Winner! But Not Done Yet

That’s right! I made it, baby!

Camp NaNoWriMo April 2016 WINNER!

28 days, 61,060 words (61,038 after validating), 128 pages, 6.5 chapters finished, and one more chapter started.

This is the highest goal I’ve ever set for a NaNo month and I made it! I’m quite proud of that.

It’s been an interesting month to say the least. A few ups and downs, a couple snags in the writing, but also a lot of steamrolling right through it.

At the beginning of the month I wrote about 40k words in eleven days or so. Then I hit a dilemma that had me banging my had off my keyboard until I finally got out of my character’s way and let them roll with it. So for a week or so I did have a lapse and didn’t get much done writing, though it wasn’t the best week work wise either which didn’t help, but I still pushed through in the end.

There were only three days this month I fell below par which is a personal best for me. All of which were in the last week when my ginormous word cushion caught up to me from that struggling week or so I had in writing. I’m not going to count how many days I didn’t write, I don’t want to know that number. (Though some of those days I was working on a flash fiction piece for Shards of Imagination instead of writing for NaNo. And one day I was spontaneously writing poems. So it’s not like all of those days were no writing at all.)

Still, that is a ton of words and pages added to my first draft. I haven’t even copied and pasted what I wrote for NaNo into the original Word doc of the novel yet to see the grand total. (I write for NaNo in a blank doc and copy and paste over because it makes things so much easier in keeping track of word count and validating at the end of the month.) Well, I have copied and pasted a majority of what I’ve written over, but I haven’t been doing it the past week, so I don’t even know how many pages and words I’m really at for the entire novel now.

It’s a lot, I can tell you that much.

I can say I’m on Chapter 21 at the current moment, and each one is drawing me closer and closer to the end of the novel. I’m getting so, so excited. I never thought I would pass 100k words, or 100 pages, let alone 20 chapters, and here I am, having done all three now within the past month.

It amazes me what I’m doing. It terrifies me, excites me, and amazes me all at once. Writing is just that powerful on so many level.

My characters didn’t always like to listen this month, but they have surprised me, made me scream at them, break my own heart, and smile like an idiot. It’s been a good month for writing. I’m currently completely pantsing this novel with no more planned chapters, but it’s running better that way now after I was hitting the snags so I’m just going to keep going that way for now.

Why mess with what’s working, right?

My heart’s desire was to get 70k written for the entire month. I can certainly still make it. I’ve got two days left, one of which I’m off work and only 9k words left to write to hit that. It’s very possible for me to do, and I’ve got three people rooting for me to go for it.

I’m going for it, too.

Yeah, I’ve already validated and my race to win is technically over, but my heart wants that 70k and I want to see if I can do it, so I’m trying for it. Of course, I still have one more work shift in the month, and two weeks worth of blogs to hop through on Sunday Snippets by Saturday night as well…

If I really wanted to, I could pull an all nighter tonight, I’m off Saturday, and Sunday, so I could crash afterwards and not have to worry about any of it. Even if I get through just one week of blogs, or a week and a half, I can make up the rest next week yet when NaNo is officially over. I’m not overly worried about it. As long as I catch up on the first week I’m behind on I’ll be happy. We’ll see how it goes. If I can get that 9k by Saturday morning or early afternoon, I’ll be in good shape for blogs.

However, if I’m aiming for that, I better get back to writing then. I can’t wait to finish this novel, and I’m really hoping I do finish it this year. Now just as long as I stop slacking off in non-NaNo months…

Serpent’s Kiss (Wednesday Words 4.27.16)

Welcome to a piece of Wednesday Word’s flash fiction on Darkling Dreams!

A good friend of mine, P.T. Wyant, is doing a blog post every Wednesday called Wednesday Words with a new prompt for a bit of flash fiction writing, just to get in the habit of writing something, anything. (Even if said flash fiction is complete garbage at the time. Garbage is better than nothing though, right?) If you’re looking for some inspiration yourself or just something to aimlessly write, then go check out her blog for this week’s prompt!

With that being said, I am going to share what I came up with for this week’s flash fiction prompt based off a photo. So here is my very rough around the edges minute of inspiration based off her prompt. I’d love to hear what you guys think of it!

(Please excuse any errors you may see, I said it was rough around the edges.)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Serpent’s Kiss

I tilted my head back at the golden serpent’s touch, letting out a trail of bubbles up towards the surface of the lake. My fiery red hair floated around me, matching the red fluttering fins of the serpent. I could feel the end of its tail trailing across my bare back, its body coiled around my legs and under me to keep me at the bottom of the lake with it.

The water moved around my body in a caress as it slithered closer to my face. In turn, I arched up and backwards, my hands braced on its slippery scales where I sat upon it. Even though my eyes were closed I could picture it clearly in my mind as it moved gracefully through the water around me, inspecting me.

I wore nothing by a skimpy scaled and jeweled bikini, like that of a mermaid. Each time it got closer to me a shiver of lure and excitement wound through my flesh and bones. Another breathy trail of bubbles escaped my lips as I arched further to the serpent’s presence.

My lungs were beginning to burn, screaming for air, to go to the surface of the lake; but I was trapped in the creature’s lure, and I was going nowhere even if I actually wanted to.

If I had thought it was all legend and myth before when I came wadding into the lake, I was quickly proven wrong when I began to sing within the waters. It had been nothing more than a dare when I told my friends I didn’t believe in the myth and legend. Sure, there were many strange occurrences and disappearances surrounding Lake Sirentis. However, I chalked them all up to overactive minds and imaginations of those too engrossed in the myths.

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

The serpent wrapped his body around me more, entrapping me like boa constrictor, though not fully touching me. His scales were smooth as they brushed against my skin, sending another thrill through me and striking all the way down to my core. I arched back further from the zap of electricity through me, the pure lust and desire.

I was quite sure I elicited a moan but it was lost in a sea of bubbles as I lost the last of the precious air in my lungs, threatening to drown.

Just as panic gripped through the heated lure, I felt the serpent’s snout touch upon my neck. An intense burning that wasn’t at all painful started to spread across my throat. It was numbing at first, but as my need for air grew, the numb burn turned into a spreading fire across my skin.

My eyes flew open in the dark crystal waters and I reached my free hand to my throat, gagging and gasping. I was taking in water now, but I didn’t feel like I was drowning.

Something was wrong, something felt strange.

The burning centralized on the sides of my throat, like claws raking through my skin slowly. The serpent curled his neck around to look me straight in the eyes with that burning amber color so intense.

“Ssssing,” it hissed almost seductively.

I wasn’t quite sure I could, confused by the request of the serpent. Lost in the amber eyes, lured by the charms and myth around the creature, I opened my mouth again and began to sing just a series of ‘ahs’ like Aerial when the Sea Witch stole her voice in The Little Mermaid. My voice was strained at first, but soon it started to flow beautifully, growing stronger and more alluring.

The burning along the sides of my neck intensified and patches along my body started to tingle. My hand trailed along the side of my neck as my voice grew stronger and my need for air was pacified. To my numbed surprise, I felt my skin pulling apart along my neck and forming a set of gills on either side. They opened and closed as they pulled the oxygen from the water and as I sang.

The serpent began to unwind from around me, and I was about to stop singing as I looked to it.

“Ssssing,” it hissed again, swimming around me like an eel moving through the water.

I continued to sing as the tingling along my body grew more prominent. Looking down to myself, I saw my skin flaking off in certain sporadic patches and being replaced with fiery red patches of scales to match my hair color. My eyes widened in amazement, the fear and panic at what was happening to me numbed by a strange energy and lure starting to thrum through my heated body.

Soon a golden energy began to swirl up from the lake’s floor and it surrounded my feet, then my ankles, thighs, calves, all the way up to my waist. I could feel it practically lifting me to stand on the sandy floor, but still I didn’t stop singing.

I began to float upwards, the adrenaline rush coursing through me and making my voice grow in intensity. The more power I placed behind my voice, the higher I rose in the waters, and the more I felt the waves of the golden energy swirling around from my waist down. A new tingle started to spread over my legs and I stopped lightly kicking my feet, feeling tempted to pull them together.

Tilting my head back again, my arms floated out beside me like a majestic angel bathing in the glorious light of Heaven, my hair floating around me. The patches of scales now littering my body shone brightly. I lost myself in the feeling of elation and the seductive power of my voice, losing all thought, all will. I was giving into my body’s primal desires and I was enjoying it.

The tingling feeling finally stopped spreading through my legs, the golden energy faded away as I finished on a high note.

Slowly, I came back to myself and tilted my head forward again, coming face to face with the serpent. Something felt immensely different, and I wasn’t kicking my feet anymore. Instead I could feel one large appendage flicking back and forth in the water. My gaze traveled down my body, taking in the patches of scales and then the large mermaid-like tail I now possessed in replacement of my legs. The end of my tail was jagged and curved long, splitting two ways but having the appearance of a bat’s wing on both ends, only more sinister and sharp. The scales were the same color as the ones littering my skin now.

I flicked my tail a little, diving backwards and swimming a couple feet away as I got used to it, twirling in the water. My hair fanned in front of my face then floated out of the way. I smiled to myself, no longer noting the fear or uncertainty. All I felt now was lust and manipulative desire. Eyes that were once almost golden themselves were now the same amber color as the serpent’s and they were slit like a snake’s as I looked to the mythical creature in front of me.

In that moment I knew the legends and myths were entirely true. The superstitions and strange occurrences held complete stock in the realm of reality. I was living proof of it now.

I was a siren.

---

Now you can find this flash fiction work and others on my profile on Wattpad! Click here for my profile and go dive into a sea of Shards of Imagination!

Cover made by @_teenagers on Wattpad

The Final Countdown

Now I am panicking.

Well, sort of.

There is five days left to April’s Camp NaNo — counting today — and I still need 11,991 words to hit goal and validate.

Why did I set a goal of 60k? Why didn’t I just leave it at a nice 50k? Why did I even wish for 70k or more at one point?

Oh… Right… Because at that point, I was on a big roll and wrote 40k words in a week. And look where it’s gone from there!

Down… Down… Down…

Granted, I’m not sitting too badly. I only need 2,399 words per day to hit goal. It could be a lot worse if I really had put that 70k as my set-in-stone goal. (Thank the Gods I didn’t.) So I’m really not that bad off, but I’m starting to get nervous.

As of Sunday I had officially fallen below par for the first time this month. Which really sucks because I was doing so great and I thought I could have made it above par the whole way. Par right now is 52k, and I’m sitting at 48,009 words. So I’m just under 4k below par.

It’s not bad. On a good day off I can do 5k or more in one day.

Like I should have yesterday…

I had yesterday off and my head was just up in the clouds. No matter what I did I couldn’t get it to come down and focus. I only managed to write about 1.8k yesterday. Which has me a bit bummed, and is also the reason I’m starting to panic for. I mean, if I had hit 5k like I wanted to, I would have been back to par for yesterday and would only need 2k today to hit par.

But now I need that 4k to hit par.

I do have two more days off yet this week, and today’s shift is a really short one. Both of the other two days are shifts I can work with for writing as well, so I’m not too worried, but this is the final countdown.

The final countdown is always worrying.

I’m hoping by Friday’s blog post I will have validated that way I can spend my Saturday blog hopping two week’s worth of Sunday Snippets — because I’m an idiot and have fallen behind rather badly.

(Yes I know, NaNo writing was more important, except I wasn’t writing as much as I wanted. I’ve been slacking. I refuse to admit I am burned out. I’m not. It’s just a small lapse.)

So I’ve got five days to write 11,991 words. Three work shifts to get through. Two weeks worth of blog hopping. Another flash fiction prompt tomorrow. Oh! And did I mention before that Mercury goes Retrograde on Thursday? Yeah, I’m not looking forward to that. I’ve been feeling the effects of it since Saturday already. It’s not going to be a good one.

I definitely should validate by Friday night before Mercury really decides to screw me, or I will be one pissed off author.

Thanks to this countdown, this author isn’t letting herself go to bed until she’s hit 50k. I better go get writing then, because I want sleep.

(And did I get a song stuck in anyone else’s head besides my own from that title? *Snickers*)

Snippet Sunday: April 24, 2016

Welcome to Snippet Sunday on Darkling Dreams!

Where writers come together to share a few sentences (8-10) of their current project — whether it’s a recently released novel, a WIP (work in progress), or an older manuscript that’s being revived. Intended to hook readers, gather feedback and build an author’s fan base, Snippet Sunday is the FB group that does all three.

This is going to be my last snippet from Fated to Darkness for awhile. Starting May I will be sharing from a different WiP novel of mine. I’ve been sharing from FtD for a long time now so it’s time I moved onto to something you guys haven’t seen yet.

Previously on Sunday Snippets: Four year old Heather had been kidnapped from her home by a woman clad in black and whisked off to another realm where she found her kidnapper wanted her to be her Heir. But not just any Heir. After being locked up and put through a ritual that has changed her and her life forever — though she does not yet know it — she has found herself in a small bare essential room with a tiny bathroom, and her new mentor has instructed her to clean herself up and be ready in ten minutes. Having talked of what Ciara finally wants of her, she has now gone through three trying lessons under her mentor’s thumb, and has since passed out. Since then Ciara has finally begun to explain what it is she really wants of Heather.

I’m skipping ahead a few pages from last week’s snippet. Heather is now downstairs for breakfast after quick instruction from Ciara. Her mother however has noticed her off behavior and is trying to prompt her back to bubbly old self.

(Some sentences may have been creatively edited and punctuated to try to fit the ten sentence limit. I’m over, again. Can we just agree that my snippets will always be a little longer but not too long?)

~*~*~*~

“We could play in the snow?” her mother suggested hopefully.

Heather shrugged again, drawing patterns on the table with her fingers. Subconsciously, she ended up drawing the same markings that had been drawn — or rather carved — on her: the star inside a circle.

“Heather dear, what is wrong? Please, talk to me.”

Her mother’s voice had turned pleading and she hated herself for it. She couldn’t tell her mother a thing, could she? The one person she had always been told she could rely on, she was finding she couldn’t rely on any longer.

“Just bad–” The bracelet sent a shock of pain through her like she had been electrocuted, causing her to jump in her chair. She rubbed at her wrist, waiting for the pain to fade away. It almost made a buzzing sound in her ears and she heard Ciara’s furious booming voice echo in her mind, blocking out all else.

You are not listening! Is this what you call lying and deceiving? Pathetic! Cowardly fool, hide those emotions and act as if nothing had happened. Learn to let the lie roll off your tongue with no second thought.

Her chastising voice made Heather cringe even as the pain finally faded away along with Ciara’s voice. Only then did she hear her mother’s panicked voice calling to her, though it sounded distant at first from the waning buzzing in her ears.

“…Heather? Heather! Answer me, please. What is going on with you?”

She shook her head, trying to listen to Ciara’s instructions and wipe all thoughts from her mind, showing none of the emotion and defeat she was feeling. It made such anger boil within her to not be able to say anything, to be so neglected. She thought mother’s knew everything about their darling dears. She should be able to guess!

“Nothing, mommy. Just got startled.” She frowned to herself. Startled? She wasn’t even entirely sure what that word meant. It was another of those instances she couldn’t place or understand from the past few days. Things she shouldn’t know what they were, understanding of something she had never learned, better grammar, more knowledge… She had no idea what it all meant, or how she suddenly knew half of it.

~*~*~*~

And you are all getting a cliffhanger on what she’s referring to. *Cackles* That’s it for Fated to Darkness for awhile! I might pick it back up in July for next Camp’s session, depending how far I’ve gotten in the book by then.

This story is not yet on Wattpad because it is my baby that I hope to publish one day, and if no one will publish me, I am self publishing. But it’s also not on Wattpad because it’s in first draft phases yet. So there will be no “if you wish to read more…”

However! If you wish to read anything else that I do have finished, you can hop on over to  my profile on Wattpad and check out what I have to offer. I love to hear any and all feedback on my work as well. Comments are greatly appreciated, as are the reads.

And if you’re looking for some other great snippets of fellow authors,
hop on over to Facebook and check out Snippet Sunday!

Back on Track Just in Time

Eight days left…

It’s getting closer and closer to the end of NaNo and that countdown has begun.

I’m not panicking. Yet. I don’t think I’m going to panic,actually. Okay, maybe I’m a bit worried and internally freaking a little, but I think I’m going to be okay.

Remember me saying I had seemed to hit a lull period and I wasn’t sure where I was going in the story next because I ran out of unplanned chapters? Yeah, I didn’t think I was going to get past that.

I tried for a good five days to try and plan where I was supposed to be headed next, and I was just coming up empty. I couldn’t figure it out no matter how many times I tossed around ideas in my head. I’d start writing out the ideas, stop, and sneer at them because it wasn’t working.

Then I was told to stop worrying and just write.

Out of frustration — and the fact I knew I needed to get writing again if I was going to make goal for the month — I finally listened, threw my hands up, stepped out of my characters’ way, and handed them the reins.

And boy did they run with it!

If I had been stuck on that chapter ending before, I wasn’t after I got out of the way. I guess that was what I really needed to do: just write. I don’t have any new chapters planned, I only have general ideas and I know where I need to be going. The details though are just coming as I write, I’m not worrying about them right now. It seems it’s the only way this is working at the moment, but I’ll take it in order to finish out the month.

I now only need 13,773 words to make goal now that I managed to find my groove again. I barely got in 5k yesterday, and I say barely as in three minutes to midnight to spare. Now that I’m back on track, I think I’ll be okay the rest of the month. I haven’t even fallen below par at all.

Memories (Wednesday Words 4.20.16)

Welcome to a piece of Wednesday Word’s flash fiction on Darkling Dreams!

A good friend of mine, P.T. Wyant, is doing a blog post every Wednesday called Wednesday Words with a new prompt for a bit of flash fiction writing, just to get in the habit of writing something, anything. (Even if said flash fiction is complete garbage at the time. Garbage is better than nothing though, right?) If you’re looking for some inspiration yourself or just something to aimlessly write, then go check out her blog for this week’s prompt!

With that being said, I am going to share what I came up with for this week’s flash fiction prompt based off a three word combination. So here is my very rough around the edges minute of inspiration based off her prompt. I’d love to hear what you guys think of it!

(Please excuse any errors you may see, I said it was rough around the edges.)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Memories

The light, warm breeze ruffled her hair that was turning grey bit by tiny bit at the roots. The woods were peaceful; no one ever came here, because no one knew about this place. Not anymore. Little flecks of sun flittered down through the treetops, dancing along the bramble-strewn ground. The setting sun was painting a rainbow of fiery colors along the trees and the small open field in front of her.

She leaned against the truck of a tree, closing her two-tone marbled green eyes as she listened to the forest and the memories it brought along with it. Bright laughs and smiles. Shining eyes and pure joy on their expressions. Nights of sneaking off like rebellious teenagers just to lay out under the stars next to a crystal clear lake and listen to chirping of crickets and the splash of the waterfall. Stolen kisses and safe arms to hold each other tight and snuggle down. Swimming under the hot afternoon soon and joking around like little kids dunking each other. Flying in the open air where no one could see them just be.

Her hand slowly reached up and touched the locket necklace around her neck as she opened her eyes once more. She had never once taken it off in her life since it had been given to her. Nor did she ever plan to take it off until her dying breath and her body returned to the earth.

A soft smile touched her lips, letting her head rest against the tree as she gazed out into the field. Her eyes lingered upon the cabin, its weathered wood having lasted the years of nature’s abuse and still held sturdy. Just as their relationship and devotion to one another had lasted the years of targets on their backs. Nothing had ever managed to rock their boat or divide them, no matter how hard some tried to pry them apart and destroy the hope they built together. Just like the cabin in front of her they built.

Their home. Their little piece of paradise. Their escape from all the stress, worry, and horrors of a life that continued to nip at their heels like ravaged wolves through the years.

She kissed the locket to honor the memories then pushed off the tree and meandered to the cabin. The door creaked slightly with old age as she pushed it open; the scent of pine and lavender wafted past her with a cool breeze and she walked inside. Holding her hand out, fire bloomed into existence over her palm and she tossed the small flame onto a couple candles, filling the comforting space with a warm glow.

Stopping just inside, she gazed around with nostalgic eyes, taking in the worn cabin of years and years of togetherness.

Sixty-four years…

That was how long they had been married before the unfortunate struck and finally tore them apart. She still remembered those days as if it had just been yesterday. They had been through so much together, and she had been so sure she would have followed him quickly to the grave. Funny how old age and new perspective changed things though; how it made you look back and remember all the good you shared, and yes, even the bad you pulled each other through. She knew he never would have wanted her to follow him to the grave, he would have wanted her to keep living, and knowing his wish was all that kept her from following. Her family and his wish for her.

Her fingers trailed along the dusty piano, playing a few mournful notes. She stopped her recollection of her other half when she made it to the memorial stand and picked up the small statue of a fierce black horse, holding so regal in a half rear with his head bowed and front legs kicking out.

They had both been her other half; best friend and love. A horse and a boy. A fiery spirit with the loyalty and protection of a dog to her, and the golden-eyed boy with a heart to move mountains for her. She owed her life and happiness to both of them. For she would never be where she was now if not for them, she never would have survived and pushed forward.

Oh how she missed galloping through the woods with the wind in her hair, listening to the wing beats overhead of her husband flying along above her. They used to go every day, rain or shine. It had been their little ritual.

That had been freedom. Pure, blissful freedom.

It was ironic how in the end it wasn’t their foes that did them in after all, but the course of nature itself, a freak accident so to say. They had lived through so many trials together, managed to overcome their adversary and their own fates. They made their own paths. Until old age took her horse away from her, knelt at his side as he took his last dying breath. Until the unfortunate stole the breath of her love too soon from her at his bedside with hands clasped.

Her eyes glistened with tears as she set the statue back down, then ran her fingers over the engraved stone plague with a single black rose frozen in time laying over it. She touched the initials softly as the tears spilled over their dam. The slightest brush against her shoulder made her tilt her head towards it and she reached across her chest to rest her slightly wrinkled hand on her shoulder. She felt the comforting presence wash over her, the sense of arms around her, holding her close.

The words on the plague blurred in her vision, but still she whispered them out loud to the spirit at her side.

“Forever and always, my love, even across dimensions. We will be together again.”

---

Now you can find this flash fiction work and others on my profile on Wattpad! Click here for my profile and go dive into a sea of Shards of Imagination!

Cover made by @_teenagers on Wattpad

The Clock’s Ticking

I’m running out of time.

There are eleven days left to the first Camp NaNo of 2016 and I have completely fallen apart.

I don’t think I burned myself out on writing, I just…don’t have any heart or motivation to write right now. I was doing really good and then as always emotions got in the way — as did work — and I haven’t regained my momentum.

So now I’ve got eleven days to write 18,810 words to hit my 60k goal. Unless I suddenly get my second wind, I’m not going to hit my desired 70k. It bugs me that I won’t reach that probably when I had set my heart on it.

I mean, I still have eleven days, if I tried I could reach it. I did 40k in about a week, so another 30k would be possible. I just don’t know if I can find my motivation with enough time to still hit that 70k.

It is possible, I only work six of the those eleven days now that I’m no longer needed to help out another store. So that’s five days completely free to writing.

It’s doable. I know it is.

But there’s still the problem I’m struggling to come up with the next few chapters. I mean, I have a sort of idea on how they need to work, but I’m also wondering if I forgot to involve a different character. The more I think though — and the more I confuse myself — I come to think I need to leave this character for the next book. Except that screws up the view I thought I had about an outline when I look at things down the line. So I’m really not too sure.

I also think I might be rushing the end of this book a bit. I can fix it in edits, I know, but I feel a little confused on how I’m supposed to be proceeding.

I really need to get working on those planning chapters. I seem to keep getting sidetracked though…

The clock is ticking down to May, so I better light a fire under my ass soon. Or maybe I need to pull an all nighter to work on everything and just grab a Dr. Pepper or Monster the next day. It’s tempting…

Snippet Sunday: April 17, 2016

Welcome to Snippet Sunday on Darkling Dreams!

Where writers come together to share a few sentences (8-10) of their current project — whether it’s a recently released novel, a WIP (work in progress), or an older manuscript that’s being revived. Intended to hook readers, gather feedback and build an author’s fan base, Snippet Sunday is the FB group that does all three.

In honor of it being the first plunge of the year into NaNo months, I am going to keep sharing from the first novel in my series the Dark Heir Chronicles I am working towards finishing this year with Camp, Fated to Darkness. Come May I am going to switch to a different story, either a fantasy or an adventure. I haven’t decided just yet which I want to go from.

Previously on Sunday Snippets: Four year old Heather had been kidnapped from her home by a woman clad in black and whisked off to another realm where she found her kidnapper wanted her to be her Heir. But not just any Heir. After being locked up and put through a ritual that has changed her and her life forever — though she does not yet know it — she has found herself in a small bare essential room with a tiny bathroom, and her new mentor has instructed her to clean herself up and be ready in ten minutes. Having talked of what Ciara finally wants of her, she has now gone through three trying lessons under her mentor’s thumb, and has since passed out. Since then Ciara has finally begun to explain what it is she really wants of Heather.

Picking up right where I left off from last week’s snippet. For anyone that missed last week’s snippet, you may wish to read it or the start of this one is going to confuse you.

(Some sentences may have been creatively edited and punctuated to try to fit the ten sentence limit. I’m over, again. Can we just agree that my snippets will always be a little longer but not too long?)

~*~*~*~

She gasped and stumbled backwards, tripping over a shoe and falling on her bum. Her eyes widened and a small whimper escaped her. No, it had all been a dream. There were no marks on her, there were no wounds on her. That had all been a dream, this was still a part of the dream…wasn’t it?

However, the pinch she gave herself for a reality check was quite real and it made the color drain from her face as she looked up to the woman she had been told to call mentor.

“What’s the matter, Heir?” Ciara smiled darkly. “Did you think you were home free? Do you not remember our deal?”

Heather’s brain spun as she tried to think of what Ciara was talking about. What deal? She hadn’t made any deal with the witch. She had thought it was all a dream when she woke up here. However slowly it came, she did start to remember what her mentor was talking about as she thought back on the night before. The final bit she thought was part of the dream…

“Please, I want go home,” she whimpered, shrinking back away from the raised hand about to strike her as tears streamed down her face. “I’ll do anything.”

Ciara paused at those last words, smiling wickedly and she slowly lowered her hand from striking the child again. “Anything?” she repeated, her voice slithering like a snake.

Alarm bells went off in Heather’s head based on the look Ciara wore on her face. She knew it wasn’t going to be good, she knew she should back out now before agreeing to that again. That odd feeling in her gut again that told her to listen to what she was thinking was proof of that. It hadn’t steered her wrong yet in the past days. Or was it weeks? She had no sense of time here.

However, against that gut feeling, she slowly nodded. She wanted to go home, desperately.

A dark grin split her mentor’s face. “So be it. Three moons time and you will hold that promise, Heir.”

Then sudden blackness had overtaken Heather as Ciara had struck her hard across the head, knocking her out. It was the last thing she remembered before the smell of pancakes.

“I-I didn’t mean…” she trailed off at a whisper, wanting to get away from her as dread spread through her body.

~*~*~*~

Just what deal did Heather make in order to go home? I’ll never tell, I gotta leave something a secret in the novel. *Winks*

This story is not yet on Wattpad because it is my baby that I hope to publish one day, and if no one will publish me, I am self publishing. But it’s also not on Wattpad because it’s in first draft phases yet. So there will be no “if you wish to read more…”

However! If you wish to read anything else that I do have finished, you can hop on over to  my profile on Wattpad and check out what I have to offer. I love to hear any and all feedback on my work as well. Comments are greatly appreciated, as are the reads.

And if you’re looking for some other great snippets of fellow authors,
hop on over to Facebook and check out Snippet Sunday!

Work Roadblock Behind, Full Steam Ahead

It’s been three days of me not writing a single word.

Wait, let me rephrase that:

It’s been three days of me not writing a single word for my NaNo novel.

I did get my Wednesday Words flash fiction bit written and up on both my blog here and on Wattpad, so I did do some writing. It’s not like I’ve been completely lazy. I had another writing related thing I took care of yesterday. I just…haven’t worked on the novel.

And I know that’s due to a few reasons.

The first of those reasons being work. Tuesday and Wednesday I had the early afternoon to close shifts and I hate them. I get absolutely nothing done on those days. I’m not a morning person so I’m really not up early enough to be starting much and getting invested for a couple hours. Plus I always have to make sure I eat and have my shower and be ready. So really those days are shot to hell. Nothing gets done unless I am up past midnight the night before and doing whatever.

Which, normally I am, but I was tired this time around and I was focused on other things, so I didn’t get into it or I knew I’d never sleep.

The other reason is I’ve come to the point in the novel where I’ve run out of planned chapters. I said this on Tuesday as well. The chapter I’m on is actually being combined with the next one in my notes because it’s too short on its own. So once I finish this chapter, I have to make sure I’m planned out further.

Not a big issue, except for the fact I haven’t sat down with a chance to plan some new chapters out. Well, actually, I had time at work on Wednesday because I had literally nothing to do the whole long and boring shift. Except, I didn’t have my tentative outline with me or anything to work off of to plan out the next few chapters. So I couldn’t do it then. Then I spent Tuesday night writing the flash fiction and getting that up instead. And Wednesday night I turned in for bed way early for once because I had to be up early for work Thursday. (Back to back shifts like that suck.) And after work yesterday I was side tracked and doing a few other things, then had to get this written before bed.

So I really haven’t had much time the past few days. I could have done some writing anyways, yes, but these few work days just haven’t worked out very well on the scale of energy for home.

Hopefully after work today I will have some time to sit down and plan out chapters because I have the weekend free and off to write like crazy and get another 10k down. I also learned the end of the month isn’t going to be as bad as expected for work because I’m no longer needed to help out another store. Which means three days off I would have originally had to work! I can get even more written then!

(I mentioned I’m aiming for 70k for the whole month, right?)

Yes, I know, those excuses are just that: excuses. And probably lame ones at that, but I again don’t want to burn myself out when it’s only two weeks into NaNo now. I will get myself going again this weekend and be set once more though.

And hopefully I have no more computer scares like I did yesterday night, and my characters decide to listen to me again jumping back into the chapter. I’m not betting on them listening though.

Dancer Dreams (Wednesday Words 4.13.16)

Welcome to a piece of Wednesday Word’s flash fiction on Darkling Dreams!

A good friend of mine, P.T. Wyant, is doing a blog post every Wednesday called Wednesday Words with a new prompt for a bit of flash fiction writing, just to get in the habit of writing something, anything. (Even if said flash fiction is complete garbage at the time. Garbage is better than nothing though, right?) If you’re looking for some inspiration yourself or just something to aimlessly write, then go check out her blog for this week’s prompt!

With that being said, I am going to share what I came up with for this week’s flash fiction prompt based off a three word combination. So here is my very rough around the edges minute of inspiration based off her prompt. I’d love to hear what you guys think of it!

(Please excuse any errors you may see, I said it was rough around the edges.)

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Dancer Dreams

The music played a soft melody through the open room, wafting on gentle tunes. She moved fluidly and graceful with the sound like some regal horse. Head held high, arms out, feet pointed. Back and forth, smooth and flowing. Twirl and stretch, fast to slow, never missing a beat.

A soft, slow clap filled the space as she finished her piece with a low bow like a courting bird. The music stopped, turning to static upon the record player sitting upon the old mahogany desk in the corner.

“Very well done. You are becoming such a fine dancer, Britney.”

She turned back towards him and curtseyed. “Thank you. I owe it all to such a fine teacher.”

He chuckled, flicking his hand in a dismissive manner. “Oh. You are too kind.”

She wandered off to the stool to sit and take her ballerina flats off, tucking the loose strand of ebony hair that was her signature style back behind her ear. “So you believe I will be ready for the competition in a month?”

“You know I have quite a lot of faith in you.” He turned to take the needle off the record and turn it off, being as gentle with the instrument as one would a new born babe. He then leaned back against the desk and picked up the old maritime art. The delicate ship in a bottle, crafted expertly with hours of steady hands and precise detail.

“I know,” Britney sighed, pausing a moment as she leaned over on her knees. Her teacher raised his eyebrows at her and she immediately sat up straight and proper once more. “I only fear I am not as…privileged as they will be.”

“Just because you come from a household that does not spoil their brats into oblivion, does not mean you are any less worth than they are, my dear. Never forget that.”

“It is hard to remember that at times, Jeremy.”

He frowned a little. “Oh, my dear, do not let such thoughts get you so down. They will not do you any good. Chin up. Just remember: you are fabulous.”

Britney chuckled at the grin he flashed her, and the overzealous way he said those last words. He was always so cheery and open, always so optimistic and fun to be around. He could brighten a whole room with a just a simple joke or joy. She supposed it was part of his flamboyant nature, but it made her feel welcomed here. More so than she felt even at home.

“Do you think my parents will really show to the competition?”

“I sure hope they do or I will be knocking on their door to drag them hand in hand down to the auditorium.”

“You…will be there?” Her voice was hopeful, but also cautious.

He looked at her softly, almost a fatherly attitude to him. “Of course I shall be there. I wouldn’t miss it for the world when my shining star blows away every rich spoiled know-it-all there.”

“Thank you,” she replied softly, managing a small smile.

“Always, my dear. Now, how about that donut treat from the break room? I hear they had coconut sprinkled ones today.”

She chuckled at the simple joy in him again and packed up her bag, standing back up with a little hop. “Sounds delightful.”

“Perfect.” He set the little model ship back down on the desk and clapped again, beginning to lead her out to of the dance room. His eyes twinkled mischievously. “Now I believe you owe me a good juicy story about that boy crush of yours as well.”

“Jeremy!” she laughed.

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Now you can find this flash fiction work and others on my profile on Wattpad! Click here for my profile and go dive into a sea of Shards of Imagination!