First the woes so we can get it over with already.
My poor computer caught a virus....a BAD one. And just before I was going to back up my freshly finished first draft of Midnight Manor too. So I spent the week on pins and needles waiting for the Geek Squad to call me and tell me that my baby was o.k.
Ok, now the good news. On Friday my mom told be about a group of writers, lead by a co-worker that was getting together to write some prompts in a writing marathon. I went and it was a blast! The whole thing stretched over two days and we wrote in about three different places. I give credit to my creative writing class for helping me to get more confident about my work. We first met at Zulu's, a new bagel shop, and while eating trays of cheese and fruit we wrote based on prompts and shared them. No one was allowed to make official critiques good or bad, but when someone laughed or smiled you knew you had something good!
I kept getting complimented by the senior guy in our group. He used to work for this group called "Writing Project" something or other. When I told him about my stuff and what I wanted to do he told me that the Writing Project would probably give me a grant to publish something. Yeah, that felt good.
Everything I wrote in the Marathon had a journalistic ring too it. Here are my three favorites.
1.) (prompt: using a place you have visited describe what happens after murdering your best friend without using thoughts or emotions. I used Angels Landing in Zion's National Park.)
It's strange how you can be so high up, and yet one false step can plunge you to the bottom. I stand where angels have stood. I should take that single step that would take me straight to the bottom. My very breath desecrates this holy ground. Time to try and fly. Though everyone knows that sinners can't fly. That's alright. I'll probably puncture straight through the earth and meet the devil himself soon. How long? At most, 20 seconds. That's justice I suppose. It took twice that long for her to die. Once I step forward, there's no stepping back. No chance for regret. It's silent and lonely up here. Time to join the demons downstairs.
2.) (prompt: we first followed directions to draw a picture. I used a blue crayon and followed the instruction like "draw a straight line to a corner," "write the persons name who you last talked to in the circle." In the end, my picture looked like an artistic boat. I wish I was more tech savy, then I could post it, but you're just going to have to trust me that it did look like a boat. Then we were supposed to write about it.)
I like my boat. My boat can hold the moon. On the main mast the vessel declares itself as "Becky." The captain's cabin is dark as this boast drifts through the sky. It's mast lays across the deck unused. Mice pilot this boat. I guess that's why they wanted the moon. The cheese would provide enough food for the journey across the sky. I hope they bring me back some cake. Enough to fill the whole curved hull. A fly flies from the cabin to the top of the mast. The only one awake on this ship of rodents. He expertly dodges a tangled rope of words to reach his destination. All is quiet on board the ship that sails through the blue night.
3.) (prompt: we had to come up with a list of things in nature, things we used everyday, and words we liked, then we had to put a few together and write a story about it. My words were 'brush chairs scrupulously,' 'flowered towels have moxie,' and 'rock doors are degenerative.')
Living underground is hard work! No one appreciates the time and effort needed to open the crumbling stone doors alone. Dust is a constant problem. Not to mention the worms. I have to scrupulously brush the chairs at least once every hour and twice before company calls. It is dark in the underground. In wintertime it is especially depressing, but at least it's warmer than a tree-house. I try to brighten every room with colorful pastels and light woods. Even the bathrooms have festive flowered towels hanging on the walls. Mrs. Peanuckle complimented me on them last Tuesday. I think I'll keep them for at least a month before changing them out again. She says I decorate my modest home with artful moxie. What could I do but blush and reply that spring would outdo even my best efforts? I hope that spring comes soon. The colors of the flowers always turn the roof of my house into an exquisite shade of red.
During the second day Best Buy called to let me know that my baby was ready to come home! So excited to work with the first draft, especially now that I feel like I have an 'in.' The best way to get into the publishing world is to "know people." I've already printed it off so I can do some real checking and cross-checking. Wish me luck!!
