Christian Speculative Fiction discussion

Hi everyone! Let your creativity flow! That's the purpose for the WRITER'S CORNER! Enjoy!

But it is also here to encourage, to have fun, and to see what your creativity comes up with.

Please note: This is not just for writers but for ANYONE who loves having fun with words. Please participate and see what happens.

Each weekend, I will post a NEW CHALLENGE. Over the next week, I hope to see entries. Please comment on entries posted; perhaps give advice and/or share your reaction with thoughts.

WEEK ONE CHALLENGE: FINGER IN NOVEL CHALLENGE

(This session should take you 5-15 minutes in total.)

Steps to Take:

1. Locate a random novel from your bookshelf.
2. Open the book randomly with your eyes closed (or choose Kindle page randomly).
3. Position your finger randomly on the page.
4. Wherever your finger has landed, that is your STARTER SENTENCE. If it's a dialogue, that's fine.
5. Write out the Starter Sentence in ALL CAPS.
6. Now let your creativity flow. Write from the starter sentence using your own characters, situations, and ideas.
7. How long? It should be at least one paragraph, several paragraphs, or half a page. But it shouldn't take too much of your time. Write until the scene or dialogue is complete.
8. At the bottom of your entry, list the name of the novel and the author's name.

Thanks, and let's have fun!!!

-Sean Elliot Russell

LORI LEFT HIM AT ELEVEN, PROMISING TO RETURN AT SEVEN IN THE MORNING TO CATCH A PRIVATE FLIGHT BACK TO LOS ANGELES.

But here I was, pacing back and forth, looking at the clock. It's big, red numbers glared at me as precious minutes ticked away. Lightheaded, I forced a breath from my body as I tried to control my breathing, and by extension, my anxiety.

What would I do if Lori didn't return in time? Franco, as degenerate as he was, didn't take kindly to tardiness. If we were late ten seconds, it'd mean our heads on a pike! A black pool of dread collected in my gut. Just twenty more minutes and both our lives would be in jeopardy.

From the novel, "Adam", by Ted Dekker.

-Sean Elliot Russell

AS FOR CUSTER, I DOUBT IF HE HATED RAIN-IN-THE-FACE BUT HE DID KNOW HIM TO BE A FIGHTING MAN.

That should have given him pause, but he rushed out the door without a second thought. We sat there dumbfounded, certain we’d probably never see Custer again. After all, fools rush in where angels fear to tread. We must have all been fools, ‘cause we decided to rush out the door too. We couldn’t let Custer go alone—he was too good a friend for that.

From the novel, “Last of the Breed” by Louis L’Amour

-Stan Meador

That was so good, Stan! It made me want to continue reading your story! So good!

Thanks for sharing!

-Sean

Love this challenge! I will return, but I looked the time and I need to leave for work.

Sean wrote: "That was so good, Stan! It made me want to continue reading your story! So good!

Thanks for sharing!

-Sean"

Thanks Sean. I appreciate the encouragement. I may have to try to adapt it with different characters for a short story or novella.

WHEN HE SENSED THE TIME WAS RIGHT, HE CRIED OUT ABOVE THEM, PENETRATING THEIR TRANCE WITH HIS DEEP BARITONE.

At his call, the gargoyles began to shift, years of collected dust and debris sprinkling off their granite bodies. Shafts of light from the rising moon cut through the misty fog, casting the shifting figures in molten silver as stone split and loosened before falling off to reveal muscular bronze bodies beneath.

“Now is the time, my brothers and sisters. We have waited three hundred years to challenge the humans again.” Heads turned and hundreds of luminescent green eyes focused on him as wings unfurled and fangs appeared in the smiling mouths of the revitalized monstrosities.

“But will the humans listen? We’ve tried so many times in the past only to be imprisoned again and again.” One voice, like a deep-toned cathedral bell, rose from those assembling before their master. “Will they still fear us because in their eyes our forms are hideous?”

He shook his head and waved his comrades on. “Whether they accept or not, we will fulfill our destiny and bring them the message of peace. If they have matured enough, they will see beyond our physical appearance into our hearts. Come brethren. Now is the time.”

Page 120; Crown of Thorns by Sigmund Brouwer

Sean wrote: "LORI LEFT HIM AT ELEVEN, PROMISING TO RETURN AT SEVEN IN THE MORNING TO CATCH A PRIVATE FLIGHT BACK TO LOS ANGELES.

But here I was, pacing back and forth, looking at the clock. It's big, red numbe..."

Nice job, Sean! Got my interest and made me want more.

Stan wrote: "AS FOR CUSTER, I DOUBT IF HE HATED RAIN-IN-THE-FACE BUT HE DID KNOW HIM TO BE A FIGHTING MAN.

That should have given him pause, but he rushed out the door without a second thought. We sat there du..."

Wow! That put an historic bent on things. Very interesting.

Ann wrote: "Love this challenge! I will return, but I looked the time and I need to leave for work."

Look forward to what you come up with, Ann! :) -Sean

Stan wrote: "Sean wrote: "That was so good, Stan! It made me want to continue reading your story! So good!

Thanks for sharing!

-Sean"

Thanks Sean. I appreciate the encouragement. I may have to try to adapt ..."

That's the best part of this exercise. It makes you realize how much creativity is inside us. And with a bit of prodding, such as this exercise, we can actually produce something interesting.

Thanks for being a part of this challenge, Stan. More to come!

-Sean

C.S. wrote: "Sean wrote: "LORI LEFT HIM AT ELEVEN, PROMISING TO RETURN AT SEVEN IN THE MORNING TO CATCH A PRIVATE FLIGHT BACK TO LOS ANGELES.

But here I was, pacing back and forth, looking at the clock. It's b..."

Thanks, Chris! :) Appreciate your feedback!

-Sean

SPARKS ROLLED DOWN, CLOSE TO THE MARK.

"Try something else!" shouted Olivia as she loaded her pistols with a mix of shrapnel and jet fuel. "He is still coming!"

"That was all I had!" Trever shouted back. He dropped the metal pipe from his shoulder. It was attached to a hose leading to an iron and brass machine. Smoke poured out of both the charred end of the pipe and the lifeless contraption.

An explosion ignited near him but was blocked by the crates he was standing behind.

"Then, run!" Olivia shouted as she stepped out from behind the pile of crates across the room from him. She held a pistol in each of her gloved hands.

Trever cursed as he took off dodging another explosion.

Olivia fired both pistols at the steam-powered, iron-clad beetle that had burst through the warehouse wall. She could barely see the driver in the head of the massive machine. She too missed her target.

Trever grabbed her arm as he ran towards her and pulled her with him through the back door of the warehouse. A blast from the creature's head licked the heels of Olivia's boots as they made it through the doorway.

From novel "Sojourn" by R.A. Salvatore

- Lara Lee

Oops. Maybe that was too long. I got kind of excited by the scene. Great activity! I had fun.

Lara wrote: "Oops. Maybe that was too long. I got kind of excited by the scene. Great activity! I had fun."

Lara, I loved it! There's no rules here. And actually, you did exactly as I suggested, which was to finish a scene. Well done! I wanted to keep reading!

-Sean

Lara wrote: "SPARKS ROLLED DOWN, CLOSE TO THE MARK.

"Try something else!" shouted Olivia as she loaded her pistols with a mix of shrapnel and jet fuel. "He is still coming!"

"That was all I had!" Trever shou..."

Salvatore turned Steampunk - love it Lara!

Hello everyone,
So far, I'm very happy with the responses.

Please, if you haven't tried yet, give it a go. Try to complete this first round by Friday/Saturday.

This weekend's Challenge #2 will be interesting. Let's see what happens.

Kindest regards,
Sean

Any way to archive these in a file within the group so they're all together?

Lara wrote: "SPARKS ROLLED DOWN, CLOSE TO THE MARK.

"Try something else!" shouted Olivia as she loaded her pistols with a mix of shrapnel and jet fuel. "He is still coming!"

"That was all I had!" Trever shou..."

That was exciting! Good action, nicely done!

Stan wrote: "Any way to archive these in a file within the group so they're all together?"

Hi Stan,
I plan to start a new feed for each new challenge (which will come out each weekend).

Each new feed will be open-ended. So people, a year from now, will be able to add to it.

Thank you for being here, Stan!

-Sean

Sean wrote: "Stan wrote: "Any way to archive these in a file within the group so they're all together?"

Hi Stan,
I plan to start a new feed for each new challenge (which will come out each weekend).

Each new..."

Ok. Good plan. I thought it was concluding.

Glad to be here! Thank you for taking on this project!

AND THEY WENT BACK TO THE FARM, AND LEFT JIYA AND SETSU TO MAKE A NEW LIFE IN THE NEW HOME ON THE OLD BEACH.

Setsu looked over the waves rolling in, contemplating the events that bought her next to her heart's desire. She was so naive to the expectations that would be placed on her as Jiya's woman. With all that she ever knew washed out with the waves -- Jiya and she could build a new way of life. She thought of the children she would have one day, smiling with Jiya's eyes twinkling and her own dimples reflecting back to her in her children's faces. Then she thought of the pain and sorrow of birthing those children with no mama to guide and comfort her. Then thoughts of how those children would come to be flashed through her mind. Such things are never spoken of.
She and Jiya held hands and she very much felt a push to be close to him. All was a mystery beyond that. What if she wasn't pleasing to him? Suddenly tear welled up in her eyes. The magnitude of starting a new life with challenges and hardships swept through her mind in such a torrent, she sunk down to her knees in the sand. The waves that lapped at her toes, crashed into her bent figure.

Jiya had busied himself looking for a makeshift shelter and dry wood in which to build a fire. Fishing would be good farther down the beach where the Big Wave had eroded a part of the beach into a calmer bay area. Perhaps it would be more sensible to begin their new life there. Calmer waters, more plentiful fish - a good life. Jiya turned back to tell Setsu his idea and saw her deep in the waves with her arms raised to the sky, hands tied into fists. He dropped the dry sticks from his arms and immediately ran toward Setsu, sinking into the silky sand at every step. "Setsu! Setsu! My love!"

Setsu turned at the distant sound of Jiya's voice competing with the thunderous crash of each wave elevating higher and higher up her torso. Cognizant of how juvenile her thoughts had been and the treachery they lead her into, she attempted to bring one foot up to stand on what had been solid ground a moment ago only to falter and fall face down into the relentless fury of waves that would claim their rightful real estate without regard to the young life that had only wanted a small introspective moment. Setsu struggled again to get to her feet only to swallow sand and sea. As she again raised her head as waves retreated to gain momentum, she saw Jiya's eyes meet her eyes. She saw the anguish and the desperation on his face. Jiya's arms were outstretched; his legs tightly muscled fighting the grip of the sand. The whole of him was a concerted effort to reach her. To keep her. To preserve her. He wanted her, needed her in that his life held no purpose without her.

Prompt was actually the last sentence from The Big Wave. by Pearl Buck.

Thank you Sean, Stan, and C.S. Watcher for the compliments! Everyone has done so well so far. I'm impressed.

Wow, Ann! What a great effort! I smiled when I saw the length of your piece, because obviously you were carried along by a creative wave! And it's lovely what you came up with!

I really liked your descriptions which triggered vivid images. Felt like I was there.

Thank you so much for taking part!

-Sean

Ann wrote: "AND THEY WENT BACK TO THE FARM, AND LEFT JIYA AND SETSU TO MAKE A NEW LIFE IN THE NEW HOME ON THE OLD BEACH.

Setsu looked over the waves rolling in, contemplating the events that bought her next ..."
Powerful and raw. I felt the emotions and experienced the vivid scene. Just one point where I was confused though. 'She and Jiya held hands' (present tense) but then Jiya was a distance from Setsu picking up wood and investigating the area. It took me a moment to realize that the time frame had changed. That could have been clearer, at least for me. All in all, nicely done!

‘WELL, I’VE JUST GOT TO GO ON HUNTING,’ SHE SAID, ‘I’M NOT GOING HOME WITHOUT SQUEAZLES’. Jackie stood up, dusting the earth off her knees, and hoisted the pack on her back again. ‘These are just ordinary toadstools, and won’t do Mama any good’. Charlie bit his lip and tried not to let the weariness show on his face. He was 15, the big brother, and he was not going to be the one to give up first. His siblings’ apparent resolve didn’t stop Timmy’s 7-year old face dissolving into uncontrollable tears of tiredness and misery. ‘B.b.b.but we’ve been walking in this forest all DAY looking for the STUPID SQUEAZLES!’, he sobbed. ‘And it’s getting DAAARK’. He clung onto Jackie’s leg. ‘I want to go HOME’

That was a good question, Charlie though. Which way WAS home? They’d been chasing one cluster of possible toadstools after another, looking for the flashes of silver and purple of the elusive and magical squeazles without success, and now they were deep in the woods and even the midsummer evening was fading fast.

Except, it wasn’t completely dark. There were purple lights in the distance.

No, not distant. Coming closer.

They looked like eyes.

From 'Pippi Longstocking'. No, I don't know what a squeazle is in original context. - Gordon

Very creative. I enjoyed the way you used an unfamiliar term and made it your own. I loved the ending!

Gordon wrote: "‘WELL, I’VE JUST GOT TO GO ON HUNTING,’ SHE SAID, ‘I’M NOT GOING HOME WITHOUT SQUEAZLES’. Jackie stood up, dusting the earth off her knees, and hoisted the pack on her back again. ‘These are just o..."

Dude! More, please!

Good one, Gordon! I think you visited your children's bookcase for this challenge? Loved the flow and interchange between the characters! Thanks for participating! -Sean

Sean & C.S., thank you for the encouragement! It was fun. I don't regularly write for exercise or enjoyment, but I'm looking forward to these challenges. Thank you C. S. for your suggestion. I don't always see the disconnect of what is in my mind's eye and what I've written down.
Everyone is coming up with such unique ideas and genres. So much fun to read what each person comes up with.

CHALLENGE TWO will be posted tomorrow under a new folder (as will all future challenges). I think you guys will like it.

Of course, CHALLENGE ONE will be open to all people to add to it over time.

And if you haven't yet tried this challenge, please give it a go. It's fun to do, and fun to see what people come up with on the spot.

(If you have an idea for future challenges, please inbox me here at Goodreads.)

TGIF!
-Sean

C.S. wrote: "WHEN HE SENSED THE TIME WAS RIGHT, HE CRIED OUT ABOVE THEM, PENETRATING THEIR TRANCE WITH HIS DEEP BARITONE.

At his call, the gargoyles began to shift, years of collected dust and debris sprinkli..."

Dear Chris!
I'm so sorry I didn't see your post above!

One of my favorite entries here! So creative, visual, and the fact that the narrative didn't go the direction I assumed (especially when I saw the word "gargoyle."). I loved the atmosphere that was established. Really good!

Thank you, Chris!

-Sean

Sean wrote: "C.S. wrote: "WHEN HE SENSED THE TIME WAS RIGHT, HE CRIED OUT ABOVE THEM, PENETRATING THEIR TRANCE WITH HIS DEEP BARITONE.

At his call, the gargoyles began to shift, years of collected dust and de..."
Thank you! I'm glad you found it and enjoyed it!

C.S. wrote: "One voice, like a deep-toned cathedral bell."

I was re-reading these prompts, and I love how descriptive you are in your writing. Cathedral bell goes so well with gargoyles. Well done!

Lara wrote: "C.S. wrote: "One voice, like a deep-toned cathedral bell."

I was re-reading these prompts, and I love how descriptive you are in your writing. Cathedral bell goes so well with gargoyles. Well done!"
Thank you!

C.S. wrote: "WHEN HE SENSED THE TIME WAS RIGHT, HE CRIED OUT ABOVE THEM, PENETRATING THEIR TRANCE WITH HIS DEEP BARITONE.

At his call, the gargoyles began to shift, years of collected dust and debris sprinkli..."

Wow! Great twist to the unexpected end of this one! I love gargoyles and would love to read this as a longer story, whether still short or novella length! Molten silver in the moon light and then bronze bodies - great use of color for the mental images!

Better late than never! Here's what came out when I tried it (first sentence from Asimov's Second Foundation):

“I ASSUME YOU IMAGINED HE USED METHODS SIMILAR TO MINE, THOUGH, MIND YOU, I CAN IMPLANT ONLY EMOTIONS, NOT IDEAS.”

“Gol’s methods were similar, but not their effect. He did implant ideas. He led me to think that Maria was still alive—and that you had her.”

“I did. And I disposed of her.”

Fran’s face suffused with fury. “You’ll pay for this!” he screamed. He leapt at his tormentor, only to be brought to a halt by that ominous raised hand.

“You think so? Well, maybe you did—but not now…” A ripple crossed his face and he stood looking at Fran expectantly.

Fran examined his inner state. Nothing! Absolutely nothing. A slow smile spread across his features. Whipping out the knife in his belt he leapt at the mutant and locked his arms around his neck. The creature cried out and struggled wildly, but Fran was stronger. He pressed the knife to his bare throat and whispered, “Gol did something else, too. He released me from your power—and now, at last, I can dispose of you!”

Cutting off the mutant’s strangled scream, he sliced.

Stan wrote: "C.S. wrote: "WHEN HE SENSED THE TIME WAS RIGHT, HE CRIED OUT ABOVE THEM, PENETRATING THEIR TRANCE WITH HIS DEEP BARITONE.

At his call, the gargoyles began to shift, years of collected dust and de..."

Thanks! I had fun doing it.

Steve wrote: "Better late than never! Here's what came out when I tried it (first sentence from Asimov's Second Foundation):

“I ASSUME YOU IMAGINED HE USED METHODS SIMILAR TO MINE, THOUGH, MIND YOU, I CAN IMPLA..."

Ooooh! Very exciting. I'd be curious to read more of what brought these two to this place.

Hah! Thanks, Chris. Maybe one day!

This has been a fun exercise. I've enjoyed yours and the others' as well. Congrats to Sean on a great start to the Writers' Corner!

Steve wrote: "Better late than never! Here's what came out when I tried it (first sentence from Asimov's Second Foundation):

“I ASSUME YOU IMAGINED HE USED METHODS SIMILAR TO MINE, THOUGH, MIND YOU, I CAN IMPLA..."

Great conclusion of what could only have been a great story! I found the use of pronouns a little bit of work to keep the antecedents straight, but otherwise - great job!

Thanks, Stan. Yeah, I always have to work on keeping pronouns and antecedents clear, so this was authentic top-of-the-head stuff!

Steve wrote: "Thanks, Stan. Yeah, I always have to work on keeping pronouns and antecedents clear, so this was authentic top-of-the-head stuff!"

I understand! I started (another) short story writing project the other day - was just writing along and suddenly started to think about pronouns and also point of view. Made me slow down a bit. But, I need to pick it back up and get to writing.

Thanks for your entry, Steve! Action-packed! And drew me in! Great job!

-Sean

Hello Writers' Challenge Group!
Thanks to all who have taken part in this last week's challenge. Great job!

Remember that the goal of these challenges is to spread out our creative wings, have fun, and be challenged, too. Although editing is appreciated and good, it is not the most important aspect to these challenges. Treat these challenges as if a first draft.

The next challenge will be presented as a separate discussion (and this will happen for each new challenge).

Anyone who stumbles upon this challenge discussion is welcome to add to it, and of course, I'll continue to monitor the group as time passes.

See you in CHALLENGE TWO.

Thanks, all!
-Sean

Sean wrote: "Hello Writers' Challenge Group!
Thanks to all who have taken part in this last week's challenge. Great job!

Remember that the goal of these challenges is to spread out our creative wings, have fu..."
Thanks for doing this Sean. I'm looking forward to the next challenge.

Thanks, Chris. Its so far exceeded my expectations. it's great to see the enthusiasm.

Hi everyone!

Anyone else want to join in the fun for this first challenge?

This is open-ended group, so please add to it as you feel the desire!

-Sean