shanjeniah

Openings: The IDIC Romance for WIPpet Wednesday

Welcome to WIPpet Wednesday, a weekly blog hop which encourages writers to move WIPs (works-in-progress) to publication by posting excerpts related to the date. It’s hosted by the lovely K.L. Schwengel, maven of bad boys, stock dogs, and flying monkeys! She’s our fearless shepherd…or something like that, anyway…

This week, I’m trying something new. Just before September started, I learned that the fine folks over at Story a Day, where I play every May, are doing it all again this month. Now, I’m using an elderly laptop, and there’s lots going on in my world – but you know that intransigent inter-species duo in my head wasn’t about to wait any longer to tell more of their stories, once they saw an opening…

But, with a story each day, it’s hard to choose which to share from..

So here’s what I’m going to do. I’m sharing the first paragraph of each story, up to today’s (which might be a little rougher than the others, since I won’t be revising until later in the day). Read one, read all, pick and choose…whatever makes you happy!

If you’ve got a favorite (or least favorite), let me know in the comments. I’m offering an incentive you can read more about after the snippets.

And, as always, the disclaimer. I don’t own these characters or their franchise. Trip and T’Pol apparently have ownership interest in my imagination, though, and they will not stop feeding me stories…not that I’m complaining! =D

There may or may not be spoilers for all kinds of things here. You’ve been warned!

WIPpet Sorta- Math:

  • Today is September 9, 2015 – the first day of school in my area, and the day that marks the beginning of our go-to-places-that-are-too-crowded-over-summer-vacation-but-won’t-be-anymore season.
  • One opening paragraph for each day of the month, so far. Easy-peasy. =D

And now, without further delay (because TnT aren’t exactly the patient sort….)…my openings!

Questions and Answers: September 1

  • Trip stared at the wardrobe, then stretched his index and middle fingers out, together, running them lightly over the Starfleet insignia on a utilitarian jumpsuit, then its twin on one of T’Pol’s sleek form-fitting outfits. Jon started to wonder if he was going to try to fit into that the way he had her underthings. But Trip’s fingers kept moving, along the row, touching everything, all the way to the back – as though he needed to confirm where they were going.

The Thrill of the Hunt: September 2

  • “Just keeping in practice,” he murmured,  as he slipped three palmed credit chits into his pouch. He slid into the booth and scanned the datapadd, then brushed his hand over the vials to be sure they were still secure. The tingling in his fingers had nothing to do with the chill of their frozen contents.

Lost in a Burning Maze:  September 3

  • T’Pol slammed him into the padded deck plating and straddled him. He dared try to embrace her. She pinned his arms up over his head, held him there. She was roused by his helplessness. “You know nothing of it!”

“A Helluva Nightmare”: September 4

  • Trip Tucker was having a helluva dream.

Forest Grotesque: September 5

  • “Trip! Commander, stand down! That’s an order!”

Across the Threshold: September 6

  • “Hang on a minute, pepperpot. I want to do this right.”

“Mission Accomplished”: September 7

  • “A killer is on the loose, having broken into the home of a wealthy woman and left her for dead. He absconded with a few items, then left the initials, ‘M.A.’ ” Trip lowered the padd to watch his companion.

“I Have EVERY Right!”: September 8

  • “What the hell are you doing back in here, Trip?”

Picnic with Pavane: September 9

  • Trip rose from the dream, to realize that it wasn’t a dream, after all…he was feeling T’Pol, in the bond, as she listened to a classical piece. Horns, low and melancholy, but wound through with lighter, more hopeful notes, choral voices, and a softly driving rhythm. As he woke, he knew – this was how she felt, right now.

So, do you have a favorite among these openings?

Is there one (or more) that doesn’t work for you?

Do any of these make you want to read the next paragraph?

Or to walk away, and not return (I hope not!)?

If so, you’re in luck! Because I want to know what works and what not so much, I’m playing a little game.

For each time an opening gets a positive comment, I’ll post the next paragraph of the story in the comments. If something gets multiple votes, I’ll post mulitple paragraphs, and you can comment on those, too, if you’re so inclined!

These are all on the rough side, since I’m writing a story each day, but I want to know what captures your attention, and triggers you to read the rest of the story.

I’ll be posting something from The IDIC Romance for #8sunday, , too – but I don’t know what, just yet. If any of these stories turns out to be a clear winner, it’ll be that one….

Looking for WIPpet Snippets, that don’t play games? You can find those, or add your own date-related excerpt, by following the little blue froggy from WIPpet to WIPpet to WIPpet!

18 comments

    • No have to’s. I don’t like have to’s.

      But you COULD say you want more of all of then, and I’d give the next paragraphs for each.

      Or you could just let your imagination fill in the blanks! =)

  2. Oooo…. Thrill of the Hunt! It sounds intriguey, and I do so love intrigue. 😀 Followed by Forest Grotesque and than maaaaaaaybe Mission Accomplished, though that could very well be Trip reading a story…

    You’re stunningly ambitious with the number of stories you write. I hope I can be that prolific one day!

    • Thrill of the Hunt is indeed intriguey (love that word!).

      Here you go:

      ** othing to do with the chill of their frozen contents.

      It was the thrill of the hunt. Even back when he would have starved, if he hadn’t learned the pickpocket’s art, it was there. It’s what kept him coming back, again and again, despite the risk of losing his career and enough credits that he wouldn’t ever have to go empty-bellied and homeless.**

      Forest Grotesque: Afraid we’re not going to get to the forest just yet, but here’s the next one-line paragraph…

      ** “Can’t. Stop. Have. To -”**

      No, don’t look for more. You’ll gave to ask me for it! =D

      And I’ll give you Mission Accomploshed, too, because, even though Trip is reading, it’s maybe not what you think, and you might really enjoy this one – I know I did!

      **“Is this all the information we’ve been given?” She returned his gaze over her mug of mint tea. Steam curled up, fragrant, blending with citrus, minerals and sandalwood. That said she had other ideas about how to spend the next several hours.**

      Why, oh why ca’t they go follow up on T’Pol’s idea of a good time?

      Nope, not telling, at least not yet! =D

      Thanks for playing!

        • I lost this comment in the flurry of our conversation. So sorry I kept you waiting, especially since you’re the only one who’s played, thus far.

          Here’s the next paragraph for all three.

          Thrill:

          He could never quite let go of.the thrill of the hunt Even deep-space exploration, or the possibility of a suicide mission, couldn’t compare.

          Forest:

          “Lieutenant Reed, stun grenade!”

          Mission:

          He was tempted to turn the pad off, and let her lure him to her quarters, where candlelight could shine in her dilated eyes, and glow softly on copper skin.

          And there we ate!

          • Haha! Come on, Shan! You’re teasing me. 🙂

            It’s been slow on my blog this week, too. I think everyone must be insanely busy. I bet you we get a couple more comments each on, oh, say, Monday night right before the linky turns over. 😛

          • I’m a WRITER! I’m SUPPOSED to be teasing you! =D You can always ask for more!

            Sunday morning seems to be a very busy time for my blog. Maybe then. I’m chalking it up to the holiday and back to school season…

            At any rate, I’m glad I’ve caught your interest with these three…and, if you’ve got a favorite, I’d love to know which. I still don’t know which I want to share for my Sunday post.

          • Oooo… A favorite. Hmmm… Not yet. I’m not prone to having favorites in general, though. Ummm……… If I get a vote, though, the one that seems most urgent to finish is Forest. That one seems like if we leave it hanging too long, we’ll miss something.

          • If you’d like to be on the beta list for “Slow Jazz Awakening” (title may change), just give the word. I’ll be revising next month, and it should be ready after that….

    • Forgot to add that, before I started this batch of stories, these two had been crowding into everything else and trying to take over. So I’m kind of overflowing, and, since the current computer situation means I do better with shorter things, I’m letting them use me for their own purposes! =D

          • Nope. Going to read some notes for next April’s TnT A-Z batch (I’m telling you – those two have things to SAY!), and take a hot shower, then spend a little time freewriting the base of a story or two, which I’ll develop later.

            I’m also hoping today’s prompt will post sometime before I collapse for a few hours.

            Both kids are currently nocturnal, and it’s hard for me to sleep, still, if Lise is wide awake, because, as she says, she’s a ‘company craver’, and I know that about her….so I don’t like to leave her up alone.

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