Hey everyone! It’s been a while since our last posting. Hopefully your projects/lives have been going well since then.
Today I’m going to share a short bit of my writing with you—allow me to share some backstory. Basically, this past week has been sort of difficult as far as the writing scene has gone. In the spirit of #OctWritingChallenge, I’ve been trying to write 500 words a day, or I’ve been editing for an hour. I’ve made it for the most part, but it felt sluggish and dull.
I’m currently rewriting a lot of my story and I’m proud of the changes so far and I can’t wait to see the end result. However, I’m currently in the middle of some pretty lame stuff. The kind of stuff that you think, “I know this is garbage, but I just can’t deal with it right now.” Not exactly a writer’s block, just a week of keine Lust—no real interest in doing anything about it.
Well, yesterday at work, one of my coworkers taught us a bit about flash fiction and how that works. We wrote spooky stuff while on the clock and shared them with each other. I know—creative writing at work is pretty geeky, but refreshing. We were given about 10-15 minutes to write something. It was kind of life-changing, if I dare call it that. Mainly because I wrote 400 words in 10 minutes, and I’m pretty proud of what I came up with. I basically discovered something about a character that I had never thought of before.
It changed me, because it reminded me that when it comes to writing, the only real enemy is yourself. If you just let free prose come out and not care if it makes sense, then that’s when the discovery starts. I thought this was really pertinent to remember just before NaNoWriMo 2014 begins.
So if you’re wondering what I wrote about, here it is. The characters here are from my novel, Destiny Seeker. I shouldn’t have to say this, but this text is mine and I plan on using for future publication, so enjoy, but don’t steal.
If you have any suggestions for keeping yourself pumped to write, please comment!
“But I thought that only my mother and I had this power. I didn’t really stop to think that other people could be like me,” Ilsi said.
“I don’t claim to know everything, even if that’s what people outside our city think they know about me and my kind,” Ladala said, “But I think you should consider the possibilities that others may be like you, but you’ll have to stand and do the right thing.” Ladala tilted her head slightly, as if she was trying to gauge whether or not Ilsi understood.
“Do you know why they call me ‘Lady’ around here?” she asked.
“Not particularly,” Ilsi said. “I could only imagine that you a part of a royal family of some kind.”
“That’s a decent guess,” Ladala smiled, “but in this part of the woods, there are no royalty. You won’t find a single drop of royal blood here.”
“Then how did you become a leader? You have your own soldiers,” Ilsi asked, gesturing towards the door where they knew a guard was standing watch.
“You see, there are many like me that could be a leader and take charge,” Ladala said, “But here I am, fulfilling a leadership role that my people thought we needed.”
“How did you manage that?”
“People listen to me,” Ladala said. “I gather them. It’s not for trickery or lust for power, but people trust my judgments. I can sense what a person or creature is capable of. They come and ask me what kind of person they are and they trust my replies.”
“Are you a seer then?” Ilsi asked, her brows furrowed.
“Would you like me to be one? If only! I just observe,” Ladala said. “I see how people talk and carry themselves and I just give them suggestions. However, it’s become some kind tradition that people come to me when they’re faced with heavy decisions.”
“And this makes you a leader?”
“I put the best of the best where they can succeed. It makes for a happy people when each and every soul believes they are wanted and needed.”
“Well, then what would you say about me?” Ilsi said. “What kind of person should I become?”
“And me? What about me?” Reshma said from behind. “I could use a little direction.” Ilsi thought they were alone, but she was glad that it was at least only Reshma who overheard.
“You could’ve come in,” Ilsi insisted.
“Well, you’ve travelled farther than most who have come for my counsel. But give it time,” Ladala said. “I’ll be able to give you a sufficient answer when the time is right.”
“Does this mean we can stay longer than just for the night?” Reshma asked. “Because that’s what I was listening for.”
“You barely got here,” Ladala laughed. “Why should we turn you away? Besides, this is probably the safest place in the world besides being in the arms of your mother.”
Ilsi’s sighed with relief at the thought of safety, and clutched her satchel—and her mother’s book—closer to her.
Ladala is an interesting character. I’d read the story just to find out more about her observational and leadership skills.
And there’s a great lesson here about perseverance when the writing feels dull. Thanks for the reminder.
Thanks, too, for commenting on my INTJ character article. It’s always great to meet and hear from insightful writers, Whitney. Hope to see more of you.
Flash fiction is a new love for me too. It’s so freeing to be able to write an entire story in one sitting. Sometimes, it makes you feel like a literary genius without taxing you excessively.
Your story was good (it’s hard to believe you wrote it in only 10 minutes!), and I loved the characterization, but it sounds like the second chapter of a good book! I’d love to hear more about this
What would you like to know? I wrote a quick synopsis of the project under our “Novels” tab. The book is called Destiny Seeker. I was probably more surprised than anyone that I got that much out of me in 10 minutes! I guess that’s the beauty of letting anxiety go and let the creativity creep in.