've said i could write them in my sleep, and it might appear if some were so authored, but they weren't as far as I can remember.

Hopefully, normal service(?) will be resumed tomorrow.

Angharad.

It official euhmz in a non-official way. My HRM is getting the paperwork ready for an apperance by yours truly before the retirement commission (civil sevice -> always with commissions >shakes head<) and will normally file them friday, just before the weekend. This means I should get my copy of the filing letter somewhere around monday or tuesday next week. If al goes to procedure I should have an advisory from the outsource health/sick service in the 2 weeks following (which can be only a letter or a doctor visit, the later followed by a letter).

What is the JulieO story where Celeste's CT shelter is attacked and Jen sets up the big screen TV and theater system and helps with one of the girls?

I'm having trouble controlling my emotions at the moment. one minute I'm depressed, the next I'm angry, the next giggly - just like a teen girl. For someone like me who normally doesnt have a lot of filter between "feeling" and "doing", its at least a good exercise in using the one thing I have that a teen girl doesnt - a lifetime of experience to damper the extremes. Keep cheering me on, okay?

A message from Holly Hart:

Well, my body has betrayed me once again

It's not as serious as the cancer which seems to be as good as before.

But in the cancer surgery, they had to do a bit of rebuilding on my liver, and apparently it did not heal well.

I've developed an abscess and had to be d\admitted to the hospital to have a drain put in and to get several antibiotics that can only be give intravenously.

I cannot access BCTS on the hospital computers, but I do have email access.

A recently arrested chap in Thailand gives a whole new meaning to the term "Panty thief". How about a collection of 10,000 pairs of women's underwear?!
He's been convicted of breaking and entering but not theft, as (perhaps unsurprisingly) nobody's reported their undies disappearing...

http://www.weirdasianews.com/2012/02/14/thai-man-10000-pairs...

I started my diet today. I know many are probably wondering why I didn't start from my last blog. Simple answer: I didn't have a fridge or a stove until yesterday afternoon. I know the first three days of the diet will be the hardest as I break old patterns, Wendy's and Checkers will miss me. I am about moved in my new place so writing should commence in a day or two.

Well, it's kind of funny, but just now, when I feel like I've finally got my swing back again as a writer, life is stepping up and taking my time and energy.

Just got back from picking up my daughter, and something interesting happened. There is a boy who for the last while has called me "smiley" whenever he's seen me at the school, and somehow, he's now got other kids doing it too. (I blush like crazy when he does it, I have no idea why). Then the ball dropped. As I was leaving with Sam, I heard him ask, "Is that a woman's coat?" So I guess I'm not as stealth as I thought, and if a kid notices, I'm sure Sam's teacher has noticed too. Oh well, as long as nobody makes a fuss about it....

I have just re-read A Summer,s Odyssey by Jennifer Sue.It is a real feel good story with plots and sub plots to keep the readers attention.Give it a try you shouldnt be dissapointed.Thank you Jennifer Sue for keeping me enthralled for the last few evenings.

I'm hoping someone has contact information for Alyssa Davis, who wrote several stories that appeared on Crystal's Story Site and Fictionmania. I asked this question last year and the only response was crickets and tumbleweed ...

If anyone knows but doesn't want the info public, please PM me or have her contact me directly through BCTS.

Thanks!
Karin

Why am I smiling like a little girl? ^_^ There's nothing new about that, but I thought I'd share the reason.

I realised this morning... On one of my routes to work, I pass a house with a title. The title has "dyke" in it. ^_^
Despite my hardline MegaTomboyness, I am a Lipstick Lesbian at heart. The mere THOUGHT of being embraced by a "dyke" makes me feel all squishy inside. ^_^

Don't worry gentlemen, I am not 100% lesbian. It's just that "Lipstick Almost-Lesbian" can be a bit odd sounding at times.

I'm missing having a church to go to. I work Sundays, so that's just a no-go. There is one church near that has a Saturday evening service, but I've been reluctant to go because I cant seem to find out how they would feel about someone like me. I may just go, and if I'm welcomed, I will make it a weekly thing.

Breaking News on Google+ originally shared this post:

Washington becomes 7th US state to allow same-sex marriage, as Gov. Gregoire signs bill into law Olympia, Wash., USA

+KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reports that Gov. Chris Gregoire has signed Washington State's gay marriage bill into law. The measure takes effect June 7.

Not making a lot of progress on writing. Fighting a cold for the last week or so.

And I've had a few ideas that just won't fit.

Yesterday we had a pot-luck at the trans group I belong to, and what happened there opened my eyes a bit. See, there was a new person there, who had just started to come out, and was getting harassed for it at work. But it was her attitude that made an impact. She seemed to be resigned to abuse, and in fact acted like she deserved it. She called herself a "freak", and all I wanted to do was give her a big hug and tell her, "You are not a freak. You are precious, and beautiful."

That's when it really hit me.

How many times have I called myself names?

Sometimes the funnies can teach all of us something: http://www.slagoon.com/cgi-bin/sviewer.pl

:)

Hugs,
Erin

Well one problem solved. Leaving mall with new smart phone. The old one was dying and the battery was swelling in the center. So now I need to wait for next unemployment check to get antenna for computer. But. Will be writing till then and may move. Computer to modem and post thatway

Hi every body,
Just one little question about tags.
What does Contributed by author(s) mean ?
As I'm pretty sure that I contribute to any stories that I would post, and the same goes to all of the writer we got here.

I've decided to enter "Indestructible" in the February short story contest. We'll have to see how it does.

For those of you who don't know, in a previous male only life I was a world class wrestler (not that crap on television but Greco-Roman). In fact I won nationals in college twice (wasn't a Div I school so I don't know if you count that as an accomplishment but I do.) I also wrestled overseas in Central America representing our country. Internationally I am undefeated in Greco Roman Wrestling and hold a 12-1 in Freestyle (I lost to the bronze medalist of the 92 Olympics, he tore me apart).

I was thinking the other day about the band Klaatu. I grew up on their music, and I find I miss it even now. I'm not really sure why it spoke to me the way it did, but somehow, it reached me in a way that few other bands have ever managed. Its too bad they didnt have a bigger following, but maybe that was part of the appeal.