NANOWRIMO Update

Word count is currently at 30,771. Things are moving along, just not as fast as I would like. It will get there though.

You're in a cafe...

and you see him come in. He's wearing that shirt, you know the one that hugs his chest and back in all the right places. And his jeans. Oh god, those jeans. The way they hug his ass and reveal the bulge that leaves nothing to the imagination. He glances your way and a smile lights up his eyes. Though you both agreed to meet later, you can't but want him to come closer, to sit with you, to talk about his day so far. But you both wait, forced to be satisfied with just the smile and the look.

Write About Small Mistakes

Small mistakes can lead to big ones. Small mistakes over and over can lead to heartbreak. Everyone has made small mistakes. It's what happens from that, that can make the difference.

Write About a Rendezvous

We had been planning it for two weeks. I had to travel and so did he. It was just chance we were going to the same town at the same time, but we intended to take full advantage. Since neither of us had any obligations waiting for us at home, we took the rest of the week off to spend together. I arrived at the hotel first and made sure everything was in order, as well as having a fruit plate and wine ready for him. When he arrived and we saw each other, we knew it was going to be an exciting trip.

The Night Won't Save Anyone

Everyone thought the arrival of the night would save us from the heat of the sun. It did, but an even greater evil waited for us in the night. At first, we didn't know what it was until we lost three people. Then we realized it was a creature that looked like Earth's pterodactyl. All but three of us died before we were rescued. Now the planet has been quarantined. I know someone will lift it eventually. I just hope I never see it.

Write About a Time You Did Something Out of Superstition

To bring good luck financially, place a fresh basil leaf in your wallet with a single dollar bill wrapped around it. I placed one in each of our wallets. It seemed to help.

Write About A Time the Lights Went Out

The sky had darkened with the arrival of the storm. Jagged streaks of light break through the darkness as thunder cracks in the silence. We sit in the house, T.V. and lights on, talking about the coming storm. A sudden, close crack of thunder startles all of us. Then the house is plunged into darkness. The kids scream in surprise as I laugh and make my way to the drawer with flashlights in it. Until the lights come back on, we play with the flightlights on the wall.

Night is Falling. You're Not At Home

So get in your car and go home. Don't be silly. It's not like anyone is keeping you from leaving. Honestly, if you're afraid of the dark, get your head checked. Nothing is in the dark that can hurt you. And any of those who try are just really sick people. Go home.

Write About A Simple Pleasure

Chocolate, the most simple of pleasures. So many different kinds but everyone has their favorites. I like the Hershey bar, with and without almonds. The Dove chocolates are good too. I like the See's Candy caramel patties with milk chocolate. And I like Ethel M's Pecan Patties, milk chocolate. I don't like dark chocolate very much and white chocolate doesn't even taste like real chocolate, probably isn't.

Write About A Door Key

Home Depot has a Tinkerbell key. Micaela likes Tinkerbell, but when we made keys for the kids, she did not want it. I liked the key, but I can't get one made for me because I already have a house key. I think having pretty keys is neat and it shows the owner's personality.

Vegas Valley Book Festival

The book festival was last Saturday. There were other writers there, we were really full. I didn't sell any books at the festival, but I certainly learned quite a bit. The lady next to me had bookmarks, so that may be something good to have in the future. At another table, a group of authors with an adult publishing company were very friendly and helpful. One author offered to give me a reference to her publisher and I do plan to take full advantage of this.

Write About a Time Someone Surprised You

I don't really have a time when someone surprised me. There are times when I haven't gotten exactly the answer or response I was expecting, but I wouldn't say I was surprised.

"In the blue night frost haze..."

the man fought against the wind to make his way to safety. His journey had been a dangerous one and his injuries made his progress even slower. The driving force behind his continuing struggle with the forces of nature, the reason he fought so hard to live, was the woman who waited for him. The light of their cabin beckoned him. He had left her against her wishes and pleas. He had thought it was for her safety, but now he feared he had only made the situation worse.

Write a Daydream

The house is bigger. The kids are slightly older. I'm not working, at least not a conventional job. My books are selling and next to me on the table is a script for the first movie. Another manuscript is below it and a graphic novel waits for editing. The pool is nice and the kids are swimming with friends. We're planning a trip to Egypt and Terry comes out to tell us the trip is ready and we're still leaving in two days. Everyone is happy and there is no arguing.

Accept Loss Forever

Bury the emotions. Write a letter and burn it. Change your phone number. Act like he doesn't exist. See him on the street and keep walking. See him in a restaurant and act like there was nothing between you. But most of all, accept that it's over. Write your poems, write your letters, listen to your music.

Write About a Time Someone Lost Control

When I was younger, my father became upset about something. I don't remember if he was upset with me or my mom, but I think it was my mom. They argued alot before they separated. My dad was angry about something and he punched the wall in the bathroom. It left a nice fist sized hole there. Though he patched it, there was always a distinguishing mark of tell tale damage.

Write About a Fragment

We found a fragment of a picture. Just the piece with two hands. Was it a couple who had seen better days together? Then had an argument and one or the other tore up the picture? What could have caused one of them to destroy a picture of their love? Or maybe it is the picture of two friends who friendship couldn't handle the idea of becoming more. Or maybe another came between them. Brother and sister? Cousins?

Three Things My Father Told Me

1. No matter what happened between him and my mother, he would always love me. 2. I would marry someone just like him. 3. To trust my feelings about what was around me. But I Will always think the most important was that he would always love me. He has loved me through everything; divorce from my mother, being forced to move to California when she remarried, the arguments we've had, the disappointments in each other and every joy.

Write About Taking A Detour

On our way to Magic Mountain, we came to a detour. Since we had no choice, we took it. It added two hours to our travel time. We went through farms and it was very dark. And scary. I kept thinking about the slasher movies where they would attack the country families. Of course, we made it to the amusement park without issue. And now, I have driven the same road and realize that it isn't so scary.

Write About Never and Always

He promised he would never cheat, that he would always love me. He promised he would never let another catch his eye, that he would always have eyes just for me. He promised he would never allow another to touch his heart, that it would always belong to me. He promised he would always say he loved me, now I never hear it. He never looks at me and always has his eyes roving for another. He never lets me touch him, and he's always dreaming of another.

On the Night Train to Anchorage

We planned this trip for a year. The whole trip took more than a night, but everything was worth it. The windows open a little and let the fresh smell of the mountains in and the chill of the cold tingled my skin. The lull of the train movement coaxes me to sleep and I dream of how nice the rest of the trip will be.

Job Search

After being laid off due to a reorganization, I have decided to focus my main attention to getting a job in the field I truly want to work in: Publishing.

I am looking for anything in the publishing field; reading books for editing, editing, anything.

I am also going to work on getting my MFA in creative writing and a minor in journalism. But I will be starting with an associates in English. I have enough credits to be a junior in college, but I really want my Long Ridge Writer's Group credits to be applied to the MFA, not the associates.

We'll see how it goes.

It's raining now

And the sound is comforting. I like the way the mountains look through the rain. The rain makes everything smell fresh and clean. I'm sitting on the porch with the dogs laying next to me on the wood. I have my book in my lap and though the story pulls me, the rain captures my attention and holds it. I love the rain and the way it makes me feel. The words around the house are quiet as the animals hide from the falling rain that will renew the life there. It may not be raining tomorrow, but right now it is.

Write About a Purchase

I would like to purchase an HDTV for the livingroom and the man cave upstairs. I want it to have surround sound, and a multi-disc Blu-Ray player. The HD component makes pictures amazing. They look real. The new movies coming out will look great on the new TV. I will take the current entertainment center and move the shelves so the TV can be put on the wall. Or I Will buy a stand for it that can hold the movies and calbe box as well as the Blu-Ray player and game systems.

Write About Something You Would Do Different

I would go to school to become an archeologist. History has always fascinated me and I think it would be amazing to discover a new tomb in Egypt or a lost city under a modern one. I could learn about the culture of people that left the world long ago, but left their mark on our lives today. Imagine finding the real Troy or the hidden reason for the oracles' power in Delphi. Watching the history of the world revealed would be so amazing.

"For as long as she lives, and probably longer, she will never forget his face."

The hawk nose, thin lips and narrow eyes. His face was burned into her mind and his evil grin made her sick. Small drops of blood spotted his face. Even more blood covered his hands as he lifted them from the body and looked at the blood glistening in the light. She watched his sick display and felt her stomach beginning to revolt. Finally, she allows her gaze to go to the body in front of him. The victim she does not know, but the murderer will haunt her dreams.

Write About Someone Who Sinned

Tom had insisted we become members of the Lutheran Church to give us guidance and for me to know God. The church taught me the 10 commandments; rules we should all live by. DO NOT COMMIT AUDLTERY - coveting another who is not your spouse. Six years later, he broke that rule. He would leave the house every night to "buy ice cream", but he was really meeting his lover. After he divorced my mother, he married this woman. Eventually, he did the same thing to her and had another divorce.

Writing Practices - Beginning to Post

I am going to start posting the writing practices I am doing every day. If some of the content seems like I am writing about a bad relationship, I'm not. Most of this is just made up on the spot. First thing that comes to mind. Don't assume anything. I am not having marital problems and I have a very loving marriage of 19 years.

Planning for the book festival

I am working to finish the stories for the book that I will be presenting on November 8. Terry is going with me so that I can look around and try to "network". I have gotten business cards printed, and we will be wearing matching T-shirts. I have also found a way to print-on-demand, which be made available to anyone who wants the book but can't make it to the festival.

Very exciting stuff. And, I'm a little nervous.

Writing Practices

I recently bought a kit called A Creative Writer's Kit. Inside are Prompts & Practices as well as cards with tips. The Prompts & Practices book has daily writing practices. I have been writing them daily and thought it would be a good idea to post here.

The idea behind the daily practices is to get the creative muse working. You are supposed to write about the first thing that comes to mind for the topic of the day. Write as many words as possible, or as few as it takes to get the idea across. The writer is supposed to be able to look back and see what topics inspire and what topics just create a roadblock.

The book came with some rules and guidelines for the practices. If you are interested in something like this, check it out. I found mine at Barnes and Noble.

Las Vegas Book Festival

On November 8, 2008, I will be participating in my first book festival. I will be displaying and selling a book on short stories from my writing projects, current and future. I'm hoping it will be successful in at least getting my name out there. I will be going with a small amount of books and will take orders for those people who are not able to purchase one.

Once the book is completed, I will put up a couple of stories and post PayPal information for purchasing it.

New Site

I am replacing my old writing blog with this new one. This one will be more in sync with the rest of my writing and is being made available for readers of my writing.

Please feel free to comment on writing you read. I only ask that it be mature comments and actually have something to do with the piece or post you are responding to. Thank you.