Imagination vs. Observation

We've all heard it more times than we could count: "Write what you know!" Indeed, as writers, we spend an inordinate amount of time and effort on observing the world around us, to amass a solid basis of that which we know. And yet, if writers were to transcribe the literal events around them, no one would read past the first couple pages (if that).

This is where a writer's imagination comes into play. Our observations weave together into a patchwork cloth which our imaginations then transform into an entire wardrobe (i.e. collection of stories).  

Flash! Friday: Prompt #21

This weeks Flash! Friday entry! A requirement of 100 words exactly (excluding title) based on the picture prompt below.  What comes to your mind? 

Photo courtesy of Flash! Friday's site 

Innocent Envy

The grass tickled her toes as Sarah watched the others running, leaping, tackling – frolicking. Everything from the trees, to the boulders, to the piles of fallen oranges fell pray to their games, brushed by every hand. Sarah dug her own fingers into the dampened earth to the side of her blanket.

Other than her, the only excluded object was a lone ladder, stretching into the sky. Maybe someday soon she’d be able to climb it, see what mysteries rested at the ladder’s edge.

“Catch!” Sarah heard seconds before an orange plopped beside her.

Bobby followed, grinning. “How’s the leg today?”

For Everly: Cover Reveal, Poll, & Giveaway!

I haven't done this before on my blog, but I've decided to begin supporting upcoming releases of other authors with guest posts and giveaways, for some additional variety in my content.  First up is Raine Thomas, also a romance novelist, with some exciting news about her upcoming novel, For Everly!

---

For Everly
A New Adult Contemporary Romance Novel
By
Raine Thomas

Raine Thomas is so excited to share the new cover of her upcoming New Adult novel, For Everly. There’s only one problem: she can’t decide which it will be!

Pseudo Pseudonyms

Many authors choose to publish under a pseudonym. Reasons for choosing a pseudonym vary depending on era, genre, etc.—and sometimes just personal preference. Some writers want to keep their writing distanced from the view of their loved ones, others want to keep their readers distanced from their personal lives, and others still have their choice forced by instances of gender bias.

In the modern world, there are many completely understandable reasons for publishing under a pseudonym.

Flash! Friday: Prompt #20

This week's attempt in response to the Flash! Friday prompt.  Rebekah encouraged humorous posts, to lift spirits after this week's traumatic events, though it seems many of us struggled with a comedic tone. What do you think?  (Check out the comments on the Flash! Friday page to read some more stories!)

---

Untold Trauma

"See! What did I tell you?" Andrew announced, shoving a newspaper in front of Eliane. 

She gasped, hand flying to caress the red jewels adorning her neck.  "It can't be!  How could they?? I shan't believe it!"

Writers, Unite!

I am relatively new to the virtual writing community, so I have not (yet?) ceased to be amazed by the true sense of community and camaraderie shared by aspiring and published writers alike.  Writers from all over contribute their time and words to events (such as BlogFlash or AprilPrompts) or to free contests which promise only exposure and fun (such as Flash! Friday), not to exclude of course community attempts to encourage writing productivity (such as NaNoWriMo & NaPoWriMo).

I hope, then, that this community will join me in supporting the Scripting Change Project, which offers writers the opportunity to make a positive difference in the world while doing what we do best: writing!