A waterfall of rain cascaded over the windshield, the wipers battling futilely. She peered ahead cautiously, driving slowly and rocking the steering wheel side-to-side in tight, white-knuckled motion as she fought the winds.
Writings
Welcome!
I am a writer. I dream of stories in fiction, and daylight often gives non-fiction ideas.
In fiction my current work, Salvage, is in the science fiction genre, while other works planned are in mainstream and children’s fiction.
In nonfiction, I have authored articles on a variety of subjects and blog posts related to the craft and business of writing.
A New Year of Writing
As great as my year-end break was, I’m glad to be back to a routine and glad to explore the possibilities here in the new year.
Writing Tidbit: The Tree
The tree stood as a large sentinel on the land jutting into the bay. It spread its large branches across higher ground slowly swelling from the flat land around, too gradual to be called a hill.
Character Arcs and Story Structure
In addition to writing, I’ve been doing more research into story structure.
The problem is, my story doesn’t quite fit the standard model, as each of the three character arcs is well-formed enough to have its own introduction-conflict-resolution — but not at the same points in the overall story. I think I can strengthen each character’s arc to be more of a solid story, though.
As with all writing advice, I’m going to let it sink in and discard what doesn’t apply.
I also may have too many scenes that are too short. I’ll be looking at scene structure over the next month.
Why was she always such a dork in front of this man?
She went on.
“We were in the office. I was giggling with the other two office girls, typing away on a laptop. I was about to connect the special laptop when suddenly a manager came out of his office (it was a pocket office, not off the main corridor we had checked). We had no idea anyone else was left!”
“I had done a lot of giggling, explaining I had to fix the laptop before Monday.”
“The guy grabbed the special laptop to put it away. I looked at the time, saying I had to go, to come back the next day. My boyfriend (the same one I had chatted up with the girls about my mom not knowing about) was coming.”
“The guy was so suspicious. He found a bug on the edge of the keyboard. I was so wide-eyed and surprised.”
“I thought I wouldn’t make out, but Matt strolled right in and collected me. He was pretending to be the boyfriend.”
The elevator doors dinged.
“And where is he now?” he growled.
Memories of Younger Years
Sunlight shines on the bay waters of the Texas Gulf Coast in a unique way. I took the longer route down the coast whenever I could, eschewing the faster interstate for the smaller highways and roads, weaving my way south past nearby smaller towns like Lake Jackson, Bay City, Palacios, and Tivoli.
In Progress: A Second Nanite Short Story
One of the ideas I had for the first competition I entered concerned nanites. My second idea for a medicine-related short story also involved nanites in a very different setting.
Here’s an excerpt from the draft of the second short story I’ve prepared:
Continue reading
Writing Status: Slow Month
I had high hopes for more writing time this summer. Parenting, gardening, and purging excess stuff have really eaten up June.
However, despite limited time, I’m learning more and more about my craft. I’m starting to hone character development in my novel, and I’ve finished the first draft of a science fiction short story.
Although I do read short stories, I’ve always liked reading novels better. However, it turns out, writing short stories is fun. I’m learning how to make every sentence work, more about pacing the action, how to not complicate things. I’m looking forward to shaping and finishing the short story.
First Draft Almost Complete
My first draft is almost complete. I’m so close I can see the light of day at the end of the tunnel. And it won’t be a train wreck! Well, only so much as first drafts are always train wrecks.
Then, it will be time to revise, and revise. I’m still not happy with Kindra’s profession. As a dynamic, assertive, no holds-barred, best friend of our protagonist, none of my job choices for her seem to fit: personal assistant to a wealthy woman, a marketing director (too close to Sifa’s profession), international spy, retail sales… maybe a nurse?
Tidbits of Writing Advice Gleaned
These quotes are few bits of writing humor I found applicable in my development as a writer so far. Hope they make you smile, too.