(Yes, I’m posting just after midnight).
My boyfriend is writing a book. Or rather, he has finished a first draft: 85,000 words of a novel.
Tonight he is editing. Or so he says.
I’m settled into bed, charging my Kindle and scrolling Instagram until the e-reader is ready.
I see a post from afropreppybookworm signaling her followers that My Sister the Serial Killer is only $3.99 on Kindle. “Because… #sharingiscaring” she writes. I type out a quick “Omg THANK YOU” before swiping over to Amazon to buy the ebook.
Purchase completed, I guiltily look over at my boyfriend. Predictably, he’s not editing – his computer is laying untouched on his lap… yet he seems to have some sort of word processing app up on his iPad, similar to my WordPress app’s format. My pulse rises. After my many muse-alouds, did he join Slice of Life? IS HE SLICING?
My cat joins me on the bed, settling in on my chest, allowing the perfect cover for me to sneakily monitor his activity.
I look closer: it’s Reddit.
He’s sitting there, a looooong comment open, a gray-typefaced “reply” inviting him to write… yet he doesn’t.
I return to my cat petting, and remove one of her claws from my shirt – the product of an over-zealous knead.
I glance over again, to see if he’s writing – editing, commenting, anything – and now he’s reading an article titled “Socialism and Black Oppression” on Jacobin. Hm.
I open My Sister the Serial Killer and begin an engrossing opening scene of a sister cleaning up blood in an apartment in Lagos, while her sister sits, balled up, on the toilet seat.
Distantly, I hear an iPad case close.
“Well, just sent out one more Reddit argument, then deleted the app.”
I can tell a conversation and/or rant is on the horizon, so I put down my Kindle in anticipation. “About…?” I prompt.
Off he goes.
I guess he was writing after all.
So engaging, and such a slice of reality! I have to admire your boyfriend’s deleting the distracting app – and am so amused by your purchase, not to mention “Is he SLICING?” – hilarious! Delightful read.
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Thanks, Fran!
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Everything counts as writing!
Loved feeling like I had a fisheye on his screen!
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So true! That’s what we tell our students, right? 🙂 Thanks for reading!
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Thanks for the glimpse into your late evening! Always reassuring to hear others are resistant to editing…
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The resistance is real!
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You quit just at the right moment in this slice leaving us thinking about that rant.
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I was toying with the ending for a while. Glad you liked it!
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We write
in the strangest
of times, in places
where argument
settles in with a
cup of tea and
a taste of blood,
and when one
writer reflects us,
our words mirrored
on another screen,
in another screen,
on another screen
the best we can do
is take a breath,
the death of writing
almost always
arrives too late
— Kevin, with a strange poem as comment, in appreciation for your slice
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Kevin, thank you for the poem response! I love the way it reflects on and adds to the post!
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Suspense! I felt like I had to keep on reading to find out what would happen next!
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Thanks, Jaana! I’m attempting to write more narrative and less “bandaid” posts. Glad it worked out today!
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Thanks for the glimpse into your night!
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Today, I am trying something new. I am commenting on the five slices posted above my own so that I can “meet” new slicers! No judgment here about posting early in the morning (or late at night). I love the quick prose here that takes me into the moment with a glimpse of a book on my to-read list. Fabulous.
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I like that idea, Sarah! Thanks for reading 🙂
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I can picture this almost familiar scene perfectly – from picking a cat claw from a shirt to being sneaky. Great post! I’ve heard so much about the book – please post your thoughts – w/o spoilers of course! 🙂
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Glad you enjoyed – and will do!
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Pure slice of life- the cat, the wondering, the sneaking glances, the discoveries. Proving that, well-written- they are really fun to read!
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Thanks Fran – it means a lot to hear the words “well-written” applied to my post!!
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Really fun, so believable because we all sneak peaks at what our partners are doing from time to time…!
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Right?! So glad I’m not alone!
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