Well, I think I got the climax of Hidden Souls re-written. I think. This is my third or fourth time working on it, so we'll see if it stands the test of time. Now I just have to link up to where I edited the rough draft with the climax and I'll be all set. My manuscript, including the bad ending, was sitting at 52K words, which makes me think that I should probably add in a subplot or two. But we'll see how it looks when I've tidied up the ending and added in some descriptions in other places.
Still debating whether or not to pursue publication, so I guess that would make a difference one way or the other.
I also found a place for Zach. I definitely think he'll be making a reappearance in Reclaimed Souls, but I tweaked him a bit and added him back in to Hidden Souls. So I can still have fun with him!
I got my schedule for the next year (July-June), and it turns out I have an easy July, and a moderately easy August, so maybe I'll join in Camp NaNo this year. At least for the word sprints and motivation to help me get parts of this book written. Or maybe to write Reclaimed Souls (possibly from scratch. We'll see).
As a thanks for sticking with me, I give you a very short teaser from the ending to Hidden Souls.
~*~
Sophia took a few slow, deep breaths and slowly pushed herself into a seated position. The ropes no longer bound her to the ground and she shakily rose to her feet, struggling to see anything in the room around her. "Hello?" She called out, tentatively moving her foot forward.
~*~
Sadly, any more than that and I'd give away some major plot points. Maybe next week, I'll give you another outtake. Or some background. Or something. I should probably get back to writing before I promise anything else :)
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Friday, May 23, 2014
Sophia's Dating Profile
NaNo posted a great writing prompt to their Facebook page this morning, so I thought I'd take advantage of it.
The prompt: Give us a bit of your favorite character's online dating profile.
Username: AreGhostsReal
A/S/L: 19/F/Somewhere between the living and the dead
Self-Summary: Just a girl trying to figure things out. If you have already managed that, please, clue me in.
What I'm doing with my life: Attending college, solving crimes, trying to figure out what happens after death. You know, the usual.
I'm really good at: Procrastinating. But also very good at getting things done on a deadline. It's a gift.
First things people usually notice about me: I seem to talk to myself a lot. Except I'm not really talking to myself. I'm talking to this guy who keeps haunting me. You try getting rid of a ghost who doesn't know how to move on.
Favorites: I'm a sucker for Shakespeare. Also accents. A British or French accent will really make me swoon. Combine the two and I'm in heaven. David Tennant in Hamlet? Oh yeah.
Six Things I Could Never Do Without: Sleep. Food. Quiet time in the library. Honesty. Sarcasm. Chats with Nana.
I spend a lot of time thinking about: Death and crossing over. What makes some people move on and others not?
On a typical Friday night, I am: Exploring old warehouses.
Most private thing I'm willing to admit: I'm pretty sure I once caused a car accident.
The prompt: Give us a bit of your favorite character's online dating profile.
Username: AreGhostsReal
A/S/L: 19/F/Somewhere between the living and the dead
Self-Summary: Just a girl trying to figure things out. If you have already managed that, please, clue me in.
What I'm doing with my life: Attending college, solving crimes, trying to figure out what happens after death. You know, the usual.
I'm really good at: Procrastinating. But also very good at getting things done on a deadline. It's a gift.
First things people usually notice about me: I seem to talk to myself a lot. Except I'm not really talking to myself. I'm talking to this guy who keeps haunting me. You try getting rid of a ghost who doesn't know how to move on.
Favorites: I'm a sucker for Shakespeare. Also accents. A British or French accent will really make me swoon. Combine the two and I'm in heaven. David Tennant in Hamlet? Oh yeah.
Six Things I Could Never Do Without: Sleep. Food. Quiet time in the library. Honesty. Sarcasm. Chats with Nana.
I spend a lot of time thinking about: Death and crossing over. What makes some people move on and others not?
On a typical Friday night, I am: Exploring old warehouses.
Most private thing I'm willing to admit: I'm pretty sure I once caused a car accident.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Just a Story
Today's prompt came from Twitter: "But it's only a story."
"The dragon roared and reared its ugly head. The prince jumped from the stone wall, stumbling on the rocky ground, just as the dragon's tail whipped against the tower behind him." Susan pointed out the crumbling tower on the page.
"Is the prince going to live, mommy?" Michael asked, looking up from the picture book.
"I don't know. What do you think?" Susan asked, holding the pages firmly between her fingers.
"The prince always wins. He's going to kill the stupid dragon and save the princess," Michael responded, nodding firmly.
Susan smiled and turned the page. "The prince's horse whinnied as he ran towards it, shying away as the dragon approached. Without pausing, the prince leapt onto his horse and galloped off, putting some distance between them and the dragon."
"Ugh, you're reading this story... again?" Melody asked from the door.
Susan looked up from the book. "It is your brother's favorite."
Melody pursed her lips. "But it's only a story. He knows it by heart now, and yet he keeps asking those same questions every time you read it."
Susan smiled and ruffled Michael's hair. "The story isn't about the beginning or ending. It's about the journey you take. And Michael has the imagination to fill in the blanks, to feel what the prince is feeling as he faces the dragon. Or to feel how angry the dragon is that the prince disturbed his sleep."
Michael nodded sagely as he pulled the book from Susan's grasp and began to turn the pages.
Melody rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say, Mom." She waved her hand and walked away, her nose pointed toward the ceiling.
Susan glanced at Michael and smiled. "She'll understand one day," she muttered as she brushed her finger over the page. The dragon's scales shimmered for a moment, and the page shook, as if the dragon was rumbling in appreciation of the touch.
"The dragon roared and reared its ugly head. The prince jumped from the stone wall, stumbling on the rocky ground, just as the dragon's tail whipped against the tower behind him." Susan pointed out the crumbling tower on the page.
"Is the prince going to live, mommy?" Michael asked, looking up from the picture book.
"I don't know. What do you think?" Susan asked, holding the pages firmly between her fingers.
"The prince always wins. He's going to kill the stupid dragon and save the princess," Michael responded, nodding firmly.
Susan smiled and turned the page. "The prince's horse whinnied as he ran towards it, shying away as the dragon approached. Without pausing, the prince leapt onto his horse and galloped off, putting some distance between them and the dragon."
"Ugh, you're reading this story... again?" Melody asked from the door.
Susan looked up from the book. "It is your brother's favorite."
Melody pursed her lips. "But it's only a story. He knows it by heart now, and yet he keeps asking those same questions every time you read it."
Susan smiled and ruffled Michael's hair. "The story isn't about the beginning or ending. It's about the journey you take. And Michael has the imagination to fill in the blanks, to feel what the prince is feeling as he faces the dragon. Or to feel how angry the dragon is that the prince disturbed his sleep."
Michael nodded sagely as he pulled the book from Susan's grasp and began to turn the pages.
Melody rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say, Mom." She waved her hand and walked away, her nose pointed toward the ceiling.
Susan glanced at Michael and smiled. "She'll understand one day," she muttered as she brushed her finger over the page. The dragon's scales shimmered for a moment, and the page shook, as if the dragon was rumbling in appreciation of the touch.
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Six Sentence Sunday
Ah, this is the first time I've participated in Six-Sentence Sunday in a long time. This week's contribution is the start of the climax scene in Hidden Souls I started to rewrite this past week. I have no idea how they're going to stand up to my next round of editing, but they're a nice start for this epic rewrite that I have to do. Enjoy!
~*~
A high pitched squeal filled the air, echoing off the walls and growing intensity with each passing second. Sophia dropped to her knees, pressing her hands against her ears to stop the sound from ricocheting inside her skull. Through watery eyes, she saw the guards and Grace do the same. She squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her head against her thighs, desperate for any distance from the sound. Just when she thought her head might explode from the intensity of the sound, it stopped, leaving a silence that was both relieving and frightening.
Sophia took a deep breath and slowly raised her head.
~*~
Sadly, it seems the official Six Sentence Sunday has stopped, so I have no links to provide for you. But in the meantime, check me out on Twitter: @CLFiction
On another note, I graduate today. A degree several years in the making! Come June, I'll be back into the real world with a real job, except, unlike the last time I had a real job, I'll actually be living in my own apartment and paying all my own bills. Completely living on my own. It'll be interesting. Wish me luck!
~*~
A high pitched squeal filled the air, echoing off the walls and growing intensity with each passing second. Sophia dropped to her knees, pressing her hands against her ears to stop the sound from ricocheting inside her skull. Through watery eyes, she saw the guards and Grace do the same. She squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her head against her thighs, desperate for any distance from the sound. Just when she thought her head might explode from the intensity of the sound, it stopped, leaving a silence that was both relieving and frightening.
Sophia took a deep breath and slowly raised her head.
~*~
Sadly, it seems the official Six Sentence Sunday has stopped, so I have no links to provide for you. But in the meantime, check me out on Twitter: @CLFiction
On another note, I graduate today. A degree several years in the making! Come June, I'll be back into the real world with a real job, except, unlike the last time I had a real job, I'll actually be living in my own apartment and paying all my own bills. Completely living on my own. It'll be interesting. Wish me luck!
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Rewriting + Deleted Scene!
Rewriting is really hard. After much deliberation and torture on my part, I've decided to rewrite the last 50 pages of Hidden Souls. Part of this is because I took the plot in a different direction while writing flashbacks in Reclaimed Souls last November, and part of it comes from the fact that I never really liked the ending anyway.
And with rewriting comes writer's block. So that's where I'm stuck now. I also just need to get back in the groove of writing. Unfortunately, that's a little challenging when you have 5 projects in progress. Editing is not the fun part of this process, but it is the most vital.
But, I did find very interesting scene I wrote with a character named Zach. I completely forgot about Zach until I was flipping through the last bits of the print-out, trying to figure out where I took the ending initially. Clearly, he wasn't that important of a character if I don't remember him at all. Maybe I'll recycle him in book 2. For now, though, you get a deleted scene while I continue to work out how the heck I'm going to make the leap from what I have to what I want out of the ending. Wish me luck!
~*~
“There's got to be something here...” Sophia muttered, flipping through the pages of a rather large book.
“I didn't think anyone knew how to look things up in books now.”
Sophia jumped and glanced up at the intruder. He was tall, with blonde hair and a tan giving a slight glow to his skin. He was wearing a simple t-shirt with some intricate design and a pair of dark jeans. “I've found books to be slightly more reliable than the internet,” she responded.
He slid into the chair across the table from her. “But the internet contains much more up-to-date information.”
She shook her head. “Some books may be outdated, but that doesn't mean that the vast majority of the information on the internet is current.”
He reached over and lifted her book slowly so that he could see the cover. “History of Millsville. Reading up on our fine city's history, then?”
She shrugged and ran her finger down the page again. “I saw something downtown that peaked my interest, so I thought I'd do a little extra reading.”
He laughed softly. “A girl like you really shouldn't stay cooped up in the library like this.”
Sophia raised her eyebrow and set her pen down. “And what kind of girl am I?” she asked, the corner of her mouth going upwards slightly. She saw a glimmer out of the corner of her eye and turned to see Michael walking over.
The man didn't notice and shrugged at her question, leaning back in the chair and stretching his legs out under the table. “Pretty. Witty. Spunky.”
“Real original one, he is,” Michael deadpanned, staring at the intruder.
Sophia laughed softly. “Spunky, huh? Don't think anyone's called me that in years. I'm Sophia,” she said, extending her hand.
The man grinned and leaned forward, kissing her hand gently. “Enchante, madamoiselle. I'm Zach.”
“Seriously? He's laying it on a bit thick, don't you think?” Michael said, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the table.
“Nice to meet you, Zach,” Sophia said, blushing slightly and pulling her hand back.
“Is there anything I can help you find?” he asked, leaning over the table.
“Actually, I'm not really sure what I'm looking for, so I don't know how you can help,” she said apologetically.
“Yeah, you heard her... back off bud.” Michael leaned forward on the table toward Zach. Sophia turned slightly and raised her eyebrow at him, causing Zach to frown and look around in confusion.
“Something wrong?” he asked.
She turned back to him and smiled. “No, no... I just thought I saw someone in the corner. Trick of the light, I suppose.”
~*~
I didn't say it was a good deleted scene, mind you. Plus, you get it in its unedited form. Those always suck more. *nods*
And with rewriting comes writer's block. So that's where I'm stuck now. I also just need to get back in the groove of writing. Unfortunately, that's a little challenging when you have 5 projects in progress. Editing is not the fun part of this process, but it is the most vital.
But, I did find very interesting scene I wrote with a character named Zach. I completely forgot about Zach until I was flipping through the last bits of the print-out, trying to figure out where I took the ending initially. Clearly, he wasn't that important of a character if I don't remember him at all. Maybe I'll recycle him in book 2. For now, though, you get a deleted scene while I continue to work out how the heck I'm going to make the leap from what I have to what I want out of the ending. Wish me luck!
~*~
“There's got to be something here...” Sophia muttered, flipping through the pages of a rather large book.
“I didn't think anyone knew how to look things up in books now.”
Sophia jumped and glanced up at the intruder. He was tall, with blonde hair and a tan giving a slight glow to his skin. He was wearing a simple t-shirt with some intricate design and a pair of dark jeans. “I've found books to be slightly more reliable than the internet,” she responded.
He slid into the chair across the table from her. “But the internet contains much more up-to-date information.”
She shook her head. “Some books may be outdated, but that doesn't mean that the vast majority of the information on the internet is current.”
He reached over and lifted her book slowly so that he could see the cover. “History of Millsville. Reading up on our fine city's history, then?”
She shrugged and ran her finger down the page again. “I saw something downtown that peaked my interest, so I thought I'd do a little extra reading.”
He laughed softly. “A girl like you really shouldn't stay cooped up in the library like this.”
Sophia raised her eyebrow and set her pen down. “And what kind of girl am I?” she asked, the corner of her mouth going upwards slightly. She saw a glimmer out of the corner of her eye and turned to see Michael walking over.
The man didn't notice and shrugged at her question, leaning back in the chair and stretching his legs out under the table. “Pretty. Witty. Spunky.”
“Real original one, he is,” Michael deadpanned, staring at the intruder.
Sophia laughed softly. “Spunky, huh? Don't think anyone's called me that in years. I'm Sophia,” she said, extending her hand.
The man grinned and leaned forward, kissing her hand gently. “Enchante, madamoiselle. I'm Zach.”
“Seriously? He's laying it on a bit thick, don't you think?” Michael said, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the table.
“Nice to meet you, Zach,” Sophia said, blushing slightly and pulling her hand back.
“Is there anything I can help you find?” he asked, leaning over the table.
“Actually, I'm not really sure what I'm looking for, so I don't know how you can help,” she said apologetically.
“Yeah, you heard her... back off bud.” Michael leaned forward on the table toward Zach. Sophia turned slightly and raised her eyebrow at him, causing Zach to frown and look around in confusion.
“Something wrong?” he asked.
She turned back to him and smiled. “No, no... I just thought I saw someone in the corner. Trick of the light, I suppose.”
~*~
I didn't say it was a good deleted scene, mind you. Plus, you get it in its unedited form. Those always suck more. *nods*
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