Writing a new story is like falling in love (with a snippet!)

Listening to: Linkin Park – Minutes to Midnight

Mood: Inspired

I started a new story when I came back from vacation and it’s taking up all my waking thoughts. I love world-building, I love developing new characters. For me, writing a new story is kind of like falling in love. Like being wrapped in a blanket fresh out of the dryer on a cold winter evening. I want to fall into it, drape its softness around me and burrow down deep. The warmth will seep into my bones. I won’t want to escape.

Everything about a new story is exciting, while still holding an edge of uncertainty. I want to spend all my time with the story (the Hubs is used to playing second fiddle to a story at this point). I want to discover the ins and outs of the characters; what makes their hearts race, what makes them want to rip those same hearts out. It’s exhilarating. It’s frightening.

This is where I am right now. Madly, frighteningly in love with my story. It’s taking up all my time, and it was an effort just to write a blog post today because my new characters are clawing at my mind, begging me to come back to them. So, I’m going to listen.

And for your reading enjoyment, here’s a rough little snippet of what I’ve been working on. For context, it’s a YA Fantasy. It also hasn’t been edited, so take it with a grain of salt.

“I rubbed the cuffs around each of my wrists, one and then the other, the cold metal a constant reminder that the Malik owned me. Just like he owned everyone in Merzia.

Despite what most ai zhoine commoners thought, Raktze were prisoners of the empire too. Perhaps more so because the Malik had long ago magically neutered us, allowing our powers to be used for only his annual hijiki.

At least the ai zhoine didn’t remember they’d once had magic. The Raktze weren’t so lucky.

None of them knew what it was like to have power thrumming inside you, begging to be released. Most days I could ignore the magic’s gnawing hunger, pacing like a caged beast within me. But as the hijiki drew closer and the magic knew it would soon be freed, it became more than an insatiable hunger. It became a violent predator stalking its prey; teeth exposed, mouth curled in a vicious snarl, ready to pounce and rip into flesh and bone.”