May 27, 2021

6 Conversational Writing Prompts - Inspiration Through Dialogue!

May 27, 2021/ Montgomery Mahaffey

**Writing prompt original by Montgomery mahaffey from Free Flying Press**

“I take it Rosco talked you into this?”

“That’s one way to look at it, Adele.”

“I’m very pleased you’re staying, Martinez. I didn’t think you would.”

“Yes.”

“Did Rosco blackmail you?”

“I wouldn’t go quite that far.”

“But you are not here willingly.”

“No. I’m not.”

Writing prompts are back. Sweet chunks of dialogue to get your imagination revving! What’s the story behind these intriguing pieces of conversation? One way to find out is to take the deep dive and see what you come up with. Enjoy!

“What a foolish vanity you have. Lady Fortune is fickle. Luck always changes.”

“Not for me, it doesn’t. You saw what happened here tonight.”

“Tell me, Gambler. Are you looking for the game you can’t win?”

“No. I’m looking to see that I always will.”

“Perhaps you only play the games that are easy to win.”

“You’ve really gotten yourself into a mess now, darling. Wasn’t I enough trouble for you?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about your fancy courtesan.”

“She wants you dead, woman.”

“Of course, she does. Beautiful courtesan has lusted for my blood for a long, long time.”

“Congratulations.”

“Why feign your good wishes? You weren’t cheering for me.”

“Why do you love it? What do you love about gambling? Is it the money you don’t need?”

“No. It’s the games.”

“So you like to play games? Why the games of chance?”

“Because I love to win them.”

“Why not games of skill? The victory would be sweeter.”

“Luck has no play in games of skill.”

“What about Anthony?”

“What about him?”

“Doesn’t he deserve vengeance?”

“Hell no! That vicious little brute got what he deserved!”

“So what if he was horrid? Two wrongs don’t make a right.”

“He’s despicable.”

“Well now, he’s a drooling mess of an imbecile, and your lady love is to blame.”

“You aren’t the kind to take the coward’s way out.”

I turned around to see the Sorcerer behind me. I was never afraid of the Sorcerer. Not then and not later, not even once I knew what he was capable of.

“I’ve been watching you,” he continued.

“Oh yeah? And what do you see?”

“I see a girl who wants what she can’t have.”

September 28, 2020

Discipline, Baby!

September 28, 2020/ Montgomery Mahaffey

So yesterday I went to a les-bi writers meetup that I’ve belonged to for at least two years, and had never attended an event.

I had joined because I liked the focus on queer women writers.

Even if most of what I write isn’t queer – at least not directly – I still appreciate narrowing the field to create community between an intersection between identities. Being lesbian/bisexual is a specific way to be in this world, and being a writer is no less specific.

Besides realizing that I just enjoyed meeting new people for the first time since I left my now-ex-fiancee, that was an excellent cure for writer’s block.

I’ve hardly written anything original, except for writing prompts in over 2 months, and lately, I’ve been borrowing from dialogue excerpts in various novels to get a jumpstart on those.

Gotta love those breakup blues that result in creative blocks!

Anyway, the event started with a writing prompt. I picked it and what came up was something that had been lacking in my world – discipline.

Discipline makes a dry subject to write about, so instead I turned discipline into a character study. The end result is that I finally wrote SOMETHING NEW, DAMMIT!

Besides being totally excited that I just wrote something fresh, I was pleased enough with the piece to share it here. Because all writers need discipline to do what we do.

Discipline.

It’s such a dirty word because it’s so necessary.

If Discipline were a woman, she’d be a rail thin, long-limbed, tight-lipped clichéd librarian type with angular features and humorless eyes.

But she gets the job done.

She gets up at 4:30 AM to meditate, eat a light breakfast, workout, shower, and dry her hair, only to put in a tight knot at the base of her neck.

Her hair is chestnut brown and her eyes are a flat hazel.

She would then dress primly and properly for her day job, which doesn’t necessarily have to be a librarian, but would have to involve DISCIPLINE because that’s her jam.

All her appointments are timed impeccably.

Any client who is not on time will lose time with her for her to welcome her next appointment, no matter how much money or power is involved. She does not tolerate lateness because she is never late herself.

Never.

Her clients are rarely late for their appointments with her.

For an hour lunch, she only spends fifteen minutes eating.

The rest of the time, she power walks around the park or gets some work done on a personal project that she does for love and giggles – like maybe writing a novel.

She will later work on this project for exactly two hours that night after work, before cooking and after dinner.

Even if she has a partner/lover/husband/kids or all of the above, nothing can sway her from her 2 hours of personal time on her project.

It is quite likely though, that Discipline is a child-free woman.

Kids are too messy and too demanding for her strictly-adhered to schedule. They have too many needs, and are prone to getting sick at the most inconvenient times.

Discipline has few girlfriends, because most women are frightened of her.

GiveYourselfSomethingtoWriteAbout-DisciplineBesties.jpg

She has one best friend, who is as organized, driven, and focused as she is. They bonded over their mutual impatience and disdain for fluffy, flaky types.

If they aren’t roommates, Discipline and her bestie meet for dinner or a show at least once a week, and they talk on the phone at least twice a week. Like most besties, they text back and forth just about every day.

When Discipline has a lover, you can bet she is kinky as all get out, a merciless domme with severe red lipstick painted on her narrow lips.

She is efficient in how she doles out punishment, and of course, discipline. Orgasm is always guaranteed. For herself as well as her lover.

GiveYourselfSomethingtoWriteAbout-Discipline1 copy.jpg

She prefers to dominate the dominant types. Power gives her a grim satisfaction, and the thrill makes her flesh tease and tickle.

Discipline always goes to bed between 9 and 10 PM, after a cool shower where she flosses and brushes her teeth.

The last half hour of waking is reserved for the reading that she does solely for pleasure.

Her choice of novels are those that will transport her to another world of adventure, mystery, and the erotic for those last 20-30 minutes before she relaxes enough that her eyelids grow heavier and heavier.

Then she turns out the light and collapses under the covers and falls asleep within minutes. Her slumber will last somewhere between 6 ½ and 7 hours.

During that time, she will reach the vivid dreaming REM at least three times.

Then the alarm will sound at 4:30 AM and her new day begins.

I aspire to be more like this woman, but I know that will never happen. But that is how I see Discipline. Even a few crumbs of this would make me so much more productive.

For the record, I did get back to work on the Shepherd and the Courtesan. If you’d like to see a segment of that work-in-progress, click here.

July 08, 2019

Why Roses Have Thorns - Progress on Illustrations

July 08, 2019/ Montgomery Mahaffey

Illustration by:Natalya Kolosowskywebsite: http://www.lunariusgraphics.comInstagram: @lunariusgraphics — Illustration by:
Natalya Kolosowsky
website: http://www.lunariusgraphics.com
Instagram: @lunariusgraphics

As I said in an earlier post, one of the joys of self-publishing is the power of choice. Creative collaboration is one of my favorite parts of this process, especially when it comes to working with artists and designers.

I wrote “Why Roses Have Thorns” more than twenty years ago. It was the first fairy tale I ever wrote, and I’d say it was that miraculous beginner’s stroke of luck when that tale flowed out of me. I’m still amazed at how naturally people of all ages connect to this simple parable about the dangers of pride.

Since I use storytelling (NOT reading!), I recently had a chance to witness again the impact this story has on people when I told this tale and “The Golden Pedestal” at my stepdaughter’s school for screen-free week.

I had practiced “Pedestal” for days. After I saw an email from the school librarian that set people up to expect both stories, I did a hasty run through of “Roses.”

Anyway, the librarian’s kids came to my event, and listened attentively with inscrutable expressions. Later, the librarian told me her son had retold “Roses” to his father when he asked about his day.

Talk about the highest compliment a writer can receive! I love it when things like that happen.

So needless to say, the illustrator for this story was a crucial choice.

So far, I believe I hit the ball out of the park in the choice I made with Natalya Kolosowsky for “Why Roses Have Thorns.”

She has been as pleasant and professional throughout this process as she was in our interview. She’s thorough, asks questions, and makes certain we’re clear in our agreement of what my expectations are.

I’m impressed with the level of research she has done to prepare for this story – everything from the shape of roses and other flowers, to greenhouses, children, and the style of illustration during the golden age of fairy tales.

Natalya is passionate about fairy tales, certainly seems to be passionate about my story, and I’m very grateful for that.

I appreciate her grand vision for this work, so much that perhaps the bar is raised for how I want to put this book together. Usually, I try to make books as affordable as possible. To date, I’ve only done paperback and ebook, of course.

When I told her I avoid paperback because it’s expensive to produce and thus, must be expensive to sell. I’ve seen hardback children’s books run for $25-30, and I mentioned that.

“But why shouldn’t you make a $30 book? You’re investing a lot to do something unusual that nobody else is doing. An original classical fairy tale that I will make beautiful artwork for, and there are people who would want a hardback copy of something like that because it’s special.”

What she had to say made me think twice. Maybe I will raise the bar and have a hardback and paperback version designed.

I’m also really excited about the artwork she’s done for this project. I think what she has done thus far is fabulous! And what you see are only shots taken by phone!

Previous posts about the process of working with Natalya can be read here and here for anybody who’d like to have a look-see.

Give Yourself Something to Write About

“I take it Rosco talked you into this?”

“That’s one way to look at it, Adele.”

“I’m very pleased you’re staying, Martinez. I didn’t think you would.”

“Yes.”

“Did Rosco blackmail you?”

“I wouldn’t go quite that far.”

“But you are not here willingly.”

“No. I’m not.”

Writing prompts are back. Sweet chunks of dialogue to get your imagination revving! What’s the story behind these intriguing pieces of conversation? One way to find out is to take the deep dive and see what you come up with. Enjoy!

“What a foolish vanity you have. Lady Fortune is fickle. Luck always changes.”

“Not for me, it doesn’t. You saw what happened here tonight.”

“Tell me, Gambler. Are you looking for the game you can’t win?”

“No. I’m looking to see that I always will.”

“Perhaps you only play the games that are easy to win.”﻿

“You’ve really gotten yourself into a mess now, darling. Wasn’t I enough trouble for you?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about your fancy courtesan.”

“She wants you dead, woman.”

“Of course, she does. Beautiful courtesan has lusted for my blood for a long, long time.”

“Congratulations.”

“Why feign your good wishes? You weren’t cheering for me.”

“Why do you love it? What do you love about gambling? Is it the money you don’t need?”

“No. It’s the games.”

“So you like to play games? Why the games of chance?”

“Because I love to win them.”

“Why not games of skill? The victory would be sweeter.”

“Luck has no play in games of skill.”

“What about Anthony?”

“What about him?”

“Doesn’t he deserve vengeance?”

“Hell no! That vicious little brute got what he deserved!”

“So what if he was horrid? Two wrongs don’t make a right.”

“He’s despicable.”

“Well now, he’s a drooling mess of an imbecile, and your lady love is to blame.”

“You aren’t the kind to take the coward’s way out.”

I turned around to see the Sorcerer behind me. I was never afraid of the Sorcerer. Not then and not later, not even once I knew what he was capable of.

“I’ve been watching you,” he continued.

“Oh yeah? And what do you see?”

“I see a girl who wants what she can’t have.”

So yesterday I went to a les-bi writers meetup that I’ve belonged to for at least two years, and had never attended an event.

I had joined because I liked the focus on queer women writers.

Even if most of what I write isn’t queer – at least not directly – I still appreciate narrowing the field to create community between an intersection between identities. Being lesbian/bisexual is a specific way to be in this world, and being a writer is no less specific.

Besides realizing that I just enjoyed meeting new people for the first time since I left my now-ex-fiancee, that was an excellent cure for writer’s block.

I’ve hardly written anything original, except for writing prompts in over 2 months, and lately, I’ve been borrowing from dialogue excerpts in various novels to get a jumpstart on those.

Gotta love those breakup blues that result in creative blocks!

Anyway, the event started with a writing prompt. I picked it and what came up was something that had been lacking in my world – discipline.

Discipline makes a dry subject to write about, so instead I turned discipline into a character study. The end result is that I finally wrote SOMETHING NEW, DAMMIT!

Besides being totally excited that I just wrote something fresh, I was pleased enough with the piece to share it here. Because all writers need discipline to do what we do.

Discipline.

It’s such a dirty word because it’s so necessary.

If Discipline were a woman, she’d be a rail thin, long-limbed, tight-lipped clichéd librarian type with angular features and humorless eyes.

But she gets the job done.

She gets up at 4:30 AM to meditate, eat a light breakfast, workout, shower, and dry her hair, only to put in a tight knot at the base of her neck.

Her hair is chestnut brown and her eyes are a flat hazel.

She would then dress primly and properly for her day job, which doesn’t necessarily have to be a librarian, but would have to involve DISCIPLINE because that’s her jam.

All her appointments are timed impeccably.

Any client who is not on time will lose time with her for her to welcome her next appointment, no matter how much money or power is involved. She does not tolerate lateness because she is never late herself.

Never.

Her clients are rarely late for their appointments with her.

For an hour lunch, she only spends fifteen minutes eating.

The rest of the time, she power walks around the park or gets some work done on a personal project that she does for love and giggles – like maybe writing a novel.

She will later work on this project for exactly two hours that night after work, before cooking and after dinner.

Even if she has a partner/lover/husband/kids or all of the above, nothing can sway her from her 2 hours of personal time on her project.

It is quite likely though, that Discipline is a child-free woman.

Kids are too messy and too demanding for her strictly-adhered to schedule. They have too many needs, and are prone to getting sick at the most inconvenient times.

Discipline has few girlfriends, because most women are frightened of her.

She has one best friend, who is as organized, driven, and focused as she is. They bonded over their mutual impatience and disdain for fluffy, flaky types.

If they aren’t roommates, Discipline and her bestie meet for dinner or a show at least once a week, and they talk on the phone at least twice a week. Like most besties, they text back and forth just about every day.

When Discipline has a lover, you can bet she is kinky as all get out, a merciless domme with severe red lipstick painted on her narrow lips.

She is efficient in how she doles out punishment, and of course, discipline. Orgasm is always guaranteed. For herself as well as her lover.

She prefers to dominate the dominant types. Power gives her a grim satisfaction, and the thrill makes her flesh tease and tickle.

Discipline always goes to bed between 9 and 10 PM, after a cool shower where she flosses and brushes her teeth.

The last half hour of waking is reserved for the reading that she does solely for pleasure.

Her choice of novels are those that will transport her to another world of adventure, mystery, and the erotic for those last 20-30 minutes before she relaxes enough that her eyelids grow heavier and heavier.

Then she turns out the light and collapses under the covers and falls asleep within minutes. Her slumber will last somewhere between 6 ½ and 7 hours.

During that time, she will reach the vivid dreaming REM at least three times.

Then the alarm will sound at 4:30 AM and her new day begins.

I aspire to be more like this woman, but I know that will never happen. But that is how I see Discipline. Even a few crumbs of this would make me so much more productive.

For the record, I did get back to work on the Shepherd and the Courtesan. If you’d like to see a segment of that work-in-progress, click here.

“Perhaps you only play the games that are easy to win.”