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Quick and dirty HS -- Larnsturt, 23:05:13 12/04/08 Thu

Ok, I'm elbow deep in moving (...yet again...sigh...) so we have a cheatingly short HS. I'll pick up with the essay stuff (which was such a bit hit, har) on the next fortnight.

First off, congrats to Debi and all of our other Lallypals who finished the NaNo November challenge! You guys rock!

Second off, I hope everyone in the U.S. had a happy Thanksgiving, which, for our overseas pals, is the reason I skipped last week. (Turkey+Red Wine+Fire Place=Mini Coma) We will resume our bi-weekly jaunts from here on.

Third off: Stuff!

1. It's Not You, It's Just That It's You. Let's think of a break-up. Why do friends, lovers, family members part? When does a relationship turn sour? What does it mean for the characters afterwards?

2. "Line, Please!" Use the following in a youtube video response.

"She wouldn't listen to advice."
"It's been a long time coming."
"I didn't think he had it in him.

WORDS OF SWEETNESS AND CALAMITY!

"I hold it to be the inalienable right of anybody to go to hell in his own way." - Robert Frost

"Any chance to mock the humorless is worth the effort." - Scott Adams

"History will be kind to me for I intend to write it." - Winston Churchill

“If people knew how hard I have to work to gain my mastery, it would not seem wonderful at all.” - Michelangelo

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So, I'm hogging the board and hoping to stimulate some activity! -- Debi, 19:18:08 12/02/08 Tue
So I left Rayne alone for a month, and now she's really pestering me with new scenes. So, I decided to share. Feel free to pick it apart if you are so inclined.

This bit takes place directly after the battle with the orcs. The only injury she didn't heal in the field, she takes care of once they return home.

Rayne, copyright 2008 Debi Matlack, all rights reserved. Posted for critique and sharing purposes only; does not constitute publication.

Keresh lay on his bed at the Ryssan chapterhouse. His wife had left him there and gone in search of food. It was late at night but the chapterhouse had been humming with activity since they returned, everyone, even the cook, being pressed into service. His arm throbbed in its splint, making him feel nauseous, but it was nothing compared to pain he’d suffered from injuries in the past, though unconsciousness might have let him escape the waves of misery every time he shifted the broken limb. Much-abused soft tissue was further damaged by the grinding and slicing of bone fragments every time he moved, including breathing. Still, Keresh dealt with the pain the way he did everything, with patience. One way or another, it would pass.

There had been several others with serious, even grave injuries. Rayne had offered to heal his arm earlier, on the long ride home, but Keresh had pushed her toward the others, telling her the splint would suffice for him. He didn’t regret his decision as such, but wished mightily for some brandy to dull the knife-edge of pain at least, damn the food.

The door opened and he turned his head that way expectantly. Instead of Tarlia, he saw Rayne. Her posture was stooped, her face was dirty and lined with exhaustion but there was purpose in her gaze for the first time in months. She stopped inside the door, leaning against it.
“How’re you doing?”

“I’ve had worse,” he replied with a shrug. “How are the others?”

She smiled. “Stephano will live, though it may be some days before he wakes. I don’t think he’ll have any problems though. His mind was very active and worried when I touched it.” She gave her brother in all but blood an affectionate smile. “You saved his life and he’s very grateful.” She looked out the window into the darkness, ticking through her memory like a list, keeping track of her progress on her fingers. “Fisk’ll have a limp for a few weeks, Bryson is as sore as a bear with a bee-sting and has a cough but his ribs are back together. And Nathan will keep his arm, and full use of it.” She looked at him where he lay.

“And now it’s your turn.”

Keresh shook his head. “Don’t worry about me, some brandy and I’ll keep. You need some rest.”

Rayne shook her head, stubborn. “What kind of healer would I be if I left someone until morning?” She stepped aside, pushing the door open wider to admit Tarlia as she returned with a bit of bread and meat on a tray. Keresh’s wife smiled.

“Besides, there’s not a drop of brandy to be found at this hour.” She smoothed her husband’s hair back off his face with one hand. “She won’t take no for an answer. I’ve already tried.”

Keresh rolled his eyes at the two of them. “Go to bed Rayne. I’m fine.”

“If you were fine, your face wouldn’t be that attractive shade of green.” Rayne stepped further into the room and knelt at the bedside. Looking in his eyes, she told him simply, “Shut up and give me your arm.”

Tarlia sat by him on the other side of the bed. He gave her a plaintive glance.

“Don’t look at me,” she told him. “I tried to tell her the same thing and she just stared at me then beat me back here.” Keresh felt the wrappings on the splint being loosened and he instinctively held it closer to his body. He looked back at Rayne, who glanced up from her work to fix him with a no-nonsense gaze.

“Give me your arm.” It was not spoken as a request. With a sigh, he complied, cursing stubborn women in his mind but keeping silent otherwise. She continued to unwrap the splint. The supports in the splint fell away and he couldn’t help setting his jaw as he felt the broken bones grind together. He breathed a soft exhalation of pain, all he would allow to show of his discomfort. Rayne could feel it too, he could tell; her face twisted in sympathy as she supported the broken limb in her hands. She peered at the bandage, gentle fingers probing, the other hand grasping his wrist and applying gradual traction, with a slight twist to straighten his arm to its correct alignment. It hurt like hellfire but he kept still and quiet. His pain was reflected in Rayne’s expression and she uttered a soft grunt as if it were a bone fragment in her own arm that had to be teased into place.

“Why didn’t you tell me the fracture was open now?” One shard of bone had broken the skin sometime on the ride home; blood now stained the wrapping. Despite himself, sweat prickled from his skin and his good hand sought Tarlia’s, squeezing hard when he found it.

“One man’s skull was split, another was coughing blood, others dangling limbs. I could wait.”

Rayne shook her head and heaved a sigh. “Bloody, stubborn men…” She eased his arm onto a supporting pillow and finished by cutting the rest of the bandage from the limb.
His forearm arm lay exposed now, the shape of it distorted by the broken bones beneath, the skin tented up and bleeding where the sharp bone-end had pierced. She took a deep breath and met both their gazes. “This may hurt,” she said matter-of-factly. Her eyes closed. Her hands encircled his broken forearm and tightened.

Keresh grunted in surprise and Tarlia’s free hand pressed down into his opposite shoulder to keep him still. Aside from the pain of having the broken arm squeezed in Rayne’s grasp, he could feel something coming from her hands into his arm, warm tendrils sliding from her palms and fingertips through the skin, seeking the fragments and disturbances, and teasing them back into place. His arm burned, tingled and crawled with sensation. It almost felt like it was being broken again, very slowly, as the injured flesh and bones, nerves and sinews, having grown reluctantly accustomed to their current arrangement, were forced to return to their proper state. He swore he could feel the pieces of bone pressed together, fitting like puzzle pieces, then knitting together again, all guided by the tendrils from her touch. Nerves and muscle protested this latest disturbance, icy needles racing down to his fingers, making them twitch involuntarily, then up his arm into his chest, causing his heart to thump hard a few beats before settling back to its normal rhythm. The sensation began to fade and was replaced by soothing warmth as the tissues of his arm recognized that they had been returned to their correct configuration. The tendrils withdrew, Rayne’s fingers loosened and he flexed his fingers to test them. Perfect. He looked up at Rayne’s face.

“Thank you,” he told her. She nodded, her face creased with a frown of exhaustion. She sat back on her heels, then slumped against the side of the bed, her head hanging forward, hands lax in her lap. Tarlia was up and around the end of the bed in a second, while Keresh sat up and caught Rayne around the waist with the arm that, just a few moments before, had been shattered and useless. Tarlia knelt by Rayne and supported her, brushing her hair back off her face. Rayne was paler than usual and unconscious. Keresh frowned.

“I told her I could wait.”

Tarlia looked at her husband with a wry smile. “Maybe, but I’m betting she couldn’t.” Keresh nodded assent. This day had been the first time since Castigan had killed Fox, the first time in several months that Rayne had used her magic.

“I’m too tired to drag her to her own room. Get her shoulders and let’s get her in the bed,” Tarlia said. They wrestled Rayne’s inert form into the bed and out of her dirty clothes, then climbed in themselves and fell into a deep sleep.

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Replies:
- I'm also hogging the entire front page... will I ever learn? *sigh* (NT) -- Debi, 19:20:22 12/02/08 Tue
50,186 words! WHEW! -- Debi, 19:55:05 11/28/08 Fri
Hooray! I did it... and the story has promise of being like my others, long, drawn-out and no end in sight!
But that's okay, I wrote the required words in the required time and I'm happy with it. Got some new characters to bother me now too. Now I don't have to worry about getting it done before Sunday, because it's done NOW!

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Replies:
- Way to go, Debi! I'm proud of you, girl, that's quite an accomplishment. My motherboard in my computer died, so I've been offline for some time. Off now to get caught up and read the bits you (and everyone else) have posted! Again, congratulations! (NT) -- Page, 19:09:04 11/29/08 Sat
  - I was wondering where you'd run off to... -- Debi, 22:01:16 11/29/08 Sat
ONWARD LITERARY SOLDIERS! -- Larnsturt, 01:32:56 11/14/08 Fri

For those of us nutters doing NaNoMoWriFaSoLaTiMoOo, my hats off to…us. But a bigger hat-tip to those of you who will win it, cause unless I find about 20,000 words under the bed (I’m not promising there isn’t) there’s not a snowball’s chance in hell I’ll make it.

Maybe I can slip this HS in somewhere. I’m sure I can find a context. Hey, it’s words on a page. Maybe I can justify a good shrimp salad recipe, too. Maybe I should get off my lazy butt and write something.

Ok, we’re gonna do something new. I’ve been trying to think of ways I could switch up the homeworks, so now I’m going to introduce an essay section. This is for more of an editorial style of writing. Exercising voice and whatnot. You can write it in your own words or as a character. I’ll include this as a third option. Rockin.? Rockin’.

1. Share something from your NaNoMorizing. Ok, I’m totally cheating on that one (and Debi jumped the gun but that’s totally awesomely cool) and I’d like to know what the rest of you guys are up to. Not on the ride with us? Well, swing some kool-aid and hop on the crazy train at www.nanowrimo.org

2. Write a story in exactly 100 words. I know we’ve done this one before, but it might come as a welcome change to think short term for a little while. Plus, I really like good short stories. Short being awesome.

3. Essay Portion. Make a convincing argument for NOT telling someone you love them. You don’t have to actually have this stance (I personally believe love should be shouted from the rooftops, but hey) you just have to give that argument.

Much luck to everyone with everything. Turkey Day is coming up, I hope you’ve got your stretchy waistband pants ready. I know I do. I have began my pre-holiday fast already.

WORDS OF CLEVERNESS!

"It's easier to love a demon than a man, though less heroic." -- Margaret Atwood

"Today I bent the truth to be kind, and I have no regret, for I am far surer of what is kind than I am of what is true." -- Robert Brault

"I will not die an unlived life. I will not live in fear of falling or catching fire. I choose to inhabit my days, to allow my living to open me, to make me less afraid, more accessible, to loosen my heart until it becomes a wing, a torch, a promise. I choose to risk my significance; to live so that which comes to me as seed goes to the next as blossom and that which come to me as blossom, goes on as fruit." -- Dawna Markova

Go forth, and be amazing.

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Replies:
- I can always post more... -- Debi, 10:02:17 11/15/08 Sat
  - Well of course you can! Just cause you want to drive me crazy, right? *G* >>> -- Esther, 16:08:15 11/21/08 Fri
    - LOL... -- Debi, 09:07:06 11/22/08 Sat
  - I like it alot! My kind of guy! Now, at the end the problem>>>> -- susiej, 15:13:09 11/25/08 Tue
    - As a matter of fact... -- Debi, 14:14:05 11/26/08 Wed
- I'll take a stab at #2. -- Larn, 02:02:24 11/24/08 Mon
  - VBG! I like it! -- Debi, 06:41:00 11/24/08 Mon
  - Ah, you tricked me! >>>>>> And Larn, I like the new wallpaper. Very Twilight. -- susiej, 15:16:48 11/25/08 Tue
  - Ah, tricksy me! But I didn't chance the wallpaper. I have no idea how to do that. (NT) -- Larn, 11:43:38 11/26/08 Wed
- it's # 2 with a bit of # 3 >>> -- dea, 10:20:18 11/25/08 Tue
  - Oh, I hope that last line happens soon>>> -- susiej, 15:19:25 11/25/08 Tue
  - Very intriguing...;-) -- Debi, 19:26:02 11/26/08 Wed
A taste of my NaNo so far -- Debi, 08:39:37 11/11/08 Tue
So, I'm halfway there, just shy of 25,000 words. I never knew writing about werewolves would be this much fun! So, If anyone would care to peruse, a snippet of the spewage will be in the first reply. I really can't keep myself from going back and editing. It's impossible...;-)

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Replies:
- A werewolf-to-be... -- Debi, 08:59:10 11/11/08 Tue
  - Can I just say how much I love the name Marius? (NT) -- Larn, 01:35:53 11/14/08 Fri
    - Re: Can I just say how much I love the name Marius? -- Debi, 03:42:20 11/14/08 Fri
  - My My! Talk about me liking the big bad wolf. *G* >>> -- Esther, 16:00:02 11/21/08 Fri
    - Thanks! -- Debi, 09:16:31 11/22/08 Sat
  - powerful! >>> -- dea, 10:28:08 11/25/08 Tue
    - Thank you dea! -- Debi, 19:27:29 11/26/08 Wed
NaNoWriMo looming... -- Debi, 18:57:47 10/31/08 Fri
So, I'll be taking the plunge, possibly this evening once it's 'official'. The werewolf idea is percolating along nicely and I'll be sure to post progress reports on my blob (maybe, if work doesn't kill me first) and excerpts here once I get the words rattled out. Maybe it'll get me moving along on the writing again. My username on NaNoWriMo is the same as always, debikm. I have no imagination...;-)

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Replies:
- I'm trying to add you as a buddy, but can't figure out how... (NT) -- Larn, 01:19:31 11/02/08 Sun
  - Re: I'm trying to add you as a buddy, but can't figure out how... -- Debi, 09:42:25 11/02/08 Sun
    - Oh this same one, Larnsturt. I'm even less creative than you in that respect! (NT) -- Larn, 17:03:22 11/02/08 Sun
      - How the heck do I view another NaNo's profile page to add them as a buddy when I can't find a search function? -- Debi, 20:10:26 11/04/08 Tue
        
        I sent you a message and added you that way. Did it not go through? (NT) -- Larn, 21:33:43 11/05/08 Wed
        
        It did, but I have other friends I want to add... (NT) -- Debi, 15:11:36 11/06/08 Thu
        
        Send them a message, then click on their name in the outgoing mail box. That's what I did. (NT) -- Larn, 02:38:42 11/08/08 Sat
        
        It worked! -- Debi, 10:22:05 11/08/08 Sat
- Hey I know I'm late but wanting to wish anyone participating the best of luck as you approach the single days that are left! (NT) -- Esther, 15:52:04 11/21/08 Fri
Boo! -- Larnsturt, 03:38:08 10/31/08 Fri
I begin this HS with one minute left on today, Thursday. Wait for it…wait for it…

Ok! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Now that’s it’s Friday and I’m late, the pressure is off. I’m nothing if not consistent.

1. Let’s talk about ghosts. And I don’t mean actual ghosts, I mean like things from the past coming back to affect your characters. Perhaps it’s a deep dark secret or a past investment or maybe just a book club that finally delivers. Maybe it’s the memory of a lover that won’t leave or a guilty conscious. Let’s weigh in on our consequences. Or you could write about real ghosts. Whatever.

2. Twelve words. Use the following in a banana bread recipe.

Flee, frosted, fickle, finance, frown, fence, forgone, forgot, feet, felt, flay, toaster

Much luck. That second one’s a doosey.

Please, please, pleeeeeeeeeease vote, people. I know you hear it everywhere, but pleaaase vote. Vote or you loose 1 million life points. And there’s no bouncing back from a point loss that great.

WORDS!!!

You are the person who has to decide. Whether you'll do it or toss it aside; you are the person who makes up your mind. Whether you'll lead or will linger behind. Whether you'll try for the goal that's afar. Or just be contented to stay where you are. - Edgar A. Guest

After being Turned Down by numerous Publishers, he had decided to write for Posterity. - George Ade

Thus, in a real sense, I am constantly writing autobiography, but I have to turn it into fiction in order to give it credibility. - Katherine Paterson

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Replies:
- More Rayne -- Debi, 06:32:00 10/31/08 Fri
  - very nice, Debi! Spooky, but then, comforting. (NT) -- susiej, 13:18:40 10/31/08 Fri
  - wow, this is really great! >>> -- dea, 09:10:36 11/04/08 Tue
    - :-) Thanks dea! -- Debi, 20:12:27 11/04/08 Tue
  - Cool! This way please >>> -- Esther, 15:39:50 11/21/08 Fri
    - I know, it doesn't make sense without context -- Debi, 09:20:26 11/22/08 Sat
      - Re: I know, it doesn't make sense without context -- Debi, 09:20:57 11/22/08 Sat
- Homework>>> -- susiej, 11:31:29 10/31/08 Fri
  - nice touch >>> -- dea, 09:14:46 11/04/08 Tue
    - Re: nice touch >>> -- susiej, 11:21:01 11/04/08 Tue
  - Re: Homework>>> -- Debi, 21:04:04 11/07/08 Fri
    - thanks Debi! (NT) -- susiej, 12:30:26 11/10/08 Mon
  - Hey Susie >>> -- Esther, 15:41:40 11/21/08 Fri
- And Larn, I love the quotes! Thanks! (NT) -- susiej, 13:25:43 10/31/08 Fri
- A real ghost story -- Page, 00:08:14 11/06/08 Thu
  - Page>>> -- susiej, 09:30:36 11/06/08 Thu
  - {{{{{{{{{{{Page}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} -- Debi, 15:19:40 11/06/08 Thu
  - This is a great memoriam for your Dad. Thanks for sharing it with us. (((((Page & Family))))) (NT) -- Esther, 15:46:40 11/21/08 Fri
  - Page dear -- dea, 09:46:31 11/25/08 Tue
Hello? Is this thing on? *taptaptap* -- Debi, 15:17:46 10/24/08 Fri
I'm bored. It's Homecoming here at UF, we were made to work and there's absolutely squat going on...

Somebody come out and play?

[ Post a Reply to this Message ][Edit]

Replies:
- *Gasp!* A Gator!! *G* Actually, there is a question I've been wanting to run by everyone: >>>> -- Page, 16:22:35 10/24/08 Fri
  - A Gator only by employment...;-) -- Debi, 19:39:32 10/24/08 Fri
  - here go mine >>> -- dea, 14:00:32 10/29/08 Wed
    - dea, love the mamba one. Prologues do count. more inside>>>> -- susiej, 14:44:06 10/29/08 Wed
  - Hookers and all... -- Corinna, 04:17:12 10/30/08 Thu
- OK, Page. I just got back from a writer's conf and your question was THE question. More inside>>>> -- susiej, 14:40:11 10/29/08 Wed
  - I worked with Allen Wold on this very topic. He does 'the hook' as his writer's workshop at many science fiction/fantasy conventions. My original one stunk, but the second one I submitted for the same story was the winner. Now all I have to do is sell the story I wrote after the hook... ;) (NT) -- Chessie >^..^<, 21:48:42 10/29/08 Wed
    - Chessie, which conferences do you go to>>>>> -- susiej, 10:17:55 10/30/08 Thu
      - Re: Chessie, which conferences do you go to>>>>> -- Chessie >^..^<, 18:30:34 11/06/08 Thu
  - Susie, did you go to Surrey this year? It sounds like you're describing 'Surrey Idol'. I missed it so. I've been to at least five conferences there and have gotten SO much out of them. (NT) -- JulieO, 17:26:48 10/30/08 Thu
    - Yes, it was great. Canada was great. A wonderful experience. I had an agent ask for my first 3 chapters. I sent them this week after revising my opening (again)and am now gnawing my fingernails to the quick. If anyone feels inspired to send good vibes toward NY in my name, I'd appreciate it immensely. (NT) -- susiej, 20:34:04 10/30/08 Thu
      - Who asked for chapters? That's an awesome feeling, isn't it? I sent out 21 e-queries in September. I've had nine rejections and one request so far. I'll send loads of good thoughts to NYC! What were your favorite workshops from SIWC? (NT) -- JulieO, 23:58:04 10/30/08 Thu
        
        Well, anything Jack Whyte taught mainly because I could just sit and listen to that voice for hours and he's such a hoot but I also liked the Idol because they didn't just bash they each gave reasons why and most of them were valid to any writing. Also>>> -- susiej, 10:57:38 10/31/08 Fri
        
        I pitched to Rachel Vater too! She was great. I've queried her but haven't heard back yet, so it's probably a 'no'. I'm going to wait another month, then start another round of queries. If one person requested chapters, maybe it's not as bad as I thought. *g* Come in >>>>> -- JulieO, 12:21:54 10/31/08 Fri
        
        I don't know Jenny Cruise, but yes, Janet is great. Do you read her blog?>>>> -- susiej, 13:23:01 10/31/08 Fri
        
        Jennifer Crusie is an author that I love. Yep, I read Janet's blog all the time. And Query Shark, too. Rachel Vater has her own blog - I think Janet links to it from hers. Check to see what Rachel's expected response time is. She told me that she responds to every query, even if it takes two months. And I assume that no news is a 'No, thank you', so I'm on to the next book! (NT) -- JulieO, 16:23:42 11/01/08 Sat
      - Mucho mojo headed your way! Hooray! (NT) -- Debi, 06:34:25 10/31/08 Fri
        
        thanks!! (NT) -- susiej, 10:58:23 10/31/08 Fri
- The Hook... -- Debi, 20:13:20 10/30/08 Thu
  - Well, I'm certainly no expert>>>>... -- susiej, 20:46:01 10/30/08 Thu
    - Good points. -- Debi, 06:18:54 10/31/08 Fri
  - 'nother first lines(s)/paragraph -- Debi, 06:40:28 10/31/08 Fri
- Two years ago, I was at a workshop (in Surrey) put on by Don Maass about 'The Hook'. He asked for people to hand him the first page of their story. In some sort of writers-conference-fog, I handed him mine. He was reading them out loud and getting responses from the audience. After he read mine, and everyone laughed themselves silly (whew!), he kept reading. And complimented me. I just about passed out. That's my experience with 'The Hook". :-) (NT) -- JulieO, 00:04:07 10/31/08 Fri
  - Cool! -- Debi, 06:20:34 10/31/08 Fri
  - very cool! I wish you could have gone this year- i'd have loved to meet ya! And not just for your cool first lines either. -- susiej, 10:45:19 10/31/08 Fri
Going For The Goal! -- Nicki Greenwood, 22:14:16 10/18/08 Sat
Hi Lallywriters,

I'm visiting today to say that I have a writing website ... and a cause!

REACH THE GOAL!

Even though I'm not published yet, I am strongly committed to using a portion of my earnings to give back to the community ... and since I'm a writer, literacy was one of my first picks. Available on my CafePress page is a T-shirt any writer will appreciate - the Goal, Motivation, and Conflict of a writer! I will donate 20% of the profits from the sale of this T-shirt to ProLiteracy, a worldwide organization dedicated to improving lives through the power of reading. Visit the link below to learn about and purchase this T-shirt, and spread the power of the written word!

http://www.cafepress.com/nickigreenwood.318959280

Thanks for looking. Feel free to pass this on to any writers' loops you like!

Nicki Greenwood - Romance Author
Heart-Pounding Romantic Adventure
http://www.nickigreenwood.com

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Still, You're Standing On Your Feet. -- Larnsturt, 22:27:48 10/17/08 Fri

I'm not late, I'm early. Very early. You're just a few days off, no worries. It's actually Tuesday and I totally got my sister's birthday present done in time.

Sigh.

Oh man, the other day, I was driving and I came up with the best Homework Suggestion EVER, but of course I didn’t write it down, nor do I remember it.

So you’re stuck with this one.

Har.

1. I Will Travel Till My Country Home Is Found. Your characters are traveling somewhere. Are they excited about the journey or tired from the long trip? Do they want to get there faster or prolong the inevitable? Are they alone? Who is traveling with them? How are they getting there? Are we there yet? Did we miss our exit? Can we stop to go to the bathroom? Can you hand me those M&M’s then shut the hell up?

2. Line, Please! Use the following in a Russian Ballet.

“You can speak your mind.”
“I don’t care what you say anymore.”
“You can’t sleep alone in a strange place.”
“I don’t need you to worry for me, cause I’m all right.”

Twenty points for the person who can tell me what song that’s from. Seriously, twenty points here.

Fantastico work this week. I had a slight suspicion a sexy topic would get the juices flowing (what is it with these horrible sexual puns?) and I’m glad to see you guys rise admirably to the occasion.

Oh lord, I just need to stop…

WORDS OF MAKING YOU WRITE THINGS:

Ok, so I’ve decided to take this section and revamp a little. Instead of just bits of wisdom from writers, I’m also going to start including any particularly impressive passages I read or stumble across that I think are shining examples of What Makes Writing Good. Just so you know.

"How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live. Sell your clothes and keep your thoughts." – Henry David Thoreau.

“I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don’t let anybody tell you different.” – Kurt Vonnegut.

"Wit is well-bred insolence." - Aristotle

Why, thank you.

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Replies:
- testing... -- Debi, 10:10:56 10/18/08 Sat
  - Once more, with feeling... -- Debi, 10:26:47 10/18/08 Sat
    - Geez, I’m a month behind! :- ( >>> -- Esther, 15:37:07 11/21/08 Fri
      - He's a good 'un, that Keresh -- Debi, 09:24:03 11/22/08 Sat
The care and feeding of writers -- Debi, 16:44:13 10/11/08 Sat
You might want to make a copy of this and post it where the other inhabitants of your household can see it. It's very important information. ;-)

Inside the first reply.

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Replies:
- The care and feeding of writers -- Debi, 16:45:46 10/11/08 Sat
  - Bwahahaha! Your writer's origins can be traced back to a small hairless rodent of the Miocene epoch. This was brilliant! (NT) -- Page, 10:44:46 10/16/08 Thu
My own challenge...;-) -- Debi, 18:33:07 10/10/08 Fri
So, I posted something on my writing blog and ran with it. It was gleaned from Meredith Sue Willis' online writing pages and I was intrigued by the current exercise. If anyone would like to play, here or at my blog, I'd love to see what you have. Here's the exercise/prompt:

"A character in your fiction (or someone in real life including yourself ) is in a situation where they need to be forgiven-- or are asked to forgive someone else. Does the foregiveness happen? This could take the form of someone musing or remembering or a fully dramatized scene with dialogue."

My response is inside the first reply.
C'mon... I dare you...
Triple dog dare you...

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Replies:
- Windhorses scene -- Debi, 18:41:32 10/10/08 Fri
  - Gabriel's return -- Corinna, 01:50:11 10/11/08 Sat
    - That's beautiful -- Debi, 14:22:22 10/11/08 Sat
    - oops... found out -- Corinna, 01:25:37 10/12/08 Sun
      - bad reader I am -- Debi, 10:00:35 10/12/08 Sun
    - I'm so torn! >>>> -- Page, 23:26:25 10/23/08 Thu
    - Beta-readers eh? And just how does one get that honour? *G* >>> -- Esther, 11:09:43 10/24/08 Fri
      - Time travel and all that... -- Corinna, 14:11:40 10/24/08 Fri
        
        Re: Time travel and all that... -- Corinna, 14:13:00 10/24/08 Fri
        
        Re: Time travel and all that... -- Debi, 19:43:56 10/24/08 Fri
        
        Time? Time. Did someone mention time? *G* >>> -- Esther, 12:01:08 10/25/08 Sat
        
        As Martin lives the moment... -- Corinna, 13:19:36 10/25/08 Sat
    - i'm blown away! -- dea, 13:29:30 10/29/08 Wed
  - Well...hmmm. Still don't know the reason either...*G* >>> -- Esther, 10:03:30 10/19/08 Sun
    - Well, I'm still writing it... *BG* -- Debi, 06:46:42 10/21/08 Tue
  - So like siblings! >>>> -- Page, 23:21:08 10/23/08 Thu
    - Yes ma'am!!! -- Debi, 15:20:40 10/24/08 Fri
  - it's a beautiful scene, Debi >>> -- dea, 13:35:37 10/29/08 Wed
    - Thanks Dea! -- Debi, 06:15:57 11/05/08 Wed
- I'm slowly getting caught up on reading the board, but will go ahead and post my forgiveness bit now. I warn you, it's long. >>>> -- Page, 20:02:55 10/16/08 Thu
  - Oh, but it's so good... -- Debi, 21:59:46 10/16/08 Thu
  - Well, geez. I'm reading merrily along, and then...WHAM! >>> -- Esther, 11:42:14 10/24/08 Fri
  - the Jane Austen's factor >>> -- dea, 13:12:04 10/29/08 Wed
- A triple dog dare? Well...how can I refuse. *G* Hmmm. Thinking...How about something taking the form of someone musing, remembering, utilizing a fully dramatized dialogue with some controversy thrown in? >>> -- Esther, 10:18:44 10/17/08 Fri
  - Powerful stuff -- Debi, 17:40:25 10/17/08 Fri
    - LOL Thanks! >>> -- Esther, 13:11:26 10/25/08 Sat
  - i was a little lost >>> -- dea, 14:00:59 10/23/08 Thu
    - Well that's compulsory and written into every post *G* >>> -- Esther, 13:26:06 10/25/08 Sat
  - Re: A triple dog dare? Well...how can I refuse. *G* Hmmm. Thinking...How about something taking the form of someone musing, remembering, utilizing a fully dramatized dialogue with some controversy thrown in? >>> -- Page, 23:16:44 10/23/08 Thu
    - I've warned you before. Be careful what you wish for. *G* >>> -- Esther, 13:37:02 10/25/08 Sat
- this is a spoiler. the last chapter of Heights of Abraham >>> -- dea, 11:05:05 10/23/08 Thu
  - Oh my gosh, dea! This came out of nowhere! >>>>> -- Page, 19:08:32 10/23/08 Thu
  - Holy $^!%, Batman... -- Debi, 19:55:10 10/24/08 Fri
  - Oh boy! A spoiler! That means it's a doozie! *G* >>> -- Esther, 13:07:23 10/25/08 Sat
    - thanks, Ladies, come inside >>> -- dea, 11:28:47 10/29/08 Wed
Ladies, ladies, ladies... -- Esther, 14:46:51 10/09/08 Thu
I'm shocked. I'm appalled. I'm horrified. What the heck are you all thinking???? I mean SEX??? SEX????

I know it's been awhile for me, but geesh. This is just not acceptable. Nope. Not at all. Sex, hidden in the homework post??? Tsk Tsk Tsk.

I thought we all understood this, but apparently I have never made myself clear so I will attempt to do so now. Sex in any/all shapes, forms or postions, is most deserving of its own post! And you showed admiral work ladies! Excellent details and feeling! So awesome in fact that all I've read below demands attention, some deliberate flaunting of all the ins and outs required to make it stand out.

So, the only way to redeem yourself, IMHO, is to post another scene. Right? Right. I want you all to top me. Go on. I dare you! Show me what you got!! *VBG*

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Replies:
- The first time, the second time around >>> -- Esther, 14:59:38 10/09/08 Thu
  - Ooohh, a challenge! *picks up the gauntlet* I accept! -- Debi, 20:40:18 10/09/08 Thu
    - Sex distracting? Oh, pshaw! >>> -- Page, 16:22:03 10/10/08 Fri
      - Well, a good distraction, anyway... -- Debi, 16:58:39 10/10/08 Fri
    - Woo hoo Debi! >>> -- Esther, 14:49:32 10/15/08 Wed
      - LOL... -- Debi, 19:26:23 10/16/08 Thu
  - Break more rules! Please! >>>> -- Page, 16:09:11 10/10/08 Fri
    - OMG! You do realize that you shouldn't encourage me, don't you? >>> -- Esther, 15:01:04 10/15/08 Wed
- Not quite so passionate... -- Corinna, 12:18:57 10/10/08 Fri
  - Oh, Corinna! >>>> -- Page, 16:24:34 10/10/08 Fri
  - Beautiful scene... -- Debi, 17:07:59 10/10/08 Fri
  - I disagree >>> -- Esther, 15:21:16 10/15/08 Wed
    - i agree with Esther! >>> -- dea, 11:07:41 10/16/08 Thu
- Where did the term "deflower" come from, anyway? >>>> -- Page, 14:22:07 10/10/08 Fri
  - Very nice! -- Debi, 17:18:30 10/10/08 Fri
    - Oh, crap! I knew I'd heard that name before! Crud, crud, crud. I'm so glad you pointed that out! He's getting a new last name, pronto! (No, pronto's not the name...*G*) (NT) -- Page, 18:37:25 10/10/08 Fri
      - If it's any consolation, he's very handsome... -- De bi, 18:59:03 10/10/08 Fri
        
        Ah, he is at that >>>> -- Page, 22:21:22 10/10/08 Fri
        
        Eh? -- Corinna, 02:38:18 10/11/08 Sat
        
        Adrian vs. Adrian -- Debi, 10:35:44 10/11/08 Sat
        
        Re: Adrian vs. Adrian -- Corinna, 11:47:04 10/11/08 Sat
        
        HL flashbacks -- Debi, 14:25:46 10/11/08 Sat
  - Awww! What an excellent first time! >>> -- Esther, 11:12:10 10/16/08 Thu
- My goodness! I've been busy and away from the boards for a while and come back to find that you've all been very naughty. Wonderfully naughty! (NT) -- susiej, 17:12:23 10/10/08 Fri
- Woo hoo! I love em' Unfortunately, I'm headed out in about half an hour to go camping for the Thanksgiving weekend, so I won't be able to respond right away, but don't stop here! I'll make sure I'm here first thing when I return! Play nice! ;-) (NT) -- Esther, 18:06:26 10/10/08 Fri
- ok, second try, not a happy one -- dea, 15:07:54 10/14/08 Tue
  - Not a happy one, but beautifully done! >>> -- Page, 10:54:06 10/16/08 Thu
    - thanks, Page >>> -- dea, 16:54:48 10/16/08 Thu
  - For something not happy, this put a smile on my face >>> -- Esther, 11:25:58 10/16/08 Thu
  - Nice! -- Debi, 19:37:22 10/16/08 Thu
    - thanks, Esther and Debi >>> -- dea, 13:55:15 10/29/08 Wed
      - I like this! -- Debi, 20:08:17 10/30/08 Thu
I'm right on time, thanks very much! -- Larnsturt, 01:48:27 10/03/08 Fri

Homework? Early? Surely you jest!

Ok, ok, I will be posting on this week’s homework, just not…now. I promise, I swear by the moon, yes even the unconstant moon, that I shall post. I’ll just do it later. Promise. And it will be fresh. The freshest of the fresh in literary freshness.

Oh my, it’s getting late. And the fumes are getting to me.

1. Let’s Not Beat Around The Bush. Post a sex scene. Go on, do it. See if I care. And I just realized the title of this assignment is kind of a pun. That’s funny. Anyway, for those of you not inclined to be scandalous (why are you here?) then post a bit about avoiding sex. That’s right, either get in or get out.

2. “Line, Please!” Use the following…oh you get it.

“What was that you were going to say?”
“We were all basically alone.”
“The war is over, there's nothing left to defend.”
“He just wants his life back.”

Righteous work this week. (Righteous in the sense of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, not in a holy event sort of way. So much is lost in print…) As for the fumes, well, I made two didgeridoos and had to paint them. Yes. Those Australian drone-y things they play over the opening credits of Survivor (or at least used to, I’ve not seen it since the first season) and believe you me when I tell you they’re fun to play, but a bitch to fashion. But we had success. Success to the successful didgeridoo maker! Have a drink on us, and throw some shrimp on the Barbie. Seeing as how we actually used a barbecue to heat them, it seems appropriate.

WORD OF ENCOUEAGEMENTATION!

"One writes out of one thing only--one's own experience. Everything depends on how relentlessly one forces from the experience the last drop, sweet or bitter, it can possibly give." -James Baldwin

“Writing is a fairly lonely business unless you invite people in to watch you do it, which is often distracting and then have to ask them to leave. - Marc Lawrence

“ When writing a novel, that’s pretty much entirely what life turns into: 'House burned down. Car stolen. Cat exploded. Did 1500 easy words, so all in all it was a pretty good day.'” -Neil Gaiman

“If you haven't got an idea, start a story anyway. You can always throw it away, and maybe by the time you get to the fourth page you will have an idea, and you'll only have to throw away the first three pages. - William Campbell Gault

Ok, ok, Mr. Gault. I get it. Sheesh.

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Replies:
- How long can the sex scene be? -- Corinna, 04:44:22 10/03/08 Fri
  - As long as they need to. Generally, longer is better. ::looks away:: (NT) -- Larn, 11:42:58 10/03/08 Fri
    - Ah I see -- Corinna, 01:09:41 10/04/08 Sat
      - Ok here it is... -- Corinna, 05:10:15 10/05/08 Sun
        
        Hi Corinna>>> -- Alex, 09:25:41 10/06/08 Mon
        *Can do nothing but fan self rapidly with a discarded envelope* >>> -- Page, 16:05:28 10/06/08 Mon
        Oh. My. Wow....... -- Debi, 19:26:36 10/06/08 Mon
        
        Thanks ladies... -- Corinna, 03:28:43 10/07/08 Tue
        
        Actually... -- Corinna, 03:33:18 10/07/08 Tue
        I love faces, especially ones like that... -- Debi, 06:12:04 10/07/08 Tue
        
        Well, never thought I'd say this, but >>> -- Esther, 15:26:22 10/09/08 Thu
        
        Thanks Esther -- Corinna, 12:48:45 10/10/08 Fri
        
        Gabriel's return...or not -- Debi, 10:39:30 10/11/08 Sat
        
        Re: Gabriel's return...or not -- Corinna, 11:54:03 10/11/08 Sat
        
        I think that's an excellent way to go about it -- Debi, 14:29:56 10/11/08 Sat
        
        Gee. You don't ask easy questions do you? *G* >>> -- Esther, 14:39:27 10/15/08 Wed
        
        Yeah lots to think about... -- Corinna, 03:27:37 10/16/08 Thu
        
        thanks, Corinna >>> -- dea, 15:47:52 10/15/08 Wed
        
        That's why excerpts never really work well... -- Corinna, 03:14:37 10/16/08 Thu
        
        thanks again >>> -- dea, 11:34:38 10/16/08 Thu
        
        ah I got you re. the picture bloke! -- Corinna, 13:45:00 10/16/08 Thu
- Sex? Yes, please! -- Debi, 20:13:01 10/04/08 Sat
  - nice... -- Corinna, 06:45:04 10/06/08 Mon
  - Hey Debi>>> -- Alex, 08:29:56 10/06/08 Mon
    - Re: Hey Debi>>> -- Debi, 15:10:54 10/06/08 Mon
  - Oh wow, oh wow, oh wow! >>>> -- Page, 23:11:57 10/06/08 Mon
    - *blushes* -- Debi, 06:14:19 10/07/08 Tue
  - Oh and look! It's Keresh! >>> -- Esther, 15:40:31 10/09/08 Thu
    - I know how you love the man... -- Debi, 20:44:30 10/09/08 Thu
  - i knew it! >>> -- dea, 15:00:01 10/15/08 Wed
    - LOL.... do I see Bambi eyes fluttering at me? -- Debi, 19:46:58 10/16/08 Thu
- "Clean" sex. (Bwahaha!) Oh, yes...NSFW >>>> -- Page, 22:11:18 10/05/08 Sun
  - Verra nice... -- Debi, 06:35:03 10/06/08 Mon
    - Re: Ah, but how much work did you get done? *G* Glad you liked it! (NT) -- Page, 23:18:05 10/06/08 Mon
  - *pant* -- Corinna, 06:42:35 10/06/08 Mon
    - Re: Thanks, Corinna! >>>> -- Page, 23:15:57 10/06/08 Mon
  - Hey Page>>> -- Alex, 09:09:50 10/06/08 Mon
    - Re: Thank you mucho! >>>> -- Page, 23:13:18 10/06/08 Mon
  - Awwww (((((Page))))) >>> -- Esther, 15:46:50 10/09/08 Thu
    - Thanks, Esther! A male friend read this over, and has told me he's going to give this a try! Ah, I live to edumacate the younger generation. *G* -- Page, 15:59:40 10/10/08 Fri
  - great, Page >>> -- dea, 14:52:59 10/15/08 Wed
- Alright, you asked for it. Sex in a tent. -- Larn, 04:11:15 10/08/08 Wed
  - Most excellent! -- Debi, 06:58:43 10/08/08 Wed
  - Re: Yes, ma'am! >>>>> -- Page, 13:32:23 10/08/08 Wed
  - Woohoo! -- Alex, 17:18:50 10/08/08 Wed
  - You guys are good for the ego.>>> -- Larn, 02:36:06 10/10/08 Fri
  - Lobsided boobs and the bad zit scar! LOL! I loved it. (NT) -- susiej, 18:27:15 10/11/08 Sat
  - Sorry Larn, thought I responded earlier >>> -- Esther, 13:41:44 10/15/08 Wed
  - hmmm... >>> -- dea, 15:04:34 10/15/08 Wed
- ok, at last, da sex scene -- dea, 18:51:38 10/10/08 Fri
  - Awesome.... -- Debi, 19:09:44 10/10/08 Fri
    - so do i >>> -- dea, 14:40:55 10/15/08 Wed
  - Awww dea! This is beautiful! >>> -- Esther, 13:52:09 10/15/08 Wed
    - thanks, Esther >>> -- dea, 14:45:01 10/15/08 Wed
Robert Pattinson? And at the VMA's, very recent. Are hosers also twilighters? -- Danielle, 08:13:18 09/08/08 Mon

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Replies:
- To answer your question- not me. 12 year old DD is and I read them really thinking I would love them. I'm a huge fantasy fand and love well written children's or young adult books, but did not find these to be. I forced my way through the first 3 because I was interested in her take on the vampire and werewolf legend, but besides Dr. Cullen, what did these people do with their long, gifted lives? There is a Canadian author>>> -- susiej, 12:06:28 09/08/08 Mon
  - I know exactly what you mean! I am 20 years old and I read them out of curiosity >>> -- Danielle, 18:40:28 09/08/08 Mon
    - Oh, good. I'm glad to know its not just me being a middle aged mom! DD was very upset that I didn't love them. (NT) -- susiej, 09:49:59 09/09/08 Tue
- Hey Danielle! Welcome to the Lit! To answer the question, nope I'm not a Twilighter. *G* If the DS ever brings it home I might read it, but until then, I've my own TBR pile. (NT) -- Esther, 09:27:11 09/10/08 Wed
- ok, but... -- dea, 11:34:43 10/03/08 Fri
- I'm reading "Twilight" but I doubt whether I'll finish it. My DD read all of the books and recommended them. I'm way past identifying with the teen years. If the writing was better, it wouldn't matter. Waving hello to those who remember me! And to those who don't. :-) (NT) -- Peg, 15:45:26 10/13/08 Mon
  - Waving back Peg! But I have to ask, what the heck are you doing all the way down here??? Geez woman, missed your wit and brilliance around here! So good to see you! *mwah* (NT) -- Esther, 11:49:46 10/16/08 Thu

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