Bye for now...(Kevin Hughes) Goodbye StoryStar. Or should I say, so long until we meet again?

I have had a wonderful journey on StoryStar. When I first discovered this lovely gathering of talented folks with a tale (or two!) to tell, I was overjoyed with a chance to express myself. Little did I know I would spend almost a decade reading the writings of folks who have become, if not friends, at least treasured acquaintances. You will be missed.

I started with a very simple goal…publish a short story. And…I did. Then I thought: “Maybe I could write ten short stories. That would be cool.” And…I did. As you can imagine, it didn’t take long to set a much more difficult goal: 100 stories. And…I did. Some were Science Fiction Stories, some were kind of Romantic, others were pure Fantasy. Some were based on “true” events, blurring the lines between Fiction and Life. Others had a Western theme, or a “First Contact” vibe. A few, a very few, were actual stories from my very own life.

Perhaps memory and time rounded out the corners of those stories, so much so that they have little relationship to actual events. My first kiss, my first love, time in the Military or traveling, all of those stories carry bits and pieces of my history. I tend to weave them into my stories too. I have a very weird writing style. I don’t proofread (bad, Kevin, bad!). I rarely edit (worse, Kevin, worse!) and I have no idea what I am going to write about until I sit down at the keyboard (WTF?, Kevin.) It works for me. A single line, sometimes…a single word, would blow up into a full fledged story, complete with plot, characters, and (usually) a happy ending. Voila!

After 100 Stories, I tried for 200 Stories. Then 300. Then, when I reached the milestone of 500 stories (Five hundred! Yikes.) I teasingly said to JD:

“Maybe I should try for six hundred stories.”

To which she replied:

“Kevin, I hope you write a thousand stories.”

Something clicked in my brain- a thousand stories? 1,000 stories? Well…okay. Let’s do that. And …I did.

Then 1,100 Stories. Then…1,200 stories. One thousand two hundred stories. That, as my old friend used to say: “is a hunk a hunk of stories.” He made me laugh. It is a “hunk a hunk of stories.” So I wrote one more. And stopped. Now…I am writing this one. My last “Story.” It could easily have taken shape as a “Love Story.” For I truly loved writing for StoryStar. I loved reading Authors from all over the World.

On that note, let me just say this about that: all of you ESL folks leave me in awe at your command of my Native language. Writing in English, as your second, third or even fourth language, is mind boggling to someone who is monolingual (like me). Your grammar is stunningly accurate, your word choice, your “voice” and the themes most ESL folks wrap their stories around, all are testimonies to how diligent your studies must have been. Bravo!

I have gained insight into many cultures, customs, and codes because of the way ESL folks think…and write. I have learned history and folklore that enabled me to get a glimpse into cultures I will never be lucky enough to visit. Even something as simple as names. Yes, names. In my country (USA) we have many common names: Bob, James, Tom, Steve, Linda, Heather, Harper, Jane…dozens of them, and last names too: Smith, Johnson, Williams, Jones…et all.

To find out that other Cultures have names that are just as common in their Land…and I have never heard of at all, was a joy to discover. In some Cultures the Name is very important. In others, it is Traditional. In others, it is unique to just that one life. Hints of popular foods, cooking styles, and Social Mores while eating …all are on display in these stories. I loved that too.

Now, I have set another challenge. I want to write a Novel. Yeah, I know, that is a massive goal. Especially at my age. I have often been told that some of my stories should be expanded into at least a Novella- if not a full fledged Novel. I was afraid to try. Yep. Many of us Writers are afraid to tell the story we really want to tell. We hint at the possibilities in our Short Stories, or our Flash Fiction, but we keep that book under wraps.

It is a daunting task to lay down a hundred thousand words (give or take twenty thousand) that make sense. To develop a character that can survive three hundred pages and come out more fully rounded than when we first met them earlier in the book. A story that keeps the Reader’s interest (and attention) for all those chapters…that is truly a formidable hurdle. I was afraid of it for a long time. Not now.

I want to write a book. A book unlike any of my Short Stories…so whatever my book turns out to be, it will not be an expanded story I already wrote. No, sir. It will be a “clean sheet” effort. I have no idea what it will even be about. I haven’t started on it yet. I am just clearing my mind of the “Short Story” mindset that allowed me to crank out stories like an old style mimeograph machine. Turn the handle of my imagination and out pops another short story- or several. Sometimes I published as many as three stories in a day…other times I could barely manage three stories in a week. But that kind of churning out ideas has to stop …if I want to write a Novel. And…I do.

So farewell my StoryStar friends. Perhaps I will check in every now and again, to browse some stories, or read some of my favorite Authors. Then again, maybe I won’t. Perhaps my Novel will take all my time and energy. If so…I will check in when it is done. Wish me luck. I already had my share of luck when I met StoryStar, JD, and all of you.

I wish you all well. Continue to write, continue to explore your stories…and tell them. Have fun. I did.

Aloha, Kevin Hughes

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