He sat #dazed as the #monster took out a stubby pencil and began to do #calculus on the back of a receipt. He’d been braced for an attack of #razor-sharp teeth and claws, but this was even more terrifying.
366FF #bravewrite #vss365 #whistpr
Author Archives: Allison Ketchell
Camp NaNoWriMo Winner!
I set a modest goal of 20,000 words in July, and I’m pleased that I made it. I started a novel, which was a lot of fun to noodle around with. I had the NYC Midnight Flash Fiction Challenge take up one weekend, parenting take up who knows how long, and a few migraine days, but I did manage to produce 20,000 words, which is the most I’ve done in a long time. I like Camp NaNoWriMo because you don’t have to hit an arbitrary goal to “win.” It’s fun to have a cabin of people participating to chat with, and watching the progress bar fill up is satisfying. I don’t think NaNoWriMo (50,000 words in November) is for me. I don’t really enjoy working on one and only one project for that amount of time (I also started a short story during July), and the goal is unrealistic for my current life.
I got much better at just writing without editing as I went. This is a constant struggle. Just producing words as a goal is fantastic for me. I started writing without an outline, just an idea, and I ended up writing scenes I never would have come up with otherwise. I’m now probably ready to outline the novel, having figured out from the characters what they’re going to do. So it was a productive exercise even if it didn’t produce polished writing. Anyway, it was fun, and I’ll do it again.
Calculation of Love
“Sam’s a #strong candidate for my first #kiss,” Ruthie mused. “He’s #mastered the use of dental floss, so there won’t be a yuck factor in my #nostalgic recollections.” “He seems to like you, so I bet he’ll cooperate,” Deb #speculated.
366FF #whistpr #flexvss #vss365 #bravewrite
Don’t Send in the Clowns
“What’s your #phobia? I can’t stand heights.” “Oh, I don’t really have anything like that,” he mumbled. He hoped she hadn’t noticed his #subtle glance away. He didn’t want to discuss the clowns.
#vss365/#bravewrite
Puzzled
“What on #earth?” Lucy placed the last piece of the #jigsaw puzzle. The face she’d just completed was her own.
flexvss/#whistpr
Exorcism, Step One
“Just #write down the instructions!” “But #exorcism is more art than science, dear. It wouldn’t be a #kindness to give false hope.” “Thomas, you won’t live forever, you know, and then where will we be?” “Not to worry, I’ve got a deal in the works.”
flexvss #vss365 #366FF
The Procedure
After #crawling through a #tangle of #ivy, he emerged in a clearing. He brushed dirt and cobwebs from his suit and set his old-fashioned medical bag on the #tomb. “This is where we’ll do the #exorcism then?” The approaching screams told him his patient was near.
mentalhealthprompts #brieflywrite #whistpr #bravewrite #vss365
Errand Gods
“We’re running low on ambrosia, and there’s no #nectar in the #house. Honestly, Zeus!” “I know, dear, I meant to run to the store, but I got distracted.” Hera rolled her eyes. “Another damn human? Well, get going, and pick up my prescription while you’re at it.”
vss365 #whistpr
Accidentally Crowned
“I said to stand up for yourself and take some #initiative, not start a #revolution!” “Oh.” “But you’ve certainly solved the #problem of low worker pay on this planet with your first decree…Emperor.”
bravewrite #366FF #flexvss
Did You Do That?
“#Imagine if #dinosaurs had #fur,” mused Ricky. “Wouldn’t that be weird?” “I don’t have to imagine!” cried Josh. “There’s one #standing right over there! Did you do that!” Ricky looked down at his hands. “Maybe? Oh no, I think it sees us!”
flexvss #vss365 #whistpr #366FF
Allison Ketchell 