It's taken me a bit to get this story together--multiple rewrites and revisions and all. It's short (2 pages), but it took while to whip it into shape. But! It involves parallel dimensions! Fun!

Anyway, the workbook page that inspired this one involved making up a definition for the word 'ecdysiast' (which means a striptease artist). My definition was 'a dealer of paranormal goods' (I was a bit off). The first write through was very slapdash because I kept coming up with new ideas on the fly that didn't fit in with what I'd previously written. But throwing caution to the wind I just kept going, then let all the ideas simmer around in my head for a few days before I attempted a more comprehensive writing of the scene. The secondary character in this story originally introduced herself as my definition of an ecdysiast, but in the rewrite she kind of lost that title (although in my mind she still very much is). The story pretty much morphed into it's own thing after the initial inspiration from the exercise.

I think the whole concept of this story has the potential to be more than a brief snapshot of the story that it is at present. The ending is pretty open for just that purpose. If I were to tackle it again I would just have to balance out the writing and plot so it wouldn't become too hokey, but I'm letting it play around in my some more to find its purpose. Let me know what you think in comments below! Here's the first paragraph:

Whenever two subway cars speed side by side through the city’s dark tunnels, I always feel like I’m looking into a parallel dimension. Or at least what I’m seeing reflects how it all works. There’s a sensation in my body that maybe I’ve been in this kind of situation before, a déjà vu of metaphysical proportions. But even without any understanding of the subject of other worlds I think I understand it nonetheless. You can peak in through the lit windows, occasionally catch a stranger’s glance, maybe have some sort of subtle influence or be influenced yourself, and then within seconds the worlds split off and follow fate on their own private tracks. Sure there can be that mild interaction, but really any more intrusion would result in disaster.

Read the rest at http://inkanddalliance.weebly.com/the-silver-chestnut.html

I've got my first story up!

This was inspired by a workbook page that was obviously striving for something much more calming than what I wrote. I saw the ship and immediately thought 'pirates'. The instructions stated that there were no lines so you could be "creative and free", so I started writing down the middle to make a mast, ending with writing the last word ('cracked') crooked because I like to be all symbolic like that.

Anyway, this story involves a kind of sea witch held captive on board that decides that the crew doesn't deserve to live and summons to seas to her will. There's also some family tension thrown in. Here's the first paragraph:

"The ship’s sail thrashed in the storm’s harsh wind, slapping itself with such force until the mast cracked. He flung himself to the deck, covering his head with his hands in a ludicrous attempt to prevent the shards of wooden debris from injuring him. All around he could hear the gruff voices of his crewmates, some barking commands, some shouting incoherently, others seeming as ghosts in a silent stupor. But always the torrid wind overtook their voices, the crash of waves deafening, a great cacophony of the ocean’s power absorbing all the potential for sound. He struggled to stand as the mast groaned to a halt, ripping a hole in the vessel’s side and taking a few lives with before it rolled into one place. His feet stumbled as the deck rolled unnaturally, but he pressed himself to keep moving. He had to get below deck, to the girl shackled in the brig. A stowaway the captain had left to a cruel punishment after the night’s dinner..."

Read more at http://inkanddalliance.weebly.com/landlocked.html

And as always, leave me your thoughts in a comment! Thanks for reading!

Whenever I have a new story up, I'll post a blog entry about it with a little description and such. That way you can come to the website and read it if it has struck your interest. If you have any feedback, please feel free to leave a comment here. Happy reading!