tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77279131686938880812024-02-07T14:25:16.852-08:00The Other Side of SorrowMcKenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13428106500950557216noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727913168693888081.post-5920918290179568682013-05-14T06:46:00.000-07:002013-05-14T06:46:10.842-07:00Visual Dare 19: Mirror<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdT5q0VM6GNyzRDhQ5LP5HA0jadZLuOMsLWcgTfBiukIzx70XyqrLQQAJkGX9XtM_FcBe8bSbiL2H-FOiSwC6j5P17cjOL2nmeyzWRguTU58GEc8jUC7nEwRi9Ih_NQLdnxNwWWABEutSq/s1600/Mirror.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">My life in the Mirror is the real one. I think. I peer at myself and everything behind me. Uncertain, I turn. I see everything except me. I feel lost. Where am I? I'm being swallowed by the water, sinking so far down, choking on my own vanity...</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Turn back.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">There I am. I am not drowning. I am free.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The fingers clutching the Mirror suggest I am anything but. I try not to look down, I hate to see it crawling, sneaking up my left leg. Instead I look at my feet, crouched above the water. I know it’s abnormal to stand on water, I </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">ought</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> to be sinking.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">My eyes catch my reflection and I pause at the terror within them. One day the water won’t hold me. And I won’t have the strength to break free because I’m perfectly captured by the Mirror. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I’ve already drowned. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong>149 Words</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Well then. That was weird, even for me. Hope you enjoy... Feedback always appreciated. :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Much love,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Kenzie</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">P.S. Want to try Visual Dares yourself? Visit <a href="http://anonymouslegacy.blogspot.com/">anonymouslegacy.blogspot.com</a> to enter! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">P.S.S. Check out my other VisDares... <a href="http://theothersideofsorrow.blogspot.com/2012/07/day-5-visual-dare.html">Like this one,</a> or <a href="http://theothersideofsorrow.blogspot.com/2012/09/out-of-hermit-hole.html">The Odd Couple,</a> or even <a href="http://theothersideofsorrow.blogspot.com/2012/05/el-lobo.html">El Lobo!</a></span></div>
McKenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13428106500950557216noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727913168693888081.post-55460631705094849612013-05-02T11:19:00.001-07:002013-05-02T11:19:39.910-07:00Hey, Read This. Or Read The Fountainhead. I just finished reading the Fountainhead and quite frankly, I just had to write about it. I wrote a scholarship essay on it but I had to fit my other thoughts somewhere and you're it. Sorry. :) <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">[[And as a disclaimer: I will not bore you with tales of Ayn Rand's political genius, her experiences in communist Russian and belief in objectivism, although I like her a lot and she's definitely a genius...]]</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.steinerag.com/flw/Book%20Images/Fountainhead1994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.steinerag.com/flw/Book%20Images/Fountainhead1994.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
The Fountainhead is huge. And I love big books. But it's HUGE. I probably would never have finished it if it hadn't been for that little thing called scholarship money. I finished the book and the essay within hours of my deadline. It was totally worth it though and I'll tell you why, since you asked. :)<br />
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For a book entirely about architects, the story you're left with has nothing to do with architecture and everything to do with art. <br />
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Oh, yes, architecture is definitely an art but you could have given Howard Roark any type of artistic talent and the message would have been the same: If you think differently and creatively the world will want to destroy you. <br />
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Well that's cheery, McKenzie, now why the heck should I keep reading this now that I'm absolutely depressed and ready to throw the Fountainhead at you for ruining my day? Look, I'm not saying every single person on lovely planet Earth is calling for your execution. You have close friends, far away friends, blogger friends, twitter friends, cousins... maybe even an arch nemesis who all appreciate your creative genius. <br />
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But doesn't it feel like we're fighting against the whole world sometimes because we want to do something different? Like, you know, actually write <em>quality literature???</em><br />
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You hear it all the time: <br />
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<strong>Don't write for the market.</strong> (And yet look at all those vampire soap operas, thank you, Stephanie Meyer's hormones...) <br />
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<strong>Don't be cliche.</strong> (But it WAS dark and stormy at midnight on Halloween, I promise...) <br />
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<strong>Be unique.</strong> (BUT I LOVE THE HUNGER GAMES AND COPYING IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF FLATTERY, RIGHT? O.o) <br />
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<strong>Write what you know.</strong> (I'm pretty sure Stephen King doesn't go around murdering people and I don't think Dean Koontz can see the ghost of Elvis, so...) <br />
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<strong>Be a leader.</strong> (Can't I just tweet about a few blog posts, join NaNoWriMo and make a Pinterest Board? ...You mean, oh my gosh, TALK to people?! Make real life friends?!?!?)<br />
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<strong>Clean your room.</strong> (We all know this is overrated. Good grief.)<br />
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*ahem*<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://fluorinespark.deviantart.com/art/Howard-Roark-302038117">by *FluorineSpark </a></td></tr>
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Sorry, personal rant. Anyhoo... Let me tell you why I love Howard Roark, fictional though he may be, and it's not just the fact that he's a ginger. <br />
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<strong>1. He never apologizes for what he creates.</strong> When Howard designs you a building, he builds it just as he designed it or he doesn't build it at all.<br />
<strong>2. He works -- he <em>creates</em> -- for himself.</strong> He literally puts his heart and soul into his work. In a way, this strips him naked for the whole world to see and to laugh at, and often they do. But he always gets to walk away in the freedom that his buildings are <u>his</u> <u>buildings</u> and no one can take that away from him. <br />
<strong>3. He knows every aspect of his business.</strong> From cutting rock in the quarry to welding rivets, Howard does it all. He knows that sometimes to achieve doing what he loves, he has to work his way up to the top. <br />
<strong>4. He never follows the rules society has set for him.</strong> Can we camp out here forever? Yeah? Okay, great. THERE ARE SO MANY RULES IN THE WRITING WORLD. I listed just a few random ones that were easy to rant about. <br />
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Guys... Rules are good and all but at some point you have to write for yourself. Write what <em>you </em>want to read. Write what keeps you up late at night until your back is a stiff board and you can barely see the page for yawning. Write because you love it, not because someone told you you were good or told you that's what you should do. Write because something inside you is burning, burning, burning and eating away at your body until you let all that creative genius OUT. <br />
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Know your business. Maybe you have to work a boring office job filing papers, maybe you have to edit a newspaper or be an English tutor, maybe you have to read a thousand blog posts or obsessively read twitter updates... Just put yourself somewhere that will help and not hinder you, even if it's at the bottom of the pile. <br />
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If you want to write about vampires, be my guest. Just make them <em>your </em>vampires. Make your dystopian fantasy <em>your</em> dystopian fantasy. And good lord, write what you want to write about, it doesn't matter if you know anything about it. Do some research. Be vague sometimes. Be specific sometimes. <br />
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And yeah, you need writing friends. They aren't always easy to find. If you're anything like Howard Roark, people will come to respect you through your work and then they learn to love you. <br />
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One last thing. Don't let this nasty little world destroy you. You're tough. YOU ARE SO TOUGH. So be different. Be a Howard Roark. Write what you want. Change the world. Clean your room. You know. ;)<br />
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Okay. End rant. </div>
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Much love, </div>
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Kenzie</div>
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P.S. READ THE FOUNTAINHEAD. :)</div>
McKenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13428106500950557216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727913168693888081.post-2394827910919626922013-04-22T09:20:00.000-07:002013-04-22T09:20:05.535-07:00Wedding Bells Are Ringing! <span style="font-size: large;">Sadly, not for me... :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">No, these wedding bells are for the illustrious Dark Fairy Queen, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/ruanna3"><span style="font-size: large;">Anna Meade</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">, whom we all love very dearly in the writerly world. In honor of her wedding we're putting together a </span><a href="http://www.officemango.com/2013/04/dfqwbs-rules-stuff/"><span style="font-size: large;">Dark Fairy Queen Writerly Bridal Shower.</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I knew it would have to be something utterly fantastic to convince me to update my blog. ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is my silly, silly story that I thought up while I was at work. Congragulations, Anna! :) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Love, Kenzie</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Title: You Can Do A Lot In Three Hours</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Author: McKenzie Barham</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yes to Ebook! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Auntie Fergunson was a flighty creature with an unfortunate habit of squealing at anything that made her remotely emotional. She hummed pleasantly now, running her expert fingers through Anna’s hair, convincing the wild curls to be calm for just this day. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">She caught Anna’s eyes in the mirror and wriggled her eyebrows. This was another unfortunate habit. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">“What?” Anna asked.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Oh, nothing, darling,” Auntie said with a mild squeal. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Anna sighed and smiled, assuming it would be another pre-wedding moment of excited squeals. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Auntie...” </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Oh, all right. You have <em>mail</em></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Anna opened her mouth and closed it. “Mail?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Yes!” Auntie squealed. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Auntie,” Anna laughed helplessly, “I’m getting married in three hours.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Her tiny aunt ran out of the dressing room for half a moment and shoved the pink envelope in her </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">hands. A twinge of worry hit her stomach.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">You can do a lot in three hours</span>. <span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Just <em>look </em></span></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">at that stamp.”</span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Yes, it says, ‘America.’”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">“No! Look closer!” </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Anna scrunched up her eyes and gasped. The stamp shimmered before her eyes, changed images and shot tiny fireworks that rippled into three words: Super Secret Wombat. She ripped into the pink envelope ferociously.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Don’t they know I’m getting married?! Ugh! I’m not going anywhere! I swear if they do not start reading the calendar--oh...” </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Auntie giggled hesitantly. “What’s a wombat, darling?” </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Anna wasn’t sure how to approach this subject. Auntie didn't even know she owned the castle they were in now. “It’s a sort of mascot, Auntie and basically, well, I...” She winced. Auntie looked at her expectantly. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Anna took a deep breath. “I’m employed by the Dark Fairy Investigation Agency and I investigate all forms of magical crimes.The pink envelope means someone’s been kidnapped. However, the wombat could mean any number of things.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The smile on Auntie’s face shrunk microscopically. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">“I’m kidding. I just have to go to the bathroom.” Anna fled out of the dressing room almost tripped over her seven bridesmaids (who were actually fairies) who waited expectantly, envelopes and weapons in hand. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Greetings, your majesty,” they chimed simultaneously. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Keep your voices down,” she hissed. “Now what is so important that you interrupted my hair dresser?” </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">“The Wombat is jealous,” whispered one. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">“The Cannon is not yet fired,” said another. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">“We must rescue the Knave.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">“He is <em>not</em></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">a knave,” Anna sighed</span>. <span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">She loved her fairy friends dearly but they were insanely jealous of her fiance. </span></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Soon to be husband, if I could get my hair finished.</span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The fairies’ words finally sunk in. “Did you say he needed to be rescued?”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">"It is imperative to The Wedding we rescue the Knave." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Anna felt her heart plummet towards her white wedding slippers. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">~ ~ ~ </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Within minutes the fairies had led her to an alarming scene. Positioned upon a balcony outside of her castle was her largest Cannon. Behind the Cannon was a busy wombat who grinned deviously down at them. Sticking out at awkard angles were two polished shoes, undeniably attached to two struggling legs. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">Anna unfurled her fairy wings and leapt toward the balcony. "Wombat, what are you doing?" she cried in horror as he lifted his match and set the Cannon ablaze. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">BOOM. Showers of glitter flew through the air as Anna watched her poor groom disappear over the trees surrounding her castle. Anna knew that although being fired from the cannon was entirely safe, there was no way to tell where anyone landed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">"The Knave is lost," the fairies murmured. They did not sound particularly remorseful. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">Anna glared at her Wombat. "And just what do you think you are doing, sir?" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">He chuckled, paws over his mouth. Anna stalked toward him, her Dark Fairy side trickling into her eyes. She was about to stuff the Wombat into his own cannon when a voice said: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">"Does anyone know what Super Secret Wombat means?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">Someone stepped out from the glittery shadows and held up a pink envelope. Anna threw her arms around her groom. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">"Michael! I thought you'd been fired!" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">"Fired?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">The fairies shyly gathered around him and tugged at his shirt. "The Knave is rescued. We are glad." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">"Did they just call me a knave?" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">Anna shook her head. "It's a long story." She glanced back at the Wombat who was dancing on top of the Cannon. "What?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">"It is unlucky to see each other! You can't get married now!" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">Anna and Michael exchanged amused glances. "I'm quite sure we can, sir."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">"I'm not even in my wedding dress!" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">"But... but the fairies said..." the Wombat stuttered. Anna whirled on her fairies. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">"I knew this was your doing!" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">The fairies wrinkled their noses and shuffled their tiny fairy feet. "The Knave is kidnapping you. We are sad." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">Michael held up his hands. "We're leaving for a week and then we'll be back! No kidnapping involved, I promise." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">The fairies cocked their heads. "You are returning?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">"Of course! We live here," Anna laughed. She waved a few particles of glitter from the air. "I really need to finish my hair. By the way, who was that you fired from the Cannon?" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">Two fairies began to cry. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">"We are sorry, your majesty." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">"Well?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">"It was Auntie Fergunson." </span><br />
<br /><br />
McKenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13428106500950557216noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727913168693888081.post-33068377435697164702012-10-18T11:57:00.001-07:002012-10-18T11:57:20.352-07:00Visual Dare: Up<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;">Guys. Two whole flash fiction posts in one week? I must be inspired. ;)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlr-iIK4kjrF2y7ZZwWiktrkxbuVt84WrxFjnlXgvMfV9FxxvrRIDaoKUZikfvLaDMmoHHi2X7aWAaO985ExGdHqjiKw2t5M1vn_sODeQGLGXZBg123Sh5uRiU3Gr9QtFIKIjwWM3a-Jb/s640/218987600601788162_NM8tz461_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlr-iIK4kjrF2y7ZZwWiktrkxbuVt84WrxFjnlXgvMfV9FxxvrRIDaoKUZikfvLaDMmoHHi2X7aWAaO985ExGdHqjiKw2t5M1vn_sODeQGLGXZBg123Sh5uRiU3Gr9QtFIKIjwWM3a-Jb/s400/218987600601788162_NM8tz461_c.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://themafucage2.tumblr.com/">Photo Source</a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.32903024763800204" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Aw, Brady... Mama don't like it when you climb!" Daisy yelled at her twin brother, hands on her hips. </span></b></div>
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.32903024763800204" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brady eyed the dog below. "I ain't comin' down, nu-uh!</span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.32903024763800204" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">Daisy rolled her eyes. "He's just a puppy." She patted the dog's head, who wriggled with pleasure. "See?" </span></b></div>
</span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.32903024763800204" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">"He got all the friends he needs." </span></b></div>
</span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.32903024763800204" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">"Dang it, Brady... You don't got no sense." Daisy stomped her foot.</span></b></div>
</span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.32903024763800204" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">The dog barked and Brady climbed higher up the street pole.</span></b></div>
</span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.32903024763800204" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">"We're gonna be late!" </span></b></div>
</span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.32903024763800204" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">"Say, what's this word here?" Brady pointed, suddenly curious. </span></b></div>
</span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.32903024763800204" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">"Read it yourself," Daisy muttered. "Ya got plenty of it." </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">100 Words</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><i>Visual Dares are the brilliant invention of Angela Goff at <a href="http://anonymouslegacy.blogspot.com/">anonymouslegacy.blogspot.com</a>. </i></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><i>Check out the other entries here ~ <a href="http://anonymouslegacy.blogspot.com/2012/10/visual-dare-26-up.html">http://anonymouslegacy.blogspot.com/2012/10/visual-dare-26-up.html</a>.</i></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Feedback is always appreciated! :) </i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Love, </i></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Kenzie</i></b></div>
</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</span></span>McKenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13428106500950557216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727913168693888081.post-37367648651215215922012-10-13T19:48:00.000-07:002012-10-13T19:48:35.723-07:00Behind the Curtain: Flash Fiction Contest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s-media-cache-ec1.pinimg.com/upload/31525266111448789_uAWz3JDc_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://s-media-cache-ec1.pinimg.com/upload/31525266111448789_uAWz3JDc_c.jpg" width="640" /></a>BEHIND THE CURTAIN</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
by McKenzie Barham</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Broadway is a very broad
thing indeed,</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Tal thought, watching sadistic dancers filling the stage below him.
The audience was empty, the broken stadium seating protruding like a spine
stripped of it’s flesh. </span><br />
<span class="apple-tab-span"> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>The lower classes and their obsession with
fantasies intrigued him. </span><br />
<span class="apple-tab-span"> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><i></i></span><i><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We sweep their stages and let them play. Until they die... and the cast grows
smaller.</span></i><br />
<span class="apple-tab-span"> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>Tal shook his head, knowing what Rhiannon
would say. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “<i>They only perform to survive, stupid.”</i><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
found Rhiannon in the wings, her face frozen with painful colors. She wasn’t
happy to see him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hello,
Rhi.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Rhiannon’s
sharp breath gave her away, gave Tal hope, as she painted pictures to ask why
he’d come. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Tal
ignored the frenzied questions. “Are you well?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> She
stiffened. Tal reached out to touch her face but she grasped his hand before it
reached her. Tal gritted his teeth. He could barely ignore the ache in his
chest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Chamile’s
taken the throne.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> A
small snarl curled her silent lips. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
have to come back; we have to be there for her.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Rhiannon
pretended to throw a crown from her head and spit upon it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Tal
snorted. “What are titles? What is royalty? Just a random selection of genetic
material capable of feeding the masses.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Rhiannon
pointed to Tal’s heart and shook her head. <i>You’re
a true prince, </i>she mimed. <i>True
princes shouldn’t come to this hellhole.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “And
real mime’s shouldn’t have tongues,” Tal shot back. Rhiannon cracked a smile
and she looked human. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Chamile
is working to re-open the children factories,” he said eagerly. “Rhi! It’s
everything we’ve hoped for… We have to go back.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Rhiannon’s
mouth fell open. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Tal
took her hands. “There’s going to be <i>children</i>
again, Rhi, and-and not just children! There’s going to be <i>babies, </i>Rhi, think of it!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Babies,”
Rhiannon whispered, tears filling her eyes. “Oh, Tal…” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Tal
nodded, grinning ear to ear. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
suppose I failed here,” she said hoarsely, glancing at the rafters above them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “All
the world’s a stage, Rhi. You just have to write the script.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> She
stripped off her mime robe. “And I’ll give it a happy ending.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">351 Words</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Only another hour to enter the contest! I'm squeaking in. Thank you, Anna, for inspiring me to write a flash fiction. It's been too long. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Love, Kenzie</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Find the contest here: <a href="http://yearningforwonderland.blogspot.com/2012/10/behind-curtain-flash-fiction-contest.html">http://yearningforwonderland.blogspot.com/2012/10/behind-curtain-flash-fiction-contest.html</a></i></span></div>
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<!-- end InLinkz script -->McKenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13428106500950557216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727913168693888081.post-91385187910077434732012-09-05T12:51:00.001-07:002012-09-05T12:51:28.062-07:00Out of the Hermit Hole I'm poking my head up to say, hi! :)<br />
<br />
Today I participated in a flash fiction dare, something I haven't done in months and I felt like posting it...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>VISUAL DARE: The Odd Couple</u></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3An_rgIkeVNmzfPEVJGnG38OSATEJOKxY0y9tRFpFPPHeM1RGBsCPE56A4DRCZa3m4q7KPHc5K8pVvxhlQb-QxAzTVnK4btNIkaq1kqcmOKVe92VmDmMkbvOhfEUqqeVSf1XIJkylmgW/s400/99571841730998298_T0tPgHtD_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3An_rgIkeVNmzfPEVJGnG38OSATEJOKxY0y9tRFpFPPHeM1RGBsCPE56A4DRCZa3m4q7KPHc5K8pVvxhlQb-QxAzTVnK4btNIkaq1kqcmOKVe92VmDmMkbvOhfEUqqeVSf1XIJkylmgW/s320/99571841730998298_T0tPgHtD_f.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <i>Breakfast
is literally stupid.</i></span></span></div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <i>Now,
dearest pussy-wussy, you promised!</i></span></span></div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><i> </i>
Sandra set out bowls, pretending to ignore the<span lang="en-US">m</span>.
</span>
</div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <i>You
foul feathered - </i></span></span>
</div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> No
name calling!</i></span></span></div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Witch!</i></span></span></div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <i>No!</i></span></span></div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><i> </i>
Despite the loneliness of the island, sometimes Sandra occasionally
questioned her last wish. She stepped <span lang="en-US">to</span>
her porch and set a green bottle on the rail. </span>
</div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
genie woke up with a grotesque face.</span></div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “You
could have turned my parents into the same species,” Sandra
grinned. </span>
</div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
genie glared. “The wish was odd, the couple is odd.”</span></div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Sandra
winced as a crow shriek came from the kitchen. </span>
</div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <i>PUSSY-WUSSY!</i></span></span></div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><i> </i>
“I'm never marrying,” the genie groaned. </span>
</div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">100 Words. </span></div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Visual Dares can be found on Wednesdays at<a href="http://anonymouslegacy.blogspot.com/"> anonymouslegacy.blogspot.com</a>. :)</span></div>
McKenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13428106500950557216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727913168693888081.post-14818194982917991012012-07-07T11:00:00.001-07:002012-07-07T11:00:17.207-07:00Day 5: A Day LaterWait, McKenzie was supposed to post this yesterday right? <br />
<br />
Well yeah. But sometimes life gets in the way. I had half of this written but by the time I got home from the restaurant there were no coherent braincells left in my brain. :) <br />
<br />
Anyways, I wanted to share with you guys about my very newest WIP. I started it over JuNoWrimo (Which I sort of halfway did...) and I've been working steadily on it for awhile now. A few weeks ago, my writing group decided to write a synopsis of our WIP in 300 words or less. This is hard. <br />
<br />I wrote one but I didn't like and later I realized I just didn't have enough story to go with it. This one is better, if still on the rough side. <br />
<br />
My tentative title is, "The Duchess." <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.airships.net/wp-content/uploads/graf-zep-polar-water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://www.airships.net/wp-content/uploads/graf-zep-polar-water.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some inspirations from pinterest. <br /><a href="http://pinterest.com/mckenziebethh/i-could-write-a-book/">Want to see more?</a> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://media-cache-ec8.pinterest.com/upload/173670129350508718_0pNIQYEQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://media-cache-ec8.pinterest.com/upload/173670129350508718_0pNIQYEQ.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">The Duchess:</span></strong> </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Pandora, a small airship, is desperate for passengers but a short flight from New Brunswick to New York and an unsolved murder on board ruin their reputation. Grounded, without any profitable cargo, Captain Amos Blackwood has no choice but to take the money of a mysterious Duchess. She and her ward, Samuel, need passage across the Atlantic, an arduous three week journey. Soon panic fills the crew as another murder takes place. They are trapped above the ocean where strange things are also happening. Unfamiliar sea creatures with glowing scales and sharp fins seem to be folling the Pandora. The Duchess seems to have more answers than most but when someone else is killed, she and Samuel take it upon themselves to find the murderer and ensure everyone reaches England safely. </div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
It feels really gross... so y'all let me know what you think. Thanks. :)<br />
<br />
Love, Kenzie<br />McKenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13428106500950557216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727913168693888081.post-26158019768553660532012-07-05T22:31:00.000-07:002012-07-05T22:31:34.939-07:00Day 5: Visual Dare<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqm87tk6sI_19kWkUoaRLpa851TOiOFXEWcbezNqGuMIFQ24Gnz6Zfz4Lp27fKDZbI0aTIuUfU3NK43foEaoJPdgYfUko67WewOcdPXnVG2je2EBpJOhiL8Bd88JPoMGEwkOU0j7ZaYIve/s1600/tumblr_m5moxcGNgI1qzwhyzo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqm87tk6sI_19kWkUoaRLpa851TOiOFXEWcbezNqGuMIFQ24Gnz6Zfz4Lp27fKDZbI0aTIuUfU3NK43foEaoJPdgYfUko67WewOcdPXnVG2je2EBpJOhiL8Bd88JPoMGEwkOU0j7ZaYIve/s320/tumblr_m5moxcGNgI1qzwhyzo1_500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
"After fifty years you'd think someone would have scrapped the
thing," Jerry grumbled and filled his lungs with cigarette smoke. "The
stories are bad enough…” <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
“I think it’s magical.” <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jerry grunted but was secretly amused
at his eight year old niece. The old black truck had resided on Twelfth Street
for years but the legends surrounding it had never attracted him. He threw his
cigarette to the ground and went inside the antique store. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
Little Lucy stared at the car for a long time. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
“It’s okay,” she whispered. “He’s gone.” <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
One headlight burned bright and disappeared. Lucy wasn’t surprised. <br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<em>Feedback appreciated! :) Love, Kenzie</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>McKenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13428106500950557216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727913168693888081.post-20428095687337055512012-07-04T21:18:00.002-07:002012-07-04T21:18:59.060-07:00So I'm cheating just once...<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Happy Independance Day. :)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<3 Kenzie</div>McKenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13428106500950557216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727913168693888081.post-5720174755902362442012-07-03T21:35:00.001-07:002012-07-03T21:35:20.330-07:00Challenge Day 2: Short and SweetSo, my uncle offered me a job this summer working at his restaurant and since I didn't find a job once school got out I headed down to Dothan, Alabama for over a month. I figured it would be good practice for college - living without my mama for quite a long time... <br />
<br />
I never expected it to affect my WIP*. <br />
<br />
I started JuNoWriMo with (what I considered) a brilliant idea about a banished mermaid and an airship. I knew there was no way I would get 50k but I was hoping over the summer I would have some time to write while I was in Dothan. <br />
<br />
I kind of added a whole background story and about ten subplots. <br />
<br />
I've been working with some amazing people that have given me such a good picture of how a big business kitchen works. Some of these people have seriously tough lives and they're living paycheck to paycheck and have three kids to take care of - and no spouse. But wouldn't know it just to look at them... they're upbeat and cheerful so much it makes my jawbones hurt. <br />
<br />
I believe everything happens for a reason and one of my sweet friends has recently taught me to be intentional about believing that wherever my writing is concerned. It hit me the other day that I would never have added that extra backbone to my story -- and had so many opportunities to make new friends that will probably end up in this new story -- if I hadn't fought back all the fears of leaving home for so long and being by myself and taken a leap of faith I suppose you could say. <br />
<br />
I'm getting a decent amount of wordage done on this new WIP. And I'm loving the restaurant biz. :)<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Love, Kenzie</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Second blog post of the week guys!!! Be impressed. ;)</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">*WIP = work in progress</span> </div>McKenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13428106500950557216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727913168693888081.post-41062794005538296192012-07-02T09:29:00.000-07:002012-07-02T09:29:47.478-07:00The ChallengeDon't you hate it when one of the blogs you read doesn't update for weeks, maybe months, and then one day they pop up in your newsfeed and all they have to say is sorry they've been gone for so freaking long?
<br />
<br />
Me too. <br />
<br />
I've decided to do something daring. I might be insane. I <i>am</i> quite sleep deprived. <br />
<br />
I'm going to write a blog post for every day this week. Monday through Friday. It's on my summer bucket list and I am determined to cross it off.
I can't promise that every thing I post will be exceptional in quality but I'm going to have fun with it. :) <br />
<br />
I was inspired to do this by <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJCkKe_8xjM&list=UUmQXOAse-VnzuXHebX5I77g&index=9&feature=plcp">Charlieissocoollike</a> - the very cutest British youtuber on the planet of earth. Did I mention he's British?
I digress. <br />
<br />
I'm doing this personal challenge to jumpstart my creativity that has sadly turned to a nasty puddle of gloop over the summer. Well, not completely. But in the area of the Other Side of Sorrow it is quite nasty.
Here's to crazy summer goals.... :)
<br />
<br />
Love,
KenzieMcKenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13428106500950557216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727913168693888081.post-39893894280389083012012-06-05T18:36:00.000-07:002012-06-05T18:36:25.327-07:00JuNoWriMo: Day 5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://churchmusictoday.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/frustration2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://churchmusictoday.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/frustration2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Juno is killing me.<br />
<br />
I will be dead quite shortly and then the ghost of McKenzie will come back to haunt this blog and write a couple eerie blog posts a month.<br />
<br />
No, really ya'll. I have a beautiful 2800 words to my name, a nice storyboard, I've done some research (well, a little...), I've got a <a href="http://pinterest.com/mckenziebethh/i-could-write-a-book/">Pinterest Board</a> specifically for the story, all my characters are developing nice personalities and bugging me continually, and really it's so perfect...<br />
<br />
But I realized I've forgotten something. Something big.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">STARTING A STORY FROM SCRATCH IS HARD. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><br />
I suddenly have a lot of respect for myself and other writers who have stuck through to the end of a story. Starting a new story, one that you intend to finish especially, is <i>so hard. </i>I imagine it could be compared to having a baby.<br />
<br />
They're so much fun and they're so cute and they laugh and coo and oh! you could just eat them right up. But then there's the part where they keep you up all night, cry for no reason, have unspeakably nasty diapers, spit up all over your nicest clothes and you end up crying right along with them.<br />
<br />
Yep. Now I love human babies and I love story babies but this is just the plain honest truth. <i>They. Are. Work. </i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
Everybody talks about how fun a new idea is and oh boy it totally is, don't get me wrong. (I'm inventing my own genre of fantastical steampunk you guys.... Sooooo much fun!!) But it takes work if you want it right. I know this is a first draft and I'm allowed to play and created large gaping plot holes in awkward places and kill characters for no reason *guilty smile* but I do want it to be a somewhat cohesive story. I just have to buckle down and write it.<br />
<br />
I haven't done this whole write a book after literally two months of idea spinning in a long time. The other manuscripts have years of planning behind them. Maybe that's a good thing, maybe not. Maybe no plan is better. Either way... Juno is hard right now. O.o<br />
<br />
Okay, I'm done ranting. How is JuNoWriMo for everyone else who is joining the fun? :)<br />
<br />
Mucho Amor,<br />
<br />
Kenzie <3<br />
<br />McKenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13428106500950557216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727913168693888081.post-17218372041962975602012-05-30T12:29:00.001-07:002012-05-30T12:29:30.375-07:00To all the writers...<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This time of year I'm always so
sentimental. I have friends graduating, friends getting ready for
college, friends coming home from college... All while I sit here
equally thrilled and terrified that I have one year left until
college myself. Naturally, I've been daydreaming about the days when
life consisted of dragons and magical castles, Jedi and lightsabers,
cowboys and indians... We had our own league of super heroes too.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I miss that.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I miss the adventures, the complicated
missions, the endless imagination that I possessed. I've still got
some of it... but it's not the same. Now bothersome things are mixed
in – logic and science and a big dollop of hopeless romantic-ness.
(Yes, I just invented that word...)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
But with all my nostalgia I realized I
had it sooooooooooooo lucky. I started writing when I was nine. I
started capturing that insane imagination and putting it to paper.
And I as got older and missions to the moon of Endor got a little
unpractical, I still had my creative outlet! It simply morphed into a
new part of me.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
At first it was a vague dream. I would
think, <i>Oh when I'm 12 I'll finish that book </i>or
<i>I”ll be published when I'm sixteen and super old...</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Well.
Now I'm seventeen and those dreams seem a little silly. But I love
that I've never given up.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
When
I was fourteen I joined a writing group and we became known as the
illustrious Y5. I was the little midget mascot. We joked the other
day that they didn't even know I could talk until a few months ago.
I had friends my age that wrote but these kids were <i>serious.</i>
They wrote with discipline and passion and good grammar [insert
passionate music sequence here].
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
They
were super cool. They still are. (Don't tell them ;)
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I
was the youngest member by several years so sometimes it was
overwhelming or just plain awe inspiring to have the attention and
help of those other four writers.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
A
couple months ago I jumped into the blogging world and found myself
in the same situation. I found friends and got adopted into a few
circles... and I was the baby writer. Still am. :)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
At
first I didn't like it. Sometimes it is a little lonely still but
holy cow. I've learned SO much in the last few months. I've grown,
won some contests, my writing has changed and here I am now...
getting ready to write a totally new story with minimal plot
development (bites nails) for JuNoWriMo. And I know that I already
have a ton of support. That's a super good feeling, y'all. :)
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I
decided, before I kill myself writing this new story, I wanted to say
thank you. So here it is: To all the brilliant, beautiful, wonderful
writers in my life...</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Thank
you for the comments, the encouragement, the kicks in the pants, the
late night meetings, the coffee, the constructive criticism, the
listening, the idea sharing, the uncontrollable laughter, the delicious food, the retweets, the Pinterest boards, the general brilliance... You guys rock
and I love all of you. I'm so thankful I know you guys.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Much
love,
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Kenzie
</div>McKenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13428106500950557216noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727913168693888081.post-2944433739130506502012-05-10T19:56:00.003-07:002012-05-10T19:56:51.403-07:00El Lobo<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Today I'm trying two new flash fiction contest/prompt/dare things. They are both delightful and I decided to combine them because I'm just that creative and well, mostly because the pictures went together so perfectly. Ha. :)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">1. <a href="http://madisonwoods.wordpress.com/2012/05/09/photo-prompt-for-100-word-flash-fridayfictioneers-29/">Friday Fictioneers</a>! This prompt is run by<a href="http://madisonwoods.wordpress.com/"> Madison Wood over at her lovely blog</a>. I've been meaning to enter for forever... </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">2. <a href="http://anonymouslegacy.blogspot.com/2012/05/visual-dare-4the-scream.html">Visual Dares</a>! Another one I've been meaning to try out for awhile now. This is given to us by <a href="http://anonymouslegacy.blogspot.com/">Angela Goff on her wonderful blog. </a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1q87l5nLV1qzwhyzo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1q87l5nLV1qzwhyzo1_500.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #595959; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Photo by: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #595959; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimimac90/2918603182/" style="color: #a88820; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">jimimac90</a><br />This photo gives me chills...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://madisonwoods.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/moon-and-sky1.jpg?w=500&h=375" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://madisonwoods.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/moon-and-sky1.jpg?w=500&h=375" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second Photo Prompt - so creepy I love this one!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>El Lobo: </u></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">When
you get to the end of the world, Lobo is the only one there to greet you. </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He
respects you, because you made it to the bridge – the very end of the end – but
Lobo never likes you. He hisses in your face, he laughs when you shake uncontrollably
and he screams. Most wolves howl, but not Lobo. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">No,
Lobo screams and the sky turns black. It spins, sucking away the sunlight and
you desperately want to turn back. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lobo
only asks once. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Will
you step across my bridge?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And
if you are truly brave… you will. </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">98 Words. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><i>I appreciate any kind of feedback! :)</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><i>Love, Kenzie</i></span></span></div>McKenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13428106500950557216noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727913168693888081.post-68417279455981580732012-05-08T14:10:00.000-07:002012-05-08T14:10:10.203-07:00You Stole My Star.A couple weeks ago, whilst <i>dutifully</i> paying attention to a lecture about the Wild, Wild West, I had a vision. Somewhere among the British/Cowboy/Fantasy part of my brain I conjured up an image of a Duchess, swathed in a black veil, riding in a magical stagecoach. She was looking for passage across the West. She was mysterious and magical.<br />
<br />
I immediately knew she had a story. She's been pulling my through all sorts of plots twists: airships, samurai, troubled relationships, cowboys and a strange, steampunk version of manifest destiny. She'd wink her dark brown eye, smile with a hint of a dimple and then mysteriously disappear.<br />
<br />
She has politely refused all inquiries to her name, has stated to particular purpose or hobbies and has given no references of good character.<br />
<br />
She's insufferable. AND THEN THERE'S THE STAR STEALING.<br />
<br />
I blame Coldplay entirely.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/TDj3sorWXbE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
I was taking a shower, minding my own business, when this song came on. The Duchess suddenly decided to reveal her life-anthem-theme-song-soundtrack-thing to me. I have no idea how exactly this fits into her story - but it does. The phrase 'you stole my star' is especially Duchess-y. I just have to figure out how.<br />
<br />
You probably think I'm insane. I'm not... some of my characters are though. Several of them are, actually... I digress.<br />
<br />
But seriously, does this ever happen to anyone else? Do characters bother you and send you theme songs, annoy you with half-way details of their past and generally abuse your brain?<br />
<br />
Mine do. :/<br />
<br />
<i>P.S. What do you think of the new look?!?! I needed a good excuse to post something on this beauty.. although I really was quite perturbed. ;) Thank you <a href="http://hannahproject195.blogspot.com/">Hannah</a> for designing this for me! xoxox</i><br />
<br />
<br />McKenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13428106500950557216noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727913168693888081.post-16081104615103974862012-05-04T19:15:00.000-07:002012-05-04T19:15:39.521-07:00Candy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsYqK-dde8MTOJRz2eVJofYvRWqFA4gagGlUIYjMF0yvVj5nIp1LydMejqZdHrquIPVj9Nk_U38az-THxZ_hJNPnfeC2hVM7uG8EtpV0-Dqbm1DPPrHQKslqV3ngvQA6Qk2zG9JdgVQ9U/s320/CANDY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsYqK-dde8MTOJRz2eVJofYvRWqFA4gagGlUIYjMF0yvVj5nIp1LydMejqZdHrquIPVj9Nk_U38az-THxZ_hJNPnfeC2hVM7uG8EtpV0-Dqbm1DPPrHQKslqV3ngvQA6Qk2zG9JdgVQ9U/s320/CANDY.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
FIVE SENTENCE FICTION: CANDY</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
"It's like taking candy from a baby," he said, "and all the baby can do is scream at you until you give it back but it makes you feel like a terrible person."<br />
<br />
I rolled my eyes and wrapped up his purchases in the fancy, gold lettered boxes we were famous for.<br />
<br />
"Mr. Luchesi, I firmly believe in the power of diamonds," I said, failing to mention the fact that diamonds had never worked before on the stubbornly unrepentant Mrs. Luchesi.<br />
<br />
"You always say that Tom..."<br />
<br />
I winced, held up my hands and said, "You could always stop stealing her truffles and prove to her that you've turned over a new leaf - she might even come out of her room this time!"<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Ha! This is so random. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Come join the fun at <a href="http://lilliemcferrin.blogspot.com/2012/05/five-sentence-fiction-candy.html">Lillie McFerrin's blog</a>. Five Sentence Fiction is somewhat addicting, just be forewarned. :D</i></div>McKenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13428106500950557216noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727913168693888081.post-74063392677967496172012-04-29T19:52:00.001-07:002012-04-29T19:53:54.966-07:00Once Upon A Time...I have quite hurriedly entered <a href="http://yearningforwonderland.blogspot.com/">Ms. Anna Meade's </a>ONCE UPON A TIME writing flash fiction contest. The theme is Unexpected Fairy Tales.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, without further ado: </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nationalgeographicstock.com/comp/04/593/1348901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.nationalgeographicstock.com/comp/04/593/1348901.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nationalgeographicstock.com/ajwilhelm">~Courtesy of ~</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The car sputtered, groaned pathetically and
died. The road was at a slant and I pulled over with the last bit of juice the
old jeep had. The sweat poured but I pulled my sleeves all the way to my palms.
I didn’t need to see the bruises.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Thus far, my
escape had failed miserably. And now the nearest gas station was ten miles – if
I went back to Franklin. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">A white truck
filled my side mirror, a hazy image against the summer sky. I stuffed myself
under the dash, praying desperately, tears leaking. A shadow washed across the
jeep. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">I heard an engine
fading and then – silence. I breathed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Something tapped my window. I screamed into
my hands, hoping that for once he would lose his composure and kill me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">“Hey, it’s all right!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Unfamiliar voice. I hit my head on the dash
as the door opened and I tumbled onto stumpy, dry grass. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">I looked up. “You’re not… You’re not Solomon.”
An angelic, unfamiliar, boyish face looked back, wide eyed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">“No… You okay?” His eyes were deep, chocolate
pools and filled with concern. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">“No. Yes, I mean, I’m out of gas…” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">“Where you going?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">I shrugged. “Anywhere.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">He nodded his toward his truck. “I have room.”
His truck was piled high with shabby rugs of all shapes and sizes. Otherwise, it
looked rather safe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You’re
not going to take me to Solomon?” I couldn’t quite believe I was really being
rescued. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">He smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">“Nope. Just offering you a ride.” He held out
his hand and gently pulled me up from the ground. I was still shaking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’m Noah. What’s…” We both heard it. Police
sirens. They had found me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">“They found me.” Noah swore and ran toward
his truck. I followed, confused. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">“But I ran away… What are you doing?!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Noah was throwing rugs out of his truck. “I
only need one.” He turned suddenly. “Do you trust me?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The first blue siren came up over the hill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">“Yes!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">“Get on.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><br />
He
sat down on a dirty rug and winked at me. “You want to see the world?” </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
350 words</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Let me know what you think! </div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<script type="text/javascript">
document.write('<script type="text/javascript" src=http://www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=142534&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>');
</script>McKenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13428106500950557216noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727913168693888081.post-795325470682371822012-04-10T15:19:00.000-07:002012-04-10T15:21:50.660-07:00Menage MondaysI won a contest. :)<br />
<br />
*happy sigh*<br />
<br />
You know that feeling when you get to the end of a book and you're sad that its all over but... ahhh, its just so good? Yep. That's what I feel like.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.caramichaels.com/">Cara Michaels</a> has a fun flash fiction writing prompt on her blog called Menage Mondays. They happen on Mondays (surprise...) and are simply loads of delicious writing fun. You get three prompts: A picture, a phrase and a theme that all have to be incorporated into your 200 words-or-less entry.<br />
<br />
This was the Mission yesterday :<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Photo:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.caramichaels.com/defiantlyliterate/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/MM28-1024x575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://www.caramichaels.com/defiantlyliterate/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/MM28-1024x575.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Phrase: too much damage (can be used anywhere.)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
&</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Theme (or the Judges Prompt) : pretending</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And my champion entry! I've been watching a lot of Grimm, Once Upon a Time, the Bourne movies and NCIS lately. Can you tell? X)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
"What do you see?" </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Ummm,” Lucy cocked her head. “A baby giraffe.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What about this one?” Lewis pulled out another photo. We
watched from the dark side of the two-way mirror. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The General grunted. “She’s dangerous, Mr. President.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Empty words. That’s all you’ve had for me for three days,”
I said slowly. “I need proof –her parents want her back and I don’t see why
they shouldn’t.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The General rubbed his forehead. He had dark circles under
his eyes and had already consumed three cups of coffee. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“She’s caused too much damage, I can’t– what is he doing?!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lewis was holding a picture of an explosion behind a
highway. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“That’s you,” Lucy said sweetly. I leaned closer to the
glass. The General ordered Lewis out. They couldn’t get the door open. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Me?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lucy nodded. Lewis swallowed, glanced towards the mirror and
showed her the next picture. The picture of the destruction they said she had
caused. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Get him out of there!” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Those are dead people.”
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lewis frowned. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Lucy…” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What? I thought we were pretending!” She giggled and the
camera feed crackled as black smoke trickled into the room. When the room
exploded, all you could see were her blue eyes. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_8Uj7oOssK36p0frfwpfN0m6wJF8eTjcxMMSxq4iZb6l3t_oKNtEy4Zsk9DhGlenLc7u9E4U7OShfU13vXRTrxFV4uO4KWnFOEIdj_fL0JjYP8LLdTTyF_cWhxn3j9cB2KW0hSnrsl1bI/s1600/MMchampion-298x300.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_8Uj7oOssK36p0frfwpfN0m6wJF8eTjcxMMSxq4iZb6l3t_oKNtEy4Zsk9DhGlenLc7u9E4U7OShfU13vXRTrxFV4uO4KWnFOEIdj_fL0JjYP8LLdTTyF_cWhxn3j9cB2KW0hSnrsl1bI/s1600/MMchampion-298x300.png" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Its funny, cause I wrote this literally 30 minutes before the contest closed and I wasn't sure I even liked it. Guess I do now. ;) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Let me know what you think! </div>McKenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13428106500950557216noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727913168693888081.post-86003670028318373962012-04-09T14:55:00.000-07:002012-04-09T14:56:11.573-07:00There Are Thirty!!!Oh. My. Goodness.<br />
<br />
You have no idea how excited I've been about reaching this number. I don't know why. Thirty is usually a really bad thing, right? I think my aunt sent my mother funeral flowers when she turned thirty...<br />
<br />
But this is different.<br />
<br />
This is thirty people. Thirty PEOPLE! Thirty PEOPLE that clicked that little button that said, "Hey, I really want to get notifications every time you post anything because I think you're just that awesome."<br />
<br />
Well, something like that. I'm not that awesome but in case you weren't aware...<br />
<br />
You are one of the coolest people ever. You are a super hero. You deserve a giant bowl of icecream that will not cause any weight-gain sprinkled with the most beautiful colored sprinkles and doused in chocolate syrup. With a healthy dollop of whipped cream, of course.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRO3oETSzSq9OVdCWO6XYAqNpy8OsYJ4jczZX12p5djUPPgUEGMq9imp_IUoy-JGvhcdVG0reyaSb1BuLEt1eAG9ohPb76nVYq94P7JIWyvkNeq9cFioTKXPALL_U2DOYjqe8Tw3xXRQQ/s1600/DSC_0139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRO3oETSzSq9OVdCWO6XYAqNpy8OsYJ4jczZX12p5djUPPgUEGMq9imp_IUoy-JGvhcdVG0reyaSb1BuLEt1eAG9ohPb76nVYq94P7JIWyvkNeq9cFioTKXPALL_U2DOYjqe8Tw3xXRQQ/s320/DSC_0139.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kind of like this. ;)<br />
<a href="http://glutenfreegood.blogspot.com/2011/04/chocolate-ice-cream-bowls.html">Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sadly, I am not able to give this to you in person today. You might be a little creeped out if I stalked you down just for a bowl of icecream. But you <i>do </i>deserve it because you have been so encouraging and fun and even those of you that have never commented or talked to me on twitter - just that one little button click made. my. day. Seriously. I freak out every time. :)<br />
<br />
But if you want to say Hi, please do so in the comments. Or wave at me on Twitter! I would love to know more about my super heroes. :)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">MORE LUCKY NUMBERS :)</span></b></u></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYuuAEMpk0FS8tB5jXxmkhM22S3Q6PWArc2T1a1k9maidD4z5yDahXBz5pNTolX5imZ67eh4gU1dnIKS2FYTn6_Xf7bduVJL99A9IquxQDbLVUkkXYInFYhRpa5kOG85j8MbfUhmgAvQ/s320/lucky-7-meme.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYuuAEMpk0FS8tB5jXxmkhM22S3Q6PWArc2T1a1k9maidD4z5yDahXBz5pNTolX5imZ67eh4gU1dnIKS2FYTn6_Xf7bduVJL99A9IquxQDbLVUkkXYInFYhRpa5kOG85j8MbfUhmgAvQ/s320/lucky-7-meme.png" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u><b><br /></b></u></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Speaking of exciting numbers, a couple days ago I was tagged in a fun contest by<a href="http://anonymouslegacy.blogspot.com/"> Miss Angela Goff </a>that involves lots of beautiful sevens!! Here's how it works: </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> 1. Go to page 7 or 77 in your current manuscript.</span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> 2. Go to line 7.</span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> 3. Copy down the next seven lines/sentences as they are - no cheating.</span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> 4. Tag seven other authors.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">*throws confetti* </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I'm in a messy, in-between state as I'm in the process of combining two manuscripts but they aren't combined yet so... I just picked one and went with it. Here are 7 sentences of Page 7, Line 7 from The Rogue Princess. Let me know what you think. :) </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">*dumdadadadum*</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>“What message? Where is
Shadow?”<br />
“Shadow has been requested
to assist the king on a military endeavor. We expect them back soon; they left
last night before supper,” the elderly Lord had a sprightly walk for such an
age. Bria hurried to keep up. <br />
“So the Rebels have
declared war already?”<br />
He nodded gravely. Bria
felt sick to her stomach.</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">All right. Now for the tagging. Hmmm. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><b>1) Mary Benefield @JustPlainMary_</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><b>2) Lisa Shambrook @LastKrystallos</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">3) Lillie McFerrin @LillieMcFerrin</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">4)J. Whitworth Hazzard</span><a class="account-group js-user-profile-link" href="https://twitter.com/#!/zombiemechanics" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></a>@zombiemechanics</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="background-color: white;">5)Erin Ashby<a class="account-group js-user-profile-link" href="https://twitter.com/#!/spoonflipper" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></a>@spoonflipper</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="background-color: white;">6)<a href="http://margaretmccrina.blogspot.com/">Meg McCrina</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="background-color: white;">7)Melanie Cole<a class="account-group js-user-profile-link" href="https://twitter.com/#!/MelanieKCole" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span> </a>@MelanieKCole</b></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This people are all awesome and you should follow them and look at their blogs and shtuff. I can't wait to see what they come up with!!!</span></span></div>McKenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13428106500950557216noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727913168693888081.post-80056206482908755882012-04-06T11:16:00.002-07:002012-04-06T11:16:35.052-07:00FSF: Tears<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Annoying droplets of water kept trickling down from my eyes
and they refused to stop falling. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The wind was blowing
against my face, making it cool and fresh.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wondered if the shade of my nose matched the red shoes I
had put on… because everyone knows red is a lucky color. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And if shoes are red, well, it might even give you the strength
to tell someone you love them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even it meant running away to a world I wasn’t sure existed…
and yes, even though he would laugh at me and ask me if it were even slightly possible
that I’d been crying over him. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsiqL2V2TG96fZJheSDdGdrgnqt1IwumaIgWrbiILRzv6qx7j7mdAkAfoqabM-DmiRIDeSynAFYGkUs9PoZDKDlL10s60wCqn6JseL79NqxtE-bho46TpugaodsgjngqpR3v5jV9iX2ke/s1600/IMG_1652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsiqL2V2TG96fZJheSDdGdrgnqt1IwumaIgWrbiILRzv6qx7j7mdAkAfoqabM-DmiRIDeSynAFYGkUs9PoZDKDlL10s60wCqn6JseL79NqxtE-bho46TpugaodsgjngqpR3v5jV9iX2ke/s320/IMG_1652.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A random Spring Break pic since I have no teary one...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Well. This is convenient. :) I had a writer's meeting last night with two <a href="http://anonymouslegacy.blogspot.com/">delightful</a> <a href="http://mary-sparkofhope.blogspot.com/">friends</a> and we were discussing our big projects/manuscripts and the equally important "distraction projects". The project that keeps you going when you hit a rough spot and need to be creatively rebooted. </div>
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I didn't really have one. I have plenty of ideas, they just seem to fizzle away after a few days, maybe a week. I still love them, it's just nothing <i>grabbed </i>me like my current project. </div>
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Last night I remembered a fun, modern day, fairy tale that I had always wanted to write but I joked that I didn't think I would like it because it's just so... happy. Compared, at least, to my current project which is filled with some pretty messed up people. </div>
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But I <i>like </i>happy stories. So I got home, pulled out my old storyboards and started flipping through all sorts of character charts and exciting plot points. I'm pleased to say I discovered that I had carefully mentioned at least one insecurity and 'greatest fear' for each character. Several have very broken pasts. I liked that. </div>
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Suddenly, they all seemed like real people. And real people make for delicious fairy tales. So I'm kindly writing them one. I'm quite distracted. :) </div>
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Anyway, the convenient part of this post is that, as I was writing, I hit a rough spot. Then I remembered the Five Sentence Fiction word for this week! TEARS. </div>
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Even happy fairy tales need a healthy dose of tears. I have to make their lives a little miserable before the happy ending, right? Bahaha. </div>
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Problem solved. </div>McKenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13428106500950557216noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727913168693888081.post-6308102089169009532012-03-29T12:51:00.000-07:002012-03-29T12:51:27.084-07:00And The Plot Thickens....<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>ARE YOU READY FOR PART FOUR?!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">*throws confetti* </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yep. It happened. As you might remember, I've been writing a fairy tale about a Trig Troll and a collection of interesting characters that are fighting for their lives against this monster. In real life, they're the three other kids in my Trig class. Ha. This morning I awoke to find that one of my delightful Trig companions had written the next installment of the adventure!! It's very exciting. Except I almost die. Almost. ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And now, ladies and gentlemen, we have Part Four... from the mouth of Sir Gluten himself:</span><br />
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<u style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The Troll and the Rock</u></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Well, Sir Gluten, Sir </span><span "font-family:="" 'times="" 18px;"="" line-height:="" new="" roman',="" serif;="" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Constanius Copernicus, Mary Anne, and Matilda Joy were quite peeved that the ceiling had fallen in on them. In fact, you could say they were in a tizzy. Sir </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Constanius Copernicus, practically exploded out of his share of the rubble. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
"THIS RUBBLE IS WASTING MY TIME YOU INSOLENT CALVINIST SHAMROCKS."</div>
</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Upon proclaiming such obscenities, Sir</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> Copernicus fell over. The other three were quite sure he was dead. Sir Gluten risked poking him with a pipe cleaner, which seemed to bring Sir Copernicus back from the land of the dead. Once he had recovered, the four decided they had had quite enough, and plodded along merrily, to the tune of Die Viridi, a favorite band of minstrels. Suddenly, the quartet found themselves </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">back inside the classroom of the troll!</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> The troll laughed merrily (in a most trollish manner, as can be expected). "You foolish mortals thought you could simply escape my omnipotent clutches! Now I will unleash my true-" "Wait," interrupted Matilda Joy, "You're omnipotent?" "Why of course I am, you slobber brained pork snail otter loaf!" Retorted the troll. "If you're so powerful," challenged Sir Gluten, "Why don't you make.........</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="line-height: 18px;">A CLOCK!?!"</b></div>
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"Pfft," pffted the ghastly fiend<span style="font-family: inherit;">, "Too easy." And with his horrendous pencil, he quite easily created a working clock, complete with tangents. "Quite practical if you ask me." said Sir Copernicus. The other three stared at him with a mixture of disapproval and sheer lack of understanding. "Why not try and give me something challenging?" boasted the horrendous scary thing. "Alright!" Accepted Mary Anne, "Why not give us an inverse trigonemetric ratio for the absolute dispersion of a chemosynthetic varible solubilty compund using logarithmic proportions?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">________________________________________________________________________________</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">That was just a taste. If you want to know what happens next, you can finish reading the story on <a href="http://nathanbeam.blogspot.com/2012/03/time-for-adventure.html?showComment=1333035993558#c3402795424962511452">Nathan's (I mean Sir Gluten's...) blog</a> so I don't get sued for copyrights or anything. ;) Its completely hilarious. And you should follow him too, I'm sure that would make him feel nice no matter what he says about hating things...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Are you lost? Confused? Intrigued? Read <a href="http://theothersideofsorrow.blogspot.com/2012/02/in-land-of-highschoolia.html">Episode I</a>, <a href="http://theothersideofsorrow.blogspot.com/2012/03/story-about-troll.html">Episode II </a>and <a href="http://theothersideofsorrow.blogspot.com/2012/03/trolls-dirty-secret.html">Episode III</a> to catch up on all the juicy action! :D </i></span></div>
</span></span>McKenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13428106500950557216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727913168693888081.post-44628086291014751512012-03-28T19:32:00.000-07:002012-03-28T19:32:55.286-07:00FSF: Wicked<div style="text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dreamstime.com/twisted-potion-bottle-thumb17041113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.dreamstime.com/twisted-potion-bottle-thumb17041113.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photos-twisted-potion-bottle-image17041113">Photo Courtesy of ~</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Verecundus threw himself into his uncle's parlor, sweating and spewing words that - had his mother been alive - would have been his last. He threw a mauve cushioned stool toward the bookcase, shattering the glass and books catapulted about the room. Still screaming, he reached for another stool when a small green bottle caught his eye, sitting unharmed at the back of the bookcase. He snatched it up and, breathless, read the inconspicuous label: "Large. Winged. Potion." Suddenly, Verecundus felt no need to wait for his approaching punishment and laughing wickedly, downed every last drop. </span></div>
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Whew, barely got this one in! Five Sentence Fiction through<a href="http://lilliemcferrin.blogspot.com/"> Lillie McFerrin</a>. You know you want to do this. :) </div>McKenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13428106500950557216noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727913168693888081.post-55335848358280045512012-03-21T19:54:00.000-07:002012-03-21T19:55:23.681-07:00A Story About A Troll: Part TwoI'm going to preface this by saying: I'm a failure at deadlines. But sometimes you write something and you just know, it's not good. And I can't post anything that's not good. So. Tonight had a good feeling about this. Yay!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>The Troll's Dirty Secret: </u></span></div>
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<i>(Missed the first two episodes? Read them <a href="http://theothersideofsorrow.blogspot.com/2012/02/in-land-of-highschoolia.html">here</a> and <a href="http://theothersideofsorrow.blogspot.com/2012/03/story-about-troll.html">here</a>, por favor! :])</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It might have come to your attention at some point
in your travels or perhaps therapy, that the evil laughter of trolls tends to
destroy one’s resolve. Completely. As in, obliterated, scraped together, burnt
and scattered about the ocean. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Matilda
Joy and Mary Anne later documented this laugh as the second most evil laugh in
all of Highschoolia. But Sir Gluten and the mysterious knight beside him seemed
unshaken. Two pairs of eyes gleamed at the troll – one blue, one brown – and
swiftly returned to their calculation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Sir
Constanius Copernicus, I believe we are dealing with a troll.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Are
ya worried? Are ya worried? Are ya worried?” asked Sir Constanius, the knight
with the blue eyes. Sir Gluten shook his head. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No.
Actually yes, but really, we’ve trained for this over ten hundred years. If we
win, I swear on the Day of No Graduation that I will buy you a new laptop!” Sir
Gluten pressed his forehead against the front of his calculator to see the
screen better. (Laptops had just recently been invented by a rebel Wizard and
had been given an illegal copyright by the Dragons of Procrastination – but
that is mostly irrelevant. Suffice it to say, they were rather rare among the highschoolians and much coveted.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Sir
Constanius so excited he began speaking in binary, which brought more tears to
the girls’ eyes. But they struggled to remain perfectly silent so the intense
calculation battle would not be interrupted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> At
this point, the evil troll was turning purple and had already broken the record
– twice – for the evilest laugh in recorded history. Dark impenetrable clouds
had appeared above his head and lightening lit patterns in his eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
will never defeat me,” he cackled and threw a sharpened polynomial function
toward the sweating knights. They ducked. It crashed through the side of the
pit and into what seemed to be the troll’s bedroom; although it was decked out
in bright pink alphabet letters and Justin Bieber posters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Mary
Anne couldn’t help herself – she giggled. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> If
anything infuriates trolls more, it is the high-pitched, ever-lasting, female
giggle. On top of that, his bedroom and life secrets had just been exposed. You
see, all this troll had ever wanted was to write songs like Justin Bieber.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Matilda
Joy dared to look up, saw the posters, and giggled as well. The two knights
were so confused they collided into each other’s calculator and fell on the
floor in a tangle of legs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Grabbin’
an extra calculator,” muttered Sir Gluten, feeling extremely sorry for his
smashed number machine. But he had just finished the calculation and shouted
the answer despite his sorrow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
did that ten minutes ago, Sir Gluten…” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Sir
Gluten turned to glare at his companion. “Why didn’t you say something?!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Sir
Constanius only laughed and held up his calculator – it seemed he had
programmed it to play a game called Minecraft. Sir Gluten couldn’t help but
appreciate this but suddenly the troll screamed and the ceiling began falling
around them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
poor, evil troll’s Justin-Bieber-Loving heart was completely shattered. His
Trig Test had been destroyed by these two punk knights and now his secret was
out. Nothing could have consoled him if it had wanted too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Sir
Constanius and Sir Gluten carefully threw their damsels in distress over their
shoulders and carefully deposited them underneath a ledge that seemed sturdy. Of
course it wasn’t, and a boulder crashed down, separating Matilda Joy and Mary
Anne. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh,
he’s ragin’ now!” shouted Sir Gluten, much too gleefully for Matilda Joy’s
tastes and she slapped his knightly arm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Shut
up and go rescue Mary Anne!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Sir
Gluten threw his arms up into the air and spluttered but he did as he was told. Mary Anne was
rescued and the four of them escaped down a hallway, where they found a yellow
room. Since, yellow is a very magical color, everyone felt relieved. Especially since this yellow
magical room held a closet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “This
is the key to our salvation!” cried Matilda Joy and she kissed Mary Anne’s
cheek in complete joy. Sir Constanius laughed and cocked his head to one side. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Open
it,” he said, smiling largely. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Sir
Gluten grasped the door handle and swung it open to find whatever saving magic
would be inside. The girls gasped but Sir Gluten had so much body they could
not see around him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Sir
Gluten threw his arms in the air. “There is a <i>tree</i> in this closet.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
moved aside and, indeed, there was a large Christmas tree in the yellow closet.
Along with several pipecleaners. Neither were very magical. And suddenly, the
yellow ceiling collapsed upon them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">To Be Continued............ </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>McKenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13428106500950557216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727913168693888081.post-61044964020067398032012-03-15T15:33:00.000-07:002012-03-15T15:33:40.772-07:00Shameless Advertising<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDNKdvweOS8lXlYPCzKBPArw1wEdpElEaPb8-RWnKyxncET4vFFpjnRN-Lx-MqQmh0jUTYaLUl8lr9MhzQtMTODxOH1gbIfSutOPnFTtEoIJCjktoMrvDjzgVuH_eiiBD82BNhxHvm5dyd/s1600/IMG_0805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDNKdvweOS8lXlYPCzKBPArw1wEdpElEaPb8-RWnKyxncET4vFFpjnRN-Lx-MqQmh0jUTYaLUl8lr9MhzQtMTODxOH1gbIfSutOPnFTtEoIJCjktoMrvDjzgVuH_eiiBD82BNhxHvm5dyd/s320/IMG_0805.JPG" width="177" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are so cool :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Cause my best friend is on Amazon. Aww yeahh.<br />
<br />
One of my most favoritest people on the beautiful planet of earth is an equally beautiful lady named Avriel Lowry. We only got to live near each other for about two years before she moved away to Colorado. But God used those fun years and we've been inseparable since. We have phone withdrawals when texting each other isn't an option. (<a href="http://theothersideofsorrow.blogspot.com/2012/02/kicking-butt.html">Like when we're writing</a>!) Plus we visit over summers.<br />
<br />
Anyways, she can write. Especially poetry. Her poetry was birthed over a huge struggle in her life and her book (*squee*) is the story of how she overcame that struggle. It's pretty powerful - she used to send me bits of these poems over texts as she thought of them.<br />
<br />
She always wanted me to help her edit them and I'm afraid I wasn't much help because I just loved it all... and my poetry expertise is, well, zero. :D<br />
<br />
Soooooooooooooo. Even if you're just a tiny bit curious (You KNOW you are...) go check out this book:<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1295301721"><br /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1295301721">Confessions: </a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Hopelessly-Love-Crossed-Child-ebook/dp/B007B5OK76/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331587966&sr=8-1">of a Hopelessly Love-Crossed Emo Child</a></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Hopelessly-Love-Crossed-Child-ebook/dp/B007B5OK76/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331587966&sr=8-1"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51c+3-riWJL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_AA278_PIkin4,BottomRight,-64,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I will love you forever if you do. And she will too. In fact, we might just have a competition over our love - but don't worry about that just go click on the link and imagine the love pouring out from our souls. :D</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><b>Avriel also blogs at <a href="http://spirit-mind-and-body.blogspot.com/">http://spirit-mind-and-body.blogspot.com/</a> and she is a brilliant photographer over at <a href="http://www.faithavenuephotography.com/">http://www.faithavenuephotography.com/</a>. She's also writing a novel on the zombie Apocalypse. And she's enjoying calculus. This girl is ridiculous. </b></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>P.S. Part Two of '<a href="http://theothersideofsorrow.blogspot.com/2012/03/story-about-troll.html">A Story About a Troll' </a>coming Saturday!! Try to contain your fright for Mary Anne and Matilda Joy's fair brains. </i></div>McKenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13428106500950557216noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727913168693888081.post-61565116104295849092012-03-13T19:10:00.002-07:002012-03-13T19:12:06.622-07:00FSF: Tattered<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My heart beats once, then twice, but then I forget to listen for even that little sound. My eyes listlessly explore the state of the room in front of me, seeing and not seeing the crumpled paper, the bleeding colors, the false beginnings. The silence is so overwhelming but I can't look down. I can't bear to see it - I'm afraid it is just another broken idea attempted with strokes of shaking fingers. I'm afraid that this painting too, will be in shreds, just like my heart. </span></div>
<br />
Yeeepp. Never saw that one coming. That's what I get for drinking chocolate milk at 10pm on a Tuesday night...<br />
<br />
<i>Does this sound fun?! (of course it does, don't lie.) Please join in the madness at <a href="http://lilliemcferrin.blogspot.com/">Lillie McFerrin's</a> awesome blog. :)</i>McKenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13428106500950557216noreply@blogger.com5