WRITING:

JuNoWriMo and Kiwi Writers SoCNoC  Tweeting also using #JuNoWriMo and #SoCNoC hashtags. As expected, my daily word counts dwindled this week as opposed to the frenzied start over the weekend.

Fractured Fairytale Series Word Count: 19,866 words

Lower numbers this week and over the weekend. To be expected. Major reading challenge demanded some of my brain’s focus.

Tomorrow I can begin a week of making up for it. 25,000 Words in 7 Days. Must write.

READING:

The 48 Hour Book Challenge. I came, I read, I conquered. You check out the previous posts this weekend for the 12-hour incremental updates. Here’s the summary:

Total Hours Logged for #48HBC: 33.50 hours. Whatever remained of the 48 went to writing challenges, taking care of TKT, as well as other tidbits on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

So many great books out there. I was glad to be a part of this experience. The next big writing challenge is not for a while yet. I can breathe and work on other projects by lessening my word workload. 🙂

BLOGGING:

Usual fun on the blog hop for #ROW80 and check-ins with the awesome #wipmadness community on Kim Baccellia’s blog.

I also came across FLASH MOB 2013. Taken from their blog, it “is a hybrid blog carnival and competition celebrating International Flash Fiction Day.” The big day is June 22. So I’m submitting a flash piece for the competition. I used to fear shorter fiction but after taking a few workshops on the subject, I now have a soft spot for the bite sized stories. The entries are supposed to be under 300 words. Any genre is allowed and they want us to “push the envelope” and “experimentation is encouraged.” Here’s my entry. Hope you enjoy.

=8=

The First

     “You never forget your first.”

Dumb idea to put Andy on speaker phone. “Please, shut up. I’m trying to concentrate.”

“Just pick one. Anyone. Boss said it’s your call.”

“Then shut up.” I wipe the sweat from my brow. It’s hot today. Lots of people in the square.

“Want me to come up there and hold your hand?” He laughs.

I smirk. It’s the heat, not nerves. My hands are rock steady.

“Hurry up, will you?”

“You’re still talking. I got this.” I scan the crowd, looking for the one. The perfect specimen. I just need to focus.

“I hope you’re not up there lying around like a useless slob. Quit stalling, Shaw. I got front row seats for this. Make it good. Make me proud.”

Chair metal against pavement screeches at me through the phone. I want to end the call, but don’t. The guy is down there. Jerk. Did he think I’d chicken out?

“Come on. They’ll never know what hit ‘em. Great way to impress the Boss.”

There. Found the one. Will the Boss be impressed? Dunno, but it’ll definitely make a statement. Andy thinks this is my first? True, I never forgot mine. Barely seventeen, petrified, sure, but I got over it real quick.

“I’ll even help you choose,” Andy says. “Eenie, meenie, miney–” His eyes go wide, like he knows. His gaze follows the tiny red dot moving up his chest until he’s blinded by the light.

I grin. “Moe.”

=8=