I Never Told Anyone...

 

{Photo Credit}

“I never told anyone, but I once murdered someone,” I began. My therapist looked at me with shock in his eyes. How could a little thing like me kill anyone? I was 5’2” and barely weighed 110 pounds. But, here I was confessing my greatest secret. “Daphne, why don’t you tell me what happened?,” he asked. I sat back in my chair. “I was locked in an abandoned asylum. It was me and a few friends,” I began. I remembered that night like it was yesterday. “Suddenly, one by one each of my friends started disappearing. Then later we would find their lifeless bodies.” He looked at me desiring to want to know more. “By the end of the night, it was just me and Linc left. We thought we had found our way out but instead we were face to face with a scary, crazy looking man.” I shuddered at the thought of him. “He had this look in his eyes. It was the creepiest thing I had ever seen in my life.” I closed my eyes remembering his straggly, brown beard and hair. I began to shake. “Linc was coming up behind him. He turned to stab his knife into Linc when I suddenly jumped up and pushed him away. It was then that I was able to smell him. He smelled of death. I remembered each of my friends that had come with me that night. I had to do something.” Dr. Littleton urged me on, “Go ahead, Daphne.” “I looked around and saw a gun laying on the ground. I have no idea where it came from. But, I grabbed it and pointed it straight at the man. I pulled the trigger a few times,” I continued. “I watched him fall to the ground. I dropped the gun and Linc and I ran for our lives.” I was sobbing by this point. “We waited for hours until police arrived. We told them the whole story. The officer just shook my hand and sent us on our way.” Dr. Littleton looked at me dumbfounded. I knew he was going to check my story. How could he not? I just confessed to murdering a man; albeit in self-defense. I walked out of the office with my head held high. 

Hours later, I was laying in Linc’s arms when my phone rang. I looked at the caller ID and saw that Dr. Littleton was calling. I immediately answered. “Hello, Dr. Why such a late phone call?,” I said. “I called the Hidden Oaks Police Department to verify your story, Daphne,” he said. “I figured you would. Are you satisfied that I am not a lunatic roaming the streets?” “In a way, yes. I believe that you are not a killer. But, I worry about you psychologically. Can you stop by the office again tomorrow?” “Sure, doc. I’ll be by tomorrow afternoon,” I replied. I hung up the phone and cuddled back up to Linc. It was amazing how such a bad event could bring two people together. 

** This was a writing prompt where you began with "I never told anyone..." The characters and basic story are actually a part of one of my WIP. **

My Goals for 2014 {and January in General}

 

(Photo Credit)

I have a lot planned for 2014 when it comes to writing. 

First off, I started writing a personal memoir of sorts. I have a working title, but am choosing to keep it under wraps for right now. I am presently just referring to it as WIP #2. I have a lot of emotions tied to this one and at times it is tough to write. I wanted this one to be published within the next two months. It's looking like a long shot right now. 

Second, I worked hard on the novel I had begun a couple of years ago. It went through several name changes. It was Far Away at one point, then Never Forget, and is currently called The Cardoni War. It will probably remain as that for good. I scrapped everything I had written and began fresh for NaNo in November. I am proud to say that I am a NaNo 2013 winner. Now begins the process of finishing it and editing it. I had wanted to get this one published in the spring, around March or April.

Third, back in December, I had two different stories come to me. One was by way of a dream and this particular story is way out of my comfort zone. I wrote down what I remembered of the dream and will go back to it whenever I feel the story calling to me again. The second "story" was really just a character telling me, "Hey, I'm here and I have a story and you are going to be the one to tell it." But, pretty much all he has told me his name. These are two stories I will be working on.

Fourth, on New Years Eve, a couple popped into my head and shared a love scene with me. I think they are wanting their story told as well. This may very well be my NaNo 2014 idea.

Fifth, I still have a partial story I began back in 2002. I need to edit that one and complete it.

So, I do have a lot of plans on the writing front this year.

 

Goals for January

1) Finish writing WIP #2

2) Edit WIP #1 (The Cardoni War) and write 20,000 more words.

3) Create Scrivener files for all other ideas to keep them organized. 

 

Update on Far Away

Back in November I began writing a novel I called Never Forget. I used that as a working title. I have since renamed it Far Away and the theme for it is based on the Nickelback song, Far Away. I have written nine chapters and then had to take a creative break. The reason for this break was because I had a conflict about the point of view I wanted the story in. I had written it in third person but was considering first person. I, for the time being, will be keeping it as third person.

I also have this novel finished, in my head. But, getting it down on paper is a lot harder. I am hoping to work on it some this week. 

Stay tuned...

Writing Goal for December

Since, I did not finish my novel in NaNoWriMo, I have set up a new goal for me. I have given myself until February 1, 2013 to complete the 50,000 words originally required. That works out to about 756 words a day.

I really love the novel I am working on. I love my characters and even changed my original story line to accommodate them (more on that after the novel is done). But, I think the pressure of writing 1700+ words a day was ruining the love I had for them. I am hoping with a shorter daily requirement for myself, I can stay true to them and complete them.

I use a phone app called NanoProgress. It can track multiple projects, which I like. It shows current word count, final goal word count, how many words a day are needed and the percentage of completion. It's really good to keep track even after NaNo is over.

I also need to be compiling ideas for books since one of the ideas swimming in my head will be next year's attempt.

For the record, this year's novel is called Never Forget. I will get a summary up later on.