International Embarrass Yourself as an Artist Day

[queenoftheskies]

Because everyone else is doing it, I'm going to play along too with matociquala's challenge, so anyone brave enough can ick and squick over something old I wrote.

Sadly, because I'm ancient and have moved 50,000,000 times (only a slight exaggeration), I have nothing from when I was a teenager or younger. Sniffle.

But, I do, however, have some crap from about 15-16 years ago, and, whew, does it suck BIG TIME. It embarrasses me even to consider posting it here and makes me relieved that my writing has improved since then!

However, it is interesting for me to look back at these old files I have (only about 10) and realize that, even then, I liked to write about aliens and magical guardians, end of the world/after the end of the world settings and parallel dimensions. I'd forgotten about this old stuff.



After much contemplation and concern with public ridicule and scorn, I picked a clip from the worst thing I could find...and boy, is it awful.

"Land of No Return"

The land slumbered fitfully under the heavy mantle of gray clouds that drifted down from the Mountains of Mist. Only brave souls ventured into the sacred lands thought inhabited by gods and monsters. As a result, the woodlands, hidden beneath continuous mist, provided safe haven for all manner of outlaws and rebels.

Fleeing the wrath of Prince Ralin, a band of once powerful wizards took up residence in the mountains in years past. Though their number usually remained entirely male, their leader found favor in the eyes of the daughter of a king living at the foot of the mountains. To them was born a daughter, skilled in the ways of magic, and even more powerful than the most powerful wizards.

Fearing for his daughter's life, the wizard, Melanthra, carried the baby into the mountains, where none dared follow. There the wizards raised and educated her to be mankind's last hope against the cruel scourge of Prince Ralin and his malevolent Angels of Darkness.

###

Xoxhana woke slowly as early morning sunlight peaked through the treetops and filtered down through the leaf-covered branches to cross her eyelids, and remind her that she'd overslept. She sat up with a start and glanced around warily. If she made a regular habit of sleeping so soundly, her enemies would have no trouble destroying her.

A quiet chuckle from opposite the campfire stirred her already sour spirits into burning ire.

"What's so amusing?" she challenged, turning to regard the eccentric creature who traveled with her.

Ballaraan chuckled again. He set aside the sword he had been cleaning meticulously and regarded her for a moment before he spoke. "You were in no danger, Xhana. I woke long before sunrise."

She almost retorted that she didn't need anyone to look after her, but it was obvious that in this case, she did. And, besides, there was something in Ballaraan's voice that troubled her.

"You're having trouble sleeping again?" she asked, drawing a blanket about her shoulders as she sat up and slipped into a cross-legged position before the crackling fire.

"Perhaps," he said in a non-committal tone.

"The dreams are plaguing you again?" she persisted.

"On occasion."

He was being intentionally vague, and she knew it. It aggravated her, but she wouldn't press him to tell her something he didn't want to. The number of people who could make friends with a Zalorian was few enough. She didn't want to alienate him and reduce the number even more.

"Do you think they mean something?" she asked as she helped herself to the pot of coffee he'd already prepared. "Sometimes dreams foreshadow the future or carry significant meaning."

"You don't seem to put any stock in yours," he reminded her. With a laugh, he added, "And, you're the enchantress."

"Some enchantress," she mumbled, extending her free hand toward the fire, while the coffee cup warmed her other, and the hot liquid thawed her insides. "If I was half as powerful as people think I am, then this quest would long since be over."

"And, we would have nothing to do with ourselves, so quit complaining."

Xhana sighed. "That doesn't make me feel any better."

He shrugged and his heavy armor clanked. "Sorry."

She gazed intently at the metal covered face and wondered for probably the millionth time what lay beneath the rusty, battered helmet. Ballaraan stared back at her, giving no indication of the expression that lay beneath his false visage.

Xhana sighed and looked away, her gaze wandering to the woodlands around them. "Don't you think the mists seem heavier than usual?" She shivered. "It's awfully cold this morning."

"Winter will come early this year," he said with an air of certainty. "And perhaps it will never leave."

Xhana frowned at the implication. "What makes you say such a thing? Do you know something I do not?"

Again, he laughed, though there was no amusement in his voice. "I imagine I know many things that you do not, just as I imagine you know many things..."

"That's not what I meant." She stood abruptly, and the blanket dropped to her ankles. With an indignant snort, she stomped off toward their tethered mounts. "Zalorians...hmpf!"


I hope nobody read this. But, still...I'm going to go cringe.

Comments

[lookingland.livejournal.com]

if this is your "bad, embarrassing" stuff, i can only imagine the good!!!

maybe it's the story you object to ~ i dunno ~ but craftwise, the writing is solid and clean ~ okay, not altogether free of clichés, etc., but nothing leaps out at me as glaring wretched!

it's easy to be hard on our old work because we know the distance we've come. you never cross the same river twice, ya know?

i'll post my own bad stuff so maybe you won't feel so squicky.

: D

[stillnotbored.livejournal.com]

I think this is one of Bear's most brilliant ideas. It really does make you see how much improvement you've made.

And you have no idea how much I'm cringing that the world of LJ read the bits I put up. It is soooooooooo bad.

But we grow. Growth is good. :)

[java-fiend.livejournal.com]

Embarass myself as an artist? Hmmmmmm... I think I've embarassed myself as a person to last a lifetime. ;-)