jana_denardo | Entries tagged with challenge

Title: The Incubus’ Tale
Author: Jana Denardo
Fandom: Lucerna Universe
Spoilers: none
Author’s Notes The Lucerna Universe is my creation. It started with Triskelion for the M/M romance goodreads group’s 2014 Love’s Landscape challenge. You can read the original here. though you have to be a member of the group to do so (like all Goodreads groups it’s free). I’ve noodled around a couple times in this universe. I wrote this one as a double challenge. One for

picfor1000 challenge which is to write a story of 1000 words exactly to a picture prompt. Mine is here, though I couldn’t work in the money part (other than to mention wine’s expensive). The second challenge is for Chuck Wendig’s challenge in his Terrible Mind’s blog to write 1000 word flash fiction using one of the titles prompts he offered. You can see the details here.

( The Incubus' Tale )

Current Mood: accomplished
Current Music: Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows

Finished my last week for the Writer Recharge challenge
What I accomplished:
WRITE/REVISE – I rewrote Blood Red Roulette chapter one AGAIN. The beta readers are split on whether or not it works. Some say it’s very affective, others disagree. I’m waiting til I hear from them all before I do anything more to that. I am working now on later chapters, trying to get it all put together so I can see what needs writing on in April’s Camp Nano (because I foresee March being sucked up by the edits for my upcoming novel Soldiers of the Sun.
I finished cleaning up my demon story A Wolf in the Fold so the goal was met. I’m much happier with this story now and it went out to Wayward Ink for their Of Heaven and Hell anthology. The idea is an incubus is killing off killers his detective boyfriend couldn’t capture but we shall see. It’s been a story that hasn’t gelled in the past but I think the recent work on it really helped.
Overall I wrote 8,500 words in the moth (though only 231 this past week. It was a BAD week).

READ/REREAD - I just finished Geist by Phillippa Ballantine and I really enjoyed it. It’s a fantasy story with a hint of steampunk and featured a strong female character. I’m just starting Until Thy Wrath Be Past by Asa larrason, a Scandinavian msytery and Wheel of Stars by Andre Norton, an old urban fantasy I pulled off my 30+ year old TBR pile.

I had wanted to read more manga but once again the book seller sent it to a friend’s house instead of the default address (apparently it defaults to the last address you sent it to regardless of what it’s showing you as your default…). I’m waiting on the mail to get them back up here.

STRETCH - I would say sending to a new publishing house instead of the one I’ve been comfortable with for the last four years is a stretch.
SELF - I saw the dentist again and the second temp crown he put on worked better. I’ll see him again this week for the real temp crown and hopefully root canal because man this hurts. Am doing my PT and got good news from the endocrinologist so I’m taking care of me.

CONNECT - I’m counting this and What’s Up Wednesday as my connect
FUN NO FUN. Boy this week sucked. Tooth pain, job going to hell, my older cousin died and worse, it ended with the loss of my childhood role model, Leonard Nimoy. I’m still weepy about that.

But this challenge was fun and I’m glad I did it. Thanks to everyone who made it possible.

Current Mood: blah
Current Music: Dream Imagine Dragons

Finished my third week for the Writer Recharge challenge
What I accomplished:
WRITE/REVISE – I rewrote Blood Red Roulette chapter one which pretty much usurped doing chapter six so I still consider my goal met. I did a chapter And since it was a chapter both my first readers thought was problematic and it was the first chapter I decided that took precedence. AND I did get chapter six done too!

I finished rewriting my demon story A Wolf in the Fold so the goal was met. I’m much happier with this story now.
Overall I wrote 5,400 words so it was a good week. In fact that was nearly my entirely yearly word count up to that point.

READ/REREAD - I finished Hexed by Kevin Hearne and I really enjoyed it. I also finished a lightweight cozy mystery File M for Murder . It was fun, popcorn kind of read and I finally forced myself to finish Red Rising a YA SF dystopia that was both boring and violent. Unless you want to watch teens maim and murder each other to climb up a ridiculously complex caste system, give this a pass.

STRETCH - I kinda cleaned a few things so I’m calling the cleaning stretch done.
SELF - I saw the dentist. He put on a temp cap. It fell off. I’m having better luck with the otc temporary caps. I see him again for another temp cap on Wednesday but I can’t get in for the crown until March 9th. I am not amused.
CONNECT - I failed at my connect attempt but it wasn’t my fault. It got snowed out. Yep same thing I posted last week and I totally forgot to look for the twitter chat. I rock.
FUN I worked 90 minutes all last week thanks to weather. That was FUN. I watched so much Tv and wrote. I didn’t get to the play because it was snowed out.

Goals for next week.
WRITE/REVISE – In general I want to work on Blood Red Roulette but specifically, I want to rewrite chapter seven of BRB and maybe even get to chapter eight.

READ/REREAD - I’m reading Geist by Phillipa Ballantine so far sort of a fantasy/steampunk mash up.
STRETCH - Submitting a story to someone other than my usual publisher.

SELF - Back to being more diligent with my physical therapy.

CONNECT - Get a rough draft out to my first readers. That’s a connection.

FUN Some have accused me of finding my students’ suffering on a test fun. I’ll put that to the test this week. But seriously, I have no idea what I’ll do for fun other than watch some TV. It’s still pretty snowy out there.

Wish me luck.

Current Mood: sore
Current Music: Rock it For Me - Caravan Palace

Finished my second week for the Writer Recharge challenge
What I accomplished:
WRITE/REVISE – I rewrote Blood Red Roulette chapter five so I met that goal. I have some severe rewriting to do for the next two chapters and after that things should get easier. Next time I say I’m going to turn a 20 year old short story into a novel, someone kick me hard.
I did noodle around with A Wolf in the Fold but only on paper so I guess, in a way that goal was met.

Overall I wrote 2,900 words so it was a good week.
READ/REREAD - I finished Appointment at the Edge of Forever it was pretty good.
Hexed by Kevin Hearne is what I’m reading now (instead of Red Rising which I’m supposed to be reading but am bored to tears by). I’m not sure why I waited so long after the first Iron Druid book to pick up #2 but I love it so far.
STRETCH - Still failing at the cleaning goal. Maybe I need to find a different stretch.
SELF - I went for my PT meeting as was the goal. I’m still not doing as well with this as I should be.
CONNECT - I failed at my connect attempt but it wasn’t my fault. It got snowed out.
FUN I had no fun. :(

Goals for next week.
WRITE/REVISE – In general I want to work on Blood Red Roulette and I’d like to give another shot to fixing my demon short story to send to an anthology. It needs help. For week two, I want to rewrite chapter Six of BRB and work on the short story.
READ/REREAD - I need to read Red Rising which I've been given for review. It's a YA SF dystopia and a best seller. So far I hate it. Boy, I wish I hadn’t gotten this one for review.
STRETCH - At this point cleaning my apartment would be a stretch so yes I’m STILL keeping this as a stretch until it freaking happens

SELF - Get my broken tooth fixed. Yeah I broke my tooth on Valentine’s Day. Go me.

CONNECT - Make it to my local writers' group this week.

FUN Go see my friend's play.

Wish me luck.

Current Mood: lazy
Current Music: Homicide Hunter

Finished my first week for the Writer Recharge challenge
What I accomplished:
WRITE/REVISE – I FINALLY got chapters 1-4 of Blood Red Roulette fixed up to the point I think they won’t make my first readers eyes bleed. As for the steampunk mystery that I'm writing under my non-erotica pen name, I ran out of time to touch it so I accomplished half my goal.
READ/REREAD - I read Appointment at the Edge of Forever which I've been given for review. It's SF and it was pretty good.
Until Death Do Us Part #1 a near-future tech manga that had absolutely beautiful art. Loved it.
STRETCH - At this point cleaning my apartment would be a stretch and I totally failed at this goal.
SELF - Cook a diabetic-friendly meal. I did this often. Being a diabetic it’s important. I’m always looking for diabetic friendly meals so if you know any, hook me up with the recipe!
CONNECT - Make it to my local writers' group next week. Um for this goal, I failed at calendar reading. The meeting is this week so I’ll keep this goal.

FUN Somehow I missed this one. That says something, doesn't it?

Goals for next week.
WRITE/REVISE – In general I want to work on Blood Red Roulette and I’d like to give another shot to fixing my demon short story to send to an anthology. It needs help. For week two, I want to rewrite chapter five of BRB and work on the short story.
READ/REREAD - I need to read Red Rising which I've been given for review. It's a YA SF dystopia and a best seller. So far I hate it. Boy, I wish I hadn’t gotten this one for review.

STRETCH - At this point cleaning my apartment would be a stretch.

SELF - Do better with my physical therapy.

CONNECT - Make it to my local writers' group next week.

FUN I literally have no idea. This is what happens when you live out in BFE

Wish me luck.

Current Mood: accomplished
Current Music: Chain on Love - Delta Rae

I came across the Writer Recharge challenge from What's Up Wednesday and thought, 'hey this could be good for me.' Goddess knows I've not been writing like I should. Join me if you'd like to give it a whirl.

WRITE/REVISE – In general I want to work on Blood Red Roulette and a steampunk mystery that I'm writing under my non-erotica pen name. For week one, I want to rewrite chapter four entirely.

READ/REREAD - I need to read Appointment at the Edge of Forever which I've been given for review. It's SF.

STRETCH - At this point cleaning my apartment would be a stretch.

SELF - Cook a diabetic-friendly meal.

CONNECT - Make it to my local writers' group next week.

Wish me luck.

Current Mood: hopeful
Current Music: Nobody's Fool - Cinderella

This was a ton of fun to write. Here are the challenge rules: ( rules )

My story is 200 words exactly and since my usual genre is paranormal erotica, this IS erotica in nature.

( Bad Boys, m/m erotica )

I’m #153

Current Mood: busy

This was written for the second campaigner challenge and this was just that, a challenge. I had to look up 'oscitate' and a couple online dictionaries didn't even list it. The Free Online Dictionary defines it as to yawn or gape so there I go, learn something new every day.

Here is the challenge: Write a blog post in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, whether flash fiction, non-fiction, humorous blog musings, poem, etc. The blog post should:

include the word "imago" in the title
include the following 4 random words: "miasma," "lacuna," "oscitate," "synchronicity,"

If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional and included in the word count), make reference to a mirror in your post.

For those who want an even greater challenge (optional), make your post 200 words EXACTLY!

I went with flash fiction and it it 200 words exactly.

Imago in Steam
By Jana Denardo

Once he eased his topcoat over his prosthetic arm, decked out to look like it ran on steam and gears, Aaron glanced into his mirror, feeling handsome again. Since the war that took his arm, he felt ugly until he got into character and headed off to his favorite club. In his steampunk garb, he was like a wildly colored creature pulling forth from the chrysalis.

Even the miasma of fog rolling off the river didn’t dampen Aaron’s spirits as he went into the club. It was a step back into a time that never quite existed. He was early. It would be while before his friends arrived. By some karmic synchronicity, Aaron spotted one the hottest men he’d seen in, well, ever. The stranger might not be gay, but it wasn’t as if Aaron had to sleep with every guy he met.

Lacuna Coil’s music gave way to Abney Park as Aaron crossed the club. He watched the man oscitate, thinking he saw a hint of fang. Wrong club for that. It could be his imagination.

“Hi, I’m Aaron.”

“Sebastian.” He nodded toward Aaron’s prosthesis. “I like it. Sit down.”

Aaron smiled. This was the start of something interesting.

go here to vote for it by 'liking' it. thanks. It's # 84

Current Mood: hopeful
Current Music: The sound of the wind in the woods

The challenge: Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “The door swung open” These four words will be included in the word count.

If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), use the same beginning words and end with the words: "the door swung shut." (also included in the word count)

For those who want an even greater challenge, make your story 200 words EXACTLY!

Mine is from my Urban Fantasy universe, Riding With Strangers and is 200 words. If you like it you can head here to vote for it by liking it.
I'm #223

Tough Night on the Job

The door swung open. At the sight of Detective Savage on his doorstep, Hikaru stumbled back a step, his breath rushing in. Savage’s red face, sweat glistening in the porch light’s beam, wasn’t so unusual in the Florida heat. It was the haunted blues eyes staring at Hikaru that made him shudder. A stench clung to the detective, thick, cloying. It was a scent that kicked the reptilian brain hard, making Hikaru’s pulse race.

“Liam, what’s wrong?”

Hikaru’s lover pushed past him. “I didn’t mean to stop so late. Saw your light.” Liam ran a hand through his blond hair. “I only have a few hours, then have to get back to work. Family annihilator, killed her husband and three kids.”

Those words momentarily stole Hikaru’s capacity for speech. He put his hand on Liam’s shoulder. “How does anyone kill their own kids?” Hikaru asked.

“You’re the hundred-year-old dragon. You’ve seen it all. You tell me.” Liam held up his hand. “Sorry, that’s not fair. I…need a moment.”

Hikaru put his arms around Liam, holding his lover tight. “You need to rest and shut the world out a little.” With a nudge of his toe, the door swung shut.

Current Mood: calm
Current Music: ST:TNG