Writing Prompt Challenge Accepted #8

Posted in Posts, Writing Prompt by Rachael C Marek

When I shared this image, redgypsophila of Adventures in Writing decided to do something different and challenge herself by writing multiple pieces from the one image, conveying a different mood in each; 1. Contentment, 2. Isolation, 3. Betrayal, 4. Terror, and 5. Wonder. For her final piece, entitled Mood #6: Editing, she joined them altogether, and recently shared it. I’ve been following along and enjoying each one, and am pleased to share it. I really liked this concept and how she chose to portray it, by showing the newly added sentences in red that would help join the moods more seamlessly and crossing out the now defunct text – a fun read!

Congratulations on completing your challenge and thank you for joining me!

As for me, I don’t have any new flash fictions to share, but I thought I’d share a little of the new chapter in the Dragon Age fan fiction I’ve been working on. It’s sort of a continuation in the forest, where the previous chapter took place, because I was trying to figure out a way of joining the two together, and this is what came out of that…

*For those of you new to what I’m doing, I shared a Writing Prompt image of concept art from the video game Dragon Age (one of my fixations) and found that I really enjoy writing fan fiction. You can read Chapter 1 under Excerpts. This is the start of Chapter 2 (or perhaps the actual end of Ch. 1) –

Our time in The Brecilian Forest had had this strange side effect of separating us from the rest of the world; sheltered under the imposing canopy, removed from the impending threats, distanced from other people, and fighting trees, werewolves, and every other thing the forest housed had left us disjointed. A few weeks trekking through that unforgiving forest, discovering the source of the curse and its repercussions, had left us reeling in the aftermath. The first sight of the bright red sails of the Dalish’s landships were a welcome sight and the first sense of relief we had felt since we had last seen them.

Since the incident in the cave, I had steeled myself a bit in regards to my emotions, especially those toward Alistair. I had allowed my feelings to blind me to the task at hand, well not completely, but it had definitely been a distraction, and that was something none of us could afford. A mage with a lack of focus was not a companion anyone would wish for; my magic would be stunted and ineffectual, my aim would be off, and I could inflict harm to anyone nearby, even if unintentionally. I could be dangerous all the same, or more so. I had to do my best to reclaim some modicum of my level-headedness if not for anything but the safety of my friends.

It had been difficult to distance myself from Alistair, but our circumstances were such that we had to stay together as a group at almost all times, which left little time for private side conversations. It was only when we were spread out as we made our way carefully through the forest that we sometimes paired off, but even then, I would stay near either Morrigan or Leliana while Alistair and Keiko led and Sten took up the rear.

At times I had heard Alistair talking to Keiko and Keiko barking a response. The mabari were an extremely smart breed, and made for wonderful companions in part because of their understanding. They were also intuitive, resourceful, and lethal. So when I would hear the two of them having a sort of conversation, I had to swallow back the emotions that would inevitably surface at such a show of affection. It was clear they liked one another, and such devotion from a mabari was a testament to a person’s character. Keiko liked everyone in our party, which only led me to believe further in each of them. I had known on some level that I could trust them, and if Keiko did too, then they must be worthy, but he had taken a special liking to Alistair.

One night as we all huddled together around a small fire we had built in the alcove of the remains of a structure, Keiko had stood guard for a short while. Occasionally, he would make a round to make sure we were all well, then return to his post, alert and ready. I didn’t sleep while he was on duty, but I soon discovered none of us had. It was not that we didn’t trust that he would alert us to trouble, or protect us if necessary, but there was something about keeping him company that we all silently agreed to. When he would make a round, he would sort of nudge each of us, and we would all smile in return and give him a pat or an encouraging word. At one point, Alistair finally agreed to keep him company and the two of them bounded off into the darkness.

I felt my heart constrict in that moment. I watched Keiko walk proudly beside Alistair, whose chainmail glistened in the light of the fire, with one hand sitting casually on the hilt of his sword, the other patting Keiko as they discussed their strategy.

“There is no need to fight so hard against it.” Leliana whispered. Her insinuation was coupled with a slight of her head in Alistair’s direction.

“There is every reason.” I countered, barely keeping the edge of my emotions from my voice. I could feel them bubbling to the surface, along with the hundreds of thoughts I had had since that episode in the cave. There were too many unknowns, and we were surrounded by danger and death at every turn. It was unlikely either of us would survive until the end, whatever that actually meant.

I swallowed hard and pushed all those emotions and thoughts down. This was neither the time nor place, if such could even exist. We were duty bound, and every thing else was a foolish notion, a daydream. It didn’t seem a bad idea to have something to hope for, but the threat of loss was too great, and the subsequent pain might be too much to bear, depending on how long things carried on before they came to an abrupt halt.

Morrigan interjected. “When at war, certain…relationships occur, for the sole purpose of their necessity to maintain a sense of stability in a violent world. Perhaps you could look at Alistair in that regard. You need not look beyond the need for comfort, although I would recommend someone, well, less him.” There was the faintest hint of amusement teasing her lips.

We were all taken aback when Sten joined in, “He would most likely take instructions well”, to which we all laughed. Our giggles prompted even the gruff Qunari to break a smile, or what could be considered a smile, as none of us had ever seen one on him before.

And now…on to Redcliffe.

20Aug2014

Be A One-Hit Wonder

Posted in Posts, Tips by Rachael C Marek

The other night when I was talking with my fellow writers at group, one of them mentioned the “10,000 Hours Rule” by Malcolm Gladwell in his book, Outliers. The idea behind this is that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to achieve mastery in any field. I would love to be able to figure out where I am on that scale. How many hours have I put into my writing and when do those hours start? Did they start when I was a kid telling stories, or when I was a teen trying my hand at my first novel, or when I finally made the decision to go back to school and found screenwriting? If we start from the moment I started calling myself a writer, I probably have a few thousand hours still to go.

I have seen how my writing has changed over the years, and even in the short time I’ve been blogging. It has helped to hone my voice. So a big THANK YOU for helping me do that! Clearly, I still have a little ways to go.

As writers, we have to continue to learn and grow through practice, reading, and just being a part of the world – where we probably get most of our material. I have binders full of notes, and every once in a while, I’ll flip through them and stumble across some useful tidbit like the one I’m going to share today: the “Be a One-Hit Wonder” theory.

Yes, it sounds like a negative, but it’s really not. The idea is that we prioritize our work. Something I need to learn to do.

The theory is two-fold. 1) Evaluate which pieces are time sensitive; have deadlines (actual or self-imposed), or need lead time. And 2) Finish shorter pieces first as that boosts confidence and gives us closure.

The idea is to make consistent, manageable progress on those things we can control.

I think this concept is one of the reasons I’ve been escaping into flash fiction and fan fiction, the sense of accomplishment. And I even called one of my blogs “An Odd Sense of Accomplishment” when I talked about finishing my fanfic piece. There is a sense of relief at seeing a final product after long stretches without one.

Screenwriting is my passion, but sometimes it is a struggle to get the words on the page. I think it has to do with the awareness that I am passionate about it, I want it to be the very best it can be, and that every word matters so the value of its importance is heightened and therefore a harder end to find.

And this directly relates to last night’s late post. I have a third act to finish. That’s it. Completely manageable. Once I find that closure on this particular piece that I have long (long) sought after, I will evaluate all the other pieces in my portfolio and create my One-Hit Wonder list. Which projects will offer me that sense of accomplishment in a shorter amount of time and lead me further along my journey towards professional writer? I look forward to finding out.

What do you think of this idea? Is it something you might implement?

Best wishes!

19Aug2014

When Your Words Come Back To You…

Posted in Posts by Rachael C Marek

Last night I returned to my writer’s group (I’ve been a little absent recently), and after sharing the news that my sister and I might be leaving LA, I was pulled aside by a few of the friends I’ve made there so they could get more details. One in particular, and sort of an unlikely source, only because although we support each other’s work we haven’t really talked beyond the confines of the group, offered me some of the best advice. Advice I, myself, have offered here.

He offered encouragement, inspiration, and a voice of reason, a few things I needed to hear. If we’re not surrounded by people who understand what it is we do as writers or any creative endeavor, I think we forget sometimes, well I have, at how good (and how necessary) it is to hear encouraging “don’t give up” type pep talks. We all need those from time to time, and it’s been a long time since I’ve heard one. This is absolutely not a slight towards my sister who is always in my corner, but as she’s too close to the situation we’re currently dealing with, the outside voice was indeed a welcome one.

He suggested that I make every effort in the little time I have left here to make my mark and in turn maybe not have to leave, and therefore achieving the whole purpose of why I came out here in the first place. He gave me a challenge – to finish my rewrite in 48 hrs. After all the stress I’ve had over this rewrite, trying to finish the third act in such a short time gives me heart palpitations. But…I have to stop making excuses. I need to rise to the challenge. I do need to take advantage of the time I have given to me. I need to break out of my routine and try something else in order to achieve my goals. He’s a published author with some connections, and he made me no promises, except the offer of a helping hand. And who knows?! Unfortunately, a few drinks on an empty stomach have lost me the whole day today in the “I’m too old for this” sort of way.

In writing this, I received a phone call from an old friend who I talk to only a few times a year. She ended up being my cheerleader and offering me more encouragement. Huh…maybe the universe is trying to tell me something…

So on that note, maybe I should go work on that rewrite.

I wish you all the best in your writing endeavors and hope you have some one in your corner cheering you on! If you ever need an encouraging word or a listening ear, you know where to find me. 😉

15Aug2014

Writing Prompt Challenge Accepted #7

Posted in Posts, Writing Prompt by Rachael C Marek

The world is a mess, and the nice thing about being a writer is that we can seek refuge in our work. We can right the wrongs, we can create better worlds, and hopefully in the end, help others in some small way.

That’s not to say that’s what I’m doing here today…I merely escaped.

I haven’t written a whole lot the last couple of weeks, GISHWHES and stress were big deterrents, so I’m just getting back into my groove. I’m not sure how much I love the flash fictions I wrote last night, but sometimes you’ve gotta take a little bad with the good.

For the first image I had two distinct ideas, so I decided to explore them both.

Shanghai, 1939

War was imminent. The lifestyle she had become accustomed to would soon cease to exist. That didn’t frighten her as much as losing the man that sat across from her now. As she took in the appearance of her English lover, her eyes softened, and she became lost in thought. She wondered what would become of them as the orangey glow of her cigarette continued to burn and draw closer to her fingers. She felt the warmth grow, but she ignored it as she reached out her other hand to rest it upon his. It was a small gesture, but one that seemed to reassure them both.

Shanghai, 1939

Wei was a natural at deception. She had born to a hard life, but she could easily fall into the role of a proper lady or a courtesan depending on what the mission called for. A nice dress and a little makeup were all the disguise she required to obtain whatever she needed, be it access or information. She wasn’t one to ever be considered a threat, and she used that to her advantage. Her current target was completely taken with her, and as she sat there demurely, steeling herself against his longing gaze, she wondered how much longer she would have bear the leers and wandering hands of those in her agency’s sights. She held her right hand up, letting the lit cigarette burn as the signal to her fellow operatives that the target was ready for removal. She kept her eyes level and smiled to herself that he would never know what hit him.

The Trials

The Greenlee family had been the guardians of the final trial for five generations. It was very much a part of who they were. They tended to the stalk, cared for it, and aided the warriors who came from great distances to tackle it as part of their final test. It was dangerous, it took preparation, and those lucky enough to survive could count themselves amongst the most honored. When the eldest Greenlee daughter saw the knight and his horse coming over the horizon, her heart fluttered and sank. It was his time to take on the trials, and if they were both very lucky, their lives would never be the same.

And lastly, I thought I’d share a little of the new chapter of the Dragon Age fanfic I’ve been working on, but it was just a little too long, so I’ll save it for another day.

Happy Friday, and be well my friends!

*Quick edit, and total blonde moment, I accidentally called the first piece Singapore it’s supposed to be Shanghai. Oops.

14Aug2014

Guilty Pleasures

Posted in Posts by Rachael C Marek

I’ve had a snippet of this post pending for some time, and after reading through some blogs I decided today was the day to talk about something we all have…

Guilty pleasures.

Admit it. We all have at least one; be it a book, a tv show, a movie, or what-have-you, that we enjoy for no reason. It doesn’t have to be Oscar worthy, or popular, but for some reason we just love it. Geek culture has opened the door to more possibilities, allowing things that were once hidden – under beds, in the back of closets, and only looked at in the privacy of our rooms – to have their day in the sun. This is something I fully endorse. It allows us to be more honest about who we are, what we like, and unites us with other like-minded people, even if only virtually. It gives us a place to be ourselves.

I was born a Disney princess. After many years it felt like it should be something that should be tucked away and that I should “grow up”, but it is absolutely a part of me. If you’ve ever read my “about” page, it’s all laid out right there. I do love the color pink. I love the idea of love at first sight. When my feminism falters, I do still want my Prince Charming to rescue me. I want to be wooed. I love castles. And twinkle lights. I love long flowy dresses and chivalry. I want happy endings. But this is not my guilty pleasure because although at times I felt it was something I should outgrow, I’ve never kept it a secret. This is just me.

Dragon Age is also not my guilty pleasure. My love affair with England (and everything related including its men) is also nothing to be shy about. But I do have a few.

Confession time.

I don’t know why and I don’t dig deep into wondering why I will watch, every time they’re on, films like The Abyss, Twister, or Lake Placid. Every time. I don’t think I have any tv watching guilty pleasures, because I don’t watch any reality tv or anything I think I should be embarrassed about. I don’t think. I did watch two seasons of Brett Michaels’ Rock of Love years ago during a marathon weekend, but that’s it. I am so thankful to not have cable right now though. Netflix really limits what I have access to.

But my new guilty pleasure is the whole fan fiction thing, which includes “shipping” (the idea of wanting two fictional characters to get together, and this is regardless of sexuality or even being within the same canon – I found an Alias/Captain America crossover that I just loved, and am waiting for more). This is something that always sort of floated in the back of mind, but it wasn’t until recently that I realized there was an outlet for it. In addition to the tamer side of fan fiction (my DA fanfic falls into this category, for now 😉 ), I have been introduced to what can only be considered smut, and as a princess (and still a naive one at that), this is all new to me. I have to keep Googling terminology. But I secretly love it. Well, not a secret any more.

So what about you? What are your guilty pleasures? Are you willing to voice them aloud? C’mon…share. 🙂

12Aug2014

The Journey

Posted in Posts by Rachael C Marek

I haven’t commented on the passing of Robin Williams, liked any comments, or taken part in any of the discussions regarding depression that have taken over my feeds. When a celebrity passes, I almost always remain silent for the simple fact that although they brought us joy, we did not know them. I did meet him once at a party years ago (a thank you to my sister for reminding me, hello bad memory) and he was extremely kind, and I have friends who did actually know him, and my sympathies go out to his family and friends, but I believe that some respect should be paid and hence, I remain silent. Except for today.

The death of someone of Robin Williams’ caliber is sure to strike at the hearts of many, myself included, but in today’s social media stream people say stupid things, tone is lost in translation, and it almost mars the memory and the feelings trying to be expressed. I grew up watching him. My sister grew up watching him. He has been a part of many people’s entire lives. His loss is tragic.

Depression (and a few other disorders) runs in my family. I have struggled at times, very recently in fact (and really, what writer doesn’t?), due to a lack of control. I wrote about this recently, about having to make some hard choices. Those choices have been made, and now it’s just a matter of time before I start a new path. This may sound odd, but the news of this particular death reiterated to me that changing courses is not a bad thing, or something to regret, because it is for the sake of my well being, and that of my sister’s. We have been struggling. I look at my life in its current state and I shake my head. This isn’t where I want be or should be at this point. And although I write stories where people get a second go around, we do only have the one chance and we shouldn’t waste it being unhappy, especially if we have the power to change that.

L.A. is a tough town. I suppose in a way it’s meant to be. And I was not prepared for it. Life is a journey, and a learning experience. And I have definitely learned a few new things. I suppose this is just another step, hopefully forward, even if it is slightly detoured.

I wish you all well, and if you’re feeling overwhelmed, seek someone out who can offer you a helping hand. Remember, you’re not alone, regardless of how solitary a writer’s life is.

Best wishes, my friends!

*Maya Angelou’s quote, something I shared when I learned of her passing, seemed appropriate here.

11Aug2014

I’m Baaack (and I Have a Few Things to Share)

Posted in Posts, Tips by Rachael C Marek

Hi everyone!

GISHWHES has ended and I’m trying to return to my abnormal normal. That routine I love so much was completely lost in a week full of chaos, slapdash, and mind-numbing exhaustion. Saturday I had to put my house back together, and Sunday I slept about 12 hours and still only felt partially coherent. There’s still cleaning, laundry, and reorganizing to be done, but for now, at least I can see my floor again. For a little insight into what we do, one of my team members created a Tumblr account last year and has been slowly adding pictures from this year’s hunt. You’ll quickly understand that I am not joking when I say it’s a crazy week; 15 people to a team, usually not in the same place, trying to accomplish 185 items. Madness.

So, now that that’s over, I need to get back to work. It will probably take a few days to read all the articles and such that are pending in my inbox, but here are a couple things in particular I’d like to share, both found via Aerogramme Writers’ Studio –

1. The Cesar Egido Serrano Foundation’s ‘Museum of Words’ International Flash Fiction Contest is accepting entries until November 23rd. The competition is for very short fiction pieces (max of 100 words). Top prize is $20,000, with three runners-up each receiving $2,000. Not too shabby. 🙂 Here’s the link for more information.

2. Wattpad (this is the link to the article) – for writers and readers. This sounds like a wonderful opportunity, and as I’m still making my way through this labyrinth of information, if any of you are familiar with this site, please share your insights.

And to get myself back on track, here’s the quote of the week:

Happy Monday! And best wishes to you!

4Aug2014

The Insanity Has Begun

Posted in Posts by Rachael C Marek

GISHWHES started on Saturday, and this is what I forewarned you all about…the craziness that would ensue. I apologize now for my absence, and will be back and in the swing of things come next Monday.

If you’re on Twitter, you may have witnessed some of the randomness that occurs during this time aka “the hunt”. Keep an eye out. I’m on Team Falkor, that’s him on the left, from the movie The Neverending Story. If you’d like to help, please follow @FishinOrlando to help our team earn some points. Thank you in advance!

When it is safe to post images, I will, to show you what creative genius lies in all of us. If you’re interested in joining next year, visit the GISHWHES site and take a look around. It is a lot of fun. It’s challenging. And completely worth the effort. You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish in such a short time.

Have a wonderful week everyone! Keep up your hard work and “see” you next week!

1Aug2014

Flying Without a Parachute

Posted in Posts by Rachael C Marek

Hi friends! Today’s post is going to be a little more on the personal side. I’ve been dealing with an inordinate amount of stress the past few days and it has made me reconsider pretty much everything; from my career path to my living situation, and all the little details that go along with those choices.

Being a writer, like any creative path, is unstable and unlikely to yield any rewards for many years. We have to work in jobs we probably wish we didn’t in order to support ourselves while we use any and all free time to do the thing we love. I, myself, have been unemployed for over 2 years. I have, literally, sent out over 200 resumes, receiving only 3 responses, none of which led anywhere. This is a stress unto itself because my much younger sister has been supporting us all this time. You can imagine what this does to my creativity.

I tend not to share too much about myself for a couple of reasons. One, I feel my writer side is almost a separate entity. Two, I’ve always been a little shy of sharing who I am; I have a small pool of friends, I don’t care for big gatherings where I don’t know anyone, and as you’ve probably noticed, I hide behind an avatar, everywhere, even on my personal FB page. There’s also the small thing about some people who have been in my life knowing that it’s me who writes here.

So when the stress began, due to my sister’s job, I had to wonder if the path we were on was the best choice at the moment. If she were to lose her job, we would for all intents and purposes be screwed. We could not afford to live in LA for longer than a month, and in this current market, it would be unlikely that she would find another job of that caliber in such a short amount of time. And this was an enormous wake up call.

We didn’t have a backup plan.

I am a planner. I am all about lists. Except for outlines in regards to my writing. So the fact that we had never considered what we would do in such an event was a more than a little off putting. It was probably always lingering a bit in the back of our minds, something neither of us was willing to explore or bring to the forefront, like any bad omen, the more you talk about it the more likely it will come into existence.

I’m the big sister. I half raised her from the time I was nineteen (we have a brother too, who, in part because of our move to LA we rarely speak to. That’s a story for another day.). It is my job to take care of her and the last couple of years have been emotionally draining and depression inducing. Because she has born the weight of responsibility all this time, she hasn’t been able to finish school, we haven’t been on any type of vacation, we have no savings, we rarely splurge on anything, and this is a hard pill for me to swallow. This is not how life was supposed to be. I knew moving to LA was going to be a bit of a rough journey, but I never expected this. I suppose that will mean I will savor the success I am damned determined to achieve that much greater.

So, together, we plotted out a couple of options of what to do “in case of emergency”. This is something I would recommend not just to my fellow creatives, but everyone. Me chasing my dreams should not be a hinderance to our livelihood. This week I had one of those moments where I questioned whether pursuing being a professional writer was worth it. I know that writing is my passion. It is the only thing I want to do, and I will continue to do it, but I may have to suck it up and do something else in the meantime for the sake of my family. Although it’s not like I’ve not been trying, but maybe moving out of one of the most expensive cities in the country should be an option. I can write anywhere. I can submit from anywhere.

After our conversation last night, I felt better, not great, but a little more at ease that we wouldn’t be destitute. She and I have decided that we are going to work towards our mutual goal of moving overseas. As many of you who have been following me know, I am an Anglophile. Since I was nineteen, it has been my desire to live in England, and now we are making plans of making that a reality. Regardless of how things continue here, this is our long term goal. Again, this is a story for another day.

Thank you for letting me get this off my chest. Hopefully, one day in the near future, this bump in the road will make us laugh or at least sigh with that sort of edgy relief.

So my tip of the day, and not meant in the Debbie Downer sort of way, Make a Backup Plan! Don’t be caught off guard and be left with choices you don’t want to make and consequences that may affect you in ways you aren’t prepared. Let me be your example of what not to do. 🙂

On a side note, I had a really interesting dream that will probably lead me to a new story idea. So there’s that.

Happy TGI Friday! Best wishes to you all!

30Jul2014

The Wonderful Team Member Readership Award

Posted in Posts by Rachael C Marek

I love an award. It’s not often as adults we get to enjoy one. Remember the days in grade school, or if you have kids now yourself, how many awards you could earn in a given year? Actually, from what I’ve seen, thanks to FB, I think there are more given now than ever, but I digress. Now think about your adult life. Depressing, right? So why not celebrate when you receive one?

The Wonderful Team Member Readership Award is basically a Big Thank You to fellow bloggers kind enough to spend time, like, and comment. I, myself, was nominated by the incomparable Old School Harlequin from the World of Harley. Stop by his asylum and be lured in.

Now, about the award…the nice thing about this one, it won’t waste a lot of your time when you should be writing. 🙂

So thank you, my friends. You encourage me every day, and in the life of this writer, it makes a difference.

The rules are as follows:

1. The nominee shall display the Wonderful Team Member Readership Award logo on his/her blog.
2. The nominee shall nominate 14 bloggers s/he admires, over a period of 7 days, all at once or little by little, by linking to their blogs and informing them about it.

See, fairly painless.

Here are all of my nominees, because the way my brain has been lately, it will probably go unfinished if put aside.. (Yes, I’m still having one of those days.)

Congratulations, my friends! For all the love they’ve shown me, they deserve the recognition! Again, thank you to all of you who continue to follow along with me as I walk the writer’s journey.

Happy Wednesday! (You’re halfway there 😉 )

xx, Rach

*Quick edit due to a total blonde moment – forgot the word Member in the title…it’s on the graphic. Ugh. *Shakes head.