Storytelling Game 4:

[Collin]

Storytelling Game Round 4

It's time to change it up! This round is very different than the rest. Participants will have from now until Tuesday at noon to complete their story. That's three days and some change. At the end of that time period everyone can vote for their one (1) favorite story (not their own).

Here is the thing that really makes this different. Instead of working from a list of 5 random words I'm increasing it. Do I hear 6? Think bigger. 10? Not a bad idea, but no. Bigger. 15? Don't make me laugh. There are 33 random words. That is correct. Now you see why you'll need that time.

But wait! There's more! Instead of rewarding a story with 2 or 5 points for using all of the words, you get nothing! Am I crazy? I must be!

Actually, that wasn't entirely true. What you get is the old rule of 1 point per word from the list that you use. The more words you manage to use, the more points you get. You only get the point for the first time you use the word in the story.

Whoever can figure out the best way to use the most words might be the winner. However the story still must make sense and at the end of it all there is still the vote. Each vote for your story counts as 1 point. So if you come up with a fantastic story that uses half of the words, you could still win through votes.

And the final rule is to aid in the scoring. I don't want to screw up and miss a couple of words that someone used in their story and cost them the #1 spot. That would just lead to bad feelings. We don't need that. So, since the stories will be posted in the forum I require that everyone who is participating make use of the ability to color the text of the "list" words. It's very easy to do:

1) Copy and paste this tag [ color=Yellow ]TEXT[ /color ] in front of your list word.
2) Remove the spaces from the tag so it will display correctly.
3) Replace the word "TEXT" with the "list" word.
4) Remove the uncolored list word.

If you are creating your story straight on the forum, and are not doing it in another application like Word or a text editor, it's even easier:

1) When you reach a point in your story where you are using one of the "list" words, mouse up to the drop down list that is labeled "Colors"
2) Choose Yellow from the list.
3) Replace the word "TEXT" with the list word.
4) Continue your story.
5) The problem with this method is that after you place the first yellow tag, the "color" drop down will still be on yellow so you have to choose another color. A simple solution is to choose any color and just replace whatever the name of the color is with Yellow.

Only do this for the first time each "list" word is used.

I hope that is not too complicated. If you have problems just ask for help. If anyone has a suggestion for an easier way of making the "list" words stand out, please suggest it.

If after you post your story you realize that you forgot to color some of the words, you can easily edit your post and fix it as long as you are a member of the forum, but only up to the noon Tuesday deadline. After that missed words are not to be considered for points.

Here is the list. Have fun and good luck.

after
always
befriend
behind
black
bleed
cry
delicate
delirious
dream
elaborate
embitter
essential
symphony
garden
heave
languid
luscious
manipulate
moan
Monday
moon
pretty
repulsive
sausage
scream
shadow
shoot
smooth
trudge
weaken
whisper
woman

[Tricia]

OMG

[Wendy]

Collin, couldn't you just make the list words bold? Would that work? Just an idea...

[Heather]

Oh, holy crap, Collin! I have no problem with the story part of it, it's the coloring the words that scares me. If I have a problem can I send you my story and have you do it for me? I'll pay you...

[Collin]

Wendy: That will work too. Basically, do whatever you can to make the text stand out to make scoring easier without making it hard to read the story.

Heather: How much did you have in mind? Actually, Wendy has a good idea. You can use bold or you can use the underline. The only problem is it doesn't put any of it at the point where your cursor is. It goes to the last character and puts it there. So if you write in another program, like Derek and I do, then copy & paste it may be difficult to go back and highlight the words.

[Collin]

One more idea that doesn't require messing with code is to _underscore_ (shift -) before and after the list word that you use. That can be done _while_ typing and shouldn't mess up readability too much. Try various things and see what works best for you.

[Heather]

I don't have much money...maybe I could do light chores around the house?

[robin the glaswegian]

can i still play? whens the deadline for UK time (GMT)

[jenn]

Hey Everyone Hear that, Robin wants to play to YEA! See Collin make a forum and they will come! Robin it really is fun! Hope you enjoy your time here! I am going to check the time difference thing right now and I will let you know when your story has to be up!

[jenn]

Ok Robin there is 7 hours difference between us and you so if you have your story up by tues 5 amish that should work!

[jenn]

Heather if your talking housework I have lots! I would even write the story for you if you wanta come do my dishs!

[jenn]

The WOMAN would ALWAYS walk in the GARDEN AFTER dark. She enjoyed the way the night encircled her in BLACK. She found comfort in the late night silence, that and no one could see her CRY there in the SHADOW of the dark. Her family thought she was DELIRIOUS, but they had come to except it. The garden was her sanctuary, and she is there tonight to think and DREAM dreams of things that can never be, and to cry.

Allow me to ELABORATE about the woman, and you may understand, or not, but it is ESSENTIAL to the story. You see to know why she did the things she did you must understand her. She has a DELICATE soul that will BLEED to be set free. She is on fire with want, and she needs more than one man can give. She loves deeper than most, with passion unmatchable. She will leave you longing for just a glance of her. She has always had that effect on people she chooses to BEFRIEND. She is a simple woman with complicated needs. Perhaps her need to be free drove her into his arms, or maybe she was searching for all the things missing in her life, possibly both. She will tell you they met on a MONDAY and by Tuesday she knew he was so much more than she deserved

It was a Monday under a full MOON, when he walked up BEHIND her, she remembered at first the desire to SCREAM, as he had startled her. Then her eyes met those LUSCIOUS green ones staring back and the urge to scream vanished. He seemed to look right into her soul. The time, yes she remember that is what he had asked her. She told him, but he did not leave, they begin talking and walking in the garden. She entranced him with her charm, and he made her laugh and feel again. She enjoyed his company much more than she had enjoyed anything in a long time. He asked her to meet him in the garden the next day, he would bring a picnic, and she agreed. She knew it was wrong, but she found a way to be there again none the less.

She would often smile at the thought of those REPULSIVE little SAUSAGE things he brought; neither of them could eat them. She could still hear the birds sing, like a SYMPHONY playing just for them. She remembered the way he leaned close to WHISPER in her ear. She could still smell him, and hear those words, that caused sparks to SHOOT through her body to this day. “Let me kiss every inch of you” he said, and she did. The feel of his SMOOTH skin against her naked body made her MOAN with pleasure. She remembered the way his tongue could MANIPULATE her until her hips would HEAVE toward him, and she would beg for more. He would give more, never leaving her dissatisfied, he would make her body quiver and shake until she was left LANGUID.

They spent the next month talking and laughing and enjoying each others company. She would sneak away and they would meet there on the path. They would TRUDGE to that special, secluded place, and they would make love, and share the secrets of their souls, and she could be herself with him. There was no hiding or pretending when she was with him. With him she felt so free for the first time in a many years. She remembered how she never wanted it to end.

The end has left her EMBITTER. The end where she had to give him up, this is when she cries, in her garden all alone in the dark. She knows if he asked again, she would WEAKEN to his words, and again go to their PRETTY garden.

[Collin]

The continuing Grand Saga of "Theodore, the Deceased Dork."

Part 2.

That old dude was a dick! He just smiled, pushed a button on his bookstand thingie and a hole opened under my feet. I dropped like a rock. I never even caught his name, but I did catch what he said about my dearest sweetie-noogins Marry. And the party. I was looking forward to that party. I realized as I fell this pretty much screwed that up.

I landed heavily in a dark garden. I looked up and there was no sign of the stars, moon or the dick with the book. But somehow there was enough light to see. I'll bet it was coming from that freaking huge sign ahead of me. The one with the flaming letters.

50 foot high flaming letters. That can't be good.

I figured that it would be best to go anywhere but there, so I turned around and started to trudge in the opposite direction leaving the letters behind me.

The bushes and plants grew thicker and more dense around me, and the shadows darkened as I made my way through the garden. When I finally broke through, there were those freaking letters again! Straight ahead. I'm sure I didn't circle around. I was being manipulated. I hate being manipulated. Except manually. And then only by Marry. Or...you know...someone at that party.

So I resigned myself to my fate. I've always been good about that. How does that saying go? Grant me the something to accept the stuff I can't fix with a hammer? I don't know. But that's my life's philosophy. I plodded my way to the fire sign.

Oh, that's original. "HELL". Pffft. That's it. I got hit on the head or something while waiting for Marry and this is all just some sort of delirious fever dream. The heat that I could feel pouring off of the letters must have been the "fever" part of the dream. It's was hella hot.

The sign was above a gate made from human bones. At least I think they were human. Mostly human. And I could hear a symphony of screaming and moaning punctuated by the occasional cry for mercy coming from the other side. That didn't sound ideal.

Beneath the flaming letters was a smaller sigh which read, "Welcome to an endless month of Mondays!" That didn't sound any better.

Standing next to the gate was this seriously hot woman dressed all in black leather. She had these luscious ta-tas that were heaving with every breath. It was hot.

I was hot.

Damn. It's hot!

When she spoke it was in a delicate whisper with a huge amount of bass. I instinctively looked for a tell-tale bulge in her leather, but nope. Niiiice...

"New meat, huh? Okay pal, you've been sentenced to eternity in Hell for your many crimes against humanity, blah blah blah. I'm sure you remember it all from your Sunday school lessons," in tones that made my ears bleed.

I sidled up to her in my most suave fashion and said, "Hi hottie! Been here long?" Smooooooth!

Although, for some bizarre reason instead of being smitten and falling straight into my waiting arms she gave me a languid look that told me I meant the same to her as poo on her sexy boots. Hot.

She spoke once again in embittered tones that would weakened a strong man's bladder. I wet myself.

"I have been on this godforsaken spot since before your furthest ancestors began the comedy of errors that brought about your repulsive little existence, worm.

"Not even a stinking potty break! I mean, really. Not even one, lousy, cursed potty break.

"And these boots may look great and bring out my calves, but you try wearing them for an eternity.

"But every time I complain I'm told that it is "essential" to the grand plan. How can this be essential? Seriously. They just like to fuck with me. I just know it.

"So. You're Theodore, aren't you?" I nodded, open mouthed. She sure could bitch.

"After I kick your dumb ass through these gates I would advise that you befriend the biggest, meanest demon you can, or your ass will be sausage. I doubt I need to elaborate."

Then she flung open the gate and propelled me through with a swift kick from her leather boots. She was right. They did hurt.

I lifted my face from the muck I had landed in and saw just what was awaiting me. It wasn't a party, that's for sure.

Shoot.

[Wendy]

After two years of therapy, I always come to his office feeling the same way. Is he trying to befriend me? Seduce me? Maybe I'm just a convenient source of income for him. He sits behind his desk, waiting patiently for me to come further into the room. I approach the black leather couch with equal measures of dread and fascination. I know the dark corridors we will explore in my mind today. Does it affect him in any way? I want to pick off the scabs from my cuts until they bleed afresh while I cry out my frustrations, but the pattern on the oriental rug is so delicate I'd hate to stain it. What kind of lover would he be like, I wonder. Is he soft and sensual, one who gets his pleasure by pleasing his partner? Or rugged and animalistic, howling with delirious ecstacy as my nails graze the soft flesh of his buttocks?

"I had the dream again two nights ago."
"How did you feel when you woke up?"
"The same as I always do."
"Elaborate for me, please."

A small, embittered sigh escapes my lips. He knows what I'll say, but he says it's essential I express my feelings for myself. In this way, I may gain new insight, but I never do.

"I'm in my mother's home, walking down the hallway. I can hear music, softly at first but louder with every step. It's Beethoven's Sixth Symphony being played over the sound system. I step into the conservatory, heading for the french doors that lead to the garden, but someone stops me. The only light is from the moon shining through the window, so I can't see his face but I know it's a man. He lifts me up and lays me down on top of the grand piano. My clothes are gone and I lay there feeling very languid and calm as hands caress me. A voice whispers to me that I'm very pretty as fingers manipulate my nipples and I hear myself moan. The wood of the piano is smooth and glossy against my naked skin and the voice tells me that my lips are so very luscious and inviting. Then the shadow figure presses something hard and round against my lips. Suddenly it's light and I can see the man, I can see everything and I want to scream because his face is so pock-marked and repulsive. It's a sausage he's holding to my mouth and I feel the barrel of a gun at my temple. He will shoot me if I don't comply. Against my will I feel my jaw muscles weaken and my mouth opens and he shoves it in and he keeps shoving it down my throat until I start to heave. And that's when I wake up."

We talk about the possible significance of this dream. Why does it take place in my mother's house. What feelings does that music evoke in me during my waking hours. Is there anyone, anyone at all, that reminds me of the ugly man? But I can't tell him the truth, that I don't really want to know the answers to these questions. There are doors in my mind that I don't want to open because I'm afraid...afraid that if I do the ugly man will return with something much nastier than a sausage.

Every Monday afternoon, I trudge up the stairs to this office, resolved that I will conquer this fear and be made whole. An hour later, I slink away, a defeated woman.

WS1

[Sportsluvnlady]

First time storyteller here so cut me some slack.

Autobiography of a SAUSAGE

Prologue:

What's it like to be a sausage I'm ALWAYS asked? AFTER pondering the need to answer this DELICATE question for many MOONS, I decided without a SHADOW of a doubt, I needed to ELABORATE.

I've learned a lot about myself thru my vast experiences and those I've come to BEFRIEND along the way. I didn't realize there were so many Rosy Palms on one planet who seem to have this fascination with learning how to MANIPULATE me. In doing this they failed to realize that generally MONDAYS I like to have a day of rest because weekends are generally all booked up for me.

For reasons unbeknownst to me, I must be a bit BEHIND the times, but I have caused a PRETTY WOMAN to go from DELIRIOUS MOANs and SCREAMs and WEAKEN them to a LUCIOUS WHISPER just with my incredible ability to SHOOT at the most opportune times.

Ive had people DREAM of me at night and use me in some rather peculiar ways over the years. Ive seen quite a few GARDENS in my time, some neat and well taken care of, others that I found REPULSIVE. I've found some of my experiences to be SMOOTH sailing while others like having to TRUDGE up a seemingly endless mountain. I even had one occasion in the upper balcony at a SYMPHONY where I heard the EMBITTERED CRYS of someone who did not feel my presence was ESSENTIAL to her. Ungrateful bitch.

So I hope by putting these words down in BLACK and white, it will help some of you whos hearts BLEED for more of me, not to spend so much time feeling nauseous with the desire to HEAVE in figuring out ways to take care of me. But treat me well and enjoy me, and the rewards I assure you will be great.

Enjoy the rest of the book

Signed,

Mr. Jimmy Dean