I'm back for another week of WeWriWa fun! If you haven't heard of WeWriWa, it's a fun little blog hop where authors of all experience levels and genre's come together to share 8-10 sentence long snippets of their work. Over the years, I've found that it's a great way to tighten my writing. I've also met some truly fabulous writers who've been a fantastic source of support and advice.
Life stuff has prevented me from doing much fictional writing during the past year. I missed it. Particularly since I've had this idea for a contemporary novel, Shattered Glass, percolating for a few years.
I posted the opening lines a few weeks ago, during which it was revealed that my MC's cell phone had no signal. Since I live in a semi-rural area, spotty cell phone reception is a part of life, so I couldn't help poking a little fun at how pop culture's rather cliched method of using this as ominous foreshadowing.
As always, any and all advice is welcome. Thanks!
Harlow tapped at the screen with her fingernails, which didn’t magically create a
signal. “If I was in the first act of a Supernatural episode right now, this
would be a very, very bad thing.” Instant regret winged through Harlow as her mind’s
eye conjured a contingency of black eyed demons, or worse, standing behind her.
She rushed to paint a silver lining on her naturally dark imagination. “Of
course, if this was the show, Dean and Sam would be here right now.”
Her
gaze bounced to Elk Snort, around the parking lot, and to the street. Not a
single black Impala, lanky Winchester brother, or salt filled rifle to be seen.
Damn.
Oh dear! Tempting fate like that has to have consequences!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the excerpt - I always love your 'voice'. My only concern would be the very specific TV show reference because not everyone watches it - I never have - so it didn't carry much impact to me, and even for those who do, eventually the show will end and the reference in your novel will seem dated. I like the concept of her relating her predicament to an entertainment that she enjoys, which could also be a more generic reference to horror movies or vampire novels or something. Just a thought, hope you don't mind.
ReplyDeleteGood points and something I'll have to consider! Thanks, Veronica!
DeleteWhat! No signal AND no Winchesters? Life can be so unfair. :-)
ReplyDeleteThat's the truth!
DeleteSigh . . . the Winchesters . . . But I digress. After 11 seasons most can relate to or at least recognize the reference. Creates the perfect mood. But now I'm waiting for Dean and Baby!
ReplyDeleteOh damn, I wish Sam and Dean were there...or here. Yes, here with me would be better. lol. Great job, Jess!
ReplyDeleteYou and me both!
DeleteI can only imagine how much more relieved she'd be if Sam and Dean were there. I know I would be. ;)
ReplyDeleteLOL I love it! I'll have to remember that the next time I go someplace where I lose signal. LOL It happens every now and again when we're out exploring, far away from big cities, or even small ones. :)
ReplyDeleteLOL! There are dead spots all over my town, including within my house. It's the downside of living in a ruralish area.
DeleteI don't know if everybody would get the reference, but it certainly made me smile. I love her way of looking at the world.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'm not sure if the reference will survive the upcoming rounds of edits, but right now it amuses me. Cheers!
DeleteJess, you are delicious! Love all the references. Of course I'm an old broad and young folks would say-what the hey?
ReplyDeleteAww, thank you. You're such a sweetie!
DeleteHave never seen the Supernaturals so none of the references tell me anything but I enjoyed it somewhat anyway. I hope nothing will happen... o.o
ReplyDeleteThe fact that you haven't watched Supernatural is actually a huge help. It's feedback that I can use when I start editing that will help me determine if the reference is sensible, enjoyed by the majority, and something that even readers who aren't familiar with the show will understand. Thank you.
DeleteLOL! Where's a modern TV icon when you need one? Good snippet!
ReplyDeleteIf you think about it, the ubiquity of cell phones is like a dagger to the heart of some fiction, especially mysteries. I'm glad you're working on your own dagger to the heart of the cellphone!
ReplyDeleteOf course, if we were in tv shows like that, we'd probably end up dead. So maybe it's for the best we can't cross fiction and reality.
ReplyDeleteOy, I can so relate to her imagination, Jess! Mine really runs away with me, in the dark. I'll probably never write horror or anything too dark. lol Too much of a scaredy-cat--like your main character. :-)
ReplyDeleteSO glad to be reading your work again!
LOL Great snippet! I love the comparison to the TV show.
ReplyDelete