Showing posts with label Goalsetting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Goalsetting. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

September Portfolio Project: Day Two

As an aspiring writer, I have always loved sharing my creations with friends and family. However, it's when I'm prompted for a sample that I cannot provide. With school just around the corner, I have decided to make myself prepared for such a situation by writing a short story of my own to present. This is one of the first pieces that I will "pour my heart into" as I attempt to draft, edit, and finalize all ten thousand words of it. To make sure that I don't dawdle in the process of this piece, I have decided to post its entirety here as I work on it, as well as show off any other bits of it that I have on hand. Today is the plot and about 450 words. Tomorrow, I'm hoping for another update and some analysis on my work.


Scene 01
I dared myself to close my eyes for the slightest moment, as if in attempt to feel the breeze which had slipped into the halls when I had walked inside. In the hilarity of it all, it was almost fun to pretend that I couldn't hear the sound of the moth's antennae browsing the creases in Terrence's face. Just outside of the sound of my pounding heart, I could barely make out the smallest moan escape Terrence's lips, winding its way into my ears and bouncing off of my skull from the inside. 
"Shh," I said quietly, feeling the soft sh send shivers down my own spine. Terrence's fingers stuck together like glue, bending at the tips in the way that only he was capable of. I could see them quivering. I repeated my note of calm, unable to move my own self. The memories of the horrid moths crawling up my neck, their unmistakeale hissing at one another, but more importantly the feeling of letting go – I knew that all I could do for Terrence was watch and wait my turn. 
"Ashley, we have to go." In her ever-Valerie mocking tone, the trickster who had come to be my best friend poked her head around the corner, unphased by the monster dominating Terrence's entire being. 
"Val," I started, not sure what to do with my words  next, "Val, can't we-" 
"No, Ash," Val said insistently, her tone growing harsher, "We have to get out of here." I stared back at Terrence, watching his pink lips quiveer. 
"Gabriel's here, Terrence," Valerie whispered, "Gabriel's here, we're going to get him out, alright?" Valerie kept silent for a moment, as if she knew how long an echo of her words would last in the increasngly mothed-up mind. "Goodbye, Terrence." 
"Bye," Terrence whispered, using his hand to gesture us out the door, "Ash, you looked beautiful in those jeans. Can't say the same now,  Ash. Everything is brown. It's all brown, Ashley. You've got to help me. It's all brown." Valerie clasped my hand and started to pull me away. 
"Terrence!" I yelled out one last time before the doors slid to a close.As Valerie folded one arm protectively over my gut, I began my unique style of thrashing, that infamous for escaping even the most buff of the street-crawling pedophiles . Valerie was strong, though – stronger than I had recollected – and held me fast. It took one uncontrolled spasm, though, to tear me out of her grasp. I thought about beating my hands on the doors and screaming, but the grave gaze on Valerie's face kept me from running into the corner. Sighing away a tear, I bolted in the opposite direction.  

I wanted to extend a warm thank-you to Oliver, owner of Overville, for the kind words on Sunday's post. Thanks for stopping by! 

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Goalsetting and Other Reminders

Unlike other attempts to start blogs other than those which I currently write now, I'm trying to round myself into a corner when it comes to consistency with posts. Unlike strictly topic-centered blogs, I'm hoping for this one to have a little more leeway for me to expand on my thinking.

Goal: Stop Being a Chicken and Start Posting the Darn Conspiracy

>>>Well, it had to come out, didn't it? While I wore tight, restrictive masks before, I'm hoping to at last get my thoughts on news topics and creative fiction out into the world, as well as a prepared rant or two with the occasional conspiracy. It'll definitely be a change for me, but I'm looking forward to the freedom of post.

Goal: Stop Being a Chicken and Start Promoting Yourself

>>>This is a rather funny weak spot in me. Forever avoiding social media, my past sites have risen past fifty followers through "grassroots" promotion via comments. Heck, the reason I'm even typing this is so that I'll promote. I guess I'll start today or tomorrow, schedule allowing. I'm a procrastinator at times.

Goal: Finish First Draft

>>>Did you know that I've won National Novel Writing Month twice (almost thrice) now? At the time, I'm wedged in between blogs, a summer course, and the first draft of my current novel, Leap. I'll be putting up a little more about it later if I feel like it's worth posting about.

Speaking of goals, the ones I put above (or the first two, at least) are good goals to set for oneself should they start a project or blog of their own. They cover the things many want from their blogs - an outlet for thoughts and writing and a following. I'm hoping that both will happen here, but I know hoping won't be enough. I like to pretend that my viewpoint on things around me is startlingly different than what others in the same field of blogging may see. I guess I'll have to find that out myself.

Goal: Stop Being a Chicken, Ruby. 

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P.S. Miscellaneous goals:

Take more photos (and post them!)
Write a post in a coffee shop
Get in the city more often
Ride bike somewhere farther than half a mile away
Charge iThingy (iPod, really, but Thingy fits better)