Friday Fictioneers - "In the Woods... " - Revision

After having read some of the comments on my previous post, particularly the constructive criticism from newpillowbook (Thank you!), I have decided to rewrite this piece to try to cut extraneous adjectives and description, sticking to getting the story across, whilst still keeping some good description so long as it does not distract from the story.  I have managed to cut 61 words from the original 326 word flash fiction piece.  So it is now 265 words long.  I am hoping this improves the piece and still gives you vivid imagery of the scene.  Please let me know what you think!

---

In the Woods...

Gliding through the trees, a lithe and agile figure swings from bough to bough.  Clad in dark emerald suede, strong and supple, like the frame it covers.  A long cloak of scarlet curls wrap around her as she alights upon a sturdy limb, easing herself into a crouching position.  Her right hand unconsciously reaches for a vine behind her, whilst her left holds an elegantly curved bow horizontally in front of her.  Arianne cocks her head slightly as she spies a strange white shape moving along the forest floor beneath her.

The shape is that of a man, covered in a stark white armour appearing to be made of leather, with a white bowl for a helmet on his head.  He moves slowly, as if dragging his limbs through thick set honey, the open part of his helmet shimmering like a rippling stream.

Mesmerised by him, Arianne watches as he passes under her bough, swivelling round, she doesn’t allow him out of her sight.  Silently releasing her grip on the vine she slides an arrow from the quiver on her back.  Taking aim, her lips slightly ajar whilst squinting one eye, she holds her breath…  then shoots the arrow strong and straight, piercing the ground only a dragon’s breath from his right foot.

He pauses, stares at the arrow, then turns to follow the invisible line from the arrow’s quill to the bow it was shot from.

The beautiful wielder of the oak bow sits above him, her head held high as she gazes down at him, the corner of her lips leisurely curling up.

Friday Fictioneers - "In the Woods..."

Here is this week's attempt at Madison Woods Friday Fictioneers, this week's story is based on the photo below (photo credit also to: Madison Woods).  It took a little while and I finally came up with this, after about an hour rewriting it, I have ended up with a 323 word Flash Fiction piece I have called "In the Woods... ".  I hope you like it! 

Constructive Criticism always welcome!

In the Woods...

Gliding through the trees, a lithe and agile figure swings from bough to bough. Clad in dark emerald suede, strong and supple, like the frame it covers. A long cloak of scarlet curls wrap around her as she alights upon a sturdy limb, her own slender limbs outstretched as she eases herself into a crouching position. Her right hand unconsciously reaches for a vine behind her, whilst her left holds an elegantly curved bow horizontally in front of her. Arianne cocks her head slightly as she spies a strange white shape moving along the forest floor beneath her.

As it continues to move in a slow deliberate way, as if dragging it’s limbs through thick set honey, she notices the shape is that of man, covered in a stark white armour appearing to be made of leather, with a white bowl for a helmet on his head. As he moves through the dappled half-light of the forest, the open part of his helmet shimmers like a rippling stream.

Arianne is mesmerised by him, she follows his steady journey with her emerald eyes as he passes under her bough. She swivels on the balls of her feet, easing herself round, not allowing the white figure out of her sight. Silently releasing her grip on the vine, she slides an arrow from the hidden quiver on her back, and lines it up against the wooden bow. Her pale pink lips slightly ajar, she concentrates whilst squinting one eye. She holds her breath, then shoots the arrow strong and straight, piercing the ground only a dragon’s breath from his right foot.

He pauses, stares at the arrow, then slowly turns his helmet, following the invisible line from the arrow’s quill up to the bow it was shot from.

The beautiful wielder of the oak bow sits above him, her head held high as she gazes down at him, the corner of her lips leisurely curling up.

Friday Fictioneers - "Vertigo"

I've been inspired by Madison Woods Blog, particularly her weekly "Friday Fictioneers" Flash Fiction challenge.  So I thought I'd have a go!  (Here's hoping I get this right!).  The challenge is to write a 100 word (give or take) piece of flash fiction inspired by her photo prompt.  I post a link to Madison's story here, and post my story here.

(I would love to receive some constructive criticism on this, I am striving to improve my skills!).

The ship shudders as another explosion rips through it.

“Oh God, oh God, oh God” Jade mutters over and over again, the tears in her eyes blurring the vision of the console she so desperately clings to.

“Abandon Ship! Abandon Ship!” orders the tall burly Captain, grabbing a large pulse rifle and hurriedly punching keys on the wall.

“But Captain, the radiation! We’ll have to suit up!” she cries in disbelief.

“There‘s no time!” yells the Captain. As the doors hiss open, he scoops her tiny frame up in one sturdy arm and whisks her through the doors and out into the unknown.



Two Word Tuesday...

Inspired by today's Writing.com Facebook status:  "Two Word Tuesday ---> Describe the weather where you are right now in two words... "

My two words to describe the weather where I am today?

"Opaque Sky"



Book Review: Prince Harry - Photographs by the Daily Mail

Prince Harry - Photographs by the Daily Mail

by Alison Gauntlett

ISBN:  140540311X

ISBN13:  9781405403115

 

I really enjoyed this book, it covers Prince Harry's life from birth right through to young adulthood in 2002 when the British Royal family celebrated the Queen's Golden Jubilee. It is beautifully illustrated throughout with high quality photographs, each image has a description telling you where the picture was taken and roughly when. This book works it's way chronologically through his life, with a very pleasant narrative. An absolute pleasure to read, which I found very informative and very relaxing to read.

What's also nice is that although the text makes a brief light reference to some of the not quite so pleasant elements of Prince Harry's life (namely some things that were plastered all over the tabloid press), these are not illustrated. Making this a book you can be proud to own, showing the best of Prince Harry in his best light. And I really enjoyed it.

My only complaint? I wonder if they might do an updated version to include his life and photos from the last 10 years to the present. I loved it so much I want more!

 

 

Planning a novel - Urban Fantasy in Space

I have a new idea for a novel that I'm thinking of planning out for the CampNanowrimo August novel writing month challenge.  It's basically an urban fantasy set in space.  So more of a Sci-fi Fantasy hybrid genre.  I wanted to write an urban fantasy novel, but figured there are literally tons of urban fantasy novels out there, how can I make mine unique?  That's when I thought of setting it in space. 

I now have my main characters, a Witch, a Merman, an Incubus, a Werewolf Girl, an Elf Girl, a Gargoyle, a Wolfman, and possibly a female Satyr / Drow-Elf Hybrid.  I've also planned that they'll all be living on a space station, orbiting the Earth alongside the Moon (this could have interesting effects on a Werewolf's transformations - possibly every night?).  The Earth would be post-apocalyptic, Demonic Forces could have caused the destruction of the Earth, leaving a deserted radioactive planet, awash with dangerous mutated creatures, and (possibly mutated) crazed human survivors.  And of course the humans have to visit the planet to scavenge resources, whilst trying not to get killed.

The most difficult part of planning my story at the moment seems to be planning when my novel should begin?  Just before or long after the apocalyptic event on planet earth?  I also have the problem of how do I get all my supernatural creatures up on board the space station, and spend so long in cryosleep without anyone noticing the fact they're not all normal human beings.  For example, the Merman would be rather conspicuous in a liquid filled cryotank.  And my Satyr/Drow Elf Hybrid has large curled horns, she can hide them under a cloak hood, but not whilst unconscious floating in liquid.  I won't have the same problem with my Incubus (whose similar to a Vampire), as he will be left on the planet, and able to survive.  Even though his regular food source (humans) will be few and far between. 

I'd love to hear any other ideas and suggestions, and whether you think this is a good idea I'm working with!  I will be planning my novel over the next couple of months following through the Nanowrimo book: Ready, Set, Novel! I love to plan out my novels, but have never tried a full workbook like this - my novel planning is usually pretty haphazard!  So maybe this time I will plan a full novel, and actually complete it!

You Have To Take One Idea To The Finish Line...

"I realize how hard it is after putting in a full day of work to come home and do more work on your personal projects. But you have to do it. It is that simple. And you have to take one idea to the finish line. Listen, almost every artist I know has a personal project brewing, a kids book, a novel, a movie script idea… But very few ever take it to a point that they can show it to publishers, because it is always easier to start a new idea than to finish an old one."

~ Scott Fischer, being interviewed on The ArtOrder Blog.

As an Artist and a Writer, I can totally agree with this, it is easier to start a new idea than to finish an old one. And probably the main reason why I have never finished a writing project. Last year I started writing a novel I posted on this blog, Ghosts of Time. I started writing with lots of enthusiasm, and got good feedback on the first two posts I made. Then I started reading a blog post (apologies I can't remember which blog it was on now), but it said that once you had published your novel on your blog, you couldn't sell it to a publisher. Something about you having already used your first publishing rights on your blog. This made me panic and stop writing my novel. I loved the idea so much, I thought it would make a great and unusual novel, and one day I'd like to get it published.

This is still true, but why did I stop writing it altogether? I could have continued writing it, just not publishing it until I try to get it professionally published. The thing was, I loved the feedback, and the excitement at having posted it to be read online. To be able to get some feedback as to how my writing was coming along, that people were excited and wanted to read more. I also felt I was held accountable and had to produce a new chapter as people were waiting to read more. I loved that.

I started reading my Ghosts Of Time posts again recently, to post on a Goodreads.com group, Ambitious Writers. And I surprised myself with how good they were. Sure, I know I'm not a published author, and I am in no way perfect with my writing. But it still amazes me that I feel the same excitement reading my writing, as I did writing my writing. I loved it, and I wanted to read more. And in order to read more of it, I must write more of it.

But I want to be able to publish it? Therefore, I must not post it on here as I write it. But I do miss the excitement of posting on here and feeling excited about updating it. Then I remembered another writer's blog I read often. The Writeaholic's Blog. Aheila, who writes The Writeaholic's Blog, writes web series on her blog, which you can find from the links across the top of her blog (see Killing Time OST and Other Stories links on her blog). But she also writes stories (novels I believe), which she doesn't post on her blog, but lets us know how she's doing with them in her posts. Such as when she's writing for the Nanowrimo challenge. Perhaps I could find a story to write as a web series (a fun story I'm happy to share and hopefully increase people's awareness of my writing, as well as improve my writing skills), and keep my precious original story I want to write as a novel to be published offline, and then I can publish it without any troubles. That sounds like a plan! :)

Drabble Day "Apple"

I haven't written a Drabble in a while, so I thought I'd have a go at Aheila's latest Drabble challenge - Apple. Here's my attempt, a little over 100 words!

"An Apple was sitting on the teacher’s desk. Roxy hadn’t noticed it when she first got into class, but it was in plain sight now. She squinted at it for a moment, then returned her eyes to the blackboard. The ancient history teacher was waffling on monotonously, his white moustache hardly moving as he mumbled his way through the lesson. Nothing changes.

As she twisted a green curl between her fingers, a slight hum began to catch her ear. Drowsily her eyes drift back to the apple on the desk. It hums steadily louder as an incandescent blue light begins to surround it, growing stronger as the hum grows louder. Roxy rolled her eyes in annoyance, Just what I need!"

Vocabulary - Cachet

~ a quality of distinction and style that people admire and approve of

Remember Me

I just watched Remember Me, the beautiful movie starring Robert Pattinson and Pierce Brosnan. There is a line in this movie, a quote from Ghandi, it says: "Whatever you do in this life will be insignificant, but it is important that you do it. For you leave fingerprints on the people you touch in your life." And I think this is very true of the characters in this movie. Especially Robert Pattinson's character, Tyler Hawkins, who teaches his father to show his feelings and do right by his family. He brings his family closer together. This is ironic seen as another character in his life tells him he is going nowhere, with no career prospects, nothing big going for him. His own father tells him he has nothing, he pedalled on a bicycle to his office. He owns nothing, and not making anything of himself. Tyler sums it up when he says he is "Undecided... about everything!" He doesn't know where he is going or what he is doing.

I'm sure all of us have felt lost like this at some point in our lives. Having watched this film it has reminded me of how all the people I have met at some point in my life have left an impression, or a fingerprint, on my life. Some people are in your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. But they all leave an impression on your life, and manage to enrich it in some way, often teaching us lessons in the process. I used to think the only way to make a difference in the world, and to leave an impression, would be to leave behind art, writing, or even a movie, as those are the people who are recognised and remembered. But we also remember if someone has been especially kind to us, a smile, a pleasant comment, these things we remember. So perhaps if we are all a bit nicer to one another, passing on a pleasantry, then perhaps we can leave a pleasant impression, and be remembered in other people's memories.

2012 - Serious Writing Year?

I have a New Year's Resolutions list a page and a half long, so many things I want to do this year. But most importantly, I want to take care of myself. Often when striving to achieve this or that, we neglect ourselves. I want to make sure I have some 'me time' - some time to myself, to relax, unwind, and follow my dreams. I have dabbled more with my fiction writing and art goals this last year, but never for very long. I want to become a serious fantasy & science fiction artist and writer.

The big thing I need to do this year? Practice my skills. To actually sit down to write and draw daily. The only way to actually improve my skills is to sit down and use them, often. I often get all excited when Nanowrimo comes up, and the same with scriptfrenzy. But if I don't actually get much writing done that month, and don't complete my novel or script by the end of the month, then I stop writing. Why? There is no rule that says you must only attempt to write a novel in November. The amazing thing Nanowrimo has taught me, is to actually sit down and write. I learn so much simply by doing that. Personally I struggle to reach my word count targets each and every day, but I do manage to hit half my word count targets each day quite successfully. So I should be able to write a 50,000 word novel quite easily in 2 months.

I want to spend this year honing my craft, writing scenes and practicing writing challenging scenes. Scenes with action in them, description, dialogue, drama, suspense, everything. I want to improve and write something I am really proud of. Only then can I reach the stage of writing something worthy of publication. And that is my ultimate aim. Probably next year, or the year after, depending on how I get on. I want to be able to call myself a writer at the end of this year, knowing that I have improved my skills and made progress. These are my main writing goals/tasks this year:

• Write daily, 15 minutes one day, 60 minutes the next.


• Write 100 word Drabble's (as part of the Writeaholic's Blog's weekly Drabble challenges).


• Write short scenes from movies and tv (practicing writing prose).


• Learn new vocabulary - a new word from the dictionary each week.


• Research Science and History, for use in novels and short stories (for Space Opera and Time Travel fiction).


• Plan a short story / Write a short story.


• Plan a novel / Write a 50,000 word first draft of a novel.


• Learn how to edit and rewrite a novel (and short story).


• Read 10 novels from start to finish this year.

Here's hoping for a productive and well written 2012!