Tag: CharliRenee

Stories, Bit by Bit: Lilly, Part Thirteen

On By Charli ReneeIn Stories, Bit by Bit7 Comments

Her grip on the steering wheel had softened, not like before. She drove with the window open, feeling the freedom of the air, matching the freedom she felt in every breath.

This is nice, she thought. Not fretting about the what-ifs or worrying about the hurt I’ll feel if he says my piece isn’t ready.

It wasn’t that she felt more confident. Something had shifted, though, and she wasn’t even sure it had anything to do with her writing.

She let it go and simply enjoyed the drive to the coffee shop she’d come to appreciate as a comfy place to be.

Justin was already there when she arrived. He stood, and she waved.

“Hi. And that’s not necessary. We’re like family now.”

“Okay, I’ll make you a deal. I’ll stop with the formalities if you realize we’re like family now, too. Let’s use this time with as little unease as possible. Roni and I are both excited about your writing. I’d hate to think our time together feels like a test.”

“Oh, Justin, it’s a deal. To be honest, I’m glad we’re talking about this. I’ve been thinking about it since before I left the motel. I feel a shift, not necessarily with my writing, but with the critique of it. I’m actually excited to learn more from you.”

“Well, I hope so. That remains to be seen,” Justin teased.

They both laughed and sat at the same time.

“Well, let’s not waste time. Let’s see it. Why don’t you go order your coffee while I sit here and read? Sound good, Lilly?”

“Oh yes, especially the part about getting coffee. I may have been looking forward to that more than meeting with you.”

She turned, her smile widening. There she was, that familiar warm face.

“Hello. Good to see you again, ma’am. What can I get for you today? Your usual coffee with a splash of vanilla?”

How sweet. She’d already established not only a rapport but a go-to order the kind barista remembered.

She turned to walk back. Justin was still reading and jotting notes.

Oh no, this isn’t a good sign.

She stopped herself from going down that road.

Good. He’s going to give me tangible things to learn and work with today.

Her pace quickened.

Justin looked up as she took another sip.

“Well, Lilly, let’s get started. I do have some opinions. Let’s start with what I thoroughly enjoyed.”

Lilly sat up, then leaned in, ready to capture his every word. 

“Wait. Justin, let me grab my recorder.”

“Sure.”

He waited, and when she looked ready, he began, 

“Lilly, I see you took my advice. You stayed with the scenes longer, and honestly, I felt like I was right there with you in the shop. I almost wanted to be a bride just to experience what you were showing me. But I didn’t have to be. As a reader, I felt transported there, not only to the place, but into the feeling of it. I especially enjoyed the conversations between the women. I could see them.”

He watched her lean back, smiling so hard her cheeks flushed. She was beaming.

“Lilly, it tickles me to see you enjoying my positive feedback. Are you ready for the less-than-glowing review?” Justin asked with a smile.

Her smile stayed, but her tone shifted a bit.

“I think so, Justin. So please, give it to me straight. Don’t hold anything back.”

“Oh, not to worry. I know it isn’t always easy to hear, but it doesn’t help you as a writer if I hold back just to protect your ego. In fact, as I’ve said, the ego is one of the first things you’re going to need to let go of.”

He smiled.

“First, I’d encourage you to keep doing what you’re already improving at. You’re showing instead of telling, and that’s something new writers often struggle with. For example, here.”

Justin leaned toward the laptop and found the passage.

“She gasped. Her cheeks flushed as her clenched hands relaxed at her sides.” He glanced at Lilly. “And then you have her twirling and giggling. You didn’t tell me Helen was excited. You let me see it.”

Justin scrolled farther down.

“But here…”

He read aloud.

“Now the moment seemed even more vivid than the picture.”

Lilly’s eyes widened, her lips curling down just a bit.

Justin paused. “Are you okay, Lilly?”

“Oh yes, of course. Sorry. It’s just that I get frustrated because I want you to tell me what’s wrong. It’s hard for me to be patient with it. I always want you to get right to the point.”

“That’s fair, Lilly, and it’s exactly what we need to be addressing. Sometimes in your writing, it’s as though you want to get to the point. You want to be done. But patience is important. It’s the very thing I think is still lacking in this piece.”

“Okay. I can accept that I need to stay with a moment even more, but I don’t know exactly what that looks like or how to do it, Justin. So if I seem defensive or frustrated, it’s not because I don’t want to hear it. I don’t know how to recognize what’s wrong versus knowing how to fix it. I still feel a disconnect.”

“Well, of course you do. You may have a natural gift, but good writing takes more than that. It takes work, learning, and a lot of trying.” He paused. “Are you up for the challenge, Lilly?”

“I am, Justin. Or at least, I believe I can learn how to be. I won’t lie. I’m afraid I lack the grit, but by golly, I’m going to keep going, one sentence at a time.”

She paused.

“Speaking of one sentence, Justin…” Lilly laughed. “Not to be impatient, but may we go back to that sentence? Can we continue where you left off?”

“Of course, Lilly.”

Justin pointed to the sentence.

“What did you experience that the photograph couldn’t capture?”

Lilly thought for a moment.

“Well, Justin, I liken it to the moment when a beautiful bride-to-be sees her image for the first time, and she and everyone watching know from the look on her face, this is her dress. When I looked at the picture, it was like the captured moment was alive and palpable within the picture itself.”

Justin nodded. “Okay. Now we’re getting somewhere. But listen to what you just told me, and then look at what you wrote.”

He pointed again to the sentence.

“You wrote, ‘Now the moment seemed even more vivid than the picture.’ That’s not quite what you just described to me. You’re telling me the picture itself seemed to hold the life of the moment.”

Lilly looked back at the screen.

“Remember what you wrote just before this? You asked whether I’d ever looked at a picture of someone laughing and could almost hear the joy.”

Lilly’s eyes widened.

“That’s what I’m talking about,” she said, pointing toward the screen.

Justin smiled. “Exactly. You already had it. Now your job isn’t to find a prettier sentence. It’s to figure out how to make me experience what you just explained to me.”

There was a pause. Justin’s face lit up as he quickly rose. Lilly looked back to see what he was looking at when she heard,

“Guys, sorry I’m late.”

Lilly looked at her laptop. It was 5:30 already. Where did the time go?

“Oh, no worries,” Justin said. “Darling, you always arrive right on time.”

“Oh, hush, Justin. You charmer. I wonder if you’ll be saying that ten years down the road.”

Lilly got up and interrupted.

“I don’t know, Roni. I’ve known you most of my life, and I’ve always thought you were right on time.”

“Oh, stop, both of you. Are you ready to go get something to eat? I’m starving. I have so much to share, and I want to hear all about how it went with you guys today.”

As Roni and Justin started their usual public display of affection, Lilly grabbed her recorder and whispered,

“I’m excited to try and make the reader experience…”

Lilly clicked off the recorder.

To be continued…

Just two more bits to go.

Tag, you’re it. If you’d like to jump in, feel free. If not, I’ll keep moving it along, bit by bit.

Stories, Bit by Bit: Lilly, Part Twelve

On By Charli ReneeIn Stories, Bit by Bit8 Comments

The balcony had become such a sweet sanctuary in such a short time. She decided to move the motel table outside. Plenty of shade and a cool breeze.

Laptop, check. Water, check. Tummy full, check. Mission, check.

She didn’t need to go back to the bridal shop. It had already given her plenty to play with.

In fact, she’d been playing with thoughts of Helen ever since she’d left yesterday.

This was where she would begin.

Lilly placed her fingers on the keyboard.

The Enchanted Bridal Village.

At first, it felt like any other bridal shop, or at least what you’d expect. Yet, within minutes of walking through the doors, something about the place made my spine tingle with delight.

Was it the dresses? The conversations?

Or was it the three-way mirror?

The first time I’d stood inside the shop, I’d watched my best friend, Roni, step in front of it wearing a wedding gown. Watching her glow had felt magical. I thought it was because I was looking at someone I’d known and loved most of my life.

But then there was Helen.

When I returned to the shop, I heard the laughter before I knew where it was coming from.

A group of older women had gathered near the dressing rooms. I sat nearby, watching them until one of the women caught me staring.

“Hey, sweetheart. Why don’t you join us?”

“Oh, no. That’s okay. I’m just enjoying your celebration.”

“Don’t be silly. Come sit.”

The other women encouraged me, too.

“Come sit with me.”

“Esther, you’re always collecting people,” one of them teased.

Margaret introduced them as her lifelong gal pals.

That’s when I met Helen.

She thought the whole thing was nonsense. She wasn’t engaged. She wasn’t even dating anyone. Still, at the urging of her lifelong friends, she disappeared into the dressing room.

A few minutes later, Helen stepped out cautiously and made her way toward the three-way mirror.

The same three-way mirror.

She gasped. Her cheeks flushed as her clenched hands relaxed at her sides.

She twirled once.

Then again.

And a third time, giggling as the gown swept around her.

Not a word came from the women at first, only sounds of delight.

Margaret couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Helen, you are so beautiful. The dress is pretty, but on you, it’s beyond stunning.”

The others quickly joined in, showering Helen with praise.

Helen stopped and looked at herself again.

Tears filled her eyes.

Her voice trembled. “Ladies, you were so right. I do look amazing. I’ve never looked this dazzling, even in my younger days.”

They laughed and agreed.

Helen looked around at her friends.

“Ladies, why is no one taking pictures?”

“You’re right! Lilly, would you mind taking a picture of us?”

“Sure. I’d be honored. May I ask a favor, though? I’d love a copy. I’m writing a piece, and I’d like to remember this.”

“Of course you can. And now the honor is ours,” Margaret said as the women crowded together in front of the three-way mirror, each of them smiling.

Just as I was about to take the picture, Esther spoke.

“Wait! I want to be the one in the wedding dress. I looked marvelous in mine, too.”

Again, the women laughed, but Esther didn’t seem to see the humor.

“Esther,” Margaret scolded, “we can take more pictures. Hush now and smile. This moment is about Helen, and by golly, she deserves every second of it.”

I took longer than I needed to snap the picture.

Each woman, even Esther, was beaming. They giggled like schoolgirls, unable to regain their composure.

“Ladies, get it together. I need to turn around and look at myself again,” Helen said.

They laughed even harder.

And it was then that I saw it.

I clicked.

I looked at the picture and quickly showed them.

“This is perfect, ladies.”

They crowded around the phone.

“Have you ever looked at a picture of someone laughing and you can almost hear the joy?”

Helen stood in the center, her eyes still damp. Margaret had an arm around her, Esther was caught mid-laugh, and the other women crowded close. Behind them, the three-way mirror reflected it all.

Now the moment seemed even more vivid than the picture.

I smiled.

Enchanted Bridal Village, indeed.

Lilly looked up. The weather was no longer comfy. Maybe it was time to go inside.

She kept reading.

She knew there were still places that needed work. She could spot some of them, but she wasn’t sure what was wrong or how to fix them.

Good thing I’m meeting Justin today.

She smiled.

Thanks, Roni.

She read it once more, then saved the document and closed her laptop.

She slung the laptop bag over her shoulder and grabbed her purse.

At the door, she smiled.

“Justin, here I come.”

To be continued.

Tag, you’re it. If you’d like to jump in, feel free. If not, I’ll keep moving it along, bit by bit.

Sending warmth and kindness.

The Clock Thickens

On By Charli ReneeIn Uncategorized2 Comments
Daily writing prompt
What’s a conspiracy theory you actually find believable?
View all responses

Oh, this is an easy one, and by the time you finish reading, you’ll be convinced too. Hear me out. Or rather, read me out.

You see, I am convinced that employers and calendar companies secretly remove several hours from every weekend and redistribute them across Monday through Thursday.

Most of the stolen time is given to Mondays. The clock moves slower. We feel those extra Monday hours in our bones. Our bodies sense the conspiracy, even when we cannot prove it. In fact, this is why Sunday evening brings the blues. We know what they have done, and of course, the lamenting begins.

Every Sunday afternoon, I set out to prove the missing hours. It seems to happen between noon and 7 p.m. I have set alarms to go off every hour, and then I count each one. Unfortunately, I have not been able to prove anything. But maybe my alarm is in on the conspiracy. Maybe the clocks have been fiddled with. All of them.

The proverbial “they” are out to make us work more hours without us knowing it. But I know, and dang it, so should you.

Have you ever noticed how Monday through Thursday seems to get shorter as the week progresses? However, I am suspicious of Wednesday. They wait until we get used to our workweek, then BAM, they throw a few extra hours into Wednesday.

Sneaky jerks!

Listen, every weekend I wake up early to ensure I have more waking hours. But it matters not. Time slips by at the speed of light.

I make my yummy yogurt concoction. It is filled with strawberries, blueberries, banana, pineapple, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds… sometimes walnuts. Oh, and…

Sorry. Where was I?

Oh yes, coffee made, a bowl of yummy sunshine and a good book in hand. I start reading, and within minutes, I am lost in the glorious moment. Then I look up, and hours have vanished. I kid you not. I have looked everywhere, and that elusive time is nowhere to be found.

Wipes tears.

This is so disheartening. How can they do this to us? We need to start a revolution, for crying out loud. How can they sleep at night?

Well, they probably use their extra hours to rest.

Ugh.

Attention, time thieves. We see you, and your time is running out.

Stories, Bit by Bit: Lilly, Part Eleven

On By Charli ReneeIn Stories, Bit by Bit6 Comments

She didn’t feel defeated as much as weary as she leaned over to put on her seatbelt. The entire drive back to the motel was a blur. Though in the driver’s seat, she felt more like a silent passenger.

When she arrived back at the motel, she slowly made her way to her room and headed for the balcony to sit awhile.

That would have to wait.

The room had a jacuzzi tub, and right now, that was exactly where she was going.

She slowly sank into the warm water and rested her head.

“Ahhhhhhh.”

Jacuzzis had always been one of her favorite happy places. They never failed to transport her busy mind into one incapable of thought.

Her tummy rumbled.

Guess I’ll have to eat soon. I don’t know how, though. I can barely move and don’t want to.

She managed to wrap herself in the motel towel and make her way to the room service menu.

“Oh, look. A grilled chicken salad. Perfect. Wait, I know. A side of fries, heavy on the ketchup. Yummy.”

After ordering, she reached for her book but grabbed the remote instead.

While she waited for the food, she put on her favorite lounging jammies.

She was surprised by how quickly the food arrived. It had been thirty minutes, but she’d been lying there, lost in a delightful daze of nothingness. Awareness of time had left the motel room altogether.

She turned on a lighthearted comedy.

For the rest of the night, she laughed and smiled until she fell asleep before the show had even ended.

The next morning, she finally made her way to the balcony. Her coffee, still hot, warmed her hands in the cool, crisp air. A soft breeze danced through her hair.

She leaned back and propped her feet on the small round table in front of her.

Slowly, she took each sip and let the moment linger before she took the next.

Her attention drifted from her coffee to a nearby mockingbird.

It always amazes me how the sounds of birds in the fresh morning air never get old, she thought.

She sat there, breathing slowly, listening to the birds, when the sudden ring of her phone made her jump.

“Morning, Roni. How are you today?”

“Well, before I tell you how I am, I’m calling to follow up.”

“Huh?” Lilly said.

“Justin wants to know how your piece is coming and if you’re ready to meet again. Isn’t he the most thoughtful?”

“He sure is. But I’m not sure what our plans are tomorrow with your big day coming up. Time is flying.”

“Don’t remind me, Lilly. I still have so much to do.”

“Why don’t we wait until after the wedding?”

“That’s sweet, bestie, but I need to get Justin out of my hair for a little while.”

“Uh-oh, girlfriend. Not a good sign.” Lilly laughed.

“No, nothing like that.” Roni laughed. “How about tomorrow at the same coffee shop?”

Lilly hesitated as she looked toward her notebook.

“Lilly, are you still there?”

“Oh, yes. Sorry, Roni. Can we meet later in the day?”

“Sure. How about 4:00?”

“Perfect,” Lilly said.

“Oh, and don’t worry. Justin is there to help you. It isn’t a test, so just breathe and have fun with it. I can’t wait to hear all about it from both of you. I’ll meet you there at 5:00, and we can all go out to dinner. Sound good?”

“Yes, but Roni, I feel a little guilty. I should be helping you more.”

“Oh, hush. You know what a control freak I am. I’ve got this. Now go get ’em, writer extraordinaire.”

Lilly hung up and put her phone on silent.

Just a few more minutes, she told herself.

She leaned back again, listening to the melodies of the birds.

Lilly took a deep breath.

Now, where was I?

She picked up her coffee and took a sip.

Cold.

“Shoot.”

She shrugged. That was okay.

She sat there a moment longer until a pesky fly decided it wanted her coffee, too. She waved it away, laughing.

The woman in the ocean came to mind.

Then Helen, twirling in front of the mirror.

Lilly smiled.

Neither of them had been thinking about how the moment looked from the outside. They were too busy enjoying it.

She looked at her cold coffee, then out toward the birds.

For the first time in days, she hadn’t been trying to figure anything out either.

She leaped up, tingling with excitement.

“Alright, laptop. It’s time to try again. I’m ready. This is it!”

Settle down, Lilly, she told herself.

“No, I won’t. I love to write, and so I shall.

Not later, but now…”

Lilly’s journey is nearing its end, with just a couple more bits to go. I’m a little sad to see it end, but excited to see where she lands.

Tag, you’re it. If you’d like to jump in, feel free. If not, I’ll keep moving it along, bit by bit.

Sending warmth and kindness.

Obituary in Plain Sight

On By Charli ReneeIn Uncategorized7 Comments
Daily writing prompt
What’s something you used to worry about but don’t anymore?
View all responses

Today we gather to celebrate the passing of a longtime companion:

The Worry of Losing My Glasses.

It was born in my early years, about the same time I discovered there were actually leaves on trees instead of green blobs. That was also the beginning of what has become a lifelong, occasionally dysfunctional relationship with my glasses.

It put up a good fight.

There were frantic searches. Looking in the same place over and over, convinced that if I could just find my glasses, I’d be able to see where they were. Family members were recruited into the search because, naturally, my urgency should be theirs.

We must find them!

In time, however, I accepted the inevitable.

I am going to lose my glasses.

Frequently.

Sometimes they’re on my head.

Sometimes they’re hanging from my shirt.

Sometimes I’m actually wearing them.

To honor this new chapter, I invested in more than several leather eyeglass retainers in a variety of colors.

I once heard a comedian joke that people who wear those have officially made peace with remaining single.

Well…

I own dozens.

They match my outfits.

It doesn’t hurt that my one pair of prescription glasses happens to be bendable. I call them my Charli-proof specs. So when I inevitably fall asleep with them hanging around my neck, they’re still there waiting for me in the morning, ready to help me see another beautiful day.

The deceased is survived by the comforting knowledge that there’s no need to worry about losing my glasses.

Of course I’ll lose them.

Fortunately, my bright-colored eyeglass retainers usually help me track them down.

In lieu of flowers, please send more eyeglass retainers.

Red is always a good choice.

Oops… Mom and Dad.

On By Charli ReneeIn Uncategorized3 Comments
Daily writing prompt
What’s a song lyric that has stuck with you forever?
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Picture this: a carefree, probably a little reckless, sixteen-year-old driving down a small-town road toward home. A white Volkswagen Beetle. A blonde, curly-haired girl singing at the top of her lungs to the same song over and over: “Abracadabra.”

How I got my hands on that cassette, I’ll never know. My parents were pretty religious and definitely wouldn’t have approved. But somehow that tape found its way into my little Beetle, and I played it until I probably knew every crackle and hiss by heart.

Back then, I don’t think I paid much attention to what the lyrics actually meant. I just knew I loved them. At the time, those words were pretty provocative, but I didn’t even realize it. What a rebel, eh?  Yes, they reached out and grabbed me, and for a few minutes every drive home felt a little more magical.

I’m thankful for this prompt because, as I write this, I’m listening to that song again. It’s amazing how a few familiar notes can take you right back to a version of yourself you haven’t visited in years.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I need to sing along.

Endings Anonymous

On By Charli ReneeIn Uncategorized9 Comments
Daily writing prompt
If you could rewrite any book’s ending, which one would you choose?
View all responses

“Alright, quiet down, all of you. Especially you two, Jack and Jill,” the facilitator said.

Sherlock Holmes cleared his throat.

“I do have one question,” he said. “Why are they here?”

“Who?”

He nodded toward Jack and Jill.

“They’re nursery rhyme characters.”

“And?”

“This is a support group for literary characters.” He paused. “Standards ought to matter.”

Winnie-the-Pooh sat quietly in the corner, happily enjoying a small pot of honey.

“Excuse me,” he said, looking around the circle. “I don’t think anyone has ever asked to rewrite my ending.”

The room fell silent.

“Then… why are you here?” asked Gatsby.

Pooh smiled. “Someone said there would be snacks.”

“Attendance is voluntary,” she said. “Motives vary.”

Sherlock adjusted his chair..

“Clearly.”

“Welcome, everyone. Same rule as always. No judging endings.”

Old Yeller raised a paw.

“Excuse me… but I’m feeling a little judgy.”

“Nobody asked me,” Old Yeller muttered. “One minute I’m being a hero. The next minute… well, you know. I’d appreciate a second draft.

No one said a word.

Juliet quietly slid the tissue box toward him.

Without a word, the rest of the circle scooted their chairs a little closer.

“Every year,” Gatsby said quietly, “someone decides Daisy should have chosen differently.”

The room nodded.

“Would you want her to?” asked the facilitator.

Gatsby thought for a long moment.

“I don’t know. Sometimes I wonder if they’re trying to save me… or themselves.”

The room stayed quiet for exactly three seconds.

Then everyone started talking at once.

“That’s exactly what I’ve been saying.”

“No, no, it’s because they can’t let go.”

“I still think mine deserved a sequel.”

“That’s easy for you to say.”

The facilitator glanced at the clock and held up both hands.

“Alright, alright, one at a time.” She smiled. “Unfortunately, that’s all the time we have today.”

Scarlett O’Hara threw up her hands.

“What? I’d like to rewrite this meeting’s ending. I didn’t even get to speak.”

Pooh looked up.

“Wait… does this mean the snacks end, too?”

The facilitator giggled.

“Only until next week.”

Pooh nodded.

“Oh, good.” He smiled. “Still… I do rather agree with Scarlett. This ending could use a little editing.”

Into the Book

On By Charli ReneeIn Uncategorized3 Comments

The morning was disappointingly hot already. She had taken her book out to the chaise in hopes of sitting outside, listening to the birds while she read. Just as she was about to go back inside, a cool breeze convinced her to stay a little longer. She smiled. This moment wasn’t lost after all.

She started reading.

Paul stepped closer, crowding the small space between them. Bekah’s shoulders drew in, her fingers tightening around the edge of the desk.

“I don’t expect you to understand,” he said, not even bothering to look up from the file in his hand. “Details tend to overwhelm people in your position.”

Evana stopped.

Her eyes flicked back up to the paragraph, just to make sure she read it correctly.

“I don’t expect you to understand. Details tend to overwhelm people in your position.” Evana repeated under her breath, reading it again. Then, louder, “Oh that is absurd. You are an idiot.”

“I am what?”

She froze.

Her eyes slowly lifted from the page.

“No,” she whispered, already shaking her head. “No, no, no. That did not just happen.”

“You seem quite certain for someone who has yet to meet me,” the voice said again, closer this time.

She turned her head.

And when she turned it back…

He was there.

Exactly as she had pictured him.

She closed her eyes tight, then opened. He wasn’t with her, she was with him.

There he stood, but now even closer.

He leaned in too close. She could feel his breath. She refrained from stepping back. Heat was rising in her.

Her eyes did not shift. She leaned in this time. 

She put her hands on her hips. “The audacity.”

He laughed.

The heat in her rose even more. And for a minute, neither moved.

Then she took a deep intentional breath.

“Paul,” she said more calmly, “you are too close. Please step back.”

He laughed again, but this time, he complied.

He looked away from her and shook his head. “You women are so emotional.”

Exasperated, she said, “You have to be a created person. No real person would be this ignorant.”

“Lady, are you crazy? I am as real as the pages of the book.”

She was perplexed. He seemed to know he was written and still thought he was real. More than ridiculous, he was a research project.

Well, he isn’t wrong. Books are real, she thought.

She caught herself. No. Not going down his rabbit hole.

Feeling disoriented, she placed her hand against the wall.

“I am so confused,” she said.

“Yes, I definitely agree,” Paul said pompously.

She’d spent enough time on this jerk, she thought.

She looked around the room, urgency building.

There it was. The exit sign.

She started to run.

A strong grip held her arm.

She turned, ready to hit Paul if she had to, but…

It was Bekah.

Breathing hard, looking up at her with wide, desperate eyes.

“Please, Ma’am… take me with you. Don’t leave me with… him.”

May be continued…

Would you take Bekah?
What’s behind the door?
Does she get out?