author of celtic, medieval, gothic and fairytale inspired fiction
Another Sunday has rolled around again and with it comes another installation of Story Prompt Sunday!
I hope you enjoy today’s opening line…
They used to shout my name; now it’s whispered.
And please, if you’re up for it, and it inspires you, share what you’ve written in the comments below!
Hawthorn & Ash is the third anthology from Iron Faerie Publishing and the first in a series of drabbles and flash fiction that will be published yearly.
Stories I have included are:
Briar Rose, Locked Out, Blood Magic, Kept Promises, Kiss of Death & Intangible.
It comes out officially on the 6th December 2019! Just in time for Christmas!
I’m closing in on the finish line. I’m not sure how I feel about my story and that’s okay because the way I figure it I have all of the coming year to make it shine.
As of the end of DAY 25 I have 41,005 words and no one else has had to die. Which is nice because I don’t relish killing off my characters even if they do deserve it as Tanaquill and Madrigal did.
Dyson is heart broken but it’s a small price to pay to see those two get what they deserve.
So, here’s to the last remaining days of NaNoWriMo. I hope it’s as productive for you as its been for me.
Another Sunday has rolled around again and with it comes another installation of Story Prompt Sunday!
I hope you enjoy today’s opening line…
He stopped before the gates and looked up at the rather impressive tower turning to ash before his eyes.
And please, if you’re up for it, and it inspires you, share what you’ve written in the comments below!
And we’re past the half way point. Finally! November honestly feels like it’s dragging to me. Anyone else?
It’s weird.
But maybe it’s just me, given the struggle for words is real!
Anyhow… where am I in this marathon that is NaNoWriMo? Well… I’m catching up again.
YAY!!!
As of midnight on DAY 18 I’m sitting on 29,006!
Arianell is proving to be something of a challenge. I thought her a girl of about twelve at least in comparison to a human twelve year olds but by her speech and mannerisms alone she definitely older.
She doesn’t like labels much either. At least not when Riordan tries to reaffirm her position in the family as his younger sister. Now that she’s Queen she’s gotten snarky.
Yep! I’m doing things in threes now. LOL. I’ve also had this post drafted since Saturday and only now (Monday) did I find the time to post it.
For those of you keeping track. At the end of DAY 15 you should have written 25,005 words. I on the other hand have written almost 22k.
I’m rusty when it comes to pushing myself to write 1.7k a day… and it’s taking its toll. Plans to catch up are in the works even if the story suffers a little for it.
I’ll edit out what doesn’t work later.
Right now there’s a lot of drama. Two dead faeries. Arianell (Riordan’s little sister) is about to become Queen of the Winter Court and I’m still not entirely sure her feelings about the situation.
Time will tell I suppose.
Another Sunday has rolled around again and with it comes another installation of Story Prompt Sunday!
I hope you enjoy today’s opening line…
When I stepped across the threshold, I hadn’t been expecting Death to greet me.
And please, if you’re up for it, and it inspires you, share what you’ve written in the comments below!
Yes! I’m attempting to bring this weekly series back and start sharing snippets of what I’m writing. Which at present is mostly drabbles and my NaNoWriMo novel…
It’s time to SHARE what you’re working on!
The rules are pretty simple, if you want to play along.
Just share up to 500 words in the comments from something you’ve been working on.
This is taken from a scene in my NaNoWriMo novel Gilded Roses that I’m working on today.
Set in-between the Summer and Winter Courts, sits a garden of wild roses the colour of blood and death. Red and black blooms point their way towards the sun even though it was nearing midnight. I didn’t know why I was here or who had beckoned me and it scared me, just a little. Faerie was still new to me and despite the crown that had been thrust upon my head, I knew without a doubt I had enemies. I was about to turn and ran when a woman carrying a lantern came and stood before me.
“Saoirse, we meet at last.”
The woman in grey brought the lantern closer to her face. She appeared young and old at the same time. Simply ageless.
I shook my head. “I’m sorry, I’m afraid I don’t know who you are.”
“I am Scathach. Queen of the Spring Court. Sister of Aoife, the Autumn Queen. But don’t let your opinions of her, sway you when making up your mind about me, I am not my sister.”
“Okay.”
“I wish to help you,” she said. “I’ve heard whispers that a certain former Queen is still alive. I’ve long suspected Tanaquill of wanting to gain control of more than just her own court. I suspect the choice of her grandson being wedded to you, was not simply by chance. Wherever Oona is, I suspect it’s got Tanaquill’s hands all over it.”
I had to be smart. I couldn’t reveal anything. After all, Scathach could just be fishing for information on Tanaquill’s behalf. I didn’t know this world, nor the people in it. Not well enough anyway.
“Whispers?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said. “A good queen has spies everywhere. One of my maids overheard one of your guards telling a kitchen hand that he required food for the prisoner he was charged with. Said the prisoner’s name was Oona. There are not many people in these parts with a name like that. The Kingdom laid down a decree that banned the use of any name born by the current King and Queen of each of the four courts from the moment they begin their reign to the time they die. Even if disposed there will not be another little Oona in these parts any time soon.”
Well I met my minimum word count (1667 words per day) for DAY 10, 11 & 12. Of course I forgot to update the NaNoWriMo site on Monday and Tuesday so now all my stats are weird.
I’m currently sitting on 17,152 words…
As for the story, well its not how I envisioned it in my head, but it’s words on a page and we’ll see what today brings. Maybe I can wrangle my characters into something more akin to an organized story.
Meanwhile today, I’m aiming for at least 1667 words. I’d like 2k but my brain is mush just thinking about it, so I’m not going to go there.
Another Sunday has rolled around again and with it comes another installation of Story Prompt Sunday!
I hope you enjoy today’s opening line…
The lady fawned over the child with amethyst eyes.
And please, if you’re up for it, and it inspires you, share what you’ve written in the comments below!
DAY 9 has been another slow day. I spent it researching and making notes for GILDED ROSES while managing to get some words down.
All up I wrote 1835 words today. I am 2,853 words behind, but I’m making progress. I had hoped to get some drabbles written but inspiration didn’t strike so that’s a job for tomorrow.
Anyway… tomorrow is a new day.
Happy writing.
What can I say it’s November and I’m not perfect. DAY 7 and 8 netted me a combined total of 1800 words.
I’m currently 4,440 words behind and it’s because of that I’ve decided to switch things up and continue with NaNoWriMo as a rebel. I will continue putting words down on my novel and complete any other writing projects that crop up.
It might seem like cheating to some but I’ve proven to myself in the past I can write a 50k word novel. So, for now I’m just going to write.
50k here I come!
Well it’s DAY 6… 11:10pm and I’m having to stop writing for the night.
For anyone doing NaNoWriMo and writing on their phone take breaks. Because I type on my phone solely using my right pointer finger I’ve killed my hand. More knowledgeable minds than me might say I have RSI. It’s quite likely. Basically hurts to move half my right hand. But you can’t win without pain and I’m behind so writing any words are a bonus.
I’m finishing the night off with 8,515… it’s not 10k… but I have a few tricks if I need them.
Also, there’s totally badass unicorn riding fey in my novel… 🙂
Well it was bound to happen sooner or later… I dropped the ball. I wrote 714 words yesterday. I have about 906 words to catch up on. I won’t be doing any massive steps to rectify that today, however but I am aiming for 1,668 words minimum. It’s still early. Fingers crossed. Trying to balance the chores and writing when November comes around is tricky.
How is everybody else going with their writing goals? NaNoWriMo or otherwise? Are you hitting your targets or flailing?
I’ll have another update, for Day #6 later.
Well it’s 9pm on DAY 4 and I was skeptical that I’d actually make it but 2,050 words later and I’m all caught up. Sitting at 6,715 words which means I can ease off on the nano words at least until tomorrow.
Story wise… well unexpected things are starting to crop up. People I presumed were dead this morning are now alive and well and in hiding. If you’ve ever watched Reign or Lost Girl, you’ll get the vibe I’m going for with my story. It’s the Royal drama and romance from Reign melding with the fey shenanigans from Lost Girl.
It’s actually starting to get just a little bit exciting. I have no idea if this story will go the distance or not but I’m starting to see an overarching plot emerge, which is great.
There will be at least two more people dead by the week’s end I think.
I don’t relish killing off characters but these two deserve it.
Well, until tomorrow and for those of you doing NaNoWriMo or just working on other writing projects… happy writing!