Creative Writing
So Diana and I are at a writer’s conference this weekend. I’m really enjoying it, there are a lot of different speakers on different topics, and I’m learning stuff. Some about characterization and world-building, some about marketing and interacting with fans. (I’m taking notes.)
I feel like a real writer. A lot more than, say, a year ago, or even six months ago. And that’s because of you guys.
But I also have to laugh because, well, my dirty mind creeps into my writing now, even when I’m not trying.
For instance.
Today, there was a seminar on dialogue. We discussed creating believable dialogue that sounds real but is also sort of enhanced - i.e. not boring - and interspersing action beats and physical clues, and subtext cues, that give not just extra information to what’s in the dialogue, but conflicting information. Fascinating stuff, shut up. Anyway, we also had several writing exercises where we were supposed to just write for five minutes starting with a line like “Dude, it’s 3 in the morning,” or “I didn’t ask her to come. She followed me.” And let it flow, and see what comes out, using the things we’d talked about.
Well, I like writing dialogue. It’s my favorite part. I think it flows, for me, most of the time. I enjoyed it every time I did it. And each time, I was like, ooh, that was good. Too bad nobody’s gonna read it except me.
And then, after the instructor went through a few more things that weren’t hard and fast rules, but more open to interpretation - like, we all discussed whether or not to use dialect (which I like to read but have trouble writing) and whether to use slang or profanity (the instructor was personally turned off by swearing, but some of us said, “Well, that’s how people talk”) - he said, “Does anybody want to share one of their 5-minute exercises?”
Several people did. And then I raised my hand.
Did I mention that there were a few young people, but this was mostly a group of over-50s? Kinda squares …
So I said, “I don’t know if you’re going to like this …”
And I read … no, I performed …
***
“I didn’t ask her to come. She followed me.”
“She followed you my ass. I can see the collar. And the leash in your hand.”
He moved his hand behind his back. Brought it out again. “What? This? No, dude, this is, this is just for, uh … protection.”
“Uh huh.”
“No, like, once she insisted on going out, I couldn’t risk her running off. I’d never find her again.”
His friend rolled his eyes, then bent over.
“You wouldn’t do that. Would you, Casey?”
“No,” blinked the brunette. “I know where I belong.” And she smiled sweetly.
***
My dudes … their reaction was beautiful. They kinda gasped. There were some little laughs, little murmurs. I surprised them. I must look more innocent than I am.
But that’s good writing, right? A twist in the end …
Is it wrong to be a little proud of myself?
Oh! I almost forgot to tell you the other funny part…
So because it’s almost Halloween, they were doing a costume contest as part of the conference - and some people spent the day costumed as favorite authors and literary characters. There’s an Edgar Allan Poe and a Laura Ingalls Wilder, etc. So I’m dressed as Alice in Wonderland - I already have the costume, it’s one of several characters I do semi-regularly (I told you that I go to children’s parties as Disney princesses, right?) - and Diana is dressed as Lisbeth Salander, the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Black leather, black boots, silver chains, piercings, a collar, etc. Tough. Badass. Google Lisbeth Salander, you’ll see what I mean.
We were kind of a funny pairing.
Anyway, not 10 minutes after I read aloud my little scene about a subservient girl wearing a collar and leash, in comes my very Domme-looking girlfriend, with a studded collar around her neck… comes up to me, Alice, and says, “What did I miss?”
I just giggled. Because people were doing double takes… 😂😂😂
Wowwww it says THINGS about me that I didn’t realize that this sample wasn’t kinky from the outset… like, the fact that she’s a human is supposed to be the big reveal, I guess, huh…
Just another example why you should really follow @sleepytimeslut to her new home and encourage her as much as possible!
