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Saturday, March 12, 2011

Gabriela's 312 word writing contest

Title: Battlefields of Love
Genre: historical/family saga
Status: WIP

Thirteen-year-old Daphne Chauvin didn’t want to move again, but she had to—her father was in the marines. They had moved several times before in her life, but this time was different. She seemed to be leaving behind in Florida everything she’d known—hot summers, warm winters, and best friends. She brought with her the only things in her life that were constant, her clothes and books. She loved to read, especially love stories.
Moving to Peaceville, Rhode Island, was new and scary. The town was small, with a wide main street, a few stores, and several other old buildings. And, even though it was June, it was still cold at night. After the sun went down, she had to wear a sweater. Whereas, in Florida, she had slept with a sheet this time of year, and still might sweat in bed, here she slept with a blanket. And in the mornings, the house was cold, like during wintertime in Florida. She wrapped up in a bathrobe to eat breakfast.
She’d been in Peaceville less than a week, and she was already lonely. She had no idea how she was going to make new friends.
“We just moved here,” her mother Merriam said. “It takes a little time, you know. But you will, I promise. If not this summer, then you will when you go to school. You always have before, and you will again.”
But Daphne wasn’t so sure. After three weeks, she still knew no one. She’d seen a few girls at Mass on Sundays, but she didn’t get to meet them. Being summertime, there was no youth activities to attend at the church. So she went home and spent her Sunday afternoons reading.
One morning, Daphne woke up to blood between her legs, and she was scared. She didn’t know what to do. There were even red blotches on

8 comments:

Tanya Reimer said...

Oh sweet! I love it. Peaceville? That's an incredible name for a town, and your gal is off to a dramatic start to her day.

Gabriela Lessa said...

Great post! Love moving away stories!

Juliana L. Brandt said...

You have a very straight forward way of writing that is refreshing. Great first 312. I'm left wondering more about Daphne.

writing and living by Richard P Hughes said...

Wow, thank you for your comments. You guys are great.

Anonymous said...

You said this was a historical story when does it take place? I'm a historical fiction writer myself.

Rachel said...

I like your writing! It's very easy to follow, so it flows nicely! Good job! I'm interested! I would read more!

writing and living by Richard P Hughes said...

The historical period is WWII, roughly 1938-1945.

I appreciate your comments. It makes me feel that I'm on the right track.

Anonymous said...

Very nice and easy to follow. There's a beauty to simple language that a lot of people have forgotten. I'm already starting to feel for Daphne, and seeing as the time period is during WWII, I'm REALLY wondering how the tumultuous happenings are going to tie in with the already taxing adolescent stresses. Great 312!