Advice for my Twelve Year Old Self

There is a prompt in The Writer's Idea Book by Jack Heffron, in which you picture your twelve year old self and come up with a list of questions they would ask you about the future and your future self. Next, you're supposed to answer those questions. It's a really neat prompt, and I had a lot of fun with it. It also got me to thinking about what kind of advice I'd give my younger self if I got the chance. So, I wrote it down. I highly suggest you try this exercise for yourselves (as well as pick up The Writer's Idea Book and give it a try), but in the mean time, here is my own list of advice for my twelve year old self.

1. Start saving money. Immediately. The world is going to get way more expensive, and it will be a lot harder to get started. Start saving for your down payment now, because fourteen years from now you'll have a mortgage, a dog and a job that doesn't pay as well as it needs to, and you're going to wish you had a lot more money put aside.

2. Don't listen to your auntie when you tell her you want to be a writer and she tells you they don't make any money and that you should do something else. The other careers you end up in don't make any money either and they don't make you happy. Stick with writing, you're going to end up there anyway. Your love of the written word doesn't fade over time, it just keeps growing. It's okay to follow the impossible dream.

3. If the popular girls don't like you, you're doing something right. I know you already know that, but I just wanted to let you know that you're proven right later on. Because you have a wonderful husband and a great life, and they're knocked up with multiple strangers' babies. Or in rehab.

4. Be ambitious. Don't look for the easy career, the quick fix or the simple answer. Dig deep. You have a lot of potential, so don't give up, tap into it!

5. I know everyone thinks you're lazy and that you have a bad attitude, but you're not and you don't. Well, it's kind of true (and that doesn't change), but not when it comes to the things you really want. Figure out what you want and go for it! Believe me, you'll work yourself near to death for the things you love. And if you start now, there's no limit to what you'll accomplish.

That's just a few pieces of the advice I'd give my younger self. And you know what? They're applicable now, too. What would you tell your younger self?

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Blush

Ah, another Friday has arrived. And this time, no illness! At least I hope not. I better knock on wood just to be sure. Last weekend sucked. I was sick for almost the entirety of it, was utterly miserable and got nothing done. I'm hoping this weekend turns out a lot better. Last weekend sure didn't set the bar very high. Anyway, as you know, Friday means more than just the weekend. It's also time for another round of Five Sentence Fiction. If you'd like to find out what it's all about, or give it a try, please visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. This week's prompt is blush.

She could feel it creeping up under her cheeks like fire, making her face radiate with heat. The brambles and twigs poked and snagged at her skin, but she didn't move, not a muscle. 
She watched with wide eyes, unwilling to look away as naked skin moved against naked skin, the moans of delight cascading over her ears, making her sweat. 
Her mother had been right. There were a lot of interesting things to see in the forest.

 Did I make you blush? Well, I hope you enjoyed this one, and I hope your weekend is filled with good times, good health and good sleep. If you're still hankering for more Five Sentence Fiction, just check out the links below. See you on Monday!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Night
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Distance
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Victory
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Perseverance

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

I'm sure you've heard the old saying, "one step forward, two steps back." (And if not, well, you have now).

I'm pretty sure this saying was written about me, or if not, perhaps one of the good fairies said it while waving her wand over my crib as a baby. (Yes, I am making a Sleeping Beauty reference. I'm glad you caught that). For as long as I can remember, (which, granted, is not that long) my life has been an uphill comedy. I push the boulder up the hill, only to have to come rolling back down on top of me. And more often than not, it has to do with money.

I'm not what you'd call a financially minded person. I'm an impulsive, impatient, creative type that refuses to think things through or stand back and look at things from a strictly logical perspective. It's taken a long time, and a lot of 'avoidable but never avoided' bumps in the road for me to get my act together. And I'm still very much a work in progress.

This summer, I created a new budget. Not just any budget, a thoroughly well thought out, logical, easy to follow budget. And I was so very proud of it. I've made many attempts at budgets before, but they've never really stuck. But this time, I'd created a masterpiece. Why did I do this? Sure, there's the logical, financially responsible reasons. But the real reason, my true purpose, was for Paris. Next summer will be my husband and my fifth wedding anniversary. And I want to spend it in Paris. So, I was trying to look ahead, get our finances in order, and start saving for our beautiful, romantic get away. And things have been going really well. Until my husband found our ice cream melted in our freezer.

It seems our fridge is on its last legs. And although, in the grand scheme of things, it is a minor deviation. I can't help but feel deflated. Because this time it's the fridge. But next month it's the washing machine. And the month after that? The dishwasher. My husband and I have the worst luck when it comes to finances. No matter how hard we try to save, life always throws a wrench in our plans. But I'm trying to remain positive. I'm not going to stop with the budget. I'm going to keep saving. Even if we don't make it to Paris for our fifth anniversary, maybe we'll make it for our tenth. With all the crap that goes wrong in our lives, that's probably how long I'll need to save up for it anyway.

Life Lessons I Learned This Weekend

1. Never take your health for granted. You could be perfectly fine one day (say, Thursday) and wake up perfectly ill the next (for instance, with a truly sore throat and nasty sinus congestion on Friday morning).

2. Never complain about how poorly you feel, or how inconvenient it is. Things can go from bad to worse in the blink of an eye. (For example, you could wake up Saturday morning no longer with a cold, but spend the next twelve hours continuously vomiting and feeling so nauseous that every time your husband asks if he can get you anything you beg for a bullet and a gun).

3. Never mix cold medications. Ever. (Trust me. Just refer to number two.)

4. It's entirely possible to be hungry and hate food at the same time.

5. Never assume that you'll accomplish a lot on the weekends. Use the time you have, while you have it. Fate loves to throw a monkey wrench in all your plans.

6. Enjoy your food. Savor every bite that doesn't make your stomach rumble with warning. Tomorrow just the sight of it could make you turn green.

7. Never underestimate the comfort a loving husband or a good friend can bring you when you're feeling at your worst. There's nothing more soothing than a loving hand to help you up, or hold back your hair. Cherish those that are willing to do that for you.

8. Time, and some good 'bad' TV, heals all wounds. (And viruses).

9. Do the dishes while you're well. Because there'll only be bigger stacks of them waiting for you when you get better.

10. Never mix cold medications. Ever. (It had to be repeated. It was a big lesson.)

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Night

If Friday were an island, I'd be a sailor who's been lost at sea for weeks. I just want to get down on my knees and kiss it over and over, thanking God I finally found it. I can think of no better way to celebrate the coming of the weekend than with Five Sentence Fiction. This week's prompt is night. If you'd like to find out what Five Sentence Fiction is all about, or give it a try, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. And now, on with the show!

When I was a child, we were often plagued by thunderstorms, especially at night. We'd be snuggled in our beds, listening to the boom of thunder, the flashes of lightning the only break in the darkness. The power would often be out until morning, and I've never since known a more complete darkness. That is, until I saw his eyes. Those black pools drew me in as strongly as mom used to tuck in the blankets, and I knew right then I was in trouble.

When I was little, I loved night time. I felt like the darkness had wrapped its arms around me and cocooned me in its embrace. I'm a little more leery now that I'm older and I know it can also hide certain kinds of monsters, but it still holds a certain kind of magic, doesn't it? I was so glad when I saw it as a prompt on Lillie McFerrin's website. I could probably write a whole collection just based on that prompt, but I hope you enjoyed this one. If you're still jonesing for more Five Sentence Fiction, just check out the links below. Have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Distance
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Victory
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Perseverance
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Scarlet

Fall is Coming...

We are officially half way through August. The days are getting just a little shorter, and the temperature just a little cooler in that oh so cruel reminder that summer cannot last forever. And even though I still have the same amount of hours in the day, it still feels as though they're getting shorter too. I can't seem to get everything done. I keep running out of time. And at the end of the day I'm kicking myself over the seemingly endless list of tasks I failed to accomplish.

It's possible that I'm only feeling rushed because it's getting darker sooner. It does tend to make the days feel so much shorter. But I can't seem to shake it. Even though I get out of bed earlier and go to bed later, I'm getting less done instead of more. Despite my To Do Lists, despite my attempts at efficiency, I'm still running behind. Fall had better stay away for a little while yet, I have way too much to do.

Stephen King's On Writing

Recently I read Stephen King's On Writing, and I have to say, I LOVED it. Not only was his memoir fascinating, inspirational and downright quirky, his advice on writing was excellent. It was simple and down to earth. Previously, I'd read The Right to Write by Julia Cameron, and although it was good, it was also a little too granola and new age for me. Stephen King was much less grand about the whole idea and easier to relate to. He's a realist, and I like that.

One of his main pieces of advice when it came to improving your writing was to just do it a lot. Simple, right? Well, he means A LOT. His suggestion was to read and write for four to six hours a day. Granted, it's not all writing, some of that time can and should be spent reading, but that's still a large block of time. When I first read his advice, I was rather intimidated. After all, I work full time. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized it wasn't that unreasonable. When I considered how much time I spend watching TV, it became rather obvious that I have a lot more time at my disposal than I'd first thought.

So, I'm going to try it. Actually, I started last week, and it went pretty well. There were two days when it just didn't happen, I was too tired, too busy and there just wasn't the time. But on the whole, I was surprised by how easy it was to fit it in. Once I turned off the TV, everything fell into place.

Yesterday was the beginning of week two, and I'm feeling really good. Knowing how much time I need to commit to reading and writing makes me feel more serious, more inspired. I highly suggest that if you haven't read On Writing that you do so immediately. And if you aren't a writer, read it anyway. It's worth it just for his memoir. Stephen King is a fascinating man and I loved reading his story.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Distance

It's Friday, and I'm a little behind. Normally, I type these up the night before, so they're ready to go for the next day. Instead, last night was a frenzy of activity followed by my immediate faceplant into bed, comatose. I completely forgot until I was at work this morning, which sucks because the web browser here is so old it doesn't really support blogger. Therefore, I'm unable to format properly, making it all look a little... blah. In any case, I didn't want to disappoint, so here it is. This week's prompt was DISTANCE. If you'd like to find out what Five Sentence Fiction is all about, or give it a try, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. Here we go!

Distance

Distance makes the heart grow fonder, at least that's what they say. I'm hoping it makes his heart grow colder, that each mile dims his memory of me, that he won't try and follow.

Not that he can, mother made sure of that. She took my hair, and she took his sight. He'll never see me again.

It's rather short this week, but I hope you enjoyed it. As always, I welcome all your comments, questions and suggestions in the comments section below. If you'd really like to make my day, you could follow this blog or come find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. Check out the links below to read previous Five Sentence Fiction Fridays. Have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Victory

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Perseverance

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Scarlet

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Composure

Just a Dream

Well, it's Wednesday. That means the week is just about half over. At least it will be by the end of the day. I suppose it depends on what time you're reading this. Either way, Wednesday is kind of a transitory day, the gateway between the beginning of the week and the end. The weekend always feels so much closer on Wednesday evenings than it does on Wednesday mornings, wouldn't you agree? And to help ease you through this transition, I've written a little piece of flash fiction for your enjoyment. It's my way of making the time flow just a little faster. Enjoy!

Just a Dream

The phone rings in the middle of the night,  a loud, jarring sound. I sit up in bed, heart aching with the pain of waking so quickly from such a deep sleep. I fight my way through tangled sheets to the edge of the bed, desperate to quiet the awful sound.

 "Hello?" My voice is groggy, even though my heart is racing. Something awful must have happened for a call to come so late.

There's a pause, and the muffled sound of breathing before the line goes dead. I'm left with the phone in my hand, my mind still sandy with sleep. 

"It's probably just a wrong number."

I say the words aloud, although there's no one there to hear them. It's just me, and it has been for several years now. 

An hour goes by and my eyes are once again heavy with sleep before the phone rings again. It's less jarring this time; perhaps I've been expecting it. I find the phone easier, it's closer. I only have to reach out and grab it. 

The line is silent. A moment of hesitation before the audible click and the call is over.

I lie back and rest my head against the pillow. Sleep is already tugging at my eyes, fighting with the questions these phone calls are inspiring.

It rings a third time. Impatient. Insisting. I pick it up, cradling it against my face in the dark.

"Hello?"

I listen to the words, eyes closed. The familiarity of the voice as pronounced as the corners of my bed, despite the impossibility.

I nod along, so tired I can barely stand it. I listen to the voice on the line, try to memorize the words, the directions. 

In the morning, I'll believe this was all a dream.

I hope you've enjoyed this latest venture into flash fiction. I did! As always, I welcome your comments below in the comments section. Please feel free to follow this blog and share it with friends. Don't forget to find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. Have a great Wednesday, everyone!

The Lake

Yesterday, my husband and I spent the day out at the lake celebrating his grandparents sixtieth anniversary. It was an interesting day for me, as I'm really not much of a lake person. Even as a child, while everyone else was down at the beach or out playing mini golf and riding dirt bikes, my mother just couldn't seem to expel me from the warm sanctum of our trailer into the wilderness. And that's not to say that I dislike the outdoors, or beaches for that matter. I find the wilderness peaceful (although not at the lake where only a few trees separate the crowds from each other) and I love beaches. It's just that the beaches I love are in front of oceans and belong to beautiful resorts sporting cabanas and pools with swim up bars. Not to mention my horror of what I find to be the lake's biggest downfall: the bugs. Since I was a child I've had a deep seated fear and dislike for bugs. Specifically, anything that could fly. Be it wasps, bees, horseflies, spruce bugs or mosquitoes.

In true nerd form, I preferred to stay inside, devouring my way through stacks and stacks of books. There were only two reasons I found suitable enough to venture out for. The first was when my stack of books ran out and I was forced to trek over to the dingy lake book store and pillage its shelves for more. The second was when the sun finally set and everyone gathered around the campfire to swap stories and conversation. Those times were magical for me as a child. More often than not, the conversation would be too engaging for my parents to keep track of the time and I'd sit quietly without notice long past my bedtime. I loved sitting in the flicker of the firelight, listening to the stories, the way they seemed to flow out of everyone like honey. Something about the fire bewitched us all, calling forth epic tales of triumph and failure; and stories so funny and rude they'd almost make you wet your pants.

Yes, I have some very fond memories of the lake, but very few of them actually contain the lake itself. What I remember most are the stories, both the ones I read and the ones I listened to. I'll never be a lake person, I don't think I'll ever truly understand the joy others get from packing up their things and escaping to rustic cabins for the weekend. But I'm still grateful to it. The lake separated me from the usual forms of distractions and let me bury myself in stories. As a writer, that's something I can appreciate.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Victory

Welcome to Friday and another episode of Five Sentence Fiction! Are you feeling as victorious as I am? I feel like this week was longer than most. As you've probably already guessed, this week's prompt is Victory. If you'd like to find out more about Five Sentence Fiction, or give it a try yourself, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. Enjoy!

I enjoy watching him sweat, his skin glistening as his eyes dart back and forth, his tongue sliding repeatedly over his chapped lips.
He makes his move with a trembling hand and I smile, reaching out to capture his queen the moment he releases it.
"Checkmate."
He walks away slowly, his envelope of cash resting in my pocket. Victory is mine.

There we have it! I hope you all enjoy your weekend, and 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 find me on twitter @MelanieKCole.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Perseverance
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Scarlet
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Composure
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Pirates

Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite

"What do you mean they were spraying for bed bugs?"

I stared at my husband's solemn face as horror rolled through me. Nothing had prepared me for his news. The apartment building my husband had been replacing windows in for the past week or two had just had an exterminator come in that day for bed bugs. All week long my husband might have been bringing home something a lot worse than his dirty lunch containers.

Immediately, I began to feel itchy. My skin crawled as though a thousand tiny insect legs were walking all over my body. I felt ... dirty.

Bed bugs had been considered a thing of the past for so long, nothing but a creepy nursery rhyme to scare children with. But in recent years there's been a resurgence all over North America, occurrences steadily increasing. I'd heard it on the news a couple of times over the years but never paid much attention. Not anymore!

Suddenly, I became a google fiend, researching the disgusting critters on every source I could find. Next, came the cleaning. And oh, was there cleaning! Our bedroom has never been so spotless. I pulled out every piece of furniture, vacuumed every crevice, including every millimeter of our mattress. Every available surface and material was washed. Our entire house got the works.

And after hours of cleaning I can say with a fair amount of certainty that our house is bed bug free. But just to be certain, every day when my husband gets home, he strips and I wash all his clothes on the hottest possible setting while he showers.

It's amazing what you can take for granted without realizing it. It's been five days since my husband told me about the possibility of bed bugs, and I still get itchy just thinking about it. I frequently get overtaken by frenzied fits of cleaning and often find myself lifting the mattress just to make sure there's nothing hiding underneath.

I think it'll be a while before I sleep soundly again, but in the meantime I'm grateful for the little things... such as the lack of bloodsucking insects to bite me while I'm sleeping. I suppose I should thank them for making me a better housekeeper, but I'm not there yet. The paranoia will have to fade a bit first. About two years ought to do it.

The Beauty of Interruptions

Sometimes when you don't feel like writing, life lines up just right so you end up doing it anyway. Most of the time I'm the worst procrastinator in the world, but this weekend things really worked out for the best.

First of all, it was incredibly hot and our house doesn't have air conditioning. The bedrooms in the back of the house are always cooler than the rest of the house but it's also away from the TV. It didn't matter though, it was so hot I hung out in the bedroom where there was nothing to do but scribble in my notebook. It was perfect.

And on Sunday, my husband spent the afternoon watching a three hour long movie I couldn't stand, once again forcing me away from the TV and back to my writing. Sure, I could have been annoyed, but instead I really appreciated the interruptions to my usual weekend routine. They forced me to get some actual work done. Sometimes, when you can't motivate yourself, it helps to have others do the motivating for you.

So here's to the interruptions! Personally, I'm hoping my husband finds another long, boring movie to watch this week. I've got some writing to do.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Perseverance

This week, work has been bat shit crazy. So, I'm being honest when I say I'm really glad it's Friday. And what better way to kick off the weekend than with Five Sentence Fiction? If you'd like to find out what it's all about, or if you'd like to give it a try yourself, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. This week's prompt is perseverance. How fitting, after the week I've had. Enjoy!

Did he really think he was going to get to her, holding that strange woman's hand? She gritted her teeth at the smug smile on his face, keeping her outward appearance calm and unreadable. She picked up her purse and strolled past, refusing to cast another glance in his direction. She could feel his eyes on her back as she walked away, but she wouldn't give him another chance; it was time she put herself first.


There you have it! If you're still jonesing for more Five Sentence Fiction, just check out the links below. Please feel free to follow this blog and find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. Have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Scarlet
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Composure
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Pirates
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Harvest

Speaking of Catching Up...

... here are the long awaited Before and After pictures of my office. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, a few months ago I proclaimed on this blog that I was going to clean up and redecorate my room of shame - my office. It had become the room where I put everything I didn't want to deal with, a true horror show. And I did it! But, I've been holding off on showing the Before and After pictures because it's not completely done. I wanted the room to be completely finished (knick knacks and all) but, I've realized that's still a long way away and there's no point in holding out. So, without any further ado, here they are.

Before

Horrifying, isn't it?

After

Much better, yes? Still not finished, but it's getting there. As you may have noticed, Widget and Poppet are in separate cages, as I've discovered they're both boys. Although they love each other like crazy, they're also just a little too young to get fixed, which makes them too competitive/aggressive to leave in the same cage. But that willl change as soon as they get fixed. And there we have it! I'm actually very proud of myself for following through and getting it done. After all, you saw the Before pictures. You can't tell me they weren't terrifying.

 

 

A Day Late

I know what you're thinking, you can't believe I'm a day late with a blog post yet again. I have fallen so behind lately. Would you believe I still haven't completely unpacked from my trip to Palm Springs? My half empty suitcase is still sitting on my bedroom floor, waiting to trip anyone that passes by. It's become a real safety hazard, especially when the lights are out and you're half asleep in the middle of the night.

I really did mean to post on time yesterday, but a family obligation called me away at the last minute and ended up lasting way longer than expected. I ended up getting home at eleven, exhausted. I'd completely forgotten about posting and just fell into bed. I don't mean to complain, it was entirely worth it, but I do apologize for my scattered behavior of late. It's time to rally my mental faculties and get caught up, starting now!

So please bear with me, and I will see you all tomorrow. Hopefully with something more interesting to say.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Scarlet

It has arrived! Friday is finally here, bringing promises of a sunny, peaceful weekend. I plan to spend the next two days soaking in as much summer as I can, writing whatever I want, and taking the alarm clock out back and smashing it to smitherings. Okay, that's not true. The alarm clock will survive the weekend. But I do plan on turning it off. And to kick off a weekend filled (hopefully) with creative expression, here is this week's edition of Five Sentence Fiction. The prompt this week is SCARLET. If you'd like to see what it's all about and maybe give it a try yourself, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. Enjoy!

Scarlet. It was the only word he could think of to describe her; from the hair that spilled out over her shoulders in relentless waves, to her soft, beckoning lips, to the spreading pools around her feet. The front of her dress was stained with it, as were her hands and fingers. She looked up at him from amidst the mess, confusion and sorrow making her eyes shine with unshed tears.

"Oops."

Voila! I hope you enjoyed my latest excursion into Five Sentence Fiction. If you'd like to read a few more, I've posted a few links from previous weeks below. If you particularly enjoyed this post, I hope you'll share it with friends and relatives who might also like to read it, and of course, please feel free to follow this blog and come find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. Have a great weekend everyone!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Composure
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Pirates
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Harvest

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Faeries

Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts

Yesterday I finished a fantastic book, but surprisingly it wasn't on my summer reading list. I saw this one while I was on vacation in Palm Springs, wandering through a Barnes and Noble. I was walking up and down the aisles, fingers trailing along the spines and covers, the taste of Mrs. Field's cookies still warm in my mouth. And that's when I saw it. The cover of this book.

Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts by Lucy Dillon

I don't know if it was due to the aching of my heart, being away from my own beloved Great Dane, Maddie, or if it was just my innate love of the breed, but I saw that adorable Great Dane on the cover and I plucked it from the shelves immediately. When I read the back, I realized the Great Dane on the cover had not steered me wrong. It sounded fantastic! So, of course, I bought it, took it home and read it. The result?

The book was fantastic! Although the story does not actually contain a Great Dane (boo!), it does contain Bertie the Basset Hound, whose hijinks reminded me of my own odd little darling. The book features multiple characters, each dealing with secrets and problems of their own, whose lives become intertwined through their dogs. It's one of the best books I've read all year. Not only do I highly recommend it, but I INSIST that you read it immediately. You won't be sorry you did, although I must warn you, it may cause you to pull your own dog a little closer for a hug.

New Schedule

Hi All,

I don't know if you've noticed, but over the past several months I've been posting every other day and always on Fridays (can't miss Five Sentence Fiction Fridays!). But I've been thinking that I should have a more consistent schedule. So, from now on I will be posting on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, leaving my weekends free to catch up on other projects (sleeping). 

I'm hoping that sits well with you, my readers, as you're the reason I keep writing this blog in the first place. Just let me know what you think in the comments section!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Composure

Today's prompt seems especially fitting, probably because it's Friday and I'm counting down the minutes until the weekend. I don't know why I'm so excited; I have no big plans. But I am. I keep glancing anxiously at the clock, trying to force time forward with narrowed eyes and focused attention. Unfortunately, it appears that time refuses to be moved forward by pure force of will, so I've turned to Five Sentence Fiction instead to distract me. This week's prompt is composure. If you'd like to learn more about Five Sentence Fiction, or how you can participate, please visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. Okay, let's do it!

She took a deep breath, letting her jitters fall away like an old bath robe. Remember the rules, she told herself. Always be levelheaded. Always stick to the plan, stay in control and always have a backup plan for every contingency. She tucked her hair up under her wig, tied the scarf over her face and walked into the bank.

There we have it! Enjoy your weekend, everyone! As always, I welcome your comments below in the comments section. If you've enjoyed this post, I hope you'll share it with friends and family that might enjoy it as well. If your craving for Five Sentence Fiction is not quite satisfied, please feel free to peruse the links below and check out my Five Sentence Fiction from previous weeks. Enjoy!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Pirates
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Harvest
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Faeries
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Medicine
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Lost

The Lucky Dog Matchmaking Service

One of the things I love most about being on vacation is the extra down time it gives me to catch up on my reading. For example, when I went to the Bahamas, I read eight books in ten days. Pure bliss. I didn't do quite so well this time (probably due to the enormous amount of shopping), but I did manage to get in enough down time to read three books and a collection of short stories. The first one I read was THE LUCKY DOG MATCHMAKING SERVICE by Beth Kendrick. And it was positively lovely.

I'm a dog person, but I don't usually pick up books that center around dogs. Why? Because there seems to be some sort of unwritten rule demanding that all dog stories must have a sad ending. And I just can't do it. When I was little, I started reading WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS and never finished it. I could tell what was going to happen so I just put it down and walked away. Not so with this one. It was lighthearted and fun, with a quirky and sympathetic main character. I found myself unable to put it down and devoured it in a single afternoon.

It was the perfect holiday read. I recommend it for anyone that enjoys a good book, likes dogs or just wants to read something with a happy ending.

What about you? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

Things I Learned On Vacation

All last week I was in Palm Springs, on a vacation with my sisters and my mother. My older sister is pregnant with her first child (my mom's first grandchild!) and my twin sister is getting married in two months, so this was kind of our last hurrah. We spent most of the time shopping (is there anything better than outlet malls?) with a decadent spa day thrown in for good measure. We had a lovely time, and I thought I'd share a few of the lessons I learned along the way with you all.

1. It's Cruel to Take a Pregnant Woman Shopping.

I should preface this by saying that my older sister was a total trooper. She kept up with us and never complained once, despite the heat (42 degrees Celcius!), the long hours and the cement floors. But I think you see where I'm going with this. It was ridiculously hot and she was walking around with a furnace on her stomach. We shopped all day (and I honestly could have gone longer), so she was on her feet, in the heat, for way too long. Despite how well she hung in there, I don't think I'll subject her to it again any time soon.

2. Never Separate a Bride From Her Fiance.

Again, I'd like to preface this by saying that my twin was a fantastic travel companion and really kept the sighing and mooning over her fiance to a minimum. But it wasn't the same as when we used to travel. She was constantly distracted, and I'll be honest, I seemed to irritate her to no end. I may as well have been an itchy sweater she was forced to wear for a week. It shocked me, as we're very close and we've always made excellent travel companions before. But what can you do? She's in love and about to be married. There's no substitute for a fiance when you're head over heels in love and, in fact, anything else is just insulting.

3. Do Not Attempt to Write Your Blog Posts Ahead of Time.

When I'm on vacation, I'm on vacation. I don't bring a cell phone, I don't bring a computer. I'm on vacation from my life. So, I didn't want to have to worry about my blog while I was away. I wrote out my blog posts ahead of time, typed them up and showed my husband how to post them for me while I was away. The problem? Blogger sucks. Instead of showing the date of your post as the date it was published, it sticks to the first time you typed it. So, even though my husband posted them in the right order, they showed up in the order I'd typed them. Very irritating. And they all showed the dates I'd worked on them, instead of the date they were published. I was busted!

4. Don't Put Too Much Pressure On Your Vacation.

A few days before we left, I was talking to my older sister and couldn't help but ask if she was as excited as I was. She responded with a hesitant, "yes, but I hope we can all get along for that long." I was flabbergasted. The thought never even occurred to me! These were my sisters, my mother! How could we not get along? We got along famously. But her comment hung with me, and ended up creating a self fulfilling prophesy. Although we didn't fight, there was an undercurrent of tension through the whole trip that didn't let up until we were in the airport and on our way home. Suddenly, we were getting along the way we were supposed to the whole trip. If we hadn't been so worried about getting along the whole time, I think we would have had even more fun than we already did.

In the end, we did have a great time, and I have a whole lot of cute new clothes to show for it. But I think it's important to look back on our experiences and see what we can learn from the experience. These are the lessons I took away. What have your vacations taught you?

A Little Something Funny

I originally found this picture on Pinterest, and it led me back to Rachelle Gardner's website. I thought I'd share it with you to help us all through another work day. I'm sure every writer has felt like this during the editing process at some point or another.

Charles Dickens And His Editor

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Pirates

I can't believe we've reached the end of yet another week! The best part? It's time for another round of Five Sentence Fiction. This week's prompt is pirates. If you'd like to find out more about what it's all about, or try it yourself, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. Enjoy!

Most people only worry about pirates when they're out at sea, but not us. Every full moon when the clock strikes midnight, we huddle, shivering with terror in our beds. 
It starts in the living room, the sounds of cannon fire and whoops of glee echoing up through the floor, the splashing of salty waves against their old wooden ship rumbling below. 
They patrol the hallways, ghostly waves rolling in beneath the doors as they whisper and beckon for us to join them.
They only have an hour before the sounds begin to fade and the waves recede, as we breathe a collective sigh of relief that we're safe for another month. 

Well everyone, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! I welcome all of your comments below in the comments section, and cherish every one. If you're still jonesing for more Five Sentence Fiction, just check out the links below. Thanks and have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Harvest
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Faeries
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Medicine
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Lost
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Orange

The Upside of Nightmares

I woke up this morning after a restless night full of nightmares. I don't know what set it off, but I'm not lying when I say I spent the entire night fighting off murderers, tornadoes and even a bear. I don't mind though. As unpleasant as they may be, I find that nightmares offer great inspiration for stories.

Sometimes, when you feel the urge to write something a little darker, or a scene in which a character is truly frightened, it helps to know what that feels like. I'd prefer not to be chased by a murderer or attempt to escape a city full of tornadoes in real life, so if I want to write about it and realistically capture what it would feel like, I lean on my dreams.

It's the same reason I can't watch zombie movies too often. I love them, but whenever I watch them I have zombie nightmares all night. And I have to say, watching them on the screen is a lot less scary than actually being chased by them. So I try to limit my exposure. But having those nightmares makes it possible for me to write a piece of zombie fiction, if I so choose. I already know exactly how it feels to be chased by hoards of zombies. I know the feeling of despair when you realize you're trapped in a corner. And yet, as awful as that night's sleep was, I'm perfectly safe and able to write from a new perspective.

Where else do you find your inspiration? How do you make your own writing realistic? Have you ever found it in an unexpected place?

Summer Reading List

I don't know if it's just because I've been so busy lately, or if it's because the book I've been trying to read is as boring as a three hour lecture on geometry given in Greek, but I really haven't been reading much. Which is a problem for several reasons. First of all, I love reading. I love the way books can take you away, the way they can captivate you. Second, one of the most frequently given pieces of advice to blossoming writers is to read, and read as much as they possibly can. It's the best teacher available.

So, I'm taking a stand. This summer, I want to read at least a book a week. I've drafted a list of books I'd like to read this summer and I'm sharing them with you, just in case you'd like to join me. These are all books that have been calling to me from the book shelves, books that promise delightful adventures within their covers. As I finish each one, I promise to post a review and let you know if it's worthwhile. In the meantime, here is the list. Happy reading everyone!

1. These Girls by Sarah Pekkanen

I love Sarah Pekkanen. I read The Opposite of Me and Skipping a Beat. They were both utterly dazzling. I honestly believe she is one of the great writers of our time. I can't wait to dig in to her latest work!

2. The Virgin Cure by Ami McKay

I read The Birth House and adored it. Ami is an expert at beautifully crafted stories and settings. She brings history alive with characters you can really make a connection to. Can't wait for this one.

3. Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

I've been a big fan of The Bloggess for a long time. I love her quirky humor and completely unique personality. Her blog posts have me laughing out loud every time. Her memoir is sure to be an utter delight.

4. The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty

I read the book jacket on this one and became instantly intrigued. I'm honestly not usually into historical fiction, but I just can't resist. I must read it!

5. Sacre Bleu by Christopher Moore

My love affair with Christopher Moore started a few years ago when I read A Dirty Job. I love books that are strange and make me laugh. They're not always great, I didn't care for Fluke or any of his vampire ones, but I have high hopes for this one.

6. How to Eat a Cupcake by Meg Donohue

I read the first fourteen pages of this one on amazon and was hooked! I love the writing style, and the plot promises intrigue and delicious cupcakes. It's win/win!

7. The Lucky Dog Matchmaking Service by Beth Kendrick

Same story as the last book, I read the first few pages on amazon and I have to find out what happens next. I'm a huge dog person, so combining them and a great plot makes me pretty happy! I don't normally read dog books because the dogs always die, but this is one is not your usual tear jerker sob fest. Perfection.

8. Off the Menu by Stacey Ballis

I loved Good Enough to Eat, so much so that I forced everyone in my inner circle to read it. I could not pass up the chance to read her newest cuisine infused fiction.

9. Jeneration X by Jen Lancaster

I've been following Jen Lancaster since her first book, Bitter is the New Black. It was the first book to ever make me laugh out loud, leaving my husband to wonder what the hell was wrong with me. It's still my favourite, my second being Such a Pretty Fat. I can't wait to read her latest exploits.

10. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

I want to read this book for one simple reason: it was recommended to me. That's pretty much the only reason, but I think sharing great reads with one another is a very important practice, so I intend to give it a whirl.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Harvest

Welcome to the end of yet another week. I hope this summer weekend holds plenty of sunshine and good times for all of you, perhaps with a daquiri or pina colada thrown in for good measure. To start you off on the best possible foot, here is this week's edition of Five Sentence Fiction. If you'd like to learn more about what it's all about, or better yet, give it a try for yourself, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. This week's prompt is Harvest. Enjoy!

It's not the best job I've ever had, although it suits me well. It certainly beats working below deck, that's for sure.
I spend my nights prowling the streets, looking for prey and carefully guiding them into my net. They don't fight me, that comes later with tearful pleading for second chances. No, for now, they follow me gleefully, stepping over the edge and plunging into darkness, ripe for the harvest.

There we have it! Hopefully you enjoyed it, as I had fun writing it. As always, I welcome your comments in the comment section below (and love reading every single one). If you liked this post, please feel free to share it with your friends! And don't forget to come find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. If your taste for Five Sentence Fiction isn't quite sated, just follow the links below and check out past editions. Have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Faeries
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Medicine
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Lost
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Orange
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Silence

Top Ten Things You Should Not Say to a Writer

I don't know if any of you have been following the hashtag #ThingsNotToSayToAWriter on twitter, but I have, and it's hilarious. I wrote a few of my own as well, but I thought you might get a kick out of some of my favourites. Here are my top ten picks of Things You Should Not Say to a Writer. I've included the twitter handles of the authors, so feel free to check them out. Enjoy!

1. "You should read that Twilight or 50 Shades of Grey, that's good writing." @SteveHuff

2. "You know that box you had under the bed, with all those random papers in it? I threw it out." @ShenizJ

3. "So, uh, would I have heard of you?" @AliceKuipers

4. "Of course you can come. You're just writing. You can finish that later." @jenniferbrozek

5. "I'm sorry, but there's no way to recover your files from this hard drive." @EvanJGregory

6. "That's cool, but what do you really do?" @SteveHuff

7. "It's nice to have something to keep you busy while the kids are in school." @natashasinel

8. "I'd kill for a job as easy as yours." @vpeanuts

9. "I read your book... (silence)" @leahcstewart

10. "I could write a novel if only I had the time." @susanhillwriter

Tornado Warning

Life has been rather hectic for the past five days or so. On Thursday afternoon, the internet went out at work, and they were unable to get it up and going until four thirty today. That made life especially stressful and difficult for my coworkers and myself, as about half our work requires an internet connection.

On Friday morning I woke up with a truly hideous cold (that I'm still fighting) that required me to go home early and forced me to publish my Five Sentence Fiction a day late. It also set me a day behind in Camp NaNoWriMo. The weekend was spent trying to catch up on all my writing, my housework and my responsibilities to my two bunnies and my darling dog, Maddie.

I've been unable to tweet much or make use of social media, so I'm still rather behind on that, but I was at least able to catch up on all my work at the office (even though it required staying two extra hours today). To top it off? Severe thunderstorms and a tornado warning tonight. At least life isn't boring.

In conclusion, I'm exhausted. I've been trying to get back on top of my workload for almost a week now, and it was good to finally make some headway on at least the office front. I've appreciated your patience, and I assure you, I will be far more entertaining from here on out. (Just as soon as I can kick this damn cold!)

*One last fun tip for you, if you're ever plagued with terrible sinus congestion and sinus pain, Extra Spicy Clamato Juice is your best friend. Seriously. Warm it up in the microwave and drink it hot. You'll thank God. It's amazing.

Another Piece of Flash Fiction

Hello all!

I'm recovering nicely from my monstrous cold, and in celebration I thought I'd share with you a piece of flash fiction I wrote for the Wattpad Workshop Series, hosted by Alice Kuipers. This week's writing prompt was to imagine that you walk into a room you know well, only to discover a trap door hidden in the floor. Here's my attempt, I hope you enjoy it!

I suppose it was boredom more than anything that made me do it. 

The rain was pouring down outside for the fifth day in a row and my skin was crawling. The power had been out for over an hour and I'd run out of things to do, which I suppose is why I was cleaning my office.

I'd lit a single candle, its trembling flame casting shadows on the walls. The room had become a dumping ground for all the things I didn't want to deal with, and after five days of rain I was finally willing to give it a go. 

Part of me believes that it wasn't there before, that the rain and boredom and mess called it into being. However it got there, it was indeed there. I was pulling a dusty, old armchair across the floor when a leg caught the carpet and tore it, pulling it cleanly up and away from the floor. 

"Shit!" I fell to my knees, clutching the torn carpet in my hands.

Beneath the carpet, in the flickering light of the candle, something caught my eye. I lifted the carpet higher, wincing as it tore even more. It was a handle, a small, flat little handle that appeared to be attached to a trap door.

Curiosity piqued, I abandoned all hope of fixing the carpet and tore it back. I was right. It was a trap door. I lifted the handle, opening the lid with a loud creak.

A small, wooden staircase disappeared down into the darkness. I stood, considering it, even attempting to talk myself out of it, before I picked up the candle and carefully made my way down the stairs.

If I'd know I could never come back, I wonder if I still would have done it. But then, decisions are easier when you don't know the consequences.

There you have it! I hope you enjoyed it, I had fun writing it. I hope you've all had a great weekend, and as always, I encourage you to leave comments, questions and feedback below in the comments section. Feel free to follow this blog, as well as find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. Have a great night!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - A Day Late

I know, I'm late. Five Sentence Fiction Friday was yesterday, but it did not appear. Yesterday, I woke up with the worst cold I've had in a long time. I tried to be strong and go to work anyway, but I ended up having to go home early. I spent the night with hideous sinus pain, a headache, sore throat, congestion and joints that ached like fire. So, hopefully you understand why the thought of posting on my blog did not enter my drug addled head. I was mostly concerned with praying to God that He kill me quickly. But here it is, one day late. If you'd like to learn more, visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. This week's prompt is Faeries. I had a real tough time with this one, so please be kind. Enjoy!

I'd never believed in faeries before, let alone that I might be seduced by one, but time makes fools of us all. We met in the woods on the darkest night, when I was lost and he was searching. It's impossible to look upon a faery and not be ensnared by their beauty. I was caught in his trap, but I didn't mind. Not all faeries are good, you know. Some can be quite wicked. 

There we have it! I apologize again that this was a day late, but hopefully you understand why. As always I welcome your comments in the comments section. If you'd like to read the previous weeks' attempts, just follow the links below.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Medicine
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Lost
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Orange
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Silence
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Foggy

I'm not Stupid, Just Unobservant

Sometimes it takes a near death experiences to figure out what's really important to you. For example, a few weeks ago I was driving to work when I came across some train tracks. Now, I pass these train tracks every day, and lately, the red, blinking warning lights have been going off at random, blinking when the train is stopped or when there is no train at all. Just a couple of days before I'd sat at those lights for a full ten minutes, waiting for a train that never came.

So, on this particular morning, when I saw the lights flashing and the other drivers gliding over the tracks as though nothing were happening, I just did a quick cautionary pause before continuing. Now, this was a good idea. One can never be too careful, despite what everyone else is doing. However, it would have worked a lot better if I'd actually looked for the train, as opposed to taking a quick glance and driving on. As I crossed the tracks, I looked over, and there was the train lumbering towards me. I hit the gas and went over the tracks in record time, which was unnecessary, as it was moving at the speed of snail. I was several blocks away before it got to the place I'd crossed, but still, I couldn't help but picture the headlines if I'd died. I bet they'd have thought I tried to race the train, I realized. They would say I was an impatient idiot who thought she could beat the train, who couldn't bear to wait. How unfair! I wasn't impatient! I was just unobservant!

The whole way to work I berated myself for not paying more attention, angry that I'd almost wound up with an untrue euology. "Oh, if only she'd been a little more patient! Why did she think she could beat the train?" Ugh. Perish the thought. And that's when it hit me. I wasn't worried about nearly being hit by a train. I was worried that if I was, they wouldn't know why. I was more concerned with my reputation than my own life. Clearly, my priorities are a little messed up. Although on the bright side, now I always look both ways before crossing the train tracks. So there's that.

Summertime Blue Rhubarb Pie

First off, an apology. I know I was supposed to post yesterday, but by the time I remembered I was climbing into bed and was just too damn tired to climb back out. I was running around all weekend, trying to catch up on yard work on Saturday when there was a break from the rain, exercising my poor, bored doggie, cleaning my house, catching up on laundry and surprise: baking. I know, it's weird to hear me say that (or more correctly, it's weird to see me write that), but it's true.

During my frenzied fit of yardwork, I harvested my rhubarb plant. I should explain now that I hate rhubarb. When I moved into my house, the previous owner had planted one along my back fence, and I always forgot to dig it up before it took over that particular portion of my yard. This year, I'd planned to finally get rid of it, but an endless stream of rain caused it to grow gigantic before I got the opportunity to dig it up. I wasn't going to let this year stop me, but when I told my husband my plans to hack the plant to bits, he very sweetly asked if I could pretty please bake him a rhubarb pie. He was so cute, in fact, that I agreed. So, instead I found myself harvesting instead of destroying.

I'd never made a rhubarb pie before, so I turned to my old friend the internet for a solution. I know a lot of us love pinterest when it comes to finding great recipes, but my old stand by is Food TV. I always go to their website when I have a single ingredient and no idea what to do with it. I scrolled through the recipes, immediately turning away from strawberry rhubarb. I loved strawberries too much to throw them in a pie. Instead, I found a very simple and appealing recipe for Rhubarb and Blueberry Pie. After sending my husband out for the missing ingredients, the two of us got to work in the kitchen and made not one, not two but three pies. The result? Delicious.

I hate rhubarb, and I don't like blueberries very much either, but I LOVE this pie. It was so simple and it is so good. I highly suggest you all give it a try, although I should warn you, it's sweet not tart. That makes it a winner in my book (I hate tart, I won't use tart apples to make apple pie either), but I know some of you out there might find it too sweet. But so far, everyone I've shared it with has loved it as much as I have, so if you have a monstrous rhubarb plant mocking you from your yard, just follow the link below. Enjoy!

Summertime Blue Rhubarb Pie

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Medicine

Welcome one and all to another beautiful Friday! I hope everyone has smashing plans for this weekend, and the weather turns out lovely. To start you off on the right foot, here is this week's edition of Five Sentence Fiction! If you'd like to learn more about what it's all about and maybe give it a try yourself, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. This week's prompt is Medicine. Enjoy!

I held the glass above my head, examining the way the amber liquid glowed in the dim light. I took a deep, steadying breath and threw it down my throat, feeling it burn and sizzle all the way down. The effect was immediate, my bones breaking, my skin tearing, my entire body shifting and changing as I fell back into the dark abyss of my subconscious and disappeared.
Some medicines make you well. Mine releases the monsters.

I hope you enjoyed it, because I had a lot of fun writing this one. As always, I welcome all your thoughts, questions and comments below in the comments section (and greatly appreciate them!). Please feel free to follow this blog, or share this post with your friends. Don't forget to come find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. If you're still jonesing for Five Sentence Fiction just check out the links below. Have a great weekend everyone!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Lost
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Orange
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Silence
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Foggy

Bless You!

I don't know if this is just me or not, but have you noticed a pronounced decline in the frequency of 'bless you's in response to sneezing? I started noticing about a week ago, probably because my allergies were really bad. No one in my office said bless you. Once. And it wasn't just with me. The more I paid attention, the more I realized that no one was saying bless you to anyone.

Except me. I say bless you all the time. Even if someone is a multiple sneezer. Why? Because it's polite. I think it's a nice gesture. Not only are you acknowledging their existence, but you're throwing a free blessing their way. What's not to like?

What's extra strange is that the people I bless never return the favour. Despite their pleased expression of surprise and delight whenever I bless them, when I sneeze they don't reciprocate.They remain completely silent. At first, I was just mildly put off. But it's become rather creepy. No one but myself says it. I feel like I'm in some kind of body snatcher movie, where the only sign that someone's been taken is their inability to say 'bless you' when someone sneezes. Did I miss a meeting? Did every come to a general consensus that 'bless you' was outdated or no longer necessary? If so, I didn't get the memo.

Forbidden Love Blog Hop

There is a contest going on right now, called the Forbidden Love Blog Hop. Basically, you write a piece of flash fiction up to 300 words on two star crossed lovers and link to Lillie Mcferrin's website, Ruth Long's website or Janelle's website.  Here is my entry. I hope you like it!

 (picture from piccsy)

He'd never believed in love at first sight. It was a stupid, childish notion, a concept that occurred only in myths and legends told by bored old men. The only thing akin to love at first sight in the real world was lust, and he believed in lust. He'd seen it plain as day on the faces of beautiful, young women, flaunting their artistic forms, their beckoning curves, baiting him like fishermen with nets. 
Oh, and he'd partaken of their pleasures, absorbed in the sensations they could give him. But never did he feel anything outside the aching of his loins, the pleasure of his body. There was no tightening in his chest, no pull on his heart. He did not love any of them. 
By the time he was a young man, he'd grown quite disillusioned with love and the flirtations of young women. They'd given him all the sensation, all the experience, that they could. He pushed them aside like a book read too many times. He knew too well what he'd find on their pages. 
If he'd been a more contemplative man, he probably would have guessed that what happened next was his punishment for his dismissal of love. But those thoughts did not occur to him. All he knew was that he saw his true love, and lightning struck. Immediately enamored, he could not bear to turn his gaze away. No amount of cajoling or pleading by his family and friends could make them part. He grew sick and weary but would not leave, not until death came to claim him. Narcissus had finally found his true love, and it was his own reflection.
(Word Count 278)

I hope you liked it! Don't forget to visit Lillie McFerrin, Ruth Long and Janelle's websites (links at the top) and read everyone else's entry. I welcome all feedback in the comments section below. Have a great day and good luck to all the other entries!

Camp NaNoWriMo - Week One

As you probably know, I signed up for June's Camp NaNoWriMo. So far, it's been going really well. I've managed to hit my targets every day and I'm really impressed with how my story is progressing. As it turns out, going in with a story line already in mind is a lot more effective than winging it.

I think what I like best about NaNoWriMo is the motivation that being part of an online community gives you. Without that little word counter showing my progress for all the world to see, I'd have no reason to finish. I'd probably peter out after the first couple of weeks, if I made it there at all. But here I am, 15,000 words in after just nine short days. And it feels pretty good! I'm also a big fan of the weekly pep talk emails and message boards. I have yet to attend an actual, physical function, but I like the sense of community.

What are your writing goals for June? The summer can be the perfect time for catching up on your writing. The world is bursting with colour and inspiration, not to mention the enjoyment of basking in the outdoors with a notebook and pen. That's what this weekend is all about for me, the writing. I'm working hard on my novel for NaNoWriMo as well as a few other projects in between. The only thing getting neglected this weekend is my yard, but luckily the rain's taken care of that problem.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Lost

Wow, I'm so glad it's Friday. Work has been crazy busy lately, and Camp NaNoWriMo has got me beat! (still having fun though!) I've got to say, there's nothing like writing a 50,000 word novel in 30 days to really make you appreciate Five Sentence Fiction. If you'd like to find out more, or participate (which you should, cause it's a blast!), just check out Lillie McFerrin's website. This week's prompt is Lost, and as a special bonus, I've written not one but two Five Sentence Fiction stories for the occasion. So enjoy!

"It finds things, lost things," he told her, smiling at the way she stared.
It wasn't much to look at, just a beat up old ring with a turqoise stone, but she couldn't help picking it up and slipping it on her finger.
"You see? It's already found you."
She couldn't tell if he was joking or serious, so she just smiled as she fished out the cash from her wallet and handed it over.
It was a stupid purchase, she knew that, but she needed answers and she'd take all the help she could get in finding them.

And here's number two!

Not many people do it on purpose; get lost I mean. The connotations of it are too negative. But they don't know the liberation of it, of having no reason to choose a direction except your gut instinct. If they knew the doors it opened, the places I've seen when I had no idea where I was or which way I was going, they'd put on a blindfold and march into the wilderness right now.
Because it's only when you give up all sense of direction, all sense of control, that the true fun can begin.

Now get lost! (Just kidding!) But seriously, I hope you all have a terrific weekend, and if your taste for Five Sentence Fiction is not yet sated, just follow the links below. As always, I welcome your comments and feedback below in the comments section. Please feel free to follow this blog and come find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. Happy weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Orange
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Silence
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Foggy
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Sombrero
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Candy

Be Inspired Blog Hop

I've been tagged by Ruth Long of Bullish Ink in the Vicki Orians Be Inspired Blog Hop! Basically, it's all about writers talking about what inspires them and divulging a few tasty details about their works in progress.

The rules are as follows: 1) Answer the following ten questions about your work in progress and 2) Tag 5 other writers and link to their blogs so that we can all read their answers as well. Sounds simple enough, yes? Let's begin!

1) What is the title of your book? PROMISES TO KEEP

2) Where did the idea for the book come from? It actually came from a Your Story prompt in Writers Digest. The prompt was to write a 750 word story where you visit your childhood home and find that it's been condemned. I don't know why, but that small prompt triggered this story in a big way. It was like a lightning bolt. I wrote the 750 word story and submitted it, but I always knew there was so much more to tell. It didn't win, but continued to percolate under the surface for several months until I saw the link for Camp NaNoWriMo. I'd done it in November and loved it, what a perfect excuse to tell that story!

3) What genre would your book fall under? It's hard to label it at this point, but I'm going to say mainstream fiction.

4) Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? This is a really hard question because I don't really think about those things and I'm terrible with movie star names! I think I'd want to go with slightly more undiscovered people. I find the big names often take away from the story. You end up looking at the actor instead of the character they're playing. I know, I know, weak answer - but what can I say? You stumped me!

5) What is the one sentence synopsis of your book? A teenage girl is brought back from the afterlife to deal with a promise she made before her death.

6) Is your book published or represented? No.

7) How long did it take you to write? Don't know, still writing it! I decided to give it a go for the June Camp NaNoWriMo. I'm hoping to finish the rough (ROUGH) draft by the end of 'Camp' and then the editing begins!

8) What other books within your genre would you compare it to? That's a tough one! It's not as funny as TWENTIES GIRL by Sophie Kinsella, but the subject matter is similar.

9) Which authors inspired you to write this book? Just one. Alice Kuipers. As always I name my Wizard of Oz when it comes to my inspiration. She was the first person in the writing world to take me seriously, and she's always held me to a high standard. She's made me hold myself to a higher standard and I'll always appreciate that.

10) Tell us anything else that might pique our interest in your book. It's the story of a family that has lost their way and the eternal hope that they can bring it around again. The truth is there, sometimes it's just hidden in a clever place.

Now for the final piece of the puzzle. Here are my five tags:

1) Lindsey Fairleigh
2) Claudine Jaboro
3) Veronica Roth
4) Sopphey Vance
5) Rose Woods

200th Post!

Yes, as the title declares, this is my two hundredth post. I feel like I should do something special to mark the occasion, but what can I say? I've got nothing.

I will admit, that I feel rather proud. When I started this blog, I had no real clue what I was doing. I didn't know what it was about or who my target audience was. I didn't know a thing about content or social media or how to promote myself, and honestly, I'm still learning. I'm not an expert by any means (far from it!), and I still get stumped when I read articles and other blogs and see how effortlessly they bring it all together, how they seem to just know their way around HTML code and the like. I still haven't got the foggiest when it comes to all the technical jargon.

But I'm so happy I did it, and that I'm still doing it. And I'm so grateful that I have all of you, my beloved readers, to share the ride with. I love our conversations. Reading all your feedback brightens my day. You wouldn't believe how often I log on just to check and see if one of you has left a new comment for me. (Yes, you have become my angry birds). I hope I make all of you as happy as you make me, although I doubt that's possible. But as we continue down this road, I thought my two hundredth post was the perfect opportunity to let you all know how much I appreciate you. (And like I said, I've got nothing).

Camp NaNoWriMo

Some of my newer readers might not know this, but in November of last year I took part in the NaNoWriMo challenge... and failed. At least, according to them. My word counter showed that I was well over 50,000 words, but theirs however, did not. Which sadly, left me without a shiny badge of completion. Not that I'm complaining or anything...

Sorry, I'm getting a little ahead of myself. Allow me to explain. NaNoWriMo is short for National Novel Writing Month, which takes place in November. The challenge is to write a 50,000 word novel in just thirty days. And let me to tell you, it is quite the challenge. Especially for someone as concise as myself. But, I wanted to try it. I thought it would shake up my writing routine and challenge me to just free flow write. It sounded like a great opportunity to shut off my inner critic and write like a fiend for thirty days.

And it was! Despite the difficulty, I loved it! As it turns out, having an online display of my word count is a powerful motivator. There was something so utterly divine about logging on and updating that number. Ah, the delicious feeling of accomplishment. Of course, it's also incredibly high stress (especially if you already have a full time job). Did I always handle it like a champ? No. (Let's just say there was a lot of complaining. To my husband, my family, this blog and anyone else that would listen). But would I do it again? Absolutely! And guess what? I am!

That's right! I signed up for Camp NaNoWriMo! This is the first time they're doing it in the summer, and they're doing it in both June and August. So, if you can't make it this time, you can always do it in August. I'm so excited about this round. I think I really have a chance of completing it this time. For one thing, I have a much more solid plot idea. And now that I already know how much time and effort it entails, I'm more prepared than last time. And I swear, this time I will not complain nearly as much to you guys. I'll put it all on my husband, don't worry. (Honey, if you're reading this, I apologize profusely in advance for how bad it'll get near the end. You know what stress does to my mood).

So hopefully by the end of this month I'll have a completed rough draft of a novel, a shiny badge of honour from Camp NaNoWriMo and a husband that still loves me. (I kid! Don't worry honey, I won't get that bad... probably). What about the rest of you? Are there any other Camp NaNoWriMo contenders out there?

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Orange

Could it be Friday already? Indeed, it is! And you know what that means... it's Five Sentence Fiction Friday! That special day every week when I try to tell a story in only five sentences, based on a word prompt given on Lillie McFerrin Writes. (If you'd like to give it a try yourself, just click the link and find out what it's all about!) This week's prompt was actually based on a vote. Lillie gave five options and we all voted on the one we'd like to do. And the winner was.... orange. I'd voted for zombies, so I decided I'd combine the two. But officially, the prompt is orange. Enjoy!

The world seemed to blur around her into a giant haze of neon orange haz-mat suits and frantic bodies. The cacophony of screaming and shouting seemed to shrink to a dull roar, a barely audible buzzing. It was just her, her and the hoards of hungry, mindless dead. They staggered towards her in endless waves, arms reaching out, mouths hanging open in silent screams.
She lost herself, her terror, in the rhythm of her swinging ax, refusing to acknowledge the futility of her fight.

There we have it. An orange zombie prompt. Hopefully it starts your weekend off on the right start, perhaps you'll even take in a classic zombie flick. As always I welcome your comments below in the comments section. If you're still itching for more five sentence fiction, check out the links below to my previous attempts. Have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Silence
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Foggy
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Sombrero
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Candy
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Explosive
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Wicked
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Armor
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Tears