Author: FanTC

Readers, writers, and adventurers, lend me your eye. This blog is for editorial tips as you make your way in the world. I may also insert a little of what I like to call "raw writing," where a writer opens up about herself. Who am I? Just a young adult fantasy fiction author, part-time blogger, and avid fan of National Novel Writing Month.
Ponderings

It’s a Sly, Old World

FanTC

It creeps up on you, this feeling.

As the sun worshippers parade around in their ceremonial tank tops and flip flops, you’re not entirely sure what you believe. You feel like you’re standing on a precipice. You look out and view the land – colors, movement, emotions.

And what the worshippers don’t want you to see, don’t want you to realize, is that the sun is shining a little less bright each day. Now comes the time of the winds, and the clouds, and the rain; colors – bright exotic beautiful colors – a final, glamorous display asking forgiveness for what may – no, inevitably, will come.

Then your heart realizes what it is that creeps and sweeps across the land in all its artistic inevibility.

Change.

Your feet are a little lighter. You don’t mind the rain. You don’t mind the darkness in the morning or the late evening. You start to dream of fields, orchards, and firesides: dry, crisp winds carrying a feeling of intangibility.

This old, revolving world isn’t so bad. The winter wasn’t so harsh. Summer wasn’t so short. You look forward to Autumn because you realize at the end of these days the change is inevitable. Can’t stop it, stall it, start it over. The best efforts you can give is to embrace it, or ignore it. But whoever said ignorance is bliss when you’re really missing out on such a bright, bold, beautiful world as this?

Welcome back, my friends. It has been a long season. A glorious, wonderful season of life.

This has been,

Fanny T. Crispin

Ponderings, Writing Prompts

Writing on the Right Side of the Brain

FanTC

By Daniel Mega

Exercise 1: Idea Journal

When I was a kid, I used to keep tiny notepads in my back pocket ALWAYS. I had a small book bag my grandma sewed for me with galloping horses embroidered on the front (still have the bag, btw) and I always had paper and pen handy.

Because I was a writer. It’s what I did.

I couldn’t have been more than 13 or 14 when I first started writing. I was terribly unorganized. I couldn’t finish a single story to save my life. But, gosh, did I ever brainstorm ideas! Names jumped out to me, streets became worlds, an interesting face weaved its way into words and stories. I still have most of my old story ideas and manuscripts. I purged some that I knew held no emotional value to me.

As an adult, I’ve lost much of that instant creativity. My thoughts are more focused and streamlined, which helps me write better and FINISH. But in reading this book (the title of the blog,) I realize developing my imaginative side a little more would improve many aspects of my life.

What do you think? How has your daydreaming evolved over the years? What do you find makes you feel most creative?

Leave no stone unturned and don’t stop until you’ve arrived.

This has been,

Fan T. C.

Raw, Thoughts

KUWTJ – It’s Okay. They’re Already Dead.

FanTC

“What’s on your mind?” Facebook asks nearly every time we get together. I refrain from responding, because Facebook should already know how much I utterly despise its presence. Still, it can be useful on occasion, so I tolerate it lingering about.

It’s a Wednesday in the Andersen household. Not much going on for a Wednesday. We went to Bdubs for their all- you- can- eat wings, only to discover our particular chain wasn’t supporting said advertisement. A crying shame. Post- dinner, we watched an episode of Firefly which is always so tragically bittersweet for me. Like having dinner with a friend one last time before they’re shipped away. Forever. Never to return.

Of course, there’s like 15 episodes, so dinner 15 times plus thematic theme music…

As I was saying, not much going on for a Wednesday night.

Tomorrow boasts too many chores and adult-y responsibilities, and I recall to mind my favorite verse: Don’t be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious about itself. Sufficient is the day and it’s worries.

So we put away our planners and have dinner with friends intending to leave us. Today we will worry about today. Tomorrow we shall see.

“Keep us, O God, for the sea is so big and our ships are so little.”

Leave no stone unturned and never stop until you have arrived.

This has been,

Fan T. C.

Raw, Thoughts

KUWTJ – Bed Troubles

FanTC

In another episode of what I like to call “Keeping Up With The Jones,” I share a bit of drama of newlywed life.

In other news pertaining to recently married life, the cat is taking her new only-child life quite well. Our concern was unfounded since her earlier skittishness was actually due to the freakish number of storms we’ve had in recent days. Not to worry. She understands the safety protocol in the event of severe weather and takes up shelter beneath the stair well.

While her human mother might sleep straight through a tornado, at least the cat will be safe.

The house is beginning to once again resemble a home (although I’ve been informed by the husband that it was really more like a batchelorette pad before.) We’ve been anxiously awaiting the mattress to our brand new bed. Sleeping on the support boards of the frame is getting old, to say the least.

I kid. We have a twin mattress. Fortunately, we’re small people. But Hubby has been known to have been elbowed (quite unintentionally, I assure you) in his sleep. Maybe if he would quit sleeping on my hair, he wouldn’t be so rudely disturbed…

Life is good if you remember that you don’t need castles and fancy plates to make your life happy. We’re enjoying decorating the cozy duplex. There’s a fire pit (sadly drowning) in the front yard. If you see a light, please stop by and pull up a chair. I’m sure we’ll have cold beer or at least a glass of wine to share.

Leave no stone unturned and never stop until you’ve arrived.

This has been,

Fan T. C.

Thoughts

Keeping up with the Jones

FanTC

In other news about married life, it has been 3 weeks of our legal adventure together, and we’re preparing to settle into my cozy (a word here meaning tiny and inadequate) duplex apartment. I’m actually very settled here. My husband still has to move his stuff in.

We keep looking at the catastrophe of the tornado I fondly named “Wedding Whirlwind” and wonder how and when we’re going to get it resembling anything of a home again. My sister is officially moved out, save for a few items she was unable to grab during the WW tornado, and so we’re making her a box of affects to come pick up at her leisure. As for the rest, “One room at a time,” I keep repeating for the sake of our sanity.

The kitchen seemed the best place to start, as so much activity transpires there. We’ve cleaned out cupboards and hid the alcohol from judgemental eyes – or under-aged children. There is a piece of furniture we purchased maybe two years ago which Brett started cleaning out. It’s a simple wood cupboard sort, square at the base and as tall as a china cabinet, but whoever decided to refinish it gave it a ghastly white paint job, single coat, without removing any shelves or even bothering to paint the back board, and left it at that. I’m not sure how someone can look at a half-assed paint job and nod their head in approval. Then again, I was the someone who bought and paid for it and then proceeded to display it without fixing the job.

No matter, Hubby has it out in the garage as we speak putting the finishing touches to it. All this in light of his recent proclamation, “I am NEVER building or painting anything for a GOOD LONG WHILE!” Apparently 3 days is long enough for him.

Leave no stone unturned and never stop until you’ve arrived.

This has been,

Fan T. C.