November 20th
Total Words: 33,320
Ambience: The Reading of the Letter
“In the seraphic glancing of thine eyes —
Of all who owe thee most — whose gratitude
Nearest approaches worship — oh, remember
The truest — the most fervently devoted…”
To M.L.S. by Edgar Allen Poe
“My distinguished guests,
“Your collective creativity has thoroughly delighted me! It is a bitter injustice that the world seeks to steal precious time away from your fine work. But no more!
“I created Inkhouse to be a haven for the creative, the genius, the inner muse. Yet I now realize it must also be a fortification against the useless drivel of the mundane! Your sacred artisanry deserves completion, and to that end, the utmost protection."
Prompt: Have a character try to protect someone by hiding something from them.
“From here onward, you are released from the bonds of time. No clock in this house is the same time, because time means nothing to the artisan. The walls surrounding the estate cannot be scaled– no one can enter the little courtyard, and you cannot be taken from it.
“Perhaps when each of you have completed your work, you may once again find bitter repose in the rhythms of mundanity. But until then, I am your keeper, your protector, your inspiration… your dark muse!
“Signed, The Host.”
Challenge: Choose three songs to write to. For one, write with your eyes closed for the whole song. For another, write as fast as you can till it's over. The third song you can write normally for.
Question: How does the conflict raise the stakes personally for your characters? How does that reflect or conflict with how the overarching stakes develop?
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