Magic 8
Marcy tagged me for this fun little meme which comes with a few 'rules.'
1. Link back to the originator
2. Share an excerpt from your current WIP, perhaps something you're struggling with, are stuck on, or just can't "get right."
3. Ask a question about your excerpt. It can be something easy such as "What do you think?" or something more in-depth, such as "Can you suggest a better way to word such-and-such," or "How can I make the emotions in this scene more realistic?" My current WIP is currently in revisions so I'm not sure if I have anything I need help with - yet! But, here's the first 200 words and if anyone has any comments/suggestions feel free!
For a ghost, lying is like a verbal tango. For the length of the dance, they become lovers, concentrating only on their partners, ready to improvise. Swerve. Dip. Graceful.
And slide the knife home.
Marv, the recently deceased, had his moves down pat. His
elegant lies interwove through my prodding like sensual dance steps.
But time was running out and this apparition was pissing
me off.
Ghosts look as real to me as my living, breathing colleague,
Thorne, a transplant from Australia. He stirred and uttered a low curse. Marv’s
smile brightened.
“Smallest violin, Di,” Marv said rubbing his thumb and
forefinger together. “Compel me, make promises. Come on, you can’t do nothing
to me. Not anymore.”
He gestured. “Won’t that mess up your nail polish?”
I forced my hands to relax.
Marv laughed outright and gave an elaborate bow. His
green and red plaid vest hugged his trim waist. “Oh, wow,” he deadpanned. “Next
you’ll threaten me with ‘you’re a dead man’.”
Thorne gave in and snarled something unintelligible then
glanced at a slim woman caught in the act of giving him the eye. With his blond
hair and svelte physique, Thorne turned many a gal’s head. But this time, his
face made her quicken her steps.
4. Tag 8 people:
Snarky lying ghosts - I like the humor!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love the opening paragraph. Love love love it! But I think you should lose the "Graceful." As an adjective, it doesn't fit with the two preceding verbs or the "And slide the knife home" that comes next.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I feel like a noun should follow "prodding." Prodding tongue, perhaps?
And I think you might want to give us a sense of what her hands are doing before they relax. I understand that you're trying to show, not tell, with the nail polish comment, but the image comes too late, in my opinion.
But overall I love the metaphor, and this is very intriguing! I'd love to read more!
Excellent advice!! Thank you!!
Deleteoh, very fun excerpt. I love a good ghost story :)
ReplyDeleteOnce again, you make me want to read more. Thanks so much for thinking of me! I'd better come up with something quick.
ReplyDeleteI admit I had to read it twice to understand the opening, but it sounds like that was just a me thing, since everyone else seems to have gotten it. Then I really thought the metaphor was very well done!
ReplyDeletelove all the clever descriptions! great characters!
ReplyDelete