I've been thinking about doing some guided writing soonish, and I thought there would be no better place to do that than here at Mobileread.
So here's how it goes, you pick a Title for a short story, one that hasn't been used before, a few basic elements (no plots please) and I'll write a short story based upon that title.
For example, you might want your story suggestion to be something like this:
Title: The Big Hat
What should be included: Oranges, a woman called Ariel Doohickey, moonlight. (Keep it to 3 elements if you would)
When I have enough suggestions (if any) I'll put up a poll, and whoever has suggested the winning title will get the first copy* and also a dedication at the front of the story.
Any takers?
*Digitally crafted by me from the finest materials, and also with a one-of-a-kind personalised cover.
BIG FAT EDIT: Because of the number of great suggestions I've decided to write them all as short stories. Sixteen in total. I'll be putting up the full list here soonish.
A BIG MAC OF AN EDIT
All sixteen stories now have openings. Three of them are nearing completion; Magic in the Wind, Strange Weather and Wisconsin Heat. Below is the list (I'll update as they're completed):
Magic in the Wind (Dreams) DONE
That morning he ignored the ringing phone and instead watched the dawn light through the window.
Llounge Llamas in Love (Vivaldirules) DONE
They came form the snow, an avalanche of men clad in gold and sequins, their legend tattoo stitched in rhinestones across their shoulders.
Llounge Llamas.
Afterglow (Ralph Sir Edward) DONE
In the Kingdom of the Blind...
In the Kingdom of the Blind...[/I]
The thought rolled in Sebastian Newman’s head like a sneaker in a tumble dryer clattering against the steel drum.
There was no Kingdom for the blind, or the nearly blind. Only a prison cell that became smaller with each and every day. What was left now but the unseen sunsets, the lost dawns, the fading light of day.
The Insane Blue (Geoff C)
Chocolate to the left of them, chocolate to the right...and not a bite could be eaten.
The Moonlit Skye (LazyScot)
The sound of the dance was a distant and beautiful thunder that reached all the way to the lonely sands of the moon touched beach. From there, as electric quick as a thought, it triggered a secret wish, a tremor in Carly Argyle's legs.
A tremor that would never become a full blown earthquake.
My Hovercraft is Full of Eels (Vivaldirules)
"My Hovercraft is Full of Eels, now what do you think of that particular title, Mrs. Featherbottom?"
Featherbottom, her face powdered white with concern, let out a small and not incosiderable grunt of displeasure.
"Mr. Dickens, I have been your confident and housekeeper nigh on fifteen years, and as yet I have never heard such an absurd notion. What, pray, is a Hovercraft and why would it be filled with eels?"
Gamelan and High Tea (Montsmags)
At first Carlos thought it was raining, but when in history had it rained flowers? And if such an incredible event had occurred, was it also accompanied by music?
He thought not.
Spider Dreams (Netseeker)
When he wasn't lying, Bill, for everyone called him by that name, liked to play cruel games.
Wisconsin Heat (pshyrnk) DONE
The ice was too thick to crack. Four hours and Jimbo Donn had little more than a fist-sized hole dug out from the surface, not enough to pull out a fish, let alone slip a body into.
The Pouf (SteveJordan)
The Zephyr Model 74 automated mannequin had one serious flaw.
Strange Weather (Zelda Pinwheel) DONE
Lydia couldn't help but think that the old poem might be true.
Men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses.
Hidden Obviousness (YGG)
She had the look of a woman who regularly broke promises and smiled while doing so. Then why did he love her so?
Tequila Mockingbird (curtw)
"You know what I hate about Susan Swan?" Francine said and downed another Tequila Slammer from the table.
Barbara narrowed her eyes and captured the Prom Queen's table far, far away from the rest. And in those eyes she captured Susan Swan, that never-aging, always pretty, teeth as white as as the whitest snow beauty.
"No, what?" Barbara said.
Francine jammed her empty shot glass on the table, picked up another, knocked that back and wiped the spittle from her streaked-lipsticked mouth.
"Everything," she said.
If Not, Then What? (Basschick)
Hovering above the date, scrawled with a childish glee, was a picture of a flying saucer.
April 1st.
A day for pranks and bad jokes, but not this year. This year, William Smith would become the first human to be visited, and not just in fever dreams or hallucinations, by an alien intelligence.
Am I a figment of my imagination - or yours? (columbus)
The cat, the dog and the bird weren't speaking to him. Which was odd. The last time Harold Dove had checked, he was still certifiably insane.
Suddenly September (Moe the Cat) DONE
"Have you heard?" Goldblum said.
Derrick Cavannah lifted his head from his inspection of the tabulation machine and seeing only the annoyance that was his desk partner, refused speech in favour of shrugged shoulders.
"You're a man who doesn't get excited by much, aren't you, Cavannah? Here I am with earth-shattering news and all you can do is look at me like I'm some percentage deduction on a yearly tax statement."
"What news?" Cavannah found his voice, and it was a calm and flat as a set of books always in the black.
"The Shakespeare Initiave, you dolt. Those bods in R&D are talking about pushing it out before September."
Cavannah let out a meagre sigh and turned back to his machine and the numbers there that were never surprising, that never brought news, good or bad. Numbers were easy, they made sense, unlike Goldblum.
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