Knights of Microfiction!

It's time for a little flash fiction exercise. I'm excited to participate in Kathy and Jessica McKendry's monthly meme "Knights of Microfiction!"

For those of you who don't HATE flash fiction with a passion (you know who you are), anyone can join us to stretch your fingers and get the creative juices flowing. You can sign up on Kathy's page. Post your entry before 11:59pm on Wednesday Jan, 16th and then go around to read as many other entries as you can.

Here's this month's prompt:

In 400 words or less your character(could also be more than one) has a chance meeting with someone who will change their life.

And here's my entry, the intro from last year's NaNo project (hope that's not cheating):


Mermaids don’t just happen to exist, they’re made. No one knows exactly where the first one came from, she won’t tell. But after she arrived in Orkney waters, people began to "mysteriously" disappear.

Tides along that cursed coast are murderously swift and subtle, taking the unsuspecting wanderer off guard disturbingly often. No warning waves crash out the threat of violence that the water brings with it. Linger too long among the tidal pools, and before you realize it, water seeps in around your ankles and then, with a woosh, past your waist, up to your shoulders and carries you out to sea.

That's how it happened to Lilith in her 15th year of life. Despite her mother's warning, Lilith crept down one twilight to crawl amongst the tide pools, fascinated by the myriad creatures that made their home in that transient strip of land and sea. She laid herself down to get a better look at a giant anemone clinging to the porous rock. His swirling tentacles and pulsing colors, magenta, umber, canary, held her in a hypnotic spell while the waters crept in closer and closer until she was trapped with no way back to the shore. Dark water enveloped the jagged rocks as the tide rushed in, filling the empty spaces in the pock marked shore, and then it was too late.

If anyone had been watching, they would have seen a swirl of black water, green sea grass, and auburn hair as Lilith gasped and grasped at nothing and slipped away. But they would have missed what really happened.

Knights of Microfiction!

Firstly! Hi to my new followers! I'm so glad you're here! Tell your friends to follow me too! When I reach 100 followers we're gonna have a party and I'll be giving away some prizes, too!

But now, down to business.

That's right, y'all! It's time for KOMF again! I'm so glad that Jessica and Kathy McKendry decided to start hosting this monthly blog hop again!

Anyone can play along. To join in on the fun, check Jess and Kathy's blogs on the 13th to receive that month's prompt, post your entry before 11:59 p.m. on the 15th of the month, and leave a comment on one of their blogs with a link to your post.  Then go check out as many entries as you can!  By the 17th, they will choose two winners to be featured on their blogs.

Here's this month's lovely prompt:

Write a 200 word or less flash fiction beginning with this phrase: Her eyes shot open...
You are free to change the gender and POV if you'd like.



Her eyes shot open and she blinked rapidly. Why couldn't she see? She rubbed her eyes with the backs of her hands. They were wet. Wait, wet? That didn't make sense. She put out her tongue and tentatively tasted the liquid. Blood. Was it hers? She shuddered. She rolled onto her side and sat up. With a clang, her head came in contact with the top bunk. Ok. Ok. You're not crazy. You can figure this out.


She took a breath and wracked her brain for an answer. Of course. Heracleum mantegazzianum. More slowly, she rose and felt her way toward the door, one step at a time. She cracked her shin on the desk chair and cursed. Damn! I knew that was there. There wasn't much time. She had to reach Xavi before the effects were irreversible. Xavi would know what to do.

I hope you enjoyed my entry. I had fun writing it!

Knights of Microfiction!

It's time for Knights of Microfiction! This is a monthly meme hosted by the fabulous Jess and Kathy McKendry. I have had very little time to blog recently, so flash fiction is right up my alley!

Here are this month's rules:

Use at least one of the following adjectives: delicate, repulsive, hostile, and at least two of the following nouns:  New York City, my 16th birthday, and kilts. Write a MicroFiction/flash fiction piece of 250 words or less.

And here's my entry:


It's a delicate balance, I thought to myself, living here in New York City. Just surviving day to day can be a challenge, albeit one that I accept. Never let it be said that a Wallace is not worth his salt. I adjusted my kilt as a couple of beauties strolled by on the avenue.


There’s just one problem. No one can see me. And… they’re all dressed so strangely. It’s only very rarely that I see anyone else in a kilt, and they’re usually stone drunk. Those drunks can see me. And they’re usually terrified when they do. I think something may have happened to me.


Last thing I remember before I got here was it was my 16th birthday. Ma had made this new kilt for me especially. I was going out riding, and when I got home it would be time to celebrate. 16. Coming of age for a Scottish lad.


Only I never made it home. All of a sudden I was here. My stomach growled. I was starving. The night was just beginning here in the City that never sleeps. If I played my cards right, I could find myself a drunk with a conscience, someone to slip me some food. Best place for that was in Greenwich Village. They were just more accepting there. A couple of handouts and I’d be set for the night.


Somehow, I’d survive. Somehow, I had to figure out how to get home. Or at least what had happened.

Off to the internship again today. Lots of reading to do and I think my fellow intern is going away. I guess that's the point of an internship. It never lasts for very long.

Knights of Micro-fiction and other Big News

So! News first and micro-fiction second :) If you are looking for my campaign entry, go here.

About a month ago I read a blog post by Brightened Boy. I love his posts because they feel so authentic and his observations on life are very astute. Anyhow, this particular post mentioned the fact that while he was in school (I assume... because he JUST graduated) he did an internship with a literary agency. I immediately thought to myself "How cool!" and then, for the instant that I always do, I lamented the fact that I was never brave enough or forward thinking enough to do this while I was in school myself. In all fairness, I really had no idea what I wanted when I was in school.

But that led me to thinking... why not now? Of course, there's the fact that a lot of internships are specifically for college credit... and there's also the fact that I'm well past the age demographic that most people want/expect an intern to be. But other than that I'm ideally situated. I know what I want to learn about now, what direction my life is leaning... and I don't HAVE to have a paying gig to survive.

So... because I always do things a little half-heartedly so as not to get my expectations up (which may not always be healthy, I acknowledge)... I sent out 6 resumes 10 days ago. Within a week I had an interview and landed a paying internship in the City. Ha! So starting tomorrow I'll be commuting to the City 2-3 days a week and learning all about the book business from a literary agent's perspective. Which will be EXTREMELY interesting and helpful for me. I can't even believe it happened that fast! I'll make sure to post regular updates here, for better or for worse, but I'm hoping for better :)

Now on to Knights of Micro-Fiction, as hosted monthly by the fabulous Jess and Kathy McKendry. the rules are: Write a micro-fiction/flash fiction story of 250 words or less beginning with these words:
After all this time, there it was...

Here's my entry:

“After all this time, there it was,” I said. “Right there in front of my face.” 

“Well you obviously weren’t looking hard enough, Lani,” Keegan shot back, rolling his eyes. He was always impatient with me, had been ever since we were little. 

“Hey, punk.” I took a swipe at him, which he dodged. “It’s not like it matters how long it took. I found it, didn’t I?” 

 “Yeah, but now what are you going to do with it?” he asked. 

I raised the shimmering amulet from its hiding place to eye level. Keegan’s spiky-haired reflection beamed out at me as it turned to face him. “What am I going to do with it?” I raised an eyebrow and threw him a mischievous grin. “Do you even know what this is?” 

“Of course I do,” Keegan rolled his eyes at me again. “It’s a transmuted teleport. Turn it three times in the direction the moon travels and it’ll take you anywhere you want to go. But not just anywhere… anywhere in time or space.” 

“Exactly,” I said. I had had a little time to ponder the thought. Years spent in a prison cell, your mind wanders. No, I knew exactly where I wanted to go and when. I had a score to settle. 

“You’re not thinking what I think you’re thinking, are you?” Keegan looked unsure. 

“’Course I am, Keegs,” I said, grabbing his wrist. “And you’re coming with me.” The amulet turned three times and I closed my eyes.

I hope you like, and I hope you'll take a few minutes and participate! Seriously, it's called Flash Fiction for a reason, people.