Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, where we post eight sentences from one of our works. I’m picking up exactly where I left off last week with meta fiction romance, NOT ANOTHER DARCY. This was my NaNo project for this past November, and the heroine has to deal with literary characters that come to life at her independent bookstore. Last week was the opening eight sentences and Mr. Darcy from the latter half of Pride & Prejudice showed up. She wasn’t very pleased to see another one.
This is still a rough draft. But here’s the next eight sentences:
But as a Handler in the Literary Reclamation League, it was her duty to take whomever popped into existence, train them, give them new identities and find work for them. The Darcys, she usually shipped off to Jane Austen sites in England as tour guides.
She faced her newest challenge, who gazed around her bookstore with a look of confusion, the poor guy. Thank god her employee Chris wasn’t due to work until noon. “Hang on there one sec, Mr. Darcy, and I’ll be right with you.”
She hustled to the front door of her bookstore and flipped the sign to “Closed,” and threw the bolt lock. From a pocket near the door, she pulled out and hung her pre-made sign for such emergencies: “Closed for twenty minutes. Grabbing coffee.”
To join in the fun and see the other wonderful writers, go to Weekend Writing Warriors! Thanks for stopping by! I’m going to try and be better today with visiting–I had out of town guests for Mardi Gras. It’s the final week, so today’s also a big day, but hopefully I’ll make the rounds this morning before the first parade rolls.
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Gem
/ February 10, 2013Awesome concept–bookstore, characters who pop in and out, a lady book seller, Darcy.
Donna Cummings
/ February 10, 2013This is wonderful! And it’s so inventive — I love the whole concept. Enjoy the Mardi Gras fun.
S. J. Maylee
/ February 10, 2013I’m so hooked by this concept. I want to read more about how she handles them.
Marcia Kuma
/ February 10, 2013I think the light-hearted tone works really well for this. I bet there’s a bunch of funny and touching twists in this one!
The Original Drama Mama
/ February 10, 2013I enjoy her pragmatic attitude about such a wacky situation – can I go work there too?
Carrie-Anne
/ February 10, 2013Very cute story! I love how she takes all this as so normal and just part of her job.
Karla Doyle
/ February 10, 2013What an awesome concept! Can’t wait to read more.
veronicascott
/ February 10, 2013I am totally in love with this story and the concept! You’re having so much fun with it and so am I! Terrific excerpt…can’t wait for next week.
brendaashworthbarry
/ February 10, 2013I loved it and she seems so care free. Can’t wait to read more.
Joyce Scarbrough
/ February 10, 2013Love her unconcerned attitude about something quite extraordinary. Great concept and great characterization!
Teresa Cypher
/ February 10, 2013Fantastic premise, Angela. And from what I’ve read, you are managing it so well! Good snippet!
Sue
/ February 10, 2013Enjoy Mardi Gros (drool) I’m assuming one Darcy does not get shipped off to England. But what a great idea – tour guides!!
epbeaumont
/ February 10, 2013What a marvelous premise! As a fan of your work (and a lover of metafiction) I’d definitely check this out. What I love most here is the very ordinariness; a fictional character walks into one’s bookstore and of course must be appropriately greeted.
I’m immediately reminded of two classic metafictional riffs (though more on the ‘inspiration’ side of the equation): Amy Lowell’s long poem ‘Sword Blades and Poppy Seed’ (here: http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/sword-blades-and-poppy-seed/) and Joanna Russ’s story on the same theme (whose title frustratingly evades me!) While these works deal more with the creative side and the sharing of themes between writers, the fact you find yourself in such illustrious company says much about the degree to which you’ve intrigued me in a mere eight lines.
Patti Jones
/ February 10, 2013What a fun concept. I love the beginning!
siobhanmuir
/ February 10, 2013I LOVE the Literary Reclamation League! That’s an awesome idea, Angela. Great snippet.
Author Charmaine Gordon
/ February 10, 2013You have me smiling, no dork here. Good eight.
Elin Gregory
/ February 10, 2013Your snippets always make me smile. Lovely work.
Ann Swann
/ February 10, 2013Love this idea! Great 8!
Frank Fisher
/ February 10, 2013Great work, love the “Gone for twenty minutes” sign. Enjoy Mardi Gras
Kate Warren
/ February 10, 2013Awesome concept! He must be so confused that she knows his name! I love the emergency sign too! How is she going to deal with this in just twenty minutes, I wonder?
sueannbowlingauthor
/ February 10, 2013I love the idea. Will the book be out in time to review it for the Pride and Prejudice Bicentennary challenge? (In 2013.)
Sarah W
/ February 10, 2013Can there really be too many Darcys (Darcies?)?
Send a few my way, please!
AJ Bradley
/ February 10, 2013Omg, what a fantastic premise, I wish I’d thought of it!! This is really tickling me, I can’t wait for more. Yay for NaNo projects!
Lila Shaw
/ February 10, 2013I love this concept!
Writerlious
/ February 10, 2013Gosh –still so in love with this story idea!! Can’t wait till you have a finished product for sale.
Jess Schira
/ February 12, 2013This is a freakin brilliant concept. It’s also a great snippet. Nicely done, Angela!
kelworthfiles
/ February 14, 2013Yes, I really like how she’s taking the whole thing as just a routine interruption in her day – she’s got the plan, she’s got the sign, she thinks she can handle the situation. Somehow I suspect he isn’t like all the other Mister Darcys.