Snazzy Snippets || January/Feburary 2016

So, I’m a bit late to the party, but I recently learned about this awesome blogging/writing link-up called Snazzy Snippets, hosted by Emily @ Loony Literate and Alyssa @ The Devil Orders Takeout. Basically the whole idea behind it is twice a month, you…well, link up and post three snippets from your current WIP that are 500 words or less.

My current WIP is known as The Mockingbird & The Hurricane, and it’s a rather cute romance with a more serious twist: Atticus, the narrator, has depression, and Rayne, the LI, has social anxiety. You can find out a little bit more about it on this Beautiful People post.

1. A SNIPPET FROM PAGE 16

Rayne was biting her lip, like she was trying to hide a smile. “So…your name is Atticus? And your little sister is Ramona?”

“Yep. Named after the lawyer in Too Kill a Mockingbird and possibly the most famous literatury elementary schooler. My parents are huge book nerds.” I gestured around. “But honestly, that shouldn’t be much of a surprise. They own a bookstore called Resurrected Trees.”

She was really smiling now. “So…what’s your cat’s name? Crookshanks? Grimalkin? Chessie?”

“Mushroom. My parents also really like to cook.”

I’m somewhat stupidly proud of this joke, and also of the name of the bookstore. Because when I grow up, I’m totally owning a bookstore/cafe and naming it Resurrected Trees.

2. A SNIPPET OF 16 WORDS OR FEWER

Rayne gasped. “I’m broken, Att. I’m just a broken, afraid little girl pretending to be strong.”

As much as I love writing parts of this book, there are parts, like the scene that this came from, that are physically hard. This one is the one where Rayne tells Atticus about her social anxiety. This scene in particular was hard to write, because, like Rayne, I have social anxiety, and, like Rayne, I haven’t told anyone (outside of the internet) before.

It’s funny, I tend not to cry when I’m writing, but I’ve cried writing this novel than I have all of my other ones.

3. A SNIPPET ABOUT SOMETHING NEW, E.G. A NEW YEAR, NEW SCHOOL, INTRODUCING A NEW PERSON/CHARACTER/SETTING, A NEW REVELATION

The girl standing in front of me had warm brown skin and curly black hair, and the biggest eyes I had ever seen. She beamed at Rayne, wrapping her in a hug, before turning at me. “You must be Atticus, Rayne’s boyfriend!” She thrust out her hand, a huge grin on her face. “I’m Ayleen Rodríguez.”

I’ve always loved the name Ayleen, and I’ve been searching for an excuse to use it. Then, here comes Rayne’s yet-unnamed best friend, and it just clicks.

And, these are my snippets! I’m sure you’ll be hearing more about TM&TH later (as well as explanations about the title), but this is a good start.

Happy Wednesday,