I'm sure everyone with a Facebook account is aware that we had National Siblings Day this last week. (Thank you, random holiday schedulers ... Really?) While I am kind of a Grinch about the whole sibling holiday thing, I do think it's a great prompt. When you look at literature, there are great sibling relationships that enrich and enhance the stories we love. What would Harry Potter be without the Weasley family? Or Pride and Prejudice without Jane? ... or Lydia? The Chronicles of Narnia just wouldn't work without all four of the Pevensies. Especially when you consider YA and MG writing, the relationships of siblings play a big role in writing.
The prompt for this week, then, is to write a scene with siblings.
Enjoy!
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My response:
Emmaleen sat in the patch of dust behind the house, where the grass couldn't grow for being stomped on, and the dirt was red and fine. Her short fingers grasped a stick, and she traced out patterns in the clay.
Jed sauntered into the yard. He'd stayed away long enough to avoid morning chores, but there was nothing in the cave by the creek to eat, so he'd worked his way back home. His eyes took in Emmaleen, her thin, patched dress and chubby bare legs, and one eyebrow raised. As soon as he made up his mind, he swooped in, snatching the stick from the girl's hand.
"Heeeeeeeeeeeeey!" Emmaleen's tiny brow wrinkled, and she scowled up at Jed.
"Emmy? What's wrong?" A voice called from inside the chicken coop, and Jed rolled his eyes. He hadn't thought to check for Ryen. A stupid mistake. He frowned at the stick in his hands, snapping it in half once, and then again. He tossed it against the side of the house just as Ryen appeared.
Emmy pushed herself onto her feet as Ryen approached. She hadn't cried, though she might have, if Ryen hadn't been there.
"Emmy? You okay?" Ryen's eyes moved from Emmaleen to Jed, and his gaze narrowed. "You were supposed to gather the eggs this morning, Jed. And milk Nessa. You been down by the creek again?"
"No." Jed frowned.
Ryen pursed his lips and shifted the basket of eggs from one arm to the other. "Well then, take these in to Mama." Ryen shoved the basket into Jed's arms, then turned and headed towards the big barn. Jed sneered after him. Then he turned to head inside.
Emmaleen was so short, he didn't even notice her as he swept past. At least, he didn't notice until her foot swung out.
The basket of eggs took flight as Jed fell, arms flying out to catch himself. He landed with his face in the basket of cracked eggs.
"Jed, is that you?" Mama's voice floated through the backdoor, crisp and angry.
Jed turned a desperate face to Emmaleen. "Help me, Emmy?"
The little girl plucked another stick off the bush and sat down again. Jed's eyes flashed back and forth between the door and his sister. Now he could hear Mama's footsteps.
"Come on, Emmy! Please?!"
Emmy looked up, her plump cheeks and round forehead twisted into an oddly mature, chastising look. "Okay, Jed. But don't be mean again."
Jed sighed with relief.
Emmy did little more than glance at the fallen basket, but when Jed scooped them it up again, all the eggs were whole.
Because if we never get published, never get a book deal, never have our names in print ... we're going to write anyway. And we're going to write now.
Rules
Rules:
1. Read the writing prompt, but only the prompt. I don't want your writing to be influenced by my (or anyone else's) response.
2. Sit down and spend 15-30 min writing whatever comes to mind. Poetry, prose, whatever you want, just write something. Don't make it something you labor over. Write. Enjoy.
3. Share in the comments.
4. Please keep it PG-13 and under. Don't go all 50 Shades or Chucky on me.
5. There is a time and a place for constructive criticism. This is not one of them. This is a stretching exercise. Please remember the words of Thumper, "If you can't say nothin' nice, don't say nothin' at all."
***All material on this site remains the property of the original author. Do not copy or share without permission. Thank you! **
1. Read the writing prompt, but only the prompt. I don't want your writing to be influenced by my (or anyone else's) response.
2. Sit down and spend 15-30 min writing whatever comes to mind. Poetry, prose, whatever you want, just write something. Don't make it something you labor over. Write. Enjoy.
3. Share in the comments.
4. Please keep it PG-13 and under. Don't go all 50 Shades or Chucky on me.
5. There is a time and a place for constructive criticism. This is not one of them. This is a stretching exercise. Please remember the words of Thumper, "If you can't say nothin' nice, don't say nothin' at all."
***All material on this site remains the property of the original author. Do not copy or share without permission. Thank you! **
Monday, April 13, 2015
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