Month: July 2018

Writing

Life Happens

AJ Niblock

Disclaimer: This month’s prompt and I did not get along. I tried to write two different stories with it, but nothing clicked for me. However, this was actually the better of the two. SIGH. Happy reading and writing! 

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The yellow lines on the highway sped by in a blur, and we flew through the night, and we felt free. But we weren’t, and we knew it. We were running away from something, and running away was never the path to freedom. I thought about telling John to turn back. I thought about suggesting we turn around and face the music, but then I saw his face. He looked carefree. It had been a long time since I’d seen him look that way. He was actually smiling. His brown hair was a little longer than normal, which was probably due to the stress of the last couple of months. Who had time for haircuts with everything we’d been through.

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3 months earlier…

“John!” I yelled as he was heading out the door for work.

He turned to me with a question on his face. I knew he was running late. I handed him his lunch and he smiled gratefully. He didn’t actually say anything. Today was the big day. Today he would find out if he got the job. He’d been working hard for this his whole life. After 25 years on the job, he was up for a big promotion. I didn’t say anything else either; I knew he was remaining quiet to hide his anxiety.

I waited all day for him to call me, but he didn’t. I kept busy by cleaning everything I could think of. I scrubbed the bathrooms, mopped the kitchen, wiped down all surfaces, and vacuumed the whole house. When I did all that, I even washed, folded, and put away all the laundry. He still didn’t call. I decided to go for a walk. As I left the house, I found John.

He was sitting in the driveway with his car running. He had his head pressed forward on to his hands leaning on the steering wheel. I walked up to his car and tapped the window. When he looked up and saw me, I could tell he’d been crying.

After 28 years of marriage, I knew something terrible had happened. I’d only seen him cry once before this.

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Writing

Brains are Awesome

AJ Niblock

This month has been crazy! I have been participating in my first ever Camp Nanowrimo challenge. If you don’t know what it is, you should check it out. A few times a year, people actually commit to writing an entire novel in a month. My personal goal was to write 50,000 words in July. I do not think I am going to reach my goal, but the idea of making myself work on a project for that much time this month has made me realize something…

I can write a lot more than I do. I really have the time.

So, as I said, I don’t think I am going to reach my goal for Camp Nanowrimo, but I have written more this month than I normally do in 3 months! That alone made me realize I am capable of so much more.

As for my project for Camp Nanowrimo, I used my short story “Unicorns are Really Vampires” as a starting place for a novel. I knew there could be more to the story, but I am just amazed at the ideas I’ve come up with.

In addition to actually spending more time writing, I have also spent more time thinking about writing. Several times this month, I’ve felt like I hit a block in my story, with no idea how to continue it. However, by actually putting in the effort every day to either brain storm or actually write, I have been able to work through my writing blocks instead of being bogged down by them.

Sometimes without even meaning to, I will be going about my day and think, “That’s how that could work.” It’s like my brain is working on it even when I am not 100% focused on it.

All in all, and despite not meeting my goal, this Camp Nanowrimo has been a great experience for me.

writing-humor

Writing

July’s Prompt

AJ Niblock

So, this month I am actually trying and succeeding at getting things done when I mean to. Starting with getting my short story prompt posted early. Without further ado, here is July’s prompt:

“The yellow lines on the highway sped by in a blur, and we flew through the night, and we felt free. But we weren’t, and we knew it. We were running away from something, and running away was never the path to freedom. I thought about telling John to turn back. I thought about suggesting…”

I can’t wait to get into this one. I feel like it has the potential for some sort of paranormal or sci-fi element. If you haven’t read any of my previous stories of the month, my stories do have a tendency to have a sci-fi or fantasy bent to them. Last month’s story “Crime Scene” didn’t start that way, but it eventually got there.

In addition to my story of the month, I am participating in Camp NaNoWriMo’s month long writing challenge. I am using one of my previously posted stories as a jumping off point for a novel — “Unicorns Are Really Vampires.” If you are participating too, good luck with your project!

Happy writing and reading this month!