Writing Exercise Time

As in, it's about time! 
The words today are: 

Post, tame, stage, wait

            Watching and waiting from the wings. My cue is coming. Everyone on stage is in place. For my acting debut, the word I’m listening intently for is “horrible”. My parents are in the audience, I can see them, but I don’t wave. I don’t think they can see me.

            My best friend Cammie is there. My stomach flutters. I can’t wait to tell her what it’s like. She helped tame my hair straight for this role. It was essential. She even used mayonnaise. Pretty disgusting but so worth it to be out there under the lights. Not yet. Still waiting.

            Our post show party is at the drama teacher’s house. I’ve never been. More butterflies.

            Did I just hear my cue? Nobody is staring at me. I must be okay. The stage director taps my shoulder. I nod with a giant smile and get into position for my entrance. I’m behind the door. I prepare, losing my grin. The actress says “horrible” and I cross my arms over my body and lean against the door.

            I fall backwards onto the stage. Everyone gasps! I’m a hit! I get to stay here for the rest of the play as Dead Body #1. It’s the most stage time out of the whole cast.

            This is so exciting! My family will be so proud. I didn’t even throw up.

Writing Exercise

I can't even pretend I have spooky Halloween words! Just regular words, although I should have thought of something more creepy to write. Anyway, my random word generator chose four words for today's prompt. Have fun and don't scare me! ♖😳😃

Words: slim, sprout, far-flung, number

Digging holes in the earth is not what I was created for. Singing and dancing is way better than dirt under my fingernails.

The number of vegetables I’ve planted for Mama is nearing 30. May not sound like a high number, but it is. Trust me, and my broken, dirty nails.

Mama thinks there’s no better job than working mother earth. Which means, slim chance to none I’ll get out of doing this. And it’s not just the soil, it’s the bugs, the watering, the fertilizing (don’t get me started on the smell), pulling weeds, harvesting, turning soil, cleaning, canning, selling. You get the picture.

Daniella, Mama says, you’re a natural green thumb. Can I just say how happy I am my thumb is NOT really green? You want to know my secret to all the growing? Singing. I sing to my plants, sing while I water, then just watch those seeds sprout.

My dream of singing in the town musical has always been a dream. A far-flung dream at that. But if I could just have the chance to try. 

Hmmm. I may just have an idea growing, and I know I won't need a green thumb for that.

Writing Exercise - May

Once again, just under the wire - getting something posted in May. I plan to have a couple of book reviews coming up in June.
But today, not only did I finish a rewrite but I did a writing exercise too! Feels good. It might only last a day or two until I get it back from my reader, but I'll take it and savor it.
Here is the exercise again used with the handy dandy random word selector.
I think this came about from two sources: I was watching an episode of Dr. Thorne (set in the British countryside 1855) and remembering Little House on the Prairie. Basically, inspired by Dr. Thorne and influenced by Little House. How? I have no idea.

Words: projection, empire, disrupt, examiner

            The examiner examined the exam.

            “That’s a horrible sentence, Daisy,” Darla said.

            “How about this one then? The projector projected the projection.” Daisy smiled.

            “Ha ha, very NOT funny.” Darla used the eraser on the blackboard. “If you’re not going to take our punishment seriously, I’ll write the sentences.” Darla snatched the chalk from Daisy’s white powdered fingers.

            “Be my guest.” Daisy sat down and pulled a book from her satchel.

            “If you hadn’t disrupted the class, we would be at Catherine’s party right now.”

Darla pouted and Daisy stuck her tongue out at her.

“The Darla Popularity Empire will not fall because you miss one silly party.”

“Daisy! It’s not silly. It’s very important to me. I would think as my sister, you would be my ally and it would be important to you too.” Darla sniffled.

“All right.” Daisy pulled Darla’s ringlet and let it spring back. “Go to your important party and I will finish writing on the board.

Darla turned with sheer glee. "Oh, Daisy, would you? I would be ever in your debt.” She dropped the chalk in Daisy’s palm.

“Yes, yes, now go.” Daisy began to write.

“Don’t forget I owe you one.” Darla was gone.

Daisy grinned slowly. “That’s what I’m counting on dear sister, that’s what I’m counting on.”

Writing Exercises!

I can't even believe how long it's been since I posted anything! Gosh I hope I don't do that again!
Anyway, I was having fun with the random word selector and decided to do a couple of short writing exercises. I had done an exercise a couple of weeks ago but it was dreadful. (Can you tell I'm watching too much Downton Abbey?!) So I have two separate ones to post - to make up for January. I won't even attempt to make up for the last quarter of 2015. 
If the words strike your creative match, then have at it and have fun.

Exercise 1: Word prompt: Boots, chicken, nippy, work

Under my porch sits my boots. They’s for tromping around the farm. Gots me lots of work to do with them chickens. And shoveling all their poo. That’s why my boots sits outside, under my porch. Ma ain’t letting no boots with poo on ‘em in the house. It’s a rule. Not the number one rule, but it’s pretty close. The number one rule will curl your hair if it ain’t already curly.

Exercise 2: Word Prompt: Unadvised, quill, tap

Tap, tap, tap. Mr. Healdsburg’s quill made ink splotches on his parchment. Usually it’s scritching and scratching frantically. But today, it’s just tap, tap, tap. I wrote a note to Henry next to me asking if I should approach the schoolmaster. Henry said it would be unadvised. He overhead his sisters discussing Mr. Healdsburg and his date last night. Needless to say, it didn’t go well. That is our fault? He should not take his love life out on his students. Henry shook his head at me. Drat. Henry’s last note said there is a lot more he has to tell me. Now I have to wait for the end of lessons! Double drat. 

Writing Exercise Wednesday #45

WEW #45

Prompt: blur, dismount, pearl, snow
For some reason, I decided to use them all in the first sentence and continue from there. Join me on a trip!

Result:

    The pearl snow was a blur in my fantastic dismount from the galloping circus horse.
    We had to practice outside in the cold while waiting for the train to be fixed.  How you fix a train, I have no idea.  I patted Charmin and let the stable hand, Henry, lead her away.
    Sally, the bearded lady, whose show name was Sabina, shivered with chattering teeth even with all her facial hair.  She grabbed the first hot cocoa from Mr. Shamush.  He ate swords and breathed fire. His normally long hair was wound under a turban.  He winked at me when Sally took a second cup.
    Mrs. Craftsky, the tall woman and also our manager, gathered everyone around her.  “The train will be ready tomorrow.”
    A mutual groan did the wave around the circle.
    “I’m sorry.  I know it’s cold but we will have accommodations arranged shortly.”
    Sally raised a hair arm.  “Where are we?”
    Mrs. Craftsky hesitated.  My stomach flopped.  She pasted a grin on her face.  “Just outside Ulaanbaatar.”
    “Where?” I asked.
    She bent way down and touched my face.  “Oh, Pumpkin.”  That’s actually my real name and my show name. 
    Mrs. Craftsky stood up with shoulders back, towering over us all.  “Welcome to Mongolia!”

Writing Exercise Wednesday #14

I hope y'all are having fun with these. I'd love to hear from you and share your exercise. Write on!

WEW #14

Prompt: cut-offs, habit, imitate, raisin, writhe, idiocy, toast, cardboard

Writing Exercise Wednesday #6 + Thursday Result

Today's exercise is slightly different because there are two rounds of words to work and play with.

WEW #6

Prompt: Bellagio, grandfather clock, rug, bigger, rabbit

Mostly, time, slow, egg, memorable

Result:

The rabbit, brown and white like a quilt, was named Bellagio. Bella for short.

Bella crouched in front of the grandfather clock and watched the time tick by. It was slow. Like watching water boil. But at least you could put an egg in the water and have something to show for it. And eat. Which reminded Bella she was hungry.

She couldn’t think about that now. She waited on the Persian rug in front of the clock, running her paw over the fibers. Bella couldn’t stop thinking about her father coming home. He’d been gone for so long – mostly on business visiting other warrens. Each time he returned, his present for her would be bigger and better than the last.

But this trip was different. She’d never seen her father so nervous about leaving. She didn’t know why. His expression was memorable because it didn’t look like her father at all.

Bella folder her fuzzy ears down around her chin. Her big eyes begged the clock to go faster and bring her father home.

The handle on the door clicked.