Sunday, February 3, 2013

WeWriWa 2-03-13

Welcome to my first post for Weekend Writing Warriors! It's a new Sunday blog hop, where you sign up at the WeWriWa site, post up to eight sentences from an original work of yours on your blog, then visit others from the sign-up list. There's a lot to love about a meme like this. You get to read snippets from a wide variety of genres, you get to interact a bit with the authors, and when you put your own sentences together, you really internalize the idea of being succinct.

For a few months I participated in Six Sentence Sunday. Weeks of wrestling with such tiny bits of my work-in-progress in order to say something meaningful but stay within the guidelines taught me something about recognizing the truly unnecessary parts. It's funny how you think you have to link thoughts and movements and dialogue together so precisely, but then when you cut stuff, let it sit for a bit then read it, you realize how much better it flows.

So on to my eight sentences. I'll be using excerpts from draft two of my novel-in-progress, tentatively titled Street Glass. My tagline: Underprivileged Latino 18-yr-old leaves street gang and befriends white, over-privileged musicians.

While some of the plot is subject to change (draft two is a pretty early draft, after all) the basic elements will stay, as will the character "voices". So these excerpts will still give you a good idea of how the plot plays out and what the characters are like.

This snippet comes from Chapter One, several paragraphs from the beginning. The year is 1986, in Los Angeles, California. I've skipped introducing the main character who goes by the street name of Razor. He's part of a street gang. The setting is a dingy room, the ceiling half open to the sky; two oil drums in the middle of the room used for burning branches and whatnot provide some heat and light. Razor is trying to follow the rule laid down by the gang's leader, Coyote: do not look at Coyote's girlfriend Trist, ever. However, it's hard not to look at somebody who's sauntering around a few feet in front of you. The excerpt is in Razor's point of view. 
He twisted his mouth into a grimace. The last couple of years, the only good thing about being under Coyote’s thumb was being near Trist. If only he could get her away from this rat hole, maybe out to San Diego, she’d see he wasn’t like Coyote. Nah, they’d have to get further away, like deep into Mexico.
Wouldn’t it kick ass if he could track down his relatives there and show up on their doorstep? Hey, this is my shot-caller’s ex. She’s with me now and we need a place to crash, for like maybe two or three years.

As her dark eyes met his, a shiver ran through him.

Hope you'll join me in hopping around to other WeWriWa blogs! Blog hops make me wonder what would have happened if the internet had been around when Lewis Carroll and J.R.R. Tolkien were writing :D

22 comments:

  1. I like the title for your book, it's really intriguing. Razor's voice comes across loud and clear. I like his attitude and his internal bravado. Great last sentence–it shows us how much he LIKES Trist.

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  2. Mexico? A shot-callers ex? I love it! Would love to read more!!!

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  3. Well, I'm hooked! Would love to read the finished product. May I make just one wee suggestion? You use "being" twice in the second sentence. Could it be changed to something like "The only good thing about being under Coyote's thumb was the nearness of Trist"?

    Just reading your sidebar and it seems we have much in common, besides the close proximity. Writing, rock music and hockey are three of my favourite things too! I was rooting for the Sabres in the playoffs last year, because of course, the Leafs sucked and didn't make it, (again). Cheers!

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    1. Debbie thanks so much for coming by! It's not clear yet, but everything in Razor's POV is simplified. His language skills are not up to the same level as you and I. I introduce a 2nd main character in chapter one whose POV sharply contrasts with Razor's in tone and language ability.

      Sooo excited to meet somebody else with so many shared interests! I think we're gonna be great friends :D

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    2. Thanks for the explanation, Marcia. Hope I wasn't being too presumptuous. I'm thrilled myself and agree that we could become great friends. Have a good week. Rock on! :-)

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    3. Not at all, Debbie. You brought up a valid point. If you're able to see more of my excerpts, you'll begin to get a handle on Razor's POV.Today's only the first snippet after all.

      Hugs, hon!

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  4. He likes to live dangerously. This is a nice begging for the book. Everyone will want to know whether or not he escapes and if she goes with him. You also made me wonder if his shot-caller (I like that.) will chase them.

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  5. I love the title! You have great emotion in this snippet. Look forward to seeing how the story develops

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  6. Hey Marcia!! I do like the premise very much, it's sort of classical, but with a nice little twist. Shot-caller, God, I do have to brush up on my gang lingo! Is that like a Tony Soprano type, chief or capo? I think the overall excerpt works really well as an introduction, giving background and a strong PoV in Razor. Wow, now that I think about it, that's really impressive what you've achieved with only 8 sentences.
    P.S. I think Carroll and Tolkien would have visited each other each Sunday, and looked at those snippets in person. :))

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  7. Danger and promise ahead when someone wants to leave his "uncomfort" zone. There's a forward motion to your writing. Good job.

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  8. Love the sarcasm, Marcia. Nicely done. :)

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  9. This snippet drips intrique and pending danger. Great job! Also, thanks for all the hard work you, Dana, and Teresa put into setting up WeWriWa. It was a brilliant idea!

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    1. Thanks so much. We love love love being part of a community like this. Writing is still pretty solitary, but the whole lifestyle is more connected and involved than ever. And that's a beautiful thing :)

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  10. I see bad things ahead but it's certainly intriguing and I was very involved with your character right away. Terrific excerpt!

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  11. Razor is going to be in so much trouble! Great 8.

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  12. Playing with fire, that boy. Lots of tension in this snippet. :D

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  13. You guys are so *awesome*. Sorry I'm so late responding; am taking care of my very elderly pet rabbit.

    I'm still making the rounds and will hit as many of your blogs as I can.

    I just love the challenge of saying something "hooky" in such a short excerpt. Definitely helps sharpen my skill!

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  14. That's terrific. He has a very sharp voice. Also he's so dead when Coyote notices! :)

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  15. Sounds like trouble for him. Interesting story. Great distinctive voice for your MC.

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  17. A great introduction to the probable conflict that will follow!

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  18. I love your voice. This is my first look at the story, but I'm already intrigued!

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