Writer In Motion Forum

This is my third season of Writer In Motion, and I'm always surprised at how I physically and emotionally react when the prompt is revealed, and this year is no different.

FIRST SEASON
I was struggling pretty hard as a writer. I'd worked for a solid year on this gorgeous, twisted alien-dragon science fiction story and never drafted past the first act. I couldn't figure out what was wrong, why I was so stumped, and spent days crying and grieving after the decision that the story and I were not ready to be together. Writer In Motion would only be 1000 words, so maybe I could actually finish something if I just did that. But the picture prompt was so gorgeous, I was immediately drawn in to the textures and ideas started flooding in. It was what I needed... to feel like I could still be inspired.

Here's my prompt impression, which led to this gorgeous story, Fire & Whiskey.

SECOND SEASON
By the time Fall of 2019 rolled around, I'd pushed past that huge writer struggle thanks to Writer In Motion. I still hadn't returned to that SF story, but I finished Khalon's short tale and gained the confidence to keep going. I was working on something new and twisted, inspired by The Enchanted Quill mixed with Dante's furies and a whole lot of dragons.

So it came as a shock when I opened the new prompt and just... no. I wanted a new prompt. I had this weird sinking feeling because everything about it was so wrong, so modern and real-world that nope, I was gonna just turn my back and pretend it didn't exist. It was both a childish reaction, and the perfect one. Because my mind works in very twisted ways, and even that reaction came with a strong emotional vibe... so I ran with it. But eventually I came back to the picture and saw something I hadn't noticed before. The woman seemed to be cutting open the sky. Once I saw that, my idea ran a new marathon and off it flew.

Here's my prompt impression, which led to a brand new set of worlds in The Clocks Inside.

AND NOW...
Here we are at season three, and once again I'm utterly baffled by my emotional and physical response to the prompt. Or lack of, because my brain utterly bluescreened the moment I saw the image. Read full reaction here.

So the first thing I did was make a new pinterest board and start poking around concept art and exotic worlds. That's when I found it... the spark. The image that brought a very familiar character knocking on my brain.

I already know his name and a lot of information about him, but I'm not going to spill the beans just yet. But I WILL torture some of my critique partners and say y'all know who this character is. You've met him, but you haven't yet seen the world through his eyes. But here's a few details: He loves his bow, but can pick up any weapon and use it like a master. He's more warrior than soldier. He was born with this burning hole inside his soul and he hasn't (yet) figured out why. He also carries an ache inside his heart for two people he's never met The day he was born, an iconic historical figure died. For one woman... he would do anything.

Final Draft - THE CLOCKS INSIDE Gears clicked overhead as Emmaline entered the vaulted room below the dragon tower and swallowed back the pain in her heart. She knew Henry hadn't cheated on her, but that didn't erase the memory of Constance pressing her lips against his. Blinking back the moisture in her eyes, she breathed in the dusty age of her favorite room. Bookshelves lined every wall, filled with hand-crafted snow globes and their companion books, thick leather tomes written in unknown languages. She couldn't read any of the texts, but she loved the bizarre symbols--histories for each globe's interior world. The small tower atop the house chimed. Its mechanical steel dragon curled its tail around a central glass globe in an almost possessive manner as if it mirrored her grandfather's devotion to his own globes. Read the rest of the story > Inspirations: Pinterest | Final Frontier by Thomas Bergerson

The Clocks Inside - A Self-Edited Draft Emmaline knew Henry didn't cheat on her, but she couldn't erase the memory of Constance pressing her lips against his. Setting her suitcase on the doorstep, she swallowed back the pain and adjusted the Time Archers pin on her lapel, a bow and arrow spearing a clock. Rusted iron wove elegant designs over the oak door, numbers burned into the wood changing with each second. According to her grandfather, the only clock in the universe to keep true time across every world, but a knock wasn't necessary. As soon as her knuckles hovered against the weathered wood, grandfather opened.  Read the rest of the story > Inspirations: Pinterest | Final Frontier by Thomas Bergerson

The Clocks Inside - Ye Olde Firste Draft I knew in my heart that Henry hadn't cheated, but each time I saw his face, all I could see was Constance throwing her lips against his. I'd never been a jealous woman, but Henry and I belonged to each other. I set my suitcase down on the doorstep, rusted iron wrought in elegant designs over the old oak door. Numbers burned into the wood changed with the second, the hour, it was the only clock in the universe that kept true time. A knock on the door wasn't necessary. As soon as my knuckles hovered against the weathered wood, grandfather opened. He never called unless something horrible happened, and he never called mother. Only me, because I never had to forgive him. But his daughter--my mother--was another story. Read more > Inspirations: Pinterest | Final Frontier by Thomas Bergerson

Psst . . . uploaded some new smilies for y'all.   

While the prompt won't be revealed until November 1st, is anyone doing pre-prep work for Writer In Motion?

I'm:
- Considering whether to do it again, or if I need to keep my head in my current WIP
- Playing #WIMGames

But if I do I'll:
- Create a Pinterest folder for images
- Create a blog schedule for my posts
- Think about which universe I want the story in, if a familiar character will take the reins or if I'll meet someone new
- Try to overachieve, most likely.