A story told without using words?

[Otto26]

Something like:

 

[BedtimeStories77]

Lit does have illustrated stories, but those all have words.

 

[Otto26]

Yes, but I thought it might be interesting to tell a story without using any particular language. Pictograms and illustrations and nothing else. Turns out to be harder than it looks, but also fairly interesting. I've expanded this example a little bit. Maybe I'll post it here and ask some of the non-English speakers to take a look at it and see if it's comprehensible to them.

 

[BedtimeStories77]

I'm not even sure if this site will publish stories with no words.

 

[Sean Renaud]

I think there is a minimum word count but maybe there is a way to side step it.

 

[BedtimeStories77]

750 is the minimum word count. I doubt they accept "picture stories" though. Even most audio submissions have text accompanying them.

 

[Otto26]

*shrug* If I asked nicely they would consider the idea. I don't know that they would accept such a story, but other sites might. Anyway, tell me if the following story snippet makes any sense. Can you get an idea of what they're saying?

 

[Athena_e19]

I understand what is happening, but not what is begin said. Maybe I just don't have enough hieroglyphic experience.

 

[BedtimeStories77]

Ditto.

 

[snooper]

Make that three.

 

[Texguy84]

Actually, I rather like the Pictogram stories.

 

[Otto26]

Not to leave everyone completely in the dark, here is a brief explanation of some of the pictogram dialog. The rest... well you're on your own.

Thank you all for your feedback.

 

[BedtimeStories77]

Yikes.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

I'll pass on this type of story telling.

 

[poppy1963]

http://www.websmileys.com/

This might help!

 

[rydia57]

I like the pictogram stories, if anything, it's neat to try and figure them out...so they're entertaining one way or another. I had trouble with that number four tho. Make more!

 

[Athena_e19]

They are interesting to see. You should contact an author and utilize their work in conjunction with pictograms. Since Lit does not accept them as an individual, begin each scene with a set of them. Let the reader try to decipher what is happening, then have them read further down to get what they were actually supposed to have read.

 

[MagicFingers]

Interesting idea

I don't think they'll ever turn me on like words or audio though.

Maybe it you used >750 symbols they would publish it?

 

[only_more_so]

The more I see, the less I like it. First of all it takes too long to decipher what is being said which detracts from the enjoyment of the story. But also there isn't much story you can tell. The good stories on Lit are more than just fucking, but I find it hard to imagine a story with just symbols amounting to much else.

 

[Texguy84]

The more I see, the less I like it. First of all it takes too long to decipher what is being said which detracts from the enjoyment of the story. But also there isn't much story you can tell. The good stories on Lit are more than just fucking, but I find it hard to imagine a story with just symbols amounting to much else.

All depends on the symbols you use. In this case, they all have to do with sex, but you might have symbols refering to flowers, money, dogs, whatever to fill in the rest of the plot.

 

[BedtimeStories77]

Plot?

Sorry, I'm one of the non believers as well.

 

[Otto26]

!

Take a look at Sluggy Freelance for Sunday, February 11, 2007. I am amused.

 

[xssve]

Sure, you can do this - why you would want to I'm not sure, but I suppose it works as a lark - your graphics are well executed, and it's kind of funny. Pretty primitive though, not much room for nuance is there?

Anyway, I'm an illustrator, looking to do some erotic/pornographic fiction, just kind of looking around right now, and naturally interested inthe concept of telling stories without words - I could see this in a story, stewerdess slips it into the seat pocket of some guy, or something, an invitation to join the mile high club!

Sorry to piss all over your parade Otto, I'm not really calling your baby ugly, it's very clever, just a little limited I think, in terms of storytelling, more like a game of charades - there ya go, it could be a party game, yer gonna be a millionare!

 

[Otto26]

And again...

Yes, back to this. I've been playing around a little bit and this has gotten slightly more sophisticated. I stole some graphics and structure from a visual language called The Elephant's Memory, but the work is still mostly mine. This is the first paragraph of a very short story.

I find that I can fit different sorts of nuance into a story told using conceptual pictograms rather than more tightly defined words; not less, just different. I've kept things simple to make it easier for folks to try to decipher. Go ahead and post your take on 'translating' the story here if you're so inclined. I'll post the second paragraph (that's all I've written so far) in a couple of days and I'll intersperse the paragraphs with hints on decoding.

Hope you enjoy. Oh, and the story is non-consensual.

 

[DarkBee]

Nope, doesn't work. It takes too long to decipher just the first pictogram, let alone the whole paragraph, which makes it frustrating and not at all erotic to read (if people want to read it anyway).