Melissa Barker-Simpson

WIPpet Wednesday – Following the rules.

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This week has been decidedly unproductive in terms of writing. On a positive note though, I’ve had a few books to enjoy in my role as beta-reader, so at least I wasn’t staring at the wall, or indeed banging my head against it as I was last week.

Last Wednesday was my first experience as a ‘Wippeteer’ and I received a huge welcome. This is especially appreciated, since I now realise I fluffed on the rules. I completely missed the whole ‘maths’ thing, but then it always was my weakest subject J

So here’s what I’ve been working on.

 

The smell registered first. Slapping her awake like a hand-full of smelling salts; strong enough to make her eyes water and her stomach heave in protest. The aroma of death and decay clawed at her throat. She had no idea if her captors were close by and she didn’t care. Her lips began to move instinctively, the chant increasing with every jagged breath until she was clear of the rancid stink assaulting her nostrils.

 She didn’t open her eyes right away. Instead she took stock of her injuries. Her head hurt, which was a given – she had been struck from behind. Her hair was a little frayed too, but it would heal. It wouldn’t be the first time someone had tried to cut it and it wouldn’t be the last.

Reaching out with her senses, she explored the six by eight cell and found nothing out of the ordinary. If you didn’t count the pit in the centre of the room, which probably accounted for the smell.

Her hands were bound above her head, connected to a thick, coiling chain which attached to matching cuffs at her ankles. There was something odd about her binds.

 

The math is pretty simple 27-8-1-4 = 14 sentences.

I hope you enjoyed it. If you want to find out what the others are up to, click here.

Thanks for reading.

Mel 

32 responses to “WIPpet Wednesday – Following the rules.”

  1. callummclaughlin Avatar
    callummclaughlin

    Talk about teasing! I definitely want to know more about this character and how she ended up in this predicament 🙂

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      Thank you. She put herself in the predicament, but it was a necessary evil 🙂 I like her too, but I’m struggling with the romance element of the novella. She’s so prickly, and argumentative. Not really desirable qualities!

      Reply
      1. callummclaughlin Avatar
        callummclaughlin

        Now I’m even more intrigued! 🙂

      2. shanjeniah Avatar
        shanjeniah

        I think those are perfect qualities to attract the right type of guy…I’m having a blast with T’Pol (my definitely argumentative Vulcan lady with a temper and mad fighting skills- oh, and that nifty little neck pinch!) and Trip – maybe the only human who can handle her. And I’m not the first…

        Maybe her love interest needs some toughening up if he’s going to be man enough to embrace a woman like her without trying to dominate or change her. And maybe that’s a journey that doesn’t happen very quickly…

      3. mbarkersimpson Avatar
        mbarkersimpson

        Good point 🙂 I need to play around a little because at the moment they’re just not working together! T’Pol and Trip on the other hand steam up my computer screen!

  2. Jacqui Murray Avatar
    Jacqui Murray

    What the heck is a ‘wippeteer’? Work-in-progress… You share once a week? sounds good.

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      It’s great. If you click on the link in the post it takes you to the originators website – fun and you don’t have to take part every week 🙂 Not sure about the name – the WIP is clear enough but pet… maybe pet project!

      Reply
      1. shanjeniah Avatar
        shanjeniah

        WIP is Work in progress. Pet is from SNIPPET – a bit of the WIP…WIP Snippet= WIPpet.

        Cute,no? Wish i’d thought of it!

        Jacqui, it is a lot of fun! Wanna come play?! =D

      2. mbarkersimpson Avatar
        mbarkersimpson

        It’s definitely fun and a clever little name to boot 🙂

  3. Mishka Jenkins Avatar
    Mishka Jenkins

    What a WIPpet! Very intriguing! 😀

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      I assume a blog hop to talk about your pet WIP…not exactly clear on the origins!

      Reply
  4. Elaine Jeremiah Avatar
    Elaine Jeremiah

    This is wonderful Mel, so vivid I felt I was there with your character. It took me a little while to realise that she might be the character from last week’s excerpt. I may be wrong though, of course. I liked your descriptions of her surroundings and how she’s gradually remembering what happened to her as she wakes up. Great excerpt! 🙂

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      Thanks, Elaine. Yes, I realise I didn’t give any sort of introduction. I’ll do better next time…at least I got the math right!

      Reply
      1. Elaine Jeremiah Avatar
        Elaine Jeremiah

        Well you’ve done better than me – I’m never very adventurous with my maths for WIPpet Wednesday. It was my worst subject at school and I hated it with a passion! Still do lol. 🙂

      2. mbarkersimpson Avatar
        mbarkersimpson

        Me too 🙂

      3. Elaine Jeremiah Avatar
        Elaine Jeremiah

        A kindred spirit! 🙂

  5. sirenarobinsonsirenarobinson Avatar
    sirenarobinsonsirenarobinson

    One teensy tiny nit picky thing is using smell twice in the first line. It kinda throws me off a bit, but other than that, I love all the description and the way you’ve drawn this scene. It is awesome.

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      Thank you, that’s lovely feedback. To be honest I never noticed the repetitive use of the word, I would’ve removed it during the edit, so thanks for picking it up 🙂

      Reply
  6. Adrian Avatar
    Adrian

    Well, since I missed you last week… WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    This is a very good excerpt. It’s definitely teasing. I do wonder why she would notice her hair before pain in her arms from being strung up like that. Just something to think about. =P

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      She has magic hair – hair she uses as a weapon – I introduced it last week and should have made a reference. I did forget the introduction! Thanks so much for the feedback and the welcome – I appreciate booth 🙂

      Reply
  7. ReGi McClain Avatar
    ReGi McClain

    How interesting that her hair can heal!

    That pit in the center of her cell would drive many a person out of their nerves. Nice touch. 🙂

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      Thank you 🙂 I don’t even want to think about what’s down there!

      Reply
  8. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    Ah, I wondered if she was the same as the one from last week. I’m curious about what’s not right with her binds. Are they magical, to stop her hair from healing? Interesting.

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      Thanks, Amy. I’ll get this WIPpet thing right in the end! Last week I forgot the math, this week the introduction 🙂 I appreciate the comment.

      Reply
  9. kathils Avatar
    kathils

    Never fear, the rules (such as they are) are actually more like guidelines. Rather like the Pirate Code. 😉 WIPpet is a combination of the words ‘wip’ and ‘snippet’ — hence, a snipped of your WIP or a WIPpet. I can’t lay claim to coming up with that. I do have a WIPpet origin post, I’m not even the true creator of it. I’ll see if I can find the link.

    Anyhow, on to the excerpt. Ooohhh…way to leave us hanging. *snort* Okay, bad pun, no coffee yet. I’m very curious as to why her hair has been cut and why she figures it won’t be the last time. That little detail really intrigued me.

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      Thanks for clearing that up – thinking about it, I should have been able to work it out! Thanks for the feedback too I’m glad she caught your interest 🙂

      Reply
  10. Xina Marie Uhl Avatar
    Xina Marie Uhl

    I’m curious about the smell of death and decay and the heroine’s terrible predicament. I’m wondering how she can use her senses (but not eyesight?) to identify that she’s in a 6×8 cell? Hmmmm … intriguing.

    Looking forward to more from you!

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      Thank you 🙂 I really appreciate the feedback.

      Reply
  11. shanjeniah Avatar
    shanjeniah

    I’m liking this character more and more. And her hair…I think I’m in love with it! I want to know what’s wrong with her binds, and where that guy is she was fighting with last week…I hope you’re going to give us more!

    Oddly, scent is a sense that many of my characters use more than the typical human, too…

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      Thank you 🙂 I’m glad you like her and I’ve got to agree the hair is cool…I want weaponised hair! Or her magic. I’d settle for either! I will give you more…when they stop driving me mad with their constant bickering 😉 Thanks so much for the lovely feedback.

      Reply
  12. booksbysmiles Avatar
    booksbysmiles

    Ah, and this is what I get when I’m not around, I get lost on context and background.

    Glad I read the comments, because I was confused about her attention to the hair being cut first thing. And also, at that point she’s using her senses and not her eyes, so now that I know her hair is magical, that makes sense that she would ‘feel’ that her hair has been cut rather than needing to see it.

    She’ll need to open her eyes when she mentions the kind of chains that are binding her, since you’re a bit specific on what they look like.

    Other than that, love this excerpt! A dungeon scene, sweet 🙂 I like dungeons.

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      Thank you 🙂 That’s great feedback. I had to be specific about the binds, but there’s a good reason. I won’t spoil it though…I’ll leave it as a surprise! I think you’ll like it 🙂

      Reply

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