Regular Writing Thread!
Chatterbox: Pudding's Place
Regular Writing Thread!
Regular Writing Thread!
So after some asking around on Random Thoughts/Things, I've decided to create a Regular Writing Thread! Basically, it's like the Regular Poetry Thread, but for writing in a more general term.
Have a scene you think needs feedback? Want to write down an idea that came to mind so you don't forget it? Having writer's block and need a place to get back into the feel of writing? Here's the place to do all that!
Anyway, can't wait to see what kind of creative stuff you all come up with :)
submitted by Silver Crystal, age She/her, Milky Way
(August 23, 2021 - 7:35 am)
(August 23, 2021 - 7:35 am)
~Secrets of the Stars~
She wandered among those sparkling stars, seeing in them the past and the future, seeking in them her own present. Here was Taraven, there Nalvairen - old friends all of them, that she had known since she was born. The Hunter, and the Lion, and the Eagle, locked together by the swirling stars.
(August 7, 2024 - 4:47 pm)
~"The Silver Phoenix"~
She knew that Ilran was still watching her, and the knowledge gave a deeper tinge of rose to her cheek and a sparkle to her eye. Back and forth, back and forth she swayed on the swing, an aeriel, remote creature of the delicate pink blossoms and the skies. Ilran watched, almost afraid to move lest he break the thread of frail enchantment that bound them to this moment. Laughter echoed and resounded through the trees like the laughter of spirits; time hung motionless, a pearly, glowing thing that could not destroy this moment; in a world apart from palaces and the empire of Arsiz, a fearless girl soared higher than the heights that any of the others could dream of reaching, while a young man watched, forgetful of himself for once, caught in the spell of her laughter.
(August 7, 2024 - 4:48 pm)
All right, last one, I promise - sorry for all the posts, @admins!
~The Seven Stones~
Where the green forest turned into sun and sifted shadows, there was the dwelling place of the Seven Stones. Where there were dark underground caves lit by splinters of golden candle flames, there was the dwelling place of the Element Emeralds; close to the ocean, on the windy cliffs, there were the Storm Sapphires; on a tiny island around which a river divided and joined again, there were the Wind Rubies. Torn asunder from each other and scattered across the earth, the seven jewels that commanded the world must be returned to their rightful place where the green forest turns into sun and sifted shadows.
(August 7, 2024 - 4:49 pm)
I read all of these and they're all so cool, despite being about vastly different things!
(August 10, 2024 - 10:52 pm)
Thank you! At that point I was definitely writing about all sorts of things, though mostly fantasy. I'm so glad you like them - it means a lot to me :)
(August 11, 2024 - 4:10 pm)
pretty much no tension or... any reason to keep reading the whole thing. but i wrote this for the writing contest (theme: family) and then freaked out and deleted it. so even though it's gotten no further editing, uhhh, this exists i guess (it's a short story from a character in a different world. not sure if it was clear enough that it's a wooded seaside town, but as i said, it's gotten no further editing and besides that's not super important besides the crab not feeling out of place). also the transition to from past to the present at the end annoys me but as i said no further editing and really i just need to rewrite it so there's something to draw you in -
~
You never know, until it’s gone, how much you’ll miss something. I used to assume it was better to be alone - how could it not be? That evening, for instance. It would have been far worse, if my sister wasn’t still away looking for firewood.
We were deeper in the forest than we usually got. The autumn chill seeped into the acorns and sticks beneath us, but I would have considered myself warm: cuddled into my older sibling Sand, under a thick blanket. It was freezing.
Falling leaves rustled, daring each other to fly further and higher, and somewhere in the distance tree sprites chattered. Maybe they were talking about Sand and I, gesturing with their stick-like fingers to warn us of their claws. Tree sprites could mess you up pretty bad. There were far worse things out there.
And yet, I felt safe. Sand was here, and only Sand. I knew Sand would always protect me. I hadn’t considered, yet, how that could change. I hadn’t considered a lot of things.
I miss the forest, among other things; I haven’t been there in such a long time.
Sand laughed, picking a crab off of fir ear and petting its lumpy shell. The wailing winds at night, fallen leaves crunching under frost in the morning, and wafting cinnamon when you head into town all made clear it was fall; they had nothing on the crabs. As soon as you could smell leaf mold in the air, they’d be there - always scurrying somewhere, far more purposeful than I’ve ever been.
I had more pressing matters. My sister’s words still echoed through my mind like murky dripping water in a cavern, distorted by too many twists and turns. It was something about before we ran away. About our parents.
So I threw leaves at Sand. It was the most natural way to get fir attention.
Fey sputtered, then held up fir empty hands. “Cynfael! You made me drop my crab!”
I shrugged. “There’s more.” fey was probably talking to it - fey had a way with animals.
Fey frowned, scouring the leaf litter for the crab. “And they’re different beings. Besides, they were telling me about a patch of sandmint. We need to look at that -”
For a second I looked away, wondered if I did something wrong. Plants were - and still are - my favorite thing ever, but at that point even our blanket was made of cold as much as as wool. i wanted to sleep.
Fey pulled me back into a hug. “But, it’s not more precious than you.”
I wasn’t quite sure what to do with that, so I stuck my tongue out.
And then Sand laughed and pumped a fist in the air. “Superb, contest won. I can be mushy! Bragging rights, two days, you’ll regret it. And so will I - why would I want to be mushy? Ew.”
I shook my head in disbelief, stuck my tongue out again. I wasn’t too concerned, though - Sand had a horrible memory. I was shocked fey even remembered my challenge.
By now, doubts like hungry aphids had crowded on me. Should I still ask fir?
I brushed the doubts away with a cloth so my hands didn’t get sticky. “Mom - and Dad -”
Sand made a sound like choking. “What? You don’t need to know about them. Not if you don't remember.”
I scooted backwards. “Aster said - she said…” I didn’t want to repeat that. “I don’t remember them. Not - not really.” Aster was my sister. I’d rather have been with a hungry dragon than her when she was angry - she would make it hurt far worse.
Fey leaned fir head on fir hands, muttered something under fir breath. Fey sat like that for a long time. I remember the silence - long and dripping with regret like melted frost.
When fey spoke audibly, fir voice was strained. “Ignore that. Family isn’t what they make it out to be, that’s all. But it doesn’t matter. I’ll protect you, okay? From anything.”
“Why you?”
“Because I’m older than you. It’s my job. You don’t have to worry about me.” Fey sighs and shakes fir head. “Sorry.”
I’m not sure what fey was apologizing for, but even beyond that fey didn’t make sense. Aster was older than Sand, and she never acted like it was her job to protect fir. If anything it was the opposite.
And then fey shrugged. “I found some lemon balm for tea. We can make it when Aster gets back.”
I nodded. Aster was nicer to me when Sand was there, because Sand would argue with her if she wasn’t. Fey didn’t argue when she was mean to fir, so she wasn’t nicer to Sand.
I still don’t get why fey liked her.
Aster came back and there was tea; Sand let me have the last of firs and fey shouldn’t have. And none of that matters. I cling to the details. They sting.
I miss the forest. And I miss Sand. And I haven’t seen either in such a long time.
I figured it was better to be alone, but I never thought that would include not having Sand. I missed fir, of course, after fey took the job. The job fey said would fix everything, the job that took fir far away from me, the job I shouldn't have let fir take. The job fey promised fey'd come back from.
Now that fey’s gone, fey’s everywhere. In every cup of tea, every crab staring at me with its beady eyes, every snarky comment that should have been fir but wasn’t. I wish fey would leave me alone.
I wish fey would come back.
But that's a selfish wish. Because you never know how much you'll miss something until it’s gone, and it was months before that ship surrendered to the depths of the ocean. Long enough to think. Fey must have realized, by the time fey was gone, how much better off fey was without me.
(September 1, 2024 - 10:23 pm)
...this was amazing </3
(September 3, 2024 - 1:19 am)
(September 2, 2024 - 9:28 am)
“Don't go,” I plead, biting my bottom lip so hard it nearly bleeds.
“It's okay, Zozo.” Tanítha easily draws on her usual reassuring smile, her hand on my back the only thing grounding me right now.
“We'll be back soon, Zoraya.” My sibling, Somare adds.
I shake off Tanítha’s hand from my back and grip it in my own. I don't want to be reassured, I want to keep the people I love safe.
“I have a bad feeling about this,” I insist, low and urgent, “A really bad feeling.”
Somare and Tanítha exchange a glance and Tanítha turns to smile kindly at me, placing a kiss on the back of my hand.
“We were all nervous the first time, Zozo. It will be okay, really.” Her voice is warm and smooth like honey and I just want to pull her close and never let go.
“This is different. I-”
“Zoraya. What did we just say?” Somare interrupts, an edge of irritation creeping into their voice. I purse my sore lips together and keep my head down. Tears prickle at my eyes as I watch them finish gearing up and slip out the back door. Why does no one ever listen to me?
It’s a bright morning when I notice the crowd gathering at the central plaza. I can see an Imperial Announcer with a long scroll in his hand, and inch closer in curiosity. Every jostle makes me jump a little, half-expecting a hand to land on my shoulder, ready to drag me to prison for conspiracy against the Crown. Still, I am able to make it close enough for me to hear the Announcer. My heart drops down to my stomach when I hear the words he utters. Among a list of others, “Tanítha Alkazar” and “Somare Jorgan” are mentioned. My body goes cold and I feel nausea rise up in my core, hot and acidic. This is a list of the executed. They're gone. Dead. I knew they shouldn't have gone out that night.
(October 8, 2024 - 9:02 am)