Semi-Daily Scribbles

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  • Girls and Boys

    Girls and BoysWhat are girls' stories? What are boys' stories? What happens if a boy likes a story a girl likes? Hey, what was the answer to the first question? Inclusion, not exclusion, encourages dialogue. We're on the right track now! But wait. I count way too many heads pushed to the margins. Let's invite them in. Bet they've got rich, juicy tales to tell. Get us all talking. Half way there if we're not afraid of the truth.

    In.
    Out of.
    Context.

    She would lay down her life for him.

    He wants to consume her.

    A wise man once said: "That's your difference right there between girls and boys."

  • No No

    No No

     

    Tempting:
    treats on tray

    Tough to pass up:
    human food

    Cream puffs:
    big no no

     

     

  • Wrap-Up

    Wrap-UpChristmas had come and gone, and Marnie pondered hard on what she thought of 2014. She made a friend. That pretty much concluded her year-end wrap-up. Making friends was no easy feat for Marnie. She was an outgoing girl with grit and a good heart. Although her heart was good, literally and figuratively, her motor functions didn't get along with her brain. It was the chair people saw and not Marnie, so she took to wearing colorful clothes–feathered hats, dramatic scarves, slippers with bells–to take attention away from the chair. She knew if she could get in a hello she was well on the way to a really good conversation. The strategy worked on Lynda, anyway. One person was all Marnie needed. Just one person to look past the chair, and the glitter and silk, and know without a doubt what color Marnie's eyes were.

  • With Care

    With Care

     

    Stockings aren't the only things filled to bursting

    head

    heart

    gut

    Fresh starts come once a year

    handle with care

    leave to neglect

    Whatever's bound to happen has already happened

    trace

    erase

    This figure 8 wants a new beginning

  • Under the Tree

    Under the TreeThe best vantage point in the house is right here under the tree. Angels and snowmen rub noses. Stars dance above my head. Blinking, twinkling ~ red-blue-green-gold ~ the colors cast circles on the floor. In the middle of all the excitement is where I like to be. Even with my eyes closed, the worlds tucked in among the branches spin without colliding. Stories go on without end. Years of wonder, years of joy are spent right here under the tree.

  • Sparkle

     

    Sparkle

     

    No amount of hot glue and glitter can return the sparkle to a barren season. Memories of light and long days must suffice until we get turned back around. I wait it out with knuckles the color of chalk, well-padded bones, and cheeks ruddy from breaths held too long.

     

  • Congregate

    CongregateWe share everything but our thoughts.
    Body heat is enough.
    We congregate under the arch, on thin ice.
    Unforgiving winds slash at our skin.
    We are the circle that lets nothing in.

  • Browser

    BrowserA desert aisle browser catches a whiff of decay on the shelves. Cloying, metallic. Bubble and pop. Death by neglect has surely fallen upon this house. Is there no one brave enough to raze the cases to their foundation? Difficult it is to walk away from such sweet confines.

  • Wish Upon

    Wish Upon

     

    Whims to wish upon

    Aim for the star beyond reach

    Ask for directions

  • A Thread Runs Through It

    Tongal Lionsgate Submissions ACCEPTED 12042014I had so much fun brainstorming screenplay ideas for Twilight origin stories. Per the official rules, I submitted five 500-character outlines for consideration. Although I wasn't one of the 40 writers chosen, the experience was well worth the effort. Below are my screenplay pitches for Aro, Benjamin, Emmett, Garrett, and Huilen. If you would like to share your proposals that did not advance to the semi-finals, please leave a comment below with a link to your blog, or send me a tweet.

    Thank you for reading. Enjoy!

    The Alchemist's Son

    One-Liner
    The son of a Greek alchemist, eclipsed by his brother's achievements, finds the formula for success with the help of a mysterious traveler.

    Background
    ARO, 25, thought by peers to be a demon for his accursed touch, devises plans to create the perfect society where man's power rivals that of the gods.

    Premise
    His sister and a passing stranger are the only ones to show Aro kindness. He vows, in their honor, to one day mete out justice and mercy according to his strict moral code.

    The Business of Miracles

    One-Liner
    A magician and his protégé perform miracles in the streets for money, which intrigues an Italian aristocrat, as Cairo is pummeled by winter storms.

    Background
    BENJAMIN, 15, is favored by the Egyptian god Shu, so his uncle believes. Benjamin's gifts feed his family, but they also attract those who chase after bigger spoils.

    Premise
    Two men race one another to claim the ultimate prize. They barely believe their crimson eyes as they watch a boy make sport of uncontrollable power.

    The Heart of a Monster

    One-Liner
    A young man atones for his past, and breaks the law to do so, in order to show kindness to a family he has never met.

    Background
    EMMETT, 20, after a close encounter in the frozen wilderness, embarks on a journey to pay his debts. This is his final act before he can fully embrace eternity. However, not everyone accepts the gift of forgiveness.

    Premise
    As Emmett finds strength to face his fears, he unwittingly sets into motion events that challenge the edicts of the vampire world.

    I Will Follow

    One-Liner
    Andrew Jackson vanishes prior to the Battle of New Orleans as one seasoned soldier follows a trail of clues leading back to the Revolutionary War.

    Background
    GARRETT, 25, a newborn, meets a 13 year old courier in 1780 on the road to Charleston. Garrett spares the boy after hearing of his torture by fiendish captors.

    Premise
    Choice, loyalty, fairness, life. A vampire has a unique perspective on all four. Add a mystery to the mix and Garrett can't help but fight for what's right.

    The Promise of Angels

    One-Liner
    A menace resides in the forests of Brazil, while the fate of the Mapuche teeters between one girl's secret and another girl's quest for the truth.

    Background
    HUILEN, 17, is puzzled by her sister Pire's angel stories. They are strange, like the elders' legends. Legends Huilen ignores until members of the village begin to disappear.

    Premise
    Italian attaché Joham oversees Brazilian ventures. He is clever, but unprepared for a showdown with Huilen over the families he has torn apart.