Kester James Finley's Blog, page 18
October 18, 2017
Random Image Wednesday!-#7
It’s almost here, the big day! I’m talking about Halloween, not Friday, not the weekend, not Christmas, but Halloween-the spookiest time of the year for ghosts and ghouls. It’s also the time of year frights become fun and free scares around every corner as some of us grab our candy stash and rewatch some of our favorite horror films.
This time of the year is always a welcomed season change, especially in Florida where we battle hordes of angry insects, threats from tropical weather, and the sun’s unrelenting attempts to burn everything into cremains. The nights come around quicker and the wind shifts to more comfortable weather brought to us from our Northern states. There’s an energy about this time of year, and between the frights and fun, there’s magic…if you know where to look.
However, you celebrate, do so safely and within your comfort zone. Go to a haunted house, see a scary movie surrounded by mounds of popcorn and chocolate, or simply take a stroll through a park and take in the cooler temps and changing colors all around you. If you’re lucky, if you’re open, and if you’re the type to revel in the spooktastic joy October brings, then you may just find some magic of your own. Revel in it, love it.
These posts will be about creating a quick 1-3 sentence scenario, a blurb, a scene, or a full novel concept based on a random picture I have chosen. It is my hope that others will find these images and possibly be inspired to jump into the wild world of writing fiction.
Without further ado, our 7th entry!
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Have a suggestion for Random Image Wednesday or comment, leave a note below. Share, love, read, and write. Inspire yourself while inspiring others!
October 11, 2017
Spinner — LITERARY TITAN
Spinner is a refreshing addition to the science fiction and horror genres. The book gives readers a new perspective as the main characters are not your usual shiny protagonists, but rather a group of boys, all of whom have some form of disability or handicap. The main character, Alex, is both impaired mentally as well […]
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Random Image Wednesday!-#6
Friday is rapidly approach and with it a special date! Friday the 13th, a day of fear for those who suffer from Triskaidekaphobia (fear of the number 13) and Paraskevidekatriaphobia (fear of Friday the 13th, specifically), but for many of us it’s a time to revisit a summer camp steeped in a murderous past, namely Crystal Lake, and more importantly the stomping grounds of Jason Voorhees.
No horror fan can forget the years and years of numerous films, merchandise, and video games relating to the Friday the 13th franchise, but then again no self-respecting horror fan ever would. To some, the day is dripping with mysterious undertones, superstitious connotations, and religious backgrounds. For others, namely myself, the day is for those who remember the films and the gory fun of watching a supernatural villain seek revenge using an arsenal of lawn maintenance equipment against innocent campers. The day is one that includes fond memories and a Halloween remembrance celebration of times when the woods during daylight hours were just as creepy and dangerous as the night.
I chose this image today because it reminds me of the panning shots used in most of the films, or the cut-aways when a kill scene on regular television proved a little too much for younger eyes. It brought you there, it placed you near the scene with the color changing leaves, the walking paths, and occasionally a carved pumpkin to boot. You could almost feel the weather, could almost hear the crackling twigs and leaves. You had wandered too far from camp, but not close enough to the lake. Somewhere in between, somewhere all alone. It seemed to scream “Halloween time” sometimes louder than Jason’s foolish trespassers.
As horror fans unite to watch an iconic slasher invent new ways to deal with pesky hormone driven camp counselors, we also bask in the love for the upcoming spooky and creepy holiday. This upcoming Friday is a bonus to an already favorited month, and the woods may never be the same. Just remember, wear a good pair of sneakers and if you ever find yourself in the woods against a villain hell-bent on separating your soul from your body just keep a level head lest you find yours laying at your feet. Oh, one more thing, always always run faster than your friend. 
October 5, 2017
October 4, 2017
Random Image Wednesday!-#5
With October already barreling its way, weather-wise, into many states, I thought I would start this week’s random image inspiration with the creepier side of the fall season, that being the critters. No Halloween season would be complete without at least an entry for the most commonly seen animals that spark fear, anxiety, or just plain creepy fun in any form. We’re often treated to bats, spiders, and a host of others during the autumn months, and between the ghosts, ghouls, shrieks, and howls the one main constant has been the addition of animals to our already elevated states of frighteningly good fun.
Growing up in Florida, the autumn season is not as pronounced as it is in most states. We do not get the rapidly decreasing temperatures or the splendid color changing trees. We do, however, still carry the spirit of the season even if our pumpkins rot within days on the front porch, or we’re wearing shorts and tank tops in the corn maze. We are not blessed with nature’s cooling kiss, but we still carry our love for Halloween and we learn to live with the animals that tend to enjoy it also, especially the bats.
While most people in other states are bundling up and preparing for much cooler temps, we are usually “Florida-ing” it up and still cooking out on the grill and swimming. During the evening hours, especially if you do not have a pool with a roofed enclosure you can always expect a couple of pass-bys from our local bat community. As the little wind racers dart and jet around your head catching insects, we’re reminded that we share this space, mainly nature with other creatures, even if they are commonly portrayed as evil in most movies.
They may seem scary, but they are not. They may come with an evil connotation attached, but they are relatively harmless. Well, I say harmless, unless one happens into your wet hair by accident sending you into hysterics and fulfilling a lifelong nightmare brought on by countless hours in front of the television watching scare-inducing movies that feature them. To that, I say, cheers and enjoy. They love Halloween as much as we do!
These posts will be about creating a quick 1-3 sentence scenario, a blurb, a scene, or a full novel concept based on a random picture I have chosen. It is my hope that others will find these images and possibly be inspired to jump into the wild world of writing fiction.
Without further ado, our fifth entry!
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Have a comment, a book idea, a concept that you want to share? Leave a reply below and enjoy the creepiness of our autumn season and all that it entails!
September 27, 2017
Random Image Wednesday!-#4
I have a thing for creepy woods and backroads, I’ll admit it. I grew up in the south, in a small town that still to this day has many a side street and back road made of dirt. I grew up playing in the woods with friends, running around at night when we should have been asleep, getting into trouble when we knew better. There was always something magical about the forest, about small lots of woods, especially at night. They have an energy, a presence, and if one waits around long and spends a copious amount of hours being entwined into, a voice.
There was always something magical about the forest, about small lots of woods, especially at night. They have an energy, a presence, and if one waits around long enough and spends a copious amount of hours being entwined into, a voice.
It may have been years of innocent fun among the tall and mostly silent, or it may have been the years and years of watching horror films that proved that nothing ever good came from those deep and dark sections of untrampled patches of ground, those untouched forested sections. One part of me feels a comfort away from reality and wrapped within its quiet embrace, the other part feels a tingling of fright. It could be good, or it can be bad. Much like life is a coin toss. The forest, like a secret waiting to be exposed, like a whisper waiting for the right one to hear it.
These posts will be about creating a quick 1-3 sentence scenario, a blurb, a scene, or a full novel concept based on a random picture I have chosen. It is my hope that others will find these images and possibly be inspired to jump into the wild world of writing fiction.
Without further ado, our fourth entry!
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My attempt-
They say miles off the beaten path there lays a road. A clean dirt and gravel path leading deep into a secretive place few know about for few have survived the trek to uncover its existence. Tales of evil drip from the mouths of all who converse about it, yet few can say for certain what lays beyond the path, past the woods, out of sight. Only one person knew, only one has ever lived long enough to share her secret, today she was found murdered. Who will be the next? Who will be brave enough to risk it all to uncover what lays beyond the forest?
Now it’s your turn! Leave a comment, post a note, play the game. Share your inspiration and creativity and remember to always take two things into the woods at night, a really good flashlight, and a friend you can outrun…just in case.
September 22, 2017
My new love for the novella?
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I used to think that novellas were just small books, half a book if you will. They were not, at least by me, considered as important as those giant bound books I would commonly find myself reading for weeks at a time. In today’s day and age, I have found myself drawn to the smaller works because they may appear thinner than most, but many of them pack a mighty punch of good reading and take a quarter of the time to enjoy.
As an author of a larger book, 446 pages to be exact, I am curiously intrigued by other writers’ abilities to cram as much information and adventure into a much smaller page count. I tend to become overly wordy and am often terrified of editing my work down so much it becomes a shell, but not authors of novellas. No, these masters of smaller works have skillfully managed to create awesome reads with a quarter of the pages most others need just to supply descriptions. They take us on wonderful journies of action, suspense, and drama in half the time and I admire their skills. They are not half books by any measure and I for one have found a new love of reading more as a result.
I also would like to try my hand at novellas. I would like to create one or two series that will easily fall into this realm but want to hear from others.
Did you write a novella or a short story? Was it easier or harder for you during editing and revising? Do you find they attract a certain level of interest compared to larger works? Let me know, explain, show me in the comments below!
September 20, 2017
Random Image Wednesday-#3
With Autumn coming up in just a few short days, I thought it would be awesome to start using the sights of the fall season. The chilly weather, the warm colors, the spookiness of the season.
Autumn happens to be my favorite season, bar none, of any of them. When living in Florida, the start of fall is the first chance we get to take a collective sigh of relief that possibly cooler weather is coming to allow us a chance not to stick to seats, sweat at 8 am, or burn off our fingerprints on our steering wheels when entering our vehicles.
The wind picks up slightly at its approach, the skies began to streak with clouds versus the giant puffy cotton balls of the summer. The energy that seems to radiate outward from the universe during this season titillates the senses, but let us not forget the almighty Pumpkin Spice King who comes charging into every aspect of our lives with his tasty treats. So, fellow authors and newcomers, grab a cup of coffee and wrap yourself up in this week’s random image inspiration!
These posts will be about creating a quick 1-3 sentence scenario, a blurb, a scene, or a full novel concept based on a random picture I have chosen. It is my hope that others will find these images and possibly be inspired to jump into the wild world of writing fiction.
Without further ado, our third entry!
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My attempt:
In the town of Fox Falls there stands a small archway in the deepest part of the woods. Abandoned, forgotten by all with the courage to ignore the past it sits, it waits. A secret world lays just under the surface, a secret some would do anything to keep in its place.
Fox Falls, a quaint town stuck in the past. Population 634 and dropping.
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Leave a comment, add a remark, tell us what you think! I’m curious and always interested in other people’s work and creativity, it’s how we grow as a community of writers and lovers of books. 
September 18, 2017
The Great Hierarchy of Books & Authors — Written Word Worlds
One of the things that annoys me most about the bookish community, both online and off, is the way that some authors look down upon others. From what I’ve seen and heard, this can happen for a variety of reasons, some of which being the genre or readership for which an author writes, or because […]
via The Great Hierarchy of Books & Authors — Written Word Worlds
September 15, 2017
5 Reasons Why You Should Write a Novella — Ink and Quills
Thinking about doing this soon. I have a running list I keep adding to almost daily about possible novellas. Great advice and good information for anyone planning a shorter work of fiction!
Over the past several weeks or so, I’ve been experimenting with a form of fiction I’ve never tried before: the novella. If you don’t already know, a novella runs between 20,000 and 40,000 words, and can be read in a couple of sittings. It’s like a longish short story for writers who suck at keeping…
via 5 Reasons Why You Should Write a Novella — Ink and Quills
