A Recent Writing Exercise: Beach Prompt

by Cindy Rae

Some time ago I pulled this prompt from Writer’s Digest University’s “Showing Character Emotion“. As an exercise I recently wrote a snippet in response.  It resonates with me because of the beach experiences of my childhood. The snippet is in draft form; I’ll be returning at some point to polish it by convey more emotion, directly and indirectly.

“Create a character who’s favorite place is the beach. Describe her thoughts as she stands on the sand and looks out at the ocean; use specific, imaginative, and active verbs.”

My response:
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by Cindy Rae

Although incredibly clean, like the rest of the ship, the floor in the corridor showed its age with scuff marks and scratches, the kind paint doesn’t hide.  As she strode along, the worn metal grating beneath her feet rattled occasionally.  Kaylah tipped her head back to examine the conduits running overhead behind a series of grates.  Several were taped together with what looked like duct tape.

“A budget ride is a budget ride,” a family friend had warned as they said their last goodbyes back on Earth.  He had added earnestly, “but it will get you there in one piece.  The captain’s a good man.”

“Whatever that means,” Kaylah thought.  She pulled her coat tighter.  The air smelled musty but better than in the passenger rec area.   On any given day, when too many of the unwashed crammed into the converted cargo hold… Her nose crinkled in disgust.  She understood the need for limited water rationing, but she didn’t have to like it.

On Good Authors

by Cindy Rae

A few older and newer authors whose writing I enjoy:

  • Louis L’Amour and Craig Johnson for westerns
  • Thomas Davis Bunn for adventure and historical fiction with a Christian tone
  • Steven Gould for science fiction adventure without spaceships and lasers
  • Dominic Green for science fiction laughs — the books may be aimed for younger readers, but I find them funny in a dry sort of way
  • Lois McMaster Bujold — character-driven, space adventure at its finest, with a solid foundation of morality and honor

What’s in My Notes on Writing?

by Cindy Rae

I keep a separate Word file that I reference often when I write, especially when revising.  It contains a rather eclectic mix: scene checklists, story structure advice, lists of conjunctions, and much more that I would like to remember.  I do add endnotes for the sources of most of the information.

Here’s the current Table of Contents:

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On Good Books: Leaving Blythe River

by Cindy Rae

Leaving Blythe River by Catherine Ryan Hyde also proved to be a surprisingly good read.  Although a coming-of-age story, the novel doesn’t read like a young adult book.

I had the pleasure to live in Colorado for several years, and I still miss the wilderness.  The novel seems to accurately portray the realities of a similar wilderness — both the beautiful and the harsh.  The characters were also realistic and engaging, from the protagonist to the motley team helping him to his father.

 

Latest Book that Captivated?

by Cindy Rae

What is the latest book I’ve read that was sheer enjoyment?

After a long drought filled with disappointing books from Hoopla, Overdrive, Amazon Prime loans, and even my local library, I checked out from my local library the following:

  • The Cinder Spires: The Aeronaut’s Windlass by Jim Butcher

    The first book in a new fantasy series was a surprisingly good read.  Surprising in that I’ve avoided his other works due to strong dislike of the supernatural mash and scent of the occult.  This new world has no faeries, no zombies, no incubi, and — even better — has elements of steampunk in it.  The print version was available at my local library.