Thursday Thoughts on March 31, 2016

It's the last Thursday in March of 2016 so my thought today are focused on my next short story. In January I committed to write 44 short stories by December 31, 2016. I finished story #7 on Tuesday, March 29, and today I began story #8. The working title is The Spirit of the House because I'm stretching myself by writing a ghost story. This is the first story of this genre that I've attempted, but since I've lived in a couple of haunted houses I should be able to use those experiences in the story.

All right, I know that some people don't believe houses are haunted. I'm not sure I accept the idea completely because I suspect there are other explanations for the things I experienced in those houses. That doesn't mean I can't write a good ghost story especially if one of the characters has her doubts about the existence of ghosts. In this story my protagonist is a woman, but I haven't decided how old she is.

I prefer female protagonist because they are easier for me to write. Most of my main characters in this group of stories are going to be women. I am going to attempt to write a male protagonist because I need to stretch my writing abilities. Think maybe the protagonist in either story #10 or #11 will be a man.

Sunday Writing on the Last Day of January 2016

I accomplished a great deal in January 2016. On Saturday, January 30, I finished the first story in the 44 short stories I am writing in 2016. The first story titled The Prophetess Enters the Garden was over 1,000 words. I plan to start the second story today by choosing the prompt to use. After I chose the prompt then I need to write between 50 and 100 words on the story. In addition the to story, I wrote a couple of poems, several blog entries, and reviewed numerous stories or poems.

In February 2016, I plan to write at least four stories for the 44 short stories in 2016 challenge. I plan to write 1,000 plus words for each story. In addition, I am participating in two blog challenges on writing.com. I am planning to make an entry in this blog two or three times a week, but I may that may be over extending my self especially during the first two weeks of February. I will definitely make one entry a week if I cannot accomplish more.

I have five medical appointments during the first two weeks of February. Two of those appointment are in the first week, so it may be difficult to accomplish the goals I have set. That does not mean that accomplishing those goals are impossible because the more difficult accomplishing a goal the more it stretches my creativity. It also prevents me from descending into depression because I do not have time to be depressed.

Push the envelope
Stretching my writing muscles
Creativity

 

Monday Motivation: 44 Short Stories in 2016

I've accepted the challenge to write 44 short stories in 2016. This means I have to write a 4 short stories a month between February and December. If I decide to do NaNoWriMo this year it could be more; however, I don't think I'll participate in National Novel Writing Month. I could change my mind as November approaches, but right now my plan is to write the 44 short stories plus several poem.

Forty-four stories
Each of five hundred plus words
I'm pushing myself

I didn't find out about the challenge until January was half over. When I discovered it on writing.com, I had to think about whether I would accept it. After some meditation and contemplation, I decided to accept the challenge. In addition to the challenge I have a novel I want to finish and one I want to edit. If I change my mind about NaNoWriMo then I will finish the one of the unfinished novels I have started rather then beginning a new novel.

I'm pushing myself
beyond my perceived limits
into the unknown.

 

Sunday Speculations: Contemplating a Short Story Plot

A new week has begun and I have a couple of things to finish before Friday, July 31. One of them is a science fiction story with the working title of The Search for Intelligent Life. I am not happy with that title, but it does suggest the plot of the story. The story must be over 1,000 words and I have written over 500 all ready.

In the second half of the story the main character is transported to a planet that does not appear to have intelligent life on it. In this case appearances are deceiving. I have to figure out a way for the main character to discover the intelligence that is on the planet. I think I will have her ship's Artificial Intelligent unit transport her to a beach located on the edge of an inland ocean or fresh lake. On the land side of the beach is a jungle.

The problem I am encountering is the descriptions. In the first half of the story she, the main character, had a conversation with the ship's AI unit about the lack of evidence of intelligent life on the planet. I need to figure out how she discovers the sentient (intelligent) creatures. I also have to decide on a title for the story. I do not like the working title, the only reason I used it was to keep me focused on the plot.

Thursday Thoughts: Get Out of the House

This is the fourth Thursday in July 2015, which means there are eight days left in the month. I live, make that survive, on a fixed income (I think it should be called a broken income). The closer to the end of the month the better chance of running out of money for food. Fortunately, I do not have to worry about eating because there are food banks in Las Vegas. A couple of friends and myself spent the last three mornings waiting in line at three different food banks.

This means two things. First, I am in a better mood because I left the house and stood in the sunshine for a little while. This increased the vitamin D which always affects my mood and sense of humor. As a results my muse is more cooperative and discovers all sorts of subjects to write about. Second, I will be eating green salads for the next three or four days. Since I take medication that causes constipation, which causes me stomach pain. The green salads will prevent stomach pain and this means I can comfortably sit at the computer.

I do not know if I will be getting out of the house anymore this week. The only outing I have planned is to carry the trash to the dumpster in the alley. The short outing will have a slight impact on my mood, but I am not sure whether the impact will be good or bad because a trip to the alley does not always help my mood. This is because sometimes it is difficult for me to walk because of the osteoarthritis. Waiting in line at the food banks usually is not a problem because there are places I can sit down.

As a results of my outings, I have written one poem, started an essay and a short story. The short story I have to finish by July 31 while the deadline for the essay is August 14. I plan to finish both of them before the deadline so that I can edit if necessary. I have also increased the word count of my blog entries.

Success Saturday: The End of the First Week in June 2015

June 1 to June 6, 2015 was an interesting and successful week. I finished one short story, two poems, several blog entries, and numerous reviews. I could go back to count the blog entries and review for this week, but I am not going to take the time to do that. I still have a lot of writing to do plus housework.

Today I put one box of give away stuff out for the truck from Big Brothers and Big Sister to pick up. That is gone, so I have to consider filling another box for next month. I also fixed the straps in my summer negligee so I can wear it this summer. I put the sowing box where I can find it if I need it again. While I was sowing the straps on the nightgown, I realized I needed a thimble. I will have to get one sometime this summer.

I need a thimble
I can hand stitch without one
With difficulty

 

Success Saturday: I finished Short Story

I finished a short story today. I have worked on this story all week and today I finally finished it. The final word count is 8,116. The story is a romance crime story. I know there are people out there that think all romances are crimes; however, I am not one of those people. When I started writing the story on Sunday, May 10, I just started writing. I wrote the story letting my subconscious or the characters move the story forward depending on your point of view.

I found out long ago, after much trial and error, that I cannot plan a story. If I am going to write a story and finish it then I just have to write. I begins with the idea for a character, usually a female, and then let the words fall where they may. Now that the story is finished, I have to edit it. I am going to let the editing on this story wait a couple of weeks. While I was writing this story I got a couple of ideas for poems which I can now work on until I start another romance story on next week.

Brainstorming Saturday: What shall I write?

I have two items to write. The first, a short story of 1,000 words or less, is the climax of a group of twelve other short stories or the beginning of a novel. I have the prompt words: star, sun, moon, planet, air, earth, water, fire, zenith, phase, cardinal, fixed, mutable, degree, nadir, symbol, rule, retrograde, cusp, and zodiac. I need to finish this sometime today or tomorrow because the deadline is July 28, which is Monday.

The second. is a poem of 40 lines or less. The deadline is August 16 and the prompt words are heart, spiteful, deceive, pierce, twisted, revenge, plunge, and evil. The working title I have planned is The Spiteful Heart, which I think is going to be a bitter love poem. I could be wrong about that because the poem may change by the time I finish it.

I just got an idea for the working title of the short story. I will call it Judgment in Capricorn because it  will solve a problem raised in one of the earlier stories. I still have a couple more problems top take care of in that series of short stories, but the issue that arose in the town of Capricorn is the most important. Of course, when I get into the story the characters may have different ideas. I will begin the story later tonight after I have swept the bathroom floor.

Short Story Sunday: Rushed

Rushed out of her mind, with a thousand things to do. She removed the broom from the kitchen junk closet and began sweeping the floor. Sweeping the kitchen floor always calmed and helped her focus. Today she needed to focus, not on all the things she had to do, but on one task at a time. Panicking would not accomplish anything and would only leave several chores half completed.

Staring at the small pile of dirt in the center of the kitchen floor, she looked around for the dustpan. Shaking her head, she leaned the broom against the refrigerator and went back to the junk closet. She opened the door, looked in, and then closed the door. Going over to the counter by the sink, she picked put a piece of cardboard and used that as a dustpan. She put the broom and cardboard in the closet before going into the entrance hall to pick up her purse and keys.

As she got in her car, her cellphone rang. She checked the number, and seeing it was her sister, she put the phone back in her purse and let it ring. She just had too much to do to get involved with a long conversations. "I'll call her back later," she whispered as she backed out of the driveway and went to the supermarket. At the supermarket, she turned into the parking lot, found a space close to the entrance and went inside.

As she was pushing the cart toward the deli, her phone ring again. Removing the phone from her purse she checked the number, with a sigh she answered it. "What's up, Sis?"

"I don't have time to..."

A Writer's Thankful Thursday: Feburary 20, 2014

This morning I am thankful...

1.  ...that I found my dream journal, which I knew I brought with me, in one of the tote bags I brought. I was able to record the dream that woke me at 11:41 pm last night.

2.  ...for the alarm in my cell phone that woke me at 4:20 am this morning. The alarm is set for 4:00 am, but I chose the voiced wake up call which did not penetrate my brain for twenty minutes. I changed to "melodic bells", so that it plays longer. I will see how long it takes that melody to wake me up on Friday morning.

3.  ...that I was able to take my thyroid medication before 7:00 am this morning. This is one reason I set the alarm at 4:00 am.

4.  ...for the strong black coffee that helps me get started in the morning. Everyone on the planet should be able to have his or her favorite beverage the first thing every morning.

5.  ...that I found my copy of The Summons of The Lord of Hosts. I now have something spiritual and positive to read before I go to bed each day.

6.  ...for the beautiful and bright sunlight I see when I look out my window. Whenever I look out and see sunshine it makes me smile.

7.  ...that I found my Harley-Davidson cap so that I can wear it when I leave the house. I was wearing the cap last week when I went to the grocery store and a man smiled at me.

8.  ...for peanut butter because there is nothing that taste better (at least this week) then a peanut butter sandwich for breakfast.

9.  ...that I have the talent to write poetry and short stories. It is much easier (for me anyway) to put my thoughts in poetic or story form then into a daily journal.

10.  ...for the weird noises this apartment makes because they inspire my writing.

The types of writing I have accomplished in 2011

Since January 1, 2011, I have accomplished several different types of writing. I have composed blog entries, written poetry, flash fiction, short stories, an article, and four newsletters. I have posted some of the items in my port on writing.com.

I have not written a personal essay this year. I think that is the next type I want to attempt. I have not attempted several other types of writing. I would like to attempt travel writing this year; however, the only place I have traveled to is Meadows Mall in Las Vegas, Nevada. I have not left Las Vegas in several years, which does not preclude travel writing. It does limit the subjects I can cover.

In the past few years, I have traveled to Search Light, Nevada, to visit my sister. I have also gone to Henderson because my mother’s doctor is there. I have not left Nevada in several years. I want a vacation, but that does not look feasible. In absence of a vacation, I will investigate travel articles and write something about a staycation.

I do not have to go to the Las Vegas Strip to take a staycation. Las Vegas has other attractions besides the Strip. I will take a staycation and write an article about that. It will give me practice in writing travel articles.

Visit My Portfolio @ Writing.Com

An encounter with the Blue Screen of Death

This morning, I had an encounter with the Blue Screen of Death. I am not sure what caused the problem this time. I am never sure what causes the memory dump. It occurs without any warning, usually when I am in the middle of something. This is not my first encounter with this phenomenon, it is the first encounter this year. I know the problem has something to do with one of the device drivers. The question is "Which device driver?"

I am sure there must be a story or poem in his experience. I have not used the Blue Screen of Death in any short story, yet. I think a good working title is "The Blue Screen of Death".

A theme for my next writing.com fantasy newsletter

I completed and posted the July edition last night. I now have to start on the August edition. The subject for the July edition concerned words as a writer's tools. I think the next edition will cover Urban fantasy, which means I am going to have to start researching the subject. I also need to write an Urban fantasy flash fiction or short story.

The writing.com fantasy newsletter is composed of three to five paragraphs from the editor. In addition, there are sections for letters to the editor and editor's picks. The editor's picks are stories or poems covering the subject of the newsletter. I want to answer the following questions in the August newsletter

1. What is Urban fantasy?
2. Who writes Urban fantasy?
3. What are the components of an Urban fantasy story?
4. Who publishes Urban fantasy?
5. Who reads Urban fantasy?
6. What is the difference between a good and a bad Urban fantasy story?

The Hospital Bed

The hospital bed, big enough to hold only one person, was slightly larger then a normal twin bed. The two-pronged electrical plug gives the bed the ability to move either the head or middle up or down; the mattress cover is a gray thick plastic mattress cover. One can raise or lower the bars on each side of the bed, which prevents the patient from rolling out of bed.

That is not an interesting description. That is not going to catch a reader's attention and draw them into the story, perhaps if I described the location of the hospital bed rather then starting with the bed itself. Normally, one would think a bed like this would be in a hospital room, but not in this case.

This hospital bed is setting in some one's home. Nor is the bed in a bedroom, all right that is where people usually put beds, even hospital beds when they have them in their homes. This hospital bed is not in a bedroom.

For the last couple of years I have had a hospital bed in my dining room. That was the only room easily accessible for that type of bed, so that is where it went in my house. In the story, I could put the bed in the living room, in the library or in the dining room. It really does not matter which room I put it in as long as it is not a bedroom. I am not sure yet where I am going to put this bed.

Nobody sends postcards any more

aDaily writing practice prompt for Friday, July 10, 2009: “Write about a postcard.”

"Nobody sends postcards any more," Lara sit staring out the kitchen window watching the limbs of pink oleanders blowing in the morning breeze.

"That's not true, Mom," Clara studied the expression on her mother's face. "I received postcard in my e-mail box yesterday. It was from Uncle Joe."

"I'm talking about postcard sent through ordinary mail, not over some electronic device." Lara sighed, "If more people sent postcards through the postal systems then the economy would improve."

"How do you figure that, Mom," Clara smiled as her mother poured coffee into their cups.

"Well," the sound of mail falling through the slot in the front door interrupted Lara. Getting up, she walked into the entrance hall and picked up a postcard off the floor.

"Who's it from, Mom?"

"It's from your Uncle Joe!"

"Uncle Joe? Mom," Clara took the card from her mother's hands, "it can't be from Uncle Joe. He doesn’t use snail mail any more!"

Write about the inevitable

Daily Writing Practice Prompt for Friday, July 3, 2009 was “Write about the inevitable.”

I've always wondered about the inevitable. People talk about something being inevitable, but often what is referred to as "the inevitable" doesn't occur. I recently found out how to tell if something really is inevitable.

I've procrastinated about upgrading to Internet Explorer 8 for a few months. Yesterday, July 6, 2009, I upgraded my browser to Explorer 8. I upgraded because my system is set to download automatic updates. I'm glad my system is set that way because if it wasn't I would still be putting off upgrading to Explorer 8. It was inevitable that I upgrade to Explorer 8.

"The Inevitable", therefore, is something that happens even if you put the decision off. In fact, that sounds like a good title and plot for a short story or piece of flash fiction.

I’m Playing Follow the Leader again

I am participating in the Follow the Leader Journal contest on writing.com again. This is the first time in 2009 that I have participated in this contest; however, I participated in it in both 2007 and 2008. The name of the blog I am using this year is More Snow Melt.

I am scheduled to make the leading entry on Tuesday, May 5, and I have no idea what to write about. I'll know before tomorrow, of course, but right now I am just contemplating ideas. As usual, nothing I come up with seems right. I think I need to do some free writing to see what subjects I can find.

Perhaps I will write about getting my dining room back or the soda machine in my garage. Both of those subjects have potential, especially when it comes to a poem or short story.

The mystery of the missing Spoons

I want to know what happened to all our spoons. Mom and I used to have two complete sets of flat ware. Now all we have is knives and forks, with a few mismatched spoons. We are missing both teaspoons and tablespoons, but we have fewer teaspoons then tablespoons.

All right, the logical explanation is that someone inadvertently threw into the trash, which is probably what happened. However, a logical explanation doesn't make a very good story. I am looking for a plot to a story about spoons. A story where the spoons get thrown into the trash is boring and not a good story.

Therefore, rejecting the logical explanation what are some other good explanations for the missing spoons? I suppose it depends on the genre of story. In fantasy stories elves, gnomes or some other fantasy creature could steal the spoons, but why would they take only spoons and leave both the knives and forks behind.

If it is a science fiction story, you replace the elves and gnomes with aliens from another planet or star system. However, we have the problem of motive of why they only take spoons. Those are intriguing speculations for a writer of fantasy and science fiction.

The Saturday Morning Silence is Broken

The barking of a dog breaks the Saturday morning silence. I set the aluminum trashcan down and put the trash bag I am carrying in my left hand on top. I glance right and left but don't see any dog. I turn back on the street, pick up the morning paper and start toward the house.

The dog comes up behind me, barking all the time. He sounds vicious, so I continue to the house rather then taking another trashcan to the curb. I left the front door unlocked when I went out to get the trash. I open the door and go into the house. Only then do I look back to and see the dog standing in my driveway barking at me.

The dog large and completely black, he isn't a huge dog, but his barking sound vicious so I remain in the house. I'm not going to risk a dog bite by taking another can of trash to the curb. I stay in the house about five or ten minutes, then I go back out and get another trashcan to carry to the curb.

I don't see or hear the dog this time. He has disappeared as quickly as he appeared. The logical explanation, of course, is that the neighbor who owns him took him back in the house. Logical explanations are fine, except when it comes to using experiences similar to this in a short story or a poem. Logical explanations don't make good plots. I am going to use this experience in a short story or piece of flash fiction, but I don't think I'll use the logical explanation for the dog's disappearance.

Writing about a Slide Rule

I have a slide rule in its case. This was something I picked up at a yard

sale several years ago for $1.00. Originally, it was an expensive slide rule, not the most expensive, but it cost over $30.00.

I bought it on a whim, I do this sometimes when I go to yard sales. I see something, which I have absolutely no use for, but my intuition says buy. If it isn't too expensive, I'll buy it. I bought it for $1.00.

I took it too the Antique Road Show the last time they were in Las Vegas and had it appraised. It's worth about $65.00. I'd sell it for that, if I could find someone to buy it. Unfortunately, I can't find anywhere to sell it. Since I can't seem to sell it, I'll use it as a muse. I'm going to set it on my night stand and attempt to write a poem about it, when I can't sleep and don't want to get online.

I wonder what this slide rule would say it it could talk. That would make a good point of view in a poem or even a short story. I've written poems from the point of view of an inanimate object, but never a short story or piece of flash fiction.