So this exercise is to take a sentence from the last exercise and go with it free associating nonstop for 20 minutes. So here I go!
--------
See that house over there? Let me tell you... Oh! The things that go on in that house! Terrible things, things with alcohol, things with drugs, perverse things, things on people, things involving costumes, things that barely make sense, things within things! I can't wait to go back next week!
I hope no one at work will ever find out about it though. I mean, I have a reputation to keep after all. My den of villainy is more of a Denny's or at its worst a House of Pancakes. What would my mother say if she ever found out! My dad wouldn't give a crap but mom that's a whole other story. I don't know how she wouldn't find out I mean she does own the house after all.
In retrospect this is more of a grandaunt sort of thing. The family has certainly spread enough stories about her to fill a massive tome of indecency, but from the sound of most of their tales they are probably just a bunch of guilty anecdotes about themselves projected onto her as a convenient scapegoat. The woman I knew was a saint, sure there was a dirty joke or baudy tale every now and then but I couldn't imagine anyone more tamer in her.
--------
Wow, this took some work to accomplish. I got a microphone set up to dictate what I say and it's quite a challenge to use. I'm sure if I typed it out normally I could have gotten more down but I plan on using the microphone more often. It was more battling the speech-to-text functionality than story writing but I find that just plain typing and dictating the story is quite different in itself.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Exercies #4 Begin a Story with a "Given" First Line
I just got to set a reminder to keep up with this!
The Exercise:
Begin a story with this line:
"Where were you last night?"
"Where were you last night?" her mother asked. A question they both knew couldn't end well because it always marked the opening to many troublesome firsts. The first time it was asked she snuck out and got drunk for this first time, the second time she lost her virginity, the third she crashed the family's only car, but the fourth would certainly take the cake.
"The neighbors were at it again."
The neighbors were at it again. You could hear them banging tools, welding metal, and bickering over details. Living next mechanics is a mixed blessing.
"One more thing before you go."
"One more thing before you go." He turned back expecting a punch in the face only to see his hand extended ready to shake with a shamed look upon his face. That was not going to happen he knew that fake look that he only trotted out when in public. He'd be back to his old ways by tomorrow.
"This is a story I've been avoiding for a long time."
This is a story I've been avoiding for a long time. Not out of shame but convenience. For you see, I've been in 9 wars and fought in none of them.
"If I went there a second time..."
If I went there a second time... Let me me think.... I'd skip the meal, have lots of wine, get the best idea in the world, and then probably pass out before I'd get crazy enough to do it.
I wrote the next one because I misread the top one as "If I were there a second time..."
"If I were there a second time..."
If I were there a second time... I wouldn't have been so spineless. I'd tell her how I felt, tell her dad where he could stick it, stick up for her in front of her mother, and most certainly not marry her sister.
"I haven't been the same since..."
I haven't been the same since... but who would? A once in a lifetime experience to cheat death. But but by an inch that speeding car had missed me only to collide with my home. Both a lucky and irritating experience, but it's not like I'm complaining or anything.
"See that house over there? Let me tell you..."
See that house over there? Let me tell you... Oh! The things that go on in that house! Terrible things, things with alcohol, things with drugs, perverse things, things on people, things involving costumes, things that barely make sense, things within things! I can't wait to go back next week!
So fun! :3
I'm glad I kept up with this, I just love getting the creative juices flowing. Plots and stories that I might never have thought of come to mind when I do these. Try to guess which one is my favorite. X3 See you next time!
The Exercise:
Begin a story with this line:
"Where were you last night?"
"Where were you last night?" her mother asked. A question they both knew couldn't end well because it always marked the opening to many troublesome firsts. The first time it was asked she snuck out and got drunk for this first time, the second time she lost her virginity, the third she crashed the family's only car, but the fourth would certainly take the cake.
"The neighbors were at it again."
The neighbors were at it again. You could hear them banging tools, welding metal, and bickering over details. Living next mechanics is a mixed blessing.
"One more thing before you go."
"One more thing before you go." He turned back expecting a punch in the face only to see his hand extended ready to shake with a shamed look upon his face. That was not going to happen he knew that fake look that he only trotted out when in public. He'd be back to his old ways by tomorrow.
"This is a story I've been avoiding for a long time."
This is a story I've been avoiding for a long time. Not out of shame but convenience. For you see, I've been in 9 wars and fought in none of them.
"If I went there a second time..."
If I went there a second time... Let me me think.... I'd skip the meal, have lots of wine, get the best idea in the world, and then probably pass out before I'd get crazy enough to do it.
I wrote the next one because I misread the top one as "If I were there a second time..."
"If I were there a second time..."
If I were there a second time... I wouldn't have been so spineless. I'd tell her how I felt, tell her dad where he could stick it, stick up for her in front of her mother, and most certainly not marry her sister.
"I haven't been the same since..."
I haven't been the same since... but who would? A once in a lifetime experience to cheat death. But but by an inch that speeding car had missed me only to collide with my home. Both a lucky and irritating experience, but it's not like I'm complaining or anything.
"See that house over there? Let me tell you..."
See that house over there? Let me tell you... Oh! The things that go on in that house! Terrible things, things with alcohol, things with drugs, perverse things, things on people, things involving costumes, things that barely make sense, things within things! I can't wait to go back next week!
So fun! :3
I'm glad I kept up with this, I just love getting the creative juices flowing. Plots and stories that I might never have thought of come to mind when I do these. Try to guess which one is my favorite. X3 See you next time!
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Execrise 3: Ways to Begin a Story
Fee, I don't know how to reply to your comments off the top of my head so make sure to check back here until I figure it out.
I fell off the writing wagon a bit due to a changing work schedule but I plan on getting back on starting today. So without further ado, exercise 3!
With a Generalization
They are all the same. No matter how they dress, talk, act, or look; exactly the same....
With a Description of a Person
Tall and skinny with not a lot of hair. Casual, matching business clothes and a really, really stupid grin. That's him, all right.
With Narrative Summary
Their wedding was just right around the corner to everyone's surprise. They never thought it would go this far. They didn't even like each other but as it seems love has nothing to do with liking one another.
With Dialogue
"Whatever you do, don't stare are her tits." said Dad. He stared anyways.
With Several Characters but no Dialogue
Chatter, chatter, chatter! Just endless chatter. Nonsense from the secretary, vindictive gibberish from the boss, irrelevant jibberjab from the coworkers, and defensive humor from myself. Business as usual.
With a Setting and Only One Character
He had his armor on extra tight tonight. The woods became more of a dangerous place since the war. Veterans that now resort to banditry on the main roads, pickpockets and thieves lurking at resting areas, overprotective, near paranoid workers at clearings, and even deeper there be dragons.
With a Reminiscent Narrator
The food I ate that night was something else, not that great but at least it tasted like food.
With a Child Narrator
Daddy is so overprotective but when I'm scared there is no other place I'd rather be than in his arms. When I'm in there there is no monster or scary thing that can reach me, I'm too well protected inside of my "Dad Fort".
By Establishing a Point of View
First person
Her Dad did not care for me at all. I never really got why, her ex had a record, hit her, stole from him, and, surprise surprise, used drugs yet he always liked him much better than me. He even oh-so-conveniently invited him over the first time I went over for dinner.
Third person
A rose, a single rose. That's all that was left after the fire. Her garden of so many years reduced to a single flower. But it bloomed and stood tall as if it were defiantly challenging her to start again.
This was fun. This was actually supposed to be two parts. I practice with each opening types then use each of them on a single story to change it up. Since this is eating up time I'll do it for my next post and pick one of these sentences to experiment on like the last exercise since I don't have a story in mind that I want to fiddle with at the moment.
I fell off the writing wagon a bit due to a changing work schedule but I plan on getting back on starting today. So without further ado, exercise 3!
With a Generalization
They are all the same. No matter how they dress, talk, act, or look; exactly the same....
With a Description of a Person
Tall and skinny with not a lot of hair. Casual, matching business clothes and a really, really stupid grin. That's him, all right.
With Narrative Summary
Their wedding was just right around the corner to everyone's surprise. They never thought it would go this far. They didn't even like each other but as it seems love has nothing to do with liking one another.
With Dialogue
"Whatever you do, don't stare are her tits." said Dad. He stared anyways.
With Several Characters but no Dialogue
Chatter, chatter, chatter! Just endless chatter. Nonsense from the secretary, vindictive gibberish from the boss, irrelevant jibberjab from the coworkers, and defensive humor from myself. Business as usual.
With a Setting and Only One Character
He had his armor on extra tight tonight. The woods became more of a dangerous place since the war. Veterans that now resort to banditry on the main roads, pickpockets and thieves lurking at resting areas, overprotective, near paranoid workers at clearings, and even deeper there be dragons.
With a Reminiscent Narrator
The food I ate that night was something else, not that great but at least it tasted like food.
With a Child Narrator
Daddy is so overprotective but when I'm scared there is no other place I'd rather be than in his arms. When I'm in there there is no monster or scary thing that can reach me, I'm too well protected inside of my "Dad Fort".
By Establishing a Point of View
First person
Her Dad did not care for me at all. I never really got why, her ex had a record, hit her, stole from him, and, surprise surprise, used drugs yet he always liked him much better than me. He even oh-so-conveniently invited him over the first time I went over for dinner.
Third person
A rose, a single rose. That's all that was left after the fire. Her garden of so many years reduced to a single flower. But it bloomed and stood tall as if it were defiantly challenging her to start again.
This was fun. This was actually supposed to be two parts. I practice with each opening types then use each of them on a single story to change it up. Since this is eating up time I'll do it for my next post and pick one of these sentences to experiment on like the last exercise since I don't have a story in mind that I want to fiddle with at the moment.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Exercise 2: Second Sentences as Different Paths
I felt on a roll so I decided to got to the next exercise a day early. I was between putting a second sentence on all ten or just choose one, I decided to just pick one that I really liked.
These plot ideas generated with help of: http://futureisfiction.com/plotpoint/index.cgi
character gets a crush on someone "out of their class"
1. He held her hand then looked her sincerely in the eyes and said: "Your life is going to be a great adventure and I'd like you to take me with you, not as your friend but as your companion." She swiftly turned her head away and reclaimed her hand, how could he ask such a thing in his position?
Wish granted! Suddenly your character gets the thing they coveted most, and now they feel empty unfulfilled.
2. He held her hand then looked her sincerely in the eyes and said: "Your life is going to be a great adventure and I'd like you to take me with you, not as your friend but as your companion." At that she grasped his hand with her other and gave him a kiss with an eagerness she had kept well concealed which he returned in kind, but in that triumphant moment he could not help remembering the one he got from her sister days before.
Sometimes your characters greatest enemy is his/herself. Something is tempting them that they lack the willpower to resist.
3. He held her hand then looked her sincerely in the eyes and said: "Your life is going to be a great adventure and I'd like you to take me with you, not as your friend but as your companion." He couldn't stop shaking and sweating and the current situation was not entirely to blame for his "old friend" to help calm his nerves was starting to let it's presence be known.
Your character meets a charming man that will swindle him/her.
4. He held her hand then looked her sincerely in the eyes and said: "Your life is going to be a great adventure and I'd like you to take me with you, not as your friend but as your companion." Before he knew it he was carrying her while she embraced him to the carriage he had rented for the evening, it was cheap but the man at the helm looked totally legit.
Characters follow terrible directions or get lost, preferably to a more interesting or dangerous neighborhood.
5. He held her hand then looked her sincerely in the eyes and said: "Your life is going to be a great adventure and I'd like you to take me with you, not as your friend but as your companion." With her approval gained he gleefully started to walk her home but soon got lost attempting to use a romantic shortcut he learned from a friend; it was now dark and silent and holding hands now became a matter of drawing and maintaining courage rather than a sign of affection.
I'm not afraid of the dark. But your character is.
6. He held her hand then looked her sincerely in the eyes and said: "Your life is going to be a great adventure and I'd like you to take me with you, not as your friend but as your companion." She hesitated for what seemed to be an eternity in deep contemplation over his proposal which made him anxious, not only because he felt the longer she took the more likely she'll say no but it was also getting dark and this area wasn't the best place to be at night.
Did you know that your character has a phobia of open spaces? Well, they do.
7. He held her hand then looked her sincerely in the eyes and said: "Your life is going to be a great adventure and I'd like you to take me with you, not as your friend but as your companion." He was far more nervous then he was letting on, she loved this spot since she was a child out where she can see the stars and the beautiful scenery for miles; it was all doing quite a number on his Agoraphobia.
Perhaps this scene would be more interesting if it happened at a mad, bad-ass party. Who is flirting? Who is wasted? Who is so xenophobic they are hiding in the closet? Whose stuff gets stolen? Who is the keymaster (I HAVE HIDDEN YOUR KEYS! YOU MUST CHILL!) ?
8. He held her hand then looked her sincerely in the eyes and said: "Your life is going to be a great adventure and I'd like you to take me with you, not as your friend but as your companion." She didn't hear a word he said, the music was far too loud but from the look in his eyes she thought that he was breaking up with her.
Your character (perhaps the antagonist?) makes a marriage proposal. Doesn't matter if there was no love story before. You can go back and write that in later.
What a ironic topic to come up, yes? X3
9. He held her hand then looked her sincerely in the eyes and said: "Your life is going to be a great adventure and I'd like you to take me with you, not as your friend but as your companion." Memories of all the years she had know him came flooding in all at once, plus what would her parents and family think, could he support or even want children, does he even really love her, what to say next!?
Incompetence can be funny but it can also generate a lot of conflict when the incompetent person is a doctor, lawyer, cop, or whomever is responsible for Character's fate.
10. He held her hand then looked her sincerely in the eyes and said: "Your life is going to be a great adventure and I'd like you to take me with you, not as your friend but as your companion." She hesitated and sensing a possible "No!" he hastily pulled out an engagement ring which he promptly, through his nervous bumbling, dropped. He swiftly bent down to retrieve it which she unfortunately did at the same time to see what exactly it was he wanted to show her resulting in an inevitable, and quite awkward, collision. After a brief silence and giggle session he realized that he couldn't find it. "Was it expensive?" She asked still giggling. "Very." he replied grinning.
That was fun! Some were very hard to fit into one sentence and I'm sure there's some that are just punctuation abominations. The last one I totally had fun with because there was just so much I wanted to add!
These plot ideas generated with help of: http://futureisfiction.com/plotpoint/index.cgi
character gets a crush on someone "out of their class"
1. He held her hand then looked her sincerely in the eyes and said: "Your life is going to be a great adventure and I'd like you to take me with you, not as your friend but as your companion." She swiftly turned her head away and reclaimed her hand, how could he ask such a thing in his position?
Wish granted! Suddenly your character gets the thing they coveted most, and now they feel empty unfulfilled.
2. He held her hand then looked her sincerely in the eyes and said: "Your life is going to be a great adventure and I'd like you to take me with you, not as your friend but as your companion." At that she grasped his hand with her other and gave him a kiss with an eagerness she had kept well concealed which he returned in kind, but in that triumphant moment he could not help remembering the one he got from her sister days before.
Sometimes your characters greatest enemy is his/herself. Something is tempting them that they lack the willpower to resist.
3. He held her hand then looked her sincerely in the eyes and said: "Your life is going to be a great adventure and I'd like you to take me with you, not as your friend but as your companion." He couldn't stop shaking and sweating and the current situation was not entirely to blame for his "old friend" to help calm his nerves was starting to let it's presence be known.
Your character meets a charming man that will swindle him/her.
4. He held her hand then looked her sincerely in the eyes and said: "Your life is going to be a great adventure and I'd like you to take me with you, not as your friend but as your companion." Before he knew it he was carrying her while she embraced him to the carriage he had rented for the evening, it was cheap but the man at the helm looked totally legit.
Characters follow terrible directions or get lost, preferably to a more interesting or dangerous neighborhood.
5. He held her hand then looked her sincerely in the eyes and said: "Your life is going to be a great adventure and I'd like you to take me with you, not as your friend but as your companion." With her approval gained he gleefully started to walk her home but soon got lost attempting to use a romantic shortcut he learned from a friend; it was now dark and silent and holding hands now became a matter of drawing and maintaining courage rather than a sign of affection.
I'm not afraid of the dark. But your character is.
6. He held her hand then looked her sincerely in the eyes and said: "Your life is going to be a great adventure and I'd like you to take me with you, not as your friend but as your companion." She hesitated for what seemed to be an eternity in deep contemplation over his proposal which made him anxious, not only because he felt the longer she took the more likely she'll say no but it was also getting dark and this area wasn't the best place to be at night.
Did you know that your character has a phobia of open spaces? Well, they do.
7. He held her hand then looked her sincerely in the eyes and said: "Your life is going to be a great adventure and I'd like you to take me with you, not as your friend but as your companion." He was far more nervous then he was letting on, she loved this spot since she was a child out where she can see the stars and the beautiful scenery for miles; it was all doing quite a number on his Agoraphobia.
Perhaps this scene would be more interesting if it happened at a mad, bad-ass party. Who is flirting? Who is wasted? Who is so xenophobic they are hiding in the closet? Whose stuff gets stolen? Who is the keymaster (I HAVE HIDDEN YOUR KEYS! YOU MUST CHILL!) ?
8. He held her hand then looked her sincerely in the eyes and said: "Your life is going to be a great adventure and I'd like you to take me with you, not as your friend but as your companion." She didn't hear a word he said, the music was far too loud but from the look in his eyes she thought that he was breaking up with her.
Your character (perhaps the antagonist?) makes a marriage proposal. Doesn't matter if there was no love story before. You can go back and write that in later.
What a ironic topic to come up, yes? X3
9. He held her hand then looked her sincerely in the eyes and said: "Your life is going to be a great adventure and I'd like you to take me with you, not as your friend but as your companion." Memories of all the years she had know him came flooding in all at once, plus what would her parents and family think, could he support or even want children, does he even really love her, what to say next!?
Incompetence can be funny but it can also generate a lot of conflict when the incompetent person is a doctor, lawyer, cop, or whomever is responsible for Character's fate.
10. He held her hand then looked her sincerely in the eyes and said: "Your life is going to be a great adventure and I'd like you to take me with you, not as your friend but as your companion." She hesitated and sensing a possible "No!" he hastily pulled out an engagement ring which he promptly, through his nervous bumbling, dropped. He swiftly bent down to retrieve it which she unfortunately did at the same time to see what exactly it was he wanted to show her resulting in an inevitable, and quite awkward, collision. After a brief silence and giggle session he realized that he couldn't find it. "Was it expensive?" She asked still giggling. "Very." he replied grinning.
That was fun! Some were very hard to fit into one sentence and I'm sure there's some that are just punctuation abominations. The last one I totally had fun with because there was just so much I wanted to add!
Exercise 1: First Sentences: Beginning in the Middle
I finally got my copy of "What If?" 3rd Edition. I'll be doing three exercises a week as part of my exploration in writing:
Ten "middle" sentences:
1. It wasn't very hot but it was still pretty warm, he found it to be quite wonderful actually.
2. And that was that, after everything they'd been through; that was it.
3. The music touched his soul in all the wrong ways but he couldn't stop listening.
4. He couldn't stop giggling, try as he might, it reminded him too much of a boob.
5. And the Lord, the Lord God in Heaven said down from high: "Fuck you all!"
6. As the saying goes: "If it burns it's working!" a reminder of the flawed logic of not-so long ago.
7. He held her hand then looked her sincerely in the eyes and said: "Your life is going to be a great adventure and I'd like you to take me with you, not as your friend but as your companion."
8. They went over the hills, under a cave, through a valley, and finally up the path to what they hoped would be home.
9. What was supposed to be a quick skirmish became a great battle with the harsh realization that afterwards all that they had gained would be promptly taken back the next day faster than they had won it.
10. A hug and a kiss, that's all it usually took to make everything all right and that night was no different.
That was fun, I noticed that almost every little idea I've ever had has been in the middle like this. Having this exercise in my artist toolbox makes putting it down so much easier and in perspective. Now let's just see if I can get Fee motivated!
Ten "middle" sentences:
1. It wasn't very hot but it was still pretty warm, he found it to be quite wonderful actually.
2. And that was that, after everything they'd been through; that was it.
3. The music touched his soul in all the wrong ways but he couldn't stop listening.
4. He couldn't stop giggling, try as he might, it reminded him too much of a boob.
5. And the Lord, the Lord God in Heaven said down from high: "Fuck you all!"
6. As the saying goes: "If it burns it's working!" a reminder of the flawed logic of not-so long ago.
7. He held her hand then looked her sincerely in the eyes and said: "Your life is going to be a great adventure and I'd like you to take me with you, not as your friend but as your companion."
8. They went over the hills, under a cave, through a valley, and finally up the path to what they hoped would be home.
9. What was supposed to be a quick skirmish became a great battle with the harsh realization that afterwards all that they had gained would be promptly taken back the next day faster than they had won it.
10. A hug and a kiss, that's all it usually took to make everything all right and that night was no different.
That was fun, I noticed that almost every little idea I've ever had has been in the middle like this. Having this exercise in my artist toolbox makes putting it down so much easier and in perspective. Now let's just see if I can get Fee motivated!
Friday, July 2, 2010
Marker Musings
Due to work and school now eating ALL of my time my project based blog posts have been dashed to pieces. But I'm not bitter, really I'm not. This is a brainstorm session I had the other day. I like doing these. I get one of my markers (this one was wide tipped) draw in what I see. My scanner doesn't completely fit my sketchbook plus it murdered it at the same time. :/
Friday, May 14, 2010
The Imps of Wrath
A blog post on time!? Who'da thunk it! X3
I really like small familiaresque creatures like goblins, trolls, fairies, pixies, demons, etc.
In my universe, imps are attracted to people who have certain vices in their hearts and they favor addictive ones the most. Imps aren't necessarily evil but they have an affinity for malevolent feelings, deceptiveness, annoyance, anger, and many other emotions one would consider evil and feed off those feelings and especially deeds done while under the influence of those feelings. An imp who attaches themselves to someone will use their powers to inflame the host’s vices; they'll make you jealous, suspicious, paranoid, temperamental, addictive, and even annoying at times. They'll sometimes get even or make life miserable for those their "master" is at odds with in order to feed off those around their host as well but if their host can find the strength to resist the urges and negativity the imp craves they can find themselves at the receiving end of the imp's wrath.
Of all the things an imp craves its anger and gambling. Both are things that can potentially foster the most negativity. An imp can use its powers to make their host win at anything and vice versa. Someone with an imp accompanying them almost always has either a foul temper or a well hidden cruel streak about them. Loyalty is never a trait to expect from an imp since they are always out for themselves and as fast as they attach themselves to someone they have already thought of a hundreds ways to cruelly dump that person, usually in a situation with no hope like leaving them with staggering gambling debts or making them do something they regret out of anger.
It is said that the most powerful of imps, or a “grand imp” are the ones that are attached to objects for they can grant wishes to the object's owner but they must "loan" their soul in order to do so and if they die before they can willing pass that object to someone else the imp denies that person an afterlife and person's soul is now property of the imp and has to serve as their slave until someone bargains for that person’s soul at which time the person can either pass on or become the property of a new owner. But that’s all imp legend, of course. X3
I really like small familiaresque creatures like goblins, trolls, fairies, pixies, demons, etc.
In my universe, imps are attracted to people who have certain vices in their hearts and they favor addictive ones the most. Imps aren't necessarily evil but they have an affinity for malevolent feelings, deceptiveness, annoyance, anger, and many other emotions one would consider evil and feed off those feelings and especially deeds done while under the influence of those feelings. An imp who attaches themselves to someone will use their powers to inflame the host’s vices; they'll make you jealous, suspicious, paranoid, temperamental, addictive, and even annoying at times. They'll sometimes get even or make life miserable for those their "master" is at odds with in order to feed off those around their host as well but if their host can find the strength to resist the urges and negativity the imp craves they can find themselves at the receiving end of the imp's wrath.
Of all the things an imp craves its anger and gambling. Both are things that can potentially foster the most negativity. An imp can use its powers to make their host win at anything and vice versa. Someone with an imp accompanying them almost always has either a foul temper or a well hidden cruel streak about them. Loyalty is never a trait to expect from an imp since they are always out for themselves and as fast as they attach themselves to someone they have already thought of a hundreds ways to cruelly dump that person, usually in a situation with no hope like leaving them with staggering gambling debts or making them do something they regret out of anger.
It is said that the most powerful of imps, or a “grand imp” are the ones that are attached to objects for they can grant wishes to the object's owner but they must "loan" their soul in order to do so and if they die before they can willing pass that object to someone else the imp denies that person an afterlife and person's soul is now property of the imp and has to serve as their slave until someone bargains for that person’s soul at which time the person can either pass on or become the property of a new owner. But that’s all imp legend, of course. X3
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)