Sometimes

When you think your heart is dead- when you think you can feel nothing more

When you say, ‘I am numb’

You may just very well... be feeling everything;

all of it

things you normally would never even realize you had anything to even think [about]

Sometimes

When you think you have lost interest in something

It may not be a loss of interest in 'something'… but instead of yourself. This could be internal or from an external anything.

So maybe- a new interest?

You will just fail at it, if it is not the self care you so desperately need- and this adds to the 'numb'.

Because …

You did not need something new- you needed the old you

Sometimes the young you

Sometimes the free you

Sometimes the healthier you

Sometimes, just you from a month ago… or even yesterday

Small

Changes

Can be big hurts

And big hurts can kill off things about you…. small things

The most microscopic change in an already micrometer size chromosome alters all life, which by the way, the smallest volume cell in the human body makes life possible

So, small changes… tiny gains, losses, or changes… DO alter.

Don’t give up the big picture, just never forget to protect and keep and eye on the small of everything, too.

Good day to anyone reading this:

I set up a Prose book for my short stories in order to collect the overall narrative I am working on in one place (https://theprose.com/book/3184/the-ultimate-hero-network-a-short-story-collection). I have been reposting stories that were previously submitted in challenges into the book. For future reference, I was wondering if there was a way to submit work in a Prose book as a new chapter, and also submit it in challenges at the same time. If anyone knows how to do this, please comment and help a dude that loves technology but is kind of awful with it at the same time. Thank you for anyone that can help, I really appreciate it. Regardless, I hope you all have a great rest of the day!

It’s a battle — yes it is. Why? Because it’s is its own worst enemy.

I know what you’re thinking. “It’s no big deal.” You’re right. It is not. In fact, you could say, “It’s is its own worst enemy.” You’d probably be right. But, as The Prose’s self-anointed Don Quixote de la Gramática, I’m compelled to battle this word vs. word windmill head-on, to the pain — if not to the death.

First things first: it’s = it is. Period. Finis. The end. No más. Get it’s right, and its takes care of itself. It’s that simple. Yes, it is.

Helpful hints:

She’s = she is.

He’s = he is.

It’s = it is

Got it?

Good.

So, then, what about its?

Easy. Its is possessive. Like his. Or hers.

Why the confusion?

I do not know. Or, better said, I don’t know. It’s that whole “contraction” thingy, which WIKI defines, thusly:

“A contraction is a shortened version of the written and spoken forms of a word, syllable, or word group, created by omission of internal letters ...”

Will my modest effort settle the “It’s vs. Its” battle? I doubt if its impact is that big, but it’s worth the effort. Yes, it is.

BRIEF VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRzSXKjaZDM&feature=youtu.be

As some of you know, I'm writing a book called "Hybrid". In my book, I have a British character named Max. I want Max to seem like a realistic British person so I want him to have the British slang, accent, etc. Unfortunately, I'm on chapter 34 and just realized that........ I never did that so I need some or any tips you have. Thanks! -Famewriter

(This is both the canon and changed information about Angela, who you all have written so gloriously about over the last week. I will be posting character info and tagging the writers of the challenge who I've spoken to already so that they know what's up with the coming story)

Name: Angela Delgado

Sex: Female

Age: 23-24 years old

Race/Ethnicity: Latina, Puerto Rican

Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual

Family: Lola Delgado (sister, not by blood), Luis Delgado (father, not by blood), Unnamed father (human, by blood), Sarah Madera (mother, former Possessor), James Burns (half-brother)

Religion: Agnostic

Profession: Prostitute (formerly), Bartender (currently; bar is for wealthy, spn creatures of all backgrounds, but mostly demons, who are at the top of the food chain), Soon: Nurse (working on license)

Mate: Carlos Elizondo (or is he?)

Apperance: Angela is fairly tall, Puerto Rican. She is very attractive with a "big sister" appearance. Curvy figure; leggy. Deep, chocloate-colored eyes (with dark circles around them that she hides with makeup), chocolate-brown, wavy hair (shoulder length) - "stress-prone." Mark: looks like the crown of Lust, on the back of her hand that she says is a "birthmark." Scars on hips from both injections and self-harm from previous depression. Angela is Gemini, so she has a two-face tattoo on the back of her left shoulder.

Abilities: Pre!Marion: No noteworthy abilities, aside from being able to see Supernatural creatures for what they really are (baseline Possessor ability); bound to demon counterpart. Post!Marion: Can temporarily (cannot stress that enough) gain the abilities of the demon she is bound to, draining them in the process (shadow manip, minor elemental manip, telepathy, clairvoyance, summoning, blood manip, soul manip, augmented speed, strength, senses, satanic fire manip, etc).

Personality: Angela is an unusually cold and aloof person, which she demonstrates to everyone - including James after they find out they're related. She doesn't have the patience for games and likes straight-forward solutions. She is still a recovering opiod-addict and refrains from even prescriptions out of fear of relapse.

Relationships:

-w/ Lola: Ultimate older sister. Loves Lola unconditionall and would do anything to see her happy. She uses what little money from whatever odd jobs she works to pay for Lola's boarding school, not wanting her to be involved in any of the mess Angela is.

-w/ James: At first, Angela doesn't trust James nor does she even like him (she thinks he's a "whiny bitch"). But, as the two of them work together, they become closer (some could say romantic). When they find out that they are siblings, however, angela pulls back and reverts back to being cold and shelterd around him, although there are moments where she will openly express concern for his well-being, much like how she would with Lola.

-w/ Carlos: Angela hates Carlos with everything she has and would love to see him die (which amuses him greatly, because he knows how she feels about him. She's very vocal.) However, Carlos knows the most about Angela and all her baggage, so he knows how to manipulater her into doing something stupid and/or illegal or even into his bed. To an extent, Angela knows how to manipulate Carlos, too, to push his buttons or even set him off or get him to leave her alone or do something for her. Their dynamic is very unhealthy.

-w/ Marion: Angela barely trusts Marion and, until she finds out why the witch wants Carlos dead, openly berates her for practicing witchcraft (which is highly looked down on). They eventually grow to be good friends considering how alike they are and Marion becomes the only person other than Lola and Raul that Angela is kind to.

-w/ Raul: Angela has known raul for several years, so she has no problem with him dating Lola. She trusts him with her sister's life and is opnely knid to him (this is change dun dun DUNNNN)

Special Notes:

-Angela has no initial abilites pre!Marion except for being able to peep the spn

-Angela finds out that she is mated with a demon at 21, when she becomes addicted to drugs and really immerses herself in the spn world around her reality

-Carlos is in and out of angela's life, taking several different forms to manipulate her (pimp, dealer, psychiatrist, etc), but officially introduces himself to her when she starts working at the bar

-Angela is not half/quarter demon anymore (that was just too confusing, so I'm scrapping it). Angela's biological mother, Sarah, though marked, bad Angela with a human man that she loved. Later, Sarah and Carlos have James, where she dies. Before getting with Carlos, though, Sarah leaves Angela with her old friend, Luis Delgado, to take care of her - Angela believes that he is her biological father.

-Angela is highkey LATINA along with many of the other characters (except for Marion)

-Scrapping the bit about the hair that Angela keeps because it's confusing and Sarah wouldn't have blonde hair if she's Latina so...

I finally decided to actually provide freelance writing services instead of just saying I do. I'm a versatile experienced writer and former language arts instructor. My credentials are posted on Linkedin as JC Vincent. You can message me here or there to let me know how I can be of service to you. Thanks for your interest.

If a tree falls in the forest,

and nobody is around to hear it,

does it make a sound?

Yes.

It's the sound of another dead wolf.

It's the sound of uprooted sacred ground

because the world is greedy.

It's the sound of couple hurt 

because the tree they carved

their initials in is gone.

It's the sound of a man 

cashing his check

because he wiped out a whole forest.

It's the sound of a child's stomach rumbling

because he lost his food source.

It's the sound of the lungs of the planet deflating.

I'm running away.

So I get in my car

And head for anywhere.

It doesn't matter.

I just have to pick up

Some things first.

I leave the car running.

I open the door of the house

And call out, 'Is anyone there?'

No one answers. Thank god.

I go inside and grab

Some clothes, makeup,

And a half open

Carton of Marlboro cigarettes.

I quickly check my

Jeans pockets for a lighter

Relief. Yes I have one.

And some matches too.

I'm in luck.

I hope my luck holds.

Now I have to run.

I will stop at the bank

To pick up some cash on the way.

I have thought about

Doing this for a long time.

I'm not running away

From the law,

My boyfriend,

Or anything threatening

Out there.

I'm running away from

Myself.

They stood before the painting in disbelief. The experts and critics, shaking their heads, “Doesn’t he understand what in means to create a masterpiece. It doesn’t even carry a semblance of the works of the masters we cherish.— — And he calls this Art!”

I’m sure the conversations were something like this about the artist,— Monet. Today Monet is revered as one of the forefathers of impressionist painting and is respected as a master of the highest caliber.

Often,—— those in the know,— the experts and critics alike,— are trapped in the dogma of how they think things must be done and can’t see past to the true artistry in imagination. They make up rules they feel must be followed and if you don’t follow the norm, no-one will respect your work.

To my fellow authors: Do not believe the lie. For too long the publishing industry has sold the Andy Warhol, factory approach to writing; with one exception, they instead apply a cookie cutter way to pen your words that focus on the story and not the beauty of individual expression. They chop for word count and profit and just as the experts of Monet’s day, sold the public on a false reality based on what they teach.

But today we are entering a new era for the true artistry within the quill to unfold. We can write creatively and not be hemmed in by the prison — tying the hands of the artist. The internet can allow our work to be appreciate by like minded artists. False rules do not apply. The punctuation Nazis have had their day.

Pen for me a beautiful song

Weave your words with grace,—— gifting me the dramatic pause,

Let me envision your world with awe

Help me live the expressions you scrawl

I wish for you,— my selfish plea —— that dreams you score with ink will be,——

A love that can’t be quelled by tears.— Pages I can’t help but hold ——— revere

The artistry must, awaken ——— soar

It’s time we shed — and write our souls

Don’t be trapped by the meaningless lie,— true art becomes timeless. —

It will not die

This is the world I long to see,— when the creative cliff is bridged by thee

Here lies the one we did endorse

His high ideals he did enforce

Promises to keep? God forbid

Here lies our elected

As he always did

©2017 carolann Renaud