Hi there, happy Friday!
This week was filled with storytelling though not, unfortunately, in an I’ve-been-working on-my-book kind of way. Some of the storytelling was here on the blog and some commenced at my day job.
First off, if you’ve been following the blog for the last couple of weeks, you’ve seen the unfolding saga of Jordy MacHugh, a short story Jilly started and Kay and I have been periodically adding to. If you’ve missed any of the installments, go check them out. There was a definite plot twist in the latest installment I posted on Wednesday.
My other bout of storytelling this week came via a Women In Leadership training program I’ve been in for the past six months or so. This week marked the end of the program, which meant the traditional “what did I learn from this program?” presentation, complete with PowerPoint slides. My storytelling skills were definitely necessary (as well as some comic relief). There may not have been much of a plot, but there was certainly character development and tension.
Fortunately, there were also cupcakes afterward.
Now that all of that is over with, I’m thinking it would be a good time to relax, unwind, and give today’s story prompt and random words a try.
Care to join me?
For those of you working away on a story (whether a first draft or a polished version on its way to publication), if you’re not feeling random, we’d love to hear a bit – whether it’s a scene, a paragraph, or even a phrase that you are especially pleased with and would like to share.
If you don’t have a story in progress, or just want to work on something new, I hope today’s story prompt and/or random words will catch your creative fancy.
Ready?
What if: “Your character got caught in a lie?”
Feel free to interpret the “What if” any way you choose and include any (or all) of the following random words:
flowers fumbling sweet dazzling
bribery charming mirror calculation
truth forgiven identity growl
nightmare freckled alarm preserve
I look forward to seeing your stories in the comments. If you’re not feeling in the writing mood today, or don’t have time, feel free to post suggestions you might have for future “what-if” prompts. Ideas are always welcome.
Happy writing to all!
Eight Ladies Writing 
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I had cupcakes this week, too! Although leadership had nothing to do with it. Well—I’m continuing the saga of Jordy and Jenny, sort of. Totally passing the buck to Jilly! I figure rather than just say I was gobsmacked by your contribution last time, Elizabeth, and didn’t have a clue about what I should do with this incredible revelation, I’ll pretend that this is the “sequel” part of the structural “scene/sequel” writing method. I used all the words but “charming,” which should have been easy to fit in there, but wasn’t. Take it away, Jilly!
Who is Alanis McLeish?
Alarmed, Jenny ran to the cottage through the flower garden. She didn’t notice the blooms’ dazzling display nor their sweet scent. Something had happened, something bad. Fumbling with the gate latch, she charged up the path.
“Jordy?” she said, breathing quickly. “What’s going on?”
“This is Alanis McLeish,” he said. “She claims the babies are hers.”
“It’s the truth!” the woman said, her freckled face tight with resolve.
This was exactly the nightmare scenario that Jenny had not wanted to face, or even contemplate. Babies did not just drop from the sky. Somebody had given birth to them—maybe even this Alanis McLeish, if that was her real name. Not that Jenny intended to just hand over Elspeth and Isla to the first person who said they were hers. Whoever Alanis McLeish was, mother or not, she didn’t deserve to have children if she abandoned them in cemeteries and didn’t look for them for three months.
“I’d like to see some ID,” Jenny said.
Alanis stared at her. “I lost my purse,” she said. “I don’t have anything to prove my identity.”
“Well, then, you’re not taking our kids,” Jordy said, his voice a barely contained growl.
“And I don’t believe you,” Jenny said. “What is this, some kind of calculated bribery scheme? We’re supposed to give you money, and you go away?”
“No!” Alanis said. “Caitlin and Aisling really are my daughters. Here, I have a picture.” She pulled a dog-eared photograph from her back pocket and handed it to Jenny. Its poor state of preservation obscured the photo’s details, but Jenny could see a young woman who might have been Alanis sitting in an upholstered rocking chair holding two swaddled bundles.
“This proves nothing,” Jenny said, handing the photo to Jordy for his opinion.
“Those girls are mine, I tell you.” The young woman’s face crumpled. “I know what you must think. I meant to—but I can’t look myself in the mirror anymore. I can’t face what I did. Or forgive myself.”
KAY!! You wicked woman! How could you leave those sweet baby girls in limbo, not to mention Jordy and Jenny?
Who is Alanis McLeish? Right now I have no idea, but I’ll do my best to figure it out by Sunday. Watch this space 😉
I know—Sorry, not sorry. 🙂 I wracked my brain to think of what I could do with those folks, and came up with ZIP, that’s how good a job Elizabeth did. So, hey. Passed the buck. Looking forward to what you figure out!
I knew you were up to the challenge, Kay. Can’t wait to find out what happens next!
Who is Alanis McLeish, Take 2
Alarmed, Jenny ran to the cottage through the flower garden. She didn’t notice the blooms’ dazzling display nor their sweet scent. Something had happened, something bad. Fumbling with the gate latch, she charged up the path.
“Jordy?” she said, breathing quickly. “What’s going on?”
He turned his head, his noise pointing into the wind like a bird dog.
“I smell smoke!” he said, charging off down the path toward the music festival venue, still under construction.
“I don’t smell any smoke,” the young woman said.
“I don’t, either,” Jenny said. “Who are you?”
“Alanis McLeish,” she said. “Those babies you’ve got? They’re mine.”
“No, they’re not,” Jenny said. “But now I know why Jordy smelled smoke.”
“It’s the truth!” Alanis said.
“No, it isn’t,” Jenny said.
Alanis laughed. “You’re right,” she said. “Just kidding.”
And so the universe splits into two pant legs! LOL, with half of the leg on fire, I guess.
I’m enjoying this so much! Can’t wait to see who does what with Alanis. I wish I knew a little bit more about Scotland . . . .
All righty, ladies. I have figured out Who Is Alanis McLeish. In the nick of time!
Whether you’ll like my answer, however… You’ll have to let me know 😉
Can’t wait to hear what you’ve come up with.
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