Category: Writing

Posted in Life, Writing

Do You Spend More Time Thinking About the Future or the Past?

Posted on by jennrae

I used to think more about the past by far, but lately, I have been focusing more on the future, while attempting to focus on the present. I am actually enjoying planning for the future. I got a special journal that is supposed to help with that. It is a Dream book and planner that I bought years ago before I was ready to face my fears.

It asks me a lot of questions and I am attempting to really think and answer honestly, which is forcing me to think about what I really want and how to get there.

I don’t want to be stuck with too many expectations or concrete plans because I do not want to be living my life dreaming and become disappointed when or if reality doesn’t align perfectly.

It is a balance that I am trying to attain. I want to have goals and visions of where I want to be, but I also need to focus on my day to day situations. I also want to learn from the past, but no longer be chained to it.

I have come to the difficult decision that I should table my old manuscript because I am not in the same place as I was when I wrote it, and I really think I am using it as a crutch to not write anything new. I would like to get something published this year in some form. And, I don’t think that will happen if I stay fixated on that particular mess.

I think I am going to try to plot out an idea and a cast of characters and try to make something brand new. I also am going to attempt to delegate at least thirty minutes to this endeavor. We’ll see how it goes, I may even set an alarm. Make it a habit like going to the gym. Been pretty consistent about that and I am proud of that, now if I add this, and stick with it, it will be another victory for me.

Daily writing prompt
Do you spend more time thinking about the future or the past? Why?
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Posted in Life, Writing

Do You Play In Your Daily Life? What Says “Playtime” To You?

Posted on by jennrae

I suppose playtime to me is free time, time that is unscheduled and unplanned. I tend to be tired after work, although I do occasionally play Hearthstone, and some WoW, although I haven’t been lately. I have made the conscious decision that I need to work more on my creative endeavors rather than spend my time consuming other people’s. I only have so much time, although to be honest, I still watch some television shows and some movies.

I am enjoying The Head, kind of a murder mystery show. It has some interesting characters and it has surprised me a few times although Season one I figured out ahead of time. I have also been enjoying What We Do In the Shadows, because we have been on a vampire kick lately with Nosferatu and all. I also have been going to the gym everyday it has been open, and going for walks whenever I can. I like to get some fresh air. I like to be near nature.

Writing is a form of play for me though. I enjoy replying on twitter, pretending I am so very witty. And, I enjoy reacting to things.

I also enjoy retail therapy. I just got a new coat that I adore, and some more DVDs from the Goodwill. I need to get some more binders to sort and store them though. I also enjoy reading and drawing, but I don’t always give myself enough time to enjoy these hobbies. And, I enjoy listening to music, in fact I am listening to music right now.

Daily writing prompt
Do you play in your daily life? What says “playtime” to you?
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Posted in Life, Writing

You Get to Build Your Perfect Space For Reading and Writing. What’s It Like?

Posted on by jennrae

For reading I would have a place with plenty of light, natural and artificial. Maybe a whole wall is a large window, and one wall would be a bookcase with tons of books covering a lot of topics and some classic literature for inspiration. Lots of comfy throw blankets and a few cozy chairs, maybe one large couch that reclines with phone chargers built in. A sound system with a record player and a cd player and a radio for audio inspiration. Lots of old movie posters or literary posters on the remaining walls. Cross between cozy coffee shop and old library.

For writing, maybe something a little less cozy, a desk for the computer and printer, good source of internet for research and a coffee maker. Again, a good sound system, I like to write to music. Inspiring quotes or posters on the wall, but less comfy furniture. Maybe a small bookcase with writing and reference books within easy reach.

I kind of like the idea of a converted shed, office in the back yard. I read somewhere that is how J.D Salinger wrote Cather in the Rye, to free him from distractions from the house. He would go to work there, and people knew to leave him alone. I love the idea of an ADU just for writing. Like a mother in law apartment with a small kitchenette and bathroom. Keep work and home separate in a way. I would like that. And a beautiful garden outside it for more inspiration.

Daily writing prompt
You get to build your perfect space for reading and writing. What’s it like?
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Posted in Life, Writing

Share Five Things You’re Good At.

Posted on by jennrae

Five things I am good at. I guess I am good at pretending to be more social or happy than I am. I work in customer service, and so it is kind of second nature for me to act like I am happy to see people, when in reality I’d rather be home typing on a keyboard. I’ve been doing it so long though that I don’t even have to think about it.

I am good at being on time, I plan ahead and take into account things like traffic and try to plan for the unexpected. I guess in a way I am good at planning things, making sure I have things taken care of should I need it.

I am a great reader. I used to not be when I was little because I had an overactive imagination and would just make up what I thought things said, but once I got it, I got it pretty good. I actually read faster than anyone I know. I used to think I was average, but every time I show an article to someone and we read it at the same time, I am always waiting forever for them to catch up.

I am good at drawing quick sketches, I can even do caricatures of people I know well, but I am not a professional by any means, and mostly I just do impulsive scribbles of dragons and horses and faces. But I am good at that.

I like to think writing, but honestly, I am not sure anymore. I try and I think I have improved. I do think I have some talent with ideas and presenting them in writing. And I have the imagination for it, but it is a matter of presenting it in a way that makes sense, is entertaining and is paced well. I seem to struggle with pacing, and too much information. Or I am just trying to do way too much all at once. But, I still think I am good at writing, just maybe not as good as I would like to be. Got to have goals though. I’ll get there.

Daily writing prompt
Share five things you’re good at.
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Posted in Life, Writing

What Is One Thing You Would Change About Yourself?

Posted on by jennrae

Mentally, I would like to be more disciplined. It is a struggle to keep motivated sometimes. I try to not to procrastinate, but there are days where I struggle. I wish it was easier to stay focused and on task.

Physically, I’m working on it. Basically get in better shape, financially also a work in progress, but working on it. Trying to create healthy habits all around so that I feel better about where I am going and that I am getting there. So far so good. I can’t complain about too much right now. Just gotta keep it up which is the key to success. I admit to not getting much if any writing done today. And, I slipped up on the social networking on X as well.

I’ll be honest, this is going to be difficult because this is the busy season for my day job, and I can be downright exhausted at the end of the day, plus sometimes I do not get the long lunch hour I normally get. I can’t even go home for lunch. It is just starting to ramp up, but I can feel it arriving very soon. It has definitely begun. I work for a large employer who has to do with mailing packages and such. That is as specific as I am going to get because they are weird about social media and I am not representing work on here in any way, shape, or form. End of that disclaimer.

Just saying I may have quiet days coming up because it will be a challenge and a possible roadblock. I guess If I was independently wealthy and could just focus on writing that would be awesome. At least on paper.

I have found when I take a vacation with the intent of getting a bunch of writing done, that I waste a lot more time and I am a lot less productive. So, me being in charge of my schedule doesn’t seem like it would be a winner. I may be the type of person that requires a deadline or a limitation of some sort to thrive. I always did best when I turned that final paper in for college at the last minute and pulled an all-nighter to get it done. It is like the pressure is good for me, even though it can be anxiety inducing.

Daily writing prompt
What is one thing you would change about yourself?
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Posted in Fiction, Writing

Time to Write — The Big Bad Bird

Posted on by jennrae

The crunch of brittle bones underneath her feet reminded her of where she was. The cave entrance was clammy and dark. The beam from her flashlight only traveled so far, illuminating one part of the massive wall. She could hear little skittering noises of some unknown critter running away from her obvious human footsteps. Her assistant cowered behind her slightly. She could hear his breathing and hear his steps.

“Just a little further, Wally. I know we are getting close.”

“Why does it have to stink so bad?” She shook her head and chuckled. She knew he would rather be in cozy office building or even a lab building. Anyplace with heat and light and less scurrying noises.

“Don’t worry. The blonde girl in front of you will protect you from the big bad bird.”

“Oh, whatever.” She heard him say under his breath, annoyed. He was such a child.

“Are you getting any of this? We should try to record as much as possible. Who knows when we will be allowed back.”

“The lighting is less than ideal, but I am trying.”

They ventured further in and the space got tighter. Hopefully there would be some eggshells or feather samples. A loud squawk could be heard outside suddenly. She stopped and waited. “Did you hear that, Wally?”

“Yeah. I don’t like it.”

She went against the wall slowly, motioning him to follow. She placed her fingers to her mouth in a quiet gesture. Wally followed her against the wall. She turned the flashlight off. He gasped, and she could feel his eyes on her. They held still and heard loud scratching and squawking as the bird creature entered the cave.

It seemed large, from the talon scratching although they had no light to see it. She gripped Wally’s hand, giving him a reassuring squeeze. Luckily, most birds don’t have a keen sense of smell. Although, vultures can smell decay. This creature was unknown. It was hard to say what its skills were. She made a silent prayer to God, even though it had been a while. It was an instinct to reach out to something somewhere.

She heard it scrape by its talons and heard it scrape the ground with its beak like a large chicken. Wally’s foot slipped slightly and skidded a rock which made a not so subtle noise. She heard the bird stop, and come back around slowly.

She tried to regulate her breathing to be quiet, but it was getting more difficult by the minute. It approached their wall slowly, she could hear the click clack of its talons. Her legs began to go numb from being in the same position and suddenly she dropped the flashlight.

She heard Wally scream and heard him go down. In a panic she found herself running to the cave entrance, and then felt a searing pain in her ankle, and she crashed into the bones. Then it was upon her, and she could feel the pain from the gouges until her mind completely shut down and spared her the additional pain.

Posted in Writing

What Technology Would You Be Better Off Without, Why?

Posted on by jennrae

Smart appliances and smart devices. I feel like the more app focused things in a house or a car, or anything really, the more dependent we are on technology doing things and thinking for us. A good example would be something like Google Maps.

I have noticed a decline in navigation skills in a lot of younger people, and even myself. I have gotten used to the app, and no longer pay as much attention to the actual roads or try to investigate alternate routes. And then the app gets confused in an alley and I can’t figure out my own way out of it.

I guess I feel any technology that can cause dependence or less cognitive function can be bad in the long run. We need to foster critical thinking and problem solving and increasingly this app based tech encourages less thinking and less problem solving which if it were to continue to get integrated into our lives may eventually make us unable or unwilling to figure out solutions.

Eventually all technology and civilizations stumble and fall. If it has a beginning, it inevitably has an end. If it were to end with us unable to problem solve, we would be unable to rebuild and it would be an ugly end. Or perhaps the people who could rediscover these skills would be the only people that could survive.

Daily writing prompt
What technology would you be better off without, why?
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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?
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