Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers)
Getting an early start. It’s Tuesday evening. This part of my process is all about getting rid of the blank page. Not all that likely I’ll write what you will read here on Thursday. But, for me, I need to dive into a pile of words and thoughts and images and hopefully find the combination that will make sense.
(Wednesday morning): …and, and! this approach to writing allows me to stumble over stories. No, seriously! I was out surfing for a jigsaw picture to start the day (thanks, a lot, Mimi.) and I came across the old photo above. It is of the Provo Woolen Mill. I have an index card* for textile mills in general, wool in particular, courtesy of my WIP, ‘Almira’ and ‘Blog Dominion’. In the former, the mills of Lawrence, Massachusetts figure prominently in the book and the latter, one of my main characters, (Orel and Theresa Rees), happen to live in Provo. So naturally, I had to read more about that part of the history of Utah. (Plus there was a voice saying, ‘Six Sentence Story!’ follow me”.)
Denise is our Host. The challenge is to write a story of six (and only six) sentences, using, relating to or otherwise involving the prompt word that she provides each week.
This week the prompt word is:
Habit
Cherysa Rees felt her son, Raun, lean against her legs clutching at the folds of her grey skirt like a sapling in a strong wind as the Rees family stood together on a knoll overlooking Provo Bay and Utah Lake; behind them, deceptively moderate slopes rose from the valley up to the rocky outcroppings of the Wasatch Range.
“We are a family of three-going-on-four, the farm is small and our neighbors are good people,” she spoke with a quiet confidence.
Ammon Rees felt a curious sense of responsibility accepting a position overseeing the operations of the new mill on the banks of the Provo River; feeling older than his twenty-seven years, he heard himself quoting scripture, “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”
His wife smiled, her right hand on her son’s head, a gesture more instinct than habit, her left hand over her midriff, “You are wise, my husband, the machinery you are coaxing to life will provide for us, even as we build a community to welcome home others who have yet to arrive.”
Ammon gathered his wife to his side, spoke quietly, the waves of her dark brown hair mingling with his offering temporary privacy standing in front of the new Provo Woolen Mills, “I confess that I fear the work of the farm will be too much for you, even with help from our neighbors.”
Cherysa smiled across the shade of the space they shared, her eyes on his, “The three of us will do as we must while you come here and prepare the future of your son and your daughter-to-be.”
* not-old Readers? like bookmarking a page or a site, except not digital…a little rectangle of heavy stock paper intended to keep track of references and ideas and such…
About clarkscottroger
I am curious now. What book shall this be?!
Great opening line. Love the sapling metaphor.
Likeable characters and already I am wishing them well☺
ayiiee! not a book (well, maybe)… just a scene that was hiding behind the photo when I found it on ‘the google’
I did enjoy this one very much. I like historical novels even when fictional. I would like to get to know these characters better.
I found myself liking them as well. (I’m thinking maybe it’s Orel Rees’ grandfather? I mean the gift with tools and machinery. Maybe great-grandfather?)
They are a hard working, deeply loving family, and all will be well. Not perfect, not without trials and tribulations, but all will be well.
This would make a great book.
Yeah, I’m with you on that (see reply to Phyllis)… the Rees are a family in my first (unpublished book, ‘Blog Dominion’ be happy to send you a link).
Speaking of links! I believe you have to click something in the invite (or the dashboard) or whatever over at ‘the Club’…. let me know if you have any questions.
Yep, you’ve written an all will be well vignette, the hope and promise of those western reaching families. I never would have put woolen mills in Utah, but I suppose where there’s sheep… anyway the New Englander will get it running right.
Cool.
Yeah they (according to what I read) were all kinds of ‘gonna build us a piece of industrial society right here in southwest(ish).
As I mentioned in my intro, the Mills of Lawrence Massachusetts figures prominently in ‘Almira’ and is, in and of itself an totally interesting part of history. (The famous ‘Bread and Roses’ strike of 1912 was a fascinating, if not somewhat depressing, read.
Thinking Ammon was a roger.
This is the third try to make a comment here. For some reason my comments aren’t being accepted.
I enjoyed seeing the photo of the woolen mill. There are a lot of old woolen mills in my state. When I was growing up there were many woolen mills still in operation here. I even bought woolen remnants to use to sew my clothes when I was in high school.
Your SSS really drew me in. The beginning paragraph sets the scene beautifully. I think we need to hear more about this family.
huh… wonder whats going on, glad you persisted.
Yeah, thats really the fun (for me) in trying to write Six Sentence Stories, i.e. when I stumble across something that says ‘Hey! over here!!! Write about me!! Come on… it’ll be fun!’
thanks…
…and…keep going…good six as always. Too much talent buddy. too much! You’re makin’ us look bad!
Paul
no way… this is the fun part! (no, not making you look bad…lol, the part about how the Six came to be…)
hey! you wanna join our Writers Club?
Only one qualification (well, ya gotta have qualifications, right?)
Answer this Question:
Do you believe there is a difference between a Writers Group and a Writers Club, yes or no?
Let us know.
Warning: I’m way into ‘the life metaphorical’ here in the virtual world and with the club, it’s kinda un-structured at the moment. all I have is a blog. But people like Pat and Val and a few others are there…picture: cardboard boxes and used furniture. That kind of club.
Here, check it out and let me know…. it’ll be fun!