photo by Elaine Cougler
The Seven-Line Challenge!
Sharon Clare, who published 2 books in 2012, tagged me in the 7 line challenge a while ago and I am just getting back to doing this interesting challenge. Here are my lines from page 7 of The Loyalist’s Wife, my historical novel, as John and Lucy spend their first night together in their cabin:
“And I can hardly wait to start work in the morning to make it as beautiful as I can. I know just where to hang that engraving of the two—”
His lips found hers, a lovely softness tingling between them, and he gathered her to him. She slid her arms around his taut body, fingers kneading his skin, and kissed back with an intensity born of sudden desire. Her petticoat bunched up as he slid his hands around her smooth thigh to her bottom and he inched the garment higher.
“Wait,” Lucy whispered. In a trice she had it off and tossed on the floor. “Will that do?”
I’m tagging 7 other writers, whose works are varied both in product and stage, to keep the challenge going: Patricia Pierce-garcia Schaack, Kristina Stanley, Mary Ann Blinkhorn, Rita Kuehn at Writania, Diane Stephenson, Janna Noelle, and Julia Robb.
This is your mission: Go to line 7 on either page 7 or page 77 of your manuscript and do a post with the next 7 lines, then tag 7 people to keep the challenge going! This is a short and savvy way to see what others out there in the blogoshere are writing.
Food Forays
January 9, 2013 at 1:27 pm
Now you have me wanting to read your book! Quite the effective challenge! xo
elainecougler
January 9, 2013 at 3:36 pm
Aha! I’ve got you hooked, Tami! Thanks for your comments. I checked out Food Forays again and my tongue is hanging out of my mouth. Hope I can get it back in before my wee grandson arrives in half an hour or he’ll think I’m the big bad wolf!
Sherry Isaac
January 9, 2013 at 2:06 pm
Oh, my! Lucy is a wee lioness! And Elaine is a bonafide author of steam.
elainecougler
January 9, 2013 at 3:37 pm
So glad you liked the excerpt, Sherry. I figure those ancestors of ours had their share of steam!
Sherry Isaac
January 9, 2013 at 5:05 pm
If they didn’t, we wouldn’t be here!
Kristina Stanley
January 9, 2013 at 2:15 pm
Okay, this sounds fun. Count me in.
elainecougler
January 9, 2013 at 3:38 pm
Great, Kristina! Let me know when you post. Hope all is well on the boat. Or are you there now, in winter, that is?
patgarcia
January 9, 2013 at 4:03 pm
Hi Elaine,
Thank you, and I accept the tag and will inform my seven people that I have just tagged them.
Your book sounds very interesting. I wonder what happen next?
Ciao,
Patti
elainecougler
January 9, 2013 at 5:14 pm
Well, I don’t want to give the idea that my book is all steamy scenes as it is historical fiction! I’m anxiously waiting to see who you tag, Patricia!
Jessica Aspen
January 9, 2013 at 4:46 pm
Oh Elaine! This is chapter one? Definitely caught my interest. Wonder now what is between pages 7 and 77.
elainecougler
January 9, 2013 at 5:15 pm
Ah, you’ll have to wait and see, Jessica. Not too long, I hope. And now you see I’ve got my own warm bits in my historical.
Patricia Yeager
January 9, 2013 at 4:55 pm
Thanks for your blog Elaine, I copied my 7 sentences from pg. 7, and now, how do I do this? I love the exercise and would love to tag 7 writers along with mine. Blogging is fairly new to me, so not sure what to do next.
Thanks again for the wonderful exercise. I am truly impressed with your writing. The seven sentences gave me a tingle. (Giggle) Very well written.
Blessings,
Pat
elainecougler
January 9, 2013 at 5:12 pm
Just write your own blog post on your blog and copy your 7 sentences into it. Then tag 7 other writers in the same way. Make sure you put links to their sites from their names. Is that clear enough, Patricia? Thanks so much for doing this.Elaine
Patricia Yeager
January 9, 2013 at 5:29 pm
Thanks Elaine, I think it’s time I start a blog of my own. I like word Smith. I’ll work on it.
P.
elainecougler
January 10, 2013 at 9:54 am
Awesome, Patricia. Try WordPress although it is a little tricky at times. I still get my computer guru son to help me if I can’t figure something out. (I think WordPress is what you mean?)
Brian Garner
January 9, 2013 at 6:10 pm
Oh, my! This is my sister?!?!
All the historical fiction I have read certainly has its share of steam. Ken Follett at times could commercialize it. Thanks.
B
Some day, I hope to sit down with you and learn how to post my blog posts/spots so others can see them. That’s your invitation to come to the Royal City to see your little brother.
elainecougler
January 10, 2013 at 9:56 am
Well, if I can follow Ken Follett I’ll be a happy writer! Funny how that scene happened to be on page 7 as this book is not a steamy roll in the hay. Thanks for your comments, Brian. And, of course, I’ll give you some blog tutoring.
Janna G. Noelle
January 9, 2013 at 10:58 pm
Well! That certainly got my attention. Best of luck to you in getting the rest of this story out into the world. And thanks for tagging me – I will come out and play.
elainecougler
January 10, 2013 at 9:58 am
Yay, Janna! Let’s play together. The only thing I didn’t tell those I tagged is to let me know when you reciprocate so that I can see your posts. Looking forward to all of them.
patgarcia
January 10, 2013 at 10:25 am
Hi Elaine,
My post was posted yesterday evening, before I went to bed.
The link is http://patgarciabookreviews.com/2013/01/09/7-writers-get-to-strut-their-stuff-the-seven-line-challenge/.
Take care.
Ciao,
Patti
elainecougler
January 10, 2013 at 9:30 pm
Great, Patti! I took a look and love that you’ve tagged 7 more people. This is just fantastic!
Rita Kuehn
January 10, 2013 at 12:22 pm
What a fun challenge! I’ll take it up! Thank you for thinking of me!
elainecougler
January 10, 2013 at 9:31 pm
Oh, I am so glad you’ll do this, too, Rita. I can hardly wait to see what you write and who you tag.
Zyanne
January 10, 2013 at 1:50 pm
Wow… way to leave me wanting more
It is amazing how much you can convey in just 7 lines.
elainecougler
January 10, 2013 at 9:32 pm
Thanks for your comment, Zyanne! I am excited to see how many new writers I learn about because of this challenge. Nothing like new stuff for a new year!
Patricia Yeager
January 10, 2013 at 7:27 pm
Thanks Elaine, yes I did mean Word Press. I’m suffering from fried brain. LOL.
elainecougler
January 10, 2013 at 9:34 pm
Ah, I can just feel you getting into the blogger/WordPress world, Patricia. And I’m excited to see what you write and who gets tagged in your post. I feel like a kid playing touch tag around the little red schoolhouse building.
mypenandme
January 10, 2013 at 9:57 pm
Thanks so much for including me. What a terrific idea. Unfortunately though, I couldn’t tell you at this point what will be on pages 7 and 77 for I am right in the midst of restructuring and rewriting the entire screenplay. You should see my dining room table!!! Lol… Would it be possible to take a raincheck?
elainecougler
January 10, 2013 at 11:08 pm
Absolutely. I did when I was tagged as I was snowed under. Can’t wait to see some of your screenplay! E
Sent from my iPad
mypenandme
January 11, 2013 at 12:27 am
You’re so supportive. Thanks, Elaine.
Brinda Berry
January 11, 2013 at 12:56 pm
I’m so glad that Sharon tagged you. I think this may be the first time I’ve read your writing. How exciting to get a glimpse of your work with your seven lines. I loved it!
elainecougler
January 11, 2013 at 6:31 pm
Thanks, Brinda. Sometimes we do so much writing about writing we forget to post actual fiction writing. Of course you’ve seen my non-fiction writing for a long while. I wasn’t sure about this post but people seem to like it so I am amply rewarded for taking a chance. Yay!
Sharon Clare
January 12, 2013 at 8:29 am
Wow, hot stuff, Elaine! Wonderfully written. I could feel the emotion behind those words. I’m so glad I tagged you!
elainecougler
January 12, 2013 at 8:59 pm
Me, too, Sharon. It turned out to be a lot of fun for everyone, didn’t it?
jmfilipowicz
January 12, 2013 at 7:04 pm
Those gosh darn petty coats. Off they come!
elainecougler
January 12, 2013 at 9:00 pm
Ah, the petticoats. I’m so glad we don’t have to wear them!