~By Giddy

There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.
~Saint Thomas Aquinas

In honor of my pal Carol’s birthday this week, I am doing something a bit different for the weekly blog. Unlike all our past blogs, this one has nothing to do with Steve & Kayla, or Stephen & Mary Beth, or heck, even soaps in general. This week’s blog is about life, and more specifically about friendship. Anyone who knows me knows what a huge fan I am of ‘I Love Lucy,’ hence my choice of the above clip as what I hope is a worthy tribute to someone I consider a wonderful and true friend.

Now, most of us know Carol and we know she is not one to seek attention or revel in praise. In fact, her irritating modesty is one of her most endearing traits. So I have no doubt this blog will have to be posted when she is not around or she will insist I take it down.

I first got to know Carol a little over two years ago, quite literally by accident. Back in those days I was not at all a fan fic reader. I never even went into that section of the forum because I didn’t think it would ever be something that would appeal to me. But one day I noticed this title “Wanted” that kept popping up in the most recent topics and I became curious. Actually, I thought ‘who is this yahoo that thinks she can write a halfway believable cowboy story featuring Steve and Kayla as the main characters?’

So I clicked on the link and entered the world of fan fic addiction. By then the story was on chapter 10 I believe, and I was completely riveted through every single chapter. I was dumbfounded for a number of reasons, mostly that it had taken me so long to discover the story, and also because I couldn’t believe that this wawame gal was not a professional writer.

Though I remained a silent stalker in the beginning, it didn’t take me long to jump in and start begging for updates along with everyone else. Somewhere around chapter 14, when Kayla was attempting to bring down Steve’s fever from the knife wound, I was so enthralled with the story I simply had to PM the author and tell her how much I loved her story. And that is where the friendship was born.

She responded to me with a laugh and said it was actually my banner that had inspired her story. She had been trying to come up with a fan fic story idea and had been perusing people’s banners for inspiration. At that time I was using the “Cowboy Up” banner which had been made at my request by the lovely and talented Sweetness1975. And of course my screen name at that time was giddyupcowgirl, so it was only fitting that I have cowboy Steve as my signature.

Carol thanked me for my vocal support of her story, and of course went on and on about how she didn’t deserve so much praise for doing something that came naturally to her. Um okay, so writing a story worthy of being published comes naturally and there is no need for kudos? Yeah, whatever Carol.

Anyway, from that moment forward a wonderful friendship blossomed. I have come to understand, through Carol’s unwavering devotion, what it is to have a true friend. Carol and I just ‘get’ each other, for lack of a better word, and I am forever thankful that she is a part of my life. Our trust in each other is beyond reproach and our bond is unbreakable. It baffles me on some level that such a close friendship could have been borne in such a non-traditional way, and yet I don’t question it, I just give thanks for it.

So as you celebrate your….um….40ish birthday this week Carol, I want you to know how much you mean to me, and to a lot of other people. I know the ladies on RTM would agree wholeheartedly that you are truly one of a kind in your talent, humor, dignity, professionalism, devotion and attitude. You are what makes RTM such a special place and I dare say you are the cornerstone of its success.

Happy Birthday!!….Oh, and what about that ‘Wanted’ update you have been promising since Monday???

~By wawame

He was the epitome of masculinity, a foreboding figure that could make a woman swoon with a simple wink of his eye. His hat was dipped low and his duster barely hid his snug fitting jeans. Even with the moonlight as his backdrop, the light from the oil lamps highlighted his handsome face, drawing attention to his patch. So sensual was the patch, it made him seem so forbidden, so mysterious, so secretive. He was a man that demanded attention, one who demanded respect… whether he meant to or not. It was the mere sight of him that took her breath away.

Now that I have your attention, let’s chat. 

Do you sometimes wonder if today’s soap writers have ever written fan fiction?  Do you wonder if they have ever dabbled in writing a story or two about their preferred set of characters and, if given free reign, how they would like to see that story play out on screen?  Scary thought, I must admit, but I’d read it.  I’d read it in a heartbeat.

It would be interesting to see what Maria Arena Bell, Dena Higley… Hogan Sheffer, Tom Casiello, or Gary Tomlin for that matter… would write.  Which characters would they choose to focus on?  Just how deep would they divulge into the psyche of those characters, and how far would they take those characters in the acts and expressions of their love?  Would they write those characters as proverbial soul mates, always finding their way back into the arms of the only one who truly loves them and accepts them for who they are?  Or would their’s be a merry-go-round… an endless array of attempted and failed relationships that begin with profound professions of love, only to end with broken hearts that hinted of hatred, or worse yet, indifference?  Would they redefine them… dare to tear apart what endeared them to so many?  No doubt, their’s would be an interesting read.  It would be very telling to read their interpretations of our favorite characters, especially if those interpretations weren’t tainted by the ever present issue of ratings, ad revenues, desired demographics, contract negotiations, and tight budgets.  Such stories would answer many a question, especially since every fan of a particular character or couple would stand to either have their hopes dashed, or their dreams come true.

Fan fiction writers are a rare breed, especially those who write stories of romance.  Character stories that center on drama or action and adventure are a challenge in themselves, but the ones that center on true and romantic love are nothing short of daunting.  All rely heavily on imagination, but those that include romance and intimacy expose so much more of the writer.  It takes a lot of courage to write such a fanfic, and it takes even more to share it.  Thank goodness there are those who do.

I can only imagine how difficult it would be for a soap opera writer to pen a romance for the viewing audience, but I know for a fact how terrifying it is for a fanfic writer to post that first chapter, much less post their first attempt at a love scene, be it chaste or erotic… if they so opt to include one.  Someone once said that writing a romantic fanfic and posting it for all the world to see was synonymous with getting a bikini wax done on the front steps of the county courthouse.  Their synopsis is correct.  At least, that’s how it feels to the one who wrote it.  You post your hard work and then sit back and hope and pray with all your might that it will be well received, all while crossing your fingers that you succeeded in capturing the essence of the characters you penned.  Rarely does anyone fail.  But, when you have such characters as ’Steve & Kayla’, ’Stefan & Katherine’, and the mysterious ’Tucker McCall’ (all given to us by Stephen Nichols and Mary Beth Evans) to work with, it’s nearly impossible to fail.  I give credit to the actors for that.  What a testament it is when the characters they have portrayed make such an enduring impression that, even though those characters are no longer on our screens, we still want more.  We want more, so we write more.  We write stories that continue or redefine what we saw on our screens.  We write stories that take the characters a step beyond what we saw because what we saw wasn‘t nearly enough.  We write stories so that we never have to accept the end of what the actors were once able to give us, and what we want them to share with us again.  That’s some powerful chemistry… stuff legends are made of.  Or, so we fanfic writers think.  I have a feeling our readers do, too.

As for the readers, never once think that a fanfic writer doesn’t realize that if not for them, there would be little need to write their stories.  Readers give us our motivation, all while serving as the very reason we share to begin with.  The characters as portrayed by our favorite actors may serve as our inspiration, but how wasted would that inspiration be if there was no one to read our shared works? The only mistake readers of fanfics make is to think for one minute that they are not appreciated.  They are appreciated, as are their comments.  Readers are who makes those countless hours spent plunking away at the keyboard all worthwhile, often after they have not only encouraged us to continue, but fueled our imagination to do so.  They are our ‘viewing audience’, our ‘sponsors‘, and our ‘desired demographics‘.  Readers are priceless, and fanfic writers love them… with a passion.

I write because I never want to see the legacies of ‘Steve & Kayla’, ‘Stefan & Katherine’, or the new ‘Tucker McCall’ end.  I write because I want more.  Thanks to the extraordinary talents of the actors who portrayed them, I’ll never get enough of those characters.  Thanks to fan fiction, I won’t have to. 

‘Relive the Magic’ is so fortunate to have a wide array of wonderful and heartfelt stories, written by so many talented and gifted people, though I am sure they would deny such a claim.  They are talented and gifted… very much so.  From the smallest of ‘billets’ to the never-ending sagas of full-length fanfics, RTM has them all.  Extraordinary Bope and Tanna fanfics are found there well as.  Trouble is, both the readers and the writers, want more.  So, if you’ve ever tried your hand at writing a fanfic, you’re welcome to share it with us.  If you’ve never written a fanfic, yet contemplated doing so, take the plunge.  Write what’s inside you.  Write what you want to see, what you want to read.  More importantly, write what you feel.  That’s the secret to writing fanfics.  Write as if you are writing for yourself and no one else, and then dare to share.  Take the plunge.  Why not become a member of that rare and elite breed known as fanfic writers?  I can honestly say that, as scary as it was, it was a leap I have never regretted taking.  It was one that has enriched my life beyond measure, just as my readers have… as they still do.  I have no doubt that all the wonderful writers at RTM will tell you the same. 

Reader, writer, or both; we’re all richer for sharing in the love of the characters we adore.  And whether we admit it or not, there’s a little bit of a soap opera writer in all of us… a good one, too. 

Click HERE for the pride and joy of ’Relive the Magic’, the place where our favorite characters will live forever.

~By wawame…

Like yesterday’s fads and tomorrow’s trends, actors come and go as quickly as fashions change.  Who you admired in your youth is not necessarily who you admire as an adult.  But, on rare occasions, there are those actors who make an indelible impression.  They light up our screens and fulfill our fantasizes, all while burning their way into our hearts.  Rarely does an actor achieve such status, much less invoke a following that spans the life of their career.  Those who do are rare, and Stephen Nichols is indeed rare.  We want him on our screens.  We want him to give us yet another character that will equal the iconic status of the anti-hero Steven Earl Johnson and of the dark Prince known as Stefan Cassadine.  What we want is… Tucker McCall.

Acting is business.  Soap operas are businesses.  For a business to be successful, there must a demand for a product.  For a soap opera character to be successful there must be a demand for that character.  It doesn’t matter if you love or hate the character.  The Powers that Be don’t care.  All they want is for you to feel ‘intensely’ about the character and their show.  If you want that character on your screen, for whatever reason, then you must make your demands known.  Those in charge won’t know if you don’t tell them.  If you are not sure how to get that point across, then allow us to share with you… The Art of Being a McCall Girl.

~Sport a Banner:  Easy enough.  If you post on any of the soap boards, display a Tucker McCall and/or Stephen Nichols banner in your signature.  It does speak volumes.

~Post on the Boards:  Not as easy as it sounds, considering most are only comfortable with the one, two, or three soap boards they are familiar with.  Make a point to venture out.  The more places you post, the better the chances are that TPTB will see your interest in Stephen and in Tucker.

~Leave a Comment:  When you read an article about the actor or the character, leave a comment.  When the writers of these articles or blogs see an increase in comments, chances are they are more apt to continue reporting on that actor or character.  Comments show interest, so be sure to show everyone who reads just how interested you are in Stephen and Tucker.  TPTB notice it, too.  Good places to start are in the Y&R recap sections at www.soaps.com and www.soapnet.com 

~YouTube:  Believe it or not, TPTB do pay attention to the ratings and comments left on YouTube.  You’ve heard on the news of how many hits a certain clip has received.  Popularity is measured by the amount of views and ratings.  You can start with the McCallGirls channel here:  McCALLGIRLS YOUTUBE CHANNEL

~IMDB Page:  Visit, and visit often.  There is a popularity rating on every actor’s IMDB page.  When that rating is up, it shows interest in that actor.  TPTB have been known to check for those ratings.  Bookmark and visit daily.  IMDB

~Write the Show:  Send in a letter, a postcard, or both.  Even if you print out something on your computer, or use a letterhead that promotes your favorite character, just make sure you write a personal note to go along with it.  It’s the personal remarks that carry the most weight.  You can find contact information here:  CONTACTS

~Write and Email the Mags:  Be sure to write and/or email the soap magazines and tell them how much you admire Stephen Nichols/Tucker McCall.  Make sure you tell them why.  Keep it short and sweet while cutting straight to the chase.  Who knows?  Your note might just end up in print!  Postal and email addresses can be found here:  CONTACTS

~Vote in the Polls:  Sure, some are easily spammed, but the ones running them know that.  They can read the repetitive ISP’s, so they know when votes count and when they don’t.  Your vote will count, so be sure to take the time and vote.  Two weeklies to keep in mind are:  SOD – Hot Off The Net Poll  and CBS SOAPS IN DEPTH – Readers Poll.

~Talk about the Character/Show:  When you post on boards or send in your postcards and letters, it’s your involvement in their ‘product’ that TPTB look for.  Mention what you like about the character, or what you don’t like.  The same holds true with the show in general.  Make your investment in their product clear, just as you make your investment in your favorite actor clear.  Feedback is important, so make it count.

~Have Fun:  It’s great to have Stephen Nichols back on our screens.  Have fun and enjoy the talents of daytime’s finest actor!

Remember, there is more than one way to show your support.  Positive PR is worth its weight in gold.  If you talk, someone will listen.  So, let’s get mentioned, and let’s get heard.  McCall Girls know what they want, and what we want is more Stephen Nichols as Tucker McCall.