I have a terrible head cold, started with the usual sore throat and then made its way to a miserable, stuffy nose ... headache, slight fever, the whole shebang. I took the day off since this week I have a big presentation and wish to be 100% better before then. I forced through the sickness and did things this weekend, even though I really shouldn't have. I'm paying the price now. When sick with a cold, I have such a difficult time sleeping and usually get hit a bit harder than the initial illness. Perhaps I have a weak immune system, I don't know.
Although I have a headache and my eyes are a bit blurry, I can't stand to nap any longer. Sleeping is almost more effort than it is worth since I have to sleep on my back or I can't breathe through my nose. I absolutely cannot stand breathing through my mouth and when I sleep on my back I sometimes get sleep paralysis. In case you don't know what sleep paralysis is, it is really awful.
Anyway, I can't really think memory-wise to update on everything ... just know that the cherry blossoms are happening this week and I'll be going the countryside near Mt. Fuji this weekend.
From now on, I think I'd like to proclaim Mondays as "Writing Prompt Day" since I have been slacking on updates. Next Monday may get a break since I am not sure when I will be back from Mt. Fuji (I'm not going to climb it, that I am aware anyway).
Why a writing prompt? Well, I like to write and I figured writing prompts would be a good way to improve my writing. I've always been a bit hesitant about writing on the internet. Although I have self-published one book (that I am going to pull off the market, I keep saying it but I really am. I look back at it and think of how horrendous it is. I thank everyone for the support, but I wrote that when I was fourteen), I am nervous about people seeing my writings. I'm not worried about criticism; I can handle that.
Maybe it is because I have read one too many bad fanfictions* ... or young writers who litter their work with Mary-Sues* and Weeaboo* characters.
*Quick explanation in case you don't know these terms:
fanfiction basically fan written stories of already published work (example: fanfiction of Harry Potter, Star Wars, Pokémon, et cetera).
Mary-Sue/Marty Stu an original, usually self-insert character that you created in your fanfiction (though I've heard the term used for original work too) that is super perfect and has no flaws; therefore, the character lacks character development and is uninteresting to readers.
Weeaboo people who are really obsessed with Japanese culture/entertainment. Usually to the point they think/pretend they are, or want to be, Japanese and actually know very little about the real culture outside of Japanese animation and comic books. The term is used for real life people, but when I say Weeaboo characters ... I mean characters that are basically Mary-Sue but written by a Weeaboo so have all the Japanese/anime/manga flair to them.
Basically, I have read a lot of fanfictions and original work by writers who fall into the category of, "I am such an awesome writer, my characters are really awesome and totally not Mary-Sue! Please read and I'm going to publish my fanfiction and ........" yeah. Why am I mentioning this? Because maybe I've read too many embarrassing writings on the internet and it makes me feel embarrassed of my own writings. I don't write fanfiction, but I am shy and overly critical of my writing.
Either way, I suppose I'll do what I intended to do with this blog post ... write.
I picked this writing prompt up on Facebook, it was a while back so I can't remember where exactly.
1.Use one, some or all of
the following words in a story, scene or poem (I'll attempt all ... since this is just a writing exercise it'll be a bit sloppy. My worst is first person writing, so I will give it a try):
Her
picture was all that I had left. The frame was dusty and cracked, but the
picture itself was well preserved. I gently brushed the dirt away, stumbling my way through the wreckage in order to find an exit. A shattered window
made for an excellent escape from the abandoned home, as I no longer wished to
stay. Unexpectedly, a wall of rubble blocked any knowable path. Instead of crawling up it with a clunky picture frame, I pried it open and slipped the photo out. The back of the picture was stained yellow from age, but the ink was readable as it appeared to be written in pen. I didn't bother reading it, that wasn't important. The frame was tossed to the ground, picture folded and deposited in a pocket, and then I began my climb.
It didn't take long to reach the top. I sat down, no longer bothered by the tiredness that hung around me. There was a park in the distance; though, one couldn't tell now. My grandmother used to take me there, drinking her coffee and smoking her cigarettes. I never liked the smell the match would make before she lit one up, but at this point in time I wouldn't mind it.
Finally, I brought the picture out in its unfolded glory in front of me. Besides the frame I had so callously tossed away, it was all I had in this world. There was a woman in the picture. I did not know her, but she was beautiful and shining. I didn't doubt that she had been a star in many people's lives. Her time was gone; she was lost in a strand of time that I could no longer reach. My envy for her grew. I envied her for after my many years of searching, her picture was all that I could find. Her existence outlasted everyone else's, and I did not know her. But most of all, I envied that she could no longer feel the fear of a dying world where the only thing that existed was her photo.
Ah, well, there is today's writing prompt. I wanted to make it short. It's not a part of anything, so the story is that. It's a bit sloppy, but I didn't get around to actually writing it until about 8:30 pm and I am sick.
Unsure of when I will update next, but until next time~
No comments:
Post a Comment