Haiku Sunday NaNo Edition: Jaed

“Jaed”

Gold-flecked emeralds –
Bright stars under night’s blackness,
Her wild, loving gaze.

Author’s note: Jaed is one of the two protagonists in my story, a young woman who cares deeply for the few people close to her. Eyes are the first thing I notice about a person. A striking pair of eyes can freeze me — think Olivia Wilde. In the earliest notes for this story, when I had nothing more than an image of two young lovers trying to find themselves, the first details I developed were the dazzling color of Jaed’s eyes: bright emerald-green with flecks of yellow-gold. Green, hazel, and brown eyes and blonde-brown hair are common among Feldings. Jaed’s night-black hair is not, nor her bronze-tinted skin tone. Aston has light brown hair and hazel eyes. It’s remarkable how many cultural/ethnic details you can develop just from designing two characters.

Steve D

Concept Art – What is Love? Baby, Don’t Hurt Me

Cheesy music reference aside, Concept Art is going to be a semi-serious, introspective series. After a truly heartbreaking conversation a lot of times I prefer to dwell on abstractions instead of vivid details and relevant circumstances, so I thought I might as well start out big or go home.

And thus:
Love. Continue reading “Concept Art – What is Love? Baby, Don’t Hurt Me”

Creativity Sessions: Is Narrative Limitless?

I’ve been reading much more than writing in recent weeks. Now I’m starting to realize that my extensive reading was too deeply affecting how I was thinking about my writing. Continue reading “Creativity Sessions: Is Narrative Limitless?”

Free Verse – Instrumental Inspiration – SD

“That Girl in Amsterdam”

Verse
I fell for a girl I met one evening in some dingy Amsterdam bar
Her eyes like ice, my heart was frozen, shining brighter than the stars Continue reading “Free Verse – Instrumental Inspiration – SD”

Weathering the Storm: Of Monsters and Men’s Second Album and Musical Growth

Our music reviews seek to trace the narratives that weave between songs and albums. Check out our Rhythmic Fiction tag for other stories told through music.

A few months ago, I retrospectively plotted the narrative of Of Monsters and Men’s first album, My Head is an Animal, in the hopes that binging on their music would sate my appetite for more until their second album was released.

Thankfully, their second album has arrived, and I now have tickets to see Of Monsters and Men live (again) in September.

Continue reading “Weathering the Storm: Of Monsters and Men’s Second Album and Musical Growth”

Misplaced Missives #115 – Candy Coated Cruelty – JG

All you give me is candy coated;
Wrapped in sweetness and sugar.
I savor the decadent flavor,
Horrible for me and horribly addicting.
Even wise to what it disguises –
I still crave it.
Foolishly, routinely, proudly display
The sugar rush you give me. Continue reading “Misplaced Missives #115 – Candy Coated Cruelty – JG”