More, by popular demand...

Okay, it's late, but I'm getting this in. I wanted to do a writing exercise today to finish updating this blog. Before I do that though, I have a couple items of business.



I have a great network of support for my writing. Friends and some family have been tremendous sources of support and validation. Writer friends, I just want to give a shout out to you: Kristi and Melinda (I put Kristi first because K is before M in the alphabet, sorry Melinda) and also to Nanci Arvizu. I've got these great ladies' blogs' links over there on the right --> so I recommend you stop by.



Thanks for keeping me going with this whole thing. Something's gonna give. It will.



And the other thing is that I think I'll do my posts all staggered-like. So an update on my career and then a writing exercise a few days later.



What's more, for any writers who read this, I invite you to join me in doing the writing exercises I do here. They're keeping the creative juices flowing for me-- and that's a valuable thing right now.



Okay, so today's writing exercise. The story will be a continuation of the romance I did last time. The exercise is to write dialogue that rings true and that helps give the characters some depth.



So here we go. If you recall, Jonah saw Brenda on a running path. They might have some kind of history. Jonah had french toast with his daughter that morning. He might be divorced. The scene ends with an embrace.



For a more detailed recap, scroll down some to the post itself! It's not that long.

Jonah felt her arms begin to loosen. He didn't want to let go, but he knew he should. He had to be careful here. He felt as if fate had offered him the most wonderful of prizes, but that the prize could evaporate if he did something stupid.

They both stepped back. Her warmth stayed with his shoulders and neck.

Their eyes met.

She opened her mouth, but he spoke first, stumbling over his words. He glanced down, then back up to look in her eyes. "I can't believe it. How does.. I mean... How is this even possible?"

Brenda smiled. "I know!" She stopped, seeming uncomfortable with the open joy in her voice. "I know," she said again, quieter.

"I mean," Jonah began, then stopped. "I have no clue what to say right now." He let out a breath.

"I know," Brenda said. She looked around. "We should... we should catch up. You know... It's been fifteen years!"

"Yeah!" Jonah said. His breath caught briefly in his chest. He pushed through it. "Right. Exactly. I can't believe... fifteen years."

A new silence spread between them. This one thoughtful, rather than heavy.

"That's a long time," Jonah said finally.

"No kidding," Brenda said. Her hazel eyes caught his gaze. "Do you have time now?"

"Yeah!" Jonah heard the hope in her voice. He stopped. Emily. "Crap. No, I don't. I've gotta take my daughter to tae kwon do."

"Daughter? You have a daughter?" Brenda's expression became guarded.

This was it. Jonah knew this moment, what he said now, could ruin this chance. He looked deeply into Brenda's eyes. "Yes. I was married. Divorced a few years ago. I got custody. It's a long story." He took a breath. "I really want to tell you the story, though."

Brenda looked over Jonah's shoulder, then down the path in the direction she had been coming from. Jonah steeled himself for what might come. He looked down.

"Okay," Brenda said.

Jonah looked up. The sight of her eyes, her familiar face that was in so many ways the exact same as it had been, but was now marked almost imperceptibly by time... he caught his breath.

"I want to hear it. I have a story to tell too," Brenda said.

Jonah allowed the tension to seep from his shoulders. He took a breath. "Great. It's been a long time."

"A lifetime," Brenda said.

"Yeah." He mentally took a step back. Fifteen years ago, he would have imagined this scene. That summer had been incredible. Full of laughter and life and... just full. More full than anything else he had ever known. He had been so certain that fate would bring them back together. He had imagined their reunion so many times the following fall.

But in his daydreams, fifteen years hadn't passed. Reality was different.

He wanted to take her hand. He wanted to tell her how his heart had seemed... used up... after that summer. Like it had burned too hot to ever be able to catch flame again.

Jonah knew it would be cliche, out of a movie. He didn't care.

"Brenda," he said. "This feels like... like something's being corrected. Like there was a puzzle with a piece in the wrong place." His gaze explored her face again. "But like the piece just got put right."

Brenda blinked. Her eyes glimmered for a moment. She swallowed deeply.

Jonah felt the warmth of her hand a moment before her skin touched his. An electric bolt shot up his arm, hitting his chest and igniting his entire body. His heart stammered, sputtered, then steadied.

She squeezed his hand. "Right. It just feels right. A long time coming."

He squeezed back. A long time coming. A grin stretched his face tight. "How about lunch?"

Right, that's it for today.

Okay, so how's the dialogue? Is it real? This is a pretty fantastic situation, so the dialogue is a challenge. How'd I do? Did it add depth to the characters?

I'm having some interesting ideas with this one. Maybe even a screenplay, if I knew how to write one.

Oh well, I guess it's time for chocolate. Or a Coke Cherry Zero.

Or both.

Let me know what you think so far!

Heaving, sweating, sultriness.

That's right, today's writing exercise is simple: write a romance. In fifteen to twenty minutes! Any part of the romance. Hence, the title of this post. Am I going to write a Harlequin romance? I don't think so, but I really don't know. I just want to give it a try.

Yep, gonna write a romance. Gonna start... now.

Jonah's life ended. His heart stopped. Seconds, each the length of a lifetime, passed in the fuzzy blur of memory. The asphalt jogging path under his sneakered feet instantly became a road to a fate that he had stopped imagining more than a decade ago.

It was her eyes. From thirty feet away, they glowed in the shimmering dawn.

A beat. His heart began to show life. How it could have gone from a steady 165 to 0 instantaneously, he didn't understand. But now, life. A changed world. He hadn't believed in years, but he was a re-convert, a born again disciple.

She neared the place he had stopped. He stood transfixed. She clearly noticed his gaze, that he couldn't tear his eyes away. She slowed. In less than a second, Jonah saw surprise, confusion, sudden fear, consideration, careful examination and a decision pass across her face.

She stopped. "What are you looking at?"

He opened his mouth. No words came. He didn't know how to start, what to say. His throat tight, his heart suddenly hammering in his chest, sweat pearling on his forehead then sliding down his cheeks, he stood mute.

She cocked her head, studying Jonah. "Excuse me, but is something wrong?"

Jonah tasted the salty residue on his lips. Why couldn't he say anything? This was the moment! The world had changed and he was being a moron! He deliberately blinked, breaking contact with those blazing green eyes. He knew them better than anything else he had ever known: on the yellow side of hazel, brown motes, dark green rim around the iris.

She took a breath, half-turning to move away. She shook her head, muttering, "What is it with men in this town?"

As she took her first step and leaned back into her jog, Jonah took control of his body and gave it a mental shake. He had to say something! "Wait!"

She paused, turned back. "He speaks!"

"Don't." Jonah swallowed hard. Thirty two years old and he could only speak single syllable words? Yes but... sixteen years... a failed marriage and career... a daughter... "Brenda?"

Now she turned completely back to face Jonah. She stepped closer, her amazing eyes searching his eyes, then his face.

Silence like heavy mist filled the space between them. She seemed to see something in him and stood up straight, shock spreading across her face. The silence expanded, filling the world and infusing the moment with a sensation of the last piece of a puzzle finding its place.

She opened her mouth, but seemed to be struggling for words. Jonah stepped closer. "Brenda. It's... it's you, isn't it?"

"Jonah?"

Her voice saying his name triggered something in him. His body shook with the feeling. Sweat dried on his forehead as his eyes seemed to overflow with the fire in him that ignited with the sound of her voice.

"Yeah. It's me," Jonah said. "And you... you're here."

She nodded, her arms wrapping tightly around her torso. "How is this possible?"

He shook his head. "I don't know." Hope blazed, then flickered. He realized that he hadn't seen her hands yet. He glanced down. Her left hand was hidden.

She saw where he was looking. She extended her left hand. "No ring."

Relief filled him. He wanted to... didn't know if he should... No. This was... destiny or fate.. or just the universe correcting a sixteen year old glitch.

He found her eyes with his gaze. A laugh burst out of him, pushed by relief and the shock of the last few moments.

Somehow, in the space between solitude and completion, she was against him, her arms wrapped around him, her body trembling. Standing on that jogging path, he held her, willing the warm, tight moment to last forever. Wishing the morning that began with french toast with his daughter would last for the rest of eternity.

Okay, time's up. Hmm... that was interesting. Don't know where that came from, but I'm kind of excited to see where it's going.

I really don't do romances, so that was fun. Any thoughts?