Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Thursday's Children 3/14/13

A weekly blog hop
where writers come together
to talk about whatever inspires them.


The last several weeks I have enjoyed reading EM Castellan's "Project Reveal." I found it inspiring in getting re-inspired in my currently neglected WIP and decided to share my original inspiration for writing this story. Hahaha! Yes. I find myself amusing.

Well before I finished writing my first book, I started getting these various scenes stuck in my head. I would write them down and put them aside. I've always been fascinated with ghost stories, so I wasn't surprised when that was the recurring theme. My ghost had a name, Molly Weeds. I even know how she died and who killed her.
Molly Weeds

The title for this book came early for me. It may change, but for now...


Killing Weeds

I live near Ithaca, New York, and the gorges and old buildings are the perfect setting for a ghost story.


   

However, my ghost is not the main character of my story. I'm writing this in first person from the POV of Veronica "Ronnie." My first book was written in third, so this is new for me. Btw, I write YA.
Ronnie
The first time I met Ronnie was in a scene that I had in my head when I woke up one morning. It was very visual, and I'm not sure where it really came from. I felt a lot of emotion coming from her when I wrote it. And I feel strongly that it remains the first chapter. It's only 172 words, but I think it sets the tone that I'm looking for with this book -- which is completely different from my first.


I kind of want to share it.

Would you like to see it?

Nah, I shouldn't...

Ok. If you insist.


The pewter cup sat in the stone cubby, looking like a trophy. Like a reminder of a proud moment in your life, when you were the best at something. I couldn’t look at it. I didn’t feel proud. I felt sad and empty. I imagined myself whipping it out of there and rubbing its side like a magic lamp, resulting in a hail of smoke that would bring my mother back. But I knew better. She wouldn’t be coming back.
The pastor said his final ceremonial words, and then turned to my father. “You’re welcome to stay while the vault is sealed.”
I can’t seem to wrap my head around the fact that my mother has been reduced to ash, and now sits in that pewter cup. Or what’d he call it … an urn? I can’t watch them lock her in there. I turned to my father. “Can I go now?”
“Yeah,” he answered, not looking at me.
That was the beginning of endless months of him not looking at me. That was the beginning of my downward spiral.


I'd love to hear what you think.

PS - I just joined Pinterest. That's where I got the pictures and started putting together an inspiration board.





22 comments:

  1. I love the imagery in this piece - it sets a beautiful tone. When I get stuck I often go back to those first flashes of inspiration and fall in love with the book all over again. EM's posts have been inspiring too!

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    1. Thank you! Putting together this post definitely helped me fall in love with this story again.

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  2. I like your first paragraph! Very tight sentences. And I like the symbolism and the metaphors, it's not too heavy, at least for me. That's a hard working paragraph! LOL.

    It also sounds very dark. Sad.

    It'd be interesting to hear how you feel writing in 1st person vs. 3rd person in future posts!

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    1. Thank you! I want this book to be on the dark side, so that's just what I wanted to hear.
      I'll keep the 1st vs 3rd post in mind. What do you prefer?

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  3. You've got a strong opening there - it's definitely I'd keep reading if I were holding the book! :) LOVE the images and thanks for the Pinterest link. Just followed your board. :)

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    1. Thanks, I'm glad you like it!
      I resisted Pinterest for a long time, but it is kind of fun. I'm still getting the hang of it.

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  4. i love, love, love ghost stories (my 2nd MS is one, so yeah, i love them!). and your opening is lovely! intriguing, has voice, all that good, yummy stuff. keep at it - can't wait to hear how things are moving along!

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    1. Thank you so much! I'd love to hear about yours. Do you have any info about your ghost story on your blog?

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  5. I'd keep reading this story too. Lovely and dark, just like I like 'em. Well done!! And I followed your Pinterest board too :)

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    1. Thanks! I hope I can continue to pull off the dark.

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  6. Great snippet and I love the photo of the girls. This made me thinking about the original first scene in my story--a YA gothic. It's amazing how much inspiration come from a few words and images.

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    1. Thank you! I love finding images to go with what's in my head.

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  7. Wow! I can see why you made that your first chapter. That's a hook, if I ever read one! Beautifully written, great imagery, and anyone who's ever stood in front of an urn containing a loved one's remains will recognize that feeling of disbelief you describe. Well done!

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  8. I'm not sure where my original comment went to... But I think I said something along the lines of really liking your opening (I have a "thing" for cemeteries too), and also that my mom went to Cornell-she used to talk about the beauty and infernal coldness of the gorges.

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    1. My Daughters and I like to wander around old cemeteries. They can be so peaceful and creepy at the same time.

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  9. Thank you so much for the mention, it took me by surprise and made me blush :) I'm glad my posts made you want to share your own WIP (which, by the way, sounds great!). I love the pictures. I have been thinking about joining Pinterest for a while, but I'm afraid it will be another procrastination tool for me and I really don't need another one ;)

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    1. You're very welcome!
      I was afraid of the same thing with pinterest. I'm pretty much staying off it, other than using it for my inspiration boards.

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  10. Love ghost stories and WOW those photos are inspiring. I love when visions come to mind and pretty much demand you write them. I'm very interested in reading more. al the best with getting through and enjoying Ronnie's story. :)

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  11. Ooh. Very atmospheric. Can't wait to see where this goes! Thanks for sharing ;-)

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  12. Those pictures of Ithaca make me a tiny bit jealous. That is a great setting for a ghost story. I love the opening, those 172 words really pull you in and make you want to read more!

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