Tuesday, August 06, 2019

Words for Wednesday

This month's W4W are being hosted by River. Thank you River! You can find her here. Please visit and see what others are doing with the words and maybe join in yourself. It's a lot of fun cranking up the writerly wheels.

Here are the words:

1. derision*
2. mendacious*
3. plethora*
4. manuscripts*
5. unfamiliar*
6. gently*

and/or:

1. vaguely*
2. expression*
3. ornamental*
4. peppermint*
5. spinning*
6. narrowed*

And this is a picture to go with them:

He left the building and discovered his legs couldn't quite hold him up. The day had been so full of promise and expectation and now this crushing disappointment. So he sat down abruptly on the bench outside, throwing his portfolio underneath and fishing a used drink-cup out of the garbage can next to him so he would look like he was busy and not seething and shaking internally. He glanced upwards again at the fourth floor of the publishing house and found the peppermint coloured ornamental blind he had sat next to as the two editors sliced and diced his work.

Maybe the publisher was unfamiliar with his type of manuscript? Surely Gothic-Crime-Romance-Anime was a recognized style? But to be met by derision and a plethora of vaguely hostile narrow-eyed expressions? What was all that about?

His head was spinning. He was grateful to his uncle for setting up the interview with his college friend the publisher. But he hadn't anticipated such mendacious behaviour.

He sighed deeply and collected his portfolio from under the bench.

"Grant? Your name's Grant?" Her voice was low and gentle. Ah, the pretty receptionist from the lobby. He nodded.

She looked around her carefully and then sat down next to him.

"I was the first reader of your work cos I'm training to be an editor," she whispered in a rush, "And I believe you have terrific talent. These guys you met today? They steal a lot of ideas from young writers like you and pass them on to TV studios for production and compensation. But," and here she stopped and handed him a business card, "Here's the contact info for my sister, who's a literary agent. You call her and tell her I sent you. You need to be published and stop this thievery!"



16 comments:

  1. How wonderful. My heart ached for him and I am so glad that the receptionist believed in him - and was able to help. Hopefully she will be able to leave that theiving company herself soon.

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  2. I think that's in the works and possibly a bit of romance too :)

    XO
    WWW

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  3. Replies
    1. Thank you Delores, I was going to make it sad and then changed my mind!

      XO
      WWW

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  4. this is fabulous! To get his chance and have the thievery exposed in one hit. I hope he does well and the 'thieves' get their comeuppance.

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    1. Thanks for the words River, they were a bit of a challenge this week, I love that.

      XI
      WWW

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  5. Wow, that was good advice. Hope he followed through.

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    Replies
    1. I don't think he had much choice and I like to imagine he's got a best seller on his hands.

      XO
      WWW

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  6. OOH! Nice one WWW! Right is poised to win over wrong - good! Nice looking guy that Grant, too! :)

    I've tried to play with, mainly, just the first list of words and the picture - I'll put my effort here and on River's page as well.

    Arty - well, vaguely arty was the look he was aiming for: bushy hair, beard, faded jeans. He had drawn undercover duty this week, investigating the theft of a plethora of valuable ancient manuscripts. His colleagues had teased him gently about his "disguise". In spite of their affected derision they all had a soft spot for Mick a sweet and, surprisingly for one so young, rather old fashioned guy.

    His undercover duty would demand that he mix, now, in some very unfamiliar circles. His conversations would need to be as mendacious in tone as those of many others in these circles.

    For a few minutes on this warm early morning Mick allowed himself the time to sit and drink iced coffee. Suddenly realising that this was allowing his arty image to slip somewhat, he hurried to finish before the first of the museum's back-room staff would arrive.



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    1. OMG T, you certainly have the gift, what an intriguing story and seriously I would be keen to see some sequels. Did he succeed?

      XO
      WWW

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  7. WWW and E'sC - Thank you - you are far too kind! :)

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  8. A nice twist at the end when he discovers what the editors were really up to and gets some unexpected support.

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