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?

Snazzy Snippets: who names a character Berk?

Alyssa @ The Devil Orders Takeout co-hosts this awesome link, Snazzy Snippets. It's always a lot of fun and it's been while since the last snippet post.

1. A snippet from page 16 

I forgot about page numbers for my WIP, the Oddball the Sequel.

It has page numbers now. . . .

           “Daron.” Berk growled. He adjusted his glasses again. “He is good at putting on a farce. He has. . . charm.” Berk rolled his eyes. “But I question his loyalty.”

           Oddball gave an I-don't-care shrug. “The master doesn't seem concerned.”

         “He does not know him as I do.” Berk’s glare darkened further. “He is. . .” Berk looked at the other scientists who paid them no attention. “Compromised.”

         And he was supposed to know what that means?

 Eh, I forgot there was even a guy named Berk in my WIP. Really though, his name has got to go. It reminds me of "This is Berk."

2. A snippet 16 words or less

"We detonate it."


So that probably means nothing to you since it's out of context. BUT basically, eventually. . .

source

3. A snippet about something NEW

 How about I just give you some of the "newest" most recent words I wrote? That's not cheating, right?

“Oh, uh, nothing.” Rocky gave them a huge fake grin. Was it just the lighting or did Rocky look paler? 

“Nothing?” Oddball said. “You were gone quite a time to have found only nothing.”

“Look I ran into, into. . .”

“Why are you acting weird?”

“I’m not acting weird!”

Skyler nodded. “You are too. What’s going on?”

“Look I promised not to tell, okay?”

“Tell what?” Skyler frowned.

“Hello! I promised not to! But I’m telling you that I’m not going to tell, and I’m telling you that anyways. So don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Rocky raised an eyebrow. “Got it?”

Oddball sighed. “All I got is a headache.”

___________________________________




I really can't figure what is going with the various sizes of the font. So I'm sorry if this post doesn't look, uh, right?

source

Have you done Snazzy Snippets? Do you ever forget your characters' names?

Starting Sparks // Snazzy Snippets // ALL THE ALLITERATION

I got a little excited about the alliteration, and I didn't even do it on purpose. But, guys,

ALLITERATION!

Anyhow. First off, I shall do my own link up, which I co-host with the grand wordsmith Emily @ Ink, Inc. (You notice she changed the title? You should check it out!). It happens to be titled Starting Sparks. (If you want to join, it's open until the end of the month.)

Maybe that sounds impolite, me doing my link up first. But I have to fulfill my duty before I can have fun with other people's link ups.

source

I'm just going to say it. I totally went pirate and broke the rules. I mean, sort of. The rules are pretty loose. Guidelines, mostly.

source

This is just a snippet and it mentions nothing about humanity. But you can find the prompt in the theme. Zone in on the theme. 

Bah! What am I talking about? Just pretend it works, okay?

In other news, this is fresh off the first draft, so lucky you!

Daron sounded defeated. “You can’t free you from the system, Chance. I’ve tried. It only destroys you and everyone you love. The only way to be rid of it is,” Daron lifted his head, “To destroy it back.”

Oddball couldn’t believe he was hearing this form Daron. He saw his own hand lay gently on the enraged man’s shoulder. He heard his own voice filter through the shock. “Then where does the destruction stop?”

Daron turned on him with wild eyes. Eyes that Oddball had seen before. In Blazer. You can’t reason with a madman. 

“Don’t you get it?” Daron seethed. “It doesn’t stop. There is no end.” He hit a red button on the panel.

I know it's terrible. *hides face* I'll fix it later.

Okay, now for Snazzy Snippets which Alyssa @ The Devil Orders Takeout happens to co-host. She's pretty epic. You need to follow her. If you want to join her link, again, you also have until the end of this month. (So, hey! A double link up?!)

This is challenging. The first snippet is one without dialogue. I look at my WIP and those places are few and far between. This Rocky's POV.

Peril was not there. Ah. That’s what was missing from the silence. Someone to scare it off into it’s proper place and ask the most crazy of questions and jump around like it wasn’t the time of night most people slept through.

Ignore the run-on sentence. It's not there. (It's killing me!)

Now for a snippet with a friend/family member. Oddball the Sequel actually features Rocky's elusive brother, so here's part of their reunion.

Callor took a quick step- spin, and his foot sailed for Rocky’s head. Rocky leaped back. 

“Bold opening,” Rocky commented. Both of them had their hands down again.

“I figured you wouldn’t see it coming.” Callor shrugged like this was some old past time chat they always engaged in. 

It was actually. 

Callor stepped closer again. Rocky stood his ground. 

“It’s your move, little bro.” 

“I’m not your bro,” Rocky said. 

“Look at us!” Callor almost laughed. “There’s no denying it.”

“Looks aren’t all there is to brotherhood.”

“Don’t be-“ 

Rocky punched him in the mouth. 

Callor licked the blood from his lip. “Really?”

“You were looking.” Now Rocky shrugged.

*cringes* Yes, it needs work. Please at least understand the bravery on my part. I just wrote this today. And it suuucks.

Ashley, stop whining.

*sniffles* Fine. Tear my heart out and give them the last one.

The final one is a snippet that took for ages to write. I could basically choose from anything from the past couple of days, because writing as been the equivalent of pulling teeth. But this particular scene I had to take frequent time outs that were lasted. . . days. I have no idea what I am doing here. What is writing? Gee, what is existence?!

“But she lied,” Oddball said it as if it was the ultimate sin and Peril was ready to believe he was right.

.  .  .  .

Peril snorted. “Oddball doesn’t care if I’m breathing.”

“Don’t say that!” Skyler said. “He cares more than anyone. Why do you think he got so angry?”