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!
Sunday, May 18, 2014
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*
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Teaser Tuesday
I'm working on the editing! Up to page 114 of 164 (of the original manuscript. I'm up to page 125 of 175 in the edited version). Unfortunately, I now hit a point where I'm going to be doing major rewrites, so not entirely looking forward to that. But it's still possible for me to be done by graduation. Especially if I have some productive days.
Here's today's teaser:
~*~
She took a deep breath and looked him straight in the eye. “What would you have me do, Michael? Sit around and watch as they make Grace sicker and sicker? As she gets more and more angry at me for not helping her? I can't just sit and do nothing.”
“That's exactly what you have to do. You can't get involved in this, it's far too dangerous for a girl like you,” Michael said, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
“What's that supposed to mean? I was given these abilities for some reason, Michael. It would be wasteful not to do something with them,” she said as she tried to step around him again.
He moved and blocked her again. “So call the police with your suspicions. Let them handle it on their own. That's what they're trained to do.”
She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “I know that, but I'm in a unique place to help. I can't let that go to waste either.” Gathering her courage, she stepped around him once again.
~*~
Short, I know! But I don't want to give away too much of what's going on! Once I get the first draft revised, I'll post some of the chopped scenes. Something to look forward to!
Here's today's teaser:
~*~
She took a deep breath and looked him straight in the eye. “What would you have me do, Michael? Sit around and watch as they make Grace sicker and sicker? As she gets more and more angry at me for not helping her? I can't just sit and do nothing.”
“That's exactly what you have to do. You can't get involved in this, it's far too dangerous for a girl like you,” Michael said, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
“What's that supposed to mean? I was given these abilities for some reason, Michael. It would be wasteful not to do something with them,” she said as she tried to step around him again.
He moved and blocked her again. “So call the police with your suspicions. Let them handle it on their own. That's what they're trained to do.”
She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “I know that, but I'm in a unique place to help. I can't let that go to waste either.” Gathering her courage, she stepped around him once again.
~*~
Short, I know! But I don't want to give away too much of what's going on! Once I get the first draft revised, I'll post some of the chopped scenes. Something to look forward to!
Sunday, March 9, 2014
I'm Alive!
So clearly, I didn't finish NaNo. Things just got absolutely crazy at the end of the month with interviews and trying to get time on an actual computer to write, and I just lost my motivation. First time I've participated and haven't won. Sadness.
And then I disappeared for like 5 months. Sorry about that. I have a couple things in the works right now (one medical narrative submitted to a student publication, one in the works for our school's literary magazine, and potentially an actually entry into On the Premises), and am determined to get Hidden Souls second draft done by graduation. Determined. I've been putting it off for like 3 years now. Seriously, I need to get it done. And then we'll see about the publication route. I haven't entirely decided what I'm going to do yet.
News, though!
Amtrack is having a writing residency program, where people basically write while taking a really long train ride. I've been encouraged to apply, and it sounds kinda cool and generally fun. But, in order to do that, I had to break down and get a Twitter account. So, you can now find me @CLFiction. Hopefully that'll be updated more frequently than this blog. I'm working on it, I swear!
And then I disappeared for like 5 months. Sorry about that. I have a couple things in the works right now (one medical narrative submitted to a student publication, one in the works for our school's literary magazine, and potentially an actually entry into On the Premises), and am determined to get Hidden Souls second draft done by graduation. Determined. I've been putting it off for like 3 years now. Seriously, I need to get it done. And then we'll see about the publication route. I haven't entirely decided what I'm going to do yet.
News, though!
Amtrack is having a writing residency program, where people basically write while taking a really long train ride. I've been encouraged to apply, and it sounds kinda cool and generally fun. But, in order to do that, I had to break down and get a Twitter account. So, you can now find me @CLFiction. Hopefully that'll be updated more frequently than this blog. I'm working on it, I swear!
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