For those of you who have managed to meander over to this tiny little corner of the site, welcome to SirGecko's extensive and overly-indulgent profile and Noticeboard, also featuring any other miscellaneous crap he sees fit to post here.

(Updated 10/11/10) ~ 06:34 Pacific Standard Time ~ United States

THE NOTICEBOARD

New on the Board

HELLO!!! It's been forever since this thing was updated, damn. I'm sorry. Life has other plans for me, it seems, than to constantly think about my next work of fiction in any one of the fandoms which I have had the pleasure of being part of over the seven years I have been on FF . net.

I just stumbled across the Genesis Awards this morning, and found out that Zanarkand, Full Circle has been nominated for months and I didn't know it. Haha. Talk about a nice surprise! Many thanks to T.Costa for the nomination.

The above being said, I've had a few story ideas kicking around in my head for awhile. If I manage to fit all the puzzle pieces together in between all the studying I'm doing to actually make something of myself, I'll see you all again, haha.

Link to the Genesis Awards: http://genesisawards.net/forums/index.php

Link to T. Costa's profile: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/637413/T_Costa

See you all around!

THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY

My first name is Orion, and I am a 21-year-old guy from Washington State. I appear thin and rather short for my age (67 inches), with long dark brown hair, brown eyes (rimmed by green); who likes to dress in colors with dark tones and little fashion sense. I wear black glasses as well I have also recently graduated from Bickleton High School, and am currently attending Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. I will be here until spring of 2012, when I hope to graduate with bachelor's degrees in Political Science and Journalism.

I'm a different person from most anybody else. I can pretty much be anything at any time. Spontaneous yet meticulous, quiet yet gregarious, funny yet serious, reserved yet outspoken, caring yet indifferent. As most of us are, I am a mix of mostly good and a little bad, haha. However, I am ALWAYS very opinionated and articulate, but I also like to emphasize how important it is to be open-minded to different ideas and ways of thinking. I'm the only child and I love the sound of silence and the sight of darkness. Winter is my favorite season. I carry a serious demeanor, but have a very wry and sarcastic sense of humor so I don't appear totally bland. Making people laugh makes me laugh. Funny how the world works.

I'm fond of critical thinking, politics, and finding ways to express myself, in some sort of way, both in writing and in music composition. I occasionally like to play video games as a way of escaping and having another form of fun (which, by the way, is where I get most of my writing ideas). I am tired until about eight p.m., then habitually stay up until at least two a.m. I'm most definitely not a morning person. I wouldn't call myself wierd, but I certainly don't think like most people my age. I surround myself with good people that understand me, and don't always agree with me. That way they can tactfully keep me honest, haha. That can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on the circumstances and others' perception of me. I am my greatest critic, as well as my greatest motivator.

If you want to know me better, talk to me. What will be revealed will be revealed in due time.

FanFiction.net Topics

My time here thus far . . .

SEVEN YEARS LATER!!! I'm one of the veterans here, I think.

I think it is safe to say that my knowledge of writing and my own skills and capabilities have increased considerably. I owe this to several factors. First off, I owe it to natural maturity. I joined the site when I was fourteen, and my writing at the time wasn't that good (though I thought it was). Now that I'm eighteen, my writing has matured with my age. Second, I owe it to some very critical reviews that, at the time, I wrongfully spurned as flames. They opened my eyes to what I could do to improve the quality of my work. Third, it's from reading other stories by my peers (those younger and older than me) and reviewing them. Fourth and finally, it's from being exposed to new things through media, life experiences and other people. All four have made me the writer and person that I am today, good or bad.

Both my personal tone and my writing tone have also shifted over these three years from being positive and lighthearted to being very dark and serious. I was looking both at the content and author's notes of New Ties Created, my first story, and Zanarkand, Full Circle, my most recent story. The tones of these two stories, not considering their quality, is so amazingly different. New Ties Created has not been taken down solely for the reason that I want it to stand as a reminder of where I started, versus where I am now. It's a shoddy story, I know, but it helps me remember how far I've come.

One thing that has not changed about me over the years, however, is my desire to interact with my readers. I still personally stress an open line of communication, because I think it makes a reader feel as though they are appreciated for reading an author's story. If a person reviews or expresses interest in my story, I want them to know that their review and interest is greatly appreciated.

Reviews, Contacts and Stories

REVIEW INFO: In accordance with the review response policy issued on 11/21/05, I will be utilizing the Reply feature (aso mentioned in the bulletin) to respond to registered users that leave reviews within one hour of posting the next chapter of a story. IF it is the final chapter or a one-shot, responses will be issued a few days after the review has been left (with exception to anonymous reviewers), or, admittedly, whenever I feel like it. HOWEVER, I will still respond to anonymous reviews within a chapter. I realize that this is a breach in policy, yes, but I have no other way to contact those users who do not have accounts/are not logged in.

As far as the way I review goes . . . I almost always leave reviews only for stories that are complete or by authors I frequent. When I do they will be quite lengthy and encompass the main points and focuses of the story, and how I felt about them. At the end of the review, I rate the story based on a star-rating system. A story is rated out of four stars, not five. If the story is good, you will know. If it is bad, you will also know. I encourage a response to my feedback with some of your own.

In addition, for those of you who are new to my profile and perhaps even my stories, I highly recommend only reading my two Final Fantasy stories, my Metal Gear story, and the Golden Sun Story Valean Christmas. Those are the three that I would consider halfway decent at the moment. I especially recommend Zanarkand, Full Circle.

CONTACT INFO: With fanfiction.net's private messaging feature, you can contact me via that, and we can chat or discuss stories, whatever the case may be. I'd love to hear from you. Also, if you want, you may request my e-mail address, and I will most likely give it to you. I also have MSN messenger, so you can add me to that. However, if you want either my e-mail address or to add me to MSN, you'll need to submit a private message first so that I may do so if I choose.

SIRGECKO HIGHLY RECOMMENDS: (Only found in fandoms Harry Potter, Final Fantasy X, Golden Sun and Zelda)

4-Star Stories:

Bedtime Story by Parron; Final Fantasy X
Dream Come True by Kadevi; Golden Sun
Golden Sun: Together by Princess Viv; Golden Sun
The Last Contract by NicolinaN; Collateral

3 1/2-Star Stories:

Abstract by Joker's Specter; Golden Sun
Charm Bracelet by SirJoshizzle; Legend of Zelda
Death's Gamble by Chaos Valkyrie; Final Fantasy X
Dial R for Restricted by Mr. Bigg; Golden Sun
Lost and Found by Kasey 22; Harry Potter
Seven Days by Dragon Empress; Golden Sun
Under Glass by SirJoshizzle; Final Fantasy X
Dullahan, the lord of despair and stuff by PureAuthor; Golden Sun

3-Star Stories:

Deuces Wild by aprilshowers0101; Harry Potter
Golden Sun: Touch of Love by Princess Viv; Golden Sun
Legacy by White Lotus; Final Fantasy X
Memories by SirJoshizzle; Final Fantasy X
My Story by Mandy-deshi; Final Fantasy X
Sensei by SirJoshizzle; Legend of Zelda
The Dark Relic by a crazy hobo; Legend of Zelda
The New Kid by Yuja; Golden Sun

This about wraps it up. Until next time, I'll see you on the Review Board. Take care of yourselves if I don't see a review, okay?

~SirGecko~