Zombies Are All The Rage
As part of the 15 Habits Of Great Writers Challenge, I’ve been dared to practice in public–to post something here like nothing I’ve ever posted before. And while I have posted a few short creative pieces here in the past (Moonlight, The Hitchhiker, and one about my mother’s death), I’ve never shared any bits of fiction.
In my defense, I started this story last Christmas break, before the news was filled with zombies. It came out of reading Zechariah 14. So it’s a bible story. Sort of. That means that my mother-in-law will forgive me for using a bad word in it. And you will too. I hope.
Zach has been crawling around and eating my brains for a few months now, but for a million reasons excuses, I haven’t actually been writing him recently. I committed last January to finish his story, I was challenged yesterday to start what scares me most, and today I was challenged to practice in public.
So..world, meet Zach. Zach, meet the world.
(and world, go easy on me…this is raw, unedited stuff–like the point of view changes right in the middle. I know this. I’m sorry. Grammar-police, please check your red pens at the door.)
* * * * *
Zach saw the Old One lying in the dust. She had wriggled her body into the partial shade of her overturned cart, trying to get comfortable while she waited. Zach knew her wait would be long. He knew she would probably try to move before it was time. It gets old waiting for everything to grow back so you can move again. He saw old ones in the village all the time. Usually they knew it was coming and so they’d go back to their shelters to wait it out in peace and privacy.
Many of the old ones became artists and storytellers. The ones who lost just legs….they were able to still do things with their hands. They could paint. They could draw. One had devoted his whole life to something he called “writing.” He said he remembered it from the Days When There Was Night. He said that after all the animals were bones, he began to think more clearly, and he remembered a way to make marks on things that represented words.
He spent all day every day making marks and then telling everyone what they said. Most of us think he’s full of shit.
He’s a storyteller, like the rest of them. But he’s not a very good one….so he’s got to have this little gimmick. An excuse for why his stories are so consistent. Why he tells the same ones over and over. Sure they change a little over time. They actually do get a little better….but he’s clearly not as creative as the others.
I like listening to their stories better.
Especially Arthur. There’s something different about his stories. Even though they suck, it’s like I have to listen to them. I don’t want to. I don’t like to.
But i do. And so do some of the others.
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About Christine
I am a writer, a project manager, and a corporate refugee with a heart for orphans around the world. My two daughters were adopted from Ukraine at ages 12 and 14. I post about writing, chasing dreams, and making a difference in the world, and sometimes I share fun snippets of fiction in-progress.
I too am participating in the challenge. Way to step up and put yourself out there!!!!
Thanks for stopping by, Tracy! Congratulations on declaring you’re a writer!
I LOVE this! So amazing, I’m totally intrigued and now I want to read the whole thing (despite the bad word!).
Fave line/segment: “he remembered it from the Days When There Was Night. He said that after all the animals were bones, he began to think more clearly…” that’s great writing, right there.
Tell me more, tell me more…don’t make me wait…!
Wow, Jennie, thanks! Yesterday, you had me at “radio play” Today, you had me at “Bananarama.” I’ll tell you more if you do too!
Ha ha! Just working on my post now – didn’t have time at lunch time…
Awesome job! Congratulations on meeting Jeff’s Day 4 Challenge!
Thanks, Michele With One L! I think you have me beat on “busy”…your positive attitude is inspiring!
Christine, this is amazing. You may not have thought you had this in you, but your readers know better! Thanks for letting it out and sharing it! That’s too good to keep to yourself. I’d love to read more of what’s “crawling around” up there!
Way to step up to a challenge…as usual!
Scott, this is the story that’s on my Finish Year list…but I’ve just been terrified to work on it. Once I got rolling this morning, though, it felt really good.
Very nice. Looking forward to the next installment.
Holy crap, my family reads my blog????? I’d better be more careful about what I write! 😉
You’ll be fine until I start seeing myself in a zombie. 😛
Jennie tweeted about this post and brought me here and I’m glad she did.
This is a great piece of writing and a great section to share.
It has definitely piqued my interest. I want to know more about Zach and the world he lives in… And it’s well written.
More, please!
Wow, thanks for stopping by Peter! All this encouragement is really inspiring me to work more on Zach’s story.
Thank you for this. I’m taking part in Jeff Goin’s writing challenge too and this one had me struggling with what to do. I have a couple of REALLY ROUGH beginnings of works in fiction that I’m not really ready to let see the light of day yet. But, with your brave example, I think I’ll just go ahead and put one out there. Eeek.
Way to be brave, Carolynn!!! Can’t wait to see it!
I’m impressed! I would have absolutely not clue how to write a piece of fiction especially on a subject that I know nothing about. Go girl!!
Come on, Becky…you’re not a zombie expert??? I was counting on you to help me make it accurate!
This is good. I want to read the whole thing now. You have to finish, or this is going to eat my brains with wondering what the whole story is.
Thanks, Aaron. Tasty as your brains might be, I do think it best that they stay in use in your head…the world needs them there! I think Zach is going to live on…and on…and on…
I’m afraid I don’t follow directions too well. I didn’t write a fiction piece, I didn’t even post my submissions in order of when I completed them. But I am taking part in the challenge. In fact, I started blogging and writing a book because of Jeff Goins’ inspiration.
I enjoyed your story. Keep doing what you do and I will try to follow directions better.
Don
No worries, Don…the directions were to do something you were afraid of. For ME, that was restarting my fiction project and throwing it out to the wolves. For you, it could be something totally different, like starting a blog and writing a book.
Directions are suggestions to get you writing and get past fear and doubt. If you’re writing, then you’re rising to the challenge!
I love the transparency and vulnerability of your writing! Keep it up!