Not to stray from today’s post before I’ve even begun writing it, but last Sunday my daughter dressed her sock monkey and took her to church.
It’s kinda, sorta funny and yet a little bizzare all at the same time.
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At this moment in my life, I’m hating Fiction Friday and it was my idea.
That’s pathetic, but I cannot help it. I’ve written about 200 words since the last Fiction Friday, but that’s it. I should be posting a portion of Chapter 4 today, only I’m not so into it. I have it written – chapter 4, chapter 5, chapter 6, chapter 7 – all done. I’m working on chapter 8 now. I use the term ‘working’ very loosely.
I just don’t know if I want to share anymore of this book. It’s such a tragic story, I feel like I’m being depressing on my own blog. I don’t want to be a downer, you know?
In writing this book, I’m drawing from all my experience in dealing with women and their issues. It’s the worst of everything tumbled from my fingertips into a few characters. I do hope my main character Lacy will show that she can overcome all the sins committed against her and live a happy life, free from the bind of evil, but yet I hesitate.
Maybe this book should be more meaningful, have a greater purpose and all that noble stuff. Maybe it’s just a lame first attempt at fiction. I’m not sure.
So it sits.
Maybe I’m just over thinking things. I’m a professional at that.
Meanwhile I am in all out overflowing love for a plant. Her name is Roxanne.
Yes, I named my plant. Do you find that unusual?
I spent a whopping $20 on this jewel of a plant last summer. When I brought her home, she was thick with branches and dotted with pink and purple blooms. Her beauty drew me from the lumber section of Home Depot, all the way outdoors to the Garden center. I went googly-eyed in love.
So I brought her home where she promptly dropped all of the blossoms on my living room floor. Shocked by her nerve, I put her outside on the porch; however, her delicate leaves and dainty branches broke and splintered to the ground.
I wept bitter tears.
Not really, but I did regret wasting twenty bucks.
Roxanne lived naked and sickly in my living room this past winter. Many questioned my choice of dead plant decor, but I told FringeKid to say nice things to her and I hoped.
This spring, little green buds formed on her stick branches, so I set her outside in the sun.
Today I am proud to show off her buds and blooms. I couldn’t be more pleased with my Roxanne. She’s slowly returning to her former grandeur, giving myself and the world hope that we can once again bloom beautiful.
We sit on the cusp of this weekend and we have a choice – give up on beauty or sit in the sunshine till we bloom. I am going to sit in the sun (with sunscreen of course).
Yes, I know that last paragraph made absolutely no sense because we are not plants, but it sounded good in my head. That shows you the state of my brain.
Happy Friday friends!
If you were more productive than I, please join Fiction Friday and leave your link. Please, thank you, and you’re welcome.
Now be truthful, have you ever named a plant? And do your children dress up stuffed animals for church? Or is my kid the only odd duck?
If you need a break, take one. I find looking at something with fresh eyes helps immensely. Heck, I’m impressed you’re writing a book, period. All I have are a million Chapter Ones in my head.
The sock monkey is too cute in that dress. Not weird at all.
heh heh. I pretty much name everything. Like my KitchenAID Is named R2D2. My daughter wanted to bring home a big rock one time and her sweetie disuaded her with “your momm might not appreciate that” to which she responded “are you kidding? my momm will find a special place for it and give it a name!” Hope that made you smile.
take time out, relax, refresh, go within and don’t worry about all that is without right now.
So funny! I named my Kitchen Aid too. Fiona.
Love the rock story.
Totally over thinking it. I love your story. Just write, and you can always fiddle with it later. (Easy for me to give advice but so hard to actually do that! My movie script is in Limbo right now because of my pathetic summer lazy-butt-ness.)
I had an Avocado plant named Charlie when I was a teenager. It was the only avocado seed I ever got to really grow, using that toothpick in a glass of water technique.
My daughter dresses her stuffed animals all the time. We see a sock monkey, the sweet children see a lovely creature. I remember growing up really thinking that my dolls and my stuffed animals had feelings. And if they have feelings, of course they like to dress pretty.
I’m so happy about your plant! I was going to tell you that you can return plants at Home Depot. I think that they give you up to a year! I’ve returned plants before and they gave me no hassle. But I’m happy that you didn’t give up on your plant and that she recovered.
Hey…there’s that plant you were telling me about! You didn’t mention that ‘she’ had a ‘name!’ So pretty that Roxie. Or maybe she prefers Roxanne.
Rebecca
PS ~ that sock monkey! ha! too much!!!!
I have no fiction to share either. But I will commend you on your plant! I kill green living things, so the fact that you gave this little thing a rebirth is beautiful. And look how well it’s doing! Happy Friday!
Thank you Leah! I am pleased with Roxanne. She’s a good plant. I usually kill all things green too.
I name a Spider plant, Eve
It had lots of babies hanging from it.
Judy, this made me laugh out loud. I guess your Spider plant is fulfilling the command “Go forth and multiply.”
I hope you stick with your story but if you need a break, that’s okay too. There are no real rules for Fiction Friday after all, except that it be fiction. Write a silly little short story that makes you feel happy and then dive in again next week. Sometimes that is what we need to do to make the other things fall into place.
Thanks Lisa. You’re right there really aren’t any rules for Fiction Friday. I’ll have to think about doing something different for a week or two.
Dear Kettle,
Tsk, tsk FringeGirl read your own post, don’t give up on the beauty (your writing) take it out into the sunshine, give it some water and just see what happens. And its okay to give yourself a break now and again. I’m sure you have more than one story to tell and I know you can do it.
All my love,
Pot
Touche Charming Mama. Of course you are right.
~Kettle
Trust me I know how you feel when you want to finish a project but are constantly questioning whether the art is “good” or if it’s headed in the right direction. What I’ve learned is that sometimes you have to just step away and let the work sit. Then when you are ready come back to it with fresh eyes and rejuvination. Stay true to who you want your character to be and not how the book will be perceived. Write from your heart, just as I see you do on your blogs and I’m sure you will be fine.
Thank you for your kind words. You give good advice. Now I need to take it.
Yes, Tricia, you must finish the story.
Now, I have not named a plant but my daughters have taken strange characters to church on occasion. You are not alone my dear. 
Yes, Deb. If I started, I must finish. I know. Glad I”m not alone on the stuffed pets to church.
I hope you stick with the story! I think I get where you are coming from with the worry about being a downer. I am used to being the funny girl, so putting something out there that is dark or sad or different always scares me to death! The great thing about Fiction Friday is that it’s fiction. It’s one post to tell a story that doesn’t have to be happy or funny, mysterious, etc!
Thanks Tori. You’re right about it only being once a week and it is fiction, so….
I told myself I had to finish the story. It’s already the longest thing I’ve ever written, so I feel like I MUST finish. Even if it only lies dead in cyber-space forever. Thanks for the encouragement!
There’s a fine line between love and hate…. That’s all I have to say.
Yes, they say it’s true.