What do you do to exercise your writing?
To keep my writing muscle "in shape" as it were, I like to free write a scene in my head for roughly fifteen minutes. The last couple of times I've done this, a story has been taking shape in my head that I want to eventually put to paper someday. :) If any of you follow my Instagram feed, you may remember the snippets I shared last week. This isn't the same story, but a different one. I would like to share my most recent free-write "scene." Hope you enjoy it! Let me know how you liked it in the comments! And a shoutout to the Back Mountain Harvest Impactors critique group for their suggestions! Your encouragement means the world! :) Fireworks were always an amazing idea. Yet the minute Misty's gaze landed on Scott her excitement for the display evaporated. Concern moved swiftly into its place. He looked so solemn. Could it be he was having second thoughts about them? The thought struck fear in her heart. Misty settled beside him on the blanket spread over the grass and studied his face. "Everything okay? You're awfully quiet." Her fingers weaved through his as naturally as her breaths came. He sighed and seemed to summon a half smile to his face. "Sorry. I'm preoccupied." "Is it about swimming?" "No." Scott gazed out towards the western horizon. A frown knit his brows. "When are these fireworks starting?" Misty tugged the sleeve of his gray sweatshirt. "Is it about work?" "I'd rather not talk about it." He shrugged away from her touch and shot to his feet, rapidly pacing the strip of lawn in front of them. Misty squinted towards him. She could not remember when they didn't share their troubles with each other or divulge what was weighing on their hearts. It's me, isn't it? Tears stung the back of her eyes and she blinked in an attempt to keep them at bay. Why else wouldn't he want to tell her? Misty watched him pace, noted the way his fingers raked through his blond hair, and felt the breath catch in her throat. If anything, she ought to know what that particular motion meant. It was right there in the open for her to see. He's nervous. Boom! Her eyes skittered past him in time to see a red flash illuminate the sky, followed by blue and white ones. The fireworks had begun. Scott pivoted and stalked toward his family's truck, parked several yards behind them. Misty shook off her gloom and scrambled after him. "Hey, Scott--wait!" He whipped around to face her; eyes wide. "What?" "What is it you're so preoccupied about? Is it me?" She hoped her quivering voice didn't reveal her true thoughts about his silence. His eyes softened and a full fledged smile appeared. "You could say that, yes." Misty shoved the fear down, even as her ire rose. "Please don't tease me. I'm being serious here. I want to know what's bothering you and how I can help. I want to know what's on your heart, what's on your mind. . . just everything. And--" "Whoa, slow down." Scott eased a step closer and reached for her hands. "What you're saying makes what I'm about to say easier and less of a surprise." "What?" She huffed; brows knit. "Hear me out." He laughed and squeezed her fingers. Taking a deep breath, he pinned her with his gaze. "Misty, you're my best friend. The first one I tell things to. Someone I'm always excited to see and spend time with. . ." Strange, it didn't sound like a breakup preamble. Misty's shoulders relaxed and she kept her eyes on him. His words demanded her full attention. "And what I'm trying to say is. . . I want you to be that person for the rest of our lives." Misty blinked. Just friends? "No." He chuckled and pulled her into his arms. She must have spoken the thought aloud. She gazed up at him and a deep knowing formed in her. Wait. There was no way this speech was about breaking up. Not when he-- Scott released her and dropped to one knee. He grinned up at her shock, pulled out the diamond and extended it towards her. Misty squealed. New excitement took flight, excitement that had nothing to do with the fireworks display shooting off behind them. He laughed. "Misty, will you marry me?" "Yes!" She belted into the night air. Her heart raced and her whole body trembled as he slipped the diamond onto her finger. Scott scrambled up and pulled her into his arms again. Misty nestled against him and hardly believed that here, in the arms of her best friend--and fiancé--she had finally found a place of love and of belonging. A place she liked to think of as home.
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AuthorHi! I'm Carolyn, a writer seeking to glorify God with my words. Archives
February 2024
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