by Sarah | Aug 20, 2011 | Broken Windows, Writing
Today I was fortunate to have one of those moments.
Weeks ago I got an idea for a story. The story was persistent enough that I made a cover for it.
I had a main character. I knew her name. I knew her backstory.
I even had written the opening lines.
All I had was a vague sense of plot. A “well I think it has something to do with…”
I managed to write a page of it before I froze.
I didn’t have a story. I had two or three characters. It was in a genre I’ve never written before. Written in a form I’ve never used before. It was virgin territory for me.
The story persisted though.
Finally today while talking it out, out loud, with my writing buddy I had a mini breakthrough. A plot device, a key few moments to move the story along.
I love light bulb moments.
That’s when the story really starts to take shape. Even if no words are being written. My brain is moving. Rolling over ideas, showing me images of scenes.
That means soon I’ll be writing again full force.
While it means I’ll be leaving old friends behind (as that story is officially done…even though I’m still tinkering w/ edits & rereading just for fun)…it means I get to meet a few new ones.
And I’m starting to like them.
by Sarah | Aug 19, 2011 | All About Kennedy, All About Learning, All About Molly
[flickr id=”6060662240″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]It has begun. The 6AM mornings. The scrambling for the bus. The wondering if we put on warm enough clothes.
School.
It’s heaven.
Except for the 6AM mornings.
Wonderful.
Except that KG is only half day (not long enough).
Great.
Except the girls are strung up tight and killing each other and us.
But we’ll adjust.
by Sarah | Aug 17, 2011 | All About Denver, Cross Country
(All these pictures were taken last year. His first meet is not for a week)
Last year out of the blue, he decided he wanted to take part in a sport. The one that seemed best suited, the one that he wanted was Cross Country. This year he’s still in it.
It’s great to see him as part of a team.
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To see him run with determination.
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To find his place.
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Knowing that each step, each strong breath builds his lung strength. Each meet builds friendships.
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He’s growing up. Finding his place.
Even though sometimes he frustrates me. He’s a teenager.
He’s a good kid. And he’s growing up too fast.
by Sarah | Aug 17, 2011 | Challenge, Writing
While cruising around the ‘net the other day I found a new challenge to take part in. Since I’m trying to stretch my writing muscles back into shape after an unscheduled break of 3 months (Turns out I was still writing in May 😉 )…I thought this would be fun.
Kathy (Plant This Garden) has started posting “Seed Words”. She posts 5-10 words that she’s found around her home town (usually have a theme) and you need to use all of them in some form. Anything from Flash Fiction, to poetry to whatever floats your happy little boat. Sooo…I’ve decided to start with her third Seed Words set of suggestions and go from there.
This piece is one that I may actually use for a novel I’m just getting ready to start. It’s rough, unedited and created just to fit the words for the week. I’m posting the seed words in italics 😀 Enjoy.
Seed Words 3
Ascent, Summit, Concessions, Lift, Brightness, Oxygen, Stowage, Gates, Terminal
I have the same dream every night.
The brightness blinds me until spots form before my eyes, the air gets thinner, robbing me of oxygen. Just when I think I’ll pass out, a jolt passes through me and I find myself on a sky lift. The ascent is steep, and the summit is far.
Snowflakes drift down, whispering soft confessions of the future I’m doomed to face. Of each death I’m forced to witness. Each snowflake takes an ungranted concession to become stowage on my coat until I’m weighted down with the knowledge they whisper.
At the end of this ride I will find her, if I can make it. I know there will be no pearly gates. No joyous choruses.
But I will see her.
Be able to ask why.
If I can reach the end.
The weight of the future, the weight of death held in each snowflake drags me down. Pulling through the bars.
My fingers are too cold. I can’t hold on.
I slip.
Terminal velocity.
Then I wake in a cold sweat.
I never get to see her.
by Sarah | Aug 15, 2011 | All About Kennedy, All About Learning, Crap
[flickr id=”6047528569″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]Tonight was meet the Kindergarten teacher night. I was really excited. Tomorrow I’ll have all kids in school. This was supposed to be a night of relief and excitement for us all.
It became a night of frustration and tears.
First, the school was ill-prepared for teachers (as I learned on Friday) and ended up having to hire two more…ON.FRIDAY. School starts….tomorrow. Soooo, we got Angel’s teachers name when we walked up to her door tonight.
THEN, thanks to poor communication both AM & PM kindergarten parents showed up to what was supposed to be just the AM KG meeting…leaving the room insanely over crowded and confusing.
After the teacher’s (exceptionally short) schpeal about the day’s schedule…I had to wait over 30 minutes to meet her face to face…
And when I told her about Angel’s #CF…I got “Did you talk to the nurse…because she gives me a list of all the kids w/ special medical needs and Angel wasn’t on it.”
I literally had to stop myself and tell the teacher I couldn’t say anything else without getting nasty.
I called in APRIL.
THREE departments to ask what I had to do.
All I got was “nothing. Nothing. No, there’s nothing you need to do.”
And now this?
Once again I’m underwhelmed.
Annoyed.
Today I was fortunate to have one of those moments.