Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, where we share snips and bits of amazing tales by talented authors and writers. Each week, participants sign up HERE at wewriwa.com then post 8 to 10 sentences of their work, published or unpublished (we like it all) on their own blog to go live by 9:00 AM each Sunday. Then we visit each other and read and comment, critique, encourage--all those things that do a solitary writer's heart good.
Snippet Sunday group from facebook, not us, but many of our participants do both, is HERE
This snippet if from Emmily, Unbound, a contemporary romance with scifi elements. It's in First-person.
There could be wonky punctuation to keep within the #wewriwa
guidelines.
Emmily, the main character has lost pretty much everything in the last
twelve months. She and her dog, Murphy, are moving to an old hunting
camp her dad and mom willed to her.
This is chapter one. Last week's snippet ended with this: The
trees cast long shadows eastward, reminding me the day is growing late. I close
the windows to the deepening chill.
The snippet:
There’s
no radio reception here. If I remember right, I’ll get some up at the house, not
great, but better than none. I wonder if I’ll get any cellphone reception at
all. One
more bend, a sharp, “kiss-a-me-ass turn” as my dad used to say, and the lane
comes into view.
A flood of memories comes back as I look at the dilapidated sign, at the black paint flaking off the white background. I remember the day dad and I put it up: “Wagner Estate. Welcome, visitors from near and far.” The words are lost to weather and time, their shadows peel from the wood, but their meaning whispers in my memory.
A flood of memories comes back as I look at the dilapidated sign, at the black paint flaking off the white background. I remember the day dad and I put it up: “Wagner Estate. Welcome, visitors from near and far.” The words are lost to weather and time, their shadows peel from the wood, but their meaning whispers in my memory.
That
was my parents’ credo, especially dad’s. A stranger really was a friend he
didn’t know.
That's
it for this week. Thanks for visiting! I am
truly grateful for comments, suggestions, and for you taking the time
to read it.
This is beautifully written. My father passed away nine years ago. He wasn't quite as trusting as the narrator's father seems to have been, but he was much more sociable than I am.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it strange, the traits we pick up from our parents, and the things we don't? My dad was an extremely social person. My mom was pretty reserved, more of an observer than a participant. I lean toward my mom's behavior more, too. Thanks for visiting, Cie. :-)
DeleteI love the peek into her family! I wonder if she'll be as welcoming to strangers, whether they be aliens or from a government agency, as her father was. Great snippet!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jessica! I think she's deeply influenced by the way her parents were. Maybe when she should have run away screaming, she rationalized staying because...what would have her mom and dad done. :-)
DeleteI think visitors may be coming from farther away than anyone expected. ;)
ReplyDelete:-) I think you're onto something. Thanks, Fallon!
DeleteI think she maybe should be a little less welcoming than her father was--a woman alone in an isolated cabin in the woods...not a good time to have open arms, I think. This looks to be a great story!
ReplyDeleteYeah, she should be leery, and she actually is. I'll keep on excerpting, and it'll be obvious soon that it's not 100% willingness on her part. Thanks, Jenna! :-)
DeleteNice bit of foreshadowing there, and it makes me think the "visitor" might not be as menacing as the radio reports suggested.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Alexis. Most of them aren't. One is pretty rough on her, though. :-)
DeleteThe sign is a good place for foreshadowing - nicely done! Great details...enjoyed the snippet.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Veronica! I'd hoped the foreshadowing came though. :-)
DeleteLove the little backstory and the imagery of foreshadowing.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Karen! :-) Glad that's coming through...
DeleteWelcome strangers from near and far . . . as in from another planet?
ReplyDeletePerhaps. lol. They are roaming in from somewhere not local. Thanks Ed!
DeleteLove her dad's expression on the curve. The sign is cool. Nice job.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Diane! I ripped that expression directly from memories of my own dad. :-)
DeleteA stranger was really a friend he didn't know. A bit of foreshadowing, maybe?
ReplyDeletePerhaps...a lot more than a bit. :-) Thanks, Elaine!
DeleteI love the last line. Her father must have been an interesting guy.
ReplyDeleteHe must have been. She has a lot of dad and mom flashbacks. Thanks for visiting, Kate!
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