I remember an exercise from a scriptwriting course I did to generate ideas. We were given a list of items or pieces of dialogue which we needed to use in a story. Each of of came back the next week with stories that ranged from redneck astronaughts, (read with the best accent i have every heard), to a time travelling spaceman trying to use medival technology to repair his broken spaceship. Obviously our list had something to do with space in it.
I thought we could give this a try. Here is a list, totally un prepared so I have no advantage Lets see what we can come up with. See if you can use at least 6 of these in a short story
1. A border Collie 2. An empty trashcan 3. 5 purple raindrops 4. "Gee, Golly. How would I know?" 5. A microwave instruction manual 6. $14,000 7. A pool of candle wax 8. Mint lollies 9. An orange towel 10. "Twister, twister, porcupine."
Bonus points for using number 10, as I have no idea where that came from
Just like my class, lets see what we can do in a week.
Have fun.
[This message has been edited by Howjos (edited August 17, 2007).]
Posted by rstegman (Member # 3233) on :
I had a writing workshop instructure who would use three unrelated things like an argument, driver's licence, and broccolli Those were fun too.... Have to give this assignment a thought.
Posted by Howjos (Member # 2441) on :
This is coming up tomorrow. I would love to see someone other than myself post a response here
It has been fun developing an idea to incorporate these items.
I look forward to seeing what you have created.
Posted by rstegman (Member # 3233) on :
Bobby walked with a border collie The dog sensed something wrong. It forced bobby to climb into an empty trash can. Five purple rain drops were all that bobby saw that fell from the sky this time. They were lucky. He lost his father in a downpour. Bobby and the border callie got home. Uncle Jim was talking on the radio. the signal was really bad. "Gee, Golly, How would I know? Those Microwave instruction manuals actually cost $14,000?" His uncle wiped his brow as he turned off the radio. Tossing the book out was a big mistake. He smiles at little Bobby. "It is time to get to work." They knelt by the alter. Uncle Jim put some mint lollies onto an orange towel. Bobby put his hands together in prayer, and
[This message has been edited by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (edited August 23, 2007).]
Posted by Howjos (Member # 2441) on :
This can also be found in the fragments section. 5 references used in first 30 lines.
quote: The first time I met Johnny I was hiding in an alleyway behind an empty trashcan. The alley was kept clean so the trashcan was really the only place I could hide. Along the road I could hear the click splash as the Corps walked in their boots through the puddles left by the earlier rain. As quietly as I could I pulled down into the shadows, a blemish on an other wise spotless wall.
From down the alley I heard a low whistle. Startled I barely kept from bolting out into the street. I turned and saw a figure wave to me from a doorway. I couldn’t tell you what drew me to him; the shadows blocked to much of his features for me to be able to read his face, maybe it was simply the fact that any distance between myself and the Corps was had to be good. Looking back to the street, I heard the steps getting closer. I scurried and ducked through as the door slid shut behind me. Until this morning that was the last decision I really got to make for myself.
Lets see what we can come up with. See if you can use at least 6 of these in a short story