Good morning, Jo, love the warm up exercise. Adding a quiet place is another level to deepen our characters. Here’s a very rough working of the quiet place where the MC in my current WIP would go.
Most people walk the top of the pier. From there they can see out into the ocean and watch boats go by or people swim. Some fish off the end of the pier. I’ve heard people call it romantic, walking along the wooden boards, holding hands.
I like the underneath. Where the waves slap against the wooden posts. Where the ghost crabs dart in and out and the sand disappears beneath your feet when the wave pulls back to the ocean. This is my spot. My place to center and dream. And think about all the times the ocean has kissed the posts and left its mark. Like I want to do.
BEAUTIFUL! It's funny at about 3am I couldn't sleep and was thinking I needed to edit this post to better explain why I chose this exercise and your first line explains it perfectly. I love this entry!
I love the way you set up the scene by talking about the top of the pier and then bringing up to the special place beneath it. Your attention to detail made it easy for me to visualize it.
From your warm up to my pen:
anonymous
July 23 2018, 12:00:22 UTC
Not expected back until lunch, Sam grabs her backpack and leaves the house closing the door slowly not wanting to wake her mother or sister. Sam crosses the road, looks around to make sure no one is watching, then walks between the two tall evergreens and slides down the dusty slope to the creek. Summer days like this, she can follow the creek a long way. She often looks for salamanders and crawdads, but today she wants to reach the oak tree, the tallest one with roots as big around as her leg. The oak tree is far enough away that Sam brought some juice and peanut butter crackers. She also remembered her watch. She doesn't want to be late for lunch and risk someone coming to find her or worse her secret spot. She'd had one close call the day she fell asleep but ran all the way back, arriving just as her mom and sister were coming to look for her. Sam looks forward to sitting with her back against Penny, that's what she'd named the oak tree. Beneath the third root to the right of Penny's center was where Sam had found the
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Warm Up - Diana Murrell
anonymous
July 23 2018, 12:08:41 UTC
This warm up really inspired me today! I just got back from a vacation when I didn’t write at all! This was a great jump start!
The metal felt cool on her legs as she pulled herself up on top of the bollard. It looked more like a horse than something to tie a ship to. It was meant to keep things from floating away, but today Allison wanted to escape. If she had been alone she would have put her face on it to cool her hot cheeks. She wasn’t a pretty crier. She ignored the people walking by, looking at the ocean that stretched out in front of her. Most people sat the other way, looking at the city, but Allison liked the sea and sky, the different shades of blue that slowly faded to black when the sun went down. She liked all the space. Space was what she needed. Trying to fit her life in the cracks between her mom’s drinking and her sister’s constant demands was exhausting.
Re: Warm Up - Diana MurrelljbknowlesJuly 23 2018, 13:50:56 UTC
Oh what wonderful details! The cool metal on her face. That she's not a pretty crier. The roughness of the life she needs a break from. Beautifully done.
As she walks along the path, her heart starts to beat a bit slower. She smells the sweet pine trees, dewey moss, and hears the animals playing. A branch snaps under her foot, she is startled for a moment, and then notices a red squirrel skipping away. She carries on, as she gets deeper into the forest the trees become thicker and taller. It’s the trees that get to her every time, so tall, straight and majestique. Her pace starts to slow, her breathing matches her footsteps, she notices the birds now. Flittering from branch to branch, enjoying the morning light. They are calling to each other, singing, flirting, teasing. She finally reaches her stump, just the right size for her bottom. She bends down closer to the earth and takes a deep breath. Time to sit and be with Mother Nature. Ahhh…
Re: Lettys Safe PlacejbknowlesJuly 23 2018, 19:55:59 UTC
That's wonderful! I glad the exercise gave a new perspective. It will also help your reader see another side of her, when she can slow down and reflect. Best of luck with it!
Comments 26
Most people walk the top of the pier. From there they can see out into the ocean and watch boats go by or people swim. Some fish off the end of the pier. I’ve heard people call it romantic, walking along the wooden boards, holding hands.
I like the underneath. Where the waves slap against the wooden posts. Where the ghost crabs dart in and out and the sand disappears beneath your feet when the wave pulls back to the ocean. This is my spot. My place to center and dream. And think about all the times the ocean has kissed the posts and left its mark. Like I want to do.
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The metal felt cool on her legs as she pulled herself up on top of the bollard. It looked more like a horse than something to tie a ship to. It was meant to keep things from floating away, but today Allison wanted to escape. If she had been alone she would have put her face on it to cool her hot cheeks. She wasn’t a pretty crier. She ignored the people walking by, looking at the ocean that stretched out in front of her. Most people sat the other way, looking at the city, but Allison liked the sea and sky, the different shades of blue that slowly faded to black when the sun went down. She liked all the space. Space was what she needed. Trying to fit her life in the cracks between her mom’s drinking and her sister’s constant demands was exhausting.
Reply
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As she walks along the path, her heart starts to beat a bit slower. She smells the sweet pine trees, dewey moss, and hears the animals playing. A branch snaps under her foot, she is startled for a moment, and then notices a red squirrel skipping away. She carries on, as she gets deeper into the forest the trees become thicker and taller. It’s the trees that get to her every time, so tall, straight and majestique. Her pace starts to slow, her breathing matches her footsteps, she notices the birds now. Flittering from branch to branch, enjoying the morning light. They are calling to each other, singing, flirting, teasing. She finally reaches her stump, just the right size for her bottom. She bends down closer to the earth and takes a deep breath. Time to sit and be with Mother Nature. Ahhh…
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