2025 Year End Review

Posted in Posts by Rachael C Marek

Here we are again.

The end of another year.

How?!

I simultaneously believe, every year, that I’ve done well with my goals and yet, still not done enough. Since I started my annual goal setting, I definitely feel more productive. There’s a way to measure progress and reflect on the year and see the incremental improvements, and yet as we reach December, every year, I am hard on myself. I always think I could have done more.

So let’s see what I did this year…

Writing Goals

Write a new script. I wrote a whopper, Man of Sin, which is currently sitting at 242 pages.
Write 16 new flash fictions. Completed in July.
Have at least one more script, in addition to Fate(s), be show ready. I rewrote Projection and I love it.
Write more fan fiction. If you know me, you would imagine it was going to be more Dragon Age. I planned on it, but shockingly, it was not. I started an entirely new project based on the show, Walker: Independence. That’s a story for another day.
Create a condensed, all in one place, idea journal. Check

Fails – I did not update my blog as often as I’d hoped, nor did I create a show bible for my tv series, The Demeter .

Reading Goals

Because I wanted to write more this year, I set my reading bar low – only 12 books this year. I’m still deciding on book twelve, so I’m sure I won’t finish it within the time frame.

Favorite book: Mila 18 by Leon Uris

Movie Watching Goal

For a couple of years there, I was trying to watch one new movie a week. Easy enough, you would think, but with so many good shows, gaming, and writing and reading to be done, it was a hard goal to maintain. I made a more tangible goal a few years ago, two movies a month. Much easier to hit.

Favorite Movies: Sinners and Superman (both available on HBO)

TV Watching Goal

Trying to keep up with all of the streaming services and their original programming is difficult when you have so many interests. My goal was to watch at least one season of 12 new shows = one new show a month. Officially, I watched 12 new series (some with multiple seasons), but didn’t finish one. It just didn’t grab me.

Favorite Shows: Interview with a Vampire (AMC & Netflix), Black Doves (Netflix), and Fleabag (Prime)

Duolingo

When we upgraded our phones last year, I downloaded the Duolingo app and set myself the goal of learning French, a language I had studied in high school and college, for at least a year and a half = roughly 547 days. As of today I’m at 617 days with a perfect streak of 11 weeks. Yay!

50th Birthday Celebration

We have little dogs with health issues, so we don’t travel often, or at all. Hawaii was 7 years ago now. ((weeps silently to herself)) I wanted to go on a trip for my 50th. London, to be specific. I started doing some research, looked at flights, and then one of The Sis’s favorite bands, System of a Down announced six North American show dates, two in Chicago with one of her other favorite bands, Avenged Sevenfold. It was a no-brainer. We were going to Chicago. Happy Birthday to me us!

I’ll share details of the trip soon, but it was so wonderful to get away and see new sights, meet new and old friends, and let The Sis enjoy, what she considers, the greatest concert she’s ever been to.

Well. There you have it.

Couldn’t ask for a better goal achieving moment for the year.

How’d your year shape up? Wanna celebrate any of the goals you made?

Here’s to a continuously more productive new year!

xx, Rach

16Jul2025

Writing Prompt Challenge Accepted #34

Posted in Posts, Writing Prompt by Rachael C Marek

Today marks the official completion of one of my goals for the year –

16 flash fiction pieces written based on writing prompts I’ve shared, bringing my total to 90.

A small victory, but satisfying nonetheless, and something to celebrate, as all completed goals deserve.

Here are July’s offerings:

Unlocked

All houses had their secrets. The older the house, the greater the number of secrets it held. Everyone had heard the whispers of what happened in my house, long before I was even born, but now, as I took on the mantle of mistress of this keep, it was time to learn what was behind every door, what secrets were being kept, what mysteries might be revealed.

I left the warmth of the upper floors to delve deep into the lower levels where I had been restricted from entering…until now. I took a final glance as I descended the rough hewn stairs to the fading golden, reassuring light, and made my way into what had always been described as a pit of hell.

Accommodation*

When Wyeth had suggested they spend a long “weekend” on an advanced planet, Sadie not only blushed at the thought of the two of them spending time alone together, but she also could never have imagined such a place as the towering neon cityscape that made up the entirety of the planet spread before her. She could see a great deal of it from above on the ship. As if it weren’t mind bending enough to know such a place existed, that is was also not the only one of its kind caused Sadie to rethink everything she had ever learned. Traveling with Wyeth, for even such a short time, had led her to see remarkable things. Earth was only a tiny planet in a tiny system and the humans that lived on that little blue dot were ignorant of what lay beyond their known universe.

As Sadie and Wyeth strode into what was considered mid-range accomodations, the clean shiny surfaces made Sadie fearful of touching anything. It was a hotel, rising hundreds of stories into the clouds, but to Sadie it was magic, a marvel, and another clue into the mystery that was Wyeth. The way he handled himself in any given situation, the things he knew, the things he said, the things he didn’t say – it all made her realize how little she truly knew of him and that she wanted to know everything.

*This was one of those times I sort of had an idea of what I was going to write, and then a story of its own making made itself known. I was tired, not fully paying attention, and the above is what happened…stream of consciousness at its best, I suppose.

Peephole

Hannah didn’t like to think of herself as a gossip, but she did admit that she enjoyed hearing about whatever scandalous topic had her circle’s full attention, so when the wealthy, handsome, single Lord Evan broke his journey at her family’s estate, she couldn’t seem to stop herself from eavesdropping to learn what she could of the man. There was very little to entertain a young lady outside of town.

Well, perhaps gossip wasn’t too disparaging a word.

It wasn’t just that he was rich and titled, he was attractive and alluring in a way that made Hannah want to draw nearer. He seemed to feel it too. He sought out her company, engaged her in conversation, and stirred her imagination with posssibility. She was certain he would speak to her father, and so later, when she spied on him through the keyhole in his door, hoping to ascertain how the conversation might have gone, given his demeanor, she found herself rooted to the floor with an eye full of his bare flesh. He didn’t look anything like the boys in her village who swam in the lake in the summer.

No, indeed.

She couldn’t move, her mind swirled, and then, as if sensing her presence, he turned to give her a complete view, and she noticed the smile upon his lips. “Well,” Hannah thought, “I do enjoy a challenge. I’ll have him begging for my hand before his sojourn ends.”

~ * ~

We’re over halfway through the year, how are your goals coming along?

If you’ve been inspired by any of the prompts I’ve shared, I’d love to see what you’ve created!

Happy Writing!

14Jun2025

Writing Prompt Challenge Accepted #33

Posted in Writing Prompt by Rachael C Marek

I am determined to make my writing prompt challenge goal, and as I have had little opportunity to sit and write anything since going back to work, I wanted to write as freely and without hinderance as I could with the time I had available. And so I just wrote. No idea of what it was going to become, no concern of word count, just a little story to break up the monotony of my day.

I present June’s flash fiction pieces.

Ghost Story

Every culture has their ghost stories. Often times they’re allegorical tales intended to frighten the children into behaving, or to give reason for the strange happenings in the land. But not every mystery has a reason, not every sighting has cause.

In our village, for as many years as anyone could remember, there was the tale of the Mist Woman or the Lady in Black. There was no memory of who she might have been, why she walked with her umbrella, or who or what she may have been looking for. She simply appeared, and no one could connect her sightings to events of good or ill, she just existed, randomly.

And that brought me a great sadness. She seemed to be stuck in limbo, and she didn’t have a history of threatening behavior or a desire for help, which made me wonder at what held her back from crossing over? Why did she remain?

One day I was “lucky” enough to cross her path. I was not afraid. Only curious. I hoped to be able to discern something in her nature that may be of use. There was no chill in the air, no disturbance, she simply manifested near me. We walked together for a while. There was no wind, but her dress moved about her as if she were caught in a breeze, or perhaps in water. I could not see her face, but I felt something, like gratitude. She suddenly stopped, turned toward me, made the slightest gesture of a head nod toward me, then disappeared.

I walked that path every day for the rest of my life waiting for her to join me again.

Dark Side

Morgan had a lot to be thankful for, but she was also a teenager who resented hiding her true nature. She was born a fairy and raised by humans, and while that sounded like the interesting premise to a story, her life was lived in fear that she would be discovered; that she would be taken by the Men in Black to be experimented on, never to be seen by her loved ones again.

She once had white hair and wings to match, but then she met someone who changed her perspective. Whose influence changed her in ways she could never have imagined. An unleashing of power long repressed by fear and responsibility.

She had felt the change happening, and feared it, as she had most things until her transformation was complete, and then she felt renewed, strong, unafraid. Her power had been dormant because, in part, she didn’t know who she truly was. It’s one thing to know you’re a mythical being, it’s another to discover what you’re capable of because you’re this mythical being.

She knew Lucien was not to be trusted, that he was not the ally she needed, there was another who already had her heart, but while he wanted to keep her safe, keeping her progress slow, Lucien was determined to set her free. But he had his own agenda, a grand scheme that gave her a different sense of fear.

~ * ~

I hope you’ll join me for a little free write, writing community! I look forward to reading your creations!

Happy Writing!

17Apr2025

Writing Prompt Challenge Accepted #31

Posted in Writing Prompt by Rachael C Marek

Going back to work has really messed up my schedule. I want to say life, but that’s sounds rather dramatic, albeit somewhat true. In my planner, I’ve been setting a goal of writing two flash fictions a month, which you would think would be an easy task to complete, and yet, I couldn’t get them written in March.

So I set aside a day to write this week, a little bit of everything, and you can guess how that went. I was feeling…ambitious…also, a bit determined. I need to spend time doing the things I enjoy too. It can’t always be about the grind.

I present to you (March and) April’s flash fictions, in my pursuit to write at least 16 new pieces this year. I’m halfway there! ((thumbs up))

Enough

“We all have our reasons.” Those haunting words had come from an unlikely ally, one she knew she couldn’t trust, no matter his “reasons”.

The revolt had long been in the works, but it wasn’t until today that they took action.

It was necessary.

They were justified in rising up.

She just didn’t know how alone they’d find themselves once they finally did.

There had been a surprising division in the populace when offered the chance at freedom. So many were compliant, unwilling to take the risk. They turned their backs. They played dumb. They simply didn’t care what happened to those not so different from themselves. It could have been them, if they found themselves in a different box, but they considered themselves lucky for being “normal”.

How boring life would be if everyone fit that mold.

And so, as she stood before one who had long championed conformity, and everything else they stood against, she had to wonder what had brought them to this point? What did they consider the uncrossable line in the proverbial sand of their morality?

They couldn’t be trusted, but they could be exploited, and so it began.

Red Light District

The red light used to mean something different, or so I’m told. It was a way to communicate a service, rather discreetly, until it became more well-known. There were entire districts within cities named for the light that provided patrons with all manor of diversion, but now it meant something else.

Now, it was a means of refuge.

Hm. Now thinking about it, it was a refuge then too, just for a different means of escape.

Red lights were scarce, and you had to know someone who knew someone who knew someone that could lead you there because the vice grip of the police state wanted to keep everything, and everyone, within their grasp. They couldn’t allow any one to escape, because that kind of leak could cause their entire system to crumble, so the red light was like an urban legend.

Everyone “knew” someone who had been able to utilize the service, it was a more comforting thought as to why people went missing, but now here I was. The darkened hallway looked more like something out one of those pre-war horror movies people used to enjoy, not realizing one day we’d be living a daily nightmare. The slash of red that should have caused fear actually caused hope to swell. After nearly a year of searching, in a few moments, I could be out.

Last Ditch Effort

We weren’t exactly cornered, but we wouldn’t be able to outrun the horde either. We were all batttered and bleeding and didn’t have enough supplies to remedy ourselves for more fighting. I hated the Deep Roads. They were probably spectacular at the height of the Dwarven empire, but now they were a death trap. Not one building offered proper shelter, let alone a defensive position, and yes, while we had been able to travel deeper than anyone in an age and would come out the other side, if we were lucky enough, rather wealthy from the abandoned treasure, I wasn’t sure that was enough incentive.

There was a narrow pass over a long drop, which would slow up our pursuers for a moment, and maybe we could take out enough of them while they tried to cross, but it wasn’t the only route. We were at risk of being surrounded.

As we weighed our options, I looked up, as did my companions, and we all had the same idea. “If you’ll give me a minute…I think I can make this worse.”

Stray

She shouldn’t have come with him – hindsight was brilliant in times like these – but how could she not? It was another planet, another world, and she was going to be the first human to see it, to stand upon its ground and admire its beauty. He was going to gather resources for the journey, but she didn’t believe she would be a liability. Why would she? She was a tourist, basically. An extra pair of hands.

So, when the weather took a sharp, unexpected turn, and hail the size of VW Bugs started to fall from the sky, she was surprised to find him coming to her rescue, putting himself at risk, for her. He had barely acknowledged her presence since coming aboard, to some degree against her will, if she may say so, so why would she think he would care at all for her well-being, other than the implications of having a human aboard his ship?

And now he was injured, and she didn’t know what to do. It’s not as if he had a physiology she was familiar with, and being unconscious, didn’t lend to him telling her what she could do to help. What it did lend to was a quiet moment to reflect on the strange man who had become her rescuer. He was interesting to look at, dare she think, attractive, even among his own kind. He was helping her, even if she believed, begrudgingly, and she was indebted to him for saving her from a desperate situation, and now, no matter her ineptitude, she might have an opportunity to repay him.

~ * ~

Come join me in a challenge!

Happy Writing!

26Jan2025

Writing Prompt Challenge Accepted #29

Posted in Writing Prompt by Rachael C Marek

One of my writing goals is to write 16 new flash fiction pieces. I think I may have made the same declaration last year as well, but I bought a planner this year to keep better track and make more manageable the goals I have for 2025. I usually make a big list, but breaking it down, month-to-month, seeing it in smaller, more digestible increments, has been vastly more beneficial…so far. Yay!

So I offer up the two flash fictions I wrote for January. I try to just free write, keep it short, around 200 words, and do little editing. This is just a way to get out of my stringent screenwriting mindset.

Spotlight

She stood in the wings, bathed in bright light from across the stage. She always felt a little nervous, right up until the moment her toes hit the floor. She hadn’t had time to finish prepping her shoes, they still felt a bit stiff, but they’d be broken in before the end of the first dance, and rendered practically useless by the end of the show. She continued to point her toes while bouncing lightly to keep warm and limber.

The music ebbed and flowed and she listened intently for her cue, while doing her best to ignore the jealous whispers of those who would never stand where she was. Not everyone could be a prima.

She was a rare breed. Years spent in lessons, ignoring nearly everything else, had earned her the opportunity of a lifetime, one that would end sooner than was reasonable, but while she was here, she would enjoy every moment.

Stained

The Emerald Graves was the kind of place where you could easily imagine magical things happened on a regular basis. The trees were a shade of green not seen anywhere else, the water was clearer than she’d ever seen, and as if to add to its mysterious nature, a light mist draped everything in a soft white blanket. When they arrived to the remote forest, the fabled land of the elves, a certain amount of reverence felt owed. It wasn’t called the Graves because someone was trying to be clever. If the histories were true, the land was one large graveyard.

Was that supposed to bring anyone any meaure of comfort? There was a strange silence present, and they felt like they were being watched. So, they limited their conversations, kept to the main road, and did their best to not disturb the flora and fauna. They made a small camp in a clearing of what remained of an ancient ruin and slept uneasily in the eerie quiet the forest offered in the waning hours of the night.

She was an elf. She found solace in being in a place her ancestors once called home. So little of their great empire remained, but every so often, there was a glimpse, a wisp, and the Emerald Graves was one such place. She gave her friends a sympathetic smile as they tried to ignore the shivers up their spines. They were unnerved, for a number of reasons, but this place, while romantic and beautiful, was also drenched in blood, and that was a stain that no matter how well hidden, left a mark.

~ * ~

I’d love if you’d join in the writing prompt challenge! I’ve posted 158 images and phrases for inspiration so far, so feel free to poke around and see if anything catches your eye.

Happy Writing!

14Feb2024

Quote of the Week

Posted in Quotes by Rachael C Marek

So some of you may have noticed that I have not finished my 10 Year Retrospective. I wanted the final entry to be something a little different, and it’s still in the works, and will still be posted within the time frame for which it is relevant. ((wink))

I wanted to get back to The Routine. The “Plan”. I enjoy sharing quotes and reflecting on how they mirror what’s currently happening in my life, as this blog is sort of a diary as well.

“I’m not in the mood.” How often have we uttered this phrase? And not just in relation to our writing, but maybe our lives, in general. I’ve let a number of things slide or fall to the wayside for a little while because I just don’t want to deal with it. Even things that are relatively important.

Hi. My name is Rachael and I’m a procrastinator.

But many writers I know are too. It’s a common trait. Something that binds us.

We like the pressure, and yet, I think most of do better when we have some sort of schedule – some semblance of order.

I have, for some time now, had a plan in place, steps in which I would write or rewrite projects, create other content, in addition to the other checklist items that would help me build my creative network, etc.

Goodness. It sounds like a full time job.

If only.

This is why it’s important to work towards our goals, even when we don’t “feel” like it. We have a plan in place to keep us on track. Even if we only eke out a little each day, that small measure of progress is better than none at all.

I still need to share my 2024 goals (I’ll do that shortly as well) and I hope you’re doing better than I am currently. I can’t believe it’s the middle of February. I already feel behind.

So here’s to sticking with a plan versus waiting for inspiration to strike!

Wishing you all a goal achieving new year!

Happy Writing!

4Jan2024

First Quote of 2024

Posted in Quotes by Rachael C Marek

Happy New Year, everyone!

So those of you have been with me for some time will probably remember that I’m not a fan of the term “resolution”. I don’t want to resolve myself towards anything that doesn’t truly require that sort of sentiment. I prefer the more apt term “goal”.

I like that a goal can be set at any time, not just the beginning of a new year, although the start of a year brings with it a pretty decent measuring stick. I set my reading and watching goals at the start. My writing goals fluctuate throughout the year, although I try to give myself a handful to begin with as part of a plan to not be aimless.

They’ve been kind of the same for a while now…

It may be time to make some different choices…

Like the quote above states – just begin.

I mentioned in my New Year’s Eve post that I had extended some of my writing goals into January due to our move, and so it is my unofficial new year’s resolution, nope, still don’t like it, goal to reevaluate those particular writing goals in February. To put it out in the universe, I’ll share them with you then.

What do you want to achieve in 2024? Say it aloud. Write it down. Post it in view. Let’s make it happen!

Sending you positive vibes and best wishes for a productive and prosperous new year!

31Dec2023

Bye bye, 2023!

Posted in Posts by Rachael C Marek

I’m sure you’ve heard it a few times by now, maybe even said it a number of times yourself, but this year flew by.

But really, it did.

With yet another multi-state move, it feels as if most of the year was dedicated to either leaving one place or getting settled in a new one. I still don’t quite feel myself, and I still don’t know where some of our belongings are. ((sigh))

Now that we’ve found a place to live that we like, are both working steadily so that at least we have a sense of financial stability, and have some sort of routine, and now that the holidays are nearly over, I feel like, what I consider, normalcy is within reach.

Optimism.

Knowing that the move was imminent, I set low reaching goals for myself this year. And I made most of them. I initially set out to read 17 books, because that was what I had done the year before (not trying to be an overachiever) but by May I knew that was going to be unattainable, so I adjusted it to 10. I read 11 and actually, to focus on a writing goal, stopped reading all together this last month, so, in theory, I could’ve gotten a bit closer.

I made my movie watching goal of 24 movies and actually exceeded it by 10. I’ll post my annual review in January.

I got my first screenplay professionally read in order to obtain feedback. I started fleshing out a new script, Man of Sin. I’m excited to share the idea with all of you. I started building my network, and have made some progress already.

I didn’t make my writing goals yet, but I also knew with the move it would take too much out of me mentally to focus, so I adjusted my timeline into January. We’ll see where we are in a month. Eek.

I have bigger goals set for 2024 and I’m crossing my fingers that I’ll be better at achieving them. As I’ve said a time or two before, probably because I shared a quote or five in a similar vein, start small, because even those small steps will eventually lead to grand results.

How did you fair this year? Did you achieve most or all of your goals? What are you hoping to tackle next year? If you’d like to share them below, we can try to help each other be accountable.

Hello, 2024! Let’s make you a good one!

I wish you all the very best! Happy New Year! Be safe and be well!

xx, Rach

1Feb2023

Quote of the Week

Posted in Quotes by Rachael C Marek

We’re already a month in to a new year?! How?

Like seriously. How?

And here we are again – a random day for a quote of the week post that I started some two weeks ago. ((insert eye roll))

I was struck by this quote and wanted to share it when I thought it would be the most impactful, right at the beginning of the year, but sure, let’s share it now…a month in.

With a new year comes the idea of new beginnings. We establish new goals, make resolutions, and have rose-colored glasses on…for about a month.

Then the newness sheen tarnishes and you discover that in reality not much has changed except the date.

Are we there yet? Effective February 1st? You know, where the glossy veneer has diminished?

Nope. Me either. This year we’re going to do things different. We’re going to do something about “it”. We’re going to change the narrative.

The last couple of years have been rough. Honestly, it’s still not great, but I think we all have hope for what 2023 will bring. In that vein, The Sis and I are endeavoring yet another move, back to California for my career, among other reasons, like our mental well-being. While it was great to give a new place a shot, this never-ending cold, gray landscape is not for us, but that’s a story for another day.

Putting out into the universe the willingness to be ready for the change has already brought some interesting developments, family and new friends with contacts, so I can hit the ground running. It’s exciting, and a little frightening. It may actually all come together.

So here’s to new beginnings!

5Jan2023

First Quote of 2023

Posted in Posts, Quotes by Rachael C Marek

Happy New Year!

I wanted to find a quote that really sets the tone for the year I want us all to have. This is by no means a judgement on anyone other than myself, but I want all of us to be able to create the life we want.

I’ve always been surprised by the concept of how little things seem to change over the course of a year, but looking back how different things sometimes are. This is why this quote resonated with me.

I’m of a certain age now where I’ve come to an understanding of a few things:

I’m more comfortable with myself and who I am, like I’m not wildly embarrassed to admit I write fan fiction anymore. ((wince))
I’m not as hard on myself.
I take better care of myself. Thank you yoga!
And biggest improvement, I’m learning to love myself. I take a moment during yoga to thank myself for showing up. It usually makes me giggle, but so often it’s easier not to show up. It’s a small step, I am still learning, but since we’re stuck with ourselves we should be nicer.

The Sis has helped me to be brave. Maybe because she’s the youngest, she developed this strong sense of self. She’s self-aware in a way that’s taken me years to become. I still don’t think I’m there. It’s all part of the evolution of becoming who we’re supposed to be.

Where I need the help is in the discipline arena.

With the gray days of winter, I oversleep. I feel the seasonal depression. I’m way off my routine, and I seem uninspired to do anything about it, but if I want to be in the right position to take on Hollywood in a few months, I have to get in gear, and now. I was going strong for a while, but upon the completion of a couple of projects, I lost motivation. Currently it still feels like a void, and because of this I allow myself to become distracted, and days go by…like this post. I started it on Monday. ((insert eye roll))

I need more discipline.

So that is at the top of my To Do List for this year.

What are you hoping to accomplish this year? What strides did you make looking back on 2022? Remember, each day can be a new beginning. Little steps lead to great strides. And who knows, in a year you could be exactly where you want to be.

Best wishes!

xx, Rach