Normally, I’m a very positive human being. I like to find the bright side in everything, if there’s a bright side to find. Most of the time when I find something good out of something very very bad, I keep my mouth shut, because whatever it is I’ve found would seem insensitive. I remember once making the mistake of saying to someone whose car had been damaged in an accident that at least the guy in the body shop made some money … You can see by this how far I stretch.
But, in contrast, sometimes my imagination takes me to worst-case scenarios where even I can’t find something good. And that’s actually where my stories come from.
Imagine, for instance, something terrible happening (no one dies!) that affects everyone. All the banks close just before Christmas, for example. No one can do their shopping, and only those with cash can buy groceries. No good can possibly come of this, except, maybe for a villain!
I often write dark stories, and the strangest thing about it is that they’re driven by my optimism. I’ve wondered for years where my odd tendency for writing horror comes from. I think I just figured it out.
Thanks, Stream of Consciousness Saturday Sunday. 😛
Oh, and speaking of SoCS, I did write something on my fiction blog last night, for the first time in ages. Click here to read it.
It’s Friday again and time now for your Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt. I’m seriously considering writing the prompt post ahead of time and scheduling for Friday mornings, rather than doing it when I get around to it. Because this is getting ridiculous, isn’t it? Good thing I don’t put off my Christmas shopping like I put off posting this prompt. … oh, wait … *runs to the store* Here’s your prompt:
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “contrast.” Use the word “contrast,” or talk about contrasting things. Enjoy!
After you’ve written your Saturday post tomorrow, please link it here at this week’s prompt page and check to make sure it’s here in the comments so others can find it and see your awesome Stream of Consciousness post. Anyone can join in!
To make your post more visible, use our new SoCS badge! Just paste it in your Saturday post so people browsing the reader will immediately know your post is stream of consciousness and/or pin it as a widget to your site to show you’re a participant. Wear it with pride!!
1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing, (typos can be fixed) and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.
2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.
3. There will be a prompt every week. I will post the prompt here on my blog on Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” “Begin with the word ‘The’,” or simply a single word to get your started.
4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people can come and read your post! For example, in your post you can write “This post is part of SoCS:” and then copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into yours. Your link will show up in my comments for everyone to see. The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top. NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, such as Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.
5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read everyone’s! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later, or go to the previous week, by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find right below the “Like” button on my post.
6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!
7. As a suggestion, tag your post “SoCS” and/or “#SoCS” for more exposure and more views.
Wednesday, December 13th, 5:00pm
Crystal and Jasmine
Crystal: So, like, there’s this woman, right? And she comes in to get her hair cut, and she wearing this sweater that’s, like, a man’s or something …
Jasmine: Oh my God! Into your place?
Crystal: Right? And so I start asking her the usual questions, like do you have kids … or have you always lived in town … and like, what are your upcoming plans …
Jasmine: Yeah, yeah …
Crystal: And she’s, like, fifty or something, and she’s wearing absolutely zero makeup, and I was expecting her to say somethin’ like, well I’m going Christmas shopping for the grandkids … you know …
Jasmine: Uh huh …
Crystal: And then she’s like, “Oh, I’m going to Japan in a couple of days,” and I’m like, what?
Jasmine: No. Way.
Crystal: I know, right? It was all I could do not to blurt it out! Like, totally seriously, this woman doesn’t look like she has two cents to rub together, and she’s going to Japan and, get this: you haven’t even heard the best part …
Jasmine: What? What?
Crystal: She told me … Get this. I asked her why she’s going, and she told me she’s going to Tokyo JUST to SEE a CONCERT …
Jasmine:OH. MY. GOD. You have got to be kidding.
Crystal: I’m dead serious. Can you believe it?
Jasmine: No way.
Crystal: I know …
(Written three years ago and based on a true story – at least judging by the look on my hairdresser’s face.)
If you would like to participate in this prompt, feel free to use the “One-Liner Wednesday” title in your post, and if you do, you can ping back here to help your blog get more exposure. To execute a pingback, just copy the URL in the address bar on this post, and paste it somewhere in the body of your post. Your link will show up in the comments below. Please ensure that the One-Liner Wednesday you’re pinging back to is this week’s! Otherwise, no one will likely see it but me.
NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, like Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.
As with Stream of Consciousness Saturday (SoCS), if you see a pingback from someone else in my comment section, click and have a read. It’s bound to be short and sweet.
Unlike SoCS, this is not a prompt so there’s no need to stick to the same “theme.”
The rules that I’ve made for myself (but don’t always follow) for “One-Liner Wednesday” are:
1. Make it one sentence.
2. Try to make it either funny or inspirational.
3. Use our unique tag #1linerWeds.
4. Add our very cool badge to your post for extra exposure!
