Jackie, Blodeuedd, and I are back to working up some Flash Fiction fun. We will do flash fiction posts every two weeks, give or take due to holiday's and such. I will post my complete story here. Jackie will add the beginning and a link to her flash fiction on her Live Journal and Blodeuedd will be posting on her blog.
Enjoy our quick glimpses into worlds of the unknown.
~~~~~~~~~~
Ocean's Deep to the Stars
By: Melissa Hayden
Turning his attention to the side window he sighed. Whatever he thought he say shimmering was gone now. George turned back to watch where the spot light of the submersible combed the ocean floor. He was determined to find the lost city, positive it was here. But after five days of searching George's confidence in his research started to wan. The ancient tablet found in the ocean showed water movements of the time it was from. George had been convinced from the first moment he gazed upon the tablet, seeing the elegant script written on it, that it was from the long lost water faring people - the Atlanteans. They lived off the ocean for sustenance and power. He tracked the changes of the currents science had recorded over the last decades, and related it to what he read in the elegant script of the tablet he found. It lead him here.
It should be here.
George turned his head, cursing under his breath as he rubbed his neck from the heated cramp in his neck from the quick movement. He swore he saw steps out of the corner of his eye. The dark water was playing tricks on him along with his over excited mind.
George turned the submersive to head that direction. At this point what was the harm in checking? he thought. Looking down, he saw it. Lifting his head with disbelief he saw it stretch in front of him.
Pearl stairs shinning in the depths of the dark deep curving as it reached to a swirl of stars above. Stars? Sun didn't even reach here, how was he seeing stars? A bright light flashed and a tall person stepped to the top of the stairs. Slowly the person descended.
George was dumbfounded that a person appeared in what was space and is now walking down steps in the ocean. He's walking, not floating, and definitely not drowning. He must have pulled a muscle in his neck harder than he realized, causing sparks and flashes of light in his eyes. Maybe the oxygen level is low.
The jerk of the vessel brought him around to look at the gauges. He'd ran into the reef. He cursed, thankful his crawler didn't move fast, but feared there would still be damage. Damage he couldn't afford at this level of the ocean, or above as he'd sunk all his money into this expedition. He had to get back to the boat, but to leave this sight...
The person was closer now, having an elegance to his steps that was beyond that of the most balanced dancer he'd seen on television. Now, he could see it was a man... George squinted. The man was dressed in a toga with gold glittering around his head, waist, and arms. The shoes, if that was what they were, laced up his calves. The outfit made him look longer. Almost like he was stretched.
The man was framed with the dark ocean around him, yet he shone with brilliance. He reached the bottom of the stairwell and reached to George. Then George felt the submersive shake.
Friday, August 22, 2014
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Writing Update - July
Melissa:
I started the month out strong....then life took over. I worked on re-writes and felt I was making headway. I had a small section I had to enter, which then changed things in the ripple affect of events and what the characters say. But this is good! It's what was needed and wanted. Maybe even draw the two closer together that I needed to bring closer.
Also, getting further into the story I'm finding there are things I have in place in the beginning that I can tie in better or use for what I have going on later in the book. *fist pump* Yes! I love that. I can see it all falling into place and all of it is useful and used. *happy dance* This is a huge thing for me. I was always afraid that I dropped things in that would never be seen again. I'm sure there are a few, but at this point I'm happy. :)
I am even formulating the next story in my mind so there are things I need to drop in this story to explain the next one. Crazy how that happens. ;)
Words added to story (By RoTaNoWriMo which includes the formula for reading words plus added words along with Flash Fiction count):
7,664
Actual increase in number (with adding and deleting):
5,234
Flash Fiction pieces:
1st - 655 words
2nd - 894 words
So, actual words written: 6,783
As for going into August... er, um.... I'm going to have to keep on this writing break, even though it's going to eat me away inside. Kiddo has crazy hours for football practice, and family always comes first. I enjoy watching him practice, and he wants us to watch him practice. So my time will be there. What I'm hoping is once school starts I can get back on a schedule and get this story punched out to a first rough draft that I can ask for help on.
Jackie:
Like Melissa, I started out July strong...though mine was more about being in the right mindset. I had big ideas, I made notes, and seemed to be heading in the right direction...until it came time to implement these into what I already have written. And then it all fell apart.
The project was, and is, never far from my mind but I just couldn't seem to get into the rhythm I needed to keep working. I've thought a lot about why this is and have decided that because what was written was all completely pants'ed during NaNo, it isn't near where I want it to be to start, never mind simply adding into it. The whole thing needs to be stripped down and re-done. So that's how I'll be approaching it from now on. The issue could also have something to do with my reluctance to actually sit and work on it, but I'd rather it was more a result of the first scenario...
I do have some scenes that were successfully written or re-written and also have the Flash Fiction numbers to add in for the month, but the total works out to much less than even 100 words per day for the month. Because of this, I need to push myself further to make sure I sit down and write at least something...a minimum of 500 words, say....everyday most days. Otherwise, I'll be left regretting that I didn't even try.
The totals for the month look like this:
Flash 1 - 873
Flash 2 - 261
WIP - 1203
For a grand total of 2337.
The only promise I'll make for August is that I will beat July's word count, hopefully a significant increase, but, you know, summer and all that ;)
Here's hoping August is productive for everyone, at least as much as it can be while the weather is still warm and the kids are at home :)
I started the month out strong....then life took over. I worked on re-writes and felt I was making headway. I had a small section I had to enter, which then changed things in the ripple affect of events and what the characters say. But this is good! It's what was needed and wanted. Maybe even draw the two closer together that I needed to bring closer.
Also, getting further into the story I'm finding there are things I have in place in the beginning that I can tie in better or use for what I have going on later in the book. *fist pump* Yes! I love that. I can see it all falling into place and all of it is useful and used. *happy dance* This is a huge thing for me. I was always afraid that I dropped things in that would never be seen again. I'm sure there are a few, but at this point I'm happy. :)
I am even formulating the next story in my mind so there are things I need to drop in this story to explain the next one. Crazy how that happens. ;)
Words added to story (By RoTaNoWriMo which includes the formula for reading words plus added words along with Flash Fiction count):
7,664
Actual increase in number (with adding and deleting):
5,234
Flash Fiction pieces:
1st - 655 words
2nd - 894 words
So, actual words written: 6,783
As for going into August... er, um.... I'm going to have to keep on this writing break, even though it's going to eat me away inside. Kiddo has crazy hours for football practice, and family always comes first. I enjoy watching him practice, and he wants us to watch him practice. So my time will be there. What I'm hoping is once school starts I can get back on a schedule and get this story punched out to a first rough draft that I can ask for help on.
Jackie:
Like Melissa, I started out July strong...though mine was more about being in the right mindset. I had big ideas, I made notes, and seemed to be heading in the right direction...until it came time to implement these into what I already have written. And then it all fell apart.
The project was, and is, never far from my mind but I just couldn't seem to get into the rhythm I needed to keep working. I've thought a lot about why this is and have decided that because what was written was all completely pants'ed during NaNo, it isn't near where I want it to be to start, never mind simply adding into it. The whole thing needs to be stripped down and re-done. So that's how I'll be approaching it from now on. The issue could also have something to do with my reluctance to actually sit and work on it, but I'd rather it was more a result of the first scenario...
I do have some scenes that were successfully written or re-written and also have the Flash Fiction numbers to add in for the month, but the total works out to much less than even 100 words per day for the month. Because of this, I need to push myself further to make sure I sit down and write at least something...a minimum of 500 words, say....
The totals for the month look like this:
Flash 1 - 873
Flash 2 - 261
WIP - 1203
For a grand total of 2337.
The only promise I'll make for August is that I will beat July's word count, hopefully a significant increase, but, you know, summer and all that ;)
Here's hoping August is productive for everyone, at least as much as it can be while the weather is still warm and the kids are at home :)
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Flash Fiction (8)
Jackie, Blodeuedd, and I are back to working up some Flash Fiction fun. We will do flash fiction posts every two weeks, give or take due to holiday's and such. I will post my complete story here. Jackie will add the beginning and a link to her flash fiction on her Live Journal and Blodeuedd will be posting on her blog.
Enjoy our quick glimpses into worlds of the unknown.
~~~~~~~~~~
(Untitled)
By: Melissa Hayden
She felt the whimper in the back of her dry throat. Her hands and feet twitched as she grazed over the ground, running as fast as they would take her. She twitched her nose as the tall grass slapped her muzzle.
She wasn't fast enough. There was a whine beside her and she tensed her muscles more, hoping they will give her more speed. The dark gray cloud descended around her. Disoriented she tried to run out, turning to get out of the blinding air. Fearing there would be a tree or rock in front of her or get caught, she dropped to the dirt - her stomach and face flat on the moist dirt.
She inhaled the moist smell of earth. It must have rained recently. She savored the smell, having missed it in that prison of tortures. The gray floated around her with a snapping and sizzling. Then it reached tentacles of smoke to her nose and mouth.
Her eyes flew open but she didn't move. Her body felt wrong. The whine was here, beside her. She held her breath. Something weighed on her legs and arms. Warmth. Fuzzy. Her sisters. Her sisters were here with her, protecting her in her new and fragile form. She reached and ran her fingers over the fur of her sisters. The girls had left the skulk to find her. And find her they did. They didn't even shun her for the form she was now forced to take. The witch had cursed her. Now she was on the run escaping the experiments of the witch. She missed having four legs.
She savored the warmth and moment of false safety as she watched the rising sun curled up with her sisters. A twig cracked. At least she kept her fox senses even in this two legged form. She turned her head, her sisters ears all perked.
She didn't want to give away her location, if she hadn't been found. But she turned as her sisters crept off her with their orange fur raised. Her long red hair caught on the bark of the tree at her back. She kept from yelping at the sharp pull on her head. She looked over the large log after she pulled her hair free as her sisters looked through the gap under it.
A person stalked out of the woods, and her eyes caught what hung at his hip. Her sisters started to growl and hiss. She patted their heads and she shushed them. They might be safe for now, but the dark gray cloud that seeped from the woods told her it was time to go.
Serry turned and crawled to the brush with her sisters.
~~~~~~~~~~
Jackie's preview:
The House on the Bluffs, an original short story by Jackie Lester
The spot by the river where the fallen tree spanned across the water was always her favourite place to read. It was especially good because, the way the huge limbs had landed, they’d created a natural nook, like the cradle of a mother’s arms, perfect for leaning against and daydreaming. Ryan planned to take full advantage of these things, having nothing better to do at the moment.
She leaned into the curve of the tree, not even worried how the small bits of bark might become uncomfortable. Ryan didn’t care at all. She just smiled at the pleasure a beautiful summer day like this can bring.
Click here to keep reading.
Enjoy our quick glimpses into worlds of the unknown.
~~~~~~~~~~
(Untitled)
By: Melissa Hayden
She felt the whimper in the back of her dry throat. Her hands and feet twitched as she grazed over the ground, running as fast as they would take her. She twitched her nose as the tall grass slapped her muzzle.
She wasn't fast enough. There was a whine beside her and she tensed her muscles more, hoping they will give her more speed. The dark gray cloud descended around her. Disoriented she tried to run out, turning to get out of the blinding air. Fearing there would be a tree or rock in front of her or get caught, she dropped to the dirt - her stomach and face flat on the moist dirt.
She inhaled the moist smell of earth. It must have rained recently. She savored the smell, having missed it in that prison of tortures. The gray floated around her with a snapping and sizzling. Then it reached tentacles of smoke to her nose and mouth.
Her eyes flew open but she didn't move. Her body felt wrong. The whine was here, beside her. She held her breath. Something weighed on her legs and arms. Warmth. Fuzzy. Her sisters. Her sisters were here with her, protecting her in her new and fragile form. She reached and ran her fingers over the fur of her sisters. The girls had left the skulk to find her. And find her they did. They didn't even shun her for the form she was now forced to take. The witch had cursed her. Now she was on the run escaping the experiments of the witch. She missed having four legs.
She savored the warmth and moment of false safety as she watched the rising sun curled up with her sisters. A twig cracked. At least she kept her fox senses even in this two legged form. She turned her head, her sisters ears all perked.
She didn't want to give away her location, if she hadn't been found. But she turned as her sisters crept off her with their orange fur raised. Her long red hair caught on the bark of the tree at her back. She kept from yelping at the sharp pull on her head. She looked over the large log after she pulled her hair free as her sisters looked through the gap under it.
A person stalked out of the woods, and her eyes caught what hung at his hip. Her sisters started to growl and hiss. She patted their heads and she shushed them. They might be safe for now, but the dark gray cloud that seeped from the woods told her it was time to go.
Serry turned and crawled to the brush with her sisters.
~~~~~~~~~~
Jackie's preview:
The House on the Bluffs, an original short story by Jackie Lester
The spot by the river where the fallen tree spanned across the water was always her favourite place to read. It was especially good because, the way the huge limbs had landed, they’d created a natural nook, like the cradle of a mother’s arms, perfect for leaning against and daydreaming. Ryan planned to take full advantage of these things, having nothing better to do at the moment.
She leaned into the curve of the tree, not even worried how the small bits of bark might become uncomfortable. Ryan didn’t care at all. She just smiled at the pleasure a beautiful summer day like this can bring.
Click here to keep reading.
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