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Can't remember where I left off with regard to Connor and Alessandro & the rats. I wrote the long version with Connor using minimal violence, but finally decided I didn't like him using any violence. So, I moved a few things around, ripped some stuff out, and I now have a cross between the short version and the long version.

I kept most of the backstory from the long version, after which Connor, who is in a bit of a hurry, decides to fast track the usual abuse to which the rats subject him. So, he intentionally says a number of things that rile up Alessandro, who then flattens Connor twice, who doesn't fight back although he plays dead after the second punch/crash to the floor. He does refer to the bullies as either rats, rodents, or vermin, though.

I may yet change rats/rodents/vermin to brood of vipers/slithering serpents/belly-crawlers/etc. for consistency with Christ in the Gospels. That's an easy change. I just need to think about it some more and perhaps come up with terms that are sufficiently rude to provoke Alessandro. I may also add demon spawns back in as it's meant to be an inside joke for readers who've previously read the story and know that Connor is, in reality, the real demon spawn.

Hi Zealous. Welcome to the site. I do a bit of volunteer user support to try to get new members up to speed quickly. Be sure to check out a post in the Premium forum on tips to maximize the numbers you'll receive on the site. It's pinned near the top of the forum, so you can't miss it.

I'm just heading out for a medical appointment, but I'll try to give you further details before the end of the day. I'll send you a connection request in the meantime, so we can communicate using the messaging system.

Thank you, Marilyn & Lynn.

Marilyn, Sol will be in touch for the info he needs to send you to the money. I did finally find the email address, but I'm not sure if that's all he needs.
Lynn, any plans to start posting anything new? Maybe we can get the old band back together. :-)

Seriously thinking about the cats, but I have some medical stuff to get through first.

Thanks, Jack

Thanks, Bobbie. Are you back on the site regularly again?

You've been missed!
Dirk

Thanks, George. This is my second win. Proceeds will go to Marilyn's animal sanctuary if I could only find the email address. :-)

Sol, thank you for running this contest. Thanks also to the judges for their time.
Congratulations to the other winners and everyone who entered. There were some really great contest entries.

Hi Sol.

Sorry to nag, but I retested the way the site pays/charges points for posts, and the ratio is still 5-to-1 (costs 1 point for every 324 words posted but only pays 20% of that back to reviewers). Of course, that means we have to review 5 average-sized chapters (e.g., 2000 words each) to be able to post one average chapter of our own, which I'm virtually certain is higher than it used to be before the site crash/restore (you had estimated 4-to-1 long ago).

We had discussed changing the ratio to 3-to-1 to make it easier to acquire and keep new members. Most long-term members probably have a lifetime supply of points, so it doesn't affect many of us. At 3-to-1, it should then cost 40% less to post than it does now yet still pay the same in points as it does now, which would apply to all members (not including poetry, where the math differs).

We know that using this site successfully involves establishing and maintaining a network of reciprocal reviewers, so points really aren't as important as they once seemed, although we still want to require members (especially new folks) to do at least some reviews before they can regularly post. If they aren't interested in doing a mere 3 reviews for every 1 post, then this site clearly isn't for them.

Please let me know when you or one of your elves has had a chance to change this. I'd be happy to test it.

Thanks
Dirk

Thanks, Sol.

Hi Janet. Thanks for letting us know. That's very unfortunate (actually it sucks). He and I read each other's books for many years until he left the site. He was a really nice guy.

LOL. I just posted it. Now I get to spend several days getting caught up on reviews. Ugh!
Not to mention clearing snow from my deck and driveway. I think I need a nap first, though.

I'm curious if y'all have any thoughts on how to handle the following: I'm about to post chapter 3 of Connor v2, and the observant reader will note that Connor, as described in the chapter, looks nothing like the blond, blue-eyed, muscular, handsome, tan devil spawn on the front cover of the v2 book.

That's intentional since the transformation from wimp to pseudo-god will be gradual as his Christlike powers "grow". Most of the changes are no problem (eye color, hair color, tan skin). The fly in the ointment is him somehow developing a muscular body from a scrawny waif. Since it's Connor, I can always speed up the process, but I'm wondering if I should go to the trouble of giving him some crazy hunger for food, especially protein, that allows his body to develop those muscles fast. Or should I just let it happen supernaturally like his other changes?

He'll of course be pretending to be sick for about the first week in the Holy Land, so it doesn't really make sense for him to stuff his face while sick. I don't want to dedicate many words to discussing him constantly eating to get bigger, either.

There are a number of superheroes in comics who transform into their superhuman equivalent pretty much at the drop of a hat. Shazam is one. I believe a fairly recent origin film for Captain Marvel did something similar. There are others.

I'm leaning toward letting it just happen supernaturally, although I wish I had an explanation for how it could happen without eating constantly. It's one of those hokey plot holes that drives me crazy.

EDIT: Although he won't look muscular to start, he will reveal his incredible strength right from the first scene of chapter one, where he will fight Alessandro, admittedly using limited strength so as not to hurt him.

EDIT2: Perhaps his body grows unusually quickly at the outset based on what he eats, which is simply normal meals. His body could have the ability to turn what little he eats into muscles. In the third week, while sick, his body stops growing, and then resumes growing in the final week in the Holy Land.

Thoughts?
Dirk

While Connor, the AC, had those powers, Connor, the emerging Christ, does not yet have them.
Also, since I'm reverting to the original write-up, he won't use violence. He'll get flattened by Alessandro, then play dead until they run away in a panic.

I'll try writing it with brood of vipers first to reinforce who he may be.
If it stinks, I can go a bit further. Admittedly, I still like rat pack.