How to Fall in Love

Inspired by a writing exercise we did in class this morning.  This wasn't the one I actually wrote in class, but it was a close runner-up in the idea category.  I'm also going to try and type up and finish the other one later on, because it's funny.  Eh.  Well.  I think it's funny.  I hope you'll agree.


Onward!


--------


How to Fall in Love

Take an eight o’clock class, the kind that you always feel bleary-eyed and foggy, no matter how many hours of sleep you got the night before.  Make sure it’s a something that actually interests you; it’ll be easier to meet your soul mate if you share the same interests.  Especially that early in the morning.

                              

It won’t be love at first sight.  You’ll hardly notice him on the first day of the new semester, when the professor insists everyone go around and introduce themselves.  You’ll file his name and face away for future reference, but note, also, that he isn’t your type. 

Wait a week.  Realize you don’t have a type.  Start to notice his eyes, the fall of his hair, the way he reads his writing aloud for the class.  Wrap yourself up in the sound of his voice.  Don’t you dare throw away that note he wrote you on your short story, the one that tells you how ballsy you were to write it and how much he enjoyed it.  He enjoyed it.  Don’t let that thought go for the rest of the semester.  Remember that as the moment you felt your stomach drop and your heart beat fast – remember that as the moment you fell in love with the guy who wasn’t your type.  He’s your only type now; deal with it.

Fantasies

Just a little something short to add to today's post!  This is my February submission to Flash Party, a flash fiction challenge that asks authors to write tiny stories once a month, 250 words or less and based around the month's theme (or not).  You should give it a try, right over here!




Story under the cut . . . 

Excalibur

I'm not so sure on the name or how I feel about the ending, but that's why I'm posting it here!  I'd love some outside feedback :]

--------

Excalibur

a fairy tale

In the room there sat a marble bust of Caesar, a pile of pirate’s gold, a ruby as big as a prize fighter’s fist, and the sword still stuck in the stone, but Oliver didn’t want any of it.  He just wanted – needed – to find Margot, and to take her home again.

He told the little man in the luscious wingback chair exactly that.  Oliver wouldn’t be swayed by such material things, no matter what their price tag back in reality.  Some said these things were priceless, some said precious, but the only thing Oliver could think of that fit the bill for him was a warm fire and a tummy full of food.  And his Margot.

The little man stood and, small as Oliver was, he was not very much taller than him.  Oliver was almost sure that if he stood on only two legs, he’d tower over the little man – or, at the very least, he’d be able to look him in the eye.  As it was, the little man crossed the room and stood before Oliver, his face hovering somewhere not so far above and his brow knitted in confusion.  “This isn’t enough for you?”

Love Songs

I came up with an idea for a story that I thought would make a really interesting novel.  After some research, I started fleshing out characters and the fictional southwestern small town it would be set in.  And then, of course, as with many things in life, I set the story idea aside when things got hectic, to be contemplated at a later date.

I renewed my interest in the idea recently, mostly by trying to take some of the townsfolk and build short stories around them for my Intro to Fiction class.  I thought about telling the entire story through short stories - arranged in no particular order, giving you snippets of these people's lives.  I'm still playing with the idea, but I'm leaning a little towards a novel format again.

Anyway, I have a few of the stories I've worked on and I'd love some feedback.  I've come to realize that I'm pretty bad at writing endings, so I'll definitely be looking for help with that on most of my short stories.  Also, if you catch anything that isn't clear, or anywhere the basic mechanics are off, please, please, please let me know!

Also...just picture Jeff Bridges as Art, when he pops up in the story.  Trust me.

Welcome to the jungle!

Well, maybe not the jungle.  But, as sole proprietor of Sparks + Splinters Fly, the little writing blog you've just stumbled upon, I'd like to warmly welcome you to my page!  I invite you to take a look around and, especially in these first few weeks, certainly check back often.  I'm not necessarily new to the blogosphere, but I'm still tweaking my template; I'm sure colors and pictures and words will change as soon as I've posted this introduction.


Anyhow, how about something of a mission statement?  I have a blog over on Tumblr that I've linked to and would love to have you click through and enjoy.  But that's blog is full of ranting, raving, and life in general - pictures, videos, questions, quotes, and short manifestos clog my few attempts at posting my more literary endeavors.  Of course, I love the site for that very fact, clogging the Internet with my epiphanies and favorite funny cat pictures.  But, someday, I hope to be paid for my writing.  I want to be a novelist.  And I want people to know and love me as much as I know and love them.  In the meantime, I want to get my writing out there.  Thus, Sparks + Splinters Fly.


Dear reader, I welcome you to the grand opening of my museum of rough drafts, critiques, edits, and whatever else comes up along my road to publication.  I'll be posting poetry, drabbles, scenes, vignettes, flash fiction, story ideas, short stories, novel chapters - anything I want (or so desperately need) some constructive criticism on, in order to improve my writing and better myself.  I want you to read what I have to share and (without stealing it, of course) tell me what you loved, what you hated, and how to make the piece the best it can be.  Constructive criticism is the name of the game, dear friends!  If you comment mine, I'll comment yours - and when I comment yours, I'd absolutely adore you for dropping by to do the same for me.

So, that's the story - just the first of many, trust me.  Welcome, welcome, welcome!  And, wherever you are and whatever you're doing, have a lovely day :]

- Katie ♥