Sentence Sunday
(copied from
alanajoli)
melissa_writing has declared a Sentence Sunday. Since I haven't done one of these before, I'm posting her whole explanation here.
Rules:
For those of you new to this game, here's how it works:
1) It's done on a day that includes "-day" as the last three letters.
2) You pick a bit of text in keeping w the request. (Today it will be page 123)
3) You share.
4) You tell us what you like abt it.
5) We all get to read.
6) There's a tendency of others to reply to each other. (I like this, btw.)
THE REQUEST: Again, the request this time is "page 123" . . . Go there in one of your manuscripts. Start at the first full sentence, and give us a short excerpt.
Your turn:
melissa_writing has an excerpt up from Ink Exchange. Six or eight other writers (I was going to list them, but there were too many) have played back over in the comments, so there are plenty of excerpts to read today!
(end of line)
So here's mine... from my current project.:
“No,” Cara ejected, startling her companion, “you’re not going back.” She got to her feet and strode from the room, leaving John blinking and sputtering in her wake.
He quickly moved to catch up. “Cara,” he pleaded, “try to understand. I know it would be foolishly dangerous to proceed unprotected. My guard would be down once I was in the ring.”
“So you want me come along,” she finished for him, stopping in her tracks and looking him dead in the eye. “No.”
She held up a hand to forestall his entreaty. “I know what you want, know what you intend to do. And it’s compelling. The more you can learn about Gates, the easier it will be to perceive his manipulations.” John nodded, opening his mouth to expound on the idea. Cara didn’t let him. “But you’re also aiming to satisfy your own curiosity.”
“Look,” she said gently, “I know you’re seeking something, something you can’t explain. I can feel it inside of you, eating you alive, every minute of every day.” She suddenly knew what it was, too, that it related somehow to the image she’d seen, however briefly, in his head. An ivory spire, white and gleaming… “But this isn’t the way to find it. Gates is undoubtedly there, probably inside the ring. And if he catches you, you’ve endangered far more than just yourself and your private quest.”
She stopped, made sure she had his complete attention. “You’ve endangered us all. Davan’s mission, our circle… everything.”
She was right, and he knew it. She could see it in his eyes. He wanted to debate the matter further, wanted to argue with this simple and powerful rationale, but he couldn’t. Cara wanted to weep. She could feel the pain inside of him, how it rippled through him like a wave of despair and isolation. She wanted to reach out to him, let him know that she understood, that she’d be there for him. Whatever he needed.
She loved him and she knew it, would even have taken him to her bed if it would have brought him peace. But it wouldn’t, not for more than a moment. And it would make things more complicated later on. She couldn’t really be what he needed… couldn’t be the spire…
His face firmed, the iron returning to his gaze, and she nearly crumpled. Would he ever forgive her? She shook her head. It didn’t matter. Right now, she needed to be strong, unwavering in her conviction. She had to know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that John Harper wasn’t about to leave her side and embark on his desperate insanity regardless.
He nodded, trying to relax into his old, carefree persona. “Thanks for listening, Cara,” he said, donning a lopsided grin. “I always appreciate your advice.”
What I like about it:
This is actually an excerpt from a conversation in the midst of a flashback, one of a few pertinent scenes from the characters' earlier association that helps define their relationship now. I was able to use little pieces like this to build up the anticipation for John and Cara's inevitable reunion as I got into the meat of the story, so that the reader might be able to relate to the emotions particular to the characters at that moment without having to be told anything... if that makes any sense. This particular excerpt even demonstrates a defining moment of conflict in their lives.
Next!
alanajoli)
melissa_writing has declared a Sentence Sunday. Since I haven't done one of these before, I'm posting her whole explanation here.
Rules:
For those of you new to this game, here's how it works:
1) It's done on a day that includes "-day" as the last three letters.
2) You pick a bit of text in keeping w the request. (Today it will be page 123)
3) You share.
4) You tell us what you like abt it.
5) We all get to read.
6) There's a tendency of others to reply to each other. (I like this, btw.)
THE REQUEST: Again, the request this time is "page 123" . . . Go there in one of your manuscripts. Start at the first full sentence, and give us a short excerpt.
Your turn:
melissa_writing has an excerpt up from Ink Exchange. Six or eight other writers (I was going to list them, but there were too many) have played back over in the comments, so there are plenty of excerpts to read today!
(end of line)
So here's mine... from my current project.:
“No,” Cara ejected, startling her companion, “you’re not going back.” She got to her feet and strode from the room, leaving John blinking and sputtering in her wake.
He quickly moved to catch up. “Cara,” he pleaded, “try to understand. I know it would be foolishly dangerous to proceed unprotected. My guard would be down once I was in the ring.”
“So you want me come along,” she finished for him, stopping in her tracks and looking him dead in the eye. “No.”
She held up a hand to forestall his entreaty. “I know what you want, know what you intend to do. And it’s compelling. The more you can learn about Gates, the easier it will be to perceive his manipulations.” John nodded, opening his mouth to expound on the idea. Cara didn’t let him. “But you’re also aiming to satisfy your own curiosity.”
“Look,” she said gently, “I know you’re seeking something, something you can’t explain. I can feel it inside of you, eating you alive, every minute of every day.” She suddenly knew what it was, too, that it related somehow to the image she’d seen, however briefly, in his head. An ivory spire, white and gleaming… “But this isn’t the way to find it. Gates is undoubtedly there, probably inside the ring. And if he catches you, you’ve endangered far more than just yourself and your private quest.”
She stopped, made sure she had his complete attention. “You’ve endangered us all. Davan’s mission, our circle… everything.”
She was right, and he knew it. She could see it in his eyes. He wanted to debate the matter further, wanted to argue with this simple and powerful rationale, but he couldn’t. Cara wanted to weep. She could feel the pain inside of him, how it rippled through him like a wave of despair and isolation. She wanted to reach out to him, let him know that she understood, that she’d be there for him. Whatever he needed.
She loved him and she knew it, would even have taken him to her bed if it would have brought him peace. But it wouldn’t, not for more than a moment. And it would make things more complicated later on. She couldn’t really be what he needed… couldn’t be the spire…
His face firmed, the iron returning to his gaze, and she nearly crumpled. Would he ever forgive her? She shook her head. It didn’t matter. Right now, she needed to be strong, unwavering in her conviction. She had to know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that John Harper wasn’t about to leave her side and embark on his desperate insanity regardless.
He nodded, trying to relax into his old, carefree persona. “Thanks for listening, Cara,” he said, donning a lopsided grin. “I always appreciate your advice.”
What I like about it:
This is actually an excerpt from a conversation in the midst of a flashback, one of a few pertinent scenes from the characters' earlier association that helps define their relationship now. I was able to use little pieces like this to build up the anticipation for John and Cara's inevitable reunion as I got into the meat of the story, so that the reader might be able to relate to the emotions particular to the characters at that moment without having to be told anything... if that makes any sense. This particular excerpt even demonstrates a defining moment of conflict in their lives.
Next!