HAPPY FRIDAY, SHINY FLASHY PEOPLE!
Today's judge is SECOND TIME winner REBEKAH POSTUPAK! Congratulations on winning Flash Factory Friday a second time!! Awesome!
Today's judge is SECOND TIME winner REBEKAH POSTUPAK! Congratulations on winning Flash Factory Friday a second time!! Awesome!
Since Rebekah has already answered the "getting to know the judge" questions I provide to each judge, I had to come up with some new questions. So these are now officially the "2nd time winner" questions:
1.) If you could save the life of any one fictional character who would it be and why? (Stolen from Feaky Snucker's contribution to Janet Reid's Pay It Forward contest.)
I’m not sure I would save the life of any literary character, as from the deepest tragedies tend to rise the greatest beauty and triumph. But I’d like to kill off a few, please, starting with Caderousse/Danglars/Fernand (xoxo Edmond!), and possibly the evil witch from Hansel & Gretel (after I get her recipes, obviously).
2.) Is there one book from your childhood that sticks out more than the others? Why?
My dad read to us all the time, especially during rainy season when the heavy monsoon rains kept us indoors for days at a time. The Bible was our mainstay—“the greatest story ever told,” as they say—and close on its heels were rich fantasies like Lord of the Rings, the Narnia chronicles, and Arabian Nights. I think the world of story would improve monumentally if more writers incorporated phrases like “O my father, and O the delight of my eyes.”
3.) What is your favorite thing to write about in your manuscripts? Fight scenes? Love scenes? Dialogue? Etc. Why?
Dialogue. Dialogue doesn’t get any better than the brilliant repartee of the old 1940s movies, and any verbal exchange between my characters is nearly always an attempt to match that level of layered wit.
4.) What has been your biggest regret in your writing journey thus far?
The years I spent doing things other than writing! I’m doing my best to make up for it by writing feverishly now. The flash circuit provides the perfect opportunity and inspiration to wake that part of my brain back up, and I’m so grateful.
FLASH FACTORY FRIDAY #8
6/15/12
Rebekah's 3 Word PROMPT:
saccharine, asphalt, simple
*YOU MUST USE ALL THREE WORDS*
Ready ... set ... FLASH!
To Review:
PROMPT (varies each week)
50 word minimum / 350 word limit
24 hours
GO!
*Remember, post your entry right here in the comments, please! Don't forget word count and Twitter handle! (Or another way for me to reach the winner!)
Don’t Cry Over Spilled Coffee.
ReplyDeleteThe typical muggy Atlanta heat slapped me in the face when I exited the over air-conditioned coffee shop. Taking a long sip from my iced latte, I cringed at the saccharine sweet flavor assaulting my tongue. I glanced at the cup, only now realizing that I’d grabbed someone named Diego’s.
Shit.
Spinning around, I ran into a broad chest that sent me flopping down onto the scorching hot asphalt. I jumped up, leaving the spilled drink on the ground.
“I’m sorry,” I muttered, finally looking up at the handsome man frowning down at me, wearing a soggy, coffee stained shirt.
This just wasn’t my day.
I scanned around for something to mop up the mess, but could only shrug and offer to buy him a new drink.
“Well since you snagged my first one, I imagine it’s the least you can do.” He smirked, tugging open the door to usher us both back inside.
Following along behind him, I was mortified at how quickly I’d managed to embarrass myself in front of such a strikingly good looking man. Granted, now that I thought about it, his shirt had clung to his muscular frame in a rather appealing way. Shaking away the thought, I apologized again, stepping up to the counter to reorder our drinks.
Waving me off, he replied, “Simple mistake. You can make it up to me by agreeing to go out to dinner with me instead though.”
Peering over my shoulder, I examined Diego’s dark brown eyes, long lashes, and tanned skin and figured, why not? Perhaps my day was looking up after all.
WC: 266
@michelawalters
I was challenged by this week's judge. Well played, Rebekah, well played. I accept.
ReplyDeleteNOTE: This entry does NOT count.
The newspaper had said he preyed on simple girls. Girls who kept to themselves.
The headlines flashed through her mind, and she tried not to laugh out loud as she skidded to a stop on the pavement, her skin burning with every inch of the movement. A sense of calmness filled her as heated rage travelled through her veins. She’d been waiting for a reason, an excuse, to finally hunt the hunter. Becoming the hunted had all been a part of the plan.
He’d walked right into it.
She slowly assessed her body, curling her fingers and stretching each muscle carefully as if doing some sort of injury roll call. She did this with very little movement, not wanting to give anything away. The taste of blood in her mouth was sickly, almost saccharine in flavor. She could feel the asphalt imbedded in her cheek.
That’ll leave a mark, she thought bitterly.
She ran her tongue over her teeth, assessing their state – none seemed to be missing. A small blessing. She spat pieces of the road out of her mouth, surrounded in a thick red glob of blood and saliva.
She braced herself, preparing to jump up as soon as he came near her again. She heard his footsteps as he came back around. Closer … closer … she thought. Now!
She jumped up with lightning speed, startling her attacker before he could get in another blow.
With a bloody grin and a wink of her ice-blue eyes, she kicked out one silver-tipped stiletto heel and stabbed her attacker in the jugular. His howl rang through the night as he shifted back to human form before her eyes.
Simple girl, my ass, she thought as she spit out another mouthful of gravel and blood. As she turned to leave, she heard the rest of them approaching. Turning back around, she braced herself for the attack.
The rest of the pack encircled her, jowls dripping, and eyes narrowed.
Fuck it, she thought with a shrug. One down …
Obviously, this entry doesn't count, but I'm not one to step away from a challenge. Especially if writing is involved. ;-)
337 words.
Word count: 348
ReplyDeleteTwitter: @Anyechka
Arcadia was used to seeing asphalt on the roads and in parking lots. Whatever this natural substitute was, she thought it looked out of place.
“Don’t you people have anything normal in this stupid space colony?” she grumbled as she kicked at a pebble.
“This is normal,” Meredith said. “It’s you who comes from a place where everything is abnormal.”
“I don’t know how you people live back on Earth,” Sara agreed. “I like the simple life we have here. You ought to be embarrassed that you don’t even know how to cook a simple meal. Meredith and I are two years younger than you, and we know how to make basic stuff.”
“I bet the most advanced meal preparation you know how to do is add some saccharine to a cup of tea.”
“Do you even know what natural, fresh food tastes like?” Sara held out one of her bug lollipops.
“I don’t care about natural food! It can’t taste as good as normal Earth food. And for your information, I don’t care that I don’t know how to cook. Why would I want to cook when I just have to push a button and give orders to a machine?”
Meredith smirked. “You’d better get used to it, since our house has a lot less artificial intelligence than your old house.”
Arcadia kicked at another pebble. “Aren’t there any buses or something we can take to this stupid lookout point you wanted to show me? If we can’t just teleport, we could at least take a vehicle instead of walking. Walking is so two thousand years ago.”
“You’re a horrible ambassador for Earth,” Sara said. “We’ve only known you for a few days, and already you’re making all Earthlings look lazy, selfish, vapid, and stupid. You don’t even want to consider an alternate way to live.”
“So, can we see my home planet from this lookout?”
“Only Jupiter. We’re not close enough to Earth to see it without a telescope, and you know it.”
Arcadia stuffed her hands in her pockets and continued walking in silence.
Word Count: 342
ReplyDeleteTwitter: @lissajean7
“It’s simple, really, you just have to--”
“Don’t patronize me!”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean--”
“Stop! Just stop. I don’t need some saccharine apology that--”
“Now that’s not fair! Not everyone who apologizes is lying! Just because--”
“Don’t. Don’t even say it. Don’t bring him up.”
“You brought him into the conversation first.”
“I did not! I don’t ever want to talk about him again!”
“Then stop comparing me with him and assuming his intentions behind my words! He didn’t just kick you to the curb, he rubbed your face in the asphalt and scattered your stuff in the street. I get that. Well, no, I really don’t, but this is never going to work if you can’t learn to trust me that I don’t have your worst in mind every time I open my mouth. God, Sylvia, I’m walking on eggshells here and I’m breaking them at every step and they’re cutting my feet…I don’t know if I want to keep walking. You are smart and funny and beautiful. We have the same favorite book and you have the best serve I’ve ever seen not on tv, but…I don’t know if you’re ready for this.”
“Billy, please…just…just give me time. You’re right. I’m damaged goods, but--”
“You’re not damaged, Syl, you’re hurting. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Don’t let him do that to you. You’re free now. Just keep moving forward one step at a time.”
“But you don’t want to walk with me anymore!”
“No! I didn’t mean it like that. I just…Maybe making it official was a little too soon. I’m your friend. I’m not going anywhere. I’m not giving up on you. You’re worth it. Believe it.”
“Thank you. You’re so good to me. I’m sorry. I’d like to – Can we keep trying? I can’t promise I’ll be better, but maybe with your help--”
“Sure, Sweetie, I didn’t want to end it. I just want what’s best for you.”
“You’re best for me…. Now, about this toilet…”
“The plunger’s just off…”
Sorry I missed this. :( I didn't know you had a #flashfiction challenge. I'll definitely check it out next week. :)
ReplyDeleteHey Jessa,
ReplyDeleteJust heard about this challenge through the Twitter grapevine. Sorry to have missed out. I'll be checking it out next week, though.
Cara
PS - You should try some Tweet 'invites' to spread the word. :)