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Maia Toll's avatar

I am an outlier as a huge fan of #3. There is a crispness to the writing--the character drawn with few lines but sharp precision--that I find super appealing. I also LOVE the voicey-ness... I want this woman at my next dinner party.

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Hallie O'Reilly's avatar

Booking my ticket for airplane astrology!!!

I could taste the salt on the pretzel twists as I subtly leaned back in my well worn leather seat to hear more of this undeniable chemistry and magic between these passengers. I want more more more!

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Steph Jagger's avatar

It's starting to sound like we all need to board that flight. And...if I may say, I LOVE seeing you here, Hallie!

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Joanie Peters's avatar

Oh my, I’m sitting at a table of one, having chosen #3. Big surprise the Aquarian is the alien. It did not sound like a story about Ted or Ted’s story. It’s like gossip, his name was in the words but it was not about him. Why did I want a second date with #3? I suppose it reflects where I am at these days. It felt as though you were not asking me the reader to read between the lines. You knew your lines and you said your lines. Hallelujah! The scene grounded me for where you will take me. It also reminded me of Aries energy which is about beginnings. And about anger. The kind of anger that is expressed in the breaking up of ice on a frozen river or a hasta militantly pushing through the earth’s crust … it is insistent energy, like a baby being born. In beginning #3 I felt the spring ice breaking up, this insistent river is going to flow, it can’t not!

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Steph Jagger's avatar

Joanie! I love this take so much. That piece has such directness to it. I think for an opening, I'd want more intrigue but I do adore the part about Ted and feel like it DEFINITELY belongs in the book.

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Deborah Schaumberg's avatar

Adding one more vote for Mr. Astrologer! I love the hints of myth and mystery! I'm so excited to read more!

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Karista Bennett's avatar

Oooh these were all so juicy and delicious, but airplane astrology had me hanging on to every last word.

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Hannah Rae's avatar

It's Airplane astrology for me! It opens up soooo many questions in the timeline, both backwards and forwards. I cannot even begin to guess at the answers to those questions - 5 stars for wrangling all of my curiosity!

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Steph Jagger's avatar

Hannah, thank you for being here and writing this! It’s wondrous for me to know I’ve wrangled curiosity! As a writer yourself, you know how much that means. Xoxo

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Jen Holloman's avatar

This was so hard to choose. I feel like they all have such a place like the intro before the thrice. Such meaning to the present..but bye bye Ted.. Airplane astrolger because I felt like an easedropping passenger in the seat in front of you fully pressed in to the seatback so I can hear every word.

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Steph Jagger's avatar

I’m envisioning this…you in the seatback. I feel like they all fit in somehow but I’m loving hearing how much people liked the airplane!!!

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Angie Stegall's avatar

It feels like #3 is a complete short story already! Reading #2 had me arriving late to a client call to finish reading it and wishing to keep reading more!!!

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Steph Jagger's avatar

Angie! I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to read that the second one made you late to a client call. I mean...I don't want you to be late but the writer in me is happy you were hooked in. Thank you for being here and reading this. And thank you so much for out time together the other day!

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Geraldine De Braune's avatar

Okay, well - I love, love, love the self-love. I mean, this is where I'm living at the moment. I also love (but did not select) the astrologer, because, yes please, that is the direction my heart and body are leaning - so it's a virtually a tie for teaser #1 and #2.

Like you, I just left "Ted." Next.

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Steph Jagger's avatar

Bye "Ted". ;) I think the self-love piece will make it in but I don't think it will be the opener. Perhaps it's a meditation the main character does after she says bye to Ted! Love you, G!

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Deb Johnston's avatar

i had a hard time choosing too! but eventually settled on teaser #2. why? because i felt like i was sitting in the middle seat between you both and wanted to hear more 😁

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Steph Jagger's avatar

I love this. Perhaps I should put another passenger between us! What an idea! I wonder who they would be and what they would say.

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Preeti P's avatar

Why do I have to choose only one beginning??!!!

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Steph Jagger's avatar

Only one beginning but that doesn't mean these other pieces can't make it into the draft in other places. I can't wait to play with the ordering. PS What's the start of your new story ;)

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Preeti P's avatar

I drank chai, just hot enough, at the round kitchen table I had bought almost 20 years ago, perfectly sized for 4. The window was open and a fresh breeze danced through, threatening the perfect temperature of my perfect cup of chai.

CHAI THE WAY I LIKE IT:

More than 1 cup of water

1 clove

1 cardamom pod

1 peppercorn

Slow almost boiled, like a 20 min long build

1 tsp of Red Label black loose leaf tea, from the Indian store, boiled some more, but gently

Milk, enough to be the right color, cooked just until boiling, but not boiled

Sugar, less than 1 tsp, but more than a ½

This was the first time someone had made me such a cup of chai. I didn’t know they had been watching this whole time. I didn’t know they cared like that.

I took in the moment. The curtains floating freely. The fresh breath of air. A slow morning. A revelation that someone just spent 20 minutes attuning to my exact taste. Willingly. Tenderly.

How did I get here?

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Steph Jagger's avatar

PREETI! This is sooooooo beautiful. It’s a start. It’s got a recipe (which you know is a Little Pleasure of mine) and it has an element of future self. I just…I love this so much. And I can feel you in it. The expanse of your energy!

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Preeti P's avatar

Please include all in your draft!!!! Oooh good prompt that I will write about this wkd..maybe after painting.

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Linda Sivertsen's avatar

All. Of. Them. I LOVE all three. If I must choose, airplane astrology. But, OMG, girl. xo

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Maia Toll's avatar

Well hello, you! Seeing your name made me smile.

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Steph Jagger's avatar

Linda! Never have I ever written fiction. Never did I ever see myself going there. But I'm so excited!!!!! And I feel buoyed by that fact that you are here and cheering. Me and my characters thank you! Now it's time for the airplane to take off!!!

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