Sunday Writing Post

Time for Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday! Take the time to check out the links, it's a great opportunity to read the work of some talented writers.

DWARFED is a YA manuscript featuring 16 year old Grace, who temporarily finds herself living on a working hog farm in Michigan where she feels . Grace has a big heart and a stubborn nature. She also has a genetic condition called achondroplasi a dwarfisam.

I shield my eyes from the brutal glare of the sun, and study the sparkling water. There’s no sign of my duck.

A flash of movement grabs my attention, and I watch a black feather cartwheel into the gelatinous debris. Trepidation curls my toes and bile fills my throat.  The grounds sprinkled with a liberal layer of black feathers. Adelaide’s feathers. 

I can’t believe I didn’t see them sooner.

Adelaide molts but she’s never lost this much of her plumage at one time.  I pick up a feather. Blood transfers from the quill to my fingertips.

Snippet Sunday and #WeWriWa

It's Sunday again, which means Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday! Also, Happy St. Patrick's Day.

I spent last weekend and most of last week fighting with internet problems. As a result I was unable to visit as many blogs as I would have liked, hopefully I'll make up for that this week.

This week I found out that my YA manuscript, Dwarfed, made it to the Amazon Breakthrough Novelist quarterfinals! That's not quite the same thing as a publishing contract, but I'm a big believer in celebrating all accolades.  Amazon even posted a link to my excerpt (okay they posted all the quarter finalist's ) It served as a reminder that I've focused all of my snippets on Grace, Luke, and a piglet, but have somehow managed to ignore Grace's pet duck Adelaide. It's time to correct that oversight.

I crest the hill separating the house from the giant pond. Below me, ducks float on the pond, like a living Monet painting.

I let myself into the pen and walk to the shoreline. Standing on the slight decline, I’m careful to keep my feet well away from the disgusting clumps of algae, feather, soggy pieces of straw, and duck droppings congealing where water and land collide. Rippling V’s spread over the water, as the ducks turn and paddle to the far edge of the fenced in area.

“Adelaide.”  Several white ducks look at me.

            I ignore them and try again, gentling my voice. “Adelaide?”

Source: tammyferrenphotography.com via Soni on Pinterest

Sunday's Dwarfed Snippet

Both Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday provide writers with different interests and talents to shared writing snippets and advice. The rules for both groups are simple. Post a snippet from, in my case, work-in-progress. After posting, I get to read the snippets the other participants have posted. It's a sweet deal! 

Last week I had several first time visitors, or at least first  time commentators so I'm doing a short set up.

DWARFED is a YA manuscript featuring 16 year old Grace, who temporarily finds herself living on a working hog farm in Michigan, Luke Searc, who works for the farm, and Spēs, a newborn piglet who needs a little extra care. Grace has a big heart and a stubborn nature. She also has a genetic condition called achondroplasia dwarfisam.

A collection of snippets from DWARFED can be found here. And now, this week's snippet.

          “Grace.” Luke hesitates. He looks like he wants to say something but is having a difficult time finding the right words.

            My teeth sink into my lip and silently willing him to not mention our near kiss. My brain has turned to mush, important components have shorted out, until I get it sorted out there’s no way I can talk about what nearly happened.

I hug the little pig more closely my breastbone. She sighs and rests her chin on shoulder. I should be grateful, she saved me from making a huge mistake. Still, a part of my head, a part that must have sustained the most damage, feels disappointed.

I forgot to mention it, but I want to give a big shout out to one of my favorite youth organizations, 4-H. If you weren’t a part of the 4-H scene while you were a kid, you have no idea what you missed out on. If you have kids, you should get them involved, you’ll be glad you did!

 

Source: flohe-images.de via cookkooc_de on Pinterest

Aftermath-weWriWa Sunday Snippet

I'm joining an enormous group of extremely talented writers for Sunday Snippet and Weekend Writing Warriors. The rules for both groups are simple. Post a snippet from, in my case, work-in-progress. After posting, I get to read the snippets the other participants have posted.

Last week, the snippet I posted ended in the middle of a paragraph. This week I'm starting in the middle of the same paragraph.

Last week I had several first time visitors, or at least first  time commentators so I'm doing a short set up.

DWARFED is a YA manuscript featuring 16 year old Grace, who temporarily finds herself living on a working hog farm in Michigan, Luke Searc, who works for the farm, and Spēs, a newborn piglet who needs a little extra care. Grace has a big heart and a stubborn nature. She also has a genetic condition called achondroplasia dwarfisam.

A collection of snippets from DWARFED can be found here. And now, this week's snippet.

His strong, calloused fingers wrap around my palm and wrist. He digs his heels into the ground and pulls me to my feet. “I guess she was worried about you.”

“It seems so,” I mutter.

I keep my head bent to hide my bright red cheeks as I take my new pig from him, and cuddle her against my chest. The solid feel of her weight against my heart doesn’t stop way stomach jumps around as I peer up at Luke through my eyelashes.

Had I really almost kissed him?

Source: Uploaded by user via Antonio on Pinterest