Crushed
Life’s been crushing me under its boot heel.
What’s this life for if all we do is struggle?
Continue reading Crushed
Category: Uncategorized
When Stars and Angels Sing
When stars and angels sing…
You know you’re in for quite the adventure… Continue reading When Stars and Angels Sing
Turkey Bowl (or Turkey’s Revenge)
Turkey Bowl (or Turkey’s Revenge) Sarn waited for Nolo to tell him what tonight would bring: practice, running, scouting or wandering around the forest, but just as the man started to speak, shouting and the pounding of feet interrupted. Two forms shot across the meadow, something white chased them, threatening gobbles erupted– Sarn’d never heard that before; the bird-thing flapped wings, hopped and tried to nip the backsides racing ahead of it; the two men veered towards Nolo screaming, holding their backsides. Nolo just stared as the spectacle neared. Sarn yanked his master out of the men’s way. What mischief they’d caused, they now … Continue reading Turkey Bowl (or Turkey’s Revenge)
The Match
The Match Cyprus’ ringside seats enabled him to watch the match. Who’d leave in a coffin? The acrobat tumbled, his strength let him toss the mawkish gawker out on his fin. Through the hawker’s hand lapis lazuli beads slid, clicking, blocking Cyprus’ view. The stench of brimstone warned he’d better lie low ‘fore the serum wore off. Sweat bedew his forehead, his arm pits, deodorant’s failure, its obsolescence in process. Then his human skin molted and the chant began quickening the change in the press. A demon spilled forth ending the death match. Everyone left without coffin or scratch. ~ ~ ~ Like vignette-style sonnets? Want … Continue reading The Match
Giving Thanks & Turkey Carving
Giving Thanks & Turkey Carving “Why he do that?” Ran pointed at the bird. Nolo defeathered it on the terrace. Sarn drew Ran back inside. “To cook the bird, you have to remove its feathers.” Distressed Ran squirmed, “he’s hurting it.” Sarn shook his head. “It’s already dead. So it can’t feel pain.” Ran glared betrayal, but his green eyes plead to hear that Sarn had not caused the bird pain. “I found it trapped, dying–Nolo killed it.” He didn’t know if Nolo had set the trap and he didn’t want to know. “Are you helping–” he started to say but stopped when a strap caught … Continue reading Giving Thanks & Turkey Carving
The Great Pretender – A Daily Post Sonnet
The Great Pretender A knock sounded, he donned his father’s cloak, pulled the cowl down to shadow features six and ten years younger than the man the bloke came to fetch. He smiled at the simple fix, waved to his sleeping father who needed rest not another stupid meeting with fools. They saw his glowing eyes, assumed the rest, and he smiled at the deception, those fools! They blathered on; he loomed, quiet, playing his father, remembering to whisper. The meeting ended with him scurrying back to pretend he’d not left the sleeper ’til a tap on his shoulder proved he’d not fooled Father, with … Continue reading The Great Pretender – A Daily Post Sonnet
My Happy Place
My happy place is anywhere I can find beauty, even a crack in the asphalt will do: I’m just simple like that. Continue reading My Happy Place
How much should you write every day?
“Write 10,000 Words Everyday is Terrible Advice” so says @virajpatel24 on Medium.com and I agree with him. I’ve seen a lot of posts lately here and on Medium.com about word counts mixed in with advice about how to write. These posts came up during a search for editing/revising advice and curiosity made me read them. Who doesn’t like free advice? Write 10,000 words in one day. I’ve actually blown past that limit in one twenty-four hour period but I couldn’t uncurl the fingers on my right hand at the end of that session. My hand had locked up from too much abuse. I had … Continue reading How much should you write every day?
Over Edited?
Is it possible to over edit a piece? If you removed all instances of the ‘to be’ verb, ‘ly’ words and filter words, are you left with an over edited piece? Or a polished gem? I ask because I wrote 1200 words last night without using a single ‘ly’ word, ‘to be’ verb or filter word. The scene has a tight grittiness that appeals to me but I can’t help wondering if I went too far. How can I tell if I went too far? Or is there no such thing as ‘over edited’? When does editing cease to be polishing what’s there … Continue reading Over Edited?
Eliminating Filter Words
There’s a great post about filter words penned by Cecilia Lewis that I found thanks to a comment Aeryn Rudel left on my previous blog entry. (Thank you Aeryn and thank you Celia!) I’m adding filter words to my list of words that need to be sought out and destroyed. I was dithering over a few of them yesterday. I thought it had something to do with the fact that I was reading the text aloud that made them sound jarring and out of place. Now I know why they bothered me. They pulled me out of the head of my character. I blame the … Continue reading Eliminating Filter Words
Selfie
Everyone is doing it. Thought I’d post a selfie in case you were wondering if the curly locks shot is really me. It is though my hair obviously doesn’t do curls without intervention. And I don’t intervene unless it’s a really special occasion and the bride demands it. Continue reading Selfie
Note to My Sister
September is days away. I still have to remind myself not to start searching for the perfect birthday gift for my sister. She’s dead. Gone to a better place I hope where all the woes that plagued her in life no longer pester her. Down here on earth I’m still here. Same job. Same commute. Same dream. Her dying wish still unfulfilled. Continue reading Note to My Sister
Audio Books: My Not-so-Secret Obsession
What are you reading?
I love asking people that because I’m always on the hunt for recommendations. Reviews are my best friend. Yet I rarely ever post one on Audible unless the book has no reviews at all. Then I feel morally obligated to fill in the gap.
So what am I reading? Continue reading Audio Books: My Not-so-Secret Obsession
Balance
While wracking up the points in one of the free rewards programs I indulge in, I ran across an interesting ad. It was for a site called http://www.mymixify.com. I didn’t watch the commercial. I usually ignore them but the last few seconds caught my attention. Instead of showing the usual array of really unhealthy snacks, the screen showed almonds, containers of fresh fruit and other healthy goodies. Then it flashed up something about mixing it up and keeping it fresh. Short Attention Span (moi) went to the site to have a look-see. Apparently the site is sponsored by the major … Continue reading Balance
Melinda Kucsera - USA Today Bestselling Author of Epic Fantasy Adventures 
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