Month: November 2024

Posted in Fiction

Time to Write — Feline Curiosity

Posted on by jennrae

The cat was black and white with bright green eyes shining like jewels. It slunk down an alley avoiding garbage and random bottles on a mission to some unknown place. At the other end of the alley a slender dark haired woman with green eyes appeared walking in red heels, confidently striding into the street. Annabelle turned around uneasily. Was she being followed? She tried to lose her tail earlier by becoming the cat but sometimes hunters know that trick.

She walked into the nearest bar with its noise spilling out onto the cobblestone streets. She slid into an unassuming corner, looking around the room cautiously. There was a pair of drunks arguing over there. A sad older woman drinking alone at the counter. A group of young friends carousing into the early hours. Then she saw him. A man in dark clothes with a hat pulled low covering most of his face, nursing a cup of coffee sitting alone at a table.

She didn’t want to make any sudden movements or attract his attention. She carefully slid out of the red shoes, and tried to calmly walk to the door. She sensed something behind her but didn’t want to turn around. She kept going forward, and then she felt it. Something hit her in the back of the neck. She felt her body go numb and she began falling. I guess this was her ninth life after all.

Posted in Uncategorized

Beach or Mountains? Which do you prefer? Why?

Posted on by jennrae

I prefer beaches because I love hearing the surf going in and out. I find the sound soothing and the views are breathtaking. I like being near the ocean. But, I don’t like crowds, and that can be an issue. I love mountains as well for the views, and just the unspoiled nature. So, it is a tough choice. An unspoiled private beach though sounds like paradise to me. Just listening to the water, and soaking some sun, with sun screen of course. Sounds really nice.

Daily writing prompt
Beach or mountains? Which do you prefer? Why?
View all responses
Posted in Uncategorized

Your Family’s top 3 favorite meals?

Posted on by jennrae

My son seems to want to eat at Taco Bell 7 days a week, but that’s too much for me. As far as stuff I make, I would say a pepper jack smoked salmon scramble with pancakes and toast with raspberry preserves. Or any omelet really. We love eggs. Good source of protein.

Second, the classic spaghetti with meatballs. Italian heritage american style. Might be tied with Chicken Parmesan, my son loves both, kinda similar style dishes. Comfort food for the win.

Any kind of enchiladas or tacos. Had some mahi mahi fish tacos that were good. Definitely making those again.

Daily writing prompt
What are your family’s top 3 favorite meals?
View all responses
Posted in Uncategorized

If I Could Meet a Historical Figure.. Who and Why?

Posted on by jennrae

Jules Verne would be fun, because he was one of the first writers of science fiction. But I would need a translator. I would love to interview him and ask him how he came up with his ideas. I have always liked Captain Nemo. I wouldn’t want to go too far back because living standards in medieval times and such were kind of gross. I like showering and not emptying buckets of filth into the streets. I like some modern conveniences. Modern plumbing and hygiene are good things.

Daily writing prompt
If you could meet a historical figure, who would it be and why?
View all responses
Posted in Uncategorized

Musings and Plans

Posted on by jennrae

I decided to look at some famous writers who happened to have been born in November. There were some good ones, Madeline L’engle was tempting, but I think I covered her a long time ago. Mark Twain’s birthday is coming up too. I happen to be a descendant of his younger half sister from his Dad’s second marriage. There are no direct descendants because all his daughters died without having children. So, I guess I’m as close as one gets? Consolation prize?

But, I am just not feeling it. There are a lot of influential sci fi writers from the classical era that I could cover as well, Spider Robinson, Gordon R Dickson. But I am just not feeling like doing the research on these guys. I know of them, but I would need to read up on them more to do them justice. And, I just had a long workout at the gym. Feel like maybe I overdid it. Probably going to be feeling it tomorrow.

I am sapped energy wise. Probably should have written beforehand. Oh well, guess that is a lesson learned. I appreciate people reading this blog and plan on doing more fiction soon. I am also thinking about compiling my short fiction into a collection. I have to polish them up first, and then decide how to go about that.

I may attempt something drastic with the novel. I may cut the beginning until I find it interesting, switch the main protagonist to the character that I find the most interesting. It will change the tone and feel quite a bit. But it isn’t like I don’t have a hard copy of the original if I hate it.

I could try to plot out a new novel. I have some ideas. I just am trying to get the wheels turning and feel like I need some WD 40 to get it working. Thanks for being here and there. Your support means the world to me and I take nothing for granted. Thank you. JennRae.

Posted in Fiction, Writing

Time to Write — Belief

Posted on by jennrae

She slowly shut the car door, defeated from a long dull day at work. Her feet took heavy steps toward the small brick house with the tidy yard. Her eyes looked up and saw the door wide open. She ran up the steps and peered inside. It sounded quiet but also looked emptier than she remembered. The tv was gone, the couches, the computer, even the fan and the kitchen table.

She was left with an empty house. She fell down and cried in despair. Why me? Why now? This wasn’t fair. She didn’t have a lot that she cared about. She went about each room in the house mentally cataloging what was missing. There were clothes left strewn about the floor along with papers from the desk drawer. The antique box given to her by her deceased grandma, gone. She reached into her coat pocket to call the police to report the theft, speaking calmly, drained of emotion or energy.

“I need to report a robbery. I’ll make a list. No, I don’t think anyone else is here. ” The police were on the way. She sat down on the bedroom floor dumbfounded. How was she going to explain this to Eric when he got home from high school? How would she replace all this stuff? She remembers thinking renter’s insurance was a waste of money. She rocked herself anxiously on the floor, wrapping herself in her coat like a cocoon. It was going to be all right. It’s just stuff. It will be fine. They will find the stuff, catch the person. At least no one was hurt.

The police took her statement, and she made a list of missing items, thinking about her son who would be home soon. They left and she waited. She knew she should eat something, or do something, call somebody. But she was paralyzed. She sat there. The sky darkened and her son still wasn’t home. She reluctantly got up. Picked up her phone again to give him a call. The phone went straight to voice mail. It was off then. Where was he? She called her mom hoping she had heard from him, no such luck. “Can I come over? This place is empty and depressing, and I don’t know what to do.”

“Of course, honey.” Her mom said with concern. She walked out of the house locking the door behind her out of habit. Her phone rings suddenly startling her. She answers reluctantly. It is the police. She can’t have any more bad news today.

“We have your son and two of his friends here. They admitted to the burglary and breaking into the house. “

“I don’t believe you.”

But she knew it was true. It explained everything. She just didn’t want to believe it.

Posted in Writing

Do I trust my instincts? Hmmm. Maybe…

Posted on by jennrae

Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. Sometimes there isn’t a right or wrong outcome. I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt when I meet them. I have regretted it before, but I have also been pleasantly surprised by it. I think I would rather take a chance on something or someone than wonder what if, later.

I do try to use the information I do have to make an educated guess. I tend to be cautious and like to have a more complete picture of things before I make a decision. Sometimes, I can be downright indecisive. Most of the time I waver. Definitely if there are long term consequences that would be tough to unravel easily.

Daily writing prompt
Do you trust your instincts?
View all responses
Posted in Life, Uncategorized

Daily Writing Starts Now

Posted on by jennrae

I am going to attempt to write at least a little bit of new material everyday, just to get back into the habit. I think trying to fix this mammoth novel has actually made my writing stagnant. I have been so intimidated about it. The immensity of the task, the insurmountable mountain of the pages. The myriad problems, none of which are small mind you. I think I have been using it as a crutch to avoid writing in general. It was written in a long fever dream after Layne Staley of Alice In Chains died. I was a big fan, and it made me realize that life is fragile, and often temporary.

When I was in the midst of it, in the emotions and the living and breathing of it, I thought it was the most important and glorious novel ever written. It was only after the dust settled, it was written quickly in three months, that I realized just how messy and unreadable it actually was.

It has been the boulder on my back crushing me ever since. However, I woke up feeling invigorated and positive and with a distinct feeling like I could conquer the world. I haven’t felt this way in years, before covid, and all that. It has been a hot minute. So, I am going to try and get into the habit of new writing and writing daily. And, I am going to start going to the gym on a regular basis too. Healthy body, healthy mind.

That was the idea behind the YMCA. They thought a pure body was closer to a pure mind. Young Men’s Christian Association. It is very 19th century, reminds me of the way they built sanitariums to be shaped in a way to keep the mind pure, and the working to keep the mind busy.

I also plan on doing some hiking and adventuring because I live in a beautiful area that has so much outside nature. I feel like growing up here has made me take it for granted. I tend to forget all the beauty and fresh air.

Posted in Life, Uncategorized, Writing

It has been awhile…

Posted on by jennrae

Trying to get back on the horse again. Life has a way of distracting you from things that matter. I tend to get caught up in the daily grind and get a little lost. My happiness has been a bit low, and one of the reasons is I haven’t been writing or drawing. I need to refuel the tank and get back to where I feel productive.

I’m sorry to all the people I disappeared on around 2019. I tend to sabotage myself and financially I’ve had other priorities.

Anyway, I appreciate any visitors and I promise to start writing some stories. JenRae.