Pulp & Shrouds

A coat of porcupine quills?

Or a shroud of razor wire?

Neither and both, I suppose.

It could be so, so much worse, but the chronic awkwardness I wear every day certainly feels to me as painful and cutting as both these over-exaggerations.

Most days I pretend it doesn’t bother me at all. Somedays the ill-fitted-ness of me is simply crushing.

Today is someday, I confess.

*sighs… straightens the collar of the quill coat, trying to look sharp and brave in all my imagined pokiness… smiles stubbornly*  

Apologies.

This stupidity will pass, too; and tomorrow will be a better day.

Until tomorrow…

Chloe

Post-note: Mental illness sometimes tackles creativity to the ground and beats it to a bloody, unrecognizable pulp. 

The Honey Directive

If I ever, ever get it in my fool head again to write a story about six brothers instead of let’s say the manageable two or three, please slap me silly.

Lock me in a cupboard amongst the canned peas.

Tackle me to the floor and bind my fingers together with gorilla glue.

Wrestle me into a hoop skirt and stuff me up the chimney.

Tie me to a tree in the front yard, slather me with honey and call in the bees.  

Whatever it takes, just stop me!

Thank you.

Until tomorrow…

Chloe

The Puppeteer's Jinx

Perhaps… just maybe… I might have finally gotten a hold on Brone.

*quickly crosses fingers in hopes that I’ve not just jinxed it*

Brone, the one character of The Hushing Days who I’ve just not been able to get a grasp on, was tackled yesterday, wrestled down to the ground, and unceremoniously strung up with my puppeteer strings.

Finally.

Whew!

Have no doubt that an author is simply a master puppeteer. You’ve got to have your hooks well sunk in every extremity of your characters to give the audience a truly virtuoso performance.

One loose leg, one floppy arm and the whole puppet show goes to pot.

Seriously.

Been there, done that.

But not this time, baby! The unruly Brone has been well and truly hooked (maybe, perhaps, hopefully) and the final curtain on the novel can now be readied!...

As long as I haven’t just jinxed it.

Until tomorrow…

Chloe