Writing / Life Update // snippets if you can stand in line and behave

First, if you have not yet, I INISIST that you take this survey that I made for you about the blog. It's fun. . . or I hope it is. 

So, guess it?!

I finished writing the first draft of Oddball the Sequel!

Great huh?

So the plan now is to:

1) Edit Oddball the First.

2) I'm really glad that I wrote the First and the Sequel rough drafts before editing. Looking at the scenes and plot structure of each, some scenes are going to, eh, swap manuscripts.

"How does that even happen, Ashley?"

I. . . don't know.

It's a long story, literally.
 
3) I kind of wrote sporadically during the summer. Then one weekend I realized, "I am on the homestretch in the Sequel. What am I doing? THERE'S WORK TO BE DONE!" So I took a  three day weekend to just write.



[aka: me writing like a fiend]

4) While in the midst of writing the most poignant part, one of my family came to ask me a question. A question which I had been expecting. So I answered with the basic yes or no and politely asked them to leave.

But they thought it was a good idea to hang around and be irksome. Which in reality was a monstrously stupid idea.

 Word of Advice:
Never disturb a creative who is on The Brink.


 

So I asked them again to leave, as kindly as writerly possible to someone who has been warned.

They didn't get it.

So I had to be mean and say, "THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT! Now please, you need to leave. No. Not now. PLEASE GO AWAY!"

They finally left, a bit miffed at the way they'd been treated.

But I did ask nicely the first couple of times. If they refuse to listen when I'm nice, what's a person to do?

5) I'm mildly reconsidering my genre choice. 

Genres are the epitome of confusing. I thought I was writing a fantasy. Because DRAGONS!


 


But there is no magic in the Oddball trilogy. I have read fantasies without magic. Yet those fantasies did not have a suspicious amount of made-up science thrown in.

*hint*
There's a suspicious amount of science [that I, well, made up] in the Oddball trilogy. I didn't plan it, it just, it. . .

But maybe that makes sense. Since there's not magic, you see? The science replaces the magic. Like in Ever After. Ah, epiphany! Oddball is like Ever After. Not really. [Love that movie!]

6) Sooooo, the question is should the Oddball the trilogy be typed as fantasy, sci-fi, or both?

6) Actually, the real question is when do we make the Oxford comma law, hm?

7) I am currently ignoring my genre crisis in hopes that it will either go away, fix itself, or isn't all that big of a deal anyhow.

7) On the other hand, I am obviously enforcing the Oxford comma, despite forming nonparallel sentences.

8) In life-ish news, I was waiting in line for a concert. We were outside for about an hour anticipating the doors to open. This grown man behind us says, "I'm surprised they don't have someone out here directing us."

Really? You want to know what surprises me?

That society has come to the point wherein adults expect someone to tell them how to stand in a line and behave themselves. What is this?! KINDERGARTEN?

9) Also, HUZZAH! I finally downloaded Microsoft Word. Back in April, my computer had a virus and ate Word. I told myself that I would purchase it after I finished the first draft of the Sequel, as a reward.

"But, Ashley, wouldn't it help to have Word when writing the Sequel?"

Quiet, Logic. I didn't ask you.

So lookie here! I have finished and now I have my precious Word again.

 And I am never making such a stupid deal with myself again. I remember why I type. The hand cramps, guys!

"I told you so, thick-head!"

 Stuff it, Logic!

10) Oh, and I have a super secret writing project happening.*evil laughter*

11) Okay, so it wasn't supposed to be super secret. It started out as a short story but it exploded into more. And then I forgot to tell anyone about it.


 
[This is now my excuse for. . . everything, essentially.]

 But I've noticed that I've been writing it more diligently and I wonder if that's because I haven't told anyone the details yet? So yeah, it will be finished soon and I will tell all.

Thankfully, it's not quite as complicated as Oddball's plot. With the smallish exception of a blackhole-sized plot hole. . .

12) More life-ish news, I am going to transfer to uni in Florida. I'll be living with family. I leave the second week of August. *bites nails* I'm nervous about making friends (maybe this is kindergarten. . .). I'm not very good at making friends. I don't really, uh, talk. Or anything. So I am kind of afraid of not making friends. It's stupid, but true.

You never know, maybe Friendship Cinnamon Rolls is a thing in Florida.


14) My dad recently showed me how to change a tire. So you know, not to brag but--

I can do everything now.

[Believe what you will.]

14) So now that you've suffered through this long post and behaved yourself [good little dragons]:

HAVE SOME SNIPPETS!
 [I inserted helpful tips when necessary.]
_____

 "Sky's talking to the driver," he said.

 Rocky blinked. "By herself?"

"Uh, yes?"

"Skyler is. . . talking. To strangers, by herself."

"Didn't we just go through this?" Oddball raised an eyebrow.

"Wow. I can't believe it." Rocky grinned. "I'm so proud. You know how long I've been trying to get her to--"

"Yeah." Oddball was unfazed. "She's really angry with you still."

Oh, right. He'd forgotten about that. 

_____

"Sometimes it's advantageous to play the monster they think you are."

"I have never found that to be true."

_____

"Don't make any trouble until I get there."

_____

"When is it ever safe?"

Safe didn't exist.

_____

"I'm your friend, Lucky Peril, and there's nothing you can do to keep me from following you to death if I must." Skyler snuffled and wiped her eyes on her shoulder.

"Okay."

"You need friends, Peril."

"Okay."

 Skyler swatted her arm. "Don't okay me! I mean it."

"Okay!"

They laughed the laughter of people who had no reason to laugh but no better alternative.

_____

Instead he wrapped his arms around her and she pressed her face against him. This was what it was like to have a sister. He'd always wanted a sister. To boss him around and argue with. To comfort when the rain poured and the thunder was scary and when mom and dad didn't return. 

_____

[Skyler said,] "Look, Peril is the more. . . lucid of the two and she needs you, okay?"

Oddball huffed. "Me? She talks to you, not me. She won't even look at me."

Peril thrashed in her sleep and rolled over. Their conversation returned in hushed whispers.

"She thinks you're angry."

"I am!"

Skyler glared at him.

"But just a little."

_____

[Peril's POV]

 His back had been to her and now he seemed startled to see her standing.

Please don't come over here. Please don't notice her. Don't look at her.

Please smile.

"Um." He closed his sketchbook and stood. He looked around as if he'd find his thoughts. "Um."

She should probably say something to make him feel less awkward. But he was always awkward. It was nearly natural. It made her smile. Was it awful to smile because he was standing there stammering?

_____

"So we all got out alive."

"Mostly."

"Mostly?"

"Well, you were half dead."

_____

Rocky really wished he knew what was going on. He also really wanted a nap.

_____

[wherein the characters' names are Nobody and Esin Trik]

"Look!" Nobody held out a paper. "Mr. Trik is teaching me how to make maps."

"Oh, Mr. Trik is it?" Oddball looked at Esin.

"Yeah, I'm also teaching the kid respect. That's where I went wrong with you."

_____

Her lips were moving but he felt like he was in a fog. Not that a fog affected one's hearing, but if it could, that's what he felt like.

[Sometimes I poke fun at my metaphors.]

_____

How many times had his head been hit today?

[Aka: Oddball's internal monologue grumbling at me because he'd been knocked unconscious three times that day. Sorry!]

_____

So what's new with you?