Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Human

Welcome to Friday and this week's edition of Five Sentence Fiction. This week's prompt is human. If you'd like to learn more about Five Sentence Fiction, or give it a try yourself, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. Enjoy!

He'd been crying for a long time before the realization finally hit him that his hands were wet. He looked down at the shining tears in his hands and reached up to wipe at his eyes. The tears were coming from him!
He looked down at his hands again, no longer polished and painted wood, but real hands with blood and skin and muscle. He was real, finally a real flesh and blood boy.

Voila! I hope you enjoyed my take on this little fairy tale and I hope you have a great weekend. Don't forget to follow this blog and leave your comments in the comments section. You might also want to come find me on twitter, @MelanieKCole. I'm mildly entertaining from time to time. And if you're still in the mood for more Five Sentence Fiction, just follow the links below.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Pieces
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Letters
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Dancing
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Erased

The Party

I'm exhausted. It's been quite a month. I haven't done anywhere near as much editing as I planned on, but I do have a pretty good excuse. This Saturday is my mother in law's 60th birthday party, and she enlisted my help with both the decorations and the food, so I've had my hands full with all of the preparations.

I should note that by "enlisted my help" I really mean I forcefully volunteered my services. One, because it's her birthday party, so she shouldn't have to worry about anything, she should just show up and have fun. But also, I love party planning. I really do. Both my sister and I jump on any opportunity to throw a shower or a party. I can't explain why I love it so much, especially since I'm usually not much of a people person, but I do. And my favourite part is always the decorating and the food.

So, I spent the past month shopping, crafting, scouring pinterest for ideas, baking and planning. Hopefully this Saturday my efforts pay off and there's a fabulous party to show for it. Unfortunately, my writing efforts have thoroughly suffered, so starting December 1st, it'll be operation get back on track. Keep your fingers crossed for me and I'll try to post some pictures of the party next week so you can judge my success for yourself.

Monday Book Review - The Shining

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation!

THE SHINING by Stephen King

 

This has been a bucket list book for me for a very long time, so I was so glad when I finally had the chance to sit down and read it. And it. Was. Terrifying. I thought Christine was creepy, but this was leaps and bounds more scary. It was also beautifully written, the history of the characters and their descent into the hotel's grasp developing steadily, like the long climb on a roller coaster, filling you with more and more dread as you begin to reach the top, because you know the fall is waiting. It was exhilarating and mesmerizing and proves what we already knew about Stephen King. He is an amazing writer.

I know it can be hard to pick up a book that you know will be terrifying, but you really have to in this case. The story is just so good, the characters are memorable and full of depth, overall it's just an amazing ride. I especially loved being inside the mind of Jack and his son Danny. Their different perceptions of the hotel and what was happening around them was riveting. 

So, if this has been on your bucket list, make sure you make the time to pick it up. It's amazing and so much better than the movie. If you're a little reluctant because it's scary, don't let that stop you. It's a great read and just do what I did. Only read it during the daylight hours.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Pieces

Welcome to Friday and this week's edition of Five Sentence Fiction. This week's prompt is pieces. If you'd like to learn more about Five Sentence Fiction, or give it a try yourself, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. Enjoy!

For a moment she just stared down at the glittering pieces scattered along the floor. The talisman was her only way home and she'd broken it. 
The jeering voices of the crowd were growing louder. She quickly bent and gathered up the pieces, shoving them into her pockets. She'd find a place to hide and she'd put them back together, everything would be fine as long as she didn't miss any...

I hope you liked this little tale, if you did then please share it with friends. If you're still in the mood for more Five Sentence Fiction, just follow the links below. Don't forget to follow this blog and come find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. Have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Letters
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Dancing
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Erased
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Determination

The Mentorship Program

I don't know if you remember me mentioning this or not, but in September I had applied to take part in a mentorship program put on by the Saskatchewan Writers Guild. In this program, four apprentices are paired with established writers who work one on one with them on a body of work for a period of four months. The goal is to sharpen your craft while getting individual attention and editorial advice on your writing. It's a great opportunity, so I mailed in my application and crossed my fingers, hoping that I'd be one of the lucky four.

A week ago today I got the call. I'm in! That's right, I'm one of those lucky four.

Now, I'm writing this here for several reasons. First of all, I'm still so excited I can hardly stand it. The writing life comes with so much rejection, when you get a win you just have to celebrate it. Secondly, I want to remind you (and myself) of the importance of putting yourself out there. As I said, there's so much rejection that comes with writing, it can be hard not to withdraw completely. But there's also a lot of opportunity out there if you look for it. You won't get everything (God knows I haven't) but you'll get a lot more than not putting yourself out there at all.

And now I turn the floor over to you. What new directions have you been taking in your writing? Have you been putting you and your work out there?

Monday Book Review - The Coldest Girl in Coldtown

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation!

THE COLDEST GIRL IN COLDTOWN  by Holly Black

 

I knew I was going to have to read this book after I finished one of Holly Black's other books, DOLL BONES. She's an amazing author, capable of spinning an un-put-down-able tale like no other. And if anyone could make vampires cool again (especially after what twilight did to them), Holly Black could. And she did. That's right, my friends. It's about vampires. Well, really it's about a girl named Tana and her catastrophic encounter with vampires at a high school party, and the events that follow. It's dark, twisted, and best of all, the vampires don't sparkle! Rather than idealize them, Black explores the darkness of their nature, the sickness that creates them and poses the question: is the monster something they've been infected with, or is it something that's been unleashed?

As I said earlier, Black creates tales that you simply can't put down. Not only did I burn the midnight oil reading it, when I finished I was distraught. I had raced towards the ending with unbridled delight and once I was there, I couldn't believe I'd been so stupid not to savour it more. I didn't want it to end. I loved being in Tana's world, dark as it was. It was surprising, never going quite where you expected, with a large cast of unique, lovable characters that made saying goodbye especially hard.

There's nothing better than a book you're willing to lose sleep over. Pick it up and prepare to be tired in the morning, this is one you won't want to end and one you won't put down either.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Letters

Welcome to Friday and this week's edition of Five Sentence Fiction. This week's prompt is letters. If you'd like to learn more about Five Sentence Fiction, or give it a try yourself, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. Enjoy!

The first letter arrived on a rainy Tuesday. Every day another arrived in the mailbox, mixed in with the bills and flyers. She knew that she must have written them, the only person who could have known her thoughts so intimately was herself, but she didn't remember writing them, and she couldn't explain how every letter managed to describe in detail events that hadn't happened yet.
Indeed, every letter that arrived in her mailbox, written in her own handwriting, warned her what would happen that day, told her what would go wrong and what would go right.
The letters were always right, and although at first she was wary, soon she found herself running to the mailbox every morning... that is, until the day she received the letter that told her she was about to die.

Voila! I hope you enjoyed this little piece of fiction. If you did, then please share it with friends. If you'd like to read more Five Sentence Fiction, just follow the links below and of course, don't forget to follow this blog. Have a great weekend everyone!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Dancing
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Erased
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Determination
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Malice

The Ruling

I've had to make a ruling at work. I don't mind if I came off rather bitchy either, it needed to be done. For some reason, I've been singled out in the office as someone you can tell to their face that they look like crap. Oh, not in so many words, but they say it just the same. If I got a dollar every time someone in the office told me I looked tired, or commented that maybe I have an iron deficiency, or asked me what was wrong with my eyes, I could just quit working and stay home all together. Sure, sometimes it's genuine concern, but I really don't care. I don't want to hear it. Which is why I told everyone, DO NOT COMMENT ON MY APPEARANCE UNLESS YOU HAVE SOMETHING NICE TO SAY.

First, it's just good manners. If you don't have anything nice to say, then just shut the hell up or however that saying goes. Second, it's stupid. Why are you pointing out to me that I look tired? I know how I feel. I happen to live inside this body and it keeps me well apprised as to how it's doing. Furthermore, I own a mirror. I know how I look. And I put a lot more care and attention into my appearance than you did this morning, that much I know for sure, because I have a great many of my own comments to make about your appearance, but I don't because I have good manners.

Why does this bother me so much? Mostly because I spend a lot of my day biting my own tongue and I expect the same courtesy in return. But also because I generally like how I look. I'm aware of my faults. I have inherited very pale skin as well as dark under eye circles. This can (and often does) make me look tired, despite being well rested and in good health. Science has yet to find a cure for dark under eye circles and although I've found products that help a lot, they will always be there. And I've accepted this. I don't need constant reminders, nor do I need suggestions that I should eat more red meat. I'm fine. Despite these flaws I like what I see in the mirror.

So, I stood up for myself and let everyone know that I wasn't okay with their unrestrained opinion sharing. You want to know the weirdest part? It's pretty well always the men who feel comfortable enough to insult me with their "concern". What about you? Have you ever had someone be a little too free with their opinions of your appearance? How did you handle it?

Monday Book Review - The Book of Lost Things

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation!

THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS by John Connolly

 

 This week's book was originally recommended on one of the many, many lists of Halloween reads I perused while in search of hauntingly fantastic tales in September and October, but I have to say, I didn't find it frightening or creepy in the least. To me, it was like reading something similar to, but much darker than, THE NEVERENDING STORY, which I loved. And I loved this one too. It was brilliantly imaginative and haunting. 

It tells the tale of David, a young boy who has recently lost his mother. He has trouble dealing with her absence and turns to books for comfort. But there's something lurking inside the stories, something cruel. And it has an ulterior motive for David.

This is a beautiful book. The language is lovely, drawing you in and painting fantastical worlds filled with kindness and cruelty, shadows and new beginnings. It's a worthwhile read for the language alone but the story is not to be missed. So few books contain so much story, so well told, that will leave you filling as full and content as this one did. Definitely pick this one up. It's an incredible read.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Dancing

Welcome to Friday and this week's edition of Five Sentence Fiction. This week's prompt is dancing. If you'd like to learn more about Five Sentence Fiction, or give it a try yourself, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. Enjoy!

When he reached out his hand, she took it automatically. No words were spoken, never had been. The music said everything they couldn't, as did the strength of his arms around her, the bend of her head towards him.
Even now, when old age had shrunken them, their charisma on the dance floor was the same. Physical appearances may have changed, but their love never had. 

Yes, it's true. I've given you a healthy dose of mush this week, and I certainly hope you enjoyed it. If you did, pass it along and share it friends; perhaps even follow this blog and come find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. If you're still in the mood for more Five Sentence Fiction, just follow the links below. Have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Erased
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Determination
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Malice
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Enrapture

Editing and the Return of TV

Well, the summer of no TV ended midway through October, with the first light dusting of snow. The snow only lasted a day, but I spent that day nestled on the couch with my husband, blasting our way through the first two seasons of Episodes. (Great show by the way.) It felt amazing, the perfect way to relax on a Sunday.

However, now that November has arrived I've decided to throw myself into editing and that means figuring out how to balance work and relaxation (aka TV). With the weather getting colder and the desire to stay in and snuggle getting stronger it's getting harder and harder to focus on work. After all, I'm really enjoying the editing process but it's so hard to resist the chance to wrap up in a blanket with my husband and catch up on the shows I've missed.

So, to combat my natural inclination to be lazy, I've created a schedule. I make sure I always use the time when my husband's at the gym or out with friends to edit, when temptation is at its weakest. I also find it easier to edit and write in the evenings on weekdays, when my brain is already geared towards work, and allow myself the indulgence of sleeping in and lazing on the weekends, only working as much as I'm in the mood for. I find I need to give myself permission to just go with the flow on weekends, that way I have something to look forward to and it makes it easier to work on weeknights.

How are you combating the winter gloom? Do you find it more or less easy to be productive in the winter months? Share your thoughts in the comments section!

Monday Book Review - Winger

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation!

WINGER by Andrew W. Smith

 

Ryan Dean West is a fourteen year old junior at Pine Mountain, a boarding school for rich kids. He's currently rooming with the biggest (literally) jerk on his rugby team in O-Hall, the dorm for miscreants. He's two years younger than everyone else in his class and in love with his best friend, Annie, who thinks of him as a little kid. But this year is going to be different for Ryan Dean. This year things are going to change. 

I can't say enough good things about this book. It was funny, it was sad, it was unexpected, it was... perfect. I know I should never say that about a book, but as I set it down after finishing it in one day, I turned to my husband and said, "I think that might be the best book I've ever read." I loved it. I absolutely loved it. I loved the characters, the plot (always full of surprises and bloody impossible to put down!) and the way all the chapters were short and sweet (which always makes me feel like I want to keep reading). 

You need to read this book. I don't care who you are. If you're looking for a really amazing read, go get this book immediately. It's so fantastic, I can't even describe it. Just go get it. NOW. 

 

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Erased

Welcome to Friday and this week's edition of Five Sentence Fiction. This week's prompt is erased. If you'd like to learn more about Five Sentence Fiction, or give it a try yourself, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. Enjoy!

"Oh dear God," she looked down at the bright orange stain spreading across her top and shorts and back at the crowded lunch room full of faces already laughing at her. 
The professor had warned her not to abuse the magic eraser, had told her not to take it for granted, but she couldn't help it. Some things she could live with, others she couldn't. She pulled it out of her pocket and erased the stains from her clothes, the laughter from everyone's mouth and the memory of her catastrophic embarrassment from their minds. When she was done, she picked up her lunch tray and sat down at a table, anonymous once again. 

Voila! I hope you enjoyed this little story, and if you did, please feel free to follow this blog and come find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. If you're in the mood for more Five Sentence Fiction, just follow the links below to read past editions. Have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Determination
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Malice
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Enrapture
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Celebration