WIPpet Wednesday

WIPpet Wednesday: Trying

Happy Wednesday! We’re in our two weeks off between camps, so I’m trying to catch up on work. I’ll be volunteering at the next one, so my time will be limited.

I’m plugging away at Drumbeat. I’ve nearly started over several times and talked myself out of it, choosing to rework the troublesome scenes instead. I’m roughly halfway through writing it, and I’m now getting my collection of disjointed scenes in order.

Today’s snippet follows just after last week’s. Jamie’s had a really rough life, having grown up effectively homeless. Last time we saw him, he was thinking about some of what his horrible ex had done to him. This is how he’s coping with that. (Content warning: Jamie has an eating disorder. I don’t get too graphic with it, but some of his behaviors—primarily binge eating—are in here. The “shared food” refers to his roommates, not his ex.)

WIPmath: 2 paragraphs for the 2nd.

Jamie missed Sage even though doing so made him feel guilty. He hadn’t realized he was almost crying, clutching his phone so tightly it hurt. The pain brought him back to his senses. That was what he needed—something to remind him why he stayed away from Sage. He rose from the couch, shedding the afghan, and padded to the kitchen.

He opened doors, looking for food. After the other night, he had hardly anything left under his bed, but he figured there had to be something out here. He was trying, he really was. He hadn’t gone out to buy anything new. If he ate their shared food, maybe he wouldn’t overdo it this time.

Like what you read? Be sure to check out the other entries and add your own. Just post a bit of your WIP, connect it to the date, and link up with us. Many thanks to Emily Wrayburn for giving us this space. Happy reading and writing!

WIPpet Wednesday: The Boyfriend

Books, Writing

Happy Wednesday! I’m posting quick before going to watch my younger child in a track meet at her summer camp. Currently, I’m having a nice cup off coffee in Dunkin Donuts, listening to the news and the light chatter of the few people in here.

I’m a little behind on my word count, though I’ve caught back up a bit since last week. I’ve been really struggling to tell Jamie’s story, much like I did with Nate’s and Trevor’s. My dear spouse calls it “doing battle” with my manuscripts, and that’s apt. It’s been a real struggle to get Jamie to open up to me; he’s not so talkative as the others, who were more than happy to let me know I was telling their stories wrong. Jamie, though, is used to being invisible and having his wishes ignored. His friends kindly let me know I needed to treat him better.

This is a rough snippet of what I was working on yesterday in Drumbeat. I added a scene to give more context for why Jamie’s so closed off. Two warnings: One, this contains spoilers. In all previous snippets, Jamie’s awful ex had been simply called “The Boyfriend.” Here, I’ve provided his name (which he gets in Nightsong). Two, Jamie is thinking about exactly why The Boyfriend is so awful—chiefly their sometimes non-consensual interactions, which he describes in broad brushes.

WIPmath: 7/26/2017 = 26 = 2 x 6 = 12 for the 12th paragraph in scene 2.

Then there was Sage. With him, there were no harsh, jagged edges or force. He’d never held Jamie down or attacked him. Never hit him or threatened him. He’d whispered beautiful, cruel things, gently touching him even when Jamie tried to pull away. Sage had kept it all so painfully sweet, wrapping Jamie in his arms and doing what he wanted until Jamie gave in and pretended he was into it until it was over. No bruises. No blood. Nothing violent or angry. Jamie couldn’t count that. Not when he’d been awake and sober and hadn’t said no. Not when there were countless times he said yes. Not when afterward, there were whispered reminders Sage was the only one who truly loved him…right?

WIPpet Wednesday: A visit with Mama

Books, Fiction, Other Relationships, Writing

Happy Wednesday! We had some fun over the weekend, as you can see from the pictures. It was Pride, and our church was in the parade. My kiddo’s buttons were given to her by someone from one of the other groups, along with the necklaces. The text on the one reads, “Asexual pirates aren’t interested in yar booty.” It’s basically her favorite new thing.

This week’s snippet is from Drumbeat, which I’m trying to coax into something resembling an actual story at this point. Jamie et al. are uncooperative at the moment. This is a continuation of last week’s bit, where Jamie has gone for a visit with his mother. Here, we get a little more familiar with her.

WIPmath: 7/19/17 = 19 sentences

Like Jamie, Mama was short. She was a little rounder than he was, with lean legs and long, dark hair. He smelled her shampoo when he rested his cheek against her head. He held on for a while, wanting to implant the feeling of her hug to save for later. He didn’t see her nearly often enough, the problem of living too far away, working odd hours, and playing with the Creepy Crullers. Mama never scolded him for it, though. She took what she could get, and he called her every week.

When she let go, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a brand-new smartphone. “Look!” she said. “I can keep up with your band now.”

“It’s nice, Mama. Where’d you get it?”

“Bruce.”

Ah, her new boyfriend. Jamie had met him once. He wasn’t much older than Jamie. Mama had met him through some of her friends, and he seemed nice enough. Jamie didn’t comment on why he was already buying her expensive gifts.

“I’m glad he’s being good to you,” was all he said.

WIPpet Wednesday: Mama’s Apartment

Books, Fiction, Other Relationships, Writing

Sorry I missed last week. We were on vacation. This week, my kids are away at camp, and the house is eerily quiet.

I’m no longer posting from Leaps of Faith because…it’s LIVE! Today is its “book birthday.” It also happens to be my 20th wedding anniversary. We’re going out for sushi and to see Wonder Woman later.

I’m technically supposed to be getting about 1/3 or so of Drumbeat written during Camp NaNo, so I’m back to using that as my WIP. I think I’ve introduced both Cian (hot Irish dancer who is also deaf) and Jamie (adorable drummer with a zillion piercings).

A little background for the snippet: Jamie grew up homeless (couch-surfing variety, not on-the-street variety). He left home at 15 and eventually found his way to his cousin’s family. Here, his mother has a slightly more stable living situation, and Jamie’s visiting her in Rhode Island. (Geographically, this is not that far from Boston.)

WIPmath: 7/12/17 = 12 sentences

Jamie tried not to judge his mother’s church attendance; she was a born-again, and she maintained that it helped her stay clean, so he didn’t question it. He didn’t have any memories of her when she’d been using, so he had no idea what did or didn’t help her. If church meant so much to her, it wasn’t his place to tell her his feelings on the matter. But he wouldn’t be welcome in the church she attended, no matter how much they embraced and accepted her.

He pulled into the crumbling parking lot behind her building. A group of preteen boys were there, laughing and shoving each other. One of them had a bag full of bang-snaps, and they were tossing them at each other’s feet and shouting. A woman with a toddler in a stroller passed by and glared at them before going back to her loud conversation on her cell phone and pushing the stroller with her free hand.

Jamie pressed the buzzer, and his mother let him up. He ascended to her fourth-floor apartment and opened the door. Inside, it smelled like a combination of cooking food, her cat’s litter box, and stale cigarettes. For Jamie, those were all familiar, comforting in the same way as his mother’s embrace when she put her arms around him.

WIPpet Wednesday: Offerings part 5

Books, Writing

Happy Wednesday! We’re enjoying our summer vacation here. The wind storm in March took out our trampoline, so we got a new one, thanks to insurance. The guys put it up on Sunday, but it’s been too rainy since then to use it! Sunshine today, so hopefully that means some outdoor time.

My son and I went to see Cars 3 yesterday. Cars is my favorite Pixar film, so I was perfectly happy to see the next one. J and I both loved it; he says it’s the best of the three, and I might have to agree. There’s a lot to unpack in it, and I think the underlying message is a good one. Final verdict: go see it, with or without kids.

On to the WIPpet. Leaps of Faith is almost not a WIP anymore. The last part of the last story is now with my betas, and the first part is with the editor. I still have to finish going over edits on Keeping the Faith, but when that’s done and out of my hands, that’s the end. I’ve been with these characters for three years, and it’s bittersweet letting them go at last. It’s time, though. I need to move on to other projects. You can read a bit more of my musings on why I wrote the series here.

Since this is the last I’ll post from it, I’ll be nice and continue last week’s scene so you can get a peek at what Micah’s got on.

WIPmath: 6/28/2017 = 17 sentences for the year. Yeah, not that creative.

Micah set the bra on the bedside table and stripped off his shirt, more quickly than Cat had. He slid his jeans down, and Cat was pleased to see he was indeed wearing the boxer briefs. He picked the bra up again and stepped closer to Cat.

“Where did you get it?” Cat asked. He was struggling to stay in control by that point, almost more excited than he’d been the first time he and Micah had made love.

“I visited a sex shop. They had some things that would fit you better than a regular store.” There was a slight tremor in his voice which Cat found both endearing and sexy.

“You went to a sex shop? Alone?” It was a big step for him, after all.

“Yeah. Thank God, there was a woman working. She was really helpful in choosing the right things.”

“Things?”

Micah didn’t answer. His fingers brushed the skin of Cat’s shoulders, sending ripples of pleasure through him.

Like what you read? Be sure to check out the other entries and add your own. Just post a bit of your WIP, connect it to the date, and link up with us. Many thanks to Emily Witt for giving us this space. Happy reading and writing!

WIPpet Wednesday: Offerings part 4

Books, Fiction, Love, Marriage, Writing

Happy Wednesday! The school year is almost over. By this time tomorrow, my older child’s middle school years will be officially done. I didn’t think it would be especially emotional; I’ve loved seeing my kids grow up. But weirdly, this is even harder than when my younger one “graduated” elementary school. I don’t know if either my son or I are ready for the ride of high school, and I’m feeling oddly teary at how fast this has all gone by. At the same time, I’m so proud of the young man he’s become.

Anyway, on to the WIPpet. I’m still snipping from my soon-to-be-done collection of flash fiction about Micah and Cat, all on the theme of Micah giving Cat gifts. It’s part of a larger anthology called Leaps of Faith set in their world, featuring all the stuff that didn’t make it into the main books. This includes the Christmas stories, a couple which were previously published elsewhere (but I have the rights to), and some new ones.

I’m back to Micah and Cat’s honeymoon. There’s nothing explicit here, but be forewarned, they’re doing what people are supposed to do on their honeymoon. Also, Cat’s known to cross-dress (I dislike that term for him, but I think most people are familiar with it). I’ve edited it a bit for public space.

WIPmath: 6/21/2017 = 21 – 6 = 15 sentences

Cat made a show of pushing back the covers and sitting up, taking off his black fitted t-shirt as slowly as he could. He loved the way Micah’s lips parted and his hand holding the bag trembled.

Using the same painstaking care, Cat stood and began lowering his plaid pajama pants. He had on a favorite pair of bikini briefs underneath, white with red and pink lips printed all over. Micah had a matching pair of boxer briefs, and Cat wondered if he’d worn them. The combination of a bit of abstinence with the idea of seeing Micah in those underwear made Cat hot all over.

He started to strip off the underwear, but Micah stopped him. “Wait.”

Cat paused, fingers on the waistband. He contemplated teasing Micah a bit by slipping his hand inside, but he was curious about why Micah had stopped him. Micah reached into the bag and pulled out a soft, white bra with a similar print to the underwear. Utterly delighted, Cat reached for it, but Micah held it away from him.

“Let me?”

The thought of Micah touching him like that sent a shiver through Cat, and he groaned. “Yeah.”

WIPpet Wednesday: Trying

WIPpet Wednesday: The Boyfriend

WIPpet Wednesday: A visit with Mama

WIPpet Wednesday: Mama’s Apartment

WIPpet Wednesday: Offerings part 5

WIPpet Wednesday: Offerings part 4

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