Writing Archives » Corissa Writes

Writing Recap 2017

December 20, 2017 No Comments

National Novel Writing Month was not easy for me this year, but somehow I scraped past 50,000 words on November 29th, the day before it was all “over.” Of course, it’s not really over for me, and it won’t be this time for a while. This new novel I’m working on, Red Planet, feels different from the others that I’ve worked on before. It is not remotely done yet, though I did hit 50,000 words in time. Currently I’m at 55,000 words and I plan to get to 80,000 words as a first draft goal by January 5th. I’m working on […]

Science Fiction, Writing

Ammona, Part 5

May 15, 2017 1 Comment

Bunk Room 942 wasn’t quiet for long. Ammona scrolled through a media feed on her PTD while she lay on her back, left arm behind her head. She tried hard not to listen to the conversation Hian and Barrett were having, but it wasn’t easy. “So, where you from?” Barrett inquired, while he attempted to play Tetris with his belongings and the locker he had chosen. “Not really from anywhere,” said Hian, “My parents were military when I was a kid.” “Not anymore?” Barrett asked, pushing a dark jacket into his locker. Ammona scrolled past a news video about the […]

Science Fiction, Writing

Ammona, Part 4

October 28, 2016 1 Comment

“State your name. Last name first, please.” A computer voice said. It carried the note of a tenor, and spoke in a British accent. “King, Ammona.” The young woman watched the screen calculate for a moment to find her in the registry of accepted students. Its background was an image of the Sierra Nevada mountains in western America. The mountains looked so beautiful they might not be real. Ammona wondered briefly if the image had been enhanced or created by someone in any way, as the computer brought up her room assignments for the trip to Pluto Colony. “Welcome, Miss […]

Science Fiction, Writing

Ammona, Part 3

October 18, 2016 2 Comments

Ammona knew she had to contain her excitement. Otherwise, she might scream, dance, or freak out, and then the STSA would probably suspect her of something other than travel. So she stood in line like any good citizen would, and waited for someone to tell her to step through the weapons detector. With her boots and bag off and in a glass bin, she had nothing to clutch nervously. Her hands felt sweaty, warm. She tried to dry them on her pant legs. The denim felt scratchy, and her hands were still slick with their salty film afterward. I can’t […]

Science Fiction, Writing

Ammona, Part 2

October 11, 2016 8 Comments

“Come on, let’s go.” Ammona picked up her travel bag. Drea munched on a bag of chips. She said nothing. “Come on.” Ammona crossed the hall, and stood in front of her. “I have to go or I’ll miss the flight.” Her roommate slouched over the arm of their couch in the common room, downing comfort food. “I kind of wish you would.” Drea made a face. “Do you have to go? The new roommate is a nightmare and we haven’t even met in person yet. Just saw the profile.” Flavor-dusted chip fragments surrounded her mouth, the remnants of crunchy […]

Science Fiction, Writing

Ammona, Part I

October 4, 2016 9 Comments

It is the end of a long work day at the cafe. Serving everyone their triple-shot-sugar-free-vanilla-light-foam latte for eight hours a day, forty hours a week, felt like a drag after three years of repetitive words and motions. She arrives at her apartment door and punches in the unlock code on the panel. “Please state your name.” The little electronic screen speaks in an automated female voice. “Ammona King.” She enunciates for the computer’s voice recognition so it can translate her name. The words sound exaggerated. “Access granted. Please enter. Welcome home, Ammona.” The female voice plays a digital mantra over a tiny speaker. The door slides […]

Writing

House Hunting

December 31, 2015 No Comments

By Corissa Haury Yesterday morning my husband and I got out of bed at 7:15am. We were going to hunt for a house, a difficult task for any person. When it is cold, it is hard to rise from your warm cocoon of blankets. Those who live in the North have a formidable drive before them the day after a heavy snow. The roads are not all plowed. Yet as true Mainers have taught us, we kept going. You haul your ass out of bed early and you take what you need to take. This was the fourth time we looked at houses. Four more houses today, […]