Okay, so I was kind-of thinking this was the neatest thing evah. The Lucky 7 Meme gets passed around the writerly community, tagging folks and tasking them with posting pretty little excerpts from their WIP’s (‘work-in-progress’ for you non-writerly types). The first time I saw it I became giddy reading little tidbits of what my buddies were working on, and really hoped I’d get tagged. I wanted to play, too!
Then I got tagged. (Thanks, Jennifer L. Oliver! and Jessica O’Neal!)And promptly got stage fright.
Here are the rules. When I was reading them on other folk’s blogs, they seemed like no biggie to me.
1. Go to page 77 of your current MS/WIP
2. Go to line 7
3. Copy down the next 7 lines, sentences, or paragraphs, and post them as they’re written.
4. Tag 7 authors, and let them know.
So, I went to page 77. I counted down to line 7. I read through the next 7 paragraphs.
I frowned, gulped, and immediately wanted to cheat.
The rest of the evening was spent combing through the manuscript with my snarky little Writer Troll peering over my shoulder saying, “That’s total crap. You have a prologue – don’t count that page, and check page 78 instead.”
I did. Writer Troll smacked loudly on her cinnamon-flavored gum. “That’s total crap. Maybe just check page 76 and see what you find there.”
I did. Writer Troll chimed in, picking at her chipped manicure. “That’s total crap.”
So I decided to check Chapter 7. It’s the Lucky 7 Meme after all, right? Chapter 7 could sort of count. Writer Troll, trying on my favorite heels without asking: “Total crap. Can I have these? They look better on me anyway…”
Page 7? Writer Troll, yawning: “Crap.”
Chapter 42? Don’t have one, but Writer Troll had an opinion on that, too. “If you did have one, it’d be total crap on a shiny silver platter.”
So I turned off the computer and went to bed. “Guess what?” Writer Troll whispered softly as she pulled the blankets up under my chin. “It’ll still be total crap in the morning.”
I woke up to a lovely rainy morning. Writer Troll was snoring loudly in my favorite chair. Drool had crusted in the corner of her mouth and my dog was growling at her from the corner. Somehow the diffused morning light made everything so much clearer. Someone in the room was full of crap. But it wasn’t me, and it wasn’t my manuscript.
It’s Writer Troll. She’s full of crap.
After a hearty breakfast and a cold glass of milk I kicked her mouthy @$$ to the curb.
She’ll be back, of course, but for the moment I’m free of her. 🙂
So, here it is. An except from my WIP, SHRILUGH. Page 77, seven lines in, seven paragraphs for your reading pleasure. Enjoy!
…Something about Bristol’s appearance caught Rein off guard. He’d not noticed his eye color before now – it had been too dark in the barn on the Fulbert property. But here it was easy to see they were blue. Disturbingly blue.
Rein swallowed hard, turning his eyes away. The variety of eye color in the human world was strange to him, and he found looking at humans, especially those with blue eyes, unnerving. It was…unnatural.
Rein glanced back up at the boy, who happened to look down right at that moment. Seeing that he was awake, and watching them, Bristol nudged Isaac and nodded in Rein’s direction. Rein wondered if Isaac had told the humans he dwelled with the truth about who and what he was.
“It’s just…a gut feeling,” Isaac finally answered the boy, eyeing Rein cautiously as he said it. His response answered Rein’s curiosity; the humans didn’t know, or else he’d have explained what he suspected Rein’s presence meant.
Bristol walked nearer to Rein, crouching over him, eyeing his bruised and bloodied face, oblivious to the fact that the man he examined had to force himself to meet his gaze.
“Isaac, you did this to him?” He looked up over his shoulder at Isaac with a shocked expression on his face.
“I was trying to get him to talk.”
Voila! There it is!
And now I task the following seven writers (ach, if I had my druthers, the list would be MUCH longer than seven…and if you’ve already been tagged – oops, sorry!) to kick their trolls in the arse and post tidbits of their own manuscripts on their blogs! Roll call!
Myndi Shafer 
Well, I had not heard of the 7 paragraph option, but since I’ve now been tagged 4 times, I’m not going back to change anything.
Troll is full of poop, Myndi. Enticing, tantalizing snippet, I would so read more.
Thanks, Sherry! 🙂
I’ve heard this two ways–page 77 or page 7. Either way it’s a fun game, and I’m having great fun reading everyone’s excerpts. And I think we all get the panicky “it’s total crap” feeling when we hand over our work for someone else to read, especially on the internet.
I’m TOTALLY loving reading everybody’s snippets. Makes me giddy. 🙂
Oh, Myndi, you put into words exactly what I was feeling when I had to post my seven lines! I was worried and horrified and I pictured people gathering around the computer to point and laugh at how awful my writing is. I am so glad that I am not alone in the ridiculous fear! Yup, misery sure does love company! I have to give you credit for kicking out the writer troll, though. I just posted anyway, with her sitting there staring at me. Maybe it’s time I follow your lead and kick my Troll to the curb. I loved reading your snippet. I totally want to know what Rein is! And I’m wondering if your book is scifi or fantasy or what. Not because I know the difference, but because it would make me feel smarter to know. 🙂 Great post!
So glad to know I’m not the only one with a Troll. Mine looks – and talks – like Tracy Jordan in a wig. 🙂
NO WAY will I tell you what Rein is ( 🙂 ), and honestly, I’m having trouble classifying the book as scifi or fantasy. It’s kind of both. The story straddles two worlds (ours, and another), but my characters don’t get to and fro through space. They come and go through a Door that really isn’t a door.
*wrinkles nose*
Any genre insight?
Thanks for the tag. (yours was #3–guess I should take that as a kick in the pants?)
Loved your lines and seeing a little glimpse into your fictional world. And your conversation with the troll was all too familiar. Glad you kicked it to the curb where it belongs. 🙂
Off to play Lucky 7 today!
Ummm, YEAH!! Can’t wait to see what your 7 7 7 reveals!! 🙂 Get to it, woman!!
Hey, how did Writer Troll get to your house. He lives at my house!
LOL! Apparently they can take many forms and be in lots of places at once…
🙂
LOL! Apparently they can take many forms and be in lots of places at once…
🙂
Like Emma(and you), I’m terrified of posting my 7 lines (or paragraphs).
But you had nothing to be afraid of; your excerpt is intriguing and masterfully written.
Ach, but Fabio, I’m dying to read an excerpt!!
And thanks for the kinds words. Balm for the insecure writer’s soul. 😀
You described the writer troll soooo perfectly! Nice snippet, too!
Thanks, girlie!
Writer troll was full of poop! I second that one. I agree with Fabio, masterfully written. I’m glad you shared.
Thanks, Miss D!
Good for you for kicking out the Writer Troll. Her aunt tries to visit me from time to time, but after letting her stay for over two months I learned how to close the door in her face.
Awesome excerpt. Now I want to know who (or what) is Rein.
😀 Thanks!! *bounces happily*
And good for you, slamming the door in Auntie Troll’s face! I don’t know why, but I picture her with foam curlers in her hair, and the perpetual smell of ben-gay (that ointment for achy joints).
Totally intriguing, would love to keep on reading Myndi. Nothing like a whole crowd of blogging friends to go up against your troll right? 🙂
Of course I’m still a scaredy cat about following thru with getting tagged myself.
Gathering the courage . . .
Do it, Colleen! It’s liberating! Of course all the sweet comments are encouraging, but just the act of doing it – letting go of a tiny piece of your work, no matter how unfinished it is – is refreshing.
*waving pom-poms in your direction*
You know, I was going to tag you and then I thought OMG Myndi is having a baby and might be delivering otherwise you would have been number one on the list!
Great job! Why the hell you’re worrying about your writing I do not know. Why is it that life throws us five things instead of just one? Anyone know the answer to that? And look at how everyone is jumping in to support you? I tell you, hunny, these guys seriously rock.
Every day I’m waiting to hear that you’ve delivered and there you are online and ready to rock. I swear I’m more excited about this baby than you are. Or maybe not! There’s gonna be a big party when this baby arrives, trust me!
You are just the sweetest soul! *hugs*
I have to keep busy otherwise I’d drive myself nuts waiting for little bambina to make her arrival. It means SO MUCH to me that my WANA family is excited about her coming! I keep telling the hubster that I can’t remember what life was like before we all connected.
Myndi, you didn’t get the memo? That Writer Troll is a lying, conniving BITCH. Seriously. She’ll eat all your snacks and drink all your liquor and tell you astonishing and painful things. Kick her to the curb and bar the door. 🙂
SHE’S BEEN EATING MY SNACKS? *hulk-like preggo-anger growing*
SHE’S BEEN EATING MY SNACKS??!!
Yep! What Jenny said absolutely!
Yep! She lies, smothers ideas and freezes fingers. I like to bait mine with vodka then quietly close the door behind her. I put on a vampire flick and she’s content for a bit.
That so totally does NOT suck. Well shoot. Now we have to wait for the rest to find out if he did talk and why force was needed. Ooooh, pretty cool.
I LOVE this game/meme! Like you, I was hoping to get tagged (and I did last week). I have my post all ready to go on Friday ~ ta da!
Your Writer Troll hangs out with mine, I think. You’re right, she’s full of crap and she drools. Hahaha to her. 🙂 You so totally rock, Myndi!
Aw, thanks Tameri! *hugs*
I’m loving all the snippets from people’s books, so much fun- hurry and finish so I can find out what happens next.
I know! Isn’t it the best? It’s like we’ve spent all this time getting to know each other in class, but so many of us don’t really know what our peers have been working on. I LOVE this game.
That was great Myndi! I am standing up and jumping up and down and clapping all at the same time! Notice, I did not say chewing gum! LOL!
Bravo, you did it! Nasty Troll! But awesome writing Myndi.
There must be a virus going around today because a lot of us have gotten shot, I mean tagged. Including yours truly. I don’t know? 🙂
Yay Karen! Can’t wait to read yours!!
I am so glad you kicked that troll to the curb. Just reading that snippet makes me want to read your story again. I really enjoy your writing, Myndi. It is imaginative and creative and I enjoyed the story very much.
Oh, that makes me SOO happy, Amber! Just promise me you won’t re-read the version I sent you oh-so long ago. I’m nearly finished with this re-write, and would LOVE it if you wanted to take a look. I think it’s so much better, and would love your feedback (again). 🙂 *hugs*
I would be honored to be able to read your re-write. In fact, I’ll be looking forward to it! 🙂
Yay! Gotta get this wee little babe outta my belly first. 🙂
very funny, Myndi! If your book is as funny I will def buy it (and even if not!).
OH MY GOSH! I just found a bunch of your comments in my spam folder. I don’t check that folder often enough, and am so sorry yours got tucked in there. Thanks for stopping by – hope to see you again soon! 🙂 Myn