The exercise:
Four lines of prose about: credit.
So... you should check this out. The current issue is of particular interest. Pages 4 and 19, to be exact.
Mine:
It's been a long time coming, but that right there is my very first publishing credit. I heard through my local writing group that The Okanagan Sun was looking for a story, somewhere around 800 words and preferably having something to do with spring, and I decided to offer my services.
That's actually a pretty big step for me, as not that long ago I would have let someone 'better' or 'more deserving' or more whatever take the spotlight.
11 comments:
Congratulations! Well done on getting published there, and well done on the story too, it's a great little piece! I hope you've got both pages cut out somewhere to keep :)
Incidentally, reading the story, I was struck by how easy it was for me to recognise the writer, so I think you've definitely developed your own style of writing.
(Oh, and 'someone better'! Thhhphb! Really....)
Credit
"Do you offer credit?" Sally looked at the store-owner expectantly.
"Only on the pre-owned stuff," he said, producing a torn and crumbled packet.
"Pre-owned... chewing-gum?"
marc, woohoo!
greg, cute,
mine is a short one tonight:
Credit
He was no better than a thief, taking all the credit for the work she had done.
They called it team work.
Team work my arse!
More like master and slave - nothing has changed over the centuries, has it?
There were so many mistakes in last night's entry that I thought I would give it a shot in the morning. Yikes. I will read your piece when I get a chance. And Congratulations!
@Marc - loved your prompt, sounds like a regular conversation.
@Greg - funny
@WB - oh I know that guy!
Here is mine...
“For what its worth I think you should have won, someone must have paid off the judges,” my sister Anna said.
I smiled, I know I should have won, I’m not saying that because I’m conceited, it is just a fact.
“I’d be pissed, why aren’t you pissed, you look like the cat that ate the canary,” she said while raising an eyebrow at me.
I smiled as I thought about my eloquent speech I had with the judges in praise of Marvin Dulhard’s, Ode To Breakfast, people are so easily manipulated.
@ Marc - My Hero!
Look at what you did... Don't just cut it out, you need to frame that.
Blah, my "prose" sounds more like an editorial.
<>
Have you have ever attended the book signing of a newly published author of fiction? You may have noticed that the writer really savors the moment. They relish the notoriety, give thanks, and really seem to appreciate their fans, dolling out autograph after autograph with a smile plastered across their glowing face.
Once published some of these writers have a change in attitude, especially toward their fans. Not long ago they would have posted a character portrayal received from a fan on their refrigerator or taped into a scrap book. They would have been ecstatic that someone out in the world loved their work as much as they did. But now the superior author takes an opposition to fan fiction, threatening high dollar lawsuits and forcing websites to close.
I personally do not understand the change of heart. Fan fiction is just that, a work written or drawn by a fan, their fan. Though they may change an aspect of a character the original author envisioned, the story is unique and separate from the original work.
Therefore certain rights should be attributed to the fan for his writing as long as the original author is given proper credit. Based on a novel by in large font across the bottom of their copy, seems more than sufficient. Why quell the aspirations of young writers, published authors are their inspiration and as such they have a responsibility.
Woot! Congratulations on getting published! I loved the story, it gave me a big smile on a cold and rainy day.
I'll give your four line prose thing a shot:
I hauled my eyelids open, blearily regarding the bedroom ceiling. Oh, right, I'd seen the clock read 1am before I had turned off the bedside lamp last night. I'd taken that last hour of consciousness on credit, and it was time to pay it back. I rolled over, hitting the alarm off button as I went, and snuggled back into bed for another hour of sleep.
Greg - haha, I actually drove all over town yesterday looking for a copy. It hadn't been delivered yet, so it's a good thing it's a small town :P
I did get a copy today though. Not sure what I'm going to do with it yet.
That's a very industrious store owner you've got there!
Writebite - thanks!
Can really taste the bitterness behind that one. Nice work.
Iron Bess - thank you :)
Intriguing character, you've got me wondering why your narrator apparently campaigned for another competitor.
Krystin - thanks :D
Well said. I hope that if I ever attain those lofty heights I'm able to retain some perspective. I'd like to think that I would.
Nicole - thanks! Glad it had the desired effect :D
Now that's my kind of credit!
Oog...very, very late. The price you pay for theatre in the big city. The upside? 'War Horse' was pretty frikkin amazing, the horse puppets simply boggle the mind.
Credit:
The truck had started to cough and knock as they came over the small rise and spotted the restaurant/gas station in the distance. Tim tap danced on the accelerator and managed to get the old beast to stagger its way to the pumps and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Everyone looked to be having lunch so he just ran the nozzle clocking up twenty dollars worth of gas and then fished around in his wallet for the credit card. As he walked toward the office his eyes flicked to the window and his heart sank as they scanned the words, “In god we trust...all others pay cash!”
Don't worry grond I'm here to keep you from being the last, and I don't have the wonderful excuse of having gone to the theater.. Nope I was doing laundry taking the daughter to her dance and theater class cooking, and watching the kids play... Anyway...
@Marc - It's funcky seeing you're words out there on paper? I've got a piece of mine going in our Church New Letter... which reminds me I need to send it to them soon. I'm also about to submit something for an anthology, if I can get the butterflies to stop fluttering enough to let me.
Loved everyone's takes on Credit. I might as well write one since I'm here.
Credit
Good credit is something they say that you need. It feeds into how much money a bank will lone you, or how high your credit limit is, but one missed bill and your credit could end up toast. It's enough to make a person wonder if they should use credit for anything. But if you never spend more than you earn, you'll never have to worry about making ends meet.
A little random I admit, trying to get the brain in gear.
GZ - great descriptions in your first paragraph. And places that don't accept credit cards are a bit of a shock to the system these days.
Cathryn - yeah, it's pretty wild. Something I might get used to... with enough practice :P
Sticking within your means. It sounds so simple and straightforward, yet so many of us just can't manage it.
Thank you, Morganna :D
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