So… it’s Wednesday, and you all know what that means.
GARBAGE DAY!
And also WIPpet Wednesday, where a bunch of crazies (and a few normal people, you know who you are) share a bit of a work in progress that related in some way to today’s date. I’m having one of those days where I’m skimming chapter 10 and going “this sucks, sucks, sucks” and am ready to delete the whole thing. As in the entire work, not the chapter.
LOVE those days. But it will pass… it usually does. Still, I’m feeling a bit ruthless, so I’ll let Aren give you a few lines from chapter 10 of Bound while I try not to do this to my work:
–
The men were easy to locate. Not Severn’s, as I had expected, but local guards sent to search the woods for us, careless and unaware of how close they were to success. I heard and saw them long before they knew I was there.
“Do you see anything?” His Qittavian accent made it come out “D’you see hennyting?” His thoughts were easier to follow than his words.
“Same as. We going to turn back? I’m about ready to get back to my Mary and a home-cooked meal.”
“Give it another few. We’ll never hear the end of it if we’re first back.”
“Imagine if we did find them?”
The first speaker snorted, then wiped his nose on his sleeve. “Gawd, I hope not.”
They certainly hadn’t located us through any skill of their own; more likely they’d been sent off in our direction, picked up a few signs of someone passing, and followed because they’d been instructed to follow every clue. What a shame for them that they were so keen on doing their duty.
They hadn’t thought to send word back to anyone else. I know, because the second one told me before I cut his throat.
–
*ahem*
Love that guy.
So anyway, that’s it from me this week. Be sure to have a look and see whether anyone else is posting something more uplifting here, and if you’d like to join in, follow the instructions above re: the date, or start a new work and post that. Bow down before the Queen of the WIPpeteers here. Bring gifts.
ROW80 update: Things are going. Slowly. Not doing so well, actually. Slowly getting through edits, but like I said, it all seems pointless right now. Just going to try to ride this one out. Not reading anything ATM, but I got Crossed from the library; we’ll see if it’s as disappointing as people say. I’ll try to go into it with no expectations. I have heard, however, that Ally Condie did dual-first person narration, like I’m doing in my fantasy stories; seems like a strange change to make for the second book of a series, but it could definitely be interesting, so I’m excited to see that.
As for non-writing goals, this week I’m kind of forced to do extra stuff with Ike while Simon’s off at summer camp (for the first time, GAH!), so that’s going well. Took him to a few local spots, nothing fancy. Still, better than a kick in the pants!
Walking Jack at the pond near our house
shipwreck, anyone?
This is off the end of my street. I love this island!
So there you go. Photographic proof that I’m achieving my goal of doing crap with my kids. Yay me!
To see what other ROW80 participants are up to (ROWers? ROW, ROW, ROW-your-boatists?), take a gander at this here linkie.
Thank for stopping by! Off to do battle with chapter 27 now. *loads word-blasting gun*
disregard the prologue 
July 10th, 2013 at 9:28 am
I love the dialogue and the last line was great. 🙂 So intriguing…
July 10th, 2013 at 11:00 am
I feel sorry for the guy who’ll never get that home cooked meal and some snuggle time with Mary, but “thems the breaks” right?
July 10th, 2013 at 11:04 am
When you’re dealing with certain people, absolutely.
July 10th, 2013 at 11:19 am
What do you think Mary was cooking?
July 10th, 2013 at 11:29 am
Lamb? 😀
July 10th, 2013 at 11:31 am
How long do you think she kept it warm for him?
July 10th, 2013 at 11:38 am
Hmm… until the milk man showed up?
July 10th, 2013 at 11:41 am
His loss is the milk man’s gain, I suppose. I get so curious about the minor characters sometimes.
July 10th, 2013 at 11:43 am
Me, too. It’s hard not to follow that rabbit-hole sometimes.
July 10th, 2013 at 11:42 am
I like how for most of the excerpt the style is quite casual with Aren not showing any fear despite people searching for her (sorry if it’s him – I can’t remember!!) and the people searching are being quite relaxed too. Then suddenly at the end Aren cuts some guy’s throat. I did not see that coming! Bloodthirsty!
July 10th, 2013 at 11:44 am
Haha- yes, Aren is the “him” in the story. He may be somewhat lacking in compassion and mercy…
July 10th, 2013 at 11:50 am
You don’t say!! Poor Aren – I thought he was a girl 😉 Wouldn’t like to meet him on a dark night though. And he may not take too kindly to being confused with a woman!!
July 10th, 2013 at 11:51 am
Actually, he’d probably laugh about it. He’s not so bad once you get to know him… and as long as you’re not a threat. 😉
July 10th, 2013 at 11:52 am
Mmm…is he cute?? Though I am spoken for – have a hubby of nearly 11 years it’ll be this month. 🙂
July 10th, 2013 at 11:53 am
Oh, so very hot, if you like that type. 😉
Congratulations! We’re not at 11 until December.
July 10th, 2013 at 11:57 am
Thanks! Having read your blog posts I thought you’d been married for about the same number of years as me. Aren sounds like a bad boy, the type a girl would really like to go for if she threw caution to the wind! But they’re certainly interesting types. Maybe if I wasn’t taken… 😉
July 10th, 2013 at 11:59 am
Some women say the best guys are all either taken, or gay. I would add “or fictional” to that list. I HATE when that happens!
July 10th, 2013 at 12:10 pm
I know exactly what you mean. My hubby is wonderful and we’re so happy together, but it’s such fun creating all these wonderful male characters, isn’t it, you know the ones that in another life you might have ended up with.
July 10th, 2013 at 12:19 pm
Great dialogue!! You intrigued me with “Qittavian” and your careful attention to detail. As usual, you have a killer ending.
Aww. Simon’s off to camp. My mom told me that when I went off to camp my dad kept passing my room and looking sorrowful since I was away for the first time. So sweet. 🙂
July 10th, 2013 at 12:21 pm
We got a phone call from him on Monday. He was so homesick, but he decided to stay. Didn’t hear anything yesterday… broke my heart!
July 10th, 2013 at 12:58 pm
Last line is great…and I need the word blasting gun after you’ve used it pleeeeeeease!
I’ll be hanging out with the children in August, pix to come, I’m sure!!
July 10th, 2013 at 2:03 pm
Dooooooon’t delete! I’m working through the middle hump too, and there’s always that point where you just want to say “forget it!” Keep going! Sometimes eyes other than yours will find that it works, or give you suggestions to improve. But that’s for the edits, right? Plug away! Love the tidbit you put up!
July 10th, 2013 at 2:22 pm
Your pics always make me want to come and visit. Someday… And we’ll have to make a stop at the Rossy. I must see this store in person. Maybe they’ll have the Rainbow Brite cross-stitch by then. Or maybe I’ll take home the drunken floozy set if it’s still on discount. 😉
July 10th, 2013 at 2:24 pm
I don’t remember seeing that set last time, but the one with her pants down is still there. 😀
You have to come visit some day. Plan for some time between late June and the end of the summer some year. I’ll be waiting.
July 10th, 2013 at 2:31 pm
I’m trying to get into doing tour guiding for a living, which will eventually mean racking up the air miles, which eventually means I can afford to get out there. It will happen one day. Until then, I’ll just have to imagine puffins and dragoffins…
July 10th, 2013 at 2:33 pm
And pufflings.
July 10th, 2013 at 2:34 pm
Awwww, lil pufflings too?!
July 10th, 2013 at 2:35 pm
I’ve never seen one, but you can dream about them! And this… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yyr0nypcMtY
July 10th, 2013 at 2:38 pm
I love them even MOAR!!!
July 10th, 2013 at 2:39 pm
I love how dapper they look in their fancy little suits. Makes me want to squish and cuddle them.
July 10th, 2013 at 2:43 pm
I’m surprised they haven’t made it into some anime somewhere. They’re soooo cute, you’d think the Japanese would be all over that (they’re obsessed with cuteness).
July 10th, 2013 at 6:04 pm
Seriously. They’re already pretty much the cutest adult animals on the planet…
July 10th, 2013 at 8:50 pm
Wouldn’t it be great to know you could totally take a threat like that out without breaking a sweat. I felt a bit sorry for them though – they are like the extras in movies that exist only to die for dramatic effect!
July 10th, 2013 at 8:51 pm
Should have put red shirts on them.
July 10th, 2013 at 9:40 pm
Ooo with targets!
July 10th, 2013 at 9:39 pm
Very nice. You totally got the whole “they died horrible, blood-curdlling deaths” in there without so much as an “Aah!”
July 10th, 2013 at 9:40 pm
By the way, I still love that cat-tail mustache picture. 🙂 It makes me happy.
July 10th, 2013 at 10:40 pm
Da-yum. Nice last line, there. But really? This is like torture. Like being fed very teeny, tiny spoonfuls of dark chocolate when all I want is the whole 10 lb bar.
July 10th, 2013 at 11:15 pm
Fun pictures! I’m sure at some point your kids will appreciate that you did a bunch of nothing with them. (Let’s hope so at least!) I like the last line of your WIP!
July 10th, 2013 at 11:45 pm
Yeah, I casually cut people’s throats, too. It’s, like, no big deal or something. Oh! Oh! He needs to start singing something from “Sweeney Todd.” That’s what he sort of reminded me of. I liked the scene you selected. He is someone who is very good at doing his job and disposing of those he sees as threats. When I need a body guard for all the throat-slitters I myself have taken down, I will hire him. In fact, I SHOULD hire him…
July 11th, 2013 at 12:17 am
Awesome WIPpet, Kate! I’m already falling in love with Aren (yeah, I like the bad boys… so sue me). He and ‘Listii would have some fun together.
And the pictures… *envious!* I love the water. LOVE I tell you, LOVE!!!
July 11th, 2013 at 12:19 am
I love the description of the accent! And I was even starting to find these guys a little bit endearing and then… DEAD!
July 11th, 2013 at 5:41 am
I feel terrible. These guys didn’t have personalities or dialogue until this draft, and this is what happens to them. Boom, done.
The accent is based on a think Newfoundland accent. It can be lovely, or supremely confusing!
July 11th, 2013 at 8:39 pm
Poor dead guard guys. They weren’t a danger. They were just half okay at their job.
That shipwreck is sooo cool looking. Wish the lake near me had cool stuff like that. I’m made of jealy now.
July 11th, 2013 at 8:42 pm
They would have been a danger if they’d made it back alive…
My kids are big fans of the shipwreck. 🙂
July 12th, 2013 at 10:17 am
He’s just so matter of fact with that killer last line. Loved the ‘Qittavian accent’ bit – although I read it in an Irish accent. 🙂
As for the photos that’s what’s at the end of your street… wow.
July 12th, 2013 at 10:19 am
It’s funny, I based it on Newfoundland, but that’s really just a muddled mix of a lot of Irish and sort of a Cockney… thing… and then really fast and mumbly. 🙂
Yeah, that’s Noggin Cove Head. We live on Main Street; you keep going off of the end onto a dirt road, and there you are. This town is BORING and tiny, but I can’t complain about the natural scenery!
July 13th, 2013 at 12:24 am
I have a ravine at the end of my street where kids play and drug deals go down, as I understand it . . . not quite the same. 😛
Love your pics! My camera and I are best of friends.
Hope you have a super productive – and more encouraging – week ahead.
It sounds like a great challenge, but I’m thinking I probably have enough on the go for now . . . for a l-o-n-g time actually.
Have a good one.