Robin Takes The Scenic Route

March Writing Challenges Week 4

3/27/2020

We've come to the final full week of challenge responses and I can't wait to share them with you. I'm almost ready to get started on my Camp Nano work, too. What are we waiting for? Let's dive in!

#1WordPromptChallenge Week 4: Days 20 - 26

Yes, you're right! There will be one more post of March challenge responses next Wednesday to cover the days which aren't included here. I hope you'll come back then to see how I finished out the month. Here are the past week's prompts and my answers to each:

Day 20 - Steady - I have several lines for you today from one of my favorite scenes. My MC has a trauma pertaining to darkness. And while the word 'steady' doesn't show up, the sentiment does.
Day 21 - Unstable - This portion of Surge happens in the scene just prior to yesterday's lines. I hope you'll enjoy the interaction between these two characters.
Day 22 - Disagree - These lines come from The Tale of Outh'n Durr. I hope you'll enjoy them. The photo of the tree line is the one I shared on the actual day. I didn't even open my computer on Saturday or Sunday. I just hung out with my family and worked on jigsaw puzzles. I've been walking with my mom on most mornings. It's good exercise for both of us since we're basically sedentary creatures. XD Some might diasgree with me, but I am totally enjoying the freedom of movement living in a rural area is giving my family right now. Rural life, for the win!
Day 23 - Approve - This snippet doesn't have the word 'approve' in it, but Edrea is asking the Serafin's opinion. That's sort of like seeking approval so I'm counting it. You can read it below. I've gone back to Surge to find this one.
Day 24 - Thrilling - This snippet follows one of the most thrilling moments of my MC's training and in it, we see how she feels about it. At least, I hope we see that...
Day 25 - Disenchanted - I had a hard time deciding on this one. Should I choose a character who's disenchanted with life in general? Or should I choose a moment where one character become disenchanted for a time? Check out the snippet below.
Day 26 - Baseball - Bet you never would've guessed but baseball does not make an appearance on Y'Dahnndrya. They do have sports, but those mostly work to hone their skills on the battlefield. Kashklav is a team event in which happens only once every five years at the Great Gathering. The best warriors from each clan compete with each other until only one team is left standing. Each person is armed with the weapon of their choice. They work hard not to kill anyone during the skirmish, but that doesn't mean deaths don't happen. If no one dies, the participants are considered exceptionally skillful. I haven't gotten any of the details down for this yet so this is as much as I can give you for now.
Love, however, does make an appearance in several forms (familial, friends, and life-mates). Since dating has been likened to a baseball game (which I actually hate, btw), I'm sharing this snippet about a couple of characters and the emotional struggle they are going through. I hope it comes across as it's meant to. Would be nice to have some feedback on these snippets if you feel so inclined. :)

Day 20 - Steady
Suddenly, the flower-lights flickered and closed up, shutting their light away. They stopped. As silence and darkness enveloped them, she whimpered. He reached for her shoulder to comfort her and she loosed a shriek that rivaled the karyna of Genzet. It ripped down the pathway and Kol snarled in pain.

Day 21 - Unstable
A sudden pricking in her soles recalled her attention to the task at hand but not before she slipped. Arms flailing, she uttered a strangled cry. Before it grew to a fully fledged scream, the Ammir snagged her arm within a crushing grip and hauled her roughly back onto the branch-path. She collapsed, gasping.
“Here is not the place for mind wandering,” Kol snapped.

Day 22 - Disagree
The guardian’s eyes snapped to his, flashing fire. “You dare to speak against your village council, youngling?”
“Only because it's the truth,” he shook his head sadly. “I've never been well liked in my village. But I’m no murderer."

Day 23 - Approve
“What do you think of my choice, Mi’yat?”
There was a long pause followed by a sigh. “She will either show Kol to be worthy of the Ammir position, or be his undoing.” The shiny black hair streaked with silver had been confined in several braided strands which swayed as the woman slowly shook her head.
“All will be well. You will see. In time, all things are well.”

Day 24 - Thrilling
“What was all that? Does that kind of thing happen often?”
“I’ve never witnessed such a thing during my time here.”
“Iteiki?”
“What?” He sounded disgruntled but she pressed on.
“Was that a draconisi?”
“Yes.”
The Serafin'an beamed. She couldn’t help it. She had dreamed of seeing the great sea beasts up close for so long.
“Why are you smiling this time?”
“I’ve always wanted to see one and now I have.”
“Are all M’Neshunnayans so fool-hardy?” He propped his frame against the open doorway and surveyed the land and sea under his protection.
“Not all.” She smirked but this time, instead of chiding her, his shoulders shook with a rumbling chuckle.

Day 25 - Disenchanted
“As you can clearly see, I’m just fine.”
She shook her head but didn’t reply to the obvious lie. She learned fast. He bared his teeth in a feral grin. “You disagree?”
“I…don’t know. I don’t know what to say, Outh’n.”
“It’s Zashi Durr for now, Serafin’an.”
“But what did I do wrong? I don’t understand.” She spoke quietly, but glassy eyes betrayed her inner turmoil. He was angry before but now he was incensed.
“Get out.”

Day 26 - Baseball
“Ya’el, you opened this door. Don’t slam it in my face. I’m trying to help you.”
“I know. But you’re also trying to hurt my friend.”
That stopped him cold. Her friend? Since when?
“So he’s your friend now? Do your friends in M’Neshunnaya cause you this much pain?”
“No, but he’s not M’Neshunnayan. And Shinnoahns have a strange way of communicating. Maybe that’s where I went wrong. Maybe I wasn’t sharp enough with him. Or maybe I needed to be more blunt?” Her brow wrinkled and she shook her head.
“Be blunt with me.” He growled. “What did he ask you?”
She hung her head and clasped her hands in her lap. “He asked what he had to do for me to consider him for a life-mate.”
Kol snorted in derision. She held up a hand and continued before he could say anything. “I told him I hadn’t even thought of such a thing.” She took a deep breath. “I lied to him. Maybe he saw through it.”
“Why did you lie?”
She shrugged, the picture of shame and dejection. “I don’t know.”

#30DayGratitudeChallenge Week 4 Days 20 - 26

Here were the prompts for the past week:

Day 20 - A holiday you love - Thanksgiving. I truly love thanksgiving because the focus is positive, rather than selfish or materialistic. My second favorite holiday is Independence Day, mainly because my dad's side of the family gathers for a big barbecue. We tell stories, sing, laugh and talk. Those so inclined can also swim, but that's not really my forte.
Day 21 - A technology - I love my Scrivener and Campfire Pro programs that help me keep track of my writing.
Day 22 - Something that made you laugh - My girls have been making me laugh non-stop for days, even before this quarantine madness started. Just listening to them being silly is a real pick-me-up.
Day 23 - Something nice - Signs of spring are always nice to me. My favorite season is autumn, but my second favorite is spring. When the pecan tree starts sending out its new leaves, you know spring is definitely here.
Day 24 - A book, magazine, or podcast - At the risk of being scoffed at, my Bible is the book I'm most grateful for. Everything I need to know about the best way to live my life is contained within the pages. Not only that, the Bible I had in high school carries memories inside as well. My friends jotted fun and funny things down on the inside cover paper and I love going back over those things and remembering.
Day 25 - Another person - Mr. Stacy Scott - He wasn't perfect. He made some mistakes. But he was one of my favorite teachers because he took the time to talk to me like I was a human being and not just some kid. He also reinforced my love of history and introduced me to some awesome new bands which I still enjoy listening to in the present. So thanks, Mr. Scott, for treating me like a human being whose thoughts were valuable.
Day 26 - Something in nature - Wildflowers - The wildflowers don't grow in Louisiana like they grow in the western part of Texas, but they do grow and they are lovely. I think, in some ways, the wildflowers in our area look more fragile than the ones we always saw in Texas. I only know what a few of them are called but wish I knew them all by name.

#SelfEditingProgress Week 4

I haven't been able to upload all of The Tale of Outh'n Durr to Wattpad. I'm still looking forward to reader feedback on what I was able to share. I hope by the end of April, I'll know where my story is dragging, where the action is spot-on, and where more information is desired. As to the last bit, though, that may be dependent on whether it will spoil something coming up in the novel it's intended to introduce...Surge.
I have been able to edit bits and pieces as I prepare the story snippets I've been sharing. It's a quick edit, but still equates to progress in my book.
So if you aren't too busy, would you consider giving those chapters posted at Wattpad a read-through and leaving some helpful feedback for me? I'd really appreciate it. :) Thanks in advance!

My eBook is On Sale for a Limited Time Only! Just $0.99 USD!

Maybe you've heard it already, but maybe you haven't. My ebook Ripples (Children of Y'Dahnndrya book 1) is on sale from now until April 30, 2020 for only $0.99 USD! For the first time, I'm running a sale on my book and I want to make sure my subscribers and blog readers have ample opportunity to get in on the deal. If you already own a copy, why not give one to a friend? Just click the book cover at the left, or click here to purchase from your favorite ebook store.
Hurry! The sale lasts only for a short time!

I'm so happy you came by the blog today. If you read all the way to this point, this cute cat gif is for you! Come back on Wednesday for a new round of bookish things and next Friday for more challenges accepted and met!