Fic: Anticipation
Aug. 23rd, 2012 08:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
meridian_roseFor the writerverse challenge 'We Need More Cowbell'. In a previous phase we had a challenge where we had to start with a five hundred word story and then in the subsequent parts reduce the wordcount (my entries are available through the c: marrah tag). This phase was the reverse in that we had to add on words without changing the start or finish. I found this much harder to do because, especially at the end, I felt I was just adding extraneous detail - though the story was developing as I had to decide more about the situation in order to add the detail!
I suppose adding the extra words for the third version counts as writing and so I ought to say I no longer have writer's block. Still, it feels like cheating when I'm editing. Issues, I Haz Many. Anyway, all three versions are under the cut.
Title: A Good Impression
Word Count: 102
Rating: PG
Original/Fandom: Original
Warnings (Non-Con/Dub-Con/etc): none
Summary:Rose anxiously awaits a visitor.
Rose was practically dancing with excitement. She smoothed down her skirts once more, and checked her hair again.
She looked at the clock, certain it must have stopped. It hadn't, of course. It only seemed that way, the minutes crawling by in response to her agitation. She willed the hands forward.
The clock chimed one but there was no knock at the door. Rose chewed at her lip.
Finally, at two minutes past, the doorbell rang and Rose dashed to answer it. With one hand on the doorknob she paused to take a deep breath. She wanted to make a good impression.
NOTE: concrit on the first part suggested a title change, which I made for the second version.
Title: Anticipation
Word Count: 247
Rose was practically dancing with excitement now the day had arrived at last.
She tried to keep still so as not to crease her clothes, but it was a struggle. She smoothed down her skirts once more, and checked her hair again Everything had to be just right. This was to be their first meeting and every single thing had to go perfectly!
She looked at the little ormolu clock on the mantelpiece, certain it must have stopped. It hadn't, of course. It only seemed that way, the minutes crawling by in response to her agitation. She willed the hands forward.
The clock chimed one but there was no knock at the door. Rose chewed at her lip anxiously. She'd been waiting for what seemed like hours. It had never occurred to her that her guest might not be on time. Surely he was just as eager to meet her as she was to finally meet him in person?
Finally, at two minutes past the hour, the doorbell rang and Rose dashed to answer it. However she forced herself to pause, one hand on the doorknob, and to take a deep breath. Not merely to make him wait, as he'd made her wait - though that was part of it – but to ensure she presented a calm and gracious front when she did open the door. To greet him breathlessly in an excitable manner would not be appropriate.
She wanted very badly to make a good impression.
FINALLY, version three.
Title: Anticipation
Word Count: 495
Rose was practically dancing with excitement now the day had arrived at last. She'd waited with growing impatience, crossing the days off the calendar. She'd barely slept last night and had risen early, eager for the day's events.
She was dressed in what were almost her finest clothes. Her finest would be too much, she'd decided, as if she were showing off. She didn't want him to think she only cared about appearances, or that she was obsessed with fashion. Nonetheless, she'd dressed with care and now tried to keep still so as not to crease her clothes, but it was a struggle.
She smoothed down her skirts once more, settled her locket against her cleavage once more, and checked her hair again. She didn't want to seem shallow but she did want to look neat and professional. He would appreciate that, she thought, and also he would take her seriously. Not that he wouldn't respect her, surely. They'd been in correspondence for months and his letters had always gone beyond mere politeness. He had said he was impressed by her knowledge and her ideas, and had discussed many matters at length. He would not be coming to visit her if he didn't want to learn more about her.
Well, he was visiting her city, she reminded herself. Still, he'd sent her a personal invitation to his lecture this evening, and had then graciously accepted her offer of taking tea in her home beforehand. It was the chance she had been waiting for, to have a personal audience with the professor.
Rose swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. Everything had to be just right if her hopes were to be realised. Despite all her plans she was nervous. This was to be their first meeting and every single thing had to go perfectly!
She looked at the little ormolu clock on the mantelpiece, certain it must have stopped. It hadn't, of course. It only seemed that way, the minutes crawling by in response to her agitation. She willed the hands forward.
The clock chimed one but there was no knock at the door. Rose chewed at her lip anxiously. She'd been waiting for what seemed like hours. It had never occurred to her that her guest might not be on time. He was said to punctual to a fault, and surely he was just as eager to meet her as she was to finally meet him in person?
Finally, at two minutes past the hour, the doorbell rang and Rose dashed to answer it. However she forced herself to pause, one hand on the doorknob, and to take a deep breath. Not merely to make him wait, as he'd made her wait - though that was part of it – but to ensure she presented a calm and gracious front when she did open the door. To greet him breathlessly in an excitable manner would not be appropriate.
She wanted very badly to make a good impression.
I suppose adding the extra words for the third version counts as writing and so I ought to say I no longer have writer's block. Still, it feels like cheating when I'm editing. Issues, I Haz Many. Anyway, all three versions are under the cut.
Title: A Good Impression
Word Count: 102
Rating: PG
Original/Fandom: Original
Warnings (Non-Con/Dub-Con/etc): none
Summary:Rose anxiously awaits a visitor.
Rose was practically dancing with excitement. She smoothed down her skirts once more, and checked her hair again.
She looked at the clock, certain it must have stopped. It hadn't, of course. It only seemed that way, the minutes crawling by in response to her agitation. She willed the hands forward.
The clock chimed one but there was no knock at the door. Rose chewed at her lip.
Finally, at two minutes past, the doorbell rang and Rose dashed to answer it. With one hand on the doorknob she paused to take a deep breath. She wanted to make a good impression.
NOTE: concrit on the first part suggested a title change, which I made for the second version.
Title: Anticipation
Word Count: 247
Rose was practically dancing with excitement now the day had arrived at last.
She tried to keep still so as not to crease her clothes, but it was a struggle. She smoothed down her skirts once more, and checked her hair again Everything had to be just right. This was to be their first meeting and every single thing had to go perfectly!
She looked at the little ormolu clock on the mantelpiece, certain it must have stopped. It hadn't, of course. It only seemed that way, the minutes crawling by in response to her agitation. She willed the hands forward.
The clock chimed one but there was no knock at the door. Rose chewed at her lip anxiously. She'd been waiting for what seemed like hours. It had never occurred to her that her guest might not be on time. Surely he was just as eager to meet her as she was to finally meet him in person?
Finally, at two minutes past the hour, the doorbell rang and Rose dashed to answer it. However she forced herself to pause, one hand on the doorknob, and to take a deep breath. Not merely to make him wait, as he'd made her wait - though that was part of it – but to ensure she presented a calm and gracious front when she did open the door. To greet him breathlessly in an excitable manner would not be appropriate.
She wanted very badly to make a good impression.
FINALLY, version three.
Title: Anticipation
Word Count: 495
Rose was practically dancing with excitement now the day had arrived at last. She'd waited with growing impatience, crossing the days off the calendar. She'd barely slept last night and had risen early, eager for the day's events.
She was dressed in what were almost her finest clothes. Her finest would be too much, she'd decided, as if she were showing off. She didn't want him to think she only cared about appearances, or that she was obsessed with fashion. Nonetheless, she'd dressed with care and now tried to keep still so as not to crease her clothes, but it was a struggle.
She smoothed down her skirts once more, settled her locket against her cleavage once more, and checked her hair again. She didn't want to seem shallow but she did want to look neat and professional. He would appreciate that, she thought, and also he would take her seriously. Not that he wouldn't respect her, surely. They'd been in correspondence for months and his letters had always gone beyond mere politeness. He had said he was impressed by her knowledge and her ideas, and had discussed many matters at length. He would not be coming to visit her if he didn't want to learn more about her.
Well, he was visiting her city, she reminded herself. Still, he'd sent her a personal invitation to his lecture this evening, and had then graciously accepted her offer of taking tea in her home beforehand. It was the chance she had been waiting for, to have a personal audience with the professor.
Rose swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. Everything had to be just right if her hopes were to be realised. Despite all her plans she was nervous. This was to be their first meeting and every single thing had to go perfectly!
She looked at the little ormolu clock on the mantelpiece, certain it must have stopped. It hadn't, of course. It only seemed that way, the minutes crawling by in response to her agitation. She willed the hands forward.
The clock chimed one but there was no knock at the door. Rose chewed at her lip anxiously. She'd been waiting for what seemed like hours. It had never occurred to her that her guest might not be on time. He was said to punctual to a fault, and surely he was just as eager to meet her as she was to finally meet him in person?
Finally, at two minutes past the hour, the doorbell rang and Rose dashed to answer it. However she forced herself to pause, one hand on the doorknob, and to take a deep breath. Not merely to make him wait, as he'd made her wait - though that was part of it – but to ensure she presented a calm and gracious front when she did open the door. To greet him breathlessly in an excitable manner would not be appropriate.
She wanted very badly to make a good impression.
no subject
Date: 2012-08-23 07:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-08-23 07:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-08-24 07:50 pm (UTC)And Rose is sweet and sympathetic, being all impatient and nervous :D
no subject
Date: 2012-08-24 07:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-08-25 01:22 am (UTC)Brilliant work, bb! :D Great job!! :D
no subject
Date: 2012-08-25 05:02 pm (UTC)