Nature = My Lucky 7
This week’s post is a bit of a departure from my typical nature-as-writing-instructor theme, but in some ways, it actually fits right in with What I Saw.
You see, I was tagged by the fabulous debut author, Kimberly Brock (The River Witch released last week!) to participate in the 7–7–7 challenge, which essentially gives a sneak peek of an author’s work in progress (WIP).
My novel has been shaped by the things I see around me – and is set partly in the desert – so, yes, 7-7-7 ties right in with What I Saw’s message. Pictured: two baby owlets next to mama, taken last week. MUST click to enlarge!
The Lucky Seven basic rules:
- Go to page 77 of your WIP or latest book.
- Count down seven lines.
- Copy the 7 sentences that follow and post them.
- Tag 7 other authors.
My 7 lines from page 77 of Bedside:
Aida made her feel alive, ready to try all the things she might never have the guts to – or be able to – try again.
“Can you imagine the kind of trouble she’d get into in Vegas?” Charlie asked.
Hope imagined Aida shoving dollar bills into nearly naked men’s crotches, skinny dipping in one of the ritzy pools, wearing tiaras as if she were at her own bachelorette party. She laughed. “Yes, I can. And that’s why I want to go. She is fearless in her living. I could learn a thing or two.”
Note: This is Aunt Aida. Eighty-year old Aunt Aida, that is.
My seven lucky authors, you are “it” (if you wish to participate. If not, ignore me. My feelings will not be hurt. Promise. But I still want to read your work!):
- Jessica McCann
- Jolina Petersheim
- Cynthia Robertson
- Natalia Sylvester
- Cathleen Holst
- Suzie Ivy
- Lora Rivera
And, as my tagger, Kimberly, said: “Let me know when your lines are up because I WANT TO READ YOUR POSTS!”
April 14th, 2012 at 9:39 am
Oh, Melissa, I can hardly wait to read Bedside…your characters sound wonderful!
I love this game that’s going around. It’s such a delight to get these sneak peeks into what everyone else is working on.
This is my second tag, so I guess I better get to it, and get my post up soon.
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Melissa Crytzer Fry Reply:
April 14th, 2012 at 2:45 pm
Yes ma’am! Get moving. You whetted our appetite with that lovely post a month or so back, so we’re all dying to read more!
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April 14th, 2012 at 9:48 am
Thank you for including me. 7 is my lucky number.
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April 14th, 2012 at 4:36 pm
Melissa– How awesome! I love this tag.
And your eighty-year-old Aunt Aida, she’s a FANTASTIC character. I can tell already. Pleasepleaseplease keep me informed about your WIP. I’m so excited to be with you in this process!
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Melissa Reply:
April 17th, 2012 at 9:44 am
Thank you, Lora. I was so excited to read your seven lines as well! And I have absolutely LOVED writing Aida’s character.
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April 15th, 2012 at 2:37 am
Like the others, I can’t wait to read Bedside, can’t wait to get to know Aunt Aida better — who wouldn’t want her for an aunt is what I was really thinking while I was reading your 7 sentences! Not that I’ve ever done anything like those things in Vegas before — but I’m sure you captured the feelings spot on 🙂
p.s. the owl pic is adorable!
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Melissa Reply:
April 17th, 2012 at 9:45 am
I can only hope to be half as energetic as Aunt Aida when I’m 80!
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April 16th, 2012 at 8:34 am
Love this sneak peek into Bedside, Melissa. On this rainy day, it makes me want to curl up with your book and dive into Aunt Aida’s character! She sounds delightful!
I’m also honored to be included in this; will post my seven lines next week! Xx
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Melissa Reply:
April 17th, 2012 at 9:46 am
I can’t wait to see your seven lines, woman! Hope the rain has abated.
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April 16th, 2012 at 12:01 pm
Bedside! The title alone is fabulous–and those lines are wonderful. Add me to the list of anxious waiters for a read of the full! I am behind as I was tagged too and I’ve been having so much fun reading everyone else’s 😉
And there are those babies again!!
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Melissa Reply:
April 17th, 2012 at 9:47 am
YES … get moving on those 7 lines. I cannot wait to see what’s next!
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April 17th, 2012 at 8:25 am
Granny on the make!! I’m in love.
Can’t wait to read. I sure wish you’d gone the seven paragraphs route, but I won’t complain, at least not too much. Deep sigh… =)
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Melissa Reply:
April 17th, 2012 at 9:48 am
I know… some of the ‘rules’ seemed different for the 7-7-7 or Lucky 7 Challenge. My tagger’s rules were “7 lines,” so being the good doobie I am, I abided by the rules :-). Glad you liked Aunt Aida. She provides much needed comic relief in an otherwise dark novel.
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April 17th, 2012 at 6:40 pm
What fun! Can’t wait to read the rest of the story.
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April 17th, 2012 at 7:19 pm
Beautifully-written, and so evocative! You’ve conveyed so much in seven little lines, and I can already imagine Aida living it up in Vegas 😉 I can’t wait to read more, Melissa!
Thanks so much for tagging me! Is it okay if I share my lines with you privately? 😉
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Melissa Reply:
April 29th, 2012 at 2:03 pm
I would LOVE to see your seven lines privately, Natalia. But if you’re not comfortable sharing right now, that’s OK too. I’m dying to read your work.
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April 18th, 2012 at 6:49 am
I love feisty oldsters. Can’t wait to read the whole novel.
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Melissa Reply:
April 29th, 2012 at 5:35 pm
Thanks, Shary. I only wish I could end up being as feisty as my character, Aida, at that age!
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April 25th, 2012 at 2:18 am
Melissa,
Fantastic web site. Congratulations.
I do some exploration in Southeastern Arizona myself. I’m wondering if you would mind sharing notes on how to get to some of the places featured in your photos? In particular, I want to explore the Gailuro Mountains, and it can be difficult to find information on the area. I would love to just go explore in random directions, but without a 4-wheel drive vehicle, I’m reluctant to head down unknown roads.
If you will contact me at the email address provided with this comment, I will give you more particulars of my situation and interests.
I’m also a reader, and if your novel is going to be set in this area, I’ll be a potential buyer of your novel.
Sorry if this isn’t the best means of contact (but I’m not on LinkedIn or Twitter). Thank you.
–Jon in Tucson
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April 29th, 2012 at 1:56 pm
I’m intrigued. Is your story finished? Where are you in the process?
Sorry I haven’t been around, somehow you dropped off my radar. I’ve got to get you back on a subscription or RSS feed.
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Melissa Reply:
April 29th, 2012 at 2:05 pm
Hi Christine. Let me know if the email notifications aren’t working. But no worries -life gets busy, I know! My WIP is just about done – and by done, I mean first draft. I’m in the homestretch right now. I HOPE to be ready to query by June/July, once I incorporate reader comments, edits, etc.
Are you working on something new right now?
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Christine Grote Reply:
April 29th, 2012 at 5:31 pm
That’s good. I always think the first draft is the hardest. Wow. It took me a year to go from a first draft to a final product, but maybe you continue to edit once you have an agent and editor. That is all a mystery to me. I wish you the best of luck.
I have just started a story about my father. It’s very early. I’m not even sure what format it will take. But at least I’ve started. Thanks for asking.
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Melissa Reply:
April 29th, 2012 at 5:37 pm
Well… I’m one of those meticulous writers who revises a thousand times as I go, which is why the entire book has taken close to two years already; so my HOPE is that all that painstaking detail up front will make for a shorter revision period. But who the heck knows? We shall see.
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