Blog Schedule

I post on Monday with an occasional random blog thrown in for good measure. I do my best to answer all comments via email and visit around on the days I post.

Monday, January 12, 2015

Sudden Secrets by Lee McKenzie and A Moment With Her Muse

Today, visiting my humble blog, is the lovely, vivacious, and entertaining 
C. Lee McKenzie! Take it away, Lee!

It was a dark and stormy night.

Once upon a time.

She woke from the dream. . .

I stared at my reflection in the mirror. . .

They climbed into the car and began the journey to their new home.

No! No! No!

Thats my Muse. He does that a lot while Im trying to start a new story. You cant see it, but hes also stomping around the room with his arm flung across his eyes. So dramatic.

Muse again: Stop it already!

Author: I was just kidding. Its fun to watch you go all Crazy Monkey on me.

He slumps into his easy chair and waves a limp hand my direction. Write or something.

So easy for him to say, but hes already dozing, so Ive got no one to bounce ideas off of. No one to read my brilliant first lines.

Author leans in and whispers: How about you? Will you read some? Please?

Readers agree with hearty nods:

Author: So heres the young adult story Im working on. What I need to know is which beginning gets your thumbs up and which ones lame. Remember DRAFT when you comment. Remember author sensitivity issues.

Author glances at Muse, then hooks her thumb his direction:Dont be like him.

1)      The sound annoyed her. It was a rasp that pulsed in time to her heart, but it was outside of her and lurked somewhere nearby, somewhere she couldnt see. She sniffed the air, and it had a bitter tang, like medicine.

2)    The smallest sound came from her lips. It wasnt a sigh. It wasnt a gasp. It was only a whispered, Oh.And why it came she didnt understand. Oh should bring with it an understanding, a sudden realization, but she had neither. All she had was this darkness and a huge lump of fear lodged in her throat. Shed never felt so alone or so disoriented in her life.
Katie Starrett, she said to herself, open your stupid eyes and find out where you are.

So thems the choices so far. And before that Muse wakes up for his coffee break, I hope youll let me know which you prefer or if I should just dump them and start again.


Thanks for letting me visit. Lovely place youve got here, Bish.

Thanks, Lee! I like the first one. Which opening do you like? While you're here, take a look at Lee latest.
KINDLE PRINT EVERNIGHT TEEN

one Secret
Cleo has struggled to heal after her baby sister’s death, but the flashbacks to the accident won’t go away. With the move, she vows to keep her tragedy a secret and avoid pitying looks.

one Mystery
Something’s strange about the abandoned house across the street—flashes of light late at night and small flickers of movement that only someone looking for them would see. 
Everyone says the house is deserted, but Cleo is sure it isn’t, and she’s sure whoever is inside is watching her.

another Secret
In one night, Belleza’s life changes forever. So famous, her only choice is to hide her secret from the world so she can silence small town bigotry. 

Then Cleo happens.

YOU CAN FIND C. LEE ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK OR VISIT HER WEBSITE. SHE BLOGS AT THE WRITE GAME. See all of her book titles HERE.

15 comments:

  1. I like the first opening best too. The last sentence of the second one could work at the end of it too. Congrats to Lee on her new book.

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  2. No one wants a crazy monkey muse.
    I like the first one best. The opening line has a lot of personality.

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  3. Hi Bish and Lee .. I prefer the 2nd - but I'd leave the word 'stupid' out ...

    Good luck to Lee .. I like her series for Evernight Teen .. cheers Hilary

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  4. Cute! And sometimes we have to bully our muse while other times we need to give it reign.

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  5. You are great, writers! Or You are great writers! Both work here. Thanks so much for helping me out with this opening business. I'm taking applications for a new Muse, so I'd love to see you all ask me about the job.

    Hi Bish! Thanks for letting me take little trip to your site today. Lovely here.

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  6. I prefer the first one. It has a sense of presence.

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  7. I think our muses would get along. Glad to know I'm not the only one with a male muse, too!

    Maybe I'm weird, but I really really like the second one.

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  8. Great post! Love your Muse :) And I definitely prefer the 2nd one--the voice feels stronger to me there, and much easier to connect to, for me at least!

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  9. Liked the first as well as the second. can't they be fused together somehow?

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  10. I'm keeping a tally of your choices and will be using that to help me with the rewrite. @Susan I hadn't considered fusing, but I'll take a look. Thanks.

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  11. I like the first.

    You're lucky. My muse just says, "Don't make me get the gun."

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  12. I'm still laughing about the "Crazy Monkey" muse. :)

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  13. @Carol Good gravy. Don't let your muse talk to my muse, okay?
    @Tammy Much Grass for the vote and good wishes.
    @Elana He's always a Crazy Monkey, but he works for coffee. What can I say?
    @Anne Waving and thanking you for the vote.

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Your Random Thoughts are most welcome!