Wordsmith Wednesday: Teaser #7

The objective:
Show us a scene from your current project. It can be creepy, adventurous, romantic, etc. Just a snippet to let readers see what they're in for!


The guidelines:
 * Must be from a current work-in-progress (WIP). Nothing already published.
 * You may choose from any section of the manuscript, but be mindful not to include spoilers.
 * Keep it clean and YA audience friendly, please. No erotica.
 * Stay under 300 words or about one page. It can be as little as a few lines if you prefer. We just want to give readers a chance to see everyone's selection.
 * Link back to Chirenjenzie to enjoy others' work as well!

 A little taste of The Willows: Thorn, book 2 in The Willows series.

“My mother—” I began.

“Made a decision for herself,” Allie interrupted. “The family’s laws don’t always make sense, but they’re expected to be followed. Your mom was just stronger than the law. You should be proud of that.”

I smiled. Of course Allie would think that way.

“I love that she found Charlie and lived a short but happy life with him.” I sighed. “But…”

“But you wish things had been different?” Allie finished.

I laughed without humor. “I learned some time ago that wishing doesn’t change what is, or was, or will be. Wishing is futile.”

“That stinks really bad of bitterness, Ash.” Allie frowned. “Don’t let disappointment convince you that wishing is a hopeless pursuit.” 

What are YOU working on now? Happy writing!

Wordsmith Wednesday: Teaser #5

The objective:
Show us a scene from your current project. It can be creepy, adventurous, romantic, etc. Just a snippet to let readers see what they're in for!


The guidelines:
 * Must be from a current work-in-progress (WIP). Nothing already published.
 * You may choose from any section of the manuscript, but be mindful not to include spoilers.
 * Keep it clean and YA audience friendly, please. No erotica.
 * Stay under 300 words or about one page. It can be as little as a few lines if you prefer. We just want to give readers a chance to see everyone's selection.
 * Link back to Chirenjenzie to enjoy others' work as well!

Here's a scene from book two of The Willows series, Thorn.

"What a beautiful place," I marveled, peering around the most stunning garden I'd ever seen. Splashes of lavender and cream climbed a brick archway leading into yard encased by box hedges at least ten feet tall. A stream so clear it looked like glass laced around the edges, acting as a welcoming moat.

I skipped over the wooden bridge, pirouetting beneath a shower of delicate peach-colored petals falling from a nearby tree. My laughter dissolved till only a smile remained. I turned, reaching for Gabe, but came up empty.

"What are you doing?" I asked, looking between the entryway and him.

His brows settled low, his turquoise eyes stormy with conflict as he stared past me to the garden. His thoughts seemed a million miles away.

"Gabe?"

"Hmm?" His expression morphed into feigned disinterest.

"Aren't you coming?" I gestured toward the gate.

He hesitated a moment, his focus dazed as if he were lost in a memory. "Sure."

Gabe cast a furtive glance over his shoulder. He slid the bolt aside and pulled the gate back, motioning for me to lead the way. I passed through the archway, my fingers trailing across the aged brick, and entered an open courtyard. Yet another fountain adorned the entryway, only this was more than just a fountain. Water cascaded in a clear sheet, masking four marble beings behind a wall of liquid glass. The intricate carving left faces as beautiful and lifelike as the immortals they represented. A bubbling pool formed at the gray stone basin around their bare feet, the outer rim damp and darker than the rest. Rich moss grew from the chips and cracks, weaving pathways like tiny verdant fields. Somehow it felt almost alive, full of history and stories.

Wordsmith Wednesday: Teaser #4

The objective:
Show us a scene from your current project. It can be creepy, adventurous, romantic, etc. Just a snippet to let readers see what they're in for!


The guidelines:
 * Must be from a current work-in-progress (WIP). Nothing already published.
 * You may choose from any section of the manuscript, but be mindful not to include spoilers.
 * Keep it clean and YA audience friendly, please. No erotica.
 * Stay under 300 words or about one page. It can be as little as a few lines if you prefer. We just want to give readers a chance to see everyone's selection.
 * Link back to Chirenjenzie to enjoy others' work as well!

Another clip from The Willows: Thorn, book two in The Willows series! In this scene, Ashton is meeting a new character ... and one who really doesn't care for Ash's presence. I hope you enjoy this brief intro :)

A wave of mint smacked me in the face. At the same time, a curvy figure clad in white form-fitting satin slinked into view. Silky blonde hair cascaded around her shoulders, framing her oval face and high cheekbones. Icy blue pierced through me, raising goose bumps on my skin. Gabe shifted ever so slightly closer to me, his focus on the angel now standing an arm's length away. The woman’s pouty mouth turned up in a seductive smile as she drank him in. I had no idea if it was friendly or predatory, but possessiveness rolled off me in waves.

“Ruarc,” she drawled, using Gabe's birth name. “It's wonderful to see you again.”

He drew a tense breath. "Good evening, Linley."

"Lucan always believed you would return though I didn’t agree." She leaned forward and dropped a kiss on either side of Gabe's cheek, her hand lingering a little too long on his chest. "I’m happy to see for once I was mistaken." She peered up at him through long fluttering lashes.

I felt Gabe's posture stiffen at the same time as mine, and his hand wrapped around my wrist. I wanted to believe it was meant to be reassuring rather than what it actually was … him holding me back.

Wordsmith Wednesday: Teaser #3

The objective:
Show us a scene from your current project. It can be creepy, adventurous, romantic, etc. Just a snippet to let readers see what they're in for!


The guidelines:
 * Must be from a current work-in-progress (WIP). Nothing already published.
 * You may choose from any section of the manuscript, but be mindful not to include spoilers.
 * Keep it clean and YA audience friendly, please. No erotica.
 * Stay under 300 words or about one page. It can be as little as a few lines if you prefer. We just want to give readers a chance to see everyone's selection.
 * Link back to Chirenjenzie to enjoy others' work as well!



***Spoiler alert***

If you haven't read book one, there is a spoiler in this. Be forewarned!

Here's a clip from my upcoming project, The Willows: Thorn. It's book two in The Willows series.

Strange glowing torches lit the path on either side. I stared curiously at the green and blue flames that licked the insides of the glass orbs, intrigued by the color. Veins of water snaked around the outer edges of the pathway, slicing through the land in shallow ribbons. This place was as different from The Valley as the Dryads were from the Naiads themselves. Both were beautiful, but this forest somehow felt like home. I liked the wet mossy smell of everything and the way the moisture clung in the air like a blanket of water wrapped around me. It almost felt like swimming.  

A wide structure came into view through the line of trees ahead of us. The front glowed softly as hanging lanterns flickered and swayed in a gentle breeze, and the scent of lilac mingled with damp bark. Gray stone peered from behind a mantle of emerald ivy, the center point jutting out farther than the outer walls. A dark gate stood guard, baring its iron teeth at anything close enough to be a threat.

Let's hear your clip! Join the fun at Chirenjenzie :D

Happy writing!

 

Wordsmith Wednesday: Teaser #2

The objective:
Show us a scene from your current project. It can be creepy, adventurous, romantic, etc. Just a snippet to let readers see what they're in for!


The guidelines:
 * Must be from a current work-in-progress (WIP). Nothing already published.
 * You may choose from any section of the manuscript, but be mindful not to include spoilers.
 * Keep it clean and YA audience friendly, please. No erotica.
 * Stay under 300 words or about one page. It can be as little as a few lines if you prefer. We just want to give readers a chance to see everyone's selection.
 * Link back to Chirenjenzie to enjoy others' work as well!

This is the opening scene in one of my many WIPs. The title is still up in the air. Hope you enjoy :)

The hot summer sun beat against my fair skin, blistering along the part in my hair. Three imposing pyramids stood in front of me as dry desert air whipped my hair around my face.

“Memphis?” A voice said. I ignored it and concentrated on the sandy colored stone of the oversized triangles.

“Memphis!” The voice called again.

The briny scent of salt water filled my lungs. I sucked what air I could manage through the humidity and sighed. Again. Opening my eyes, I left Egypt and spied coastal South Carolina. A deep scowl etched in my expression as I slid my sunglasses on.

“Memphis, please.” Mom rolled up to a stoplight. “I thought we agreed that you were going to have a good attitude about this?”

“No, Mom.” I crossed my arms and propped my feet against the dashboard. “You agreed that I was going to have a good attitude. I never said anything like that. I don’t see why I have to be here. Why can’t I come with you and Dad? I barely know these people anymore.”

Mom sighed and rolled her warm brown eyes. “We’ve been over this, Em. The university won’t allow you to go, and you know everyone here just fine. Gram’s been so excited since she heard you were coming.”

“It’s not Gram. It’s everyone else,” I hinted, not wanting to think about the boy that made my visits a constant torture. “They drive me crazy!”

“Honey, I know Ian’s been tiresome in the past,” Mom soothed. “But it’s been almost five years since you last saw him. I’m sure he isn’t the same obnoxious twelve year-old he used to be.”

“I’m sure he is.” I scoffed. “Some boys never grow up.”

“If that’s true, I give you permission to slug him.” Mom winked.

“Yeah, right. You grounded me for a week the last time that happened.”

What are you working on this week? 

Happy reading. 

Wordsmith Wednesday: Teaser #1

Earlier today, I was looking for fun memes for writers, but I couldn't find exactly what I wanted. There are a number of things available, but I was looking for a fun, everyone participate, current WIP meme. No such luck. Hence, the newly born the Wordsmith Wednesday meme from Chirenjenzie :D

The objective: 

Show us a scene from your current project. It can be creepy, adventurous, romantic, etc. Just a snippet to let readers see what they're in for!


The guidelines:

 * Must be from a current work-in-progress (WIP). Nothing already published.
 * You may choose from any section of the manuscript, but be mindful not to include spoilers.
 * Keep it clean and YA audience friendly, please. No erotica.
 * Stay under 300 words or about one page. It can be as little as a few lines if you prefer. We just want to give readers a chance to see everyone's selection. 
 * Link back to Chirenjenzie to enjoy others' work as well!

Here is an excerpt from one of my more recent WIPs titled Tinheart.

I stared through the window as raindrops trailed in rivulets down the glass. A peal of thunder echoed across the sky, masking the professor's monotone voice. I sighed again, wishing I were anywhere else but physics class.

"Miss Harper?" Professor Whipple questioned, her tone rising. "Miss Harper!"

I straightened in my seat, my leg numb and tingling viciously against the soft leather. "Yes, ma'am?"

"Where is the steam sphere in relation to the energy orb?" she demanded.

I pursed my lips in thought and frantically searched my subconscious for the answer Whipple wanted. What was she droning on about today? Trajectory? Magnetism? Defeat settling in my stomach, I swallowed hard and offered up an answer. "Tw-twice the distance?"

Half the class snickered; the other half just shook their heads.

Heat prickle beneath the rigid laced collar of my uniform. Whipple stood, spindly hands on her hips, and stared back with unusually bright eyes. A coil chip flashed where there should've been pupils. I bit down on my tongue, knowing every second of my humiliation was being documented for all the committee to see. Stupid droids and their inconvenient technology. Why couldn't the school go back to using humans to teach?

"Miss Walker?" Whipple turned her head directly and focused on the leggy redhead sitting just to my left. "Can you tell me where the steam sphere in relation to the energy orb since Lawren clearly doesn't know?"

I scoffed. How was it a pile of rusty parts could use sarcasm?

 What's a scene from your current project? 

Happy writing.

Problematic Prose (Part III)

 Continuing with our Problematic Prose series, here we are with issue #3.

Sensuous vs. Sensual:
The word sensuous usually implies gratification of the senses for the sake of aesthetic pleasure. The word sensual usually describes gratification of the senses or physical appetites as an end in itself. (Dictionary.com)  

~ The sensuous curve of her mouth was accented by a smile.
~ The sensual tone of his voice caused her heart to race in anticipation.

Flaunt vs. Flout:
The word flaunt means to display or show off proudly. Whereas the term flout means to show contempt for, to defy, or to spurn.

~ The rebellious boy flaunted his ability to flout school rules.

Emigrate vs. Immigrate:
These are quite closely related. To emigrate your home country is to leave it. You then immigrate to another.

~ Dmitri emigrated Russia to immigrate to America.

Eminent vs. Imminent:
The word eminent means outstanding, noteworthy, or famous. The word imminent  means about to happen.

~ The arrival of the eminent actor was imminent.

Site vs. Cite:
The word site refers to a place. The word cite means to quote or make reference to.

~ Annabeth cited the mayor's speech at the site of the new memorial.


For more Problematic Prose click here for Part I and here for Part II.

Problematic Prose (Part II)

Today is part two of the Problematic Prose rounds!


Founder vs Flounder:
The word founder means to fall or sink down. The word flounder means to struggle clumsily and helplessly. Something that helps me: If a ship goes under, a diver might claim, "I found 'er!" Whereas a Flounder fish will flounder on the shore.

~ The ship foundered in the rough ocean.
~ The fish floundered in the sand.

Altar vs Alter:
The word altar means a shrine or place of worship. The word alter indicates a change in being.

~ The groom met his bride at the altar.
~ They vowed their undying love would not alter. (Not the best, but you get the picture ;)

Bated vs Baited:
Bated means to moderate or restrain. Baited indicates to hook or trap. Remember, if it has an "i" you use it to lure something/one in.

~ We baited out poles and waited with bated breath ;)

Lose vs Loose:
This is one we use on a daily basis yet is oftentimes hard to get right. The word lose means you can't find it or you didn't win. The word loose means you've released something or it isn't tight together.

~ If you lose your cash, you can't go shopping.
~ Because the the pens came loose from their package, they were 50% off.

Amount vs Number:
Another booger of an issue because these terms are often used interchangeably when they shouldn't be. Number refers to items which can be counted such as people, crayons, flying monkeys. The word amount means a measurable substance such as cough syrup or food coloring.

~ The amount of starch you add to the dinner is determined by the number of servings.

Principle vs Principal:
I still remember learning this in elementary school. Gotta love the good teachers who use mnemonics to help their kiddos! A principle is something that governs the way an item or person behaves or reacts; a law, truth or professed rule of action; standards. A principal is the man or woman who runs your school. My mnemonic device: Your princi-pal is your PAL. Easy, right?

~ The principal at Edgar Allan Poe Elementary was hired for his sound principles.

Did you miss Problematic Prose (Part I)? No worries! You can find it here.

Problematic Prose (Part I)

It's about the time again...though random and intermittent as it is. Wordsmith Wednesday!

Today I want to talk about the oftentimes problematic use of the following:
*continual/continuous
*disinterested/uninterested
*further/farther
*discrete/discreet
*hanged/hung.

Okay, here we go!

Continual vs Continuous:
The word continual means something happens on a regular basis, but not at all times. The word continuous indicates an occurrence without breaks.

~The continuous beat of my heart keeps me alive.
~A continual routine of exercise makes it beat longer.

Disinterested vs Uninterested:
Believe it or not, these two are not interchangeable. Disinterested indicates indifference. Whereas uninterested means you simply don't care.

~Because Jill is a disinterested editor, she can make corrections without being biased.
~Jill didn't want to edit the latest sci-fi because she was uninterested in the plot.

Further vs Farther:
This is one of those I have to think about each time I use it. The word farther indicates a physical distance. The term further refers to a length of time, degree, or anything else but time.

~The farther we traveled from home, the further I fell into sadness.

Discrete vs Discreet:
Ohh, tricksy ones these are! Confession: Until recently, I'd never considered there was a difference. Sad, I know. Anyway, discrete means separate or distinct. Discreet means private, prudent, or circumspect.

~Interesting characters, good pacing, and a unique story line are discrete factors in a great book.
~To avoid spoilers, one should be discreet in discussing the novel.

Hanged vs Hung:
This one is pretty easy. Things are hung. People (who are executed) are hanged.
~A rope was hung around his neck before he was hanged.

Wordsmith Wednesday: Who Needs Two Spell Rite?

Wordsmith Wednesday is a running series which features some our favorite things: Words! My wonderful friend Chi, AKA Elizabeth Isaacs, started this with the hope that writers and readers would take something useful away. I personally love it because I'm a nerd, but I struggle with certain things just like everyone else. It's nice for me to have a reminder.


Spelling--the order of the day.

Good spelling is imperative, yet more often than not, it's one of the most difficult things to nail down. Poor spelling, however, makes us seem less intelligent than we really are...or in my case, want to be perceived ;) Thankfully, on one hand, we have spell check on our computers and auto-correct on our phones. While I'm as guilty as the next person for a good deal of misspellings, I can't help but wonder if all the backup we get from technology isn't a bad thing. **Remember, just because spell-check didn't highlight something, doesn't make it right!

When I type, and Word auto-corrects my ignorance, I never see that I spelled it the wrong way to begin with. Since Word is so gracious as to allow me to skip over my idiocy, I'm going to address it myself with a few of the words I struggle to spell correctly.

Rhythym: Even now, I didn't spell it the correct way. It's actually r-h-y-t-h-m. I never get this one right, and I try so hard. I know there's a Y in there, but the placement always throws me.

Separate: Two A's, one E. I often see this spelled s-e-p-e-r-a-t-e because that's how we pronounce it. We can thank the funky and inconsistent English language for that one.

Succeed, Committed, Embarrass, Recommend: And ALL those random, two letter words. I know they're frustrating to learn. I hate not having my auto-correct crutch to lean on for the few occasions I have to hand write these. Believe me, I keep a dictionary around at all times for this reason.

Judgment: This one is just off for me. There should be two E's in my opinion, yet there aren't. Who gets to decide this stuff?

Guarantee and Restaurant: After rhythm, these two are the biggest thorns in my side. Something about that random U just knocks me off kilter. In my head, I've learned to say them like they're spelled. My head is a interesting, and oftentimes unintelligible, place to be. I do find that saying the words to yourself the way they sound helps.

Fact Monster has a nice Word Wise section with tips and saying to keep things straight. Tip #8 follows my whole, say-the-word-like-it-sounds idea. In this case though, you can say them out loud ;)

**Side note, certain words and their spellings vary by style guide and country. I just thought I'd throw that in there since spelling is so easy to begin with ;)

Wordsmith Wednesday: Am I Happy About This?

I love words. All words. Even the words I don't like, I do -- which is one of the reasons I became a writer. I also love the smell of bleach, but that's neither here nor there. Even as kid, I was the little introvert who sat in the corner, perusing the dictionary or medical journals, because knowing words like "miscreant" or "Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency" is as good as speaking Icelandic when you're eleven.

So, when my wonderful friend (and personal Yoda) Chi suggested a fun new meme, I jumped on board. And Wordsmith Wednesday was born. See here for more details.

Each Wednesday, we'll select a few words which are often misused or misunderstood. The power of words is a wonderful thing, but losing that power can be devastating when you're trying to get your point across. So, the whole idea behind Wordsmith Wednesday, is to allow people to share some of their favorite (or not-so-favorite) words and explain the differences in the way we see them or what they mean.

I'm as guilty as the next person when it comes to misapplying a meaning to a word, so I want to try and clarify my opinion. Here are a few I often see writers using interchangeably. While some may disagree, these are my thoughts.

Anxious
Anxious implies nervousness. While there may be a hint of excitement residing there, the primary emotion behind being anxious isn't a positive one. A doctor may have bad news to deliver to a family. She's experiencing dread at the thought of their reaction and having to be the one to share it. While she may want to simply get it over with, there's nothing good about her feelings.

Eager
Eager denotes a good mixture of nervousness and excitement. A new writer is expecting to hear back about a book deal. He is waiting on pins and needles, hopeful the response is a positive one, but hesitant that it might not be. Eager has the best of both worlds.

Excited
The definition of excited is: stirred emotionally; agitated. This is possibly the most wrongly used of them all, and I'm as guilty as the next. For me, excitement is simply that -- I'm happy to experience the thing I'm living through or expecting. There's no negative connotation at all. However, the dictionary would disagree with me. The original intent behind the word denotes having one's feathers ruffled, though honestly, I don't see anyone reworking this word to fit its archaic definition again any time soon.

Now you know, all three words have a similar tenor but each a different emotion. What are a few misused words you guys come across?