It's not the first time I have posted something like this, or probably the last. but anyway.,,

Imagine you're someone whose brain has been compromised. Bits of it barely work at all, but I'm stubborn and challenge myself to be the best I can be.

Without our mods, I would have been denied the chance to exercise my creative outlet, which is healthy for my neurological annoyances. They have supported, encouraged, and helped me to attain a standard. They have offered advice on steps to take to improve.

Any feedback has always been clear, specific, and relevant and conveys a genuine desire to see you succeed at what you've attempted.

Some of the help has been time-consuming for those who have given it, but they have.

The latest example of mod input was full of praise and encouragement, but crucially, a kindly phrased suggestion for me to consider next time. If you're ever in doubt about some of the unsung work the mods do, drop the bloke with a wonky brain a message, and he'll put you in the picture!

Take a bow, winners! Great fun to have a stab at it, ( as it were) myself. We lovers of a little nonsense were most entertained by it all.😊

Few will have benefitted from their patient help and guidance than I have, especially when not waiting a while until my wonky brain was in better shape than on a bad day to attempt something!

I suspect the fact that I've never made a habit of them is what made my dip into such a thing so memorable. (For context, I have only written one story in the 'true' category, and it was about the topic here. I guess that makes the point!)

Main Square in Bratislava about 1985. To save money, I was staying in private houses to save money, but it was 2 miles out of town. She was having none of that... so town square bj it was. Well, it WAS dark...ish!

When I write something, my primary goals are to meet the required standard, improve, enjoy the challenge and hope it connects with a reader somewhere. If I put a cover on a story, then ( whisper it gently ) I may do so as a bit of fun. People may not care less and they have every right to take that view, I can put a cover on for no other reason than I felt like it.

Quote by simplyjohn

We met ‘trick or treating’ and continued doing so together. There was an immediate sexual desire between us evident until we finished two hours later. At that time, she was salivating intensely, and so was I, starring into each other’s eyes. With no words spoken we both knew what we wanted next.

So, McDonalds it was, and we shared two Happy Meals with strawberry milkshakes.  We then had sexual intercourse.

I have just woken a now very grumpy dog up with my laughter!

Another urchin hit the buzzer, Tom trying to retrieve the curly wurly from between Clara's breasts.

"Hollow-Spleen!" Clara screamed, as Tom nailed it and her ghost-shaped vibe worked its spell.

Chocolate lifted, Tom fled to the kitchen, Clara's demands ever-present. Choosing treats over tricks,

Clara bent, cheeks splayed, for a promised fill. The pumpkin's eyes winked. "Time to nest" it said.

Another bold (for me) step, as I put something up to see if it meets the standard required. A real test, this one, its content needing a dysfunctional brain to bring its best game to the table. Has it met the challenge? Up to the experts to decide. Do I feel proud to have got to the point of finding out if it's up to scratch? Absolutely!

The Meaning Of Trust is up on the site and the sense of achievement feels the same. A few things different this time in the approach, but that just made the satisfaction of getting it up there feel even more special.

Quote by JourneyYoung

I mean, I would be lying if I didn't pay attention to the numbers going up on my stories and enjoying it haha. But I suppose that isn't particularly the goal. I mostly like coming up with ideas and just writing them. I ended up coming here because I needed a place to post the first story I was working on at the time. Feedback is also always welcome, but not necessarily the goal.

I do enjoy the idea of the competitions, although I haven't participated in them as much as I'd like. I kind of come and go as my motivation to write swings. But I always hope to catch one when I'm around.

I also have to thank the editors for giving tips and reminders when I inevitably submit something that is wrong in some way LOL. I do feel like my writing has improved, especially during my latest flurry of story writing.

Reading something and knowing you could have written it yourself! In this case, it's regarding those who steer us on the right path when we need it and feedback. The numbers, viewing-wise? I see them, but they're not a factor in what I do, although a couple of words of encouragement is a boost, when they appear, for sure, The moment chaotic thought makes sense for long enough to weave a story around it? As good as any in the process for me.

A new challenge met with the submission of my longest story to date. Longer pieces present their own challenge for me, in terms of keeping everything on track and making what I hope works uncomplicated enough for me to manage. Pippa's Journey was fun to write and it will always feel special to get to this point for me.

A smile...( I have been story-making,) 😀

Does that mean those of us who are not competition-level have to take up the slack, whilst the top table have their creative juices flowing in rosette corner? Tough job to fill those shoes, but I'll do what I can!😊

Does getting peed in by a passing puppy after my own dog had pinned me against a tree with her lead by wrapping it around a large oak count? 🙄

Have you ever suspended a sexual encounter because the (insert number) of you were laughing so much, a break was required?

A pair of pants 😇

What's your most annoying habit?

Could be a frustrated writer having an orgasm face, perhaps? I should write a story about that...Oh hang on, I already did!😀

Seeing my latest development step, Maria's Countdown, up on the site makes me very happy, Not perfect, by any means, but the sense of achievement feeling is one I still enjoy and celebrate. Whatever you're striving to achieve, I know the feeling you get when you do get there and that's true whatever level you're writing at. I can't rid myself of the annoying baggage of brain injury, but striving to be the best I can be? I'll keep that up as long as I can draw breath.

NHIE known if I was boarding a plane last or not. If I looked around to check, I'd end up at the bottom of the steps in a heap.

You will have that moment of inspiration, I'm sure.

1,2 and 3, This won't change, I hope those who've ticked less/more of the seven are equally happy with their 'score' as I am with mine.

If it wasn't for the fact it would be rudeness in the extreme, I'd steal the picture of a stewed brain for my profile!😀

A very interesting summary of your motives for being here and writing. I think it's a good thing that people are inspired in different ways, because it means that even the same set of scenarios will produce a different story, depending on the motivation. Thank you for sharing what you said in the post, very illuminating.

Passionately put forward points and rightly so. I completely agree that relevance is more important than time scales being represented in proportion too. I might suggest that whether loose ends have been tied up is subjective, but to do so might sound like I'm disagreeing with someone who's forgotten more than I will ever know about writing, which I'm not and would never do,

I raised the point I did to illustrate that putting things together is a different process if you are new to doing so than it is to those with experience. Even the best had to start somewhere.

The challenges I face in trying to reach acceptable standards do make things difficult for others to understand, but it is no more their fault than it is mine that I don't have the experience of others,

I am extremely proud of what I achieve with a significant brain injury and will defend my right to be the best that I can be in this environment as passionately as the things others feel strongly about. If I don't have the experience others do of producing quality, there is nothing I can do but learn. It's rather like people being expected to understand what it's like to have impaired cognitive ability when they've never experienced it.

If reality doesn't always reach a point where everything is resolved and neatly packaged, why should a piece of fiction?

(>>> Grabs tin hat, runs away and hides,)

Never have I ever looked at at a vacuum cleaner and thought 'What if I...'

What is the most unusual item you find erotic.

Best in terms of random/unexpected...Went to meet on old fashioned 'pen pal' type friend in person for her birthday. Just about got the 'birthday' out and was grabbed by a woman who said her friend wanted to dance, Sixteen hours later, her friend was running me back into town in her car from her (flat, I think!), I was rather ashamed of my behaviour and phoned my pen pal to apologise, She couldn't stop laughing, teased me mercilessly and she reckoned seeing me get pounced on made it her best birthday for years, I didn't think I was the 'type' to be selected for such debauchery....and still don't!

That's a lovely comment and summarises what I try to do perfectly, Thank you,

My goals? Not intentionally different just to stand out, but I suspect they may not be the same as those of many others here!

1. To keep the parts of my brain that still function after the latest surgery on it active.

2. To work hard to achieve something and do so reaching the required standard.

3, To demonstrate and celebrate that my imagination is unaffected by events in the way other skills have been.

4. To improve and to feel happy when help, encouragement and positive comment is offered.

5. To enjoy what I do and do it to the best of my ability.

6. To bring a smile to the face of someone reading my stories.

....Well, you DID ask!