01 July 2006

The Whining Stranger on Books and Reading

A 500-Word Short Story Writing Challenge for Summer

OK, this time of year we hear much--including from yours truly--about summer reading plans, but what about summer writing plans? Here's an idea. Write a 500-word short story (brevity is a challenge, kids) based on the following theme: For fear that my mother would sell the house before I returned home again, I made sure to write a sentence in permament marker in the closet of my childhood bedroom.

Now turn off the TV, get out your number-2 pencil, make some notes on foolscap paper and come back here to post the results of your labor.

18 comments:

Liz said...

What an inspired idea, wherever did you get it?

The Whining Stranger said...

Who can say whence ideas come?

Are you going to contribute?

Liz said...

Perhaps.

Paperback Writer said...

Count me in...(I love a challenge!!)

I'll let you know when I post my story up.

Jami said...

Is there a deadline?

Jami said...

oh, and does it have to have that sentence? or is that just the theme? Just checking.

We first-borns are very picky about rules.

The Whining Stranger said...

So many comments, so little entries.

Deadline--as of now--is end of this month, doesn't have to contain that line, just be based on that theme.

EDW, you have to contribute. Don't be a wallflower. PW, ditto.

Paperback Writer said...

WS: I'm working on it! I have five versions and none of them work for me! Perhaps, I'll post them up anyway.

The Whining Stranger said...

PW, post all five, silly!

Paperback Writer said...

Well, I posted two of them. I have to go digging for the other three!

Liz said...

Since this is summer writing, shouldn't the deadline be Labor Day? Post an entry on Labor Day, and we reply with our stories. And frankly, I've got my country's 500th anniversary to plan, my wedding to arrange, my wife to murder and Guilder to frame for it; I'm swamped!

Jami said...

Okay, I've got one ready to post http://pghsfavoritejami.blogspot.com/ and one more I am still kickin' around.

Paperback Writer said...

See, what a little guilt trip can do?

;)

Jami said...

Okay, posted. Now, uh, I am re-reading this whole thing and will a winner be declared? I like to win. I mean, I'm not saying that I should (since obviously I haven't read anyone else's yet, but I like to have the opportunity to win . . .

Jami said...

The actual url for the story is: http://pghsfavoritejami.blogspot.com/2006/07/permanence-marker.html

Enjoy!

The Whining Stranger said...

Jami and PW, promise to read your entries more carefully when I'm settled back home in two days. Looking forward to it.

Everyone-- Sure, I can extend the deadline to Labor Day. And yes, I'll award a prize.

Sound good?

Jami said...

Sounds great - whooo hooo! Prize! I was just hoping for bragging rights.

Liz said...

Prize, yeah! I'm motivated by prizes.