Suggest a Story (Round 1)

Moejoe · 04-29-2009, 04:24 PM

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.

-----------------------

dreams · 04-29-2009, 04:49 PM

How fun

Title: Magic in the Wind

Elements: a human, an animal, and dandelions

Moejoe · 04-29-2009, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreams

How fun

Title: Magic in the Wind

Elements: a human, an animal, and dandelions

Cool

Let's hope there's more takers as this could turn out to be a lot of fun

vivaldirules · 04-29-2009, 04:51 PM

I'm game!

Title: Llounge Llamas in Llove (please feel free to adjust as you fell necessary).

What should be included: Llamas (of course). There should be romance but you decide if it is steamy (with heaving llama bosoms) or not. It would be helpful if there was snow but that's not a requirement. And silliness. Oops, I'm over the limit of three. Still, it must be silly.

Moejoe · 04-29-2009, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

I'm game!

Title: Llounge Llamas in Llove (please feel free to adjust as you fell necessary).

What should be included: Llamas (of course). There should be romance but you decide if it is steamy (with heaving llama bosoms) or not. It would be helpful if there was snow but that's not a requirement. And silliness. Oops, I'm over the limit of three. Still, it must be silly.

And then there were two

Greg Anos · 04-29-2009, 06:20 PM

Title: Afterglow

Elements, a person nearing blindness, a tropical sunset, and a broken watch.

(A serious story. Ignore the doggie and the llamas...)

Moejoe · 04-29-2009, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

Title: Afterglow

Elements, a person nearing blindness, a tropical sunset, and a broken watch.

(A serious story. Ignore the doggie and the llamas...)

That's three great suggestions, and I have stories in my head for all three

Greg Anos · 04-29-2009, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moejoe

That's three great suggestions, and I have stories in my head for all three

Maybe you can treat this like a Harlan Ellison window writing marathon.

Stories of the Demented from the files of MobileRead. Just the thing to waive under a publisher's nose....

Moejoe · 04-29-2009, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

Maybe you can treat this like a Harlan Ellison window writing marathon.

Stories of the Demented from the files of MobileRead. Just the thing to waive under a publisher's nose....

I forgot about Ellison (how, I don't know, who can forget Ellison?). I remember reading about those window writing sessions he did. Sounded like a lot of fun

GeoffC · 04-30-2009, 05:03 AM

Title : The Insane Blue.
Elements : brilliant energy, love and a bar of chocolate.

LazyScot · 04-30-2009, 06:07 AM

Title: Moonlit Skye

Elements: The Isle of Skye, a céilidh, a walk on a beach.

Moejoe · 04-30-2009, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

Title : The Insane Blue.
Elements : brilliant energy, love and a bar of chocolate.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LazyScot

Title: Moonlit Skye

Elements: The Isle of Skye, a céilidh, a walk on a beach.

Two more, cool, and thanks for the suggestions. Now I have to look up what a...that second thing is

LazyScot · 04-30-2009, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moejoe

Two more, cool, and thanks for the suggestions. Now I have to look up what a...that second thing is

I'd recommend a research visit into the first as well.....

Moejoe · 04-30-2009, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LazyScot

I'd recommend a research visit into the first as well.....

In the name of Fiction, I shall take a holiday!

montsnmags · 04-30-2009, 06:14 AM

Title: Gamelan and High Tea

A frangipani flower falling onto a city street, a half-eaten plate of mee goreng, and a gibbon.

04-29-2009, 04:24 PM	#1
Moejoe Banned Posts: 5,100 Karma: 72193 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South of the Border Device: Coffin	Suggest a Story (Round 1) 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. ----------------------- Last edited by Moejoe; 05-06-2009 at 07:48 PM.

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04-29-2009, 04:49 PM	#2
dreams It's about the umbrella Posts: 25,112 Karma: 56250158 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Sony 505\| K Fire \| KK 3G+Wi-Fi \| iPhone 3Gs \|Vista 32-bit Hm Prem w/FF	How fun Title: Magic in the Wind Elements: a human, an animal, and dandelions

04-29-2009, 04:51 PM	#4
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	I'm game! Title: Llounge Llamas in Llove (please feel free to adjust as you fell necessary). What should be included: Llamas (of course). There should be romance but you decide if it is steamy (with heaving llama bosoms) or not. It would be helpful if there was snow but that's not a requirement. And silliness. Oops, I'm over the limit of three. Still, it must be silly.

04-29-2009, 06:20 PM	#6
Greg Anos Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,248 Karma: 35000000 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Pocketbook	Title: Afterglow Elements, a person nearing blindness, a tropical sunset, and a broken watch. (A serious story. Ignore the doggie and the llamas...)

04-30-2009, 05:03 AM	#10
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,600 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	Title : The Insane Blue. Elements : brilliant energy, love and a bar of chocolate.

04-30-2009, 06:07 AM	#11
LazyScot DSil Posts: 3,201 Karma: 6895096 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Hants, UK Device: Kindle, Cybook	Title: Moonlit Skye Elements: The Isle of Skye, a céilidh, a walk on a beach.

04-30-2009, 06:14 AM	#15
montsnmags Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,155 Karma: 4632658 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: none	Title: Gamelan and High Tea A frangipani flower falling onto a city street, a half-eaten plate of mee goreng, and a gibbon.