New Year, New Prompts

To be honest, my prompt-writing has fallen by the wayside over the past couple of years. Granted, I've been doing a lot of reading and editing for Weird Wild West and now Lawless Lands, and I've written a story or two. But I haven't pushed myself to keep up the practice of prompt-writing, and actually, I've missed it. It's satisfying to meet the challenge to write about something unexpected, and it's almost always surprising what comes out. Sometimes it's even good.

So, for 2017, I plan to dive back into this practice, and I encourage you to do it with me. If you're new to prompt-writing, the idea is that you take a prompt and write for about 10-15 minutes - whatever comes in your head. If you want to make it an exercise in stream-of-consciousness writing (which can be exceptionally valuable as well), that's fine. If a story idea pops up, then go for it. Don't expect it to be *good* -- this is first draft 101! You have to start somewhere in order to end up somewhere good!

Here's our first prompt. Ready?

From the often silly Amazing Story Generator:

While writing an autobiography, a licensed cat-hair stylist joins the mafia.

Say what? See, this is the kind of thing I would have skipped past, and then choosing the prompt can take longer than writing to it, but in the spirit of the exercise, I'm going for it!

I don't think I'm funny, but people are always telling me I should go on stage or write a book. Well, I don't stutter when I write, so here we are. I never stutter when I'm working with cats either. But a human walks through the door, and my tongue trips all over itself before I can even say "Hi." 

Especially good looking men with long-haired angoras. When Angelo first brought in Diablo, the poor thing was a tatted mess. Diablo, not Angelo. Angelo had heard him mewling in a storm sewer and promptly abandoned his afternoon meetings to lure him out with a can of tuna. I fell in love before he finished talking. With both of them, I think. I didn't know what kind of meetings he'd missed. Yet.

He warned me that Diablo didn't like anyone but him to touch him, but I've always had a way with cats. I held out my hands palm-up on the counter, and Diablo crept out of Angelo's arms in straight into mine. Angelo looked a little peeved, and I tried to tell him it was only because Diablo already felt safe because of him, but my tongue swelled and my jaw locked and I couldn't get the words out. 

So I smiled and blushed like and idiot and held his cat, and he raised his eyebrows and shrugged and walked away. At the door, he said, "You close by six? I'll pick him up then." He looked back, and I nodded. I was already carrying Diablo into my workroom when the doorbells jingled and he was gone.

And just like that, I could talk to Diablo. "Well now, let's see who's hiding under there, shall we? I bet you're a handsome fellow..." 

OK, so this doesn't really feel like it's going anywhere, and I still think the prompt was exceptionally silly. But I could see this working into a romance between her and Angelo, then she feels betrayed when she finds out what he does and who he works for. Or a thriller, where she becomes the mob's top assassin when she discovers that killing people releases her stutter...for awhile anyway. And I haven't really written a romance -- or a thriller -- so it could be fun to run with this and see where it goes. I already know he's taking her to dinner when he comes to pick up Diablo and sees what a gorgeous black cat was hiding under all that mess. If you see Angelo and Diablo on a cover some day, you can say you saw it here first!

If you're so moved, write to the prompt and share in a comment here!

Happy writing in the New Year!

Prompt: You invite 3 of your friends who’ve never met, but you don’t show up

Hat/tip to WritingPrompt.com

It’s been far too long! Come and join me for a girls’ weekend. July 17-19, 2017 Iberostar Grand Bavaro Hotel Playa Bavaro, Bavaro, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic Reservations on my account

Cheri waited for the driver to open her door and hold out his gloved hand for her. She tucked the card back in her purse, the words long memorized, and let him draw her from the limousine. Ever since she’d landed in the Punta Cana airport, she’d had the increasing feeling she was caught in a dream.

She’d spied the driver holding her name on a placard as she descended the escalator toward the baggage claim area. He’d already pulled her bags – how had he known? – and gestured toward the long row of glass doors. She wished she’d picked up a few more Spanish phrases on the way down, but once he had her settled in the limousine, he was content to listen to salsa music as the drove through the beautiful countryside.

By the time they reached the hotel, Cheri was feeling used to the heat and the beauty, but not the grandeur of the Iberostar. She hadn’t stayed any place like this since the last time she saw her parents. Clutching her purse, she waited as the driver snapped his fingers for a valet to pick up her bags. Another valet bowed, greeting her in impeccable French. “Welcome, Mademoiselle. Please follow me. Your rooms are ready for you now.”

Rooms? Oh my…

#

Stephanie sat on a shaded chaise lounge by the pool, paging through the medical journal she’d optimistically brought to read on the plane. The young man who’d brought her two drinks already walked over with a third in his hand, his walk more like a dance to music she couldn’t hear. He leaned over and set the drink on her table, flashing a bright smile. “That’s not the kind of thing people usually bring to read here. There’s not a conference this weekend. Are you here for work or play?”

Stephanie arched a brow and told herself he was not flirting with her. “I’m here for play. I’m always working,” she said with a straight face. He laughed, throwing his head back, and she ducked her attention away from his dark hair and brown skin to the dry text she couldn’t concentrate enough to finish.

Standing and wrapping a sheer scarf around her waist, she nodded to the young man and picked up the fresh drink. Carrying it toward the hotel lobby, she spied a newcomer and changed course to cross her path.

Holding out the drink, she smiled. “I’m guessing you’re one of Margaret’s friends. I’m Steph.”

The other woman stopped short and looked around in surprise. With a skeptical expression, she accepted the drink. “I’m Cheri. Have you seen Margaret yet?”

“No. I arrived late last night. Breakfast in bed and a trip to the pool is all I’ve managed so far. Have you seen your rooms yet?”

Cheri laughed and sipped her drink. “Oh, yes.”

#

The two women chatted as they walked around the hotel grounds. Returning to the lobby, they decided on a poolside lunch. Steph’s flirtatious young host seated them where they could see the broad staircase from the lobby, as they kept an eye out for their mutual friend.

As they finished their flan and sipped coffee, they saw a petite woman with waist-length hair pause at the top of the stairs before descending. She walked in a diagonal down the steps until she reached the left  bannister, then turned and continued down on her diagonal path.

“That must be one of Margaret’s friends,” Steph and Cheri said at the same time. When they burst out laughing, the woman looked up, tripping on the bottom step and recovering with a spin onto the patio.

“Definitely!” Cheri said. They waved her over…

Note: Too slow? On a second pass, I’d like to present the mystery sooner. But if the three women arrive separately and don’t know each other, how best to handle their introductions – to the reader and to each other? Or can even more description of the beautiful environment be sufficient to keep the reader engaged for a long slow opening? What do you think?

#

And so, with a loving heart, I offer you

Namaste

I’ve heard many translations. Here’s my favorite:
The light of the universe that shines within me recognizes
the light of the universe that shines within you.

#

Prompt: Tell Me Your Real Life Ghost Stories

For Halloween, All Hallows Eve, tell me *your* ghost stories…your brushes with things unseen.

Last weekend, I enjoyed relaxing around an outdoor fire with friends, and eventually, the stories began. Almost everyone had one to tell, from the unwelcome house guest, to the midWestern prison, to the lingering theater stage hand. Most were mysterious, and downright scary. One was joyous.

I’ve actually never had a direct experience with the supernatural (unless you count dowsing), but I’ve been oddly connected with other people’s experiences over the years. 

The thing is, while I absolutely believe there’s more to the world than we can experience with our physical senses, I’m not entirely sure I *want* to have it all opened to me…

But now, as the veil thins, tell me your stories…share in the comments below.

#

And so, with a loving heart, I offer you

Namaste

I’ve heard many translations. Here’s one I love:
The light of the universe that shines within me recognizes
the light of the universe that shines within you.

#

Dogs in House	Houdini, Brindle
Music Playing	Broadway’s Bonnie & Clyde soundtrack
Time writing	15 minutes
October word count	2,992

Prompt: Dressed in nothing but a necklace of human skulls, Part 2

…Continued from Part 1

Fleece didn’t protect my wrists from the sharp bite of the restraints as I pulled against them. My ears rang and my throat ached. Had I been screaming? I felt familiar hands on my shoulders, heard the nurse’s voice in my ear. “Come on, honey, calm down. Come on, that’s it, deep breaths. Good, good…”

I opened my eyes to see the worry lines on her forehead disappear as she smiled with encouragement and relief. She straightened over me and reached for a cup of water, fitting the straw into my mouth as I sucked greedily. I felt the burning grit from the arena wash down my throat. I glanced down at my left hand and saw a bandage wrapped around, covering the palm.

“How long was I out?” I croaked around the straw.

“About forty minutes this time…”

Something about her voice, and the flicker of her eyes…

“This time?”

“You’ve been in and out – mostly out – for the past three days. It’s the longest we’ve seen. The doctors are throwing everything they can to try to stop it—”

“That’s enough, Nurse. You’ll upset our patient,” said a stern voice from the doorway.

As I leaned up to see who it was, I felt a sudden movement in my side, like a kick. I jerked the covers down and stared at my swollen belly. Tears sprang to my eyes as I dropped my head back on the pillow. “When did I get pregnant?”

To be continued…

#

And so, with a loving heart, I offer you

Namaste

I’ve heard many translations. Here’s one I love:
The light of the universe that shines within me recognizes
the light of the universe that shines within you.

#

Dogs in House	Houdini, Brindle
Time writing	20 minutes
October word count	1,670

Prompt: Prague has a cherub problem...

Thanks to "sunafterrain" for the lovely "Mighty Cherubs", used under CC2.0

Thanks to one of my favorite artists, Lee Moyer, for the unintentional prompt!

His phone rang as Andrej Prochazka leaned into the BMW S1000RR, rounding the deep curve onto the R1. Tapping the back of his Bluetooth earpiece, he said curtly, “Da. Twenty minutes….da.” Soon the familiar skyline of Praha rose beneath the sunset hues before him.

Andrej parked the bike and tucked his helmet over the handlebar. With a subtle wave of his hand over the bike, he set the protective spell. Anyone who touched it would feel insects swarming all over their skin. He’d never had anything stolen from his bike. Climbing the cathedral steps, he saw the first shapes swooping across the darkening sky. A priest stood at the open doors, twisting a rosary in his hands. He reached out as Andrej drew close and pulled him into a tight welcoming embrace. His hand tugged Andrej’s shoulder, turning him around to look out over the city. They stood silently for a moment, watching the aerial acrobatics. Andrej sighed heavily. “You’re right, Father. Praha has a cherub problem.”  

#

And so, with a loving heart, I offer you

Namaste

I’ve heard many translations. Here’s one I love:
The light of the universe that shines within me recognizes
the light of the universe that shines within you.

Dogs in House	Houdini, Brindle
Time writing	Too long, including research on motorcycles, Prague, and Czech names
September word count	7,013

Prompt: A vampire who works as a late night stocker at Walmart

(thanks to http://awesomewritingprompts.tumblr.com for the fun prompt!)

Joe leaned into the pallet jack – even with the hydraulic lift, they were hell on wheels to get moving. He couldn’t see around the top of his load, which was against regs, but if he wanted to get done before sunrise, he had to get this product out on the floor.

Once he pushed past the swinging doors and out onto the floor, it was easier. He leaned from left to right to peer around the load. There were few customers after about 1am—the aisles were mostly clear.

As he turned the corner past Electronics, the right jack wheel caught on something, and before he knew it, the load was turning…then tipping. Joe pulled on the jack handles with all his strength…and then he heard the woman’s cry.

He felt the handles pull out of his grasp and watched in horror as the load turned on its side, boxes cascading across the aisle – and on top of the woman he’d surprised. He leaned forward, trying to grab on to something – anything – to keep them from hurting her. She was knocked on the floor and buried before he could jump around the side of the boxslide to help her.

Pushing boxes out of the way, he cried out, “Oh, Jesus! Are you okay, lady? Hold on!”

Suddenly, boxes tumbled away from her, and he saw a familiar blue apron underneath. As she sat up, pushing more boxes out of her way, Joe stared, open-mouthed. “Nancy? What the heck? Those boxes weigh 50 pounds or more! Are you okay? How are you okay?”

Nancy looked up at him with a grimace, bracing herself against the capsized pallet jack as she stood. It slid sideways, and Joe looked at it, then slowly turned his head back to her. “Nancy?”

She pointed to his arm. “You better get that cleaned up, Joe.”

He looked down and saw a gash on his forearm, blood dripping onto the boxes at his feet. Great.

He didn’t see her move, but Nancy was standing right beside him. “Here, let me help you with that, Joe.”

Her voice was different. Deeper, and sweeter. Like honey. Joe looked up and blinked at her face right next to his. “Um, okay….” She was staring in his eyes, and he stared back for a second, then stepped back, pulling his apron around his arm to stop the blood from making more of a mess.

Nancy blinked and took a step back herself. As Joe turned, he thought he heard her mutter, “Damn contacts.” He shook his head. What did his contacts have to to with anything?

Nancy put a firm hand on his shoulder, steering him toward the employee lounge. “Come on, let’s go take care of that arm, shall we?”

#

And so, with a loving heart, I offer you

Namaste

I’ve heard many translations. Here’s one I love:
The light of the universe that shines within me recognizes
the light of the universe that shines within you.

Dogs in House	Houdini
Time writing	20 minutes
September word count	5,429

Prompt: Out of Time

Jeff was six the first time it happened. Dragged up to his grandparents’ boring house in the middle of nowhere for the weekend, he’d been shooting baskets with his dad’s old ball that needed air, until he got tired of that and came inside to throw himself on the floor while the grownups talked and drank cocktails and smoked stinky cigarettes. He lay on faded orange shag carpet with his arm over his eyes, and gradually he became aware of the big clock ticking in the corner. He didn’t have to look to imagine the big pendulum swinging back and forth, and slowly his breath steadied in time with the clock.

He was hot and tired and hungry and impatient for the grownups to stop talking. And all of the sudden, they did. All at once. Completely. Jeff felt a chill across his chest, and goosebumps ran along his arms. He turned his head and opened one eye, peeking at his mom, who was sitting on the sofa closest to him. She was frozen in place, holding her glass tilted in front of her lips, her mouth open in a laugh.

Jeff bolted upright, staring at his grandparents, leaning together as they always did on the opposite couch. His grandmother’s cigarette had a spiral of smoke frozen in place above it. His grandfather had his foot off the ground, where he’d lifted his leg to shift his bum knee.

Before he could move, they did. His mom startled. “What’s with you, Jeff. You sat up so fast there, I nearly jumped out of my skin.” He turned and stared at her with wide eyes, saying nothing. She smiled and crinkled her eyes with a question, but didn’t pursue it. Her father stood and said, “Let’s get the table set for supper, Bud.”

Jeff thought it was the clock, somehow. He never tried it again. After awhile, he told himself it had been some sort of a dream. Cause that couldn’t be real, right?

#

Ten years later, at Josh Stevens’ legendary party, Jeff ate a brownie while the girl handing them out giggled. He was leaning against the living room wall, nursing a Coke bottle and watching everyone laughing as they got drunk…or something. Through the crowd, the chime of the mantel clock caught his ear. He glanced over and noticed it had an elaborate set of gears in the front. He wasn’t thinking anything special as he started watching them click around and around. Until they froze, and the whole room went silent. Jeff pushed off the wall and stared around him. Everyone was frozen in place. Suddenly, the memory of his grandparents’ clock struck him, and he laughed aloud. “No way!”

To be continued…

Dogs in House	Houdini
Music Playing	Eric Clapton, “Change the World”
Time writing	25 minutes
July word count	12,482