Author Journey: February 24, 2023 -
Welcome back, fellow writers and readers. It's a pleasure to have you with me on my scenic route today. I have a few things to share with you and much to be thankful for.
Author Journey:
This past week, I'm happy to say I've been writing a little bit every day, in spite of keeping busy. I've also felt more upbeat about my writing than I have in a long time. I'm counting this a win for certain.
I worked on some of my short stories this past week, but I'm going to go back to refining Surge so I can publish it soon after publishing The Tale of Outh'n Durr. I would like to see those get published close together.
When I originally started writing The Children of Y'Dahnndrya series, I intended to give it an over-arching theme which would culminate in some kind of epic struggle -- you know, good vs. evil. I've since realized that this will be something which has to be understood by the readers. There's this struggle going on, but it goes on every day. The fight against evil must continue and the warriors of good must stay vigilant.
So, the stories are loosely connected, but mostly because they focus on Y'Dahnndryans who have a specific calling. The most amazing thing about this realization is how it's freed my mind to get back to the writing with confidence in the end goal.
Writer's Life: Everything That Goes Around, Comes Around
Usually, one hears the above adage in relation to the actions of people. But in this case, I'm talking about things that circle around in life. Our life journeys won't always be like walking in a beautiful garden. Sometimes, they'll take a wrong turn, or the path we have to take will lead us through a dark, barren canyon with predators lurking around a bend and an occasional rock slide that keeps us hopping to stay alive.
I must confess last year seemed like it was overshadowed by gloom and doom. This year seems to be starting out much happier. Even through the dimness of last year, though, I felt the peace of God and knew that God had a purpose for the things we had to go through. I'm seeing the blessings of it now as I look back.
Spartacus is still thriving. He doesn't like it when we have to leave the house, but I doubt he'd be pleased to go with us to all the loud, people-y places we usually need to be when not at home. He's one happy cat, generally, and we really love him a lot.
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Just Keep Writing: Friday Fascicles
If this is your first time participating in this kind of writing exercise, you're in for a treat. If you've done this with me before, just keep scrolling for the prompt.
Rules:
- You can use any/all of the words and/or the photo in the prompt below to create a unique written work. Fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose, even lyrics are acceptable.
- Please keep the material you write clean (ie. nothing R-rated or worse) if you wish to share the link to your work here, as well as if you link back to my site. I strive to keep my site free of such things. My readers know and expect this. I respect your right to write whatever you feel you need to write. And you're free to use my prompts. But if your material is graphic, I'd rather not view it, and most of my readers will not wish to.
- Have fun! This type of exercise is perfect for growing in the writing craft, or for helping through a rough patch in your current WIP. If you're looking to push your author limits and you normally write in nonfiction prose, try a whimsical collection of lyrics. If you normally write poems about real life events, try your hand at a fanfic. Give yourself some room to explore.
Don't forget to leave a link to your creation (unless you're writing graphic material) so my readers and I can check out your work. I'd appreciate a link back to this post to help me reach more readers, but it's not required.
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| Photo by Kristina Snowasp |
Please take a moment to visit Kristina's gallery at Pexels.com. I had to scroll a while to find this particular picture. I think it's my favorite, with Monday's prompt background being my second favorite. These pictures make me want to visit the places shown in them.
Just Keep Writing: Growing Pains (Tentative Title)
Things to note:
- Remi - (REH mee)
- Imi’I - (ee MEE ee) mother in Genzet
- A’ada - (AH uh DAH) father in Genzet
- Ulu’U - (oo LOO oo) - daughter in Genzet
- Andurdrao - (ahn DOOR drow) where ‘u’ says the ‘oo’ of moon
- Tsimikin - (TSEE mee keen) - years
- Iteik’in - (ee TAKE een) - teachers
- Mt. Gil’d (GILL dn) Shrine - The most holy place of the Genzet Clan, where all younglings go for further education and military training.
- Ver’therrin - (vare THERE een) - the elite guard of Genzet, they are trained and housed at Mt. Gild’n Shrine. All students must serve several tsimikin in the Ver’therrin before continuing on to their apprenticeships, unless special permission is given by the Shrine Guardian.
Readers should also note this is a snapshot of one Y'Dahnndryan's life. It isn't meant to have complete closure, but rather to give a little insight into how life is for that character. My intent with this project was to get to know my book world better.
Remi huddled in the small grotto, pouting at her reflexion in the surface of the pool of water directly under the natural skylight. Her Tsifi’ra orange-red color was rich and warm. Her overall appearance was pleasant and her features, well-proportioned.
She’d even been careful about choosing the right kind of adornments at the tak’kobi. A simple, smooth hoop of pale gold adorned her right eyebrow. The crystal of black shot through with translucent clear and orange streaks marking her as part of the Carnelli family nestled snugly at the tip of her left ear. A pale golden stud which looked like a knot of fine cords brought attention to her pert nose. And three smooth golden studs of graduated size lined the top outer edge of her left eyebrow. Three matching studs decorated both ear lobes and a thick, engraved band of pale gold sat snug on the outside edge of her left ear, about a finger’s distance from her family piercing.
For many tsimikin, her parents had taught her the importance of appearance in winning the right life-mate. And now, it seemed, they wished to keep her from ever doing so. The clothes she chose were too revealing. Or they concealed too much. The colors were all wrong for her. Trends were too fleeting and classic styles were always to be chosen over those which would fade quickly. Thrifty living stretched the usefulness of coin, after all. Imi’I’s words flitted through her memories.
Remi threw up her hands in disgust and snorted. “Andurdrao, if you are there, if you do listen to our prayers,” she mumbled as she fingered her prayer bracelet which matched her family piercing, “what should I do? I can’t seem to locate the correct path. How can I walk it well if I can’t even find it?”
The silence grew as she waited for an answer. There was no audible voice and she hardly expected one. But she thought there might be a stirring in her spirit, something, anything, to point her in the right direction. Instead, all she felt was bitterness, resentment, and helplessness.
Taking a deep breath of the cool, damp air, she grimaced at the crisp tang of metal and the earthy scent of mazh, dirt, and still water. Remi needed to get back to her family home. There was to be a dusking meal shared with a few friends. Her parents wished her to join them.
Since she’d finished her training at Mt. Gild’n Shrine and her required service with the Ver’therrin, they’d been showing her off more and more. They were proud, of course, but Remi felt there was more behind their actions. She didn’t want to think they were trying to push her away from them into a strange man’s arms so quickly, but things were looking more and more like that.
For this meal, she’d been given a garment of deep gold which consisted of layer upon layer of sheer fabric, so many, the dress was not sheer at all. The top layer was embroidered with crystal-like geometric shapes. It wasn’t an ugly dress. It even fit her well. The problem was she had no choice in the matter.
How many tsimikin had she believed she would one dawning be making her own choices? How many lessons had been taught on the importance of making a wise decision after taking the time necessary to consider the possible results? Was it all for nothing? Remi didn’t know but she was going to get some answers. If not from her parents, then from anyone who had the time.
As she strolled home, reluctant to step back under the controlling hands of her parents, she pondered the possible reasons for their strict actions and reactions. Had she done something to worry them? She shook her head, and her thick braid swept across her back. She couldn’t think of any recent things she’d done that would worry them. Mayhap they were having financial trouble and needed her to make a good match for that reason. Remi sighed. She’d likely never know unless she asked them outright. Even then, they may choose not to answer her or to try to distract her. They might even give her a secondary reason, rather than the main one to keep her from worrying. It was all so frustrating.
As she turned down her street, she spotted a large group of well-dressed people, most of them a rich blue-violet, but there was a deep forest green female, a warm gold male, and a dark red-violet male among them. These were from noble families of high honor. And she was late. Imi’I was going to be so angry.
Remi was able to skirt around the group and enter her home through a side door. She almost made it all the way up the stairs, but imi’I’s low hiss halted her so fast she almost stumbled on the stairs. Gathering her wits quickly, she turned and murmured her rushed explanation. “Imi’I, please forgive me. I lost track of the time. If I don’t hurry, I’ll be very late to meet our guests. They’re only just down the street.”
Had she put enough urgency and regret into her tone? Remi held her breath, awaiting imi’I’s verdict. “You’re right. Hurry now! We’ll be in the main gathering room. Come and meet us when you’re dressed.”
Remi blinked, surprised to see her imi’I rush away to inform A’ada of their visitors’ imminent arrival. The corner of her lip twitched, urging her to just go ahead and smile, but she controlled herself. This wasn’t freedom. The reminder was necessary. Her performance had to be perfect.
She rushed into her room, calling for one of the maids to help her. A bath had been prepared for her and she quickly refreshed herself, making certain the smell of the grotto hadn’t permeated her hair. Thank goodness it hadn’t. Washing it in the time she had would’ve been practically impossible. When she was dry, and the maid had applied a light layer of cosmetics to her eyes and lips, she unwound her intricate braid and twisted up the sides into a collection of tiny coils and rosettes. Pale golden clips sparkling with tiny red gems held them in place.
Next, she donned the dress. It accented her curves without displaying everything for their visitors to see, though the neckline did plunge rather low for her liking. To offset that, she chose a pale gold mesh and mock-coin necklace. It covered most of the exposed skin. The last thing were the pale gold sandals whose hide-cloth strings wrapped around her legs up to her knees. The hem of the dress had been cut so that the sandals would be visible in the front but not from the back. A pale gold bangle the width of her hand surrounded each wrist and the space just above her elbow. There were no real sleeves on this dress, just a double layer of the sheer fabric which capped her shoulders like a criss-crossed cape and fluttered in the slightest breeze.
Finally she was dressed. Remi lifted up another awkward prayer to Andurdrao for strength and wisdom and the ability to ask the right questions and speak the correct answers before she left the safety of her room. Facing the unknown visitors wasn’t the main reason she was anxious. But the possibility of being joined to one of them in a life-mating without having known him beforehand was another matter. Yes, it was usual in Genzetti families, whether rich or poor. But she’d heard of other clans who allowed their people to find a mate based on how they felt about each other.
This was Genzet, though, the clan of tradition. And her parents were very proud of being part of the Genzetti tradition and holding to the old ways. While she saw some of the wisdom in parents having a say in the life-mating choice, she couldn’t understand why she wasn’t able to say no without them making her feel like the most horrible ulu’u which had ever been born.
Far sooner than she was ready, she reached the gathering room and heard the murmur of voices. Recalling to mind her studies with the iteik’in at Mt. Gild’n Shrine, she prepared herself for debate and serious conversation. Those studies in rhetoric would now come in handy for a reason other than the one she’d chosen it for. She wanted to help those who weren’t able to do as well in Genzet. So many of the poorer people weren’t able to reach their potential because they lacked the funds to do so. Some of them lacked the family ties needed to do the same. She wanted to change that.
Actually, this might be a great way to start, if she was careful about it. Taking a deep, fortifying breath, she grasped the ornate door-pull, raised the hoop and twisted the mechanism to allow her into the room. Thinking of her plan, she smiled genuinely at her parents, then at their guests. “My apologies for being so late. I was regrettably detained.”
Protocol demanded she stand near her parents until she was introduced formally to the guests. So she glided over to meet them. That particular way of walking had been hard to master, but as a Ver’therrin, it was necessary for walking silently. Not only would it show their guests her skill, but that she was a capable student and a proficient graduate.
A’ada placed both his hands, palms together, at his chest and beamed at her. She’d done well, at least by him. Imi’I might be another matter. But when she looked to her for a verdict, the woman only smiled softly and nodded at her. Her eyes were gentle. Remi released the tension that had built up in her shoulders and turned to face their guests, standing just behind her a’ada’s shoulder.
It would be a long dusking, but perhaps this opportunity was an answer to her prayers. Remi hoped it was so. Having made the decision to walk this path which had been revealed to her, she was determined to walk it well.
Thank you so much for stopping by today. I hope you enjoyed the time you spent here. While this story isn't one of my favorites, what did you think about it? What might make it better for you as a reader? What was something good about it? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below.
For the creatives, what did you think about today's prompt? Has it inspired you in some way? If so, keep coming back next week for more. Tell your friends, too.
Until next time,
Turn the page...
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