Saturday, December 7, 2013

Weekend Writing Warriors 12/8/13

Well, I'm down to occasional use of my sister's laptop and the funky useability of my iPad. More about that at the bottom.

I'm going to stick with excerpts from my NaNo story Night Shift for this month because I plan to develop it into a publishable novel. If I'd written those 51k words just for a writing exercise I wouldn't spend more time on it. Thanks to everybody who's left such encouraging comments all year; it does my heart good :D

In the near future I'll gather these excerpts together so you can more easily follow the story, but for now, Night Shift is a current-day supernatural good-vs-evil story centering on Devorah Moore, who's been recruited by Kazimir Barsukov to help restore the balance between the powers of Light and Dark. Kaz is a Crosser--a human who became a demon and now works from the inside, with the help of angels, to weaken the Dark.

Skipping ahead from the last excerpt, Kaz has asked Devorah to join the Crossers, giving some info about what she'd be expected to do as a demon. He's emphasized that being a Crosser means walking a thin line every day. Here, she gives her answer. Her father was the local police chief who was shot and killed.
"You're asking me to do something pretty impossible, but you know what finally decided me? My brother said he's taking the police entrance exam. One of these days he could be shot dead too--our mother would lose her only son, I'd lose my only brother, and his wife would be a widow." 
Kazimir dropped his gaze, adjusted his hoodie, and said, "I can understand that you don't want to leave your family." 

"I don't want to leave them, but this is bigger than me. Joe's willing to take the risk that he might have to sacrifice his life for the greater good. He said I've always inspired him, and now he's inspired me. I'll do it." My mouth felt dry and I closed my fingers around dying October grass.
Hope you guys are liking this story :) Please visit the Weekend Writing Warriors home page for links to more stories!

My laptop's motherboard has gone fooom! so I'm thinking about where to go from here. I'm unemployed and job searching, but it's tough world for that. But--because writers are among the very best people in the world, two of them have offered me older machines that they aren't using, are a little lacking but still work. This would get me through till I can afford something up to date. 

I'm finally lost for words. I'm overcome by the generosity of people who only know me through the 'net. So I will say the only thing I can, and hope that my deeply felt gratitude comes through: Thank You.

17 comments:

  1. A big commitment. I hope she knows what she's in for. I'm intrigued. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Karen! Well, there will be surprises of course, some pretty unpleasant. Because where's the fun for us if some of them are not unpleasant??

      Delete
  2. Thanks for sharing a little of the back story. Awesome premise, Marcia!

    I like the decision she made, and her reason for doing it. Your writing is-as always, very fluid. Nicely done!

    Writers are the most incredible group of people! :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL - I forgot to say that the characters are sitting in the grass, that's why that last line looks a little funny :D

      Writers are so awesome, I can't even express it. :D

      Delete
  3. Crosser! We all walk a fine line at times. Good eight!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love that she took a last feel of the dying grass, something grounding as she sets off into the unknown. I'm so looking forward to the next eight.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love the description of the grass as "dying October." Even in sunny Florida, it brings up images of mortality and juxtaposes well with her speech about the same concept and how it applies to her. Really lovely symbolism, and great eight!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Good writing - and good reasoning - about a critical moment of decision.

    ReplyDelete
  7. It's a decision she doesn't take lightly and I like the way that intensity comes through in this excerpt.

    ReplyDelete
  8. @Charmaine Gordon

    Yes indeed we do. Thanks, Charmaine.

    ReplyDelete
  9. @Millie Burns

    Great! I'm glad you like that part, Millie :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. @Nora Nix

    aw thanks Nora :) Coming from you that's a huge compliment!

    ReplyDelete
  11. @Sue Ann Bowling

    Wow, thanks so much! I really appreciate that :D

    ReplyDelete
  12. @Chelle Cordero

    Hi Chelle. She does take it seriously. Thanks for coming by.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Her motivation makes for an interesting twist---you've reversed a reaction that readers have learned to take for granted. Great job! :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. @Sarah W

    Thanks very much! I really appreciate that.

    ReplyDelete
  15. The ending is immensely powerful, it made me swallow hard. Very meaningful, in light of the things that are possibly about to happen next.. I'm really liking the snippets so far, and the even flow of your writing is a real treat.
    And I hope the whole laptop issue will be resolved - a big thank you to the awesome writers!! :)

    ReplyDelete