Monday, September 22, 2014

Voice Week Day 1 — Above and Below

Maybe you've seen this badge in the sidebar of my blog for the past month. Well it's time to find out what it's for.
Voice week is a challenge where I pick a scenario/prompt and write around 100 words in the heads of five different characters for five days in a row. I'll be exercising my writer 'voice' hence the name Voice Week. 
I've had so much fun reading other posts for this thing...it almost stopped me from making my own tonight! 

But anyways, onwards to the writing!

The purple, star speckled sky reflects off the puddle on the ground beneath my feet. Stars shouldn't be below me, they should be above me as high and as mighty as they are. I don't deserve to be on top. I'm not strong enough. 
Ripples scatter the stars as I step through the water and look up instead. A shooting star streaks through space just in time for my eye to catch it. I used to always make a wish whenever I saw one. When did I last see one? Has it been that long or have I forgotten the simple pleasures already? 


Yep, it's short. 100 words is less than you might think. 
If you want to read more excepts like this, check out the Voice Week blog. I highly recommend it, I really enjoyed going through them myself :) 


24 comments:

  1. Oooh, I like this. This is someone who has been through a lot, has lost confidence in themselves, and is possibly carrying guilt as well. They are maybe just beginning to remember to enjoy the beauty in life again. I get the sense this is a woman, but it could go either way. Can't wait to read the next one!

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    1. You're correct on everything. So glad you enjoyed it :)

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  2. Until the last couple of sentences, I pictured the narrator as a girl, or a young woman (why female? no idea) but by the end, I had her a good bit older, possibly middle-aged.
    This is a strong beginning, but to what? I shall look forward to seeing more of this.

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    1. Maybe the change in perspective came with the phrase, "I used to always make a wish whenever I saw one."?
      Thanks for commenting :)

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  3. What a sad, lonely voice, Brilliantly painted in few words.

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  4. They say it's lonely at the top. This almost read like poetry. Well done! Glad you didn't stop from writing it. :)

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    1. To hear it read almost like poetry is a huge compliment! I'm so glad you enjoyed it ^ ^

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  5. Wow this week seems to be all about the self-doubt. I love watching this character compare themselves to the stars, and how the ripples give them an illusion of control, but then they crash back to earth when they look up. Great stuff - glad you decided to go ahead and post afterall

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    1. Thank you :) I'm glad you were able to pick up on the symbolism!

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  6. A lot of angst in these few words. It will be interesting to find out how this plays out

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    1. Sometimes it only takes 100 words to express such angst. Thanks for commenting :)

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  7. Someone who is carrying a lot of pain and weariness. Very nicely written. :)

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    1. Weariness is a word I hadn't thought of but you're totally right! Thank you :)

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  8. Beautifully done. I am eager to read more.

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  9. Loneliness. That's what I get, here.

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    1. Loneliness is most definitely here. Thanks for the comment ^ ^

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  10. I like this a lot. This person seems unsure, contemplative and introspective. Like maybe they have a lot to think about. Very lovely, the imagery of the stars is so good I can see it.

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    1. I'm glad you can see the imagery! Thank you :)

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  11. Hey, Casia!

    I've read all your 'voice week 2014' posts, and this is, by far, the best! If it's not in the combination of vivid imagery you used, of "scattering ripples" and "star speckled skies", then it's the inlaid symbolism of the entire scenario - which I think is trying to communicate a sense of despair and self-doubt.

    Overall, your work shows a lot of literary promise.

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    1. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you so much, this is a huge compliment!

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  12. Love the imagery. ^ ^ I get a sense that this person isn't very confident and perhaps troubled.

    Stori Tori's Blog

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