“She is such a slut” said Jane spitefully. “She's known him for like a week and already they're making out in the back courtyard during their breaks.” Helen nodded and made the sympathetic noises that were expected of her. The 'yes, of course's and the 'I know's were automatic by now. When talking with Jane they had to be. A person could quickly drive themselves mad actually listening.
Everyone knew that Jane had been completely in love with Derek for months now. Including him. He obviously had no feelings in return or he would not be making such a show of his lust for the new girl.
“It's probably just a phase for both of them.” Helen said once when Jane's rant fell into a lull. “I bet that in another week it will all be over.” He'll lose interest as soon as she puts out, she thought but did not say. Derek may be a nice guy but he was not that nice. He was certainly not above chasing a new piece of ass each time he got bored with the last one.
“I don't care if it will be over in a week!” Jane had begun to raise her voice higher than was necessary and people in the hotel lobby where they were working were starting to stare. “I don't want to have to watch them grope each other every time they pass in the hallway.” It wasn't that bad. Well... maybe it was. It wasn't really important anyway, Helen had learned to tune it out and now just walked past them without so much as turning her head. It was best not to look too closely anyway. “I had a guest complain about them yesterday you know. A mother said she spotted a couple of guests in the hallway getting closer to each other than she would have liked her children to see. Asked me to go and tell them to keep it inside their room. I went to check it out and what do I see but Derek with that little slut all over him. It's lucky she didn't realise they're staff.” She was getting really angry now. Really she wanted to be the one all over him in the hallway. Totally jealous.
She must be so insecure to get so upset over seeing a boy she had a crush on fondle another girl. Most people wouldn't care but she wouldn't let it go. She acted as if the girl was doing it on purpose just to make her angry. Somehow he remained blameless in her mind. Helen was getting sick of hearing all of this over and over again today, it was so pointless. She knew that she would be the one to get him in the end anyway. He may play around with girls like Cindy or Sparkles or whatever her name was but one day he would want a real girl and Helen doubted that he would pick Jane. It was just a matter of time.
Words 510
Friday, January 22, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Challenge 3
Unreliable Third
Write a fragment of a story from the POV of an unreliable narrator - third-person limited (or attached) narration.
Wordcount: 500 (+/- 10%)
Notes:
Usually, an unreliable narration is spoken in first person, so what happens when you give us a slightly detached, yet still unreliable narration? (Think Hitchock's movie Stage Fright) In third person unreliable narration, the readers will believe more of the lies, so see if you can present a deceptive character's perceptions as what he/she believes or wants to believe. You have to both believe the lie and show it to be a lie.
Confused? Good, now show me what you can do!
Good luck.
P.S. Add any bonus challenges in the comments section.
Write a fragment of a story from the POV of an unreliable narrator - third-person limited (or attached) narration.
Wordcount: 500 (+/- 10%)
Notes:
Usually, an unreliable narration is spoken in first person, so what happens when you give us a slightly detached, yet still unreliable narration? (Think Hitchock's movie Stage Fright) In third person unreliable narration, the readers will believe more of the lies, so see if you can present a deceptive character's perceptions as what he/she believes or wants to believe. You have to both believe the lie and show it to be a lie.
Confused? Good, now show me what you can do!
Good luck.
P.S. Add any bonus challenges in the comments section.
Challenge 2: Don't blink
Survive. You must succeed, for when you rise, we rise with you and when you fall, we fall.
Just keep running, dodge the trees, jump over the roots. Make sure that you are not delayed by anything. Don't close your eyes, don't take an unnecessarily deep breath, don't even blink if it will slow you down. Whatever you do, don't stop.
Run the path until your legs begin to give out and your lungs are about to explode and then run some more. Watch out for any roots or branches across your path, one fall and it is all over. Once you have run further than you ever imagined you could begin to look out for the signs. Turn left at the first fork, the second and the third. Turn hard right, almost doubling back on your path after that. Keep running.
Pass below the arches of the willow trees quickly. Do not stop to pray as you usually would. Save up your prayers for when you reach the bunker. Respect the sacred ground but do not even slow down to pray. Continue like this the whole way so that they, who do not respect our God, will not catch up to you.
Concentrate on the cold wind on your face. Pay attention to how it stings your eyes and ears. Let your hair stream back in the wind. Scream out loud if you must to keep yourself from giving in to fatigue. Stop yourself from tiring any way that you can. Actively let them hear your position, make them think they know the path you are talking.
Once you pass the shrine, built by our ancestors to thank God for her loyalty, climb the cliff that appears to your left. Do not let the climb slow you down. Sprint up that cliff as if the fate of your people depends on it, for it does. Do not fall. Keep your footing sturdy.
Stop when you reach the top. You must stop, even though it will feel so wrong to do so. Gather bitter herbs from the top of the cliff and sprinkle them down. Do this as quickly as you can to remove your scent from the cliff, they will be expecting you to follow the path. Run once more as soon as you have done this. Keep going as fast as you can, they will not be confused for long. Run to the bunker from here, you know the way.
Say the old prayers as soon as you arrive. Make yourself safe by doing this. Find the red bound book in the bookcase and open it. Read the words within to figure out what to do next. Be the one to read those words and set us free.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Challenge 2: Fred and George's List.
“You boys are not allowed to get into as much trouble this year.”said Mrs Weasley firmly to Fred and George. “Quiet.” she said as they were about to protest, “I am not finished. Here is a list of things you are expressly forbidden to do.” she said handing them a scroll that unfurled to their feet and kept going...
1.You are not allowed to tell First years that Harry's scar has the power to grant wishes if you catch him.
2.You are not allowed to steal Hermione's notes and sell them to the highest bidder.
3.You are not allowed to release stink pellets in Snape's office.
4.You are not alloew to release stink pellets in any other teacher's office.
5.You are not allowed stink pellets or any variation of them.
6.You are not to set off Whiz-bangs during exams.
7.If a student falls asleep in clas you will not draw on them.
8.You especially will not draw dark marks.
9.This goes for the Portraits as well.
10.You will not sing “We’re off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz” when being sent to the Headmaster’s office.
11.You will not offer anything edible to other students then offer compensation for damages.
12.You will not offer anything edible to other students that damage them, temporarily or not.
13.You will not add "according to the prophecy" at the end of all your sentences to raise your Divination grade.
14.You will not spike another student's drinks or food and tell him to go hit on Professor McGonagall. Or Professor Snape. Or any other teacher. Or any student.
15.You will not bewitch Percy's prefect badges to yell "I'm in love with myself!" every time it senses movement.
16.Nor will you bewitch Percy's prefect badges to do anything else.
17.You will not convince first years that the new password to Gryffindor Tower is "Petrificus Totalus" and must be recited with their wands pointed at themselves.
18.You will not start a betting pool on the fate of this year’s Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, as it is tasteless and tacky, not a clever money-making concept.
19.You will not start howler chain letters of any sort.
20.You will not tell the first years on the Hogwarts Express that they have free choice of house if they swim over the lake.
21.You will not write fake love letters to other students.
22.Nor will you write fake love letters to teachers.
23.You will not replace the telescopes in the Astronomy tower with punching telescopes.
24.You will not try to feed Mrs Norris to Fluffy.
25.You are not to replace all of Hermione's quills with 'Smart-Answer' quills.
26.You are not to put portable swaps in front of the entrance to Snape's office.
27.Nor are you to block off classrooms or bathrooms or other teacher's offices with portable swamps.
28.If the thought of a spell makes you giggle for longer than 15 seconds, you are to assume that you are not allowed to do it.
Wordcount: 528
1.You are not allowed to tell First years that Harry's scar has the power to grant wishes if you catch him.
2.You are not allowed to steal Hermione's notes and sell them to the highest bidder.
3.You are not allowed to release stink pellets in Snape's office.
4.You are not alloew to release stink pellets in any other teacher's office.
5.You are not allowed stink pellets or any variation of them.
6.You are not to set off Whiz-bangs during exams.
7.If a student falls asleep in clas you will not draw on them.
8.You especially will not draw dark marks.
9.This goes for the Portraits as well.
10.You will not sing “We’re off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz” when being sent to the Headmaster’s office.
11.You will not offer anything edible to other students then offer compensation for damages.
12.You will not offer anything edible to other students that damage them, temporarily or not.
13.You will not add "according to the prophecy" at the end of all your sentences to raise your Divination grade.
14.You will not spike another student's drinks or food and tell him to go hit on Professor McGonagall. Or Professor Snape. Or any other teacher. Or any student.
15.You will not bewitch Percy's prefect badges to yell "I'm in love with myself!" every time it senses movement.
16.Nor will you bewitch Percy's prefect badges to do anything else.
17.You will not convince first years that the new password to Gryffindor Tower is "Petrificus Totalus" and must be recited with their wands pointed at themselves.
18.You will not start a betting pool on the fate of this year’s Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, as it is tasteless and tacky, not a clever money-making concept.
19.You will not start howler chain letters of any sort.
20.You will not tell the first years on the Hogwarts Express that they have free choice of house if they swim over the lake.
21.You will not write fake love letters to other students.
22.Nor will you write fake love letters to teachers.
23.You will not replace the telescopes in the Astronomy tower with punching telescopes.
24.You will not try to feed Mrs Norris to Fluffy.
25.You are not to replace all of Hermione's quills with 'Smart-Answer' quills.
26.You are not to put portable swaps in front of the entrance to Snape's office.
27.Nor are you to block off classrooms or bathrooms or other teacher's offices with portable swamps.
28.If the thought of a spell makes you giggle for longer than 15 seconds, you are to assume that you are not allowed to do it.
Wordcount: 528
Challenge 2: Don't fall in love
Step. Turn. Weave. Duck.
No, that’s not right, do it again.
Stop looking at him like that. Don’t think about how nice it would be to run your hands over those firm, perfect muscles.
Duck!
Kick, now. Take advantage of his weak left leg, he hurt that yesterday in that bout with Sono. Great, now close. No, dodge, he was faking.
Idiot, see it coming in future. Don’t let him get to you. Take it like a man, don’t let him see you cry, ever. Get your bag. Take off your gee. No, not here, in the bathroom. Hide in one of the toilets. Don’t think about him looking at you, judging you. Don’t get your hopes up.
Make sure to listen to music all the way home. It’s dark, so hum under your breath, it keeps the devils away. Remember to feed the neighbour’s cat since the old bat is coming home in the morning. Lie in bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering whether he can even see you. Practice writing his name in your diary, in pencil so you can erase it again. Go over your bout, again and again, looking for all the ways you slipped up. Dwell on that bloody arrogant smirk. Remind yourself that he thinks you are useless, a girl, unworthy to be on the Karate team.
Wake up with the sun. Go through your Kata before breakfast. Look for your centre. Balance. Do it again.
Shower. Don’t look in the mirror. Don’t wonder what life would be like if your weren’t a blue eyed white girl with fuzzy witch hair. Don’t waste your time trying to be beautiful or resent the others for being perfect without trying. Just keep moving, keep focused.
Eat before you leave, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Give your mother a kiss and notice the way she watches you leave from the window. Don’t wonder why she looks nothing like you, it doesn’t matter.
Pause by the school gates and breathe, it will be okay. Try your hardest in class, don’t be discouraged by your complete inaptitude for Japanese. Push aside any homesickness. You are stuck here, so make the best of it.
Pull out your lunchbox. Whisper a prayer of thanks to your mother for her hard work. Remember, before you gag on the sashimi, that there are starving children in Africa who would love to have so much food. Don’t think too hard about that. Don’t wonder whether your sashimi should really be sent airmail to Africa. Ignore the girls at the next table who are glancing at you over their shoulders and giggling.
Slow down heart.
Smile politely.
Don’t ask him what he is doing sitting at your table, you will sound like an idiot. Breathe. Nod. Listen to him as he tells you your hair is against regulation and you should cut it off. Laugh nervously and hope he doesn’t mean it. Don’t get too lost in those damn honey brown eyes, staring at you with that bloody secret smile.
Wordcount: 509
No, that’s not right, do it again.
Stop looking at him like that. Don’t think about how nice it would be to run your hands over those firm, perfect muscles.
Duck!
Kick, now. Take advantage of his weak left leg, he hurt that yesterday in that bout with Sono. Great, now close. No, dodge, he was faking.
Idiot, see it coming in future. Don’t let him get to you. Take it like a man, don’t let him see you cry, ever. Get your bag. Take off your gee. No, not here, in the bathroom. Hide in one of the toilets. Don’t think about him looking at you, judging you. Don’t get your hopes up.
Make sure to listen to music all the way home. It’s dark, so hum under your breath, it keeps the devils away. Remember to feed the neighbour’s cat since the old bat is coming home in the morning. Lie in bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering whether he can even see you. Practice writing his name in your diary, in pencil so you can erase it again. Go over your bout, again and again, looking for all the ways you slipped up. Dwell on that bloody arrogant smirk. Remind yourself that he thinks you are useless, a girl, unworthy to be on the Karate team.
Wake up with the sun. Go through your Kata before breakfast. Look for your centre. Balance. Do it again.
Shower. Don’t look in the mirror. Don’t wonder what life would be like if your weren’t a blue eyed white girl with fuzzy witch hair. Don’t waste your time trying to be beautiful or resent the others for being perfect without trying. Just keep moving, keep focused.
Eat before you leave, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Give your mother a kiss and notice the way she watches you leave from the window. Don’t wonder why she looks nothing like you, it doesn’t matter.
Pause by the school gates and breathe, it will be okay. Try your hardest in class, don’t be discouraged by your complete inaptitude for Japanese. Push aside any homesickness. You are stuck here, so make the best of it.
Pull out your lunchbox. Whisper a prayer of thanks to your mother for her hard work. Remember, before you gag on the sashimi, that there are starving children in Africa who would love to have so much food. Don’t think too hard about that. Don’t wonder whether your sashimi should really be sent airmail to Africa. Ignore the girls at the next table who are glancing at you over their shoulders and giggling.
Slow down heart.
Smile politely.
Don’t ask him what he is doing sitting at your table, you will sound like an idiot. Breathe. Nod. Listen to him as he tells you your hair is against regulation and you should cut it off. Laugh nervously and hope he doesn’t mean it. Don’t get too lost in those damn honey brown eyes, staring at you with that bloody secret smile.
Wordcount: 509
Challenge 2
Imperative
Write a fragment of a story that is made up entirely of imperative commands, e.g. "Do this; do that; contemplate the rear end of the woman who is walking out of your life." This exercise will be a sort of second-person narration.
Wordcount: 500 (+/- 10%)
Ideas for the bonus challenges? Post them in the comments section below. Challenge closes 22nd Jan 2010.
Good luck!
Write a fragment of a story that is made up entirely of imperative commands, e.g. "Do this; do that; contemplate the rear end of the woman who is walking out of your life." This exercise will be a sort of second-person narration.
Wordcount: 500 (+/- 10%)
Ideas for the bonus challenges? Post them in the comments section below. Challenge closes 22nd Jan 2010.
Good luck!
Challenge 1: The perfect Gentleman (R)
See our R-Rated site:
http://3amepiphanyprojectrr.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/challenge-1-perfect-gentleman-r.html
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