Creative Writing Class

[BedtimeStories77]

Hello. As of today's date I have gone back to school! It's been twelve years since I've been a student and this time I am more focused. (And perhaps a bit wiser? )

This thread is sort of two-fold here.

My first point is to "advertise" my new Blog that I have to keep daily for my Creative Writing class. It's an area for me to express myself, in general, and who knows? Maybe it'll help me reach a new level of creativity?

Similar to Lit stories, I'd love feedback on my daily rantings. I think ya need a (free) membership to Blogger.com/BlogSpot.com to post comments straight to my blog, but you could always leave feedback here at Lit.

At any rate my blog is MyLifeByLindsayRae.blogspot.com. (Also accessable from my sig line.)


So, onto "part two" of my thread. I wanted to share my little writing assignment with you all. I'd be curious how you'd all work it. With a mix of components listed below write a one scene piece offering the basic "who", "what", "where", "when", "why", and "how"... Do not depart from the one scene/location. Pick one to three characters.

Characters

• Paranoid
• Optimist
• Pessimist
• Critical
• Lover
• Worrier
• Rule Maker
• Rule Breaker
• Liar
• Talker
• Person with Death Wish
• Manipulator
• Sincere
• Tratior
• Unloved wife/husband
• Martyr
• Or choose a trait on your own and expand from there

Relationship of people

• parent-child
• wife-husband
• coworkers
• driver-client
• Or choose your own pairing

Plots

• Someone gets revenge
• Someone leaves
• Someone enters
• Wrongfully accused tries to clear name
• Guilty is punished
• Evil is punished
• Someone commits a crime
• Someone catches a criminal
• Or add your own similar options/actions

I'll post mine pretty soon. Maybe even the one I planned to submit to class. Happy reading and writing!

 

[emap]

Hmmm, I don't know I might write up a scene, though you gotta do something for me first.

Wander on over to HERE and post any thoughts that spring to mind, I'm having a small amount of thinking over there and it's perturbing.

 

[BedtimeStories77]

Hmmm, I don't know I might write up a scene, though you gotta do something for me first.

Wander on over to HERE and post any thoughts that spring to mind, I'm having a small amount of thinking over there and it's perturbing.

Yes Ma'am. *giggles*




P.S.
To all...
I'm sure we could post these in this thread. I'm not talking about a Literotica 750 word minimun thing here. It's by no means a full story. It's a paragraph or few is all.

 

[emap]

But but but, I would need more than one paragraph to actually show character, you know how I am.

 

[BedtimeStories77]

You can write more than one paragraph. Hell, I have over a page written (and don't like where I'm going and may scratch it). The concept was to not change the direct scene.

If two people were standing at the bus stop, don't let them get on the bus. If sitting in a waiting room, don't let them leave. Etc.

I didn't copy every character trait from the sheet we were given to my post, only enough to give an idea. So, I chose two characters in class. Someone with a death wish and a Talker. Here's my fast sketch of them:

Someone with a death wish
-middle aged man was caught embezzling money from his company
-"empty nester" with grown kids
-wife left him

Talker
-five year old girl
-optomist
-sees good in all thing/people
-inquisitive and intelligent for her age


Place/setting
On the ledge of a ten story building - 10th floor - outside the window of the girl's apartment

What I have so far:​

"Hey Mister...Mister," the perky and robust, yet small, voice sung out.

Charles W. Moore looked around as carefully as he could for the source of said voice, suddenly fearful of looking down. Though they were ten floors below him, he could hear the hustle and bustle of city life - cars honking, tires screeching, and even the collective murmers melting into a dull roar from the busy passerbys.

"Mister!" the voice insisted.

He turned his head slightly to the right and finally he saw her. A child, no more than five - with her curious and insightful doe-eyes penetrating him, stood at the open window to her no doubt equally small apartment as his own.

"What'cha doing?"

Her eyes shone on.

Charles fought for the rght words, not wanting to alarm the child with his plans to end his life. I'm bird watching, he questioned himself. Surely this girl wouldn't be that naïve.

Finally, he settled upon, "I...well, my naughty kitty cat escaped from my apartment and climbed up on the ledge. I climbed up to get her.

The little girl's eyes grew wide. Even at her tender age she had an understanding of danger and feared for the cat's safety. She leaned forward and peered from the window as far as she dared.

"Where is she?"

Shit, Charles thought. He had been caught in a lie. Now what? He was this far in, it seemed another lie was all he could offer.

He said, "I think she turned the corner down there. I don't see her either."

"I like kitties," the girl blurted.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. But momma won't let me have one. She says they're always in heat. Must be all that hair that makes 'em hot!"

Upon hearing such innocence, Charles blushed. When was the last time he had heard it? He did not know. His own children had long since grown up and moved away, and there were no grandchildren yet.

In fact, his life had been rather empty ever since his not-quite-divorced estranged wife left him, too.

* * *​

So, by no means am I done. I plan to tell the READER about his embezzlment without the girl being told by the man. Esentially, she is going to "talk him off the ledge" and give him a new outlook on life simply from her innocence and good nature.

That will mark the end of this scene, and therefore, my assignment. Opinions this far?

 

[emap]

Not bad, and I suppose probably enough for the assignment. It draws you in and makes you wonder why he's up there, I mean besides the obvious reason you mention in passing in the scene.

 

[BedtimeStories77]

But our outline is not directly part of the assignment. We do not "show our work" as if it were a math class. So, I do have to make it more clear to the reader. Plus, I need to express how chatty the girl is.

 

[emap]

Ah, your not doing a read it aloud to the class assignment are you?

 

[ms.read]

plot? it's as easy as that? wow. I've been wracking my brain to get a plot.....

 

[BedtimeStories77]

Ah, your not doing a read it aloud to the class assignment are you?

I think the instructor is lazy. lol We have to submit it to our blog instead of printing it out for class.

 

[BedtimeStories77]

plot? it's as easy as that? wow. I've been wracking my brain to get a plot.....

lol

 

[emap]

Eh plots are easy, you just gotta pick one or more things that happen and then figure out what happens to lead to that.

So like, you have a paranoid, an optimist and a lover. The lover is female the other two are male and the lover wants sex.

As I walk up to the bus stop I can't help but look at the two men already there, one is leaning against the stop, the other is sitting there watching me walk closer. The one leaning against the post is a handsome man, about six foot or so, the one sitting is a little overweight, hopeful eyes and a half smile on his face as his eyes dart over my body.

As I stop at the stop the one sitting says hello, the leaner glances in my direction, his eyes boring into mine for a second before looking away. I talk to the sitter, standing before him jutting my chest out a little to give my profile a larger bust to try and get the attention of the leaner. His constant looking around gravitates more and more to my body as I keep talking, on occassion grabbing at my breasts and pulling my shirt away to cool off a little.

Finally unable to stand it any longer I turn full on to the leaner and ask him up front why he isn't talking to me. He stammers so cutely for a second before I pull him closer to me and kiss him. After a second or two he stops trying to talk and returns the kiss.

 

[BedtimeStories77]

Yeay!! Mappy did the homework! lol

Thank you.

 

[emap]

Welcome, I could of gone longer but I figured you wanted to avoid sex scenes and I was about three sentences shy of sex ensuing.

 

[BedtimeStories77]

Kinky.

 

[emap]

Slutty actually, I was usng the sitter to try and attract attnetion of my body from the leaner. So after leaner has me I would give some to the sitter to.

 

[ms.read]

wow emap that was really good!

 

[emap]

Nah, I just used a couple stereotypes and tossed a slut in. Why you need more than a paragraph or three for most of the examples, unless you like doing stereotypes of course.

 

[tustin92614]

Nice short story. I pictured myself as the sitter as I read. I was releived to see that were planning to take of the sitter, too.

 

[tustin92614]

Two typos in one sentence - - -I suck

Nice short story. I pictured myself as the sitter as I read. I was releived to see that you were planning to take care of the sitter, too.

 

[BedtimeStories77]

I'm sad. No one else will do their homework. lol Sirhugs, Carney, Freddy, anyone??????

 

[emap]

I've not seen fred around anywhere. I guess he got vacation time or his wife and he are visiting family. I don't remember if he is retired or not.

 

[Kikori]

I assume this is an open 'exercise' to everyone.

Characters
Liar (to anyone who falls short of a soulmate)
Female, early thirties, slightly chubby and voluptuous (though rare to show skin in the office)
Prostitute after work when times are rough
Fiancé cheats on her, doesn't know she knows

Worrier
Male, nineteen (nearly twenty), almost feminine build
Watches over the computers of the company, still in college for higher degrees
Single, prefers to avoid relationships due to clinginess with everyone close to him

Relationship
Coworkers

Setting & Plot
Middle of the day, roughly lunch time for most of everyone
Worrier catches the puffiness and redness of Liar's recently-crying eyes despite make-up

--------------------------------------------------------------

Lynne was trudging through line after line of matching names to numbers on her computer, dealing with peoples' names attached to records and the nature of their business. As she put away one paper and pulled out another to file, she noticed a new line being typed of its own accord on the screen.

Lynne King - 04 / 06 / 2009 - $0 - Work shift was performed behind hurt eyes that looked like they'd shed recent tears

She blinked at the screen, and realized what had happened right as a little chat window appeared. It wasn't a normal messenger; it was the network overseer's power to manipulate and communicate with any computer at will. A line came up in the chat.

WM.SmithJ: What's wrong?
S.LynneK: Nothing.
WM.SmithJ: I know teary eyes when I see them, Lynne. If I wanted to spill secrets, I'd let it out that you've dropped a Trojan more than once.
Lynne's face turned immediately red. She'd remembered the few times she rushed to find something in her purse or sought to throw things away... S.LynneK: They weren't mine. And quit snooping around my desk.
WM.SmithJ: It's my job to make sure the computers, and their areas, are safe to run in. I don't snoop, Lynne, where I'm not allowed.
S.LynneK: You mean like trying to find out why I cried?
WM.SmithJ: Asking why isn't snooping. But now that you admitted it, what's wrong?
S.LynneK: I didn't admit to anything!
S.LynneK: Just leave me alone and let me get back to work. You don't even know me.
WM.SmithJ: I'll leave you alone, but I won't stop wondering if I can help.

The screen disappeared. Lynne sighed and let out a shaky breath; he'd been the only person to notice her mistakes, and given how often she seemed to make them, he didn't seem to want to blackmail her over it... She tried calming herself and getting back to work. Halfway through her remaining papers, she found herself itching to break and try and bring up contact with Joshua again. A few more papers passed, and she caught mentally herself rehearsing an explanation why she had cried.

At three papers left, she couldn't focus on work. Instead, she opened a small mail window and started typing out what had her so upset. With each word, she found herself starting to feel better with the knowledge that comeone would finally know the truth... Her mouse hovered over the 'send' button. At the last second, her urge to stay a secret took over and she started deleting everything.

In the other end of the building, Joshua watched as Lynne undid her effort to reach out for understanding.

 

[BedtimeStories77]

Yes, this exercise is open to anyone and I loved your little story! Thank you for doing your homework!

 

[BedtimeStories77]

Okay, here is my finished assignment in all its glory!

“Hey Mister…Mister,” the perky and robust, yet small, voice sung out.

Charles W. Moore looked around as carefully as he could for the source of said voice, suddenly fearful of looking down. Though they were ten floors below him, he could hear the hustle and bustle of city life – cars honking, tires screeching, and even the collective murmurs melting into a dull roar from the busy passersby. Ironically, though he shouldn’t have been surprised, no one down there even noticed him.

“Mister!” the voice insisted.

He turned his head slightly to the right and finally he saw her. A child, no more than five – with her curious and insightful doe-eyes penetrating him, stood at the open window to her no doubt equally small apartment as his own.

“What’cha doing?”

Her innocent eyes shone on.

Charles fought for the right words, not wanting to alarm the child with his plans to end his life. I’m bird watching? he questioned himself. Surely this girl wouldn’t be that naïve.

Finally, he settled upon, “I…well, my naughty kitty cat escaped from my apartment and climbed up on the ledge. I climbed up to get her.”

The little girl’s eyes grew wide. Even at her tender age she had an understanding of danger and feared for the cat’s safety. She leaned forward and peered from the window as far as she dared.

“Where is she?”

Shit, Charles thought. He had been caught in a lie. Now what? He was this far in, it seemed another lie was all he could offer.

He said, “I think she turned the corner down there. I don’t see her either.”

“I like kitties,” the girl blurted.

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah. But Momma won’t let me have one. She says they’re always in heat. Must be all that hair that makes ‘em hot!”

Upon hearing such innocence, Charles blushed. When was the last time he had head it? He did not know. His own children had long since grown up and moved away, and there were no grandchildren yet.

In fact, his life had been rather empty ever since his not-quite-divorced estranged wife left him, too. He couldn’t remember another time where he felt so alone. Maybe that was what led to his carelessness?

He had been embezzling money for years to supplement his income. Being the only one in a family of five working had been hard on them. He couldn’t provide for his family the way he would have liked without that added help. It had been a necessity!

Then why had he continued? Some, but not all, of the money had gone to the kids as they went through college – pocket money and the like. But then one by one they had graduated, moved on, and started their new adult lives.

Yes. He remembered now. Maryann left him, just disappeared one day, before he got greedy and careless. He began making mistakes at work. Vital, key mistakes that cost him dearly and led to his being caught.

Now he was fired, embarking upon criminal charges once his former company had a case built up against him, standing on a ledge no wider than a common painted line on any highway contemplating death.

“Mister…” the child’s voice came back, pulling Charles from his thoughts.

“Hmmm?”

“Did you even hear what I said?”

There was sorrow in her voice now.

“What? Oh, no. I’m sorry. What did you say sweetie?”

The girl sighed heavily. It seemed she was used to being ignored – or was “unheard” a more polite word? She said:

“What are you gonna do if you can’t find your kitty? I’m scared for her. It looks scary out there.”

“It is,” he confirmed.

“You shouldn’t be out there Mister.”

“Charlie; my name is Charlie.”

“Oh no! I’m not supos’ta call grown ups by their real names!”

“Very well.”

“What’s ‘very well’?” she queried.

“It’s okay if you want to call me ‘Mister’.”

“No. I mean what does it mean?”

“Oh,” Charles replied. He thought for a moment before continuing. “It means something is okay. Ya know? It’s just another way to say it.”

“Very well!” she mimicked robustly. “I like it!”

“Good.”

Charles smiled. This sweet little girl had been sent to him to be his savior; he knew it. Her innocent and pure outlook on life had been refreshing. It was something that had been lost on him for many a year. How could he have forgotten?

“Honey?” he asked. “What’s your name? I mean, if it’s okay to tell me, that is. I’m not really a stranger. I’m Mister Moore, Charlie, and I live in the same building as you.”

He wanted to know who the angel was that saved his life…