Done. Now, I'll get to working on the next chapter of Mantle. (Though the next chapter is Dictates is just a couple hours away from seeing the sun)
1,527 2015-02-18 07:24:23
Re: Strongest Start! (57 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Here you go, folks. It isn't more than a page and a half. What do you think? Anything in ( ) is supposed to be in italics.
(Priest sez I ‘uz born in year 1085. Worst day of me life. Lost me mum to fever.)
Char shook her head like a dog. Dirt flew in a halo around her filthy hair, suspended and glittering in the sun. It was pretty. She did it again.
(Paupers don’ get burial like rich folk with stone statue and weepy womans. I knows when the grave got dug and peoples got flung inside like seed. ‘Cept they don’ grow. Souls settle down an’ nap. Every nows and den, I sees ‘em wake. Some screams. Me, I don’ listen to ‘em. Some talks to me. Dem I like, since I get taught when dey tells me secrets.)
(I kin write if I wanna. Mostly don’, but I reads good. Kin talk like a lady, but then I git beat.)
The townsfolk nearby ignored her as usual, walking around with their ghosts dragging behind like linked kites. Old lady Mari had the most, babies clinging to every piece of her exposed skin. Char watched her pass, blowing a kiss at the oldest boy. He followed behind his mother, wobbling on unsteady feet and yelling for his mam’s attention.
Mari pulled her headcloth tighter. Spots lined her care-worn hands as they kept the vegetables from falling into the dirt. Mari rushed away, basket under her arm. The boy’s ghost lunged forward, dragged by the old woman’s pain.
Char picked a new person to watch. The bum had just arrived yesterday. He was a sad one, lines visible beneath a coating of overgrown beard. She headed his way and mumbled a greeting to the ghost who stood at his shoulder, stroking the man’s hair as if she wanted to be reborn as a comb.
The ghost looked up and met Char’s eyes. There was surprise written in the grey eyes. “You can see me?” the lady asked in the murmured vibration that only the dead used. She was pretty, with long hair and a circlet of metal around a round and youthful face.
Char nodded. She picked a piece of loose straw from the ground and used it to scratch her scalp, sighing in relief as the straw worked its way under the rats nest of her hair.
A raw look of hope blossomed the dead lady’s face and giving it a hint of color. “Can you talk to him for me?” she pleaded.
Her eyes might have been green, Char decided. “Dependin’ what he sez,” she answered.
“What?” asked the bum. He looked up.
In his hands, Char could see a little bird carved as if it were flying. She wanted it so bad, but she wanted food more. “You got sometin’ to eats, sir?” she asked and tried not to look desperate. Everything she wanted got stripped away, so it was best to plan on hunger tonight.
The bum reached into his coat and handed her a hunk of bread. “For you, milady,” he said in a flourish.
His eyes were nice. Blue like the sky. Char snatched the food away, seeing the bird tucked into the fresh baking. She hesitated as the pretty lady continued to plead, hands folded as if in church.
Char took a deep breath and mumbled a question at the ghost.
The pretty lady let out a sob and answered. “Tara. Tell Edmond that I love him. Tell him…
(She ask’d and he givin’ me food. I’m gonna git beat or burnt as a witch At least iz gonna be wit a happy belly.)
Taking a deep breath, Char dropped the piece of straw and got ready to run. “Tara sez she lovin’ yuz, Edmond. She standin’ to the side, keepin’ yeh close. You a lucky man, knowin’ her wit’ such a purty face in all. I gots to go now.”
The bum looked at Char, not avoiding her eyes at all. “Wait a minute, what?” he asked in a cracking voice.
The pretty lady reached out an arm, keeping contact with Edmond's skin. "He has to know! I found a portal before I died. Please, tell him!"
Char took the chance to run away, letting her feet lead the rest of her to safety.
1,528 2015-02-18 06:29:05
Re: Strongest Start! (57 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Ok, let's establish the rules then. Do you want to have each person comes up with two characters? Once we pool the ideas, we can use whatever characters we want from the available 'cast' to accomplish a short story. When we are done, whoever manages to pull off an in-betweener chapter (linking the stories of others to theirs) wins chops and bragging rights.
It'll be a challenge, but if we're using the same characters in different situations, it could be done. I managed it with Unbar's story because his world has people who can jump into books and live the reality written between the lines. I just had someone jump in with a different perspective and live the same story (that ended five minutes after Unbar's short story finished)
Does anyone like the idea of writing just for fun? Let's say there is no need to post critique. One paragraph or comments will work (as we do on the forum all the time)
Here we go.
Character #1
Char- twelve years old but looks 9. She's been chronically deprived of food since early childhood and turned to pickpocketing/ stealing food - in order to survive. (She has a mother somewhere, but that was a long time ago.) She has ratty brown hair, big anime eyes, and wears old over-sized clothing. In many situations, people think she is a boy. She talks to herself all the time. Neighbors and strangers alike avoid her.
Character #2
Edmond- is a bum, wandering from town to town. He drinks too much, defends the unprotected, and usually gets his face punched in for thanks. In a different world, he would have been a philosopher, a scientist, or an actor. In his world, he isn't understood or appreciated. He has blonde hair and a goatee (when he has time or inkling to shave). He could be handsome if he tried, but time and unhappiness of an unfulfilled life have worn away at his face. He is a crafter, staying busy by working with his hands...sometimes doing odd jobs for spare money or food...and carving to amuse himself when he is alone.
Note that I created characters who could be in any time or place. They could live in medieval England or Kenny's steampunk world. Each person who wants to play can add two more characters to the pool of available talent. Now let's see if I can come up with a story that both can fit in. (bites lip and takes a deep breath before jumping into the challenge) Wait, does this mean that Kenny can kill off my characters when it is his turn? (starts writing anyway)
1,529 2015-02-18 04:27:42
Re: Strongest Start! (57 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Mmmm popcorn. (Munch munch and throws a few bit at the computer screen just for sheer ornery nonsense)
1,530 2015-02-18 03:02:53
Re: The Hollow Man (66 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Total change of topic. On March 14th 2015 at 9:26 and 535 milliseconds, a grand conjunction shall occur. I choose my conjuction to happen during Eastern Standard Time, and fully plan to dig a big fork into a piece of pi. Strawberry rhubarb, to be exact :-)
1,531 2015-02-18 02:54:47
Re: Strongest Start! (57 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
I'll see if I can get my part done within the next two days. (Double that and I'm going to make my personal deadline within the next 4 days) I'm going to say that it can't take more than three to four hours to write the first draft, and the word count should be less than 2000 words. The year and the 'worst day of my life' must be included.
Any other requirements/ limitations that anyone can think of?
1,532 2015-02-17 10:16:56
Re: Strongest Start! (57 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Hey, you started it (grins)
1,533 2015-02-17 08:26:57
Re: Strongest Start! (57 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
I can take a challenge. Let's see if I can come up with a neat idea in my world.
A
1,534 2015-02-17 06:05:31
Re: Strongest Start! (57 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Rebecca's idea is cooler :-)
1,535 2015-02-17 01:34:29
Re: Strongest Start! (57 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Do we want to come up with a theme of our own to jumpstart a storyline? I like crowd-sourcing stories. It always makes for something interesting that I wouldn't have thought about in any other scenario. I like the idea of each of us using our own characters but making a common problem that each has to solve in their different ways.
Otherwise, I'm not doing the Strongest Start. I'm letting others win who want it more and have more talent :-)
1,536 2015-02-15 09:47:11
Re: The Sorcerer's Progress (1,528 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
K,
That's because Canada doesn't have enough commerce to need this type of trailer.
1,537 2015-02-15 03:35:22
Re: The Sorcerer's Progress (1,528 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
We call them wiggle-worms. (3 full semi trailers hitched to one vehicle. We have them in Ohio on the turnpike but I think they unhitch just outside the turnpike (UPS package delivery) so that they don't create a hazard on city streets.
1,538 2015-02-15 01:58:55
Re: The Sorcerer's Progress (1,528 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Crap. 100 miles. 1 hr, 45 minutes from door to door.
A
1,539 2015-02-15 01:57:02
Re: Acts/ Dictates/ Mandates/ Mantle - Amy's Thread (1,905 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Quiet Man's mojo linked into Anver's staff. Anver isn't linked into Zyrtec's presence, but they inhabited the same building a couple thousand years apart. As Chief Apprentice, Anver has access to any shielded room in Kha's dormitory, so that is why he could find Zytec's hidden room.
A
1,540 2015-02-14 13:04:48
Re: Acts/ Dictates/ Mandates/ Mantle - Amy's Thread (1,905 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Nope. West Virginia and southern US. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noodling These boneheads go into catfish nests, stick their hands in and wait for the catfish to latch onto their arms. Sometimes, the fish win. Watch a video or two. It's like the Darwin awards but better.
Janet! Don't forget our toast! Let me see. To plot, good stories, and the best writing group to span the globe! My first thought was, "Chug! Chug! Chug!" Either way, the Margaret River is the place to be! (for me in spirit - tips her glass and grins)
A
1,541 2015-02-14 06:55:32
Re: Acts/ Dictates/ Mandates/ Mantle - Amy's Thread (1,905 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Done. Found one!
A
1,542 2015-02-14 04:56:33
Re: Acts/ Dictates/ Mandates/ Mantle - Amy's Thread (1,905 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Told you I gave you a klew. I'll look and see if I can find something I haven't covered. I might have an hour or so tonight to review.
A
1,543 2015-02-14 03:11:40
Re: The Hollow Man (66 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
He is nothing if not persistant.
1,544 2015-02-13 11:31:42
Re: Acts/ Dictates/ Mandates/ Mantle - Amy's Thread (1,905 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
In Fahrenheit, it is officially one degree above zero. You walk outside and your lungs ache. Think of breathing ice cubes. Snow so cold it crunches. Without a hat, your ears hurt in about 30 seconds and go numb in just a few minutes. Even with a good jacket, your body temp goes down if you leave your pockets zipped.
In other words, colder than a witches t*t in a brass bra.
I wanna be in the Caribbean
1,545 2015-02-13 09:44:56
Re: Acts/ Dictates/ Mandates/ Mantle - Amy's Thread (1,905 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
There is something in the US called 'hogging' . Google it. Idiots down south go hunting for catfish while using themselves as bait. When I saw that, I laughed my butt off and ran to the keyboard. I couldn't make that kind of material up.
1,546 2015-02-13 09:40:39
Re: Acts/ Dictates/ Mandates/ Mantle - Amy's Thread (1,905 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Can I steal that line? Except in the summer when Tos orbits the Hells. Sweet!
1,547 2015-02-13 08:31:27
Re: Acts/ Dictates/ Mandates/ Mantle - Amy's Thread (1,905 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Mantle of the Veil?
The Veil of Magic? (This is more for a different name for Dictates)
Hmmm. Thinking....
1,548 2015-02-13 08:29:28
Re: The Hollow Man (66 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Heh :-)
1,549 2015-02-13 08:28:26
Re: The Sorcerer's Progress (1,528 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
I don't lie. Sorry. It's not in me. Therefore, it's true. Deal with it :-)
1,550 2015-02-13 08:26:53
Re: Acts/ Dictates/ Mandates/ Mantle - Amy's Thread (1,905 replies, posted in Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi)
Mantle of Magic is supposed to refer to Anver wearing a 'mantle' and all that implies. In hindsight, it will mean something, but I see what you mean. I'll think about it.
Hey, (wheedling tone) I put up a new chapter! Do you have time?
What do you want reviewed in exchange for all the time you've been putting into my book?