Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Frooty-Smacks - 3WW

I clicked on the news and was just about to dig into my bowl of Frooty-Smacks when my sister, Jessica, plopped herself down on the couch next to me. I eyed her for a moment. Normally, when she sees me eating cereal for dinner, she’d start lecturing me on the importance of eating a balanced meal. I glanced at her plate of grilled salmon, sautéed spinach and steamed rice.

I met her smug eyes.
“No sermon on my choice of cuisine?”
She laughed and reached for the remote that was on the couch between us.
“Not tonight, brother mine.” She clicked the button until she came to the channel she was looking for. “I’ve got more important things to worry about.”
Recognizing the opening music I blinked and tried not to gag around the milky cereal in my mouth.
“Not Mr. Eligible again? Are you serious?”

Her nose went up in the air.
“And what is wrong with Mr. Eligible?” She ate a bite of salmon. “The guy’s rich and really hot.”
“Oh, please.” I rolled my eyes. “He has to be rich and hot. That’s the only way he can get on the show. How can you watch this tripe?”
“It’s not tripe.” She turned up the volume, watching me out of the corner of her eyes. “It’s supposed to be a really good episode tonight. Everyone is taping it.”
“What for?” I asked. “So you and your friends can talk about it on Whotube?”
“Yep and on PlaceBook.” She leaned back, tossing the remote on the coffee table.

I glanced at the group of bikini-clad girls splashing about in the pool. I snorted but yeah, okay, the girls were kind of hot, I'll give it that. Then the camera pans to an overly-buffed arrogant-looking guy stretched out on an inflatable lounger in the pool. A couple of the girls were on smaller floaties, trying to outdo each other for his attention.

I looked back at my sister, shaking my head.
“You do know it’s scripted, right?”
“So?”
“So?” I repeated, sweeping my hand towards the screen. “They never stay together. They always break up a month later. It’s stupid.”

Jessica hit me in the arm.
“Okay, the girls can be pretty stupid but its still a good show. I like all the drama.”
I stuffed my mouth, snorting again. Knowing that she hates when I talk with my mouth full, I spoke anyway.
“How can you maintain a straight face saying that? Don’t you have any dignity?”
She hit my arm again.
“You should talk and stop being a pig."
I opened my mouth wide so she could see the chewed up food.
She rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"And besides, I have plenty of dignity.” My sister said this calmly but I can tell she was trying not to laugh. “It’s not my fault that some women chose to omit this trait in themselves for a chance to be on national television.”
She nodded towards the screen.

I looked over and almost swallowed my tongue, Frooty-Smacks and all.
The cameraman had zoomed in on the brunette that stood at the edge of the pool. My girlfriend slowly unhooked her bikini top, and with that flirtatious smile of hers, tossed the skimpy fabric aside. With her newly enhanced breasts blurred out, she made a graceful dive into the blue water…

© copyright 2011 by Ren Thompson June 22, 2011

Friday, June 17, 2011

Humbled - Another Blogger Award


Sheilagh from Fear Not the Darkness sent me this award and I am so honoured by her kind gesture.  If you haven't read her work, then I suggest you do. Thank you so very much, Sheilagh.

The instructions are as follows:
1. Select 10 bloggers and notify them of the award.
2. Reveal 10 random things about yourself. 

The following are a collection of bad a$$es. Their work is simply brilliant. Stop by and visit them, you won't be sorry:

1. Jesse - JESSENovels@jessenovels
8. LieffyV - Notae
9. Tony - Landless & @TonyNoland
10. Wurdz - WURDZp03tRy & @wurdzpoet

*special mention*
Judith (you can kill me later)

Ten Random Facts about me:

1. I hate Brussel Sprouts. They're super gross
2. I wanted to be a Mob Lawyer
3. Pralines and Cream on a Waffle cone is my favorite, gimme gimme gimme
4. I like Kevin Costner and Keanu Reeves (I think I'm the only one :))
5. It took me 3 days to drive from Las Vegas to Toronto.
6. Lake water scares me. I'll never go in it, willingly... *shudders*
7. I like watching Man vs. Food. I'm a proud Carnivore :)
8. I love Canadian Summers. They're short but lovely.
9. I find commercials a lot funnier than I do most programs.
10. My first crush was Ernie from Sesame Street :)

Thursday, June 16, 2011

The Romance Confession

 
It's my turn. 
I took a deep breath, exhaled and then got up from my seat. 
I cleared my throat, kept my eyes on the far wall and said in a loud voice. 
"Hi, I'm Ren Thompson and I have a problem writing romance."
The rest of my imaginary group greets me in the same, monotonous tone.
"Hi Ren."
I nod and sit back down.

There, I said it. 
I love to read historical, sci/fi, contemporary, any kind of romance but for me to write it? I'm having a bit of trouble. I don't know what it is but I'm having the hardest time trying to put the internal motion picture that I'm seeing down on paper. You know what I mean. When writing, you have the whole thing playing out in your mind, right down to who is starring in it. I just can't get it out there the way I want to. And don't even get me started about erotica. That's like trying to compete in a triathlon a few minutes after pigging out at a buffet. It ain't happening.


Fabio had it going on back in the day...

I belong to a writers group, where about 80% of them are published. 
The main theme is romance and erotica. I do admit to being a bit intimidated because of it. I mean, the stuff they write is hot enough to singe off your eyebrows but I know its because of the talent that has been nurtured there. I post my feeble offerings and get my feedback. A couple of times I've had to lick my wounds, other times I go back to the drawing board and start again. I know its done with the thought and care that I develop as a writer.

One of my writer friends told me that I tend to freeze up when it comes to the romantic interaction between the characters. I thought I was writing a great build-up to "It" but nope. It didn't flow true. At first, I was a little upset but I had to step back and take a good long look at the way I write. 
And she's quite correct in her assessment.

Romance and I are having issues.

I like dark fiction. I like the horror, the twist, the sinister vibe, the intensity, the whole "OMG" aspect of it. The thought of creating that kind of reaction is almost like a thrill for me. I haven't quite figured out how to go deeper without coming across like a psychopath but I know its there...lurking just beneath the surface.

 

I would rather describe the crunch of bones snapping than the plump fullness of a trembling breast. The taint of sour desperation is more appealing to write than the warm, spicy scent of manly flesh. Ripping off a bodice reads better coming from someone else other than me. I realize this now and in a way that sucks. Its something that I have to work on. 

My mother told me, more than once, that I have a warped imagination. I take that as a compliment, lol. Being called "deliciously sick" gives me the warm fuzzies as well. Am I crazy?

My friend suggested that maybe romance wasn't my genre to write, that I'm supposed to hone my skills on the dark side. How can this be? I thought about the little bit of "romance" that I've written on here and it does tend to have a heavier flavor to it. 

Its not all about happily ever after, at least not in the traditional sense.


She said: "Look at Stephen King. He's awesome at writing the macabre."
I retorted with: "He's Stephen King. He's SUPPOSED to write the macabre."
She said: "You're Ren Thompson. Maybe you're SUPPOSED to write the macabre, too."
I couldn't get my foot out of my mouth after that one.

One of my favorites
Now that I think about it, maybe I'm just stressing too much. I'm going to forgive myself since I'm still in a learning curve with this whole romance writing thing. I don't like the idea of not giving it the old college try. I believe in the Romance genre even though not many people do. Regardless of their perception, its a welcome relief from the day to day grind (no pun intended) of daily life. 
I want to be able to create that illusion for readers. 
I know I'm going to continue to keep getting my teeth kicked in over at my critique group but that's okay. 

Its all about becoming a better at the craft.