Your Story in 60 Words

What are you working on right now? Can you describe your work-in-progress in 60 words or less?

Using the names of your main characters, the conflict and the stakes, describe your story. 

I usually challenge myself to 50 words. It forces me to focus on only the most important aspects of the story.

And this isn't limited to writers. Gardeners, artists, and craftspeople, what are you working on?

What's on your itinerary this weekend?

Comments

Dru said…
I'm working on a small lap quilt that will be comprised of nine four-patch quilt blocks.

==
This weekend I'll be spending stitching these nine four-patch quilt blocks and hopefully have the top quilt done by Sunday.

Have a good weekend.
Unknown said…
I'm doing housework this weekend. It's the only time I can get everyone together to help out. They made the mess too. :D
Jennifer Shirk said…
My kiddo's birthday is this weekend. So it's going to be centered around her and things she wants to do. LOL
Maria Zannini said…
Dru: Wow! You work really fast. But then I have trouble threading a needle. LOL.

Darke: Oh, don't remind me of housework. We've been too busy working outdoors so the house has been left to decompose. Good for you for getting your troops involved.

Jennifer: Happy birthday to your baby!! I hope she has a wonderful day.
Renee Miller said…
Oh my, this is where I struggle. Let's see:

False Prophet

Rayne Summers is stranded on Mount Kilimanjaro with 24 others after their plane crashes. A strange phone call tells them the world has been wiped out by an asteroid. The group focuses on coping with their fate and surviving. But then, Rayne discovers his ex-coworker Markos who should be dead with the rest of the world. (56 words)

In the Bones:

Ryan Cassidy inherits an estate from his estranged grandparents, but must live in their home town for a year to receive it. In Albertsville he discovers love and a mystery. Following clues left by his grandparents, who were murdered by Carroll Albert, the town's reeve, Ryan finds that solving Albertsville's mystery could prove lethal. (54 words)


I'm so suckish at this. But, there you have it. My two main WIP's.
Maria Zannini said…
Renee: Not at all. I thought this was very good for the word limit. I might use more active verbs, but that's a minor massage. Good job!
Linda Leszczuk said…
Well, I guess this morning I'm going to be trying to describe my WIP in 60 words or less. See what you started. I'll be back.
Joanne said…
Does a writing a blog post count as a wip? This weekend I'll be finding a relevant music and life theme from the Stevie Nicks/Rod Stewart concert I attended, and working it out for a Whole Latte Life post.
Sarah Ahiers said…
yes i can. I can actually do it in less than 60 characters, because that's what i thought you first meant...

ANd for this weekend there will be video games and racquetball while we wait for the rest of the snow to melt
Krista D. Ball said…
My weekend? I confess: I'm going to get drunk. I haven't gotten tipsy in over a year and it's been a solid 2 years since I was singing Meatloaf at the top of my lungs.

(It's been about 5 years since I was found clutching a vodka bottle face down on the floor, but let's not relieve THAT night).

The kids are gone. The weather is great. I won't really have a chance again for about another year. I'm going to have a party for one with popcorn, chips, and pop!

What am I working on? Well, if I get off the internet, I'll be done it this morning...

Sisip Learns to Shape Shift: Ten year old Sisip has no interest in helping catch fish for winter storage. When a mysterious bear turns into a boy named Na'n and offers to teach her shape shifting, Sisip jumps at the chance. Only, he doesn't tell her what happens if she stays changed for too long: she loses herself.

Yup, I'm writing a children's book. And, let me tell you, it is freaking HARD. don't let anyone tell you otherwise. You can't swear, you can't blow stuff up, and you can't have naked people running all over the place...and when you are writing a shape shifting story, there are some challenges with the clothing!

*hence the drink*
Angelina Rain said…
I’m working on two stories. One is a rewrite to something that went completely wrong and another is a new story. Here’s both, in sixty words or less for each of them.

Hunting Issella: Genetically engineered catwoman, Issella Onyx, is on the run from the same secret science laboratory that created her and now wants to kill her, just like they killed her entire family.

Bunnies and Batteries: Desperate for money, Grace Alderson takes on a job as a product reviewer. However, the woman who was raised to hate sex, finds her first product to be a pink jackrabbit vibrator. When neighbor, Clay Sawyer, hears her scream, he enters her house to investigate what she’s doing. That’s when things heat up!
Krista D. Ball said…
Bunnies and Batteries = best.title.ever
Linda Leszczuk said…
Detective Kiri Hunter is chasing a killer, dubbed by the media as the Angel of Death, who does in fact seem to have unearthly powers. Her job is complicated by Federal Agent Edward Harrison who insists the Angel taken alive “at all cost” and a stranger named Guarryn who shows Kiri why the Angel must be destroyed.

For the weekend? Nothing scheduled. All the kids are off on spring break. Feels very scary. How about you?
Cathy in AK said…
Just starting to find a plot for my wip, a f/f SFR. Here's what I have so far:

Colonial Mining Agent Natalia Hallowell isn't sure about helping former drug tsar security chief Genevieve Cain, but when Genevieve promises information that could blow the lid off of a business and religious leader's pristine reputation, she can't resist. And she can't resist Genevieve either.

My weekend *should* be low key compared to last weekend. We'll see : P

Have a great one yourself!
Sherri said…
Okay...completely off the top of my head:

Let Me Be Your Prince -- High school teacher and single mother, Reese Ingram, has been friends with playboy actor, Jace Brodie, more than a decade. Over the years Reese became increasingly attracted to Jace, as an empty nest looms in front of her, Jace changes the rules to their friendship. But will Reese risk being just another notch in Jace’s bedpost to satisfy that attraction?

Weekend plans? Nothing unless hubby is off then maybe something.
Maria Zannini said…
Joanne: Someday I hope you'll blog about how you come up with your posts. They're always so clever.

Sarah: 60 characters! This I gotta see.
Maria Zannini said…
Krista: Ref:...since I was found clutching a vodka bottle face down on the floor,...

Why does this not surprise me? LOL.

Ref: logline
You might try starting without this: "Sisip Learns to Shape Shift:" I think it nails it without the intro.

And I would never try YA. I like my sanity too much.
Maria Zannini said…
Angelina: Both came out great but if you do not sub Bunnies and Batteries immediately, I will never speak to you again. That is fantastic!! Love the title and the premise.

***
Linda: 57 words. Pretty darn good. You might try being more deliberate with the opening line: Detective Kiri Hunter is chasing the Angel of Death, a stone-cold killer with unearthly powers.

If you cut away the extra dressing, it'll give you more room to add info.
Maria Zannini said…
Cathy: Ooh, a lesbian SF. Have you pitched it to your agent yet? I'm curious as to whether the big houses are open to Lesbian SFR.

Sherri: So that's what you've been working on. I never knew. Not crazy about the title, but definitely like the premise. That has Harlequin written all over it.
Cathy in AK said…
RE: lesbian (well, more like bi ;) SF--The book I have coming out this summer from Carina is f/f, so I'd say yes, if you consider Carina a big house : ) My agent is looking at a m/f set in the same world, and then there's the one I described here, also in that world. We'll see what she thinks of the m/f and then I'll pitch this one when I actually have a solid plot : )
Sherri said…
That's the working title :) There's a spot near the end where Jace says that to Reese.

Harlequin? Hmm...never read one in my life. Interesting.
Krista D. Ball said…
Sadly, there will be no vodka clutching. Lunch did not agree with me. Blah.

Oh that Sisip line is the title ROFL I should have made it more clear oops!

Yeah, it's been tough writing a historical fantasy for 8-10 year olds. It's turned out very dark and spooky, so I do want to add a tiny bit of humour into the second draft. :)
Maria Zannini said…
Cathy: Good to know. I'm always seeing gay main characters, but never lesbians as the main characters. Maybe I should get out more. :) Thanks.

***
Sherri: I had a feeling that was it. Publishers are always changing titles. I try not to get too attached to mine in case they say I have to change it.

***
Krista: If we ever go drinking, we'll have to hire a designated (sober) driver. I don't drink much--but neither can I hold my liquor. I'm a disgrace to social drinkers everywhere. :)
Ellie Garratt said…
Oh, gosh. Now you've given me something to think about!
Maria Zannini said…
Ellie: I was afraid you might have nothing to do. LOL. It's a good way to practice your elevator pitch too.
February Grace said…
Dude, this is a really tough challenge. I wish I had the eyesight left in me today to work up 60 words on my WIP, a story that I'm calling 'literary fiction with steampunk embellishments' called The Clockwork Heart of Doctor Quinn Godspeed.

Then again...the title is so long, I think it pretty much does the job *laugh*!

Happy Sunday!
~bru
Maria Zannini said…
Bru: That title may do it for you. :) I especially like The Clockwork Heart part.