tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75780048178502049502011-10-11T14:01:32.156-07:00night · craft · er [ˈnaɪtˌ-kraf-ter]<i>, noun;</i> <br>1. One who creates within darkness. <br>2. One who commands nightmare creatures [See DREG]. <br>3. One who manipulates the fears and emotions of others to their advantage.Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.comBlogger781100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-66598863806979695592011-01-18T13:19:00.000-08:002011-01-18T13:24:10.896-08:00

A fantasy-western serial Episode 15: “Reborn” Reed wandered through a forest with trees so tall that he couldn't see the sky. But he could feel the sun. He held up his hands. Sunlight penetrated the canopy, yellow rays illuminating the new seeds of life blowing on the wind. Regeneration had begun. He could feel it deep within himself. "Plant the seed!" Reed spun around, but there was no

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-84008646218932621232011-01-11T13:51:00.000-08:002011-01-11T14:04:10.998-08:00

An urban fantasy serial. Part 15 – The Fog Descends A thick fog surrounded the farmhouse early the next morning. Aunt Jenna watched it from the safety of her kitchen, standing close to the stove. Her fingers rested just above her old kettle, feeling the steam just starting to rise from the spout. It wasn't abnormal, but she sensed something strange about it. Easing the window open just

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-15589696551928197532011-01-04T06:25:00.000-08:002011-01-18T13:21:05.175-08:00

A fantasy-western serial Episode 14: "Breakthrough" Reed observed the guards posted at each of the exits out of the crystal mine, noting their rounds. Unlike the others around them that were forced to mine the crystals, Reed, Anna and her aging father, Sam, were responsible for pushing along the heavy mine carts across the open expanse of the bottom of the cavern. The wheels almost made it

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-18055651626874694382011-01-02T22:47:00.000-08:002011-01-02T22:59:28.320-08:00

It's January once again, so it's time to think about what I'd like to do better this year. Most people call them resolutions, but I'm going to call mine goals since "resolutions" tend to be abandoned as soon as February rolls around. But first, an update on where I was last year at this time: 2010 Writing Goals: - Experience "a year of creativity and growth" - Finish "Home Run Sonic" (this one

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-26984900564955502222010-12-13T23:39:00.000-08:002011-01-11T13:53:34.715-08:00

An urban fantasy serial. Part 14: "The Girl Who Loved Dragon Ball" Andrew slowed down as he neared the other children wading into the water near the shore, unsure of what to say or how to join in a game he definitely didn't understand. He watched the sparkling ball about the size of a kickball, which resembled a shiny pearl being butted back and forth between the gularisses and the humans. Even

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-74493330449244978052010-12-06T22:14:00.000-08:002011-01-04T06:52:37.572-08:00

A fantasy-western serial Episode 13: "Mines of Misery" "You see, that's what happens to heroes around here, Mr. Reed," Reinheart said, almost apologetically, "They get shot." Reinheart's next shot missed him as Reed leapt from the chair. He barely dodged it, snapping his torso into an arc so the bullet passed under. He swung down his fist as Reinheart came at him. Reed had never felt full

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-21096847193493758832010-11-01T12:00:00.000-07:002010-11-01T12:16:18.476-07:00

Or... How to get started when the going is already tough! Read more of Doug's Sticky Note comics here. Ah, the blank page! It holds so much possibility for creative freedom and expression. Yet, as soon as we load that "Untitled1" document or put a pen to the paper or stick it in our typewriter, why do we find ourselves staring at it with an equally blank stare? We're scared. Scared our

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-39972791284190524062010-10-21T11:26:00.000-07:002010-10-21T11:28:04.480-07:00

Hey Readers! Halloween is in the air, and you know what that means for writers? The National Novel Writing month is only days away from beginning! For those of you not familiar with NaNoWriMo - check out their website here: http://www.nanowrimo.org/  I encourage everyone who has never tried writing a novel and has always wanted to write one to give it a shot. This will be my 2nd year doing it! I

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-76558816132687188202010-10-12T07:26:00.000-07:002010-12-13T23:39:48.331-08:00

An urban fantasy serial. Part 13: "The Great Gulariss Barbeque" Afterwards the clan gathered at the lakeside, the humans drying off with towels. Aunt Jenna stopped Andrew from taking one. "Hold on, you still have one more thing left to do." She called Duke over and the large red gulariss leaned down to him. He sniffed his dark woolen robe and closed his eyes for a moment. He opened them,

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-57943078255316963792010-10-05T23:21:00.000-07:002010-12-06T22:17:26.300-08:00

 A Fantasy-Western serial Episode 12: "Tornado Tower"   Four men fell to Reed's first round of shots, but he was only one surrounded by many. He did not know if he had killed any of them. At the moment he wasn't even thinking consciously, only Troy's fifty rules were on his mind, playing one after another as their need arose. He scrambled up from behind the catapault, running back towards

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-63725533919605267832010-09-29T22:25:00.000-07:002010-10-12T10:56:40.281-07:00

An urban fantasy serial. Part 12: The Counting Ceremony What was first a feeling of being watched escalated into pure fear. Andrew could sense something following him. A branch snapped behind him. He took off, sneakers slipping as he struggled to keep a lead. Something was chasing him now and gaining with every step. He didn't dare turn around, afraid that whatever it was would tackle him

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-83199575801469825942010-09-22T09:24:00.000-07:002010-09-27T07:01:06.960-07:00

Why do we write? This is a question that has been on mind my since reading the novel Fudoki by Kij Johnson. Fudoki is about an elderly Japanese princess named Harueme who is dying slowly from a lung disease. In her final days she writes about her life, but also, though she has never done so before, she also writes her own monogatari tale (Japanese fairy tale) about a tortiseshell cat who loses 

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-56096606118833434442010-09-20T23:19:00.000-07:002010-10-05T23:38:49.863-07:00

A Fantasy-Western serial Episode 11 - The Iron Windmills Night had already fallen by the time Reed approached the mesa. The mesa towered over the landscape a black shadow framed by the stars in the desert sky. No clouds meant no tornadoes, and he was very glad for that. He needed all the advantages he could gather. There was no moon this night either. Good for cover, but difficult to spot a

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-61796480263486521442010-09-14T06:55:00.000-07:002010-10-05T23:45:57.412-07:00

An urban fantasy serial. Part 11: Secret Friends The two boys traveled just beyond the low stone wall bordering Aunt Jenna's farm, Andrew barely keeping up with TJ's lanky strides. He must live around here, Andrew thought, he seems to know exactly where he's going without having to look around for landmarks. He couldn't see the grin on the TJ's face. When they arrived at Peddler's Creek, TJ

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-9218227404805922992010-09-07T23:18:00.000-07:002010-10-05T23:40:05.126-07:00

A Fantasy-Western serial #10 - Gunslinging 201 Troy kept his word. Reed had not truly known a hard day's work until that morning. Before the sun had risen, he had repaired a number of structures in the town. His muscles burned, but he pushed on, not questioning the Sheriff since that usually just brought another load or another whack on the head. He had barely finished nailing another support

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-58096687038833811082010-08-31T07:04:00.000-07:002010-08-31T11:29:43.037-07:00

An urban fantasy serial. Part 10: Boundaries Aunt Jenna called the Sheriff's Office the next day, but the call was short and no one came by the house. Andrew tried to ask her who Mr. Pender was, but every time she changed the subject. Eventually he stopped asking. Soon Andrew had enough on his hands with the upcoming Counting Ceremony to worry about some mysterious man. By Saturday, he was

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-90660538515868596732010-08-24T06:52:00.000-07:002010-09-07T23:20:34.910-07:00

A Fantasy-Western serial #9 - Gunslinging 101 Sunlight blinded Reed. He winced and rolled over, trying to catch the tail end of his dream as it scampered into the back of his mind. A boot nudged his shoulder, spinning him on the dusty floorboards. "Rise and shine, Cauliflower-Boy." He opened an eye and gazed up at Troy who was glaring down at him. Did he have any other facial expression

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-90404811709247373472010-08-16T21:31:00.000-07:002010-08-31T11:31:14.495-07:00

An urban fantasy serial. Part 9 - "The Promise & The Stranger" The rest of the evening passed in a blur to Andrew. He had nearly worn out his voice from talking so much with his new family. Even so, he hadn't enough time to really get to know any of the Gulariss before Aunt Jenna announced they had to head back to the farmhouse. The fish-like dragons had even spoken of more caves and rooms

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-46541896393111088992010-08-09T22:42:00.000-07:002010-08-24T06:56:39.752-07:00

A Fantasy-Western Serial #8 - THE HANDSHAKE Sheriff Troy could barely stand, his wounds bleeding deep red through his trousers. Reed rolled over a barrel for him to sit down on. He nearly kicked it away, but sighed heavily and set himself down as gently as possible. "Damn that Reinheart! If I was ten years younger I could have slaughtered him!" "Let me help you." The old man sighed again

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-15069986576664051282010-07-22T22:23:00.000-07:002010-07-22T22:24:16.000-07:00

Angela's email hit me out of nowhere. Said she needed space. That she couldn't be online every night like she always had been. Space? I knew what that meant. Everyone knows what that really means. Some part of me had seen it all coming, much as I wanted to deny it. Is it sad part of me felt vindicated reading it? I told her exactly what I thought of that. Sent her a long email. Don't think I'm

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-50410499943565020032010-07-19T23:19:00.000-07:002010-08-16T22:10:56.771-07:00

-- Feel free to begin here or return to the Index. -- Part 8 - "Meet the Family" Andrew did want to meet the other fish-dragons, (Though he supposed the correct term was Gulariss-es? Gulariss-i?) but he also wanted to study the complex shell mosaics along the walls. The designs flowed in and out of another, like those optical illusion designs where you can't tell where one begins and another

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-80234983132723711252010-07-15T23:14:00.000-07:002010-07-16T10:45:47.948-07:00

The first time I met Jimmy it was magic. Sure we were nervous, but after the first half hour it was like we had always been together. He was even better than he had seemed online. I know what you're probably thinking, but I've known Jimmy for eight years now. He's my soul mate. Look, you just don't know him like I do. You don't know what it's like for him. Believe me. I've been to his house. I

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-82154736238807283592010-07-14T23:55:00.000-07:002010-08-09T22:45:29.553-07:00

A Fantasy-Western Serial #7 - A LACK OF TRUST Reed watched as the men rifled through his possessions, such as they were. Considering the shotgun barrel pressed against his temple, he decided he had better just let them do as they pleased for now. Not that he could have moved much anyway since they had bound him like a bale of hay. If he moved too much the coarse ropes cut into his green

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-60917231645555377492010-07-13T00:27:00.000-07:002010-07-13T00:34:27.840-07:00

Gracie Crone of Crone's Cauldron Publications has presented me with two awards: the Versatile Blogger and the One Lovely Blog award. If you haven't read any of her fiction yet, I highly recommend her weekly serial: Fire & Water, a tale about a young man's destiny featuring dragons, selkies, shape-shifting cats and other fantastical beasties. The lovely Miss Gracie's not only a writer of myths

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-60213536824070315732010-07-11T13:50:00.000-07:002010-07-11T20:04:30.909-07:00

Makes you just wanna punch him, doesn't it? -- Find more fun comics at VG Cats! As writers, we are united under a single fear. It happens to all of us, whether we be rich or poor, pros or amateurs. Writer's Block doesn't discriminate. So what can you do when you're sitting at your computer, staring at the blinking cursor? Are your hands trembling over a blank notebook page? Or are you mindlessly

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-78640150289795399452010-07-08T22:59:00.000-07:002010-07-26T14:06:49.199-07:00

Donna studied the two packages in her hands, weighing the pros and cons of their Nutrition Facts, which at the moment seemed equally non-nutritutional, leaving her feeling meloncholy at best.  As she let the winner fall gently to the cart, bouncing off the 48-count feminine pads and landing on the super value-pack of beef, she noticed something was missing. Not anything from the cart though. 

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-23709817242882629482010-07-05T23:49:00.000-07:002010-07-20T08:49:50.987-07:00

-- It all started here... -- Andrew didn't know how much longer he could keep his breath held. He had no idea how much further they had to go to get to the Dragon's Den. Was there really anything down here in the lake? A grinning face interrupted his worries. His dragon only paused for a moment before he swam past, darting all over. The little fellow hadn't been nearly that quick on land, but

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-42665945329256465512010-07-01T23:02:00.000-07:002010-07-10T11:03:31.125-07:00

It didn't matter what kind of biscuits: salty or sweet, dry or fluffy, Dana loved them all. But her favorites were the Queen's Specials. Only the Queen's Biscuiteers knew the secret recipe. The Biscuiteers were no ordinary bakers. Only thirteen lucky bakers survived the rigorous standards, set forth by the notoriously difficult Annual Royal Biscuit Baking Tournament. Even those who won the 

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-77963014285345766572010-06-29T00:42:00.000-07:002010-08-09T22:46:34.701-07:00

A Fantasy-Western Serial -- It all started here, but feel free to begin wherever you like. -- Not even a lone tumbleweed blew across the empty streets of downtown Wheatfield. Even so, Reed could feel the presence of humans all around him. Humans watching. Humans waiting for... what? He walked further into town, always keeping an eye behind him to his horse, Abe, who was still slurping noisly

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-91090738646057990952010-06-24T23:08:00.000-07:002010-07-10T11:04:13.658-07:00

I thought I knew what love was. The usual things: gentle touches, deep kisses, sweet words whispered, a ring... I was only nineteen the day I died. I knew nothing of real love. When he ripped my sleeve, exposing the weeping bite marks, no one said anything. Everyone knew. I knew.  I didn't want to die. I'm ashamed that I begged my so-called true love to help me even as he shot me in the heart.

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-83622808467221229962010-06-22T08:33:00.000-07:002010-07-05T23:49:44.893-07:00

-- It all started here... -- "You didn't answer my question," Andrew said after some timed had passed, "You told me where it -- I mean he -- came from but I wanted to know why I got it." He indicated the fish-dragon curled in his lap, its fantail curled around it like a cat, the gills flapping as it breathed in and out. It wasn't that he didn't have a million other questions, (like how it

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-55676790483862024262010-06-17T21:09:00.000-07:002010-06-17T22:25:47.395-07:00

She missed the plains. Or rather, she missed the night sky above them, especially the late summer nights, when she felt exposed to the universe. She'd lie on her back, knowing if the Earth ever stopped turning she'd be flung off it, propelled into those endless stars. The thought scared her, made her clench the wet grass in her fists, nails scraping against the rich dirt. But it was also

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-19342109751173114632010-06-15T23:32:00.000-07:002010-06-29T00:42:42.289-07:00

A Fantasy-Western Serial -- It all started here, but feel free to begin wherever you like. -- The sun had moved high over their heads by the time they had reached the edge of the desert that marked the border to the next town, Wheatfield, now just a dim outline in the heat a few miles at most along the cracked ground. A cloud-line swirled overhead, casting a dark shadow over them. They slowed

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-22810111874666773402010-06-10T23:35:00.000-07:002010-06-11T16:30:23.457-07:00

The high score on the Galaga table at Peter Piper Pizza on Alameda Avenue had always been Jessica's. JES, as she was known on the score boards in the tiny arcade, had never been conquered, sitting pretty at 281,280 points. She always carried a few quarters in her pocket just in case she needed a quick run against the hoards of bug invaders. Peter's was local, but was more than just a pizza joint

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-38523942077871337112010-06-08T06:15:00.000-07:002010-06-22T08:34:34.441-07:00

-- This is Part 5 but it all started here... -- "Hold on a sec," Andrew interrupted. "What does this story have to do with anything? Where did the egg come from?" "If you would let me finish, Andrew," Aunt Jenna said, "I'll be happy to tell you. Here, help me dry him off." The little fish-like dragon was clean now, no longer gooey from the egg. His mottled colors were even more vibrant and

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-2387364343848743332010-06-04T06:04:00.000-07:002010-06-04T06:10:19.963-07:00

A Friday Flash by J.M. Rich I feel like I'm at a damn AA meeting. Hello. My name is Mike and I have lung cancer. No, I never smoked. It was asbestos in my apartment. That's what you get for trying to do something yourself. For the record, it's always too cold on the fourth floor at Danish General. Every time I'm stuck there the nurses won't do a thing about it except gimme another blanket. As

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-73909067497849110192010-06-01T05:57:00.000-07:002010-06-15T23:36:42.514-07:00

-- A Fantasy-Western Serial -- It all started here, but feel free to begin wherever you like. -- It was an hour before dawn when Reed returned. As he came through the front door, he found Anna waiting for him, her arms crossed and her hair standing up in all directions. She was wearing a robe and looked like she hadn't been able to sleep much either. He realized he was still wearing the hat, so

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-91521582323205070132010-05-28T06:30:00.000-07:002010-06-10T21:29:36.162-07:00

Guy should have felt more confident about the rescue mission, but he was too busy feeling guilty about it. It was his fault they had grabbed Travis, but what could he do about it now? Move forward for the kid's sake, he told himself. He had to. Why did they take him to the water park of all places? He didn't figure that one out until he peered over the fence and saw just how dark it was in there

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-55646453914070494702010-05-25T05:27:00.000-07:002010-06-08T06:18:48.097-07:00

========= This is Part 4 but it all started here... ========= Andrew couldn't understand how Aunt Jenna behaved like nothing strange was happening. This whole situation stressed him out, especially because nothing felt strange about it other than the fact that he thought that he should feel strange. He was giving a bath to a fish after all, or what resembled a fish anyway. This was ridiculous

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-85131166687017700422010-05-21T06:17:00.000-07:002010-05-21T06:17:40.699-07:00

Most girls her age carried dolls, but MaryJane carried Sprinkles, a fairy porpoise. "Sprinkles is going to be a famous paleo-proctologist when she grows up." MaryJane wasn't sure that was exactly how you said it, but it cracked Mom up everytime she said it that way and she loved to hear Mom laugh. "Stuffed animals can't grow up, stupid," Lily said, "It's just pretend. Don't you know how to play

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-65816419224121748802010-05-18T08:00:00.000-07:002010-06-01T05:59:19.819-07:00

======================== It all started here, but feel free to begin wherever you like. ========== Reed did not sleep well that night, which was becoming all too normal for him. Too many sounds echoing in the house disturbed him every time he drifted off on the couch. All the furniture seemed to come to life in the darkness and a few times he thought heard someone walking along the upper floors

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-37668561749211201052010-05-14T09:04:00.000-07:002010-05-14T09:04:27.794-07:00

A Friday flash fiction by J.M. Rich ======================= Milo dreamed of flying. Not the conventional flying, with planes or hangliders or even jetpacks. He dreamed of having wings. Such thinking was forbidden, so he kept it locked away in his heart. Everyone could tell something was up with him because he was always staring at the sky. Even while walking down the street. It was surprising

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-59240598215823846892010-05-11T08:17:00.000-07:002010-06-08T06:17:48.256-07:00

========= This is Part 3 but it all started here... ========= Andrew froze, afraid to move at all, afraid he would drop the egg, or worse, that whatever came out decided Andrew looked delicious enough for its first meal. He heard a high-pitched chirp. As he held his breath, he could hear the cracks open as they spider-webbed all over the surface. Up through the center burst an opaque horn. He

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-79339713733431083962010-05-10T11:49:00.000-07:002010-05-10T11:49:51.178-07:00

After seeing what some of my fellow #FridayFlash friends have done with their blogs, I decided that "Nightcrafter" was definitely a few years overdue for a new site update. This time around I'm getting rid of the all-black look for something much easier to read with better contrast. I saw a lot of people saying it's easier to read without the black and after a few days of trying out this new

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-16341263997596558482010-05-07T08:31:00.000-07:002010-05-07T08:40:58.894-07:00

The margarita wasn't working for Tiffany. Sure it was cold, but not nearly cold enough. Again she asked herself just what the hell she thought she was doing in the one of the hottest places in the world during the hottest time of the year. But in the end, it all came back to him though, didn't it? Wasn't it worth getting away from it all, just for her own sake? Even her back was sweating now,

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-49418811181471549732010-05-04T08:00:00.000-07:002010-08-17T06:37:00.136-07:00

An urban fantasy serial. Part 2 - Reality Checks Out "Seriously, what is it?" Andrew asked. He always pictured a dragon egg looking something like this. That thought was ridiculous though. It couldn't be real. He was old enough to know better. Aunt Jenna shrugged. She had to be hiding something. "Is this a joke?" he asked. "Andrew, now would I pull a prank like that on you?" Aunt Jenna

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-12620914315335590982010-05-01T16:25:00.000-07:002010-05-01T16:25:15.252-07:00

you can't see what's going on underneathe the surface hiding in the shadows a hundred fathoms deep is it so dangerous or is it only a refraction magnifying what isn't there or is it lurking nearby masking its identity tricking you again remember the trench? in that deepest darkness? sight is meaningless there your one tiny light can only go so far and often it hides the truth you'll never see

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-15229566716066301772010-04-30T14:54:00.000-07:002010-04-30T16:41:48.103-07:00

Kaze snuck across the tatami mats, his slippered feet making no sound. He clung tightly to the mug in his hands, cupping his hand over the opening so no steam escaped. He just had to cross his master's room and then he was home free to enjoy his cup of joe. "KAZE-SAN!" Two hand-claps echoed as the lights snapped on. "Damnit." He couldn't run now. He'd spill it and burn himself. He was caught.

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-49262269443278948562010-04-25T22:45:00.000-07:002010-05-13T21:30:16.739-07:00

========== It all started here, but feel free to begin wherever you like. ========== Reed shifted uncomfortably in the saddle as Anna slipped down and led her horse on foot. They had to pass through the town proper to get to her house at the end of the street, which meant that everyone was watching them. He could not sit tall while under their stares, which came from the windows high up to the

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-32982532456127988562010-04-21T19:00:00.000-07:002010-08-17T06:34:25.984-07:00

An urban fantasy serial. Part 1 - Aunt Jenna's Present "Sometimes life's not fair, Andrew," his mother said, herding him towards the aged sedan, dragging along his two suitcases, the same two he'd used since he was five. Andrew's parents always made him go every year. He'd have much rather been in his room finishing the game that he had saved up his whole allowance for. He was proud of it

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-23903900146320054262010-04-09T16:15:00.000-07:002010-05-13T21:25:04.793-07:00

======================== A Fantasy-Western Serial by J.M. Rich ======================== Reed buried Willowbark, the last of his elders, on eve of the Winter Solstice. How fitting, he thought. The lingering darkness only amplified his loneliness. With Willowbark gone, he was now the last of the Xylem. True, he was still in his prime, his vined limbs flexible, sturdy and green with new growth, but

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-45912201626854952882010-04-07T22:44:00.000-07:002010-04-24T07:45:52.134-07:00

STOP! Don't start reading here! Go back to the beginning of this story, and Choose Your Own Adventure! ========================== For those of you already adventuring, you chose Option 2: "Try to play along with their charade and somehow alert his friends to what’s really going on?!" Good Luck. =========================== "What are you going to get?" Latoya said, her face as blank as a

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-84046286580201674562010-03-12T11:00:00.000-08:002010-03-12T11:06:32.374-08:00

An email from Chris Baty - founder of Nanowrimo.org - spurred me on to set a launch date (as it were, pun intended) for my space pirates novel.I've already announced it elsewhere but I'm going to work very hard to ensure that "Rad Savage Wins Against the Universe (Sometimes)" is available in print format from Amazon.com through CreateSpace by June 30th. I think giving myself a reasonable deadline

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-3739988526213313272010-03-08T12:22:00.000-08:002010-04-08T06:36:38.621-07:00

Once you were my everything.My world revolved around your light.I drank up your words and praiseyou were the purest nectaryou gave me lifeyou brought me unimaginable happinessBut I didn't noticeyour light was flickering, fading,I was draining youI was clinging too tightlytugging at your heartclenching it tightly between my fingersI was cowardly,Afraid to let you goafraid you would fly away and

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-91906399727291080932010-02-26T08:15:00.000-08:002010-02-26T08:44:24.660-08:00

All around me: white spacea canvas that vanishes into infinite points in all directionsI'm perched on the bottom linedangling my feet off its edgelooking far as I can seedeep down into the whiteup high into the whitearound at all the whitetrying to figure out where I should go.I think about how I fell down here.It caught me but I don't feel safeas if this line could break at any momentcrumble

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-23322792843868328052010-01-21T08:19:00.000-08:002010-01-21T08:31:40.925-08:00

Yes finally I'm ready to dive into the second draft of my NaNoWriMo Novel. Doing an outline for this draft was a lot more rewarding than I thought it would be. Usually I'm very against planning things out, but after the first draft it was refreshing to know I won't have to worry (so much) about getting stuck.Chris has been a great friend and has been helping me sort out all the crap I didn't need

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-60444274767578121492010-01-15T06:35:00.000-08:002010-01-15T06:41:51.432-08:00

So I'm back to Rad Savage full-time now. And this time around I'm brainstorming an outline to keep them from wandering the center of the planet for about 30 pages, hahaha! It's been difficult for me because I'm the type of writer who likes to work "straight ahead" (as we say in animation) with no plans and just see what happens. As in animation this can be a good thing if you're experienced

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-82753690019730915412009-12-04T08:04:00.001-08:002009-12-04T08:09:00.415-08:00

Lol, I've always wanted to say that in my special announcer voice. Win.So after successfully completing my sci-fi novel I'm returning to my old friend, Dreamshapers. I've been reading through the first draft and I think I finally found the weak point that was causing me to fall apart. I was missing Lambent early on! I guess some distance was a good thing (Thanks Rad) and now I can get back into

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-15634816357906410582009-12-01T22:59:00.000-08:002009-12-01T23:11:57.205-08:00

So it's a day past NaNo and I've finally brought the first draft of my novel to an end. 60,549 words. Wow I was right about how much more it would be past 50. That's almost exactly 10K.This is the first time I've ever completed something like this. I can't tell you what it means to me personally. It's a milestone I'll never forget. I've completely fallen head over heels for these characters

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-25350734572231690462009-11-30T06:28:00.000-08:002010-04-24T07:42:15.875-07:00

I hit the 50,000 mark sometime last night at about 10:30pm one day from the finish line of NaNoWriMo. For those of you who have no clue what I'm talking about, I can direct you here: http://www.nanowrimo.org/ As I said in my last post, this has been more than just about making it to 50,000. I've written nearly twice as much in this month alone than I have in the entire year of 2009 and that's

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-26940353759787418452009-11-24T10:25:00.000-08:002010-04-24T07:43:05.226-07:00

... and I liked it! :O For those of you unfamiliar with NaNo, I suggest visiting their website: http://www.nanowrimo.org But basically what it boils down to is a writing challenge for the month of November. Write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. I can't begin to describe what this month has been for me. I've written more now in the last 23 days than I have the entire year so far. I'm writing

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-62123078869313838122009-03-01T22:44:00.000-08:002009-03-02T00:07:26.335-08:00

Novel Progress:Words: 37,000 approx.Pages: 148Chapters: 10It's crazy when you think about it. I've been working on this only since January and already I have so much (over 37,000 words!). I've been very pleased that I've been able to keep and sometimes even surpass my daily writing goals. Writing has brought me so much pleasure and I only wish I would have picked it up sooner. But no time to

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-26199781535112675472009-02-08T23:42:00.000-08:002009-02-09T00:08:04.308-08:00

I ended up pulling past my original goal of 18,500! I'm really impressed with how well and how easy it's been for me to write my quota. King was right. When you set yourself a consistent time, it really helps you prepare yourself. I love writing in these late, silent hours and I feel as if I'm finally getting to know Guy and Travis. I've got lots of ideas for changes, but for now I'm noting

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-142876359598457972009-02-01T22:44:00.000-08:002009-02-01T23:06:42.364-08:00

Couldn't help that joke, I really couldn't. :)More than double word count from last weekend. I'm really happy with how my novel is progressing. This time I'm really letting Guy take the reins and tell the story, and I feel like I'm really getting to know him as a character now. King's book has helped me so much and my goal is working out so well that I want to bump it up to 1,000 a day for

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-29127222510524699622009-01-25T18:58:00.000-08:002009-01-25T19:16:49.510-08:00

Novel Update!I'm seven days into my novel and already I've got 5,000 words. I've been sticking to my guns and writing at least 500 words a day. There's gonna be days ahead when I know this will be hard, so I'm sticking to it and enjoying this first wave of creativity.I'm working in standard manuscript format now, so it's a lot easier to keep track of my publisher's word count (Thanks Sheila!)

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-54059795680960461562009-01-18T21:33:00.001-08:002009-01-18T22:07:52.913-08:00

Codename: DreamShapers (i.e. Until I finish and come up with a good title.)Yes, it's true. I'm scrapping the entire rough draft that I had started in favor of a new one. (Not throwing away, just putting it aside for now.) I'm doing this for several reasons, all of which I've discussed at length with a number of writers I hold in high regard:1.) Too much P.O.V. switching. I'm keeping it solely

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-71431100535929801922009-01-13T09:00:00.000-08:002010-04-24T07:42:41.310-07:00

An incident happened to me on Christmas Day that's brought an old battle of mine rising to the surface of my mind. I won't go into too much detail save to say that someone anonymously posted a handful of flames** on a fan fiction story that I posted. Normally this kind of thing wouldn't bother me, because you typically get lots of "trolls" who will come across your work and seem to get a

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-42260601084039904872008-12-22T17:36:00.000-08:002008-12-22T18:00:29.028-08:00

Don't Eat the Yellow Snow!I know it may look tastysitting there along the sidewalkbut trust me- it ain't lemony-sweet.March of the Snow PeopleSnow people have rights too!We don't say it, but you can see it in our eyesBlack as coal.We're tired of being dressed upParaded as second-class citizensMelted in the prime of life!Snowmen unite! Snowladies too!Snowbabes rise up and grab a shovel!We're

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-83632425098758211662008-12-04T23:25:00.000-08:002008-12-05T00:01:31.109-08:00

A Nobody Like YouSo you want a job, do you?Have we got the perfect position in mind!It's everything you're seeking.Even the title is so alluring.Benefits and everything!And with a salary to be jealous of.There's only a few requirements:- At least 5 years of experience at Big Brand places(because everyone who has a solid job like that will want to work with a no-name like us)- Must have at least

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-21240450420039492072008-11-17T17:12:00.000-08:002008-11-17T17:36:20.190-08:00

Change isn't comingIt has already arrivedI'm caught up in it carried away by itIt's all here before merushing into this rapidly fading roomIt's a Hurricaneknocking me off balancetossing me in all directionsOh, Winds of Change,Won't you please take me somewhere new?Where rainbows can be touchedWhere hope is a snowcapped mountainWhere dreams are concrete sidewalks that never endI don't want to

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-50335996056497361232008-11-16T09:28:00.000-08:002008-11-16T09:47:57.501-08:00

Turning PagesOnly yesterdayI was curled up under the tentin our living roommade of chairs and blanketswatching adventures flash by on the screenthinking about what could bewhat will bewhat I want to beHere I am watching another screenkeyboard ticking and tackingunder a blur of flicking fingerslooking around my roomthinking about what has beenwhat waswho I amA feeling is growinginside of mea

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-4687387513350746862008-11-04T20:32:00.000-08:002008-11-04T20:46:25.042-08:00

The Blue VoteA bucket of blue painthas spilled across our nation,joining us together.We have come forward!We have voted!We have decided!A New Hope is dawning!Tears are falling!Change is coming!Let's stick together!Let's work together!We'll get out of this together!God Bless us,Everyone!The Young and Old,The Right and Left,The White and Black,And everything inbetween!Today history is made.I'm

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-9662159782682577352008-11-01T22:36:00.000-07:002008-11-01T22:48:51.240-07:00

Halloween CheerWear a mask!Wear it proud!Sing your song!Sing it loud! Walk the road.Take a stroll. Who knows what the night will hold?Take my hand.Squeeze it tight.With you all fiendswill run in fright.Eat a treat. Pass it on. One more Halloween has come and gone. Just a little something for Halloween. I love this time of year. I didn't really dress up this year, but wore something I normally

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-40385007500658856582008-10-14T22:25:00.001-07:002008-10-14T22:34:43.050-07:00

ORANGE!Round and speckled fiend!Shoot me in the eye will you?Stain my best shirt?I'll not have you ruin my morningwith your pompous sections and bitter exterior!I know just how to slice the likes of you.After all, you go so wellsqueezed into a tall glass.Stupid OrangeWhat good are you to me?Nothing rhymes with you.No wonder there are no songs about you.You should really change your name.Maybe

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-7069272650738074482008-08-12T23:41:00.001-07:002008-08-13T00:20:31.170-07:00

A young man came upon the closed gate. Having no desire to turn around yet again and hopelessly fish around for a better route out, he simply stood before it, contemplating what might await him on the other side. Intricate leave patterns of wrought iron clung to panes of frosted glass, obstructing any view of what might be beyond.Thoughts he had been trying to push back into the corners of his

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-15911603585385159432008-07-27T12:58:00.000-07:002008-07-27T13:08:06.195-07:00

And boy are my legs tired. No, seriously. I'm so glad I have a sit down day-job or I think my legs might turn to jelly and I'll be forced to literally drag myself around. (A funny prospect but I'd rather not get my clothes all dirty.) Unfortunately on top of that a cold virus snuck up on me and I'm in the beginning stages of a bad first half of the week. But I won't that get me down!Being it was

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-69704913192710768782008-07-17T22:41:00.000-07:002010-04-24T07:43:24.358-07:00

Just got back from another kick-ass Women in Animation event. We had this one over at the DreamWorks Studio campus in Glendale (only a few blocks away from my work, very convenient to find) with guest panelists from the Gaming Industry - writer, programmer, designer and producer - a good balance of people. It was nice to hear from their perspective about the industry. They totally nailed the

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578004817850204950.post-2774927591287988332008-07-16T21:35:00.000-07:002008-07-16T21:40:54.066-07:00

You're probably asking yourself why someone so happy-go-lucky and peppy as me (should you know me in real life) chose such a dark name and such for my writing blog.The main reason is that I tend to be a writing creature of the night. I tend to create best late at night when the world is blanketed in darkness and quiet with only a few dim lights and the glowing screen of my computer to guide me.

Joanie Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923353641823849082noreply@blogger.com0