Spills On A Page

Recognize that hashtag?  If you do, you know the time is fast approaching for the yearly rush to create something wonderful! Stunning! Exciting! Or at the very least... long.

Fifty thousand words in one month is the goal of NaNoWriMo writers. We're talking one thousand six hundred and sixty seven (if you round it up) words per day for 30 days straight!

Whew! I'm exhausted just thinking about it!

This will be my first year as an official participant of the event. Last year, I was only brave enough to register (personally, I found that a pretty good accomplishment in and of itself!). Now that the day is fast approaching, I'm getting nervous.  Furiously outlining and researching for the project, I am hoping that I am prepared enough for the challenge.

Here's a quick blurb for the novel that I am planning to write. I started it earlier this year and I am planning on using NaNoWriMo to finish it.  Let me know what you think.

The Colony (book 1): Remembering Alara Zaran

What would you do if:

• You lost your job?
• Found your husband in bed with another man?
• Informed that your self-absorbed mother was pregnant (from her thirty-year old boyfriend, who also happens to be an ex-classmate of yours)?

Now, what would you do if this all happened in the same day?

Natalie Spencer from Milwaukee, does what I, and many others, would want to do, but probably wouldn't have the courage (or money) to pull off. She jumps on the  first international flight to any English speaking country!



Four Thousand Miles, by Jesi Lea Ryan, is about healing and creating a life again after losing it all. Natalie finds a friend in Gavin Ashby, a songwriter from Pluckley.  Thinking that her life can't get any worse, she accepts an offer to recuperate on his family farm while helping renovate the stables into guest rooms. She becomes fast friends with Gavin's sister, Maggie, and her daughter, Emma.

However, this family is  full of secrets and struggles of its own. Gavin is introverted and recovering from his past, while Maggie and Emma struggle to connect as mother and daughter.  Natalie lands  in the midst of their struggles as she finds herself falling in love with Gavin, an idea that is not acceptable to some at Flenley Farm.

While reading Four Thousand Miles, I found Natalie's time at Flenley Farm a bit too perfect. She fell into life there easily, and for a bit, there seemed to be a lack of drama in the story. However, all good things come to an end and Natalie's life gets more complicated as the story goes on.  She realizes that the life she is creating in England may not be right for her and has to make important decisions for her future, including what continent to call home.

Overall, I enjoyed the novel. I'm not one for heavy romance, so I was happy with the love story that developed between Natalie and Gavin.  I also enjoyed the plot lines that developed between secondary characters and how those interwove with the bigger picture. Most of all, I loved the imagery of the English countryside.  I have always had a fascination with England, and Ryan makes the country come to life.

My favorite line from the book is a spoiler, so scroll over the space below only if you've already read the book:

Read this book of you like contemporary women's lit or romance novels (even though I wouldn't classify this as a romance novel, I think you will still enjoy it).

Get your copy of Four Thousand Miles by Jesi Lea Ryan HERE!

Have you ever had to call 9-1-1?

Have you ever had to call for someone else?

Unfortunately, I have had to do this a couple of times. Once when my son was smacked in the head with a golf club (Do you know how much head wounds can bleed!?), and another time when we thought someone was breaking into our house (Turns out it was a friend who wanted to talk to us but not wake up our children. My husband almost shot him!).


Calling for emergency help is usually surrounded by emotional circumstances. There can be tension, sadness, anger, fear, desperation, confusion, and other emotions all vying to be dominate at once. It can create excellent drama (or comedy if the situation is right), thus the slew of medical based dramas on TV. They are popular because they invoke emotions within us and get us reflecting on our own lives.

What would we do if we were in that situation?

Would I be prepared to deal with that?

Is that hot young actor who plays Dr. So-and-So single?

Start a story with a call to 9-1-1 or one that centers around calling  emergency services.

Each week for the past few months (with a few exceptions) I have participated in the 5 Minute Fiction Challenge found over at Write Me!

This is what I can come up with in 5 Minutes (prompt = Sixty, thus the name of the story):

Sixty

You can join the 5 Minute Fiction Challenge each Tuesday at 1:30pm EST. If you don't write for the challenge, you can still vote for your favorite story. Visit Leah Petersen's blog, Write Me!

I promised my own story from the Story Starter I gave late last week. I thought it would be easier as the story I originally went with was semi-autobiographical. Turns out I couldn't make anything of that... yet.  Instead, I pondered it all week and thought up my first 6 sentence story (inspired by the blog of the same name here.)

Escaping the Valley

Row upon row of grape vines were flaming behind their house in the valley.  It was twilight on a dry summer night, no rain for weeks.  She swore this was the last time she'd pretend everything was fine when he returned from the other woman's bed.  His empty promises rang in her head as she poured the remaining lighter fluid and dropped the match.  When he pulled in the drive, he'd find his fortune burning in the California night. She and the boy would be long gone by then.

I am starting a semi-regular event here that I'm going to label "Story Starters." This is for those times when we lack the inspiration to write anything at all. Here's how it'll work:

1. I'll list one or more ideas in a post that should get you thinking of a story. It may be a word, phrase, picture, or even a song that can start inspiration.
2. If you find one of the prompts interesting enough to write something, let me know in the comments section. You can post the story itself, or feel free to leave a link to your blog, etc where you posted the story.  I may even feature some in future posts (with your permission, of course)!
3. Um... there is no third step...

There's no time involved, so if you read a story starter new or years from now (if I should be so lucky to still be around) feel free to still participate. I will also post a story inspired by the prompt as well, but seeing as I do generate them quite randomly and I want to give you the chance to come up with ideas on your own, I will do this in the near future.

And with that, the first Story Starter is:

"Row upon row of grape vines..."

This is a wonderful little video going around the internet within certain writing/reading circles. Once I finally watched it, I thought it was very well made and something to share with you here.  I hope you find it as clever and enjoyable as I did.

Who knew Death was such a compassionate soul, who remembers things by it's color, and is fascinated by the life (not death) of 9 year old German foster girl? Through Death's perspective, we watch Liesel Meminger become a thief (of the best kind) as she copes with the world going crazy around her. While losing her family, befriending Jews, living under Nazi rule, and dealing with her best friend, 9 yr old Liesel struggles to put her mind around what is going on with the world.

Here's a little poem I did in, literally, 5 minutes for the current CCC.

Casually float here and I’ll respond to your release.

Forever will I draw the line and remove all your doubt.

Another Creative Copy Challenge. Have to say that I am really enjoying these. They can get the creative juices flowing for a day of writing.

Here was Thursday's challenge: 

I have been trying to submit several flash fiction stories to literary magazines around the country only to be stopped by one thing: I didn't have an author's bio.

This was difficult for me considering that my creative writing is yet to be published (and as much as I like my "publish post" button, I don't think any editors/publishers will count it).  So what do I write about myself?



Here is some of the advice I collected around the internet (in no particular order):

1. Always use the first person.  This is not a resume or a cover letter for a job. Using third person (she/he) makes you seem more professional and gives the reader a more objective view of you, even if it was written by you. 
2. Talk about your education. What education, degrees, or training have you had. It isn't important if you have writing training. Maybe you have medical training and have included that in your story. Listing that training in your bio will give you credibility.
3. Show your intent.  Are you writing novels? Are you interested in flash fiction, short stories, or poetry? Give the reader an idea of who you are by showing them what you are doing.
4. State your strengths.  If you are unpublished, it's not necessary to state that. Think positive and tell them what you are, not what you aren't.  For example, even unpublished authors are freelancers; if you write poetry, then you're a poet; etc. 
5. Give them something personal. Tell them where you are from, or where you are currently living.  Maybe mention your family if it brings credibility or value to the story. This makes you seem personable, and in its own little way, credible. But be careful of being too personal. Stating that you are a stay at home mom of 3 boys and a girl may make you seem unprofessional.

To continue my Story A Day challenge for May, I combined it with another little one I found here on Creative Copy Challenge.  Take ten assigned words and make a story.  Sounds like my kind of thing.

Here are the 10 words assigned and the story that ensued:

1. When I grow up
2. Just one thing
3. Flirt
4. Sign
5. Slippery
6. So far away
7. The end
8. Spice
9. Wrong
10. Fear

The Story A Day people have issued a challenge for the month of May.  I'm sure you can figure out what that challenge might be.

A story a day... the month of May...

That's right (or should I say "write"?),  a story a day for each day of May (does anyone else notice that I keep rhyming?). Luckily, they aren't checking up on me every day or I would be in some major trouble! I can take days off if needed, which I may (did ya catch that?).

So, it being May first I wanted to start this month off right (no matter how I end up finishing it). A story a day!  I'm gonna keep it short and sweet today, with a little hint fiction.  

But before I do that, let me tell you this about me, if you don't already know... I love hint fiction. For that matter I love flash fiction and short stories as well. Why?  I'm not really sure. Maybe because I am a mother of 5 kids and have a part time job while trying to write a novel and co-write a non-fiction book with my hubby of almost 18 years.  So, maybe I like the brevity of it.  Who knows for sure.  However, you may see quite a bit of the shortest of short writings here this month.

Today's story: an ode to anyone who has ever struggled with finding the right words... or, for that matter, any words at all!

1. Start with a crust.  It's not the best part of the pie, but without it, everything else will fall apart. The crust makes the dessert easier to dish out.  (Like a story, planning and preparation are essential to holding everything else together when you present it to a potential agent or publisher.)
2. Fill it with yummy stuff.  Oreo ice cream is what I'd do, but as long as you've got complimentary ingredients, you can do just about anything. (Your story is subject to whatever you put in it. Better make it good!)
3. Layer the topping.  Let's be honest, this is what really attracts us to the pie in the first place! It's the only part you can see until you get into it. It makes the whole thing look great, and it tastes good too. (We go into writing with that wonderfully, elusive dream of someday publishing our work. Often, we don't know just how involved that is until we get started.)

Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life by Steve Martin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Steve Martin's journey into comedy is funny and inspiring. Through the narrative of his struggle to the top of comedy, anyone on a creative path will be able to draw insight from his thoughts and experiences.

In the book, Steve (not a ghostwriter, and it shows) chronicles his journey from small boy to big time comedian to movie star. I was surprised mostly by the amount of time and thought (did you know he majored in philosophy?) his journey took.

Family relationships make a major impact on the rising star, both in good and bad ways. The book is full of touching and tragic moments were we can see the life behind the man and his unique comic persona.

Most of all, what I took from the book was that the path to your dreams is not usually a short one. Thought, planning, practice, persistence, and old-fashioned hard work cannot be circumvented. Failures happen. Rejection happens. Depression happens. Self-doubt happens. And all of it is ok. Get through it and move on.

The only thing that disappointed me about this book was its rapid ending. After a detailed account of the early years of the 60's and 70's, which included stories on not only his professional but also his personal life, the book races through the 80's and 90's with much less detail. Was this because of it's more recent nature or because there is less to learn from the success then the struggle to get there? Only Mr. Martin knows. I would have liked the last 20 years to be as detailed as the rest.  Then again, maybe that's just not what the book was suppose to be about.

My favorite bit of insight: "There is no harm in charging oneself up with delusions between moments of valid inspiration."

View all my reviews >>

 As I have grown very fond of Flash Fiction, I have discovered a new (or at least new to me) phenomenon called Hint Fiction. 

Pounce

I crawled on hands and knees
Down the hall and through the doorway.

I was stealth child
Sneaking into the bedroom.

I knew he was lying there,
I could hear him snore.

My approach was slow but swift.
Dust bunnies swirling about as I moved.

I peer above the bed
Viewing my prey

He sleeps still, soundly,
Not moving.

BOO!

I leap high and fast,
A panther pouncing.

Screaming, my father
Jerks awake!

I spend the day
In the solitude of my room...

I have recently fallen in love with flash fiction and have realized that many of my rambled writings can be classified as such.  Though this wasn't a new term to me, I realized I would like to know a little more about it.  Reading a lot of different things, I have come up with this definition of my own:  Flash fiction is a short story that is usually between 500 - 1000 words and still contains character development and an actual plot.

This is the type of writing that is appealing because it can be read while sitting in the waiting room of a doctors office, or in a car as the kids are getting out of school.  No long term time commitments needed, just short and to the point writing.

There is loads of this stuff all over the internet and some are actually very good. I particularly enjoyed  The Times That Bleed Together, by Paige Gardner.

Here are a list of some of the website I have found that feature flash fiction stories:

1. Flash Fiction Online:  http://www.flashfictiononline.com/
2. Every Day Fiction: http://www.everydayfiction.com/
3. Flash Fiction.Net: http://flashfiction.net
4. Very Short Stories: http://www.very-short-story.com/ (for if you like REALLY short stories)

I have read so many books lately.  I actually read one in less than 12 hours the other day.  Ok, it was a YA book, but still give me some credit.  (This should really be a testament to how dull my life has been, I actually have time to READ!)  Here are my thoughts on some of them.

This is a short story I wrote years ago in college and recently decided to revisit as a writing exercise. I made some changes at the recommendation of a friend, (Thank you, Lisa!), and here it is again. I have also posted a link from the posting of this story on www.goodreads.com. (By the way, if you are a member of goodreads.com, I welcome your friend requests.)

First and foremost, thank you for stopping by my blog today.

I did finally finish "My Life In France" by Julia Child for our book club. The book was interesting but it isn't something I would have picked up on my own and I'm not even sure if it would have keep my attention all the way through if I didn't have to meet with the group to discuss it. I know who Julia Child was but had no idea how she became a world renown chief. All I can say is, now I do. It is not a page turner, but if you like autobiographical books, cooking, or France, this book is for you.