Writing Prompt Wednesday

Good morning to all of you. I've decided to do something a bit different with my post today. Below is a writing prompt that I would love to get some responses to. I will be editing this post tonight with my own. I would right now, but have only 10 minutes to finish getting ready for the day job. I look forward to reading what some of you have written.

Using your favorite food, describe it using all 5 senses (sight, sound, taste, touch and smell).

Edit -12:19 pm
I said I would post my own entry later in the day. So below, see my horrid entry in all its terrible glory!

The velvety smooth feel of chocolate is almost arousing. The sweet flavor makes my taste buds curl in satisfaction. I just love the heavenly aroma when I open a fresh piece of chocolate. The sight of it makes my heart skip a beat. The slight sound of crinkling wrappers permeates the air when I indulge in my choco-holic fantasies.

Another Gloriusly Beautiful Day

Yes, I am well aware that I missed both entries last week. I actually got off my butt and did some cleaning over the last week. Our 2nd bedroom is starting to look more like a real room then a storage area. Eventually, my computer will be going in there as well. This way my boyfriend and I are not competing (his TV and my music on the computer) when I write.

We've had two beautiful days in a row here in New Hampshire. I just wish I could have enjoyed most of yesterday without a massive headache. That's what I get for sleeping with my head jammed against the wall.

On another note, I did finally get the last bookshelf put together, so now I need to get a couple more. Then he can finally have space to put all his Star Wars memorabilia. It's nice having my books out of boxes again (though I still have a bunch at my mother's house).

In conclusion for today, I am going to leave you all with a quote. I would love if you use this quote as inspiration for a short story, poem or other piece of writing and post it as a comment. I look forward to reading all your entries!

"What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us." - Ralph Waldo Emmerson

Middle of the Week

So here we are, its Wednesday and there are only 2 things on my mind. First, the beautiful sunrise shining in my patio door. The sun's golden orange glow is a welcome sight. The trees are fairly still after last nights thundershowers and the birds are greeting the day. I love this time of day. I have 20 minutes before I have to leave for my other job, so I can just relax and soak up the sun's rays for a few minutes.

The second thing on my mind this morning is getting to the store this evening to get a few spiral bound notebooks that I can write in during the day. I've missed having that opportunity at my other job. Granted, its not always brilliant writing, but ask any writer and you'll find we all write junk at times. That's how all writers improve. You don't talk about it, just sit down and write.

I have been far too lenient on myself lately when it comes to writing. I've been allowing procrastination and my XBox 360 get the better of me. That is going to stop today. I have made a commitment to sit and write from 5pm to 6pm during the week and on weekends it will be no different, but it will most likely be earlier in the day when my mind is fresher.

So this morning, I will leave you all a link to one of my new favorite blogs: GrammarBlog. If you thought you'd never find bad grammar humorous, I suggest you think again.

Short Story Sunday

I dragged myself out of bed to answer the pounding door. Who the hell would be at my door? The sun isn’t even up yet, I thought. The pounding became more urgent.

“Alright,” I yelled, “don’t get your panties in a twist.” I glanced out the peephole, not recognizing the man standing on the other side. He was an older gentleman, somewhere in his 60’s by his appearance. He carried a fairly worn briefcase.

“Grace, I know you’re there. Please open the door; it’s a matter of life or death.”

“How the hell do you know my name? I’ve never seen you before in my life,” I called through the door.

“Let me in and I can explain everything, but we must hurry.” I hesitated, but I must admit I was intrigued by the man for some odd reason. Against my better judgment, I opened the door. He burst into my living room.

“Quick, close it. No one must know I am here.” I quietly closed the apartment door and slid the lock into place.

“Alright, who are you and what are you doing here?”

“My name is William and I am from the future. I am here because I must warn you about a very deadly mistake you made today.”

“Ok…could you explain a bit more? What mistake do I make that is so deadly?”

“Well, first let me explain how it affects the future so you have a full understanding of why I came here to warn you.”

“Right, I’m calling the police now.”

“No! Aunt Grace, you must listen to me. You cannot die today, for if you do the implications are most dire for the entire world. It is because of you that our country does not start a nuclear war. You are destined to be the designer of a better world.”

“Uh-huh. Why would I believe you?” He set the briefcase on my coffee table and shuffled through it.

“Here, look for yourself.” He handed me a family photograph and pointed to a wizened old woman. “That is you, Aunt Grace, as you are meant to be. You were the first female president and the one who finally brought peace and prosperity to the world. The only reason these photos exist is because I came here to keep you alive today.”

I looked closer at the old woman in the photo. She had the same gray eyes that I saw in my mirror every day. I shook my head in disbelief.

                “You get into a cab later today, but you will not leave that cab alive. The cab driver is a suicide bomber and in my history book, he not only killed you, but hundreds of others. Promise me that you will not get into a cab today.”

                “That’s crazy. You’re saying I should just take a bus then?”

                “No, downtown is not a place you want to be today Aunt Grace. You should call out of work today. Stay home and protect yourself.”

“I could always just work from home today.”

“Trust me, it won’t matter anyways. It is your office building that was destroyed when the cab driver crashed into the first floor and detonated his bomb.”

I reached out carefully with my mind to probe his. I didn’t like to read others’ minds, but sometimes I had to. I needed to know if this man spoke the truth. You’re not the only one with that power, Aunt Grace. I jumped at the sound of his voice inside my mind.

“So my brother passes on our genes then?”

“Yes and he is a wonderful dad. In the past, or I should say now, when you were killed, dad couldn’t live with the grief. Your death just destroyed him inside. If you live, he will not hang himself and in about a year from now, you will meet me for the very first time.”

“Alright, since it won’t do me any real harm to stay home today, I will. Let me call my boss and I’ll just tell her it’s a family emergency.”

“Thank you, Aunt Grace. Now, I must go before I change the future even further.”

“William, can I ask just one question?”

“Sure.”

“Who chose your name?”

“You did. My mother died giving birth to me and it was you that talked dad into naming me after her. Her name was Willa. Now, I really must go.” He faded from sight and I made the fateful call to work.

Updates and more updates

So I came to the decision last night that as far as my blog updates go. Sunday and Wednesdays will be my "sacred" blogging days. I may post more frequently, but those 2 days will be guaranteed to have new content. I also will be doing my best to keep my personal life out of this blog in the future and make it more about writing.

I am looking for suggestions of content here. What would you like to see? Short stories? Really weird news articles? Please feel free to comment with any suggestions (and please keep them at least PG-13). Eventually, I would like to see younger writers get some useful tidbits from this blog as well.

One thing I lacked when I was younger was a solid community to support my writing habits. If I had been challenged and pushed more towards my true passion I probably would have a degree in Creative Writing now instead of Web Management. I want to support ALL writers (young and old) with this blog.

If there is something you would like to see here, I am always open to suggestions. If it's a topic I'm not familiar with, I will do research to find out more and post my findings.

Also, if you have a blog that is related to writing (in any way, shape or form) feel free to ask me to post your link. I will be more then happy to share the world of writing with anyone that is interested.

For now, I am off to work on tomorrow's post and have some family time with my mom and nephews.

Timed Writing and a Personal View

Big Shocker that my timed writing session flew right out the window. I'm planning on moving my computer into our bedroom in the next week or 2 so I can separate myself from the XBox...and also because if I'm listening to music while writing, I don't want to be competing for volume with my boyfriend.

and now, for something that really needs to be said:

Things between my sister, mom and brother-in-law have been stewing and boiling over way too much lately. I am in agreement that changes need to be made, especially with the fact that my sister is continuously shoved in the middle of the constant "battle" between the other 2. I think that things have been said on both sides that were unnecessary.

It seems to me that my sister feels like she's being torn in 2 and on the verge of being forced to choose...her mom or her husband. Personally, I refuse to take sides on the issue. There are things I don't like about my brother-in-law sure, but does that mean that I'm going to put my sister in the middle...absolutely not.

I let my mother and sister both vent to me, so I get at least 2 of the 3 sides in this story (which is why I will not pick a side). There are always 2 (or more) sides to every tale and it seems to me that others are blinded and see only their own view.

As I commented on my sister's blog from Monday, I think we should lock the two in a room together until they sort out (most of) their animosity towards each other. I hate seeing my family at odds with each other because I love them all dearly.

End Rant

Procrastination Strikes Again

I really have to stop procrastinating on writing. For those that don't already know, I recently moved out of mom's and into an apartment. I'm excited about new opportunities this will bring, but I also have to watch myself. If I'm not careful, time will pass me by while the stories in my head remain unwritten.

Tomorrow after I get home from work, I plan on doing some timed writing. Even if all I write during the hour-long session is "I have no idea what to write. I have no idea what to write." My brain needs desperately to get back on track...no computer games or XBox until I have finished my hour of writing tomorrow.

As for my weekend, besides the rain, it was enjoyable. I spent time with my sister and her 2 boys (ages 1 and 5). We went out to lunch at this small, yet busy restaurant in my new town. The food was homemade and it was yummy! We went grocery shopping (since we both needed to) and each took a kid. I'm sure Evan (the 5-year-old) loved spending time with Auntie.

I'm thinking next weekend, I might spend some time with my laptop at a cafe or two. You'd be amazed at the tidbits of conversation you can pick up (and make into great dialogue). Alas, for now, I am heading off to relax a bit before bed. Another lovely day of tech support calls awaits me tomorrow.

Adieu!

Family Thoughts

I've been thinking a lot about family this past week. My cousin just recently lost his fiancée (unexpectedly). It just kind of hits home, because no one can ever know when their time will come. It's sad to see so many people taking everything in life for granted. This country is so fast-paced nowadays; no one stops to enjoy what that have until its gone.

It's the same in fiction, your characters never know what will come next for them until their future is already at their feet. I love when my characters voices flow out of me onto the page. It kind of shocks me that I have some characters I know better then my own family.

As for real life, I have made a vow that I will no longer take for granted those that I care about. When I went to my cousin's fiancée's funeral, that was the first time I have seen him in I don't know how many years. That is going to change. Growing up, he was the big brother to me and my sister (and they loved tormenting me before we hit our teen years). I would love to remake that bond between the 3 of us.

So today, I will leave off with a quote: "A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart."

Semi-pain free

I went to the neurologist this morning for a pain med injection in my back, and while it hasn't fully kicked in yet, the pain is less than it was. I've been having pain issues since the first time I got a blood clot in my left leg 6 years ago (when I was 20). Thanks to getting pneumonia in July last year, I developed a 2nd clot in the same leg. Most days I just tolerate the pain and get through it, but since the 2nd clot my pain level increased.

Because I have now had 2 clots, I am on blood thinners indefinitely. I was also diagnosed with Factor V Leiden (genetic increased risk of clots) when I developed the first clot. In some ways it is good that I found out at such a young age, but it does have its downfalls (like all the constant pain). It just goes to show that no matter how young or old you are, unexpected (and sometimes deadly) things can happen. It's a constant reminder not to take anything for granted.

For the most part, I still live my day-to-day life without incident. I do notice that I always seem to be cold now though, and of course there is always the fear of accidentally cutting myself (which is easy to do when your a klutz like me). I'll be right back to work tomorrow and probably packing more for the big move in 3 weeks. I'm hoping that the pain meds will last until after the move (otherwise it'll be harsh). As for right now, I am going to curl up under a blanket and write in my notebook.

A little taste of my somewhat crazy mind

Today's post is just a section of the story I've been working on this week. All comments/feedback is welcome, as I like to know what others think so I can improve about my writing skills. Enjoy!

*****

"I will be a phoenix; coming from the ashes of your destruction. When you next see my face, it will spell your doom. May the goddess Kalona protect others from your greedy hands." King Okren motioned for them to light the wood piled around my feet. The foolish bastard believed me to be nothing more then a stupid woman who knew too much. If only he knew the truth. Fire could not harm me, it only added to my power.

I closed my eyes and began to quietly chant the spell to protect myself from the flames. The ropes binding my hands fell to the ground as they burned. My eyes flared with my anger as I opened them. I heard the gasps as I showed my now freed hands. My voice rose as I spoke the words that would transport me home. I could just imagine the screaming panic that would ensue from my disappearance.

The familiarity of my bedchamber comforted me greatly. Only my maid, Lucy would know what my display of magic and anger would have cost my body. Anger had never suited me and I always felt drained after my fury melted away. I thanked the gods that mother had taught me as much as she could, but was also grateful that she had also made sure I could control it no matter how strong my emotions became. I pulled my handmade quilt around my shoulders as I fell to the bed in exhaustion. I woke some time later when Lucy shook me.

"Miss Elizabeth?"

"What is it Lucy?" I asked groggily.

"Cormack says that there is a mob coming. We need to get you out of here."

"Oh, bloody hell. No doubt they're out to claim whatever bounty King Okren has placed on my head."

"What did you do now?"

"I escaped from being burnt at the stake, that's what."

"Miss Elizabeth, what would your brother say if he knew?"

"The king would never have dared if Edward wasn't far away in another country. He knows my brother is a powerful mage who would have sought revenge."

"Then we must get you out of here. Cormack will find your brother and tell him what has happened. Come Miss; grab your riding boots and warm clothing. We've no time to waste."

I knew she was right, but I was so comfortable. I groaned as I moved to stand. I walked wearily to my wardrobe and pulled out my warmest dress and petticoats. With Lucy's help, I was able to quickly change and get my riding boots on.

*****

If you like it, let me know and I'll post more when I have a chance on Sunday. Have a great weekend!

All better now :-)

Thankfully, I am over whatever stomach bug I had last week. I've been working on a short story (that may turn into a novel at some point). The story I started today was using one of the blurbs I wrote to music a couple of weekends ago. If I do any writing tomorrow it will most likely be on breaks at work since tomorrow night is D&D (Dungeons & Dragons) night.

Yes, I am a complete and total dork, but I enjoy every minute of it. I wouldn't trade my life for anything in the world.

Being sick really bites

Yes, I hate being sick...and it seems like the last 6 months I have spent more time sick then not. Thankfully, my massive headache/stomach bug is finally dying down after 3 days. As you can already tell, I haven't written anything in the last few days. I've been far too preoccupied with sleeping off my illness.

I am glad I will be returning to work tomorrow, as the time I have spent awake has made me bored out of my mind. Alas, now comes the quandary of finding something I can eat that won't upset my stomach again. Until next time my friends...

3 months...

Wow, I can't believe its been 3 months since I've made any updates. After I went back to work, I didn't get anywhere near as much done on the novel as I had hoped. My final word count on the last day of November was 25,073. So I have half a novel tucked away on my external hard drive.

Over the last week or so I have been striving to make sure I write about 3 pages per day. Most of this is done at work during lunch or my 2 15-minute breaks. I have also tried something different the last couple of days...Musical Brainstorming.

I've thrown my iTunes on shuffle and closed my eyes to "picture" different scenes. It actually has worked really well. My boyfriend (who is very good at reading people) could not figure out why my mind was in chaos this past weekend as I did this...lol

Oh, and before I forget, for all those mom's out there, check out my big sister's blog on her daily Home Daycare adventures: http://nhsupermom.blogspot.com/