Tag: Nikki

  • To Drabble or Not to Drabble?

    As part of my reintroduction to writing this year, I began participating in a monthly drabble challenge. Drabbles are defined in this case as 100 word stories (or 200 for double drabbles and 300 for triple drabbles). Drabbles are challenging, but I really enjoy them.

    I was involved in some discussion this week around word count, though, and ran into someone who claimed they could not drabble. They said it simply wasn’t posssible for them to write using so few words.

    Now, this group of folks in chat are people who regularly write 20,000 to 30,000 words or more a month, and the longest story I’ve written recently is less than 5,000 words. Still, it surprised me to find that narrowing the focus down to a drabble-length story would be considered more difficult than writing tens of thousands of words.

    So why drabble?

    One of the first things I noticed about drabbling was the way it forced me to choose words carefully. When you only have 100 words, every single one of them matters. I’m more likely to break out the thesaurus to find the perfect, descriptive word on a drabble than a full length story.

    Another thing I like about drabbles is that they can be relatively quick. If I’m blocked or frustrated, a drabble can shake me out of it. I can usually start and finish them in an evening, and completing something always makes me feel good. It also keeps the juices flowing when I’ve been stymied on my other works in progress.

    Finally, drabbling helps with plotting, too. Distilling a scene down to its primary elements, making sure you convey enough detail to fully tell the story but avoid going over the wordcount is great practice for longer stories.

    I realize that dabbling is not going to be for everyone. Still, everyone can do it with practice, and I think most people really will get something out of it.

  • Flash Fiction Friday

    To wind up the week, we have some short fiction for your reading enjoyment. Please click below to check out this week’s contributions:

    Darla M. Sands

    Nikkie Memmott Now

    Taurus and Taurus

  • Thursday 13

    It’s that day of the week again, when we corral lists by our contributing authors. Happy Thursday!

    Darla M. Sands

    Nikki Memmott Now

    Tess Miller

    And from Lucius Antony:

    Thursday 13 – December 10, 2009: Thirteen of the best Star Wars Quotes

    For this Thursday Thirteen, I’ve decided to take a look at one of my favorite movie series of all time: Star Wars. So, here are some of my favorite quotes from the Original Trilogy (back when the writing was actually pretty good):

    1. “I want to come with you to Alderaan. There’s nothing for me here now. I wan to learn the ways of the Force and become a Jedi like my father.” Luke Skywalker, Episode IV: A New Hope

    2. “I find your lack of faith disturbing.” Darth Vader, Episode IV: A New Hope

    3. “Greetings Exalted One, allow me to introduce myself: I am Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight and friend of Captain Solo. I know you are powerful, mighty Jabba, and that your anger with Solo must be equally powerful. I seek an audience with your Greatness to bargain for Solo’s life. As a token of my good will, I offer you a gift: these two droids.”
    “What did he say?”
    “Both are hard working, and will serve you well.”
    “Artoo, you’re playing the wrong message!” Luke Skywalker/C3P0 Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

    4. “You have your moments, not many of them, but you have them.” Leia, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

    5. “You’ll find that many of the truths we believe in are all dependant on our point of view.” Obi-Wan Kenobi, Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

    6. “Young fool! Only now, at the end, do you understand.” Emperor Palpatine, Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

    7. “Obi-Wan once thought as you do. You don’t know the power of the Dark Side, I must obey my Master.” Darth Vader, Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

    8. “No, try not! Do, or do not. There is no try.” Yoda, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

    9. “Luke, don’t give in to hate, that leads to the Dark Side.” Obi-Wan Kenobi, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

    10. “The Force is with you, young Skywalker, but you are not a Jedi yet.” Darth Vader, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

    11. “Will someone get this walking carpet outta my way?” Leia, Episode IV: A New Hope

    12. “Would you prefer another target, a military target? Then name the system! I grow tired of asking this, so it will be last time. Where is the rebel base?” Grand Moff Tarkin, Episode IV: A New Hope

    13. The Wilhelm Scream, used throughout the saga.

  • Thursday 13

    Every Thursday, the writers of the Writer’s Retreat participate in the Thursday 13 meme. Come join us as we ruminate on 13 things of interest this Thanksgiving Thursday!

    Nikki Memmott

    Tess Miller

    A. Catherine Noon

    Darla M. Sands

    Taurus and Taurus

  • Nikki’s Thursday 13 for 11/19/09

    I was at the library today reserving a copy of a book I haven’t read in a while and started thinking about the books that, despite being innundated with new material all the time, I read religiously every year.

    So, here are Nikki’s 13 “Read-it-every-year” books:

    1. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. – This one just never gets old for me. I still have the copy I bought at a book fair in the 3rd grade, and I read it at least once a year. I can’t wait to share it with my cousin Christopher (he’s 5).

    2. The Elenium by David Eddings – I was an idiot in 1988 and passed up the opportunity to buy The Diamond Throne new in hardcover, because for some reason I had decided I would hate it. By the time I read it and fell in love with it (It’s my *favorite* David Eddings book), it was only in paperback. I eventually loaned that copy to my brother and got it back with the spine doctored in masking tape. By coincidence, after reading news of David Eddings’ passing I was able to find a hardcover copy in a used bookstore in great condition. I admit to being pleased about this find on two levels – one, this copy should hold up much better than the paperback, and now I have the entire Elenium and The Tamuli in hardcover so they match.

    3. The First Two Lives of Lukas-Kasha by Lloyd Alexander – My elementary librarian recommended this to me, and it’s one of my favorites. I love the adventures they take, and the impact it has on the characters in the end.

    4. Practice to Deceive by Patricia Veryan – This is the book I went to reserve today. It was out of print by the time I read it the first time, and for some reason I have never made a serious attempt to find a used copy. Even though I am no longer reading historicals as a rule, I am drawn to this book over and over again. The Golden Chronicles series is good, but Practice to Deceive is my favorite.

    5. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Another book I discovered in elementary school that I still get the itch to at least once a year.

    6. Divided in Death by J. D. Robb – I am past the phase where I would read the In Death series from start to finish and then start over again, but I still love them, and Divided in Death is my favorite. I love it when Eve and Roarke’s relationship works, but really enjoy watching them struggle to come to a meeting of minds and hearts in this book.

    7. Running Scared and Moving Target by Elizabeth Lowell. Well, the truth is I probably read my entire Elizabeth Lowell collection at least once a year, but these two are probably the ones I pick up the most frequently. I love the characters and the stories.

    8. The Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J. R. Ward – I read these last year for the first time, and I am completely hooked. I can’t believe I almost didn’t even reserve them at the library when Amazon recommended them to me. (It’s amazing what they think you like when you start buying a ton of Sherrilyn Kenyon, lol). The universe is so engaging, and the characters suck me in every single time. Love these books.

    9. Ransom by Julie Garwood – I am not the Julie Garwood fan right now that I was back in the day, but I still love Ransom. It has all the essence of a good Julie Garwood historical, without being too much.

    10. Roselynde by Roberta Gellis – I think Alinor was actually the first romance novel I was ever brave enough to check out and take home (on a 6th grade field trip to the library, no less) but Roselynde was the book I found at Goodwill for $1, and I love it just as much. Every now and then I reserve the whole series in a fit of nostalgia.

    11. All right, it has to be said – The Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter and Meredith Gentry series by Laurell K Hamilton. I read Merry more often, but I do read both series a couple of times a year.

    12. Anything by Jayne Ann Krentz, Amanda Quick, or Jayne Castle – Like Elizabeth Lowell, this is another author where I get on a kick and I just read it all in a big bunch, at least once a year. So nice to have so many variations on a theme 🙂

    13. The Tairen Soul series by C. L. Wilson. I just finished Queen of Song and Souls and am now forced to wait until the 5th book comes out to see how she wraps everything up. Best random-book-at-the-library surprise in the last couple of years. I’ll be reading this for a long time. I love how Rain and Elysetta interact, and how their relationship is built over the books. Just lovely.

    Heaven knows there are a ton of others I could have listed here, lol, but I’m limiting myself to 13.

    Have a wonderful day, everyone!

  • Thursday 13: We’re BAAAAACK!

    After a long hiatus in which our writing team went on Safari to Africa and photographed the vanishing elephant populations along the Niger River delta, we have returned.

    Every Thursday, there is a Meme called Thursday 13. Its purpose is two-fold: to share thirteen things that catch our attention, and to visit each others’ blogs and see what others are noticing. While we can’t guarantee what you’ll find, we can guarantee it will be interesting!

    Here at the Writer’s Retreat, we feature a smorgasbord of our writers’ creations. Some of them are posted here, and some are linked to individual blogs. Please leave comments, since we writers are a narcissistic bunch! 🙂

    Our contributions for this week:

    A. Catherine Noon

    Darla M. Sands:

    Thirteen things I can do without:

    excessive riches
    pimples
    gum on my shoe
    lyrics I can’t understand
    dill pickles
    excessively talkative truck drivers
    dandruff
    mean people
    hairballs on the carpet
    slow drivers
    a runny nose
    writing interruptions
    housework

    Nikki Memmott:

    Nikki’s 13 muse-iest songs circa the year 2000…

    1. Faster Faster by Bree Sharp – did an AU Highlander fic inspired by this song. Supposed to be a PWP for a girl who liked Richie a little on the rougher side, and 6 mos later was a lot more than that. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3RyJAdeIDw – video’s actually Farscape clips, but it’s the right song)

    2. Saturate Me by Mandy Moore – I know, Mandy Moore, right? Still, I just could not get enough of this song. No stories directly inspired by this one, but it definitely got the writing juices flowing. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4143g-ZXI-Y)

    3. Breathe by Faith Hill – Made the mistake of listening to this song one morning after writing a smutty story the day before. Turned into a morning after story Smile (Found a cool video of Faith with Carlos Santana doing this song. Have to get through the Faith-as-fangirl stuff at the beginning, but it’s nice – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ1RqPqF9O4)

    4. Good Morning, Beautiful by Steve Holy – Ok, so my Richie and Methos muses were sappy, lol. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHUxogmXob4)

    5. Now We Are Free (Maximus Mix) from the More Gladiator soundtrack – I write best when I have background music that’s enough to set the mood but not intrusive. Wrote a heck of a lot of R/M listening to this song.

    6. Saints and Angels by Sara Evans – Methos finally had to give in and tell Richie some of the stuff he reeeally didn’t want to tell Richie about his past. I still love this song. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ1DRUu1L…e=related)

    7. The Last Thing on My Mind by Patti Loveless – Never got a whole HL story out of this, but might get an ABVH one. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ1DRUu1L…e=related)

    8. I Guess You Get Used to Somebody by Tim McGraw – Damn, I forgot how much I love this song. The CD also has Angry All the Time which is, oddly enough, my favorite Tim and Faith duet. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWCEc2yuzko)

    9. Burn by JoDee Messina – I have no idea why this is Richie’s song according to my Methos muse, but there you go. Never got around to the directly inspired fic, but I was all about this song back in the day. (Think it sounds like a Jason and Nathaniel song, Darla?? 🙂 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcPad0WFehk)

    10. Empty by Terri Clark – I’m not sure how this made it on to the musey song mix. The story idea for this one is long gone, I guess. I still fricking love the song, though. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM-SvX6KmU8)

    11. Save Yourself by Sense Field – I know there was a story in here somewhere. The Ride Alone sequel, maybe. It was nice to listen to it again. I haven’t heard it for a long time. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Und_fe6XSI)

    12. Space Between by Dave Matthews Band – This song has a lot of strong images about relationships that often helps me when I’m trying to wrangle the muses. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9DMdyrmb2k)

    13. What I Need by Julie Reeves – Again, sort of mood music since most of my stories are internal, rather than external plots. And a good song. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7-rhE3oosw)

    OK, I’m done rambling now 🙂