A to Z: C is for Castaway

For A to Z 2015 I will be posting flash fiction, all random, all the crazy musings of a crazy mind. Hope you like them.

 

C is for Castaway

Day 8: Rest of the plane finally washed away. Was able to get as much off as I wanted before it did, although the hull would’ve been nice for a shelter; right now am making due with a make-shift tent from the parachutes. Keeps the bugs out, anyway. All in all, doing fairly well; all things considered.

Day 10: Haven’t seen any animal signs on the island. Not sure if that’s a bad thing or not. Plenty of fruit though; and fish. They practically swim right up to me; like they aren’t scared at all.

Day 14: Walked around the island today. Didn’t see another living thing.

Day 20: New shelter is up. Made sort of tepee out of some fallen trees and covered it all with the parachutes. Should work for the short-term.

Day 22: Saw a boat today. It didn’t stop.

Day 45: Still no living things. Fish have moved on. The Silence is here now.

 

-Mel

A to Z: B is for Beyond

For A to Z 2015 I will be posting flash fiction, all random, all the crazy musings of a crazy mind. Hope you like them.

B is for Beyond

“Are you aware of the risk you’re taking?”

The woman nodded, eyes cast down to the floor. She knew well the risks; better than anyone.

As the minutes lengthened she turned and left. She knew she would never get his blessing; his silence was the most she could hope for, and all that she got.

No matter, she thought to herself. I didn’t need him.

But that was a lie and she knew it; no one went to the outer rim and returned. Everyone knew that. She could’ve used him.

The desert lay open before her, ending at the end. She made her way towards it.

That night as the suns sank into the abyss, it was closer; she was closer. She knew it wouldn’t be long now. Soon she would find her son, or join him. Either way, she would know.

A figure moved in the distance. The woman lifted her hand to shade her eyes. She’d heard mirages were common. There were those who had almost and then returned. That was her hope for her son, for her.

But like her hope, the mirage faded. Deep inside she was not surprised. She knew her son; she knew he would not be of those who would turn back. If he meant to go, he would be gone.

The knowledge she had been searching for filled her: Her son was gone, truly he was; if he wasn’t he would have come to stop her. If he was there, he would’ve wanted her to go on, to live.

With her frame straight and her legs strong, the woman turned to go back to the village, full of all the hope and despair due her.

 

-Mel

A to Z Opening Day and IWSG

 

 

Today is April 1st, which means three things:

1.      I have to watch my back all day—the kiddos are sure to have something planned.

2.      It’s the first day of A to Z, so I get to visit a bunch of blogs and see the amazingly creative things all of you have come up with, and (hopefully) have something amazingly creative things of my own.

3.      It’s also the first Wednesday of the month, which makes it IWSG time. If you’re wondering what I’m insecure about today, refer back to items #1 and 2.

 

 

 

For A to Z  I will be posting flash fiction, all random, all the crazy musings of a crazy mind. Hope you like them.

 

A is for Apples

 

How many today? the woman asked, arms crossed, toes tapping. Four, I told her. And what about under, did you check there, too? I looked at the ground and nodded. Her toe stopped. Tell me the truth, ain’t none of this no good unless I know the truth, she continued, like she’d been there, like she saw me in that orchard. Probably did; witch that she was. Tell me, she said, toes tapping again. Can’t know the truth if I don’t have them all. There were three more, I said, but I ate them. Heat rolled off the woman. Has this happened before? she asked. Her voice was as dark as death. I slowly nodded. The woman gripped my arm, tight. Remember that day when you stood so tall and said I couldn’t possibly know your days end, any more than I could know how many apples were in that there seed of yours? I nodded, I remembered. Well, you were only half-right.

-Mel

 

Five Year Project in Review

Today is the last Friday of the month, which makes it Five Year Project review time. If you feel like joining in, you can sign up here.

My goal for the five year project is to establish a world-class publishing company. I figure if you’re going to dream go big, am I right?

So, how’s it going?

I’m almost too busy to know. I’ve been working on my pieces of flash for A to Z (starts next Wednesday, hope to see you back then), and if that wasn’t enough, I signed up for Camp NaNo, and I’ve got a small four day vacation thrown in there, too. I know what you’re thinking, because I’ve been thinking it myself: I must be insane. Maybe. But at least with NaNo, it’s only a camp version and I decided to be kind to myself and only sign up for 25,000 words. I just can’t help it, NaNo is always just the right kick in the butt I need to get projects done (or started), and I couldn’t let this opportunity pass. So how is it going with the goal? I don’t know; ask me after April’s over. J

A to Z Theme Reveal

Today is reveal day for the upcoming April A to Z. No surprises here from me. I plan to do what I’ve always done: flash fiction. Last year I was getting ready to release Blackbird, so my flash had that theme in mind, but this year I don’t have a book being released, so the flash will just be random: the meanderings of my mind. I have yet to write a single one, so I’m sure I’ll be busy the rest of the week getting those ready, especially because I’m going out of town for a few days in the beginning of April. I’ll still be online, so visiting all of you won’t be a problem, but I doubt I’ll want to be hunched over the computer trying to come up with a story while I’m on vacation. Nothing ruins the relaxation like stress on a deadline.

 

Anyhow…are any of you participating in A to Z this year? What are your themes?

 

I'll be posting on Friday for the five-year project in review, and then again next Wednesday for IWSG as well as day one of A to Z. See you then!

 

-Mel

Indie Life

Today is the second Wednesday of the month, making it Indie Life time. It’s a group that shares ideas/support for all things Indie. Feel like joining in on the discussion? Here is the link.

 

I’m sure April’s A to Z is nothing new to most of the readers of this blog, but since it’s right around the corner, I felt like mentioning it again.

For those of you who don’t know, A to Z in April is the bloghop of all bloghops. As I write this there are hundreds of fellow bloggers signed up, and if this year is anything like last, the final count will reach in the thousands. Basically, by signing up you’re agreeing to post every day in the month of April (except Sundays) and the posts have to correspond with a letter of the alphabet, ex: April 1^st is A, 2^nd is B, and so on. And since this is a hop, it’s encouraged that you visit at least five other blogs each day. It’s a great way to get to know other bloggers and gain new followers. Most bloggers have themes, but you don’t have to. I tend to write pieces of flash fiction for three reasons: 1. Shorter posts are better (With that many blogs to visit, who wants to read a long post?)  2. I like to write, and  3. I think it gives visitors to my blog a quick picture of who I am.

Feel like joining in? Click on the picture to the left for the link.

 

Are any of you doing A to Z? If so, do you have a theme?

IWSG

 

This is the first Wednesday in March, which makes it IWSG time. For those of you who are unaware, or want to join in, you can find out more here. Thanks Alex and friends for putting this on each month. I can’t begin to imagine how much work it must be.

This month (and I say thing month, because it’s very likely next month I’ll be saying the exact opposite) I’m at a good place. I’m writing for me. I’m not particularly swayed by trends, reviews of my past works, or general public opinion. I’m finally at a place where I’ve read enough and written enough that I know that while I’ll never be Ernest Hemingway, he’ll never be me, either. I still suck with commas. I still write very sparse. I still way over-think things, but that’s okay. That’s just who I am.

Who are you?