The Villa Diodati writing workshop in France was wonderful, but it was overshadowed by news of a medical emergency in the family that occurred while I was away. I will still try to get a report on Villa Diodati 13 up when brain cells allow, but after that, I make no guarantees for anything happening on this blog for a while. We’re in a state of limbo at the moment. As I have already learned this year, grief eats creativity, and fear doesn’t seem to be any better.
As a result, my writing progress has come to a halt, and at this point, I am declaring Nanowrimo lost. I got some weekly words done before the news hit, but right now, I don’t give a flying wombat for how many or how few they were. Depending on how things develop, I may well also declare ROW80 over for this year. Life happens, sometimes more than we want, but life is way more important than words.
I have no math for WIPpet Wednesday today, just an excerpt from a short story I was polishing at VD13 “The Pool of Souls”:
Rubbing her eyes, she hurried to the Pool of Souls on the opposite end of the square. The light of the moon, a day from full, rippled on the surface of the water. The broken reflection flickered brightly, and below she could see the glinting ashes of dormant souls.
Imila knelt down next to the side of the pool. The marble was hard against her knees, but she hardly noticed the discomfort. She was closer to Terya than she’d been since her death; she imagined she could feel her daughter’s presence there in the water. She lifted the thick paper she’d made to her nose, breathed in the scent of cinnamon and almonds, thought she caught a whiff of Terya’s own dear smell.
“Come to me sweetheart,” she said as she immersed the paper in the pool. The water was cold, the warmth from the sun long gone, escaping during the night like a soul from the ashes of a burning body.
Imila had never caught a soul before, but she had often watched soul catchers at their work. The true trick of it was in the paper. She swirled the paper around in the pool, panning for ashes as she’d heard some men panned for gold in mountain streams.
Flecks of souls eddied in the small vortex she created, circling around her hands as if trying to determine if this paper was meant for them. Imila watched in wonder as some of the silvery ashes detached themselves from the rest, coalescing in a shiny mass. She continued the circling movement, coaxing her daughter’s soul closer. Then the ashes caught in the rough texture, and the paper turned a shimmering bluish gray as it absorbed all that was left of Terya.
WIPpet Wednesday is the brain child of K. L. Schwengel. If you’d like to participate, post an excerpt from your WIP on your blog, something that relates to the date in some way. Then add your link here — where you can also read the other excerpts.
I’ll be back, I just need a break for a while. I hope everyone is appreciating the health and well-being of their families.
Sorry to hear about the emergency. 😦
Really cool snippet, though…
Glad you liked the snippet, Kate. 🙂
Take care of yourself and your family, Ruth. Let me know if there is anything I can do, and I’ll be thinking of you. {{hugs}}
Thanks, Things are looking a bit better today, but we won’t really know for a few more days.
Family is first and foremost, Ruth. Focus on what needs to be done; everything else will take care of itself. (BTW, I thoroughly enjoyed your contemporary fairy tale, Island of Glass.)
Thanks so much, Victoria. And glad you liked the novella. 🙂 I will get back to The Pendragon Chronicles eventually, I promise!
My thoughts and best wishes are with you. I’m so sorry you’re family is going through a hard time.
The snippet was wonderful. Your descriptive prowess electrifies any scene and brings it to life.
Thanks for the kind words — and the compliment. 🙂
My pleasure. Both are heartfelt 🙂
Take care of yourself. I’m sorry to hear about the emergency stress.
I’ll do my best.
That’s all we can do.
😦 Big hugs. I hope your family member recovers well.
I feel for the woman in this story. Losing her daughter must have been a terrible experience. 😦
Thoughts are with you and your family. (((HUGs)))
Sorry to hear about your emergency! Sending love and healing your way.
Lovely snippet. Made me smile!
Great imagery and description in this excerpt, Ruth. I really enjoyed it.
Sometimes making art has to take a backseat to other parts of our lives. I hope that everything works out. Take care.
Sorry to hear about that. My family is no stranger to medical upheavals, so I know how much it can put your life on hold and move everything else to the backburner. Hang in there and my best wishes to you and your family.
Got a candle on the altar for you and yours.
Sorry to hear about your emergency and stress. Look after yourself and your family, I’ll be thinking of you. 🙂
Many hugs and much positive energy coming your way. Take care of you and yours, the world will deal with itself. ❤
A wonderful, moving excerpt. This line "she could see the glinting ashes of dormant souls." — loved it.
Great snippet. Very interesting world with catching souls.
Take time for yourself, we all need it now and then. We’re all thinking of you and praying for you. Take as much time as you need and don’t forget we’re here if you need us.
So sorry to hear about your family emergency! I’m glad you are letting yourself step away and take what time you need. We’ll be here when you get back. Take care!
I’m so sorry about your family emergency. Holding your family in hope. It’s perfectly reasonable to take all the time you need.
I’ll be thinking about you – hope things improve with your family situation. And that excerpt? Gripping, haunting and I want to read more even though I don’t because she lost a child and that makes my heart hurt. Beautiful writing.