A Confession and a Snippet

Okay, I have to confess that there does not seem to be a novel in this writer’s brain. Embarking on writing challenges, I’ve learned to embrace that reality and started this April’s Camp NaNo planning to rewrite the end to a story.

Yesterday, day three, I made the decision to shelve plan A and let the idea percolate. What to write now? Reviewing an old, unpolished manuscript turned out to be more time consuming than hoped and that plot is lost in the mists of time. So, why not write from the seat of my pants as usual?

I set up a new story with my character having gotten bad news. If interested, you can read the opening below. The scene evolves into sex, because that never fails to calm her down. ~grin~ This is PG rated, however, and I hope you enjoy if you have the time.

A funny thing is that, over a thousand words into this, I still don’t know what upset her. The fact he wants to talk about it upon waking tells me it was something big. That is all.

Maybe she learned her father is remarrying after a whirlwind romance. What do you think?

Story:

“You don’t know what you’re doing,” he said, smirking.

I wanted to wipe that look off Nickolas’ face, and not in a good way. Standing straight, I crossed both arms beneath my breasts. The corners of his lips drew up into a lascivious smile as he watched the mild show my gesture provoked.

“Eyes up here, jerk,” I ordered, and pointed at my face, then the exposed wires sticking out a hole low in the wall. “Anyway, you don’t know any more about this stuff than me. Do you?”

“No,” he admitted.

“So what do you propose?”

“Call the front desk.”

“But then they’ll know I ripped the phone cord out of the wall.”

“Oh, please. Rock bands throughout history have done way worse to motel rooms.”

“But I’m not a rock star. I’m just your photographer.”

“And a very fine one,” Nickolas praised, grabbing me in a hug.

~

Have a great day!

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Worm-Ageddon and Words

Today for my Camp NaNo challenge I decided to leave off what I wrote the last two days. Those words beefed up “Obedience Training” but didn’t provide a proper ending, so it’s time to let that percolate in my brain and maybe work on another tale.

However, when I took a look at a later story, I discovered its plot lost in the mists of time. And reading the over (!) long document, even skimming, would take more time than I care to spend right now. So, I decided to just wing it, and went onto our back patio with my laptop to avoid interruption.

What I found is something pretty sad and disgusting. Worms have crawled onto the concrete to avoid drowning. Between that niggling mental distraction and the fact SO called my cell phone already anyway, plus the fact the temperature is a bit too low with these wet conditions, I decided to share my situation here and perhaps just go inside.

Realizing I didn't know if worms are considered animals or insects, I labelled this post as both to be on the safe side. While I could search the information online, of course I would rather write. ~grin~ Hope you're warm and dry.

What would you label worms?

Ah, Memories... (One Beautiful Day in March)

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Positive Sparks Monday April 2nd, 2018 - A Musical Quote

To quote Annie of McGuffy’s Reader, the bright spirited blog where she created Sparks Mondays, “I believe we are meant to be lights in this world. If we allow our light to shine, we can see where we are going. It is then that we can begin to truly see each other clearly. Together, we can light up the entire world!”

First I must share my terrible quip about the leg amputation our friend’s father endured. He is a chatty fellow, our pal Phoenix. When SO told me how well the prosthetic fitting went for his dad, I said, “Phoenix literally talked off someone’s leg!”

Divorce proceedings have yet to begin. ~grin~ Meanwhile, our friend arrived with a big hug for me and promise he would tell his father what I said. And that leads to today’s positive spark. You see, our buddy is mechanically inclined in a way far surpassing what SO or I would attempt. Therefore I asked for help fortifying my busted and fallen metallic wind spinner. Thus you have:

See the Fortifying Wooden Stake? Thanks for the Suggestion, Phoenix

It felt good to take out a power sander, making me think of Pam of Life Through My Eyes. Meanwhile, I’ve since embarked upon a 1,667 daily fiction word journey with Camp NaNo, so I’m back to the more cerebral pursuits. Forgive me if I’m not as present this month.

Do you suffer high winds where you live?

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Duh Moment & Epiphany

Starting today, I am embarking on the Camp NaNo month long writing challenge. My goal is to write 1,667 words a day.

During these challenges, I like to use Scrivener writing software because it keeps a word count at the bottom of the screen. It also allows me to break down the project into days. In past years I went through the painstaking process of naming each day’s file, one through thirty.

Only on Friday before typing this did I realize my foolish error. All I need do is create the first file and call it ‘Day’. Then when I duplicate it, Scrivener automatically names the next ‘Day-1’.

~slaps forehead~

Upon reaching ‘Day-29’, I simply renamed ‘Day’ followed by the ‘-30’ suffix and dragged it into the correct position within the project. Ah, well, another lesson learned.

Simple, No?

That said and done, I also read again my thirteenth “BloodMoon” short story. The ending struck me as having too much exposition. That tale is also around three thousand words shorter than most of the others, plus I discovered a neat little plot twist missed in past reads.

My work fun is about to begin as I rewrite the entire ending. What will stay are the last two lines of dialog, which I like just as they are.

This is About to Change...

Do you tend to sabotage your own efforts and work harder than necessary?

Good grief! How did Easter sneak up so fast? Happy Easter and Passover to all who celebrate!

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(Not Exactly) A Rainbow Snippet for March 31- April 1

I actually do have a Rainbow Snippet to share this weekend, but it’s not family friendly. If you are interested in reading a(n I hope) hot little BDSM scene, feel free to jump over to my adults-only Sand Castles blog.

That said, here is a slightly longer PG-rated passage for those interested. Alexandra is facing an evil foe. Tired of his pointless seeming intimidation following her fiancé’s BloodMoon concerts, she stands up to him.

Story:

It’s a fallacy that you need a garrote or even large hands with which to strangle. A serious, properly placed grip is all it really takes, at least as long as you have adequate strength. Patience is even more important. And it doesn’t hurt for your subject to be either subdued or taken off guard.

Okay, so it's not easy. But they say nothing worthwhile ever is.

Lucky me, I had the element of surprise. My force dropped him to his knees, hyoid bone on the verge of cracking by what I saw, felt, and heard. Everything else faded away. Crushing it wouldn’t take much more pressure. Considering his demise I enjoyed a pleasant, almost out-of-body experience.

~

Do you have any big plans for the weekend?

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Darla the Brave

I actually got up the nerve to get in line to meet Palaye Royale after tonight's amazing show. And I met two of the brothers! They were so sweet to this lady, old enough to be their mother, hugging me and hearing how their music means a lot.

Here's the Requested Image of Me, Liz of Laws of Gravity!
Hard to Believe I'm Sharing... Hope You're Happy ~grin~

Drummer Emerson (in the awesome pirate hat) said he loved my jacket, that it was beautiful, and I managed to tell him his style inspired me. Lead singer Remington asked my name and I answered without too much of a stutter. I also handed off a 'thank you' card expressing how their music helped me through my mother's death.

I Feel the Style Fits Them, Including 3 Flowers for 3 Brothers
Inside it Says ...Straight From My Heart

How I managed any of this is a mystery; my hands shook buying a shirt right after. I hope they'll be amused to also find a list of (I think) interesting and little known movies in the envelope.

As I've no doubt mentioned at some point, a proper gift as many young fans give seemed creepy at my age, and I once heard Remington admit not knowing Goldie Hawn, which seemed a travesty. An added bonus is that my half deaf SO, also a fan of their music, helped me compile the list.

Thank you to all who've tolerated my obsession and been so supportive. Next time I'll remember to get signatures, also not my thing on a normal day. Be well!

Can you believe I also wore a Sargent Pepper style bolero?

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Darla's Discoveries & Minor Disasters with Water - March 29, 2018

Our home seems to be inhabited by water sprites. It’s a ranch style house with a carpeted walkout basement that has been flooded more times than I can count. We are on our third water heater, for instance, which have dumped their contents with every fail. And those are just the biggest incidents.

One thing I’ve learned as a result is that cellars are best left uncarpeted. Also, on another note, do not let a shower faucet sit unused for too long. Both ongoing little lessons have been expensive, let me tell you.

I should have known that unused plumbing would freeze up from watching those shows on hoarding, in which so many troubled individuals have an unusable bathroom. I guess it never occurred to me why that happened.

So now, every time I change the cat litter (new bags of which are stored in the bathtub we never use), I turn on the faucet for a moment. Hopefully that will prevent it freezing up again.

Also, did you know that unsealed brick will leak? Yeah, that was another new one. We ended up with black mold downstairs from seeping walls beneath the fireplace, of all things.

A Work in Progress

What kind of structure is your home?

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Good News & a Gripe

First, I must make a confession. We did not visit our niece in the hospital yesterday. I felt emotionally wrung out to the point I actually went back to bed for a while yesterday morning. I’m her aunt by marriage. Can you imagine if I were her mother?

Today, though, we shall go see her. And I understand she is doing better, so that will hopefully drain some of my anxiety.

That brings me to more good news and my complaint. Tomorrow night I plan to see Palaye Royale perform but my hopes to meet them have been mostly dashed.

You see, out of what I can only assume to be ego, the opening act has limited the amount of time Remington, Sebastian, and Emerson can spend meeting fans. Given a mere fifteen minutes, that means perhaps ten fans, tops, will get to greet them since they are so generous with their time.

On the bright side, that probably means I’ll be getting home way earlier than expected. After all, I now have zero intention of staying to watch Pop Evil. In fact, I’d like to stage a formal sort of walk-out with PR fans arm in arm.

Doubt I’ll do that, however. But on another positive note, this way I’ll focus on the music instead of nerves over meeting the guys. And maybe I can see them at one of their other summer venues, including the final Vans Warped Tour.

L to R: Sebastian, Remington, and Emerson
Some of the Nicest People in Showbiz

Do you think it’s a good sign for Palaye Royale’s future if Pop Evil feels threatened?

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