A Real Story Thread
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Re: A Real Story Thread
Posted by Gollum on Wed Sep 28th at 8:04am 2005


The challenge here is for each contributor to add something to the story, without trying to conceive the whole plot, and then finish with an opportunity for the next contributor to continue. It's difficult, because everyone wants to have a vision of the story -- but your vision is not going to be the same as anyone else's.

It's a fascinating exercise for me. We are being forced, by the nature of the enterprise, to avoid heavy-handed plot. We are being forced into letting the story grow, and seeing where it takes us. Have the courage, please, to allow this process to continue.

I suggest that, instead of looking for Big Plot Moments, we try to add little scenes that add something consistent with what we already know. Maybe something to develop Jess's character or history? Flashbacks, digressions, or meditations are allowed.

Whatever you do, don't try to provide a complete plot outline. If you see an opportunity to advance the story, fine -- but leave it to others to make the next move.




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Re: A Real Story Thread
Posted by Nickelplate on Wed Sep 28th at 2:54pm 2005


what's the use of me writing a masterpiece plot when other people are going to steer it away from the original intentions? of COURSE it's generic and boringish. But, have your way, mate. I deleted all my s**t.


I tried sniffing coke, but the ice cubes kept getting stuck in my nose.
http://www.dimebowl.com



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Re: A Real Story Thread
Posted by ReNo on Wed Sep 28th at 4:04pm 2005


Lets try and get this going again. Continuing on from Gollum's end...

Her boyfriend's thinly veiled view of the trip aside, family and friends alike had shared in her excitement. "Bless his heart though", she chuckled, it was going to be the longest time they had spent apart, by a margin dwarfing those that had passed. "I'll send him a nice postcard, that ought to cheer him up" she concluded, knowing full well that Jamie had always detested the things. Perhaps this one would be different, given the circumstances. But then perhaps one postcard wasn't going to cut it for a 6 month hiatus. Maybe she could buy a batch at the airport on arrival to save some of that underwhelming budget?

As it dawned on her that these were hardly the most pressing of matters, a customary knock on the door accompanied its immediate opening. The formality of such proceedings had long since vanished between Jess and Sarah.

Not much story development here I know, but after chases, mysterious figures, assassination attempts and more in the first few entries, I figured we could bring things back to earth a little






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Re: A Real Story Thread
Posted by Gollum on Wed Sep 28th at 5:27pm 2005


? quote:
what's the use of me writing a masterpiece plot when other people are going to steer it away from the original intentions? of COURSE it's generic and boringish. But, have your way, mate. I deleted all my s**t.


The original intentions? Whose?

Your plot wasn't s**t, but it was no masterpiece either. No-one should be trying to produce a plot outline for other members to follow. We need to offer some freedom for contributors to develop the story in ways that occur
to them, not just to you.

I like the way Reno is leading this. Something down-to-earth after the dramatic introduction <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif">




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Re: A Real Story Thread
Posted by rival on Wed Sep 28th at 6:19pm 2005


of course it hadnt been too long since they last met, back when Jess was just a rookie to this whole business. even now though, after so soon, she felt like a veteran.
The meeting was a little unsettling. Jess and Sarah both shuffled where they stood before anyone said anything.
Sarah's stone cold face was crack by the hint of a hidden smile. "it hasnt been that long Jess!"
"Well, you knew better then anyone i couldnt stay away from this for too long." Jess beamed a full grin back at her.
Sarah moved out of the sandstone doorway to let Jess pass. Jess walked into the hovel. just like she would have expected of Sarah, the house was completely spartan: there was little in the way of luxuries. a couch out infront of a polished wood table. a clay island seperating the basic kitchen from the rest of the house. she heard the door shut and turned back to sarah.
they looked at each other for a few tense minutes before sarah said anything.
"So, where have you been the past few weeks? You completely vanished."



Bullet Control: $5000 for a bullet.
&quot;I would blow your f**king head off! ...if I could afford it. I'm gonna get another job, start saving some money... then you a dead man!&quot;



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Re: A Real Story Thread
Posted by Nickelplate on Thu Sep 29th at 12:12am 2005


I didn't say mine was crap OR a masterpiece. I was just saying that why WOULD I make a masterpiece and plan it all out when other people are going to change what i so carefully planned anyway? see? No problems I just took my stuff out so people can get on with thier lives. lol.


I tried sniffing coke, but the ice cubes kept getting stuck in my nose.
http://www.dimebowl.com



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Re: A Real Story Thread
Posted by Gollum on Thu Sep 29th at 7:50am 2005


? quote:
I didn't say mine was crap OR a masterpiece. I was just saying that why WOULD I make a masterpiece and plan it all out when other people are going to change what i so carefully planned anyway? see? No problems I just took my stuff out so people can get on with thier lives. lol.


Ah, I see. I misinterpreted your words. Mea culpa.




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Re: A Real Story Thread
Posted by Pvt.Scythe on Thu Sep 29th at 9:04am 2005


There's a small reaquest I would like to make: I'd like it very much if everyone who contributes towards this story would pay some attention to their grammar. I don't mean every damn line should be exactly by the book. I just prefer reading text with capital letters and periods in their righful places. Thank you for your time.


''Everyone wades in s**t until they're competent enough to walk on it. Jesus style.''
Dystopia - Empires



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Re: A Real Story Thread
Posted by Biological Component on Thu Sep 29th at 1:17pm 2005


Jess moved silently to the small kitchen. God! We might as well have been conjoined twins. I'm gone for 20 days and her whole world starts caving in! Jess couldn't complain outloud though- not to her only remaining kin, not to her sister. She took a seat in the tiny breakfast nook, her favorite part of the house.

"Well, come out with it, Jess! Where in the world did you go this time? And don't even try to convince me you were with him."

"I wasn't." Jess replied calmly.

"See! I know exactly who you've been dealing with. You were working for Jack again, weren't you. You'll never go back to the way it was before- to the way YOU were before. You've gotten a taste, and you just can't bear to let it go. That's fine. See if I care when you look back on your wasted life. If you're even alive enough to look back."

Sarah's words had an edge. They always did.




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Re: A Real Story Thread
Posted by Addicted to Morphine on Fri Sep 30th at 3:29pm 2005


I think Jess and Sarah's characters got mixed up a few posts before, but that's alright... let's stick with this story.

"It's always so nice to see you again Sarah." Jess didn't attempt to veil the sarcasm. Within 30 seconds the two of them were fighting again, and Jess resented her sister's inability to leave the past behind.

"Don't talk to me like that," Sarah put in forcefully, "even though you think you've grown up, I'm still your older sister." Sarah hesitated momentarilly before adding, "I honestly don't know how Jamie puts up with you."

The second the words were out of her mouth Sarah knew she had overstepped an unspoken boundary. A frost seemed to enter Jess' cobalt blue eyes. Sarah shivered involuntarily, and grasping for a subject change blurted out, "Oh, I almost forgot. He gave me a call and wanted me to tell you he'd be running a little late. He should be here soon though..."

Sarah, unable to hold her sister's gaze, cast her eyes towards the doorway expectantly. As if in answer, the wind picked up outside, and through the frosted glass both women could see the cold air probing for a way into the warm cottage. Only a few leaves stubbornly clung to their branches, and the gray sky seemed heavy with forming snow.

Jess' mind wandered back once more to the warm sun of "Devil's Hammer." Well, perhaps warm was an understatement. Her index finger traced the outline of the image, on the brochure's cover, of a rose nestled within the eyesocket of a steer's sun-bleached skull. The image was both beautiful and intriguing, and Jess had the strange feeling she had seen that image before, somewhere. In an O'Keefe painting if any of you Pitters were wondering

Before Jess' mind could pin down the memory, a loud noise from the back of the cottage interrupted her reverie.

I'm not an experienced writer, but I hope that gives someone else something to go on, or work from.




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Re: A Real Story Thread
Posted by Campaignjunkie on Sat Oct 1st at 6:55am 2005


"Uh, what was that sound?" asked Sarah. Unfortunately, Jess wasn't listening; she was currently preoccupied with surfing majestic golden sand-dunes. Brad Pitt reassuringly followed behind her, warning her to be careful and slow down.

With a short sigh, Sarah stood up and looked outside the frosted window. Then she looked again, just to be sure. A stuttering yellow blob hovered outside, spouting dark grey smoke. The blob began to shout various curse words, which were barely audible through the white blizzard outside.

The walls of the cottage were visibly shaking now. Jess dropped her favorite teacup for the second time that week.

"Hey Jess... Is that... A bulldozer?"

A little something for you Hitchhikers fans. Oh, and clinical studies have shown - adding Brad Pitt to anything makes it 200% better.




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Re: A Real Story Thread
Posted by Hugh on Sun Oct 2nd at 1:47am 2005


"Jess dropped her favorite teacup for the second time that week." HAHAHAHA.

Jess looked out the window excitedly at the mention of a possible bulldozer, and as soon as she saw that it was indeed a bulldozer, she ran outside to greet it.

Sarah wondered what a strange lass her sister was when she ran outside at the sight of a bulldozer, but she supposed that everyone's engines revved differently. Maybe she was just one of those hardcore enviromentalist types who was looking to chain herself to the bulldozer for some God-forsaken purpose. Maybe Jess figured she knew the bulldozer operator; that'd be a pretty standard reason to run out after one. Sarah knew one thing for sure: she'd have to go outside and watch the fireworks in whatever form they might take.




One day you'll know what you're talking about, I can hardly imagine

Maps! - Audio blog!



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Re: A Real Story Thread
Posted by Addicted to Morphine on Sat Dec 17th at 5:29am 2005


This thread has too much potential to just let die.

And at that moment, half a world a way, Adam (Paradise Lost anyone?) opened his eyes. For the first time in what felt like months.

The little sunlight that managed squeeze through the dirty windows was enough to make him to close his eyes and turn away. He focused on rubbing the crust out of his eyes as an excuse to keep them closed, but eventually the muffled clatter of falling books in the hallway drew his attention to the only door in the room. He stared at the door with more than a little trepidation. His dulled mind was already racing, calculating how long it would take for him to open the window and scamper off, when the door swung open, banging loudly against the run-down burea.

And take it away folks!





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