Weekend Writing Warriors: Snippet 26- Janna
It’s time for Weekend Writing Warriors! Every Sunday, a bunch of writers post 8-sentence snippets from their WIPs on their blogs. There’s a lot of reading, commenting and great writing. Click on the link to see the full list.
Since tavern-wenching isn’t a good vocational fit for Janna, she decides it might be safe for her to quietly return to Kaleva and her own family. Before she can go, an imperial courier stops by the tavern to deliver “wanted” posters. Janna reads one, then has to explain to Maya why she’s freaking out. Again. And no, this book is not just one chapter after another of Janna freaking out. Mostly.
“I can’t go back to Kaleva,” Janna said, handing her the sheet.. “In fact, I can’t go anywhere.”
Maya looked it over. “Now see here; just because there’s a Janna on the list doesn’t mean it’s you.”
“But it is me,” Janna said in a small voice. “I’m Janna Kronek, and Anton is Dimir’s son. I suppose they’ll want him too.”
“Now that’s just ridiculous,” Maya said, laying a comforting hand on Janna’s shoulder. “Anyone could take one look at you and see you’re no threat to anyone, least of all the Empress.”
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Uh oh! Things just got a whole lot more complicated. 😉 Great 8, Christina! 🙂
Thanks! Yes, Janna is going to be facing some serious trouble for a while.
You know you’re going to have a bad day when you find your name on a wanted poster.
It’s a very bad sign. 🙂
In the immortal words of Homer Simpson, “DOH!” Seriously, I imagine I’d be freaking out, too. Great snippet, Christina!
Thanks! It’s not something anyone wants to hear, though I could see some of your characters taking it as a compliment. 🙂
So then Dimir is or isn’t Janna’s actual son?
Anton is Dimir’s son and Janna’s stepson. I clarify that at some point, but not soon enough! I’ll be sure to drop that into one of the earlier chapters.
Woohoo high strung characters! I wonder whether Maya is perhaps overly naive, though, at least this little snippet leads me to believe so. I certainly know characters like that, so it makes sense, but it does make me want to slap her a little. LOL…
Great 8! Thanks for sharing!
Great way to let the reader know what’s happening on many levels. Is Maya a window character?
Yes, partly. But she’s also a vehicle for getting Janna onto the next stage of her journey,.
Maya isn’t so much naive as maybe a bit too optimistic for the times. She believes every problem has a solution, a philosophy that can only get you so far.
What I love about your snippets is that they tell so much in so little. You have a very good way of drawing the reader in to the character’s situation rather than dancing around the little issues. Really good snippet!
Thanks so much! It’s something I have to work on because I tend to be much too verbose. I’m glad my editing efforts are having some effect!
Right away I’m thinking like an actor. Make-up, change hair color. Silly me. Interesting to see what happens next. She will be clever.
Haha, yes! And someone more resourceful than Janna might try it. People disguising themselves seemed to be kind of a literary trope of the time. There are a lot of stories about folks dressing up and pretending to be the devil (!!) and a lot of male/female cross-dressing.
You’ve given her lots of good reasons to freak out, so it’s okay! What a revoltin’ development, as Daffy Duck would say. Again, you do a great job of telling us what’s going on through dialogue.
Thanks! Yes, I think the freakout is quite justified in this case!
No threat….hmmm 🙂 Love the name Maya. Great eight.
Thank you!
Anyone reasonable might think that–but people with power they want to hold on to are rarely reasonable. She better beware!
Yes, the Empress is a particularly fine specimen of unreasonable + power-hungry.
I can certainly see why she’d be so worried and freaking out! I would be too. Terrific snippet, can’t wait to find out more (wanted for what???)
Ooh, I like that you get so much out of the situation through the dialogue alone.
Thanks! I like dialogue. I probably use it too much sometimes. Like me, the characters can’t stop talking. 🙂
Sounds like things are complicated. Great banter.
Thank you!
Trouble, trouble. I wonder who’s right: Janna freaking out or Maya being rather calm about this.
They both are, since Maya has a possible solution that Janna isn’t yet aware of. 🙂
Crazy! Loved this snippet.
Thanks!
That last sentence is a bit of a back-handed compliment, eh? LOL!
Yes, it is! Though Janna already knows she’s a wuss. 🙂
Sounds like Maya is in denial. Wonder why Janna is on the wanted list, a false accusation or guilt by association maybe? Intrigued.
Maya has a plan! And poor Janna is purely guilt by association at this point. The powers that be kill all rebels and anyone related to them, just to be on the safe side.