Every
writer has a few dozen things they’ve written that truly stink. Or sort of
stink or were abandoned by the muse and that writer moves on. I have a hard
drive full of such pieces and I thought you might get a chuckle out of knowing
what a few of them are (were).
Cracker
Jack Summer – My very first effort at a YA (young adult) novel. Based loosely
on a real situation my great grandfather found himself in, the story is about a
young boy who sets out to clear his father’s name when he’s accused of stealing
the company payroll. It takes place at the time of the 1893 World’s Fair on the
shores of Lake Michigan where the first Ferris Wheel was presented to the
public. That sucker held 2,000 people and the ride lasted ten full minutes.
Amazing. Anyway, I did a lot of research for the thing but at 13K words my muse
waved bye bye and I never went back.
Plus, my sister Shari hated the name of my protagonist – Grady. Bummer.
The
Campaign – This is a romance. My leading lady, Sandra, is a widow and she
re-connects with an old flame from high school at a gubernatorial (dumb word)
fund raiser. Trouble is, Brad – the guy, is way too impulsively-aggressively-charming ( a
new syndrome just uncovered by the American Psychiatric Association) for her.
But can Sandra forgive his IACS, as its now known, and learn to love again? Can she and
Brad overcome syndrome-itis? My hand draped over my forehead and I’m biting my lower
lip which is trembling while I wonder. I’m sure yours is, too.
A
Hymn for Thomas – A mystery I began to write at the behest of an editor, but
was subsequently rejected. It was for the Annie’s Attic mystery series, written
by several authors. Annie moves to Maine to live in the house she inherits from
her Grandmother and encounters mystery after mystery in the chuck full of good stuff attic. In my
book Annie would discover an old box tucked into a far corner with clues to a child’s
grave that's out in the woods somewhere. Things get all tangled up when her boot
scootin’ relative, Killeen, arrives from
Texas to help out. Yeah, I know there’s a town named Killeen in Texas.
Sometimes my imagination just packs up her best dress and goes south on me - the tramp.
Okay,
boring, right? Well not as boring as all those cookies you have to bake, the
gifts you have to hunt down for people who don’t need anything, and that wintry
mix the weatherman is predicting for the weekend. Have I nailed it?
It’s
my job to distract you from your real life with bits of mine. Hope you don’t
mind. Have a great day!
Image:
Free Digital Photos
Written at 4:54am. You're an early bird, but that's why you get so much writing under your belt rather than under your bed. That's a good idea, though, as my attic is crowded and tucking some of my bad stuff under the bed might solve the problem. Marion
ReplyDeleteMarion, you write so thoughtfully. I always love your stories. Drag some of those oldies out - might be gold in them thar hills. =0)
DeleteI look forward to being distracted by you, Sue... anytime, any season. Stay warm and always stay the good writer you are!
ReplyDeleteBless you, Cindy. I'm warm and gettin' better. Keep smiling!
DeleteI don't think they are boring at all! Matter of fact, I wonder if they just might work, either as is or with tweaking, or at the very least, using some of the threads for another story or two. You've got too much talent and personality to write a complete dud, I'm thinking. And yes, I am grateful for the distraction from real life. But alas, now it is time to get back at it. Thanks for sharing! Have a lovely rest of the week!
ReplyDeleteKaren, I've recently added a bit the the rejected Annie's Attic story. That one still interests me. Thanks for the encouragement! Have a wonderful blessing filled weekend.
DeleteThe one about your grandpa sounds intriguing. I also have so many dead end stories. Part of the process.
ReplyDeleteLinda, you are a writing dynamo! But even if a story dies before it's born, we're still writing, right? Thanks so much for stopping by!
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