The first prompt on the 30 Day Writing Challenge is Start a piece with…
Once upon a time, on a dark and stormy night. No, seriously, it was an ordinary day, in an ordinary street where my story begins. An average suburban semi on a tree lined avenue, much like many others. My name is Conscience, but you can call me Connie and this definitely ain’t no fairy tale!
You don’t know my face, my hair colour, what shade of lipstick I wear, but you DO know me, intimately. You see, I’m the one who hovers at your shoulder every time you make a decision. I whisper in your ear, pull at your gut, and try my hardest to help you make the RIGHT choice. It doesn’t always work though. I have my successes, AND my failures. And you humans, you rarely disappoint with the ridiculous predicaments you get yourselves into. But I’ve been in this game so long now that nothing shocks me. I’m not moaning though, if you didn’t, I’d be out of a job.
Standing outside number 26 Newport Avenue I’m struck with how perfect the garden is. How every flower has been planted with care and purpose and the grass looks like someone has been cutting it with a pair of scissors. There is an inviting glow coming from the gothic bay window. Shall we go inside?
This is an experiment….and tied up with my Nano 2013 novel. I’m trying to get Connie’s voice right. She will be the narrator of the story. Your opinions would be much appreciated. π
Connie sounds like a street-wise fairy godmother with an irreverent sense of humour. She knows all about human foibles and loves us anyway. She’s very patient, but I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of her wit when she’s just about had enough of our foolishness. And it sounds like she’s been given a new assignment and we’ve been invited to ride-along. Are we there yet?
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Ha ha ha, thanks Joan, that’s exactly what I want her to be!
Won’t be writing anymore now until November π
Xx
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I agree with Joan – Connie is a feisty godmother type character. Can be sweet but firm if we don’t get with the program.
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Thanks Mandy π
She’ll be doing lots of finger wagging lol
Xx
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last sentence is a question and will you be continuing with Connie who is not human? When you say narrator I think of an omniscient point of view. Is this what you had in mind? Humanizing an abstract concept is always fun π and I agree with Joan also
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I think I just might Sue π
Yes….basically, my Nano 2013 is going to be about my 26 characters I did for the A-Z challenge in 2011. I don’t want it to end up as 26 short stories so I’ve been trying to come up with a way of linking them together…..and I love the idea of having like an allegory. Death has been done to death (pardon the pun) so I thought about Conscience…toyed with Jealousy a bit, still planning and thinking lol
Thanks honey xx
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I love this idea, and Connie’s voice! I think you’re going to have a lot of fun with this concept. Keep going!
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Thanks Kirsten π
Yes, I want it to be fun, I want to enjoy writing it, and I think I will if I stick with Connie for the ride π
Xx
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Well-done, I wanted to keep reading.
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Awwww, thanks Amber π
Xx
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I’d say you were pretty spot on Vikki. There’s a touch of the deep sigh about what she says but a determination to carry on. You tend to feel as she narrates that she’s seen it all. Nothing can surprise her, and yet it no doubt will.
xxx Hugs xxx
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Thanks David π
He he he, yep, that’s the plan….Connie is going to meet 26 very different characters over the course of the book. Some will shock her, some will make her cry, and some will make her want to give them a good slap. But unfortunately, as she’s not real, her hands are tied π
Xx
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“It ain’t no fairytale” – Connie short for Conscience – love it! I had Connie in my mind as a rough, waif-like spirit, probably late teens or early twenties who has had a hard life but it stoically trying to do her bit for mankind with a sigh. Funny how we get an image from a few words. Mine’s probably random and way off the mark! Keep going, Vikki! π
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Thanks Linda π
You know what I kind of have in mind…..do you remember the fairy ghost in “Scrooged”?
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&authuser=0&biw=768&bih=928&site=imghp&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=XhYXUpmoIeqh0QX_3IFo&q=ghost+of+christmas+present+scrooged&oq=ghost+of+christmas+present+Scrooged&gs_l=img.1.0.0.12906.15535.0.19520.11.11.0.0.0.0.72.588.11.11.0….0…1c.1.25.img..10.1.71.Xxj_8mW1Q40
But without the squeaky voice….so you weren’t far out π
Xx
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Hi Vikki, it seems as if remakes of fairy tales are extremely popular at the moment, so you could be onto a winner here!
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Thanks June π
Xx
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I am drawn in………
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Thanks LouAnn π
Xx
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Brilliant, I love it. I think you have the voice spot on and it indeed draws you in straight away. Roll on Nano x
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Ha ha ha, thank you π
Xx
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Brilliant Vikki, I love the concept and the voice. Can’t wait to read more.
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Love this! Original and compelling idea!
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Thanks Jane π
Xx
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Thanks honey π
Xx
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I love it! π And I love your voice. Writing about Conscience is very clever indeed. And . . . um . . . we definitely have to go inside that house! lol
Good luck with your Nano novel!
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Awwww, thanks Chrys π
Xx
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