Writing: Week 1

where to start?
Creative Commons License photo credit: PrASanGaM

Kris Johnson and I have been meeting every morning at a local coffeeshop to get in an hour of writing every day before work. So far, so good…sort of. We’re both struggling with focus at the moment, and I’m starting to wonder if a café with free wifi was such a smart move. Discipline will demand that I turn off the wireless when I’m there, and so, that’s my plan for next week.



I’ve gotten about a thousand words written this week, which is not bad, considering I’ve been getting zero. Most of my writing has been taking place in a new program that I picked up as part of the most recent MacUpdate Bundle, called Storymill. Frankly, I’m really digging it. I’ll post a review on it once I know the program a little better.



Now…because Jared Axlerod has been encouraging me to blog about my progress, I’m going to subject you to some of the writing I got done this morning. It is, frankly, crap. However, I’m trying to be open and honest here, so I’ll beg your kind tolerance.

I pulled a writing prompt from Plotstorming this morning, and here was the result. it is short. It is rough. It offendeth mine eyes.

“Yoouuu?! … Nooo!” Arakain staggered back as if he had been struck. One gnarled hand tightly gripped his equally twisted staff, while he threw his other hand out and fanned his fingers at the white robed man. Flames leapt out from bony fingertips in a gout of solidified hate and fear, but the torrent hit the resplendent figure and parted like a river around a boulder.



“It is no use Arakain!” The figure shook his head and the flames died.



The people of the small village gasped, watching from a distance. Arakain snarled and chanted in the ancient tongue of mages, hurling lightning at his nemesis. Again, the figure shook his head and the lightning evaporated into an ozone-scented mist.



“Your days of cruel tyranny are behind you!” The figure advanced and Arakain shielded his eyes. Hands flaring with white light reached out and grasped the bony wrist of the evil mage. Arakian shrieked, watched his skin burst into blue flames.



“No, damn you!” The white-robed guardian stepped back, and Arakian crumpled to the ground. Flames licked at the black robes as Arakain writhed. In moments, the evil sorcerer was gone, nothing more than a pile of ash on the scorched earth.



There were few moments of silence, then the village began to cheer.



* * *



The white-robed figure materialized in this golden palace of delights. He sighed heavily.
“Cruel tryanny?” A familiar voice sounded from the jacuzzi. “That was overdoing it a bit, don’t you think, Bob?”



Bob shrugged. “It did the job.” He dropped the bag from his shoulder, which clanked loudly on the stone tile of the room. “We’ve got enough for rent this month, if this heirloom sword is what I think it is.”

I’m off to hide in embarrassment. I think, next time, no fantasy bits.

Tags:

10 Responses to “Writing: Week 1”

  1. Jared Says:

    It offendeth mine eyes.

    Whatever. I think it’s hilarious.

  2. minitotoro Says:

    That was AWESOME! Cheesy beyond all belief? Sure. But you did it with style. At least I was entertained. :) Go Eagle Go!

  3. Chris Says:

    Well…I guess this just goes to show that we’re our own worst critic.

    Thanks for the encouragement. Seriously.

    And yes, Jared…I’ll stop with the self deprecation and put on my man-pants.

  4. Sam Chupp Says:

    I really enjoyed it. Yanno, I could see this drawn by the Penny Arcade guys :)

  5. Chris Says:

    That is high praise, indeed! Thanks, Sam!

  6. Nicole Gustas Says:

    WhatEVER, dude. That was AWESOME! I want to know more about these two!

  7. Chris Says:

    Well…since people really have enjoyed it, then I’ll keep working on it next week. We’ll find out next Friday what Bob and Arakain (if that is indeed his real name) are up to.

  8. minitotoro Says:

    Yay!! :)

  9. Writing Updates: April 2008 · All the Billion Other Moments (Jason Penney) Says:

    [...] other writers who read this and post regular status updates?. Last week the ever fascinating duo of Chris Miller and Kris Johnson posted about meeting up daily to write3. I hope the experiment continues, as it [...]

  10. Unquiet Desperation » Blog Archive » About Tricksters Says:

    [...] ago, when Kris and I were meeting each morning at a local coffee shop to write. The ideas implied by the original piece have been lurking around in my head since then, and as one of my big goals for the year is to work [...]

Leave a Reply