Marjorie Farrell

Write-a-Thon!

Marjorie Farrell, Writer Joined: May 27, 2012
Last Visited: August 10, 2012
Write-a-Thon Team: Team Breathmoss
Writer Bio: I attended Clarion in Michigan in 1998 while living in New York state. I left Clarion feeling well educated and inspired. Unfortunately, life, love and labors get in the way of dreams. In 2011 my husband and I moved to Michigan. I retired from my job as an historic photography researcher for a stock photo firm. Since then, I have settled us into a new house--an old country church build in 1906, gardened and made friends. Now I am ready to write.
Writing Style: My writing style is near future, character based with a hint of mystery, which can be either a puzzle to solve or a bit of whimsy.

writing goal:

43 write everyday for at least 1 hour

progress:

days written:

write-a-thon goals:

I want to write everyday for at least one hour. After one hour, continue if I want to.

fundraising goals:

I would like for any funds I raise to go to the Tina Spell Memorial Scholarship at Clarion. Tina was in my 1998 Clarion Workshop and became a great friend. She died much too soon and much to young within a short time after Clarion. She published a short story in Writers of the Future. Madeleine Reardon Dimond is also participating in this write-a-thon and is dedicating her fundraising to our friend Tina's scholarship, also.

funds raised: $269.80

funds pledged: $68.80

total pledged per unit: $1.6000

Sponsor this writer!

0 Days Left!

The Clarion Write-a-Thon is now over. We raised $24,728.50!

You can review your pledges or donate directly to Clarion.

sponsors:

Madeleine Rose Dimond

Nancy Etchemendy

Walt Farrell

anonymous

see all 12

pledges:

anonymous

Leslie What (Glasser)

Nancy Etchemendy

Sharon Hersey

Excerpts

"With fluid movement, the ghost fish passes through the window. Its vermilion fins bright in stark contrast to the Cerulean Sea beyond. It dives into the water, leaving only a ripple on the surface to mark its passing. I interpret it as a sign my transformation is near."

I wrote this quote in 1998 at Clarion in response to a writing exercise given by Maureen McHugh. It has become my mantra and has haunted me since. Each time I read it I believe that I still can return to writing.

Unrelated to above excerpt

Excerpt from A Real Barn Burner

A jeep roared up the dirt road and parked behind the police car. A young, tall, thin man with scraggly black hair jumped out. He wore several crosses on chains of various lengths. His multiple pierced ears dangled more crosses. Both arms were covered with tattooed crosses. On one arm was tattooed the beatific face of Jesus. On the other was what sheriff Lorraine Goonan thought may represent the devil with a beard. The man rolled his shirt sleeves down when he noticed Lorraine inspecting his tattoos.

“Who are you?” Lorraine asked.

“I'm Raph Sparrow. I'm the new farm hand. What the heck happened here? It looks like the work of the devil himself,” he said.

Lorraine looked around at the smouldering ruins of the hydroponic farm. “So what are you going to do now that you don't have a job any more?”

“I don't know. Maybe I'll stay around through the summer, do some odd jobs. Raph climbed into his jeep and drove back down the dirt road. He punched a button on his ipod and his favorite Pitbull song began. Raph sang along.

Fuego! Fuego! The roof is on fire.
We don't need no water.
Let the (mumble, mumble) burn.

Raph couldn't remember the words, but he was sure it was something bad. Something Jesus wouldn't like. He stopped his car at a stop sign and suddenly his mood shifted. Tears ran down his face. “Jesus wept,” he said.