By the way, does anyone know any good Appalachian folk tales that involve land spirits? I'm mulling a story that ties into the crumbling of thte land back home from the longwall coal mining, with streams and springs running dry and hills falling apart.
Wash: Well, I wash my hands of it. It's a hopeless case. I'll read a nice poem at the funeral. Something with imagery. Zoe: You could lock the door and keep the power-hungry maniac at bay. Wash: Oh, no, I'm starting to like this poetry idea now. Here lies my beloved Zoe, my autumn flower, somewhat less attractive now she's all corpsified and gross...
'Shindig'
The Great Write Way, Chapter Two: Twice upon a time...
A place for Buffistas to discuss, beta and otherwise deal and dish on their non-fan fiction projects.
Connie Neil - Jul 21, 2007 1:23:43 pm PDT #9124 of 10001
brillig
Liese S. - Jul 21, 2007 1:25:35 pm PDT #9125 of 10001
"Faded like the lilac, he thought."
Totally a yeehaw moment, connie! Yeehaw! You deserve it.
Anne W. - Jul 21, 2007 2:00:48 pm PDT #9126 of 10001
The lost sheep grow teeth, forsake their lambs, and lie with the lions.
Congratulations, Connie!
Deena - Jul 21, 2007 3:45:30 pm PDT #9127 of 10001
How are you me? You need to stop that. Only I can be me. ~Kara
Connie, you might also go back to the roots of the people who settled the Appalachians--Welsh, perhaps? I don't recall off hand, though I'm sure there were others.
Connie Neil - Jul 21, 2007 5:32:52 pm PDT #9128 of 10001
brillig
Since I'm looking at my own ancestry in the area, it'll be a lot of Scots-Irish. Also, traditions of protective magic in re: mining, because I think I remember stories of very early mines having protective shrines.
Ah, research. It suddenly occurred to me that the deaths of miners could be seen as a sacrifice to the earth in return for taking the coal and gold etc.
Deena - Jul 21, 2007 9:21:37 pm PDT #9129 of 10001
How are you me? You need to stop that. Only I can be me. ~Kara
I did a quick google and there are a million sites on appalachian folktales. I'd help, but I just remembered I can't.
An excerpt of your story is up on the site now. I forgot to put up excerpts.
Jesse - Jul 22, 2007 3:57:35 am PDT #9130 of 10001
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.
FYI, writers, apparently Walter Mosley has a new book about writing your novel in a year, and it's excerpted in this month's Oprah. It's a lot of, "No, really, just write every day. It'll be OK." but his style is engaging.
Connie Neil - Jul 22, 2007 8:37:17 am PDT #9131 of 10001
brillig
I'll have to read it in the grocery line, because I refuse to give money to Oprah. Her and Disney, they've both become Evil Empires in my mind.
erikaj - Jul 22, 2007 10:00:18 am PDT #9132 of 10001
"Somewhere in this building is our talent." Toby Ziegler, my spirit animal
Walter Mosley's good, though. He has been somebody I've kept in mind a lot while I've been trying to change up the detective story..
Typo Boy - Jul 22, 2007 12:39:30 pm PDT #9133 of 10001
Calli: My people have a saying. A man who trusts can never be betrayed, only mistaken.Avon: Life expectancy among your people must be extremely short.
A drabble challenge for Monday:
"My god! Its full of handwavium!"
As with all challenges, you are free to interpret as broadly as you wish.
And anyone else feel free to make another one.