tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71650790878550453162024-02-08T02:23:07.353+00:00The Imaginings of a Creative WriterA Creative Writing student no more. Now it's time for the real world.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16289887054658794270noreply@blogger.comBlogger181125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165079087855045316.post-61202724436037734692015-04-22T19:18:00.001+01:002015-04-22T19:18:24.879+01:00Creative Wiritng Club: Week Two<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today in CWC, as well as writing up our poems neatly (in felt tip on coloured paper), we also wrote Haikus. <br />
<br />
Normal poetry is one thing, but Haikus? This was a challenge. We had three themes - Nature, Summer, and School. They all had to be positive, so no 'School sucks' Haikus. Here are mine:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Nature</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Feathery fingers</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Quiet whispers in your ear</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Invisible friend</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Summer</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>A golden flower</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>honeyed drops of bright pollen</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>scatter to the earth</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img class="mainImage" data-bm="12" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/00/a0/d4/00a0d4d2ae2f1f8e040614872adf466d.jpg" height="273" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>School</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Avid learners</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>wise teachers, sharing knowledge</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>A place of worship</em></div>
<em></em><br />
Although Haikus really aren't my thing, I was pretty chuffed with how these turned out. Though maybe most people wouldn't consider school as a place of worship!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16289887054658794270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165079087855045316.post-73306484778406108112015-04-22T19:06:00.000+01:002015-04-22T19:06:17.806+01:00Creative Writing Club: Week One<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I recently started going to the Creative Writing Club at the school I work at. I have started writing again but I thought I needed more inspiration if I was going to keep it up. Not to mention, I want to make myself known in the English department. My aspiration is to work my way up from TA to library assistant or similar, hence why I also did Year 9 Books and Beyond, a reading challenge. I also don't want to let my Creative Writing degree go to waste.<br />
<br />
I'm not the only TA at CWC but most of the other attendees are Year 9 or below, a big change from University where I felt like a toddler doodling with crayons while everyone wrote masterpieces. This week, as it was so sunny, we went outside to the grass bank to write about summer. <br />
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<br />
<br />
Our task was to split our page into boxes and write about the five senses in an imaginative way.<br />
<br />
Here are some of my lines:<br />
<br />
<strong>Sight</strong><br />
<em>The sun winks off car windscreens, like light off ocean waves.</em><br />
<em>Students are scattered across the field amongst sprinklings of daises and clovers.</em><br />
<br />
<strong>Touch</strong><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<em>The warm breeze brushes through my hair like a lovers caress.</em></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<em>Despite the warmth of the afternoon sun, the damp of the waterlogged earth creeps through the fabric of my dress.</em></div>
<br />
<strong>Sound</strong><br />
<em>Children's playful cheers are carried across the valley on the wind, so carefree after the captivity of school.</em><br />
<br />
<strong>Smell</strong><br />
<em>The air is warm and thick, bristling with ozone, bringing with it the threat of an early storm.</em><br />
<em>Fresh cut grass infuses the air as hundreds of people decide, as if connected, to mow their scraggly lawns.</em><br />
<br />
<strong>Taste</strong><br />
<em>My mouth is parched and the sheer azure of the sky makes me crave the cool splash of water.</em><br />
<br />
After we wrote our lines we went around and shared them, 'magpie-ing' from each other, which meant nabbing the best lines other people wrote. Lots of the students had some really unique lines; I could never have written like that at their age, so I was thoroughly impressed.<br />
<br />
We returned to the classroom and used our lines to write a poem. I baulked at the idea as poetry really isn't my thing, but I gave it a go anyway.<br />
<br />
<em>From the sea</em><br />
<em>over the hills</em><br />
<em>across the moors</em><br />
<em>it ruffles the emerald leaves of trees</em><br />
<em>ripples the delicate glass of ponds</em><br />
<em>helps the young birds take their first flight</em><br />
<em>With it follows</em><br />
<em>cut grass</em><br />
<em>fresh fields</em><br />
<em>greasy burgers,</em><br />
<em>the scents of summer come early.</em><br />
<em>Warm and demanding</em><br />
<em>it forces them out of </em><br />
<em>coats</em><br />
<em>jumpers</em><br />
<em>and scarves.</em><br />
<em>It pulls at skirts</em><br />
<em>tugs at shirts.</em><br />
<em>Runs its fingers through hair,</em><br />
<em>gentle as a lover, </em><br />
<em>as constant as a mother.</em><br />
<em>The wind brings the change</em><br />
<em>yet, he himself, is constant.</em><br />
<em>Never ending,</em><br />
<em>never leaving.</em><br />
<br />
I didn't think it was too bad. Next time we'll be writing them up neat to put them on display in the corridor. In conclusion, CWC was enjoyable and I'm looking forward to going again!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16289887054658794270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165079087855045316.post-16099802774211440012014-10-13T12:57:00.001+01:002014-10-13T14:28:09.491+01:00The Best New Audiobook App<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So after months and months of hard work the app I've helped to develop is now finally available top download for free on Google Play!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTNO7jh-96SM683qEkd47pukVQ04hysTNm55oGpvEp4G2G77vi3k7ShUrahNm0aH33-A3R3s_1tYGKdCpa8OTO1mTtNIrdg1KdXnpG_x3TKFTFhzYYUyi0ycIaXiZeseGCWt4h99QJvk/s1600/Litphonix-Listener-Logo-Transparent-LightBG-RGB.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTNO7jh-96SM683qEkd47pukVQ04hysTNm55oGpvEp4G2G77vi3k7ShUrahNm0aH33-A3R3s_1tYGKdCpa8OTO1mTtNIrdg1KdXnpG_x3TKFTFhzYYUyi0ycIaXiZeseGCWt4h99QJvk/s1600/Litphonix-Listener-Logo-Transparent-LightBG-RGB.png" height="88" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEyTizxffzqX6UgTQKJjJiNbAIvzERdbjpoVBTNq7qQzhcjBRZOAzbtBvx4hXRIiBzmAOh_gxcXGoUrqg2fpR0XuMAIvyq1O5qgo-lfjhyphenhyphenuUGFKkJ-uIB9wNL3TDsTkD8aDceBNZzTRw0/s1600/litphonix_app.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEyTizxffzqX6UgTQKJjJiNbAIvzERdbjpoVBTNq7qQzhcjBRZOAzbtBvx4hXRIiBzmAOh_gxcXGoUrqg2fpR0XuMAIvyq1O5qgo-lfjhyphenhyphenuUGFKkJ-uIB9wNL3TDsTkD8aDceBNZzTRw0/s1600/litphonix_app.png" height="250" width="320" /></a></div>
Litphonix is a new audiobook app that not only allows users to listen to audiobooks but to narrate them as well! Bonus: every time someone listens to your narrations you get paid. You could be the new Stephen Fry.<br />
<br />
Anyway, part of my job is social media and promoting this app everywhere and anywhere. So please, please, if you have a spare minute download the app, it's free, and give it a go. There are some audiobooks ready to be listened to (some by yours truly) but it would be great if you could narrate some too!<br />
<br />
Spread the word and tell all your friends, if we get loads of interest, my boss will think I'm a real social media wizz, which I am, of course.<br />
<br />
So go, go, go! <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.litphonix.audio" target="_blank">Download Litphonix Now!</a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16289887054658794270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165079087855045316.post-64184097393544081652014-10-02T11:41:00.000+01:002014-10-02T11:42:24.162+01:00Writing Deadline<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've come up with a plan. Sort of.<br />
<br />
The first rough draft of my novel, <i>The Stone Men of Raksaka, </i>is complete, and has been for a while. I come back to it from time to time, really getting into it for a couple of hours and then ignoring it again for days, or more accurately weeks. I get distracted easily. Things get in the way. Sure, I want to be on my laptop day in, day out, tapping away at the keyboard. Unfortunately, like so many other people, I have a job. Then, when I get home from said job, I have social obligations. I know, as a truly dedicated writer these things shouldn't be a problem. I could stay up late into the night writing, slurping down coffees and pro-plus, but I don't want to that. Well, I do, but my body could not handle that, I can barely get up in time for work when I go to bed at ten.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YSdIX_6ToD0mIWvd4_oPMFYFvmTN2q8HfWxq0aMN60_7njUe3X3k9s8XOoXwAQ8kYv30sVE0Oy3hdyvGIhmBUyYL-KHaJO-dnTJ1X30i2j-RGNrydMc5SLSke1d04bMSzM9dmYuVv8o/s1600/doodles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YSdIX_6ToD0mIWvd4_oPMFYFvmTN2q8HfWxq0aMN60_7njUe3X3k9s8XOoXwAQ8kYv30sVE0Oy3hdyvGIhmBUyYL-KHaJO-dnTJ1X30i2j-RGNrydMc5SLSke1d04bMSzM9dmYuVv8o/s1600/doodles.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doodles I do at work, that sort of counts right?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Before I nod off to sleep I do think of Emin and his adventures in Minadril and Adruhal. I imagine exciting, and sometimes deadly, scenarios he'll end up in, plan out conversations he'll have with Princess Cailyn, or Prince Percy. I plot out back story, and the lore of Kardenia. I think about which actor would play Emin in the big Hollywood blockbuster that is sure to happen. If only I could just finish the damn thing!<br />
<br />
Right, The Plan. It is my intention to have this novel complete in its entirety by July 2015 and ready to sent of to agents and publishers. Why July? That's when my boyfriend's job at the school ends, and when we (hopefully) will be moving in together, away from home, for him to study his PGCE. It's a big moment of change, and growing up, and if he gets to do something worth while in becoming a teacher, I want my dreams to start happening too. So July, that's when everything changes and that's why I need to up my game and start being serious about writing.<br />
<br />
This time last year I was serious. I was sitting in my kitchen writing thousands of words a day, utterly focused (apart from carving out the Halloween pumpkins). Now, I look at my laptop and feel that knot in my stomach tighten. Nothing is stopping me really. Work isn't too tiring. Social obligations aren't set in stone; people would understand that I need to write. I'm just being completely lazy. Self-discipline is so hard! It's so much easier when your told by lectures what to do and when, and face failure if you don't do things on time. But, I suppose, this past year I have reached my many other goals. I lost over a stone of weight since February, I passed my driving test a month earlier than I had planned, so finishing my novel shouldn't be too hard right? What's writing a novel compared to a driving test?<br />
<br />
So here I am saying, promising, that I will have finished <i>The Stone Men of Raksaka</i> by July 31st 2015, or I'm a total plonker, let-down, failure, terrible excuse for a writer. Any of the above. So, July, I'm ready for you!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16289887054658794270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165079087855045316.post-87826233007372249302014-02-03T11:52:00.000+00:002014-02-03T12:05:35.773+00:00Creative Writing Degree<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Creative Writing: Is it really worth it? Short answer, yes. Creative answer, this:<br />
<br />
When choosing a degree to study at university there are a lot of factors to consider, sometimes so many it makes you want to live in a hole under a rock. I had never really thought about what I wanted to study, or what career I wanted in the future, until I visited a University Fair in my final year at college. I didn't know Creative Writing was even a thing and was looking into universities that taught Journalism; although I was a little apprehensive about that. I didn't think I'd have the confidence to be a journalist, not really; especially after I found out you'd potentially have to a screen test in front of cameras and possibly an exam before you'd even be accepted into a university. No thank you. In that respect finding Creative Writing was a life saver. All the creativity and writing without an emphasis on scary public speaking and exams.<br />
<br />
Having studied Art, English Literature and Language, and Media Studies at A-Levels I was used to the comments about 'doss subjects', and my work not being very hard. It's true, I never found it hard, not because it was 'doss' though, but because I was good at it. I didn't mind the comments as I would rather do these creative 'easy' subjects that Science or Maths, which just thinking about makes my toes curl and my body shudder.<br />
<br />
Choosing Creative Writing for a degree didn't mean the comments stopped. Out of my home friends I was practically the only one doing a creative subject, while most of my friends did some sort of science or humanity. That was fine by me. My first semester, while hard because I was away from home, was thoroughly enjoyable and inspiring, yet when I came home for the Christmas holidays I was bombarded with the 'doss' comments again but in a slightly more condescending and passive aggressive way. My friends said things like, 'I have lectures from 9 to 5,' and then upon hearing that I had a maximum of 12 hours a week they would reply, 'What could they really teach you anyway?'. Or, 'My tuition pays for the chemistry rooms and all the lab equipment, yours only needs to pay for pencils and paper.' (the sore point being that Arts were getting cuts and my university didn't even supply that). <br />
<br />
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But while they acted like their courses were far superior to mine, I was never jealous, because I enjoyed my course; I was excited to do the work and it was easy for me. I didn't have gruelling exams which required late night revision sessions; my essays were subjective so there were no wrong or right answers as long as I had the evidence, meaning I could express myself happily without (too much) fear. Not only that, my essay subjects were interesting, too, I got to write an <a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.com/2012/11/batman-dark-knight-returns.html" target="_blank">essay about Batman</a>, for goodness sakes! To top it off, <a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.com/2012/05/third-year-reading-list.html" target="_blank">my set texts were (mainly) enjoyable fiction</a>, something you would voluntarily read, not hefty books of equations and numbers, which make your head spin. While others sat in the pub and complained about the work load, or going home early to revise, or the stress of their dissertation, I would smile a secret smile to myself and think of all the brilliant <a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.com/2013/06/hardwired-creative-vision-of-future.html" target="_blank">short stories</a>, poems, screenplays, comic books, <a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-stone-men-of-raksaka.html" target="_blank">first chapters</a> I had written, and how it had been so perfect for me.<br />
<br />
<br />
I was sad to leave university, although happy to get away from overly harsh and picky markers my lectures had become. But I definitely believe my degree helped to shape me into the person I am now. I was a bit lost before university, being painfully shy and self-doubting, with no idea where my future was heading. Creative Writing opened a world of possibilities while not restricting me at all. It's amazing where a degree like this can lead you.<br />
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Considering the current job - money - housing - life crisis our country is currently facing, I was lucky to get a job only a couple of months after leaving university, and in something relevant to my degree. My employer admitted that it was my degree in Creative Writing that caught his eye, and not a day goes by without him saying something like, 'I'll leave this to you, you're the creative one,' or, 'You probably already know this having studied Creative Writing.' He comes to me for advice on many things regarding the company, <a href="http://www.litphonix.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Litphonix: a brand new audiobook company</a>, and lets my creative energies flow. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6cpfweKQAZA5dgAmvrjGjt4yo-OdCsqaOoKCznSYKCpeQ-oReQpndjzRlzWKsnInLygx_MiYEwxjgLqoR4Yaz4qS72Bm9e9WpZ4ozd-X4LFVw2CdabK2BHCitljWuDdbdYSdoJHnj-M/s1600/creativity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6cpfweKQAZA5dgAmvrjGjt4yo-OdCsqaOoKCznSYKCpeQ-oReQpndjzRlzWKsnInLygx_MiYEwxjgLqoR4Yaz4qS72Bm9e9WpZ4ozd-X4LFVw2CdabK2BHCitljWuDdbdYSdoJHnj-M/s1600/creativity.jpg" height="400" width="271" /></a><br />
A friend who studied Chemistry is still sending out job applications daily, while <br />
sitting at home bored, watching multiple television shows. Another friend with a degree in Engineering is stuck in an administrative job while he searches for something better in his field. A lot of the others will be going on to do Masters, for lack of job opportunities, or for the security that university offers, allowing them to put off the adult world for a little bit longer.<br />
<br />
If you ever doubt whether Creative Writing is a suitable subject, stop doubting it right there! It's more than 'making up stories', and I know I won't be the next J.K. like everyone jokes, but it was incredible in helping me find who I was, what I am, and who I can be. <br />
<br />
Look at all my favourite pieces of work: <a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.com/2013/03/portfolio-of-my-favourite-works.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16289887054658794270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165079087855045316.post-64134438341614229342014-01-06T10:45:00.000+00:002014-01-06T10:45:07.588+00:00Reading 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Reading, while one of my favourite pastimes, was rather lacking in 2013.<br />
<br />
I love reading a good book into the early hours of the morning, when the birds start to sing and the sky is brightening. I also hate it at the same time because I know I will have to be up in a couple of hours and boy, will be grumpy.<br />
<br />
It was hard to read while at University, if I read a book for enjoyment I felt guilty for not reading my set texts, which were usually dire. University was also filled with essays, parties, Ultimate, and late night films with friends, so reading was more of an after thought. However, once my course had finished, but while my housemates and friends were revising, I blasted through the <i>Song of Ice and Fire </i>series in a month. My reading lagged again until my holiday in Tenerife, I just couldn't find any interesting books. I tried reading some more fantasy to get me in the mood for writing my novel, but I would get distracted with my own ideas. Then, I got a job and late night reading was not an option any more. However, after Christmas and the pile of books I received, I have got back into the flow of reading, and the Christmas Holidays meant I could read until the birds sang, though with this ghastly weather I'd be surprised if the birds have anything to sing about.<br />
<br />
<br />
This year I managed to read 48 books, way off my goal of 100 but I'll take my losses. My favourite book of 2013 had to be <i>Cloud Atlas, </i>and if you haven't read it already, I would highly recommend it. <br />
<br />
I only checked seven books off my reading list this year, sadly.<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><strike>2001: A Space Odyssey, Arthur C. Clarke </strike></li>
<li>The Adventures of Huckleberry Fin, Mark Twain </li>
<li>The Adventures of Thomas Sawyer, Mark Twain </li>
<li>Aesop’s Fables, Aesopus </li>
<li><strike>Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll </strike></li>
<li><strike>American Psycho, Bret Easton Ellis</strike></li>
<li><strike>Angels & Demons, Dan Brown </strike></li>
<li><strike>Animal Farm, George Orwell </strike></li>
<li><strike>Atonement, Ian McEwan </strike></li>
<li><strike>The Beach, Alex Garland </strike></li>
<li><strike>The Bloody Chamber, Angela Carter </strike></li>
<li><strike>The BFG, Roald Dahl </strike></li>
<li><strike>Brave New World, Aldous Huxley </strike></li>
<li><strike>Bridget Jones’s Diary, Helen Fielding </strike></li>
<li>Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Louis de Bernieres </li>
<li><strike>Carrie, Stephen King </strike></li>
<li>Casino Royale, Ian Fleming </li>
<li>Catch 22, Joseph Heller </li>
<li><strike>The Catcher in the Rye, J. D. Salinger </strike></li>
<li><strike>Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl </strike></li>
<li><strike>Choke, Chuck Palahniuk </strike></li>
<li><strike>A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess </strike></li>
<li><span style="color: #e06666;"><strike>Cloud Atlas, David Mitchell </strike></span></li>
<li><strike>The Color Purple, Alice Walker </strike></li>
<li>Crime and Punishment, Fyodor Dostoevsky </li>
<li><strike>The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, Mark Haddon</strike></li>
<li><strike>The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown</strike></li>
<li><strike>Day of the Triffids, John Wyndham </strike></li>
<li><strike>Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Philip K. Dick </strike></li>
<li>Dracula, Bram Stoker </li>
<li>Emma, Jane Austen </li>
<li>The English Patient, Michael Ondaatje </li>
<li>Far From the Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy </li>
<li>Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Hunter. S. Thompson </li>
<li><strike>Fight Club, Chuck Palahniuk </strike></li>
<li><strike>Girl with a Pearl Earring, Tracy Chevalier </strike></li>
<li><strike>The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Stieg Larsson </strike></li>
<li>Gone With the Wind, Margaret Mitchell </li>
<li>The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck </li>
<li>Great Expectations, Charles Dickens </li>
<li>The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald </li>
<li>Gulliver’s Travels, Jonathan Swift </li>
<li><strike>Haunted, Chuck Palahniuk </strike></li>
<li><strike>The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams </strike></li>
<li><strike>The Hobbit, J. R. R. Tolkien </strike></li>
<li><strike>The Hound of the Baskervilles, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle </strike></li>
<li>Hunchback of Notre Dame, Victor Hugo </li>
<li><strike>The Hunger Games Trilogy, Suzanne Collins</strike></li>
<li><strike>I, Robot, Isaac Asimov </strike></li>
<li>Interview with the Vampire, Anne Rice </li>
<li>Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte </li>
<li>Journey to The Centre Of The Earth, Jules Verne </li>
<li>Just So Stories, Rudyard Kipling </li>
<li>Kafka on the Shore, Haruki Murakami </li>
<li><span style="color: #e06666;"><strike>A Kestrel for a Knave, Barry Hines </strike></span></li>
<li>Lady Chatterley’s Lover, D. H. Lawrence </li>
<li><strike>Life of Pi, Yann Martel </strike></li>
<li><strike>A Little Princess, Frances Hodgson Burnett </strike></li>
<li><strike>Little Women, Louisa May Alcott </strike></li>
<li><strike>The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry </strike></li>
<li><strike>Lolita, Vladimir Nabokov </strike></li>
<li><strike>Lord of the Flies, William Golding </strike></li>
<li><span style="color: #e06666;"><strike>Lord of the Rings Trilogy, J. R. R. Tolkien </strike></span></li>
<li><strike>The lovely Bones, Alice Sebold </strike></li>
<li><strike>Memoirs of a Geisha, Arthur Golden </strike></li>
<li><strike>Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck </strike></li>
<li>Middlesex, Jeffery Eugenides </li>
<li><strike>Misery, Stephen King </strike></li>
<li>Moby Dick, Herman Melville </li>
<li><strike>My Sister’s Keeper, Jodi Picoult</strike> </li>
<li>The Never Ending Story, Michael Ende </li>
<li><strike>Never Let Me Go, Kazuo Ishiguro </strike></li>
<li>Nights at the Circus, Angela Carter </li>
<li><strike>Nineteen Eighty Four, George Orwell </strike></li>
<li><strike>The Notebook, Nick Sparks </strike></li>
<li>Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens </li>
<li><strike>One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Ken Kesey </strike></li>
<li><strike>Oryx and Crake, Margaret Atwood </strike></li>
<li><span style="color: #e06666;"><strike>Perfume, Patrick Suskind </strike></span></li>
<li>Peter Pan, J. M. Barrie </li>
<li>The Picture of Dorian Grey, Oscar Wilde </li>
<li>The Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunya </li>
<li><strike>The Postman Always Rings Twice, James M. Cain </strike></li>
<li>Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen </li>
<li>Remains of the Day, Kazuo Ishiguro </li>
<li><strike>The Reader, Bernard Schlink </strike></li>
<li>A Room with A View, E. M. Forester </li>
<li>Schindler’s Ark, Thomas Keneally </li>
<li><strike>The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett </strike></li>
<li>Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen </li>
<li><strike>The Series of Unfortunate Events, Lemony Snicket</strike></li>
<li><strike>The Shining, Stephen King </strike></li>
<li><strike>The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson </strike></li>
<li>A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens </li>
<li>The Talented Mr Ripley, Patricia Highsmith </li>
<li>Temeraire Series, Naomi Novik</li>
<li>Tess of the D’Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy </li>
<li><span style="color: #e06666;"><strike>The Time Machine, H.G. Wells </strike></span></li>
<li><strike>The Time Traveller’s Wife, Audrey Niffenegger </strike></li>
<li><strike>Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There, Lewis Carroll </strike></li>
<li><strike>To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee </strike></li>
<li>To The Lighthouse, Virginia Woolf </li>
<li>A Town Like Alice, Neville Shute </li>
<li><strike>Trainspotting, Irvine Welsh </strike></li>
<li><span style="color: #e06666;"><strike>Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson </strike></span></li>
<li>Ulysses, James Joyce </li>
<li>Vanity Fair, William Makepeace Thackeray </li>
<li>Vertigo, W. G. Sebald </li>
<li>War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy </li>
<li><span style="color: #e06666;"><strike>The War of the Worlds, H.G. Wells </strike></span></li>
<li>Whistling for the Elephants, Sandi Toksvig </li>
<li><strike>The White Tiger, Aravind Adiga </strike></li>
<li><strike>Wise Children, Angela Carter </strike></li>
<li>Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte </li>
<li><strike>The Yellow Wallpaper, Charlotte Perkins Gilman </strike></li>
</ol>
I didn't read as many books on my <a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.co.uk/p/reading-list.html" target="_blank">Reading List</a> as I would have liked, but I finally read <i>Perfume</i>, which I have been dying to read since I saw the film yonks ago, and it is as every bit as good.<br />
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I've still got lots of books to go, and mainly classics. I am hoping as my new job involves recording audiobooks of the classics I will make a substantial dent this year.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16289887054658794270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165079087855045316.post-23822753669993978702013-10-07T13:23:00.002+01:002013-10-07T13:23:26.426+01:00Fantasy Map - Kingdom of Helmriche <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I haven't updated my blog but I have been busy. Yesterday, I reached the 20,000 word target on my novel, <i><a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/the-stone-men-of-raksaka.html" target="_blank">The Stone Men of Raksaka</a>. </i>This is a First Class piece of work I did for my university course that I am now continuing into a trilogy.<br />
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While I won't post the story here, I'll leave you with another one of my maps.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdVibKc0rVhPgTU_7Tm0aXVtVsRPEHz4GNmes0ZkH4I1h6rv9Qscku0KEDJyTsnbs65q5HH-Ngxj03QBFuXh3hwSo6mTLBraKMIVsJvlaqGvYSrUVpA5aklC6talGTgokZakGJoAMG8Q/s1600/Map+of+Helmriche.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdVibKc0rVhPgTU_7Tm0aXVtVsRPEHz4GNmes0ZkH4I1h6rv9Qscku0KEDJyTsnbs65q5HH-Ngxj03QBFuXh3hwSo6mTLBraKMIVsJvlaqGvYSrUVpA5aklC6talGTgokZakGJoAMG8Q/s640/Map+of+Helmriche.jpg" width="510" /></a></div>
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For more maps of the Six Kingdoms, and specifically Adruhal, just <a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/maps.html" target="_blank">click here.</a></div>
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Here are some <a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/house-sigils-game-of-thrones-style.html" target="_blank">Game of Thrones style House Sigils </a>I also did involving the Province of Kardinia and the Six Kingdoms. </div>
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If you do fancy reading more of <i>The Stone Men of Raksaka </i>write me a message and I'll send you a copy to read, and maybe you can give me some constructive criticisms. </div>
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Until then, I better get back to writing! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16289887054658794270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165079087855045316.post-16083469950726499512013-09-13T21:15:00.000+01:002013-10-07T13:24:11.497+01:00Fantasy Reading List<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">All the books on this list have been recommended to me by my sister and are currently all on her bookshelves. I haven't read any of these yet and I'm incredibly excited to delve into these new worlds. </span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Blade Itself </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">First on the list is Joe Abercrombie's trilogy <i>First Law. </i>Googling it I found<i> <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2012/05/10/the-first-law-trilogy-is-fantasy-at-its-finest/" target="_blank">Forbes </a></i>writer Erik Kain says '<span style="line-height: 24px;">it is </span><em style="border: 0px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">truly</em><span style="line-height: 24px;"> wonderful fantasy, easily some of the best I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.<i>'</i> I have seen the first book around many times, the front cover always catches my eye. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The blurb reads: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">S</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">pringtime in Styria. And that means war.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;" /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">There have been nineteen years of blood. The ruthless Grand Duke Orso is locked in a vicious struggle with the squabbling League of Eight, and between them they have bled the land white. While armies march, heads roll and cities burn, behind the scenes bankers and priests and older, darker powers play a deadly game to choose who will be king.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;" /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">War may be hell, but for Monza Murcatto, the Snake of Talins, the most feared and famous mercenary in Duke Orso’s employ, it’s a damn good way of making money too. Her victories have made her popular – a shade too popular for her employers' taste. Betrayed, thrown down a mountain and left for dead, Murcatto’s reward is a broken body and a burning hunger for vengeance. Whatever the cost, seven men must die.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;" /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">Her allies include Styria’s least reliable drunkard, Styria’s most treacherous poisoner, a mass-murderer obsessed with numbers and a Barbarian who just wants to do the right thing. Her enemies number the better half of the nation. And that’s all before the most dangerous man in the world is dispatched to hunt her down and finish the job Duke Orso started...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;" /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">Springtime in Styria. And that means revenge.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">This sounds like an interesting book, the war and revenge really </span><span style="line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">intrigue</span><span style="line-height: 19px;"> me and fits in with </span><i style="line-height: 19px;">The Stone Men of Raksaka. </i></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><i style="line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></span><span style="background-color: white;"><i style="line-height: 19px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><i style="line-height: 19px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kushiel's Dart</span></b></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18.99305534362793px;"><br /></span></span><br />
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The next book on the list is another trilogy, well, two trilogies combined into one legacy: Kushiel's Legacy, by Jacqueline Carey. Both my sister and mum have read these books, I remember seeing them lying around the living room and thinking the covers were really racy, I was only tenish.<br />
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The description says:<br />
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The land of Terre d'Ange is a place of unsurpassing beauty and grace. It is said that angels found the land and saw it was good...and the ensuing race that rose from the seed of angels and men live by one simple rule: Love as thou wilt.<br />
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Phèdre nó Delaunay is a young woman who was born with a scarlet mote in her left eye. Sold into indentured servitude as a child, her bond is purchased by Anafiel Delaunay, a nobleman with very a special mission...and the first one to recognize who and what she is: one pricked by Kushiel's Dart, chosen to forever experience pain and pleasure as one.<br />
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Phèdre is trained equally in the courtly arts and the talents of the bedchamber, but, above all, the ability to observe, remember, and analyze. Almost as talented a spy as she is courtesan, Phèdre stumbles upon a plot that threatens the very foundations of her homeland. Treachery sets her on her path; love and honor goad her further. And in the doing, it will take her to the edge of despair...and beyond. Hateful friend, loving enemy, beloved assassin; they can all wear the same glittering mask in this world, and Phèdre will get but one chance to save all that she holds dear.<br />
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Set in a world of cunning poets, deadly courtiers, heroic traitors, and a truly Machiavellian villainess, this is a novel of grandeur, luxuriance, sacrifice, betrayal, and deeply laid conspiracies. Not since Dune has there been an epic on the scale of Kushiel's Dart-a massive tale about the violent death of an old age, and the birth of a new.<br />
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This sounds like it will have a very strong female lead, and while that doesn't directly apply to my novel it is a character type I like to read. <br />
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<b style="line-height: 19px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Assassin's Apprentice </span></i></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Third is Robin Hobb's <i>Farseer </i>Trilogy. My mum loves all Robin Hobb books and says they're so easy to read, and that I'd really like them. Wikipedia says:</span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">The Farseer Trilogy follows the life of </span>FitzChivalry Farseer<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> (Fitz), a trained assassin, in a kingdom called </span>The Six Duchies<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> while his uncle, </span>Prince Verity<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">, attempts to wage war on the Red-Ship Raiders from </span>The OutIslands<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> who are attacking the shores of the kingdom by turning the people of the Six Duchies into Forged ones; still alive, but without any emotion or soul. Meanwhile Prince Regal's jealousy and the indulgence of his own selfish whims threatens to destroy The Six Duchies.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19.1875px;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19.1875px;">Well, this one has assassins and the Six Duchies, which is </span><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">similar</span><span style="line-height: 19.1875px;"> to my character, Emin being chosen to assassinate the prince and to start a war between the Six Kingdoms. It's funny how you don't even need to read a book to see the links between it and your own work. </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 19.1875px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lion of Senet</span></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">Jennifer Fallon has written six trilogies, but my sister has </span></span><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">recommended</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;"> specifically </span></span><i style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">The Second Sons </i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19.18402862548828px;">trilogy. Here is a description:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.390625px;">On the world Ranadon there is no night as both suns shine brightly. The intervention of Belagren, High Priestess of the Shadowdancers, and the sacrifice of a child of royal blood, has banished the Age of Shadows from the skies. Belagren's position is unquestioned . . . until circumstances begin to tip political rivalries into a deadlier game altogether. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.390625px;" /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.390625px;">A volcanic eruption rocks the seas separating the Kingdom of Dhevyn and the mainland Kingdom of Senet, and a mysterious sailor is shipwrecked on the island of Elcast. Badly wounded, his arrival stirs up old hatreds and unravels old secrets. His presence is enough to even bring Antonov, the powerful Lion of Senet, to the island and fear to the Keep of the Duke of Elcast.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.390625px;" /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.390625px;">A strong friendship develops between Dirk, second son of the Duke, and Kirshov Latanya, second son of the Lion of Senet. But will they, and their friendship, survive the chain of events set in motion by the ambitions of the ruthless High Priestess of the Shadowdancers and the domineering Lion of Senet?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.390625px;">This sounds a little confusing to me, I don't really know what I just read. Maybe the actually book will make a little more sense. </span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 22.37847328186035px;"><b><i>The Curse of Chalion </i></b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3v3QRQq_EHHBCPCJJrCGjdytLay0n1kaWb-JTKgIGZsw66-kq8LgHVuLpbaVq49rtGtTw83EhtYpCM3CG-Xu7_awKfnsv2OEAMx94Pi4asoWJsCXQIRKKpHEuJumgnG4FnXlfhpd1czs/s1600/TheCurseofChalion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3v3QRQq_EHHBCPCJJrCGjdytLay0n1kaWb-JTKgIGZsw66-kq8LgHVuLpbaVq49rtGtTw83EhtYpCM3CG-Xu7_awKfnsv2OEAMx94Pi4asoWJsCXQIRKKpHEuJumgnG4FnXlfhpd1czs/s400/TheCurseofChalion.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 22.37847328186035px;">For once this isn't a trilogy, though it is still part of series of stand alone books, if that makes sense? My sister recommended this book because it was very character driven, with an usual hero. The internet says: </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A man broken in body and spirit, Cazaril has returned to the noble household he once served as page, and is named, to his great surprise, secretary-tutor to the beautiful, strong-willed sister of the impetuous boy who is next in line to rule. It is as assignment Cazaril dreads, for it must ultimately lead him to the place he most fears: the royal court of Cardegoss, where the powerful enemies who once placed him in chains now occupy lofty positions. But it is more than the traitorous intrigues of villains that threaten Cazaril and the Royesse Iselle here, for a sinister curse hangs like a sword over the entire blighted House of Chalion and all who stand in their circle. And only by employing the darkest, most forbidden of magics can Cazaril hope to protect his royal charge -- an act that will mark the loyal, damaged servant as a tool of the miraculous ... and trap him, flesh and soul, in a maze of demonic paradox, damnation, and death.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I think one of the problems with fantasies is that there are so many new made up names for </span></span><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">characters</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> and places that it does get a little confusing. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;"><b><i>Gardens of the Moon</i></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvy-vgTizgTLSRNQ_wG2ve7T9aedHE36GhAEwjOl4bWz1bp9sThw2NAVaZVhuvyntxrRZieDHRzORKcm3rhp4ZDpvsIvgkMmjI2jXj1OwFvdb49uMQhcCOt5TyarPurVIVgRWcx2WUis/s1600/MalazanBookoftheFallen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvy-vgTizgTLSRNQ_wG2ve7T9aedHE36GhAEwjOl4bWz1bp9sThw2NAVaZVhuvyntxrRZieDHRzORKcm3rhp4ZDpvsIvgkMmjI2jXj1OwFvdb49uMQhcCOt5TyarPurVIVgRWcx2WUis/s640/MalazanBookoftheFallen.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1XH_FzfnailKffBR7eR9jvjlEZl3D0dVqxJt0cD46zmYXrbQC_HaiiBfkaJxLHAPwO5XDzN9w9jCcyre9qe76BtEVj-JTUrOP4gl0sibWEoGi2XXQ1BH7EQFtNPM76aoN_xqpSQGa3Q/s1600/PercyJacksonCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1XH_FzfnailKffBR7eR9jvjlEZl3D0dVqxJt0cD46zmYXrbQC_HaiiBfkaJxLHAPwO5XDzN9w9jCcyre9qe76BtEVj-JTUrOP4gl0sibWEoGi2XXQ1BH7EQFtNPM76aoN_xqpSQGa3Q/s200/PercyJacksonCover.jpg" width="128" /></a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My sister has this to say about Steven Erikson's <i>Malazan Book of the Fallen </i>series,'Very long, very complicated, and very epic. For people that have finished <i>Game of Thrones </i>this is the best series to read, but if you stop reading them you will forget what happened and have to start over again.' And I've just seen there are ten books in this series, so I'm going to be very busy! I do recognise these covers and I admit, they do look epic. They also remind me the covers of <i>The Percy Jackson </i>series, I think it's the little helmet motif.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Anyway, <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55399.Gardens_of_the_Moon" target="_blank">Good Read's</a> blurb says this about the first book, <i>Gardens of the Moon</i>:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bled dry by warfare, the vast Malazan empire simmers with discontent. Sergeant Whiskeyjack's Bridgeburners and surviving sorceress Tattersail wanted to mourn the dead of Pale. But Darujhistan, last of the Free Cities, holds out, Empress Lasseen’s ambition knows no bounds, and the gods intend to intervene.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I think I'll start this series last as it will obviously take me the longest. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Overall, I am looking forward to reading all these books. Giving myself a reading list also makes me feel more productive than I really am. The one I am most excited for from these blurbs is the </span></span><i style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">Assassin's Apprentice. </i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">I feel that all these books will help me with writing my novel and be a great source of </span></span><span style="line-height: 18.99305534362793px;">inspiration</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">. </span></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16289887054658794270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165079087855045316.post-3376027164401399052013-09-08T14:29:00.002+01:002013-10-07T13:24:23.621+01:00Fantasy Inspiration <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As I'm currently writing my own fantasy novel it made me think of all the fantasies I have read and how they may have influenced my writing. If you haven't read any of these books, I recommend you do because they are all brilliantly written and a joy to read.<br />
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I suppose the fantasy that it it going to be on nearly everybody's reading list is the one and only <i>Harry Potter </i>series. So, with no surprise it's on mine. <i>Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone </i>was one of the first books I remember reading and being enthralled by. I zipped through the first three books then had to wait impatiently for the next four. Once they were out I had to then wait for my sister to read them first - luckily she was a super speedy reader. What I love most about <i>Harry Potter </i>is the depth of the characters and how each one develops throughout the series. No matter how many times I have read them, or seen them, there is still so much to talk about. Snape is a particular favourite. Pottermore is also great as it allows you to read the back-story of the secondary characters that you just love, like Lupin and McGonagall.<br />
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Although I have only just read the books this year I was in love with <i>Lord of the Rings </i>from the moment I stepped out of the cinema after <i>The Fellowship of the Ring</i> way back in 2001. This is one case where the films don't ruin the books; Peter Jackson is a directing genius. I love the journey that takes place throughout the trilogy, and this has probably inspired my interest in designing maps and intricate landscapes for all my fantasy pieces. I adore the world Tolkien created and how well it transferred into film. The writing task I had to do in year 7, <i>Escape from Kraznir, </i>was a total rip-off of <i>LOTR </i>but I enjoyed it immensely. I like how all the fantastical creatures are included, yet feel very realistic and not cheesy, like cave trolls and Shelob the giant spider.<br />
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A massive change from <i>LOTR </i>now. <i>Ella Enchanted </i>was one of my favourite young adult fantasy books, loosely inspired by the fairytale <i>Cinderella. </i>It was like a modern day retelling of a fairytale and as an eleven year old this blew my mind. I didn't know we could retell stories, amazing! Unfortunately, the film missed the point entirely and was comedic disaster, though I do like Anne Hathaway.<br />
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I guess in a way my love of fantasy really stemmed from fairy tales. Disney was a big part of my childhood, and princesses and talking animals are some of the conventions of the fantasy world. In my younger years I did prefer more fluffy fantasies, like <i>Goose Girl </i>and <i>Enna Burning </i>by Shannon Hale. Though they did still include political intrigue it was more about a young girls adventure, with a little romance, and no brutal killings, or at least not as much as <i>Game of Thrones...</i><br />
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<i>A Song of Ice and Fire </i>series is brilliant. They may look dauntingly big but they are incredibly easy to read and they're so interesting you never want to put them down. They're not as fantastical as <i>LOTR, </i>there aren't elves or goblins, but they do have dragons, which are awesome! It is more about kingdoms, politics, betrayal and treachery. All very adult stuff, that does sound complicated but it's simple once you start reading, though remains complicated when you try to explain it to someone who's never read it, or watched it. My fantasy novel is a lot like <i>GOT </i>in the fact that I want it to be serious and a little bit gory, and leaves you on the edge of your seat. Most of my other fantasy pieces have been more childish with a strong focus on romance, so this is quite the change.<br />
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And after adding these images, I've realised that most of the fantasies I like have been made into movies/tv shows. This is great as one of my dreams is to have one of my novels made into a film. I have a lot more reading to do around the fantasy genre, and I'm really excited about it (My sister has recommended dozens of books, so I'm going to be a very busy reader). However, I'm not excited about having to hold the massive books open while trying to read in bed. That is why Kindles are so great. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16289887054658794270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165079087855045316.post-77289460091398083872013-09-07T13:22:00.002+01:002013-09-07T13:22:58.514+01:00To Do List: BLOG MORE!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Wow. A seriously long time since I last posted and I don't even have an excuse. This summer has flown by in a blur of nothingness (though I got to go on holiday, which was lovely). It's been a strange one. And I'm not even going back to some sort of education this September which is even weirder.<br />
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I feel terrible because I haven't done any writing, blog or otherwise, since July. I haven't entered any competitions since May either. But I have written a To Do List, and those are the top things on it.<br />
I guess I've been bogged down with this 'being an adult' business. The stress of finding a job, especially one involving writing, is humongous, mainly because there aren't any. However, I'm coming to accept it as I will hopefully being moving to Bristol next year while my boyfriend does a Masters in Law, and there will be plenty more jobs in Bristol than in the dead-end town of Ivybridge.<br />
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However, I have looked into volunteering at my local library, and have a sort of informal interview/chat on Friday the 13th (unlucky for some). If I get this position it will give me opportunities to meet some authors, even if they are just local, and have a good nosey at some interesting books. I'm a very organised person so I think I'll be great at shelving books, I always organise mismatched shelves wherever I go anyway.<br />
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One of my goals on my To Do List is to reach 10,000 words of my novel project, the continuation of <i><a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/the-stone-men-of-raksaka.html" target="_blank">The Stone Men of Raksaka</a></i>. I'm on around 4,000 words and have drawn plenty of maps, but I really need to knuckle down. I have a selection of fantasy books to read to get me in the zone (my sister is a fantasy nut and half her room is filled with massive tomes). Plus, reading all these long fantasy series will add to my target of reading 100 books this year.<br />
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So I may not have any more assignments to do, but I will keep you updated on the personal writing, the job searching, and the potential competitions.<br />
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Now leave me alone so I can write! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16289887054658794270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165079087855045316.post-86334031540261682192013-07-04T14:03:00.000+01:002013-10-07T13:24:36.259+01:00The Stone Men of Raksaka<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is my third piece of writing to receive a First - 79% in fact, and supposedly 80% is publishable. I had a good feeling about this piece before handing it in and I thoroughly enjoyed writing it too. It is almost an intervention or retelling of a piece I did for Fiction for Children, <i><a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/royalteen.html" target="_blank">Royalteen</a>. </i>It's a more adult, less superficial version at least. I was reading <i>Game of Thrones </i>at the time and you may see some similarities between the two. So if you loved that, you'll love this.<br />
It's only the first 2,500 words, but I am planning on finishing it as a novel and hopefully getting it published. I said I would write it this week but instead I've been watching Disney movies. It's an addiction.<br />
Sci-Fi and Fantasy was my favourite module of this year and in hindsight I really wish I had done a fantasy for my dissertation. But what's done is done.<br />
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I hope you enjoy reading this as much as did writing it.<br />
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<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The Stone
Men of Raksaka<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">He piled sand upon his knee and watched as it
skittered down his leg, catching in his dark hairs. Between his dry fingertips
he crumbled more, creating a gritty mound. Sighing, Emin leaned back on his
elbows, the sand tumbled back to earth. It was warm on his skin; the sun had
yet to bake it to blistering heats. Staring far across the desert he was sure
he could see the grasslands of Helmriche, but it was more likely to be a
mirage. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">He’d foolishly tried to walk there when he
was younger. At sundown, he had snuck from the hut and started out across the
Desert Lands. Even at night the desert could be a dangerous place. Dirt dogs
tracked his every step and he had not been sparing with his water. He’d still
been able to see the huts of Raksaka when he finally decided he had to turn
back. He’d slunk back in as quiet as a whisper, but his baba had heard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> ‘You
want to go walking? Let’s see how far you can walk after this.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> Emin
ran a finger across one of the shiny white scars that laced his legs. He hadn’t
walked for a week after the whipping; every time he’d tried the wounds would reopen.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">He rolled over in the sand, savouring the
peace. When the sun rose between the Eastern Lerrnayin Mountains, Raksaka would
awaken. The women would be the first, tending to the skinny goats and the dry
crops. Then the children would come from the mud huts, begging their maminka’s
for food they didn’t have. The children would have to be satisfied with wheat
and water. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The men would rarely leave their mud homes,
preferring the coolness inside. His baba cursed the gods if he was ever called
from his hut - even if it was a summons from the High Leader. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The <i>Savasci</i>
had to be at the training yard an hour after sunup. Emin was expected to be
there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">When he heard the bustling maminka’s and
their squalling children Emin knew it was time to get ready. He looked back
into the distance, over the Desert Lands, to Helmriche. It would always be a
mirage.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">* </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The <i>Savasci
</i>hut was dry and dusty. The hot air and the stench of sweat suffocated Emin.
His mouth felt like it was full of sand and he could only think of water and
fresh air. He stood straight like the other boys, all wearing rough leather
tunics, with notched swords at their hips; swords taken from the corpses of
raiders. Emin was not the tallest, but he was the oldest at six-and-ten. He’d
been in the <i>Savasci</i> for three years
and knew what Chief Devrim was saying by heart. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> ‘They
steal from us. Every day they steal a little more. First it was land, then our riches,
crops, and animals. In the night they kill our men and rape our women.
Everything they have is rightfully ours. We shall take it back.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> It
was the same each day. The Easterners of the Six Kingdoms were deceitful, thieving
bastards that deserved to rot in the pits of <i>Felaket</i> for robbing the Raksaka’s of their land and birthright. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> Emin
joined the boys as they raised their swords to the air. Some of the novices had
to hold their sword with two hands to hold it steady. The Chief spoke in his
booming voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> ‘Out
of the sand come men of stone. These men are brave and strong. These men shall
not be defeated. These men are the <i>Savasci</i>
of Raksaka!’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Emin fought in the yard against Direnc. He
was only small, aged two-and-ten, making him one of the youngest of the <i>Savasci</i>, and barely a challenge. Emin
had been training with Direnc since the last turn of the moon, but his
swordplay still lacked the <i>Savasci </i>passion.
His long dark hair was tied back with a piece of knotted grass, a frown of
concentration screwed up his face. Emin blocked the boy’s attacks easily with a
flick of his sword. They were unlikely to ever claim back the East with only a
handful of children. Especially as the men of Raksaka lay in the shade, sweat
beading on their wrinkled faces, being served by their sandwives. <i>They don’t deserve the Eastern lands anymore,
</i>Emin thought bitterly. With a sudden burst of anger Emin swung his sword
hard at Direnc, who made a clumsy block, tripped over his feet, and landed
heavily in the sand. Training with Direnc reminded him of his first suns with the
<i>Savasci.</i> He had been worried about joining;
he never wanted to kill anyone. He had thought that it might earn him Baba’s
respect. Yet he’d been part of the group for three years and done nothing more
than train with battered swords, and his baba still treated him with contempt. He
was beginning to wonder where the honour in being <i>Savasci</i> lay. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> Sheathing
his sword, Emin then gave a hand to Direnc. ‘You fought like a true stone man,’
Emin told him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> ‘I
felt more like a mud man,’ the boy replied, dusting off his tunic. ‘You are a
true stone man, Emin. I heard Chief Devrim say so to Cetin.’ Direnc grinned. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> Emin
pursed his lips; anything said to his baba was not a good thing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> ‘Go
train with Tarik,’ Emin ordered the boy. ‘I must speak to Chief Devrim.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> Direnc
chewed his lip, his eyes wide. ‘Did I say something wrong?’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Emin smiled. ‘A <i>Savasci </i>should never doubt.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Direnc nodded eagerly. ‘Never doubt. Never
fear. Never flee,’ he recited. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">He ran to Tarik’s side calling out over his
shoulder, ‘I’ll beat Tarik, and then you, Emin!’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> *</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Emin couldn’t find the Chief that afternoon.
He searched the <i>Savasci</i> huts, the yard,
and down by the Kushca tree. When he asked Devrim’s sandwife about his
whereabouts she shrugged and shook her head. Emin knew that it was too hopeful;
why would Devrim share his business with a sandwife? Maybe the Chief was taking
the watch. Many had heard the Dirt dogs howling at night, and torches had been spotted
in the darkness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">As the sun dipped below the peaks of the
Western Lerrnayin Mountains, Emin trudged back to the hut he shared with his
baba. With any luck he would be asleep. The fat man was snoring loudly on his
bed of straw, flies buzzing around his head. Every so often he would raise an
arm and try to swat them away. Emin removed the sword from his hip, but was too
tired to take off his leather tunic. With a yawn he collapsed onto his own
straw bed. He briefly wondered why the Chief would talk to Baba before his eyes
shut and darkness enveloped him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Women’s screams woke him. Fire flickered
shadows around the hut – a hundred demons of <i>Felaket.</i> Emin leapt to his feet, sword in hand. His baba snorted
and rolled onto his back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> ‘What’s
going on,’ he slurred. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> Emin
didn’t answer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Never doubt,</span></i><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> he thought to calm his racing heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">He flung back the grass curtain that covered
the doorway. Outside huts were on fire; people were running and screaming, flinging
sand on the flames. In the chaos men in chainmail ransacked huts and grabbed
women and young girls. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Never fear. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">On his left, Emin saw a child crying for his
maminka, watching as she was dragged away by a tall man, his armour glowing red
in the firelight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Never flee.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> Emin
charged the man, but he was too quick. He shoved the woman away and unsheathed his
own weapon. Their swords rang together in a clash of steel. Emin sidestepped a
swift blow, then another. The man was taller and heavier, with much more
protection than Emin. But that didn’t stop him. He took a deep breath and swung
his sword low. His blade caught the attacker in the knee, in a gap in his
armour. The man’s leg buckled, but he wasn’t seriously hurt. Emin wasted no
time. He brought down the hilt of his sword on the back of his head. The man
fell face down into the sand. The woman squeezed Emin’s hand before running to
her child. They disappeared into the night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> Emin
had no rope to restrain the raider; he only hoped he would stay unconscious. He
gave him another smack with his sword just in case. Hurrying to one of the
burning huts, the heat leapt at Emin’s face, tears stung his eyes. Grabbing
handfuls of sand he helped the others to put out the flames. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The fire was almost smothered when more
screams filled the air. Emin grabbed his sword and ran. Down near the Kushca
tree an intruder was fighting two <i>Savasci</i>
at once. The boys’ old dull blades were no match for his longsword, but they
battled on, parrying and blocking. Lying by the enemy’s feet was a small
crumpled body. Long black hair covered the face of the child. Emin’s blood boiled.
For the first time in his life he finally understood what the Chief had been
saying. These Easterners did rob them of everything - even their children’s
lives. With blood coursing through his veins, Emin lowered his sword and
stormed the attacker, taking him by surprise. It was in those precious moments
that Emin managed to plunge his sword into the man’s side. It tore through
leather, skin, muscle alike, getting caught on the bones of his ribcage. He let
out a gasp of scarlet spittle. The two young <i>Savasci</i> stared at Emin, their faces pale; one’s leg was drenched in
dark gore from a gaping wound on his thigh. Emin’s heart pounded in his chest.
His lungs burned with every breath. Adrenaline pumped through him. He kicked
the fallen man before turning to the small body. Pushing the hair aside his
heart stopped. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Little Direnc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Emin dropped to his knees and cradled the
boy’s head in his lap.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘You are a true stone man.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> *</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Devrim, Baba, and the High Leader, Hakan,
stood in front of him. He’d never met the High Leader before. He was one of the
darker skinned men of the clan, with oiled black hair that hung around his
shoulders. His face was beardless, uncommon in the Raksaka. Thick dark brows
lowered over his narrowed eyes. A massive cudgel looked weightless in his
strong hands. He rearranged his fingers round the leather grip causing the
muscles in his arms to flex. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Devrim was talking animatedly while Hakan
stared at Emin, his face hard. Baba had his huge arms crossed, scowling darkly,
bearing his yellowing teeth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> ‘I
told Cetin four suns ago that Emin was one of the best <i>Savasci</i> and what happened at the raid only proves that,’ Devrim
insisted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> Hakan’s
eyes roved over Emin, who tried not to squirm under his intense gaze. Was he
one of the best <i>Savasci</i>? He hadn’t intended
to kill that man, but he’d been so angry. The dead man plagued his dreams. Direnc
haunted his nightmares. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> ‘Pah!’
Baba interrupted. ‘This boy is a runt. Not worth wasting your time on.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> Emin
had expected that, but Devrim seethed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> ‘This
<i>runt</i> killed an Eastern raider and
allowed us to capture another, while you sat on your craven arse, hiding with
the women.’ Devrim spat at Baba’s bare feet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> Baba
lunged at him, his clenched fist slamming into Devrim’s jaw. Hakan watched them
fight, his lips pressed into a thin line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> ‘Enough!’
He slammed his cudgel down on Baba’s back. The man buckled with an agonised cry.
Emin knew it would take more than that to bring down his baba for good, though.
Devrim shielded away from Hakan’s cruel cudgel. His lip was broken, and his
left eye swollen shut. Blood dribbled down his chin. Hakan heaved the fallen
man to his feet. Baba’s nose was bent and one of his teeth was missing. The
High Leader leaned in close to Baba’s face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> ‘Your
boy is of the <i>Savasci</i>, a stone man,’
he said in a deathly quiet voice that Emin strained to hear, ‘and he is more of
a man than you will ever be.’ He threw Baba back to the mud-packed floor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Emin looked up at Hakan careful not to show
his fear. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Emin, son of Cetin, because of your deeds three
suns ago, on the night of the raid we have an Eastern solider as hostage. With
some persuading he told us news of the Six Kingdoms.’ He pulled out a leather
pouch from his jerkin and emptied the contents onto ground. ‘Six fingers for
six kingdoms.’ His smile was wicked, and Emin saw his baba pale at the sight of
the bloody digits. ‘The greedy king of Adruhal has arranged a marriage between
his daughter and the prince of Minadril.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Emin nodded, unsure why the betrothals of far
off kingdoms were so important. His baba sat up and spat a glob of blood onto
the dismembered fingers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Who those thieving bastard-kings sell their
whore-daughters to is no concern of ours. We should be sending our strongest
swords to the boarders, to avenge our dead and take back our women.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Hakan’s jaw clenched. ‘Devrim, take Cetin
back to his hut. Make sure he stays there this time.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Devrim yanked Baba off the ground, wary of
the man’s fists. To Emin’s surprise, his baba let himself be dragged away. A
dry zephyr fluttered through the grass curtain that hung across the doorway.
Emin was aware that he was now alone with Hakan – and his cudgel. He stood
straight, shoulders back, even though his hands trembled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Cetin was always rash, as I’m sure you
know.’ His eyes flickered over the scars on Emin’s legs. ‘But he was a strong <i>Savasci</i> in his youth. He grew too
attached to his sandwife though, some woman he stole from Helmriche,’ he said
in musing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Emin eyes went wide; his lazy baba had been a
<i>Savasci</i> and his mamika had been from
Helmriche? He’d always been told she was a weakling woman from the Feros tribe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Hakan noticed Emin’s confusion. ‘A tale for
another day perhaps,’ he said, though his dark eyes glittered. ‘Emin, I have a
task for you, one only fit for a true man of stone.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Emin had a feeling he wasn’t going to like
what the High Leader was about to say. Killing one man shouldn’t make him a
stone man, yet he was the eldest <i>Savasci</i>
and the best with a sword, rusty and notched as it was. But he never liked
fighting, or ever truly believed in the <i>Savasci</i>
way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Hakan’s wicked smile was back. ‘I want you to
go to Minadril. Infiltrate the castle. Become part of the royal guard. Befriend
this little prince. Go with him to Adruhal to meet his bride-to-be. Then kill
him.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Emin finally spoke. ‘Kill him?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Slit his throat from ear to ear,’ Hakan
agreed. ‘Or kill the princess. Whichever one you kill, the blame will fall on
the other. Minadril and Adruhal will be at arms soon enough. The other kingdoms
will be quick to join sides. The Six Kingdoms will be in chaos.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Emin’s heart pounded in his chest. They
wanted him to kill a boy? He couldn’t do it. He would not. <i>Savasci </i>meant brave warrior not sneaking murderer, he thought.
Hakan sensed his reluctance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Never doubt, never fear, never flee, Emin.
You will kill the Minadril prince, if not you’ll be left to Cetin’s mercy. I’m
sure he would hate to have a son as gutless as he is. Or maybe, I’ll kill you
myself.’ He hefted his cudgel onto his shoulder. ‘What will it be?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘I’ll do it, High Leader. I’ll start a war.
For the Stone men of Raksaka.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16289887054658794270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165079087855045316.post-2553938814305617822013-06-27T16:52:00.001+01:002014-10-02T11:07:56.969+01:00Hardwired - A Creative Vision of the Future <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I recently received my final two grades of the year, and they're my best yet! When I pulled them out of the envelope and saw 74% and 78% a huge grin broke out across my face. Two Firsts! My mission for my final year of uni has been achieved - to get at least one First.<br />
The amazing feeling still hasn't worn off yet, and it has really inspired me to write more. So next week, when my social life is a little less hectic, I am going to do some serious writing. Maybe I'll get a good chunk of a novel done. Here's hoping at least.<br />
<br />
One of the pieces is a short story, untitled at the time of hand-in but I've now entitled it <i>Hardwired. </i>I was so nervous about this piece as the lecturer was incredibly picky about everything. I edited it over and over, then had my friends and sister read over it many times too. This assignment was for the Creative Visions module - looking at life in fifty years time. I was going to write the first chapter of <i><a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/film-pitch-tainted-blood.html" target="_blank">Tainted Blood</a>, </i>but the lecturer tore it apart, so I ditched that idea. I figured in a slightly more down to Earth, more compact short story she would have less to question and complain about. My last Creative Visions piece<a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/logged-on.html" target="_blank"> <i>Logged On</i></a> got 64% with feedback saying the ending could have more of a twist, so I took their advice.<br />
<br />
Anyway, less talk, more reading...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioBUU1CqpsN9fLVd6j00o_1fIJYpNuzOu9_zkchSF_MFNi9EK3oB11pUq9DmRAIeSfpeIGVNXDcX0a6-VT-jmQb0qznFiFeZH8EUC5OCaCRfCr7KuriAeuEwf59z4mjiOscxyHMBBm4Lo/s849/the-future-image-20034177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioBUU1CqpsN9fLVd6j00o_1fIJYpNuzOu9_zkchSF_MFNi9EK3oB11pUq9DmRAIeSfpeIGVNXDcX0a6-VT-jmQb0qznFiFeZH8EUC5OCaCRfCr7KuriAeuEwf59z4mjiOscxyHMBBm4Lo/s400/the-future-image-20034177.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Hardwired</u></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><u>Life Beyond 2050<o:p></o:p></u></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">He stumbled through the door,
the hallway lights turned on automatically. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Lights down,’ he slurred,
shielding his bloodshot eyes from the glare. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">They dimmed and he lowered
his hand, leaning against the wall for support.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Jensen?’ Sylvee stood at
the end of the hall. She looked like a ghost, shrouded in a long white dressing
gown, her pale hair curled over her shoulders. There was no smile to greet him,
no hugs, no kisses. Wobbling slightly in the spinning room, Jensen stood up
straight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Where've you been?’ Her
voice was controlled. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Out,’ he said, trying to
meet her cool stare.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Out where?’ Her tone never
changing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Just out,’ he growled as he
pushed past her to their bedroom. She didn’t flinch; she only stood there, watching.
Jensen wanted to apologise. He always did, yet the words never seemed to come. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The full beam of the lights
in the bedroom burned his eyes and he ordered them off. The darkness was
better; he could avoid Sylvee in the dark. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">He fumbled with the zip of
his overalls. He’d gone straight to Alfie’s from the wind farm, and they smelt
of beer and illegal cigarettes. Tugging off his dirty clothing he called for
the laundry chute. A hatch opened in the wall and he dumped his clothes down
the tube. He had crawled under the starched covers when Sylvee came in. Neither
of them spoke as she shed her gown and climbed into bed next to him. She lay on
her back staring up at the ceiling, whilst he curled up on his side facing away
from her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Even in the darkness the
room was still spinning and Jensen breathed deeply to calm his churning
stomach. He was regretting spending so many credits on what tasted like heavily
watered-down piss. A sudden turn in his gut made him desperate for the
bathroom, but he could tell from Sylvee's breathing she was still awake.
Rubbing his stomach, he urged it to settle. He couldn’t hold it any longer. Saliva
flooded his mouth and his throat convulsed. Pushing back the covers he stumbled
to the bathroom. Vomit choked him, and he couldn't order the lights on.
Kneeling on the cool tiles, he threw up in the dark, hoping he aimed right.
Soon his stomach was empty. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Flush,’ he ordered as he
got to his feet. He took his time brushing his teeth and gargled multiple
times. When he entered the bedroom again he could see Sylvee's eyes were still
open wide, reflecting the dim light of the solar lamppost that seeped through
the curtains. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Jensen sighed. ‘Go to sleep.
Please.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">For a moment she didn’t move
and he thought to repeat himself. Then she rolled on her side and closed her
eyes. Jensen practically fell into bed, suddenly exhausted. Once again he
promised himself he wouldn’t go out again. And once again he would think of <i>her</i> and the urge would be too strong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-size: 28.88888931274414px; line-height: 43.333335876464844px;">*</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]--><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">When Jensen awoke the next
morning, Sylvee’s side of the bed was empty. The curtains were open and warm
sunlight spilled into the room. Grumbling, Jensen pulled his pillow over his
face. He knew he’d have to get up eventually but the thought of his wife
sitting in stony silence at the kitchen table made him want to tear his hair
out. With a yawn Jensen rolled out of
bed to his feet. The wall next to his bed flashed brightly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Eleven forty-two am. Sunday
the eighth of April 2063. Dagenham weather: sunny spells with highs of twenty-four
degrees. The main headlines today are-’ Jensen cut off the chirpy infovoice
with a hasty swipe. Sylvee would know he was awake now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">He padded into the bathroom,
making sure to lock the door behind him. Rummaging through the medicine cabinet,
ignoring the </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Paroxetine,<span style="background: white;"> he grabbed a brightly coloured box. <i>Hangover Ex! The <b>New</b> Morning After Pill </i>was written across the front in bold
letters. There was only one capsule left in the packet. Jensen swallowed it
with a glass of water. Instantly his queasy stomach was gone and the sunlight
no longer pierced his eyes. He still didn’t feel any better about facing
Sylvee. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Once he’d showered and
dressed he slouched into the kitchen. Sylvee sat at the table, her back
straight and stiff. Her hands rested on the table, a full cup of tea sat in
front of her. A film of milk covered the surface. She looked directly ahead,
her gaze flickered slightly when he sat down next to her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> ‘About last night,’ he started.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> ‘You’re a grown man; you’re free to do what you
want.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> It was not the answer he was expecting. He wanted
anger, shouting, fighting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> ‘No, I shouldn’t be free to do what I want. That’s
not right.’ He slammed his fist down on the table. She blinked at him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> ‘If that’s what you say,’ she agreed with the smallest
of nods. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> Suddenly, all the fight left him and his headache
came back despite the pill. ‘It is what I say.’ Jensen stood up quickly and
went over to the countertop. ‘Coffee, black.’ His voice seemed too loud in the
silence of the room. There was a whirring in the walls and a cup of steaming
coffee was revealed behind a hatch. <i>This
is more warmth than I’ll get from her, </i>he thought as he cradled the cup in
his hands. Jensen watched her as he drank. Whatever she was feeling, if she
could even feel, she hid it well; her face was expressionless. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> ‘Go, do something with yourself,’ he found himself
saying. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">She looked at him then.
‘Like what?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘I don’t know. Fluff the
pillows. Read a book. Take a walk. Do whatever, just stop sitting there.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">She nodded, got up from her
chair, and left the room. Jensen hadn’t meant to sound so rude; he just
couldn’t control his temper around her anymore. He put his half empty coffee
cup carefully on the counter, resisting the urge to smash it against the wall. His
thoughts turned back to <i>her</i>. Her
gentle eyes and loving lips. Tonight he’d be with her again. He could never
keep his promises. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The phone rang and Jensen
hurried to answer it before Sylvee could. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘I got it,’ he called out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Looking at the screen he
recognised the number straight away. He debated whether he should answer it or
not then swiped his finger across the screen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Hey, Jen,’ Matty’s cheerful
face appeared on the monitor. ‘What night is it? It’s bowling night!’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Jensen could not share his
enthusiasm. He picked up the handheld receiver. ‘I told you not to call me.
What if Sylvee picked up?’ he hissed, looking over his should to check she
wasn’t close.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘I wouldn’t have told her
anything,’ said Matty, his cheeriness gone. ‘I got you.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘I know you do. It’s just
been a rough morning.’ Jensen massaged his temples.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Guess that means no
bowling.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Sorry, I can’t. I just keep
thinking about <i>her</i>.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Look, Jen, this is going to
come out eventually, you can’t keep her a secret forever. You know I’m fine
with it, but the others, well, they’re not as understanding about this sort of
thing.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘You’d think people would be
more open-minded these days,’ Jensen said grudgingly. Everything Matty said was
true, but he didn’t want to think about it. Not now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Well they’re not. Jensen, I
don’t want you to get hurt again. I was there for you last time but I can’t
keep doing it. You have to tell Sylvee the truth or get rid of her.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘I know. I love her so much
though; I can’t just stop seeing her. It’s too painful.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Life is painful. Let me
know if you change your mind about bowling.’ There was a beep as Matty hung up.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Jensen placed the receiver
back on the wall, ignoring the advert for a new upgraded phone that scrolled
across the screen. Matty was right, he needed to tell Sylvee the truth and live
with the consequences. He was being selfish and it wasn’t fair to anybody. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Jensen sat opposite Sylvee
and watched her as she played with her food. His lupine steak was tasteless and
every mouthful was an effort to chew. He thought about what Matty had said. He
did need to end it, but he had to know he was doing the right thing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Do you remember, a couple
of years ago, when we had just started dating? I was trying to be cool and
threw that bottle at the recycling bin but it completely missed. You picked it
up, and as you walked over to me you said “Your awful aim will cost you hundreds
of credits in litter fines one day.” Then you popped it over your shoulder and
got it in the bin straight away.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> ‘I don’t recall that. Was it important?’ Sylvee said
as she pushed her peas around, the fork scraping on the plate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> <i>I fell in love
with you that day. </i>‘No, nothing special, just a memory.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> Silence hung between them. Jensen looked down at the
remainder of his meal and grimaced. He got up suddenly and threw it into the
compost chute. All food waste in the apartment complex went down chute to the
compost heap, which was then spread on the surrounding gardens and parks.
Sylvee had once lost an ill-fitting bracelet down there. She’d said it was a
precious heirloom of her Grandma’s, so they’d spent the day digging through
rotting vegetables. They’d shared a shower after too. But she probably didn’t
remember that either. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> At the sound of the fork scraping on the plate again
Jensen turned around. ‘Would you just eat the damned food.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> Jensen watched her take the first bite but soon left,
his head pounding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-size: 28.88888931274414px; line-height: 43.333335876464844px;">*</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]--><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">He had wanted to go out that
night, to drink and be with <i>her</i>
again, even if it was for just a few hours. But he had work tomorrow and he
already had two warnings for being late. Another would see him fired. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">He had tried to sleep. In
his dream an army of Sylvee’s chased him down a narrow corridor. The more he
ran the slower he went. The corridor was endless. Each one of them screamed, ‘It’s
your fault I’m like this!’ One eventually caught him. Her thin fingers bit into
his flesh. He wanted to scream but no sound came out. ‘It’s all your fault!’
she shrieked as she tore off his face. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">He woke up in a cold sweat,
breathing harshly. He tried to remember the dream but it was already fading. No
longer tired, he lay next to his wife, yet all he could think about was <i>her</i>. How she had felt lying next to him in
bed. His arms wrapped around her, her soft body warm beneath his chest, feeling
her heart beat in time with his. The
cold woman beside him was no more than a stranger. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">When his alarm went off he
leapt out of bed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Beep. Beep. Beep</span></i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">. ‘Seven am. Monday the ninth-’ Jensen swiped a hand across the alarm
screen shutting up the infovoice before it could wake his wife. He pulled on fresh
grey overalls and headed out the door, careful not to make a sound.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-size: 28.88888931274414px; line-height: 43.333335876464844px;">*</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]--><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The Dagenham wind farm was
already bustling when Jensen arrived. The turbines needed plenty of maintenance
checks if they were to supply the South East with enough energy. There were
still plenty of people opposed to the idea of wind farms too; Jensen couldn’t
believe how narrow-minded society could be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> ‘Hey Jensen,’ Randal said as he scanned the schedule.
‘You’re on E-13 today.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> ‘E-13? That’s on the other side of the estate.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> ‘Yeah and we’re out of solar carts I’m afraid. Looks
like you’re walking.’ Randal smiled crookedly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> Jensen knew he shouldn’t be surprised; that was his
luck. The hammering in his temples grew, and no amount of drugs would help. He
needed the booze, and <i>her</i>. He grabbed
his tools from Randal before setting off between the forests of turbines. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It was over an hour before
he finally reached E-13. His head had pounded with every step. The turbine was
over a hundred and twenty metres tall if you included the rotor. When he first
started work there Jensen had nightmares that the entire wind farm had fallen
over in a domino effect and crushed him, the rotors slicing his friends and
family to pieces. A shudder washed over him as he looked at the slowly rotating
blades. <i>Just get this work done. Then you
can drink and be with her, </i>he thought as he unscrewed the work hatch. <i>But Sylvee will still be there. </i>His hand
tightened around the screwdriver. His conversation with Matty ran through his
head. He needed this to be over with. He put the screwdriver away and glanced
at the other tools in the box, one especially caught his eye. He would end it
tonight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-size: 28.88888931274414px; line-height: 43.333335876464844px;">*</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]--><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Unsurprisingly, Sylvee was sat
at the kitchen table when Jensen got home from the farm. He had considered
going straight to Alfie’s but he knew he had to deal with his wife first. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> Her blonde hair was perfectly curled as usual, her
pale skin unblemished and smooth. The top she was wearing had been one of his
favourites, low-cut and clingy, but now he felt nothing. Cold, blue eyes
flickered over him as he walked behind her and ordered his coffee, but
otherwise she didn’t move. <i>She would have
been perfect</i>, he thought<i>, but she
just wasn’t</i> <i>her. </i>As his coffee
was being made, Jensen fingered the object in his pocket with a shaking hand. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> ‘Work was fine, thanks for asking,’ he said, hoping she
didn’t hear the waver in his voice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> ‘That’s good.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> The coffee was done but Jensen didn’t pick it up.
Instead he drew the tool from his overall’s pocket. Staring at the back of her
head, the hammer suddenly felt too heavy in his hand and he was afraid he would
drop it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> ‘How was your day?’ he asked. If she would just say
something, anything, that could change his mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> ‘It was fine, thank you for asking,’ she said, not
even turning around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> Jensen closed his eyes, shook his head. The hammer slipped
in his sweaty palms. He raised his arm up. He thought back to all the days they
had spent together, before this. They were carefree, they were happy, they were
in love. But it could never be the same again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> ‘Can you even say it?’ he whispered, a tiny bud of
hope still growing inside him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> ‘Say what?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> ‘That you love me!’ he said in a sudden burst of
passion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> ‘I can say it, if that’s what you would like.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> <i>It’s not what I
want, it’s what I need. </i>‘Say it.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> ‘I love you-’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> He brought the hammer down heavily on the back of her
skull. Jensen felt it collapse beneath the weight of the tool. Satisfaction
sped through his body as he swung it down again, this time harder. Pieces of
skull, circuits and wires scattered over the kitchen floor. Again and again he
brought down the hammer until the back of her head was an electrical mess. The
body slumped forward, all the stiffness gone. Jensen took a deep breath, the
hammer slipped from his grasp with a loud <i>thunk
</i>as it hit the linoleum. The sight of a synthetic flesh with blonde hair
attatched made Jensen retch. Tears chocked him. The pain in his head almost
blinded him. Slowly, he lifted the head off the table. Its eyes had reverted
back to factory settings. Grey with no pupils. He let it drop. He wanted a
drink, but even that wouldn’t bring her back now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> ‘I’m sorry Sylvee. I should have let you go instead
of clinging on. Now I’ve lost you twice.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16289887054658794270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165079087855045316.post-23076007092107071442013-06-20T16:31:00.000+01:002013-06-20T16:31:45.965+01:00How to Write Description <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Here is the post I promised earlier. I still haven't settled in properly at home yet; my boxes still crowd the hallway, and I haven't unpacked my hundreds of flowery summer dresses, but I seriously need to blog more (it's on my To Do list, don't worry).<br />
<br />
Anyway, this post is all about description and how to write it creatively. I have a real problem with writing description, or setting the scene. I can see it in my head and so think everyone else can picture it too without going into much detail. Rookie mistake. I also think when writing description that it will distract from the plot; I am very much an action writer and love to get to all the exciting bits straight away. I have to slow myself down and force myself to write about the scene. Or sometimes I write all the action parts and then go back through and add the setting later.<br />
<br />
I was thinking about this when I came up with a great idea on how to get the descriptive juices flowing. Stick with me here. This workshop comes in three easy steps.<br />
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<b>1.</b> Below is a series of pictures and I want you to write a 200 word description about each one.<br />
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You can write it from any Point of View, and in third, second, or first person.<br />
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Try to include each of the five senses; sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. Obviously, it might be hard to include them all. You might think how can I taste a place? Well, in the desert your character's mouth could be very dry, and that would say something about the setting. Don't go OTT as you only have 200 words.<br />
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Remember, the best description works with the action.<br />
<b>Don't write</b>: There was an old wooden chair in the corner.<br />
<b>Do write:</b> Ben eyed the spindly chair warily. It looked like it would collapse under the weight of a feather, let alone his hefty backside.<br />
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<b>2.</b> Think about a setting in your own novel, short-story, or flashfiction. Even if you're rubbish at art, I want you to draw out the scene. It can just be stick people, or it could be a masterpiece. Drawing a scene can help you to realise what's important in that setting - what's essential to include in your writing and what you can skim over. Now write another 200 words based on that drawing.<br />
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<b>3.</b> Give that drawing to a friend, preferably someone who also writes, or send it to me, and see what they write. They could pick up on something you wouldn't have thought of before, or make you realise something the reader will need to know about that place.<br />
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Its only a simple workshop but it should help when finally writing that novel.<br />
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Okay, ready? Here come the pictures...<br />
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They're quite varied, so have fun! I'll write about them too and draw my scene and post them in a couple of days. I hope this helps! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16289887054658794270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165079087855045316.post-49415266637960292592013-06-14T13:40:00.000+01:002013-06-14T13:40:09.521+01:00Packing...fun<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today is my final day in Winchester and I've nearly finished packing. The worst thing about packing is that I grow bored of it very quickly, and so do other things. Yesterday I watched three chick-flicks instead of packing. Now, I'm blogging instead of packing. But as my mum says, if it wasn't for the last minute nothing would ever get done. So I'll probably finish five minutes before my dad picks me up tomorrow.<br />
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This post isn't about packing though, it's about something I'm going to post once I'm home and settled. I've had the idea for this certain surprise post for a couple of days now, but I've been so busy hosting guests and not packing that I haven't got around to doing it yet. I'll give you a little hint; it's about writing description. I hope you'll enjoy it...when I finally write it.<br />
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Now, back to packing while listening to Disney songs. It doesn't get better than this. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16289887054658794270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165079087855045316.post-86302752571691611872013-05-25T17:29:00.000+01:002013-05-25T17:29:12.312+01:00Creative Writing at the University of Winchester<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yesterday was the last day of term, but for me my course ended back in April. I can't believe how fast it has gone, I can still remember my enrolment and course talk perfectly, and how my tummy was knotting itself. When you start university everything feels so daunting and big, then you live through it and find it's not all that bad, in fact, it's really fun.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzsrZPtxgsIbIpCYh5z18ufoch1fuhthIT_-Sv9H-zoMtpHxuZX0ZxJYz5g6Jyv66Ou70CD4_KLkbDacZSC60i04OeZcVPlGRlOWdUUgPVDcDRuO5B5O_YzhRQQxp7WWG23mPRTUVpkc/s1600/WinchesterUniversity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzsrZPtxgsIbIpCYh5z18ufoch1fuhthIT_-Sv9H-zoMtpHxuZX0ZxJYz5g6Jyv66Ou70CD4_KLkbDacZSC60i04OeZcVPlGRlOWdUUgPVDcDRuO5B5O_YzhRQQxp7WWG23mPRTUVpkc/s400/WinchesterUniversity.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Student Union - Many fun times were had here!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Taking Creative Writing was the best choice I ever made. I actually enjoyed doing most of my assignments (not the rationales of course) which is a big deal at university. All the modules were interesting and fun, with only a few dull moments, primarily in Creative Voice, which was a compulsory module. At first the most appealing part of the course was no exams; I get super stressed and freaked out by exams. Whenever I tell someone I don't have exams they're surprised and a little bit jealous, and I secretly laugh at them in my head.<br />
But now I realise that the creative freedom I had for my dissertation was amazing. Others talked of how hard their dissertations was, and how they had to force themselves to write it; but I really loved writing mine, I wanted to write it and I thought about it all the time. It was probably one of the best things I have written (though sometimes I think it was awful - all part of being a writer) and although it was stressful it wasn't nearly as stressful as writing 10,000 words on Shakespeare, Feminism or something as equally mind-numbing.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17mBjU6dz8oZ0ykTHkAdQQ5SQC1YoSY-7ejPFA6oEvrHTJndrLztvphx76lhyH_M2MEw33NGy6cHw19w8vvuZ3L6BywmhFf_mEGHkPx9Xp6wuqOtJlyf8KNHp6l5iXiExuWvUMuXjeWM/s1600/WinchesterUniversity2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17mBjU6dz8oZ0ykTHkAdQQ5SQC1YoSY-7ejPFA6oEvrHTJndrLztvphx76lhyH_M2MEw33NGy6cHw19w8vvuZ3L6BywmhFf_mEGHkPx9Xp6wuqOtJlyf8KNHp6l5iXiExuWvUMuXjeWM/s400/WinchesterUniversity2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Stripe Lecture hall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Creative Writing has, of course, had its highs and lows like anything else. Getting bad marks, not knowing anyone in lectures, having to do presentations, and worst of all 9am starts. Yet there have been many more highs; getting a First on something I worked really hard on, laughing with friends, reading new books I would never have thought of, writing things I would never have dreamt of, and finally getting a degree in something that I enjoy doing. How many people can say they have done that?<br />
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Even though I was terrified of workshops and reading my work aloud people were nice about it, will helpful comments and kind smiles. No horrible things were said, well, at least to my face! And, while I may still not be one of the 'popular kids' I made great friends none the less. At university everyone is there because they want to be there and they love the subject, and if they realise it's not for them they drop out pretty early. The people on your course are going through exactly the same things as you are; they find the same lecturers infuriating, the same modules uninspiring, and they probably hate reading <i>Wolf Hall </i>as much as you do. People are right when they say you make some of your best friends at university. For Creative Writing having a group of close friends is even better, because they are willing to read your work and give you constructive criticism They know all about grammar and sentence structure; they know what your lecturers will like or absolutely hate; and they just love to read anything! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicDrXWK1sLIO2r8KTiiiEIrxeb-VJy3pvb-ZJFR9ccGvoGkGt5OmkIUSdnJccN6PHA00JelagoTezOFVItg8pCeL304V9IGQBzzOc5pGbLa2aIS9VOK7Ktyw_I8H9SDz4kjBk1csfLsTo/s1600/DSCF6914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicDrXWK1sLIO2r8KTiiiEIrxeb-VJy3pvb-ZJFR9ccGvoGkGt5OmkIUSdnJccN6PHA00JelagoTezOFVItg8pCeL304V9IGQBzzOc5pGbLa2aIS9VOK7Ktyw_I8H9SDz4kjBk1csfLsTo/s400/DSCF6914.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My friends back in first year - how we've changed! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Three years seem like a long time, but they're really not. I will remember every minute of my time at university and I'm so sad to leave. I now have to start to writing by myself with no deadlines and no briefs, and that scares me. I don't want to start an adult life where I work 9-5 and then come home too tired to write. I have so many stories in my head and I don't want them to stay there, I want to let them out. So I'm making a promise to myself here, that I shall write, always, and I will never forget my university years. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16289887054658794270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165079087855045316.post-40516898301592201202013-05-25T13:00:00.001+01:002013-05-25T13:00:19.430+01:00So, I didn't win...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well, after the months of waiting I got an email yesterday saying I didn't win the BBC Radio 4 Extra Opening Lines competition. I would be gutted, but my piece still made it to the top 65 out of 700, and only 3 could win. Now I get send that piece to other competitions and see if it does just as well.<br />
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If you want to check it out you can find it here:<a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/diary-of-lucy-van-helsing.html" target="_blank"> The Diary of Lucy Van Helsing.</a><br />
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I've entered half a dozen competitions lately and I am still waiting for the results of those, hopefully they'll be more positive. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16289887054658794270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165079087855045316.post-31170405120598926032013-05-12T15:42:00.000+01:002013-05-12T15:42:12.413+01:00The Call of the Owl<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This is my first fantasy creative piece for the module Sci-Fi and Fantasy. It was hard to write at first but once I got into it I really enjoyed it. part of me wishes I had done a fantasy piece for my ECP now. </div>
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I got the grade back for this the other day - 69% one mark of a First! I'll be honest I was annoyed because the marker's comments were useless, like 'I didn't know who the main character was', most likely its Pikku the person I keep mentioning. Then, there were only three typos that they picked up on and they said 'best have it read by other readers', three of my friends already had a check over it. I was so close, yet so far. </div>
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I still have hope for my second fantasy piece, which I will post after it's been marked. </div>
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<a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/fantasy-map-city-of-mahtava.html" target="_blank">Here is the map</a> that accompanies this piece. Enjoy! </div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The Call of
the Owl<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Based on the
stories of the Cherokee<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<td><br /></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Pikku looked across the city. It was such a
change from her home, the small village of Keko, nestled within the mighty
trees of the Elema forest. From the aviary tower of the castle, Pikku could see
the whole of Mahtava - from the start of the Maht River that snaked down the
cobble roads, all the way to the southern wall; an impenetrable barrier that stood
above the city, casting dark shadows on the slums. The fortress-like castle was
carved out of the very rock of the Varjo Mountains, offering the greatest
protection. Before Pikku had arrived at Mahtava she had heard rumours of secret
passages leading into the mountain’s depth, but she had yet to find any. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">She leant further out of the tower’s window
and watched the people as they decorated the main street with maroon banners
and bunting of the Mahtava crest. Traders were already setting up their stalls
and selling wooden carvings of bears with white heads and paws. The boundary
gates were opened and the common people spilled in to join the rich, who were
already gathering by the castle gates along the river. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Prince Musta, son of King Vahva, was due back
from the Alku Hunt soon. Pikku turned from the window. In Keko she would hunt rabbits
and squirrels with her bow and arrow, as her family needed to eat. Here they
didn’t hunt out of necessity, but for sport. Outside the walls a massacre would
take place; flesh, bones, and blood despoiled the Jahti Planes. No spear, sword, or axe was spared. Nor was
any man. As soon as a boy reached one and five years he was given a horse and a
weapon, then sent to take part in Alku. When he returned, he was a man. No
woman was allowed on the hunt and for that Pikku was grateful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">There was a rush of air and a hawk-owl landed
on the perch by Pikku’s head. It rustled its wings indignantly, golden eyes
narrowed. Tied to its leg was a small
scroll. When Pikku reached for the note it nipped at her fingers. She swatted
at it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Do you want me to have this or not?’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It turned its dark feathered head, sharp beak
upturned, and let her take the note. As soon as she untied the parchment, the
owl flew away up the tower. A dirty white glob fell from above, spattering on
Pikku’s shoulder. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Hey!’ she called out, rubbing at the mess with
the sleeve of her tunic. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">A hoot sounded from the rafters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘No good bird,’ she muttered with a scowl. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Pikku knew what the note would say before she
even unfolded it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Prince Musta
is returning.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">With a slight nod Pikku tore the note into
tiny pieces and threw them out of the window where they were carried off into
the wind. She then pulled the horn from her belt and gave it a mighty blow. The
sound reverberated across the city. The traders hurriedly opened their stalls
and the people flooded the streets. Pikku watched from above as the crowd’s excitement
grew. Then, at the far end of city, the Southern Gates opened with a groan.
Horns blared loudly. The hunting party had arrived. Pikku hurried from her
tower to gather with the rest of the people at the castle gates.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The streets were already overflowing when
Pikku reached the gateway. She was too short to see much so she elbowed her way
through the gathering to the front. The chattering people cheered as the
hunting party rode into view. Horses thundered down the cobbled streets, their
flanks slick with sweat and blood. The men that rode upon them had swarthy skin
with bulging muscles under their leather tunics. Prince Musta led the riders, a
smug smile played across his lips. The banner of the white-headed bear flew
above him, whipped about by the autumn wind. Behind him, pulled by two horses, was
the body of a black bear, three arrows protruding from its blood-matted fur.
Pikku’s stomach lurched. The smell of birds was nothing compared to the stench
of rotting flesh. Once within the boundary walls, in the square, Prince Musta
leapt down from his horse. As he swaggered to the bear’s carcass he drew his
sword from the highly decorated scabbard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Pikku fell back into the mass and let herself
be jostled aside. There was a deathly silence. Then, a metallic twang as Prince
Musta’s sword sliced through fur, muscle, and bone before hitting the blood
stained cobbles. Cheers filled the air. Pikku fell to the ground as her legs
gave out beneath her. She heaved, but the little bread she had eaten that
morning refused to come back up. Gagging painfully, she pulled herself to her
feet and stumbled away from the square. Jeers and shouting came from the crowd
and Pikku couldn’t help but look back. The bear’s head swayed above the crowd
mounted on a spike. The shaft was smeared with congealed blood. Flies were
already feasting on the bear’s glassy eyes. The spike moved forward, carried by
Prince Musta to the middle of the square. He stuck the spike into the ground
and faced his people. The noise died down. He raised his arms above his head,
his hands and forearms splattered in the bear’s blood. He called out, his voice
deep and strong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Let the search for the Etsija begin.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">v<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The tower was stuffy and the smell of bird droppings
was overpowering yet Pikku avoided the window.
If she were to look out of it she would see the mouldering bear’s head.
The raw muscle of neck had shrivelled around the spike. The fur was scraggy and
falling out, leaving bald patches of greying skin. The eyes were completely
gone, as was half the nose. Its mouth hung open, dried blood blackened the once
ferocious teeth. The tongue was long gone. Pikku was unsure if the flies had
got it, or the slum dwellers had. Her
stomach convulsed at the thought. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The bear’s head would remain in front of the
castle for twenty-five days, when the Etsija, or best hunter, was found. If
Pikku thought the Alku Hunt was bad, that was only the beginning of the true
massacre. All the men that went on the Alku Hunt now had to prove they were the
Etsija, searching far and wide for the best kill. Some men had travelled across
the Jahti planes and brought back the carcasses of the most exotic beasts.
Pikku shook her head, it was all pointless. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Only Prince Musta could win. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The solitariness of the narrow aviary tower
was overwhelming Pikku. Without the window to look out; the tower was a very
dismal place. Pikku left the tower to get water from the well for the birds. At
least it’s something to do, she thought, hurrying down the winding stone
stairs. Cool wind caressed her face as she made her way into the open courtyard
of the castle grounds. As she winched the full pail up from the bottom of the
well she thought of the stories of the Etsija she had been told as a child.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘It was one and four suns after the Alku Hunt
and a man came back, but it wasn’t the Prince,’ her mamma had told her one
night by the fireplace. ‘It was a great warrior named Soturi. He dragged a huge
beast behind him, a Suuri wolf from the Hamara Lands. Only a few people had
seen one before, most thought they were only legends. The Suuri wolf was
presented to King Vahva and he praised Soturi highly. But when Prince Musta
came back three suns later he was not pleased. Some say the great warrior was
banished, others say the Prince killed him, but there are those who think the Prince
had him cursed, turned into a bird of the night, an owl; one of the greatest,
but least appreciated, hunters.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Oh, mamma,’ Pikku had argued, ‘an owl isn’t
the greatest hunter, a bear or a lynx is.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Her mamma gathered her up in a cuddle and
said, ‘You’ll see for yourself one day, little Pikku.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Pikku splashed her face with water. She hadn’t
believed her, but after working in the aviary and seeing the brutish prince,
she was starting to reconsider. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Once her pail was full she made her way back
to the tower, careful not to spill a drop. The tower was quiet as most of the
birds slept during the sunlit hours. She filled the troughs, cleaned the
floors, and laid out fresh seed, all the time avoiding the window. She was
wiping down the perches when she noticed a small, fluffy, white owl staring at
her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Oh, hello,’ she said and gave it a pat on
the head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Hoo,’ it replied, nipping at her fingers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">She moved to clean the next perch when the
little owl landed on it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Excuse me, I have to clean this.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Pikku picked up the owl and placed it on
another perch. It bristled its feathers, and flew straight back to her. That’s
when Pikku really looked at it. There was no copper band of Mahtava around its
right leg, and it was much too small to carry any parchment. What amazed Pikku
the most, were its eyes. They were the most startling blue she had ever seen.
No bird had had blue eyes before. They focused on her with an intensity she had
never seen in an animal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Where did you come from?’ she asked absently,
staring into its eyes as she rubbed its feathery head. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Whoo hoo.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘You’re not from here, are you?’ she wondered
out loud. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It shook its head. ‘Ooh hoo.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Pikku stopped stroking it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Did you just answer me?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Hoo.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘You can understand me?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It nodded its feathery head vigorously. ‘Hoo
hoo.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Pikku sat down on her wooden stool, and frowned.
The owl blinked at her before hoping from the perch to sit on her knee. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Hoo whoo. Hoo hoo. Ooh,’ it hooted quickly,
bouncing up and down on her knee. It wobbled as it lost its balance. Pikku
caught it before it toppled. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Sorry little owl,’ she said as she placed
him back on a perch. ‘But I can’t understand hoots. I think the sunlight has
confused you.’ She patted it on the head once more and resumed her cleaning
duties.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The owl stared after her, then flew higher up
the tower with a low, ‘whoo.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">v<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It was the ninth sunset of the champion’s
hunt, and no hunter had returned yet. Pikku was about to pour water into the
trough before she returned to her chamber for the night when she heard a
commotion at the top of the tower. She put down the pail and looked up into the
darkness. There were several angry screeches and caws, vicious pecks, then a
feeble hoot. From the top of the tower fell a white bundle. Pikku let out a
gasp as she realised it was the blue-eyed owl. She put her arms up and caught
the feathery lump. Its eyes were closed, but its chest still rose and fell, and
Pikku could feel its fluttery heartbeat beneath her fingers. She placed it
carefully on the stool. It didn’t move. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The sky was darkening quickly; Pikku grabbed
a nearly melted candle and placed it close to the owl. Grabbing the pail, she
dipped her hand in the cool water and tried to get the owl to drink. Its eyelids
flickered. Holding her breath, Pikku quickly pulled her hand away. Its beak
opened and closed. Its wings twitched. The sun finally dropped behind the city
wall. A sudden whoosh of cold air blew around the tower. The candle went out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">In the darkness, Pikku heard shuffling and
scratching. Pained hoots turned to agonised groans. There was a crash as the
stool splintered, knocking over a crate of seed. She fumbled on the ground and
finally found the candle again. Hastily, she lit the wick with a flint. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Pikku squeaked. Where the little white owl
had once been was now a naked man. He lay on the ground, his muscular arm flung
over his face. His massive body filled the little floor of the aviary tower,
his giant legs tucked up against his broad chest. Scars riddled his body, from
his fingertips to his – Pikku pulled off her outer-shirt and threw it over him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> Pikku
hovered around him uncertainly. The birds in the tower were now awake, not
bothered by the mysterious man, as they flew from the window to hunt. After a
few deep breaths, Pikku nudged the man with her foot. He didn’t move. She
nudged him harder. Biting her lip, she stretched over his body and picked up
the metal rod used to open the higher windows of the tower. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">She held it above her head and said, ‘Hey,
man. Get up.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">She gave him an experimental prod with the
rod. When the man still didn’t move Pikku picked up the pail of water and
emptied it over his head. Jerking, the man let out a moan. She let the pail
drop with a clatter and grabbed the rod. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘I have a weapon,’ she stuttered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The man ignored her as he sat up and rubbed
his face. Pikku’s arms started to ache and the rod drooped. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘You can put that down,’ he finally said. His
voice was deep and rough. ‘It wouldn’t help you anyway.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Pikku held the rod higher in defiance. The
man raised a thick eyebrow at her, his blue eyes glittering. She leant the rod
against the wall and crossed her arms to hide her shaking hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Who are you?’ she demanded, but her voice
still wavered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The man looked around, then down at the shirt
that barely covered him. He smiled as he stood up, the shirt falling to the
floor. Pikku’s eyes widened. Cheeks burning, she looked down at the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘I am the warrior Soturi,’ the man exclaimed,
‘and I am here to claim back my honour and kill Prince Musta.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16289887054658794270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165079087855045316.post-15930288002856673652013-05-07T20:11:00.001+01:002013-05-07T20:11:40.194+01:00Logged On <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
Here is the creative piece I wrote for my first Creative Visions assignment, How We Live Now. It is a short story about how as a society we spend most of our time online.<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjveFftyb8q6qN0mp32QvIPOB3TvHJB7Uyl3cdIOS-EiybO2Y0i9jbq_oo9y9FcQFDkSG7Gy3JWpNriNDqLDtFKF254IxxNrpNYOEjD7ZeGP3WxNM7CRujZyohf3Yt9dyB4F7WYeD-Z0pk/s1600/hero-OnlineGaming2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjveFftyb8q6qN0mp32QvIPOB3TvHJB7Uyl3cdIOS-EiybO2Y0i9jbq_oo9y9FcQFDkSG7Gy3JWpNriNDqLDtFKF254IxxNrpNYOEjD7ZeGP3WxNM7CRujZyohf3Yt9dyB4F7WYeD-Z0pk/s640/hero-OnlineGaming2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">How We Live Now:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Logged On<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">VANNIXED IS ONLINE. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">LAST LOGIN 9 HOURS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">GAMER22 IS ONLINE. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">LAST LOGIN 7 HOURS <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Hey. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Hey. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Wanna shoot some zombies? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Always. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> I downloaded a new map <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> The abandoned town? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Yeah. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Awesome let's play that one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">DEATHSVILLE SELECTED <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Player1 Vannixed <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Player 2 Gamer22 <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">LEVEL LOADING... <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">LEVEL LOADING... <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">LEVEL LOADED. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> You ready? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> I'm so ready. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">LEVEL 1 START <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Let's barricade that house.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Which? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Second on the right, blue door and the dead body in the
window. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Oh yeah, gotcha. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Hurry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Watch that door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> On it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> I'll take the windows.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Okay, here they come. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">VANNIXED SELECTED
MACHINE-GUN <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Ready. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">GAMER22 SELECTED
SNIPER-RIFLE <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Let's do this. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> They're coming fast. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> I know. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Watch left.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> I know. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> There's a runner coming. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Got it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Headshot! Nice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Thanks. They're coming, get ready. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Nothing's getting past me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Cocky bastard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Jealous? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Just concentrate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> One, two, three, four, five, what a kill streak! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> It’s not so special. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Says you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Concentrate! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> What? Oh shit. Revive me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22: </span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Yeah, yeah, I'm coming. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">REVIVE 100% <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Thanks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Now kill zombies and not yourself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Yeah, yeah, expert.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-large;">* </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">LEVEL 37 START <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> This is the furthest we've ever got before. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Yeah, new record. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Don’t fuck it up now then. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Hey I have 247 kills.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Compared to my 263. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> You got lucky with that grenade. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Now who's jealous? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Shut up and shoot zombies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> I’m trying, there's too many. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Hold on, I'm coming .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Aaaah I’m down! Revive! Revive! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Oh shit! I’m out of ammo <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> …And I’m dead. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">PLAYER 2 KILLED <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> They've got me too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">PLAYER 1 KILLED <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">GAMEOVER <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Aw man.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> That sucks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> At least we got a new record. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Something to beat tomorrow. Oh shit it’s late, I gotta
get some sleep. My boss’ll kill me if I’m late again! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Later. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Bye. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">VANNIXED IS OFFLINE <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">GAMER22 IS OFFLINE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-size: 26.666667938232422px; line-height: 53.333335876464844px;">*</span></span><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"> </span></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Ben struggled to wake
up in the morning. His alarm only just made it through his sleep-addled mind.
He rolled out of bed, sleep still heavy on his eyes. Rubbing his weary face he
glanced at his clock: 8.45. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">‘Shit!’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">He jumped to his feet.
Sniffing at his armpits he decided he could go another day without showering
and pulled on the first pair of trousers he could find. His shirt was buttoned
up wrong as he sped from his flat. His boss was definitely going to kill him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-size: 26.666667938232422px; line-height: 53.333335876464844px;">*</span></span><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"> </span></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">‘Late again, Mr Evans,
why am I not surprised?’ his boss, Mr Hardacher, said looking at his watch when
he caught Ben hurrying to his desk. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">‘My alarm didn’t go
off,’ Ben mumbled to his shoes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Mr Hardacher rolled
his eyes. ‘I’m sure.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Ben switched on his
computer, pointedly ignoring him. He stood over him for a moment, arms folded,
lips tight. Ben stared at the screen, clicking on random icons and opening
files. Finally, Mr Hardacher sighed and left. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">'Don’t let it happen
again,' he said over his shoulder, and slammed his office door. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Ben let out a breath. Wiping
his sweaty palms on his trousers, he started tapping away at his keyboard. He
couldn't believe his luck; he'd got away with only a minor scolding. Or so he
thought.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Just before lunch, Mr
Hardacher dropped a tie on Ben's desk. Green, orange, and red squares
interlinked to form the most garish pattern Ben had ever seen. He looked up at his
boss. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">‘Can I help, Mr
Hardacher?’ Ben asked in his most polite tone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Mr Hardacher sneered
down his nose at him. ‘It may surprise you to know that we do in fact have a
dress code, and sweat-stained shirts aren't part of it.’ Ben resisted the urge
to check his armpits again. ‘At least a tie will be some improvement. Now, put
it on.' A sadistic grin spread across his face. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">With a grimace Ben
picked up the tie. He looped it around his neck as the rest of the office
pretended not to watch. Mr Hardacher stood over him, his bald head gleaming in
the fluorescent light. Ben didn't know where he’d found the tie but it smelt of
vomit and mothballs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Once it was tied Mr
Hardacher let out dry laugh. 'Now you look like a proper grown up.' <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Ben clenched his jaw.
'Thank you, Mr Hardacher.' <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">'Oh, but your buttons
are done up wrong,' he added. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">This time Ben did
check, cheeks burning with shame, but mostly with anger. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">At lunchtime he logged
on via ZOMBIEKILL.COM. It was one of the few sites that hadn’t been blocked by
the company. He’d have to wait until he was at home to check Twitter, Tumblr,
and YouTube.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">VANNIXED
IS ONLINE. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">LAST
LOGIN 10 HOURS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Fired yet? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> No, luckily. Just humiliated.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Oh? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Long story, my boss
is being an asshole and made me wear a bloody awful tie. <b>Gamer22:</b> He sounds like a right dick. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Yeah he is, kinda
looks like one too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> lmao<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">'Mr Evans what are you
doing?' Mr Hardacher stood behind him, his voice cold. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Ben jumped. 'It’s
lunch break, Mr Hardacher.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">'Lunch break ended
five minutes ago.' <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Ben checked the clock
on the wall. There were still twenty minutes left. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">'Yes, sorry,' Ben said
as the screen flashed, Gamer22 had sent him another message. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Ben tried to close the
internet tab but wasn't quick enough. He watched with horror as Mr Hardacher’s
eyes flickered over his conversation. As he read, his hand crept unconsciously
to rub his shiny, hairless head. His face turned red, then purple. A thick vein
throbbed down the middle of his forehead. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">'Mr Hardacher…' Ben
started. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Mr Hardacher turned on
him so fast Ben thought he was going to punch him. A hush fell across the room.
The rest of the office was watching slyly over their computers monitors. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">'Get out,' he breathed,
so quietly Ben almost didn’t hear him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">'Mr Hardacher I can
explain-'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">‘Get out!' he
screamed, spittle flying from his lips.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Ben leapt from his chair, jabbed the computer’s
power button, and ran from the office. Everyone was gazing intently at their
computers, fingers tapping away at keyboards, smirks on their faces.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> *</span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Ben spent the rest of
the afternoon wandering the shops. He browsed through the DVDs and games at HMV
before deciding they'd be cheaper on Amazon, then drifted back home just before
five. Walking through the lobby he noticed his post-box was stuffed; he hadn’t
checked it for a couple of days. He unlocked the box and pulled out its contents.
Bill, bill, another bill. He thumbed through the rest quickly. All brown
envelopes, except an Indian menu.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">He'd just thought about
ordering a number 37: Tikka Masala for dinner when a woman entered the lobby. He had only seen her once or twice before but recognised
her long blonde ponytail. The first time he had seen her she had reminded him
of <i>Metroid</i>’s Samus Aran in her Zero
Suit, and that was a hard image to forget. She went to her own post-box and
pulled out a bundle of letters. Ben tried to catch a glimpse of her name; it
was something like Anna, maybe Hannah. He read Miss Beatrix Hayden across a
letter. Or maybe not. Looking up, he caught her staring at him. He knew she was
taking in his rumpled shirt and hideous tie he’d forgotten to take off. Awkward
silence hung in the air. Ben fiddled with the letters in his hands. He finally
decided to say something.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">'Alright?' Having not
spoken in a while his voice came out in a rough croak. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">She blushed and smiled
gingerly. ‘Hello.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">After another silence
Ben left the lobby quickly, head bowed. That was why he didn’t like talking to
new people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; text-align: center; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">VANNIXED
IS ONLINE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">LAST
LOGIN 5 HOURS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Hey, what happened
earlier, you went offline?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> My boss caught me. He
read everything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> …shit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Yeah.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Sorry man, you fired?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Dunno, figure I’ll
just go back on Monday and see what happens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Good plan. Wanna kill
some zombies?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> ‘Course, I’ll pretend
they’re my boss.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Awesome.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-size: 26.666667938232422px; line-height: 53.333335876464844px;">*</span></span><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"> </span></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Ben sat in his
darkened living room playing ZOMBIE KILL day and night. His playing time was at
an all-time high of 389 hours, 42 minutes and counting. He ordered too many
takeaways and barely slept. By Saturday he’d forgot all about his job, Mr
Hardacher, and the outside world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">LEVEL
89 START<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> And we thought level
37 was good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> This must be some
sort of record.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> That’d be awesome.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Oh wait, I read about
this kid on the internet that was too ill to go outside so he got really good
at computer games. I bet he’s got the record.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Stupid kids. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Yeah, I know. Watch
your left, zed coming. Hey, watch it. Hello you’re getting mauled! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">PLAYER
2 KILLED<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Help now they’re
after me! Hey help! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">PLAYER
1 KILLED<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">GAMEOVER</span></u></b><b><u><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> You still there?
Hello?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Sorry, got
distracted. My neighbours are having a party and their music is so loud.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Inconsiderate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Tell me about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> While we’re on a
break, I’m gonna get a drink.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Ben shuffled over to
the kitchen and grabbed a can of cola from the fridge. He pulled the tab and
downed it in one. Chucking the can in the bin he let out a loud belch. Away
from the volume of the computer, Ben could hear the thumping bass of music. He
listened for a moment and recognised the popularised beats of the music craze
Gangnam Style.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> My neighbours are
having a party too. Listening to the overused tune of Gangnam Style. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Weird. So are mine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> The same song? Coincidence? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> It is popular.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> We should tell them
to keep it down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Yeah right, I’m
trying to kill zombies here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> I’m seriously gonna
do it, I hate Gangnam style.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:
</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Good for
you! I’ll do it too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Ben hadn’t said
anything, but he’d had the thought that they could be living in the same
building. But, what were the chances that Gamer22 lived in the same city, let
alone the same building? None-the-less, his heart was still racing at the
prospect of meeting Gamer22; he’d finally have a likeminded person to chat to,
and they could even watch downloaded films, order takeaway, and laugh at funny cat
videos on the internet. As he climbed the stairs his stomach was churning; he
shouldn’t have had that last cola. The music was much louder on the third floor
and the door of flat 3a was decorated with balloons. Ben reached the door when
someone else walked down the corridor; a man with messy brown hair and stubble.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> ‘Gamer22?’ Ben blurted out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">The messy-haired man
stopped and looked at him, his eyebrows furrowed. That’s when Ben saw the
Bluetooth headset plugged into his ear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> ‘Oh nothing,’ said the man,
‘just some weirdo talking gibberish at me. So, are you coming to the party or
what?’ The man knocked twice on 3a’s door and was let in. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Ben waited for five
minutes then left, feeling like a coward for not telling the partygoers to
quieten down, and like a fool for ever believing Gamer22 could live so close.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Vannixed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> I didn’t see you
there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Gamer22:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Sorry, couldn’t find
my keys so haven’t left yet. Found them now, try again?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Ben made his way up
the stairs a second time, feeling sicker than ever. The music was still blaring
but the corridor was empty. He knew it was stupid. He turned to leave when a
voice called out behind him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> ‘Vannixed?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">Ben whipped around.
Standing in the middle of the corridor was the blonde Samus Aran look-a-like
from the lobby. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> ‘<i>You’re</i> Gamer22?’ Ben asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Beatrix blushed. ‘Weren’t
expecting a girl, then?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> ‘Honestly, no.’ Ben’s mouth was
dry and his head felt empty. He shoved his shaking hands into the pockets of his
jogging bottoms. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> ‘I guessed it might be you,’ she
said with a small smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> ‘How?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> ‘When I saw you in the lobby
wearing that tie, I thought surely there couldn’t be two ties that hideous in
existence?’ she laughed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> Ben couldn’t help it; he let out
a laugh and felt instantly relieved. He was glad he hadn’t taken the tie off
straight away after all. She didn’t seem to care that he was wearing jogging
bottoms and an unwashed t-shirt. In fact, she was wearing an oversized hoody, with
a cola spill down the front, and leggings. Slowly, he pulled his hand out of
his pocket and held it out to her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> ‘I’m Ben.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> ‘Beatrix,’ she said and shook
his hand. She held onto it even after the handshake ended. ‘Do you want to come
back to mine and kill some zombies?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> ‘You sure?’ Ben asked, his heart
thumping in his chest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> ‘Yeah, I really want to kick
your ass in person.’ She squeezed his hand before letting go. ‘Then, maybe in
the morning we could grab some coffee, I know a great place.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> ‘That sounds great.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;"> ‘Awesome.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 217;">LAST
LOGIN 364 DAYS. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16289887054658794270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165079087855045316.post-52426954045986852332013-05-02T16:18:00.002+01:002013-10-07T13:24:56.224+01:00House Sigils - Game of Thrones Style<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've been terrible at keeping on track with this, a whole month since I've last posted something. Terrible! In that time however I have read nearly all the books in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Song_of_Ice_and_Fire" target="_blank"><i>A Song of Ice and Fire</i> </a>series, more commonly known as <i>The Game of Thrones. </i>I've only got a <i>Dance with Dragons</i> left.<i> </i>It has been good inspiration for my Sci-Fi and Fantasy module creative piece, which I am currently writing. It's also my last assignment! So sad.<br />
This Fantasy piece is a spin off of my Fiction for Children piece, <i><a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/royalteen.html" target="_blank">Royalteen</a></i>. It's darker and more adult though. But as I was writing it I looked at the <a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/maps.html" target="_blank">maps I had drawn</a> to go with <i>Royalteen</i>, and then I thought about their crests. Long story short I used the website <a href="http://www.jointherealm.com/" target="_blank">Join the Realm</a> to create some awesome coat of arms of the kingdoms of Kardenia in the <i>Game of Thrones</i> style. The last one isn't really a house but more of a tribe, which is where my creative piece is set.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16289887054658794270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165079087855045316.post-82814777936598839742013-04-02T20:49:00.000+01:002013-04-02T20:49:20.433+01:00Writing with Friends <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is my final week of lectures at the University of Winchester. I don't know where the time has gone. I can still remember my enrolment, my first lectures, and my first (very poor) assignment like they were yesterday.<br />
<br />
I hated university at the start and was a nervous wreck when it came to attending lectures; I freaked out about deadlines and the amounts of work we had to do almost instantly; and don't even get me started on workshopping! Yet, now I'm going to miss it all. My lectures are so short, and I only have 3-4 a week that it was hardly worth getting so worked up about them. The assignments were relatively easy and creative, and I never did badly in them (well, mostly). And workshopping is a great invention; ideal for the novice writer and nobody was ever mean about my work.<br />
<br />
But the main thing I will always remember from University are the friends I have made. I am not the most social person and I find making friends terribly hard, I'm just so shy! Yet I know these friends will last forever. Kat, Megan and Lauren have helped me a lot during the last three years; they've kept me positive when I have felt extremely negative, they've encouraged me when I needed it, and they've read nearly all my work and helped to edit it, giving me great advice and tips. My writing wouldn't be the same without them.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr3U1z4mWPIYiGE7cuezPFd51kTHmRn_2l9aS2kNDA7MEcsma0T9DcAPXcAxVyixWUPa2SoeMRbkrWQF6g9U9yKFOoT2XBNZ6O9CBABUVlLBSEjzRTpnnRk6FqlLe5LAHKlL88i5cyOss/s1600/Writer+Friends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr3U1z4mWPIYiGE7cuezPFd51kTHmRn_2l9aS2kNDA7MEcsma0T9DcAPXcAxVyixWUPa2SoeMRbkrWQF6g9U9yKFOoT2XBNZ6O9CBABUVlLBSEjzRTpnnRk6FqlLe5LAHKlL88i5cyOss/s640/Writer+Friends.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kat, Me, Megan (on her wedding day) and Lauren</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Kat is an amazing editor. She picks up on the tiniest of mistakes that I would never even notice. She has a great writing approach and I'm jealous of her literary style, I could never write anything as imaginative or unique as her. Whether she does go on to write professionally, or become an editor, she will be one of the best!<br />
<br />
Megan has always been there and is so caring; she always asks if I'm okay and is so positive about my work. Her writing really reflects her personality as it is filled with human emotions and real-life situations. People may look down on chick-lit but with the way she writes it I know she can write a best-seller.<br />
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Lauren and I have so much in common, including writing young adult fiction and fantasy (we've also been in all the same modules, except one or two). I admire her ability to mix commercial and literary styles effortlessly and with great success. She may be quiet but her writing expresses so much. I know she isn't planning on being a writer, but she certainly has what it takes.<br />
<br />
I'm really sad to be leaving them after three fantastic years. We will all be going our separate ways after University, and I live furthest away in Devon, but we are going to stay in touch, sending out work to each other and possibly starting a blog; we can't decide on a name though! The best bit about our little group is that we will be honest about each other's writing, and won't just say it's lovely, we really get down to the nitty gritty, and that's what friends are for!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16289887054658794270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165079087855045316.post-47769349515805293982013-03-31T21:53:00.000+01:002013-03-31T21:55:21.784+01:00Short Fiction's 7th Annual Short Story Competition<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I just entered yet another short story competition: <a href="http://www.shortfictionjournal.co.uk/?page_id=33" target="_blank">Short Fiction's 7th Annual Short Story Competition</a>. It was a bargain as it was only a tenner for both stories and I get a free magazine.<br />
<br />
This time I submitted two stories, both from second year. They did require a bit of editing; this is why it's handy submitting stories that have already been marked by lecturers, because you have an idea of how good they are already, and they point out what didn't work for them. The two stories were <i>Surrealhabilitation </i>and <i>Mark Desade's Misfortune of Curiosity. </i><br />
<br />
The first prize is £500 and publication, and second is £100. The shortlist will be announced in July, so it is a bit of a wait. The winner and runner-up are announced in August.<br />
<br />
Sadly, the competition closes at midnight tonight, so you better get on it if you want to enter too!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16289887054658794270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165079087855045316.post-28191722112006554182013-03-28T22:59:00.001+00:002013-10-07T13:26:57.895+01:00Fantasy Map - City of Mahtava <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Another fantasy map, and a bit of a teaser, for something I will be posting after Easter.<br />
This is the city of Mahtava, where my fantasy story<a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/the-call-of-owl.html" target="_blank"> </a><i><a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/the-call-of-owl.html" target="_blank">Call of the Owl</a> </i>takes place.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16289887054658794270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165079087855045316.post-75543852820874986482013-03-26T13:55:00.001+00:002013-03-26T13:55:24.552+00:00Portfolio of my Favourite Works<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yesterday, in one of my final ever lectures at the university of Winchester, we were given a folder and a congratulatory certificate. This folder is intended to be a portfolio of all our work over the three years. I didn't put all my work in it, only my creative pieces, and only the ones I was proud of. It got me thinking about my work, and about which pieces are my favourite. So I thought I'd list what I think is my best work here.<br />
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<b><a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/diary-of-lucy-van-helsing.html" target="_blank">1. The Diary of Lucy Van Helsing</a></b><br />
I wrote this piece in one night and it was an instant success in workshops. When marked it received 72% making it my first First. It was after writing this piece that I realised that I loved intervening with texts, and writing for young adults. Recently, it has been longlisted for BBC Radio 4 Extra's Opening Lines competition, making it the most successful piece of writing I have ever done.<br />
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<b><a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/royalteen.html" target="_blank">2. Royalteen</a></b><br />
This was the creative piece for Fiction for Children. While it did not get a First (which I think all my work deserves) it still received a good grade. It was fun to write and I enjoyed inventing a fantasy world and drawing the maps. I also did quite a few Character Profiles too. It was only the first chapter but I have planned out the whole story, so I could finish writing it.<br />
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<b>3. Sketches</b><br />
These are four shorter pieces, <a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/sketch-armani-assassin.html" target="_blank">The Armani Assassin</a>, <a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/sketch-house-at-end-of-road.html" target="_blank">The House at the End of the Road</a>, <a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/sketch-agricolaphobia.html" target="_blank">Agricolaphobia</a>, and <a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/sketch-your-housemate-hitler.html" target="_blank">Your Housemate Hitler</a>. The first two were my favourite, and my lecturer really enjoyed <i>The House at the End of the Road</i>, which I recently sent off for Mslexia's short story competition. It was nice to write some shorter short stories, exploring different aspects of writing, like imagery and character. They're also the perfect length to enter competitions.<br />
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<b><a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/margaret-jones-and-weedy-dealer.html" target="_blank">4. Margaret Jones and the Weedy Dealer</a></b><br />
Margaret Jones has been rattling around in my imagination for years now. I know everything about her, and have planned out her whole life - past, present, and future. She's an eccentric botanist who wants to prove herself to the uptight prigs at the horticulture society. I have written many other little stories about her, <a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/margaret-jones-childhood-adventure.html" target="_blank">Margaret Jones's Childhood Adventure</a>, and <a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/margaret-jones-rival.html" target="_blank">Margaret Jones's Rival</a>. I was so happy to finally write the first chapter of this piece, and one of my lecturers said she could see it working in the market place. Yet, when it was marked the comment was 'have Margaret stay at home, and her son Andrew as the protagonist - doing his mother's bidding'. It was at this point that I lost a little faith in my course, and in my lecturer.<br />
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<b><a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/bloody-chamber-intervention.html" target="_blank">5. Mark Desade's Misfortune of Curiosity</a></b><br />
This piece was for Textual Intervention II, based on the fairytale of <i>Bluebeard </i>and Angela Carter's <i>The Bloody Chamber. </i>It is another YAF with a horror twist. I enjoyed writing it and worked hard over the ending, which my lecturer commented 'OMG...I didn't see that coming!' so it was totally worth it. Have a read and see if you can guess the ending.<br />
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<b><a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/surrealhabilitation-parody.html" target="_blank">6. Surrealhabilitation</a></b><br />
This was a parody based on Leonora Carrington's surrealist work. My lecturer loved it and I would have gotten an even better mark if I had known how to write speech properly. I know now and my mistakes seem foolish. It was actually quite fun to be surreal, and this is a piece I want to send of to a competition, as I think it could do well.<br />
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<b><a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/toil-and-trouble.html" target="_blank">7. Toil and Trouble</a></b><br />
This was my first attempt at writing Historical Fiction and boy, was it difficult. I chose a period of time that I knew nothing about and would take a long time to research, time I didn't have. It was set in 1612 in Lancaster, England and was about witches. I wrote this at a time when I was questioning my writing ability. Every word felt like a struggle. I also knew my lecturer was extremely fussy, which made me doubt everything I wrote as I knew she would pick up on it. Luckily, she did enjoy it and I regained some of my writing confidence. In the end, I did actually enjoy writing it, once I got into the flow.<br />
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<b><a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/obsession.html" target="_blank">8. Obsession</a></b><br />
This was my first ever piece of creative writing at university. I remember feeling so chuffed by it. I haven't read it since and I really don't want to, I know it will be cringing, and probably awful. It was heavily based on <i>The Tell-Tale Heart, </i>something that has stuck by me throughout the whole of university. I can't really remember, but I think it took me ages to write, 1,500 words was so much back then. Now, I can barely contain a story - 8,000 words is just too short!<br />
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<b><a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/delirium.html" target="_blank">9. Delirium</a></b><br />
This short story was similar to <i>Obsession</i>, I was clearly in a dark, depressive stage of writing. I enjoyed writing this piece, and I did a bit of research for it as well, and felt so clever. However,<br />
looking back, there are so many mistakes on the first page. I barely proofread any of my work in the first year, and if I did I could have received much better marks. The magic of hindsight, I suppose. At least I can say my writing has definitely improved!<br />
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Obviously my favourite piece of work I have done so far at university is my Extended Creative Project, or dissertation. I put so much time and effort in to it and reworked and edited it so many times. If it gets anything under a 2:1 I shall be shocked (I really want to get a First though! Fingers crossed). Once I get it marked and returned I shall post it on here. I have already posted a few drafts and a synopsis, so check them out.<br />
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It is sad to think I only have two more assignments to do and then it's all over. I will have to enter the real world, where I have to have a crummy day job to support my writing. There will be no deadlines or briefs, and that's a scary thought. Over the summer I will be entering so many competitions. This morning I submitted a short story to <a href="http://www.starburstmagazine.com/join/4786-recruitment-drive-original-fiction" target="_blank">Starburst Magazine</a>, it had no guidelines so I was at a bit of a loss for what to do, and if I needed a cover letter. But hopefully it will be okay and it will get published...maybe? <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16289887054658794270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165079087855045316.post-18335013512052639452013-03-16T15:06:00.000+00:002013-05-25T13:00:52.636+01:00Longlisted for BBC Radio 4 Opening Lines<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Only <a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/mslexias-short-story-competition.html" target="_blank">yesterday</a> did I mention that I didn't think I was going to get anywhere with the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007tmq5" target="_blank">BBC Radio 4 writing competition, Opening Lines</a>. Then, a couple of hours later I got this email:<br />
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<i>Thank you for sending your story to us which we enjoyed reading very much. </i><br />
<i><br />We’re getting in touch now to let you know that your story is one of 65 which have made it through to the Opening Lines longlist. We received 760 stories in total.<br /><br />We’d like to keep hold of your submission for another six weeks in order to give it a second read. We’ll then be in a position to draw up a shortlist of stories from which three will be selected for broadcast.<br /><br />We’ll contact you again towards the end of April with further news.</i><br />
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OH MY GOSH! I was so excited. I still am!</div>
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I was complaining the other day how I never win anything. I said to my boyfriend in a depressed tone, 'This is my life now, entering competitions...' I added a new page to my blog, <a href="http://imaginingsofacreativewriter.blogspot.co.uk/p/achievements.html" target="_blank">Achievements</a>, and thought 'I have no good writing ones.' </div>
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And ta-da! That's all changed!</div>
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But now I'm nervous for April! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16289887054658794270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165079087855045316.post-43043675015493360902013-03-15T12:36:00.001+00:002013-03-15T12:36:42.611+00:00Mslexia's Short Story Competition<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Another writing competition entered, so that makes three!<br />
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I just entered <a href="http://mslexia.co.uk/whatson/msbusiness/scomp_active.phphttp://mslexia.co.uk/whatson/msbusiness/scomp_active.php" target="_blank">Mslexia's Short Story Competition</a> with a story I wrote in Creative Voice II last year, called <i>The House at the End of the Road</i>. It's really short, at only 305 words, but I feel it was quite haunting, and my lecturer liked it. I am planning on entering a lot more competitions what with University coming to an end soon. So sad!<br />
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I should be getting results back for the BBC radio 4 competition I entered before Christmas, I don't think I'll win that one, though. Oh well, chin up! I have loads of potential competition winners on this blog, so I better get sending them off! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16289887054658794270noreply@blogger.com0