I don’t really know where to start writing things lately. Stories keep filling my head but in a directionless manner, where snippets of my character’s world drift past but don’t always leave enough context to follow.
It’s sort of like dealing with random WIPpet Wednesday posts (I definitely prefer having at least a few weeks of story to follow before moving onto a new thread).
Still, as we move up onto another NaNoWriMo, I’m hoping to draw together some of this disconnected fragments and mold them into something concrete. A mosaic of my character’s lives perhaps, maybe the base for a new story… maybe I’ll discover that some of these pieces are just the right size to mend a few holes in the existing WIPs I have laying around.
The goal is to actually write them down.
In that spirit (had to include a ‘ghost’ reference for today, of course), here’s a short WIPpet (5 paragraphs, 3+1 for 31 and an extra) and a cool little Twitter thread some of my archaeology friends at @DigVentures posted (at the end of the post).
This snippet comes from the opening chapter of Marche/Promenade, the middle book in my Swan Song Series.
Val sauntered across the camp toward the messhall, willfully ignorant of the rush and push about him. Served the cook right to have to have to hurry a new batch of ariza, since the man been fool enough to toss the last to the dogs knowing there were returning scouts and fellows waking from their bunks still.
His fears of a half-cooked meal proved groundless however, as he took a seat at the nearest table to the doorway. He nodded to the three men sitting there courteously. “Morning.”
“Mornin’, Valisch,” muttered Hearid through a mouth of well-greased bread. Next to him, Sibon tipped his head, but continued gnawing at his crust in silence.
“Aye, and to you,” Jalla said, pushing a large bowl down the middle plank. “The ariza is fresh. Chief even topped it with grilled tongue. I think.”
So I see.” Val grabbed up a crust and used it to scoop out a pile of mash into a wooden bowl. “Pretty generous of him.” Before Sibon grabbed back the bowl, Val picked off all but two slices of the meat and plunked them on top of his meal. He didn’t quite dare to grin at the man, when the bowman took up a solitary slice mournfully.
If you enjoyed that, you can find more creative endeavors over at the WIPpet linky and visit some our other awesome members. And as always, thank you to Emily Wrayburn, our gracious host. 😀
And lastly, for those looking for some story inspiration…
Ok, so you want a gruesome archaeological puzzle to solve for #Halloween?
Picture this: you’re in the Finds Room, and you’ve just been handed a box of evidence. Your aim is to piece together a story from the artefacts within. Open the thread to find out what’s inside… pic.twitter.com/TwntHAi7A5
— DigVentures (@TheDigVenturers) October 25, 2018
Many Worlds From Many Minds 