>Getting Ready for NaNoWriMo – No Plot, No Problem . . . yeah, right. =/

>

As most of my Twitter and FaceBook followers already know, I started my NaNoWriMo planning on August 1st (just as I do every year.) My problem, as always when I start a new book, is that as soon as I get an idea and start researching it, while I’m researching, other ideas pop up and I end up planning several books at once. This can cause problems with NaNoWriMo, because with a timed contest like this, you have to write at the seat of your pants, non stop break neck speed, which means once the contest starts, you really can’t stop your novel and start a second, third, or fourth one dead in the middle! In my early years of NaNoing this has been a problem – heck, it was a problem last year too!

Anyways, in order to give myself time to change my mind about my plot 10 or 20 times, I start my NaNoNovel plotting in August instead of October with every one else, and it’s a good thing I did. This year I ended up with 13 plots between August 1st and September 30st!

In August, my goal was to write about a creepy circus. I love creepy circuses, always have, always will. Throughout the month of August all my Tweets chattered about my circus history research, but as the month wore on, more ideas popped up and my circus idea changed and evolved many times. From Steampunk to Horror to Romance to Fantasy and than back and forth between them all, my NaNoNovel has yet to settle down into a genre, but it’s plot, has become more clear.

Find Out More About My 2009 NaNoWriMo Project

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

———-
Editing and Drafts
Create a Fantasy Realm
Advice For NaNoWriters!
Creating Character Profiles
Are You A Renegade A Writer?
How To Become a Better Writer
The Top 5 Tools For NaNoWriMo
What Genre Is My Vampire Story?
Where Do You Get Your Ideas?
Improving your writing with what you read.
Have You Written Your Author’s Interview Yet?
How I Reached 50,000 in 30 Days and You Can Too!
———-

. . .

————-

Getting Ready for NaNoWriMo – No Plot, No Problem . . . yeah, right. =/

As most of my Twitter and FaceBook followers already know, I started my NaNoWriMo planning on August 1st (just as I do every year.) My problem, as always when I start a new book, is that as soon as I get an idea and start researching it, while I’m researching, other ideas pop up and I end up planning several books at once. This can cause problems with NaNoWriMo, because with a timed contest like this, you have to write at the seat of your pants, non stop break neck speed, which means once the contest starts, you really can’t stop your novel and start a second, third, or fourth one dead in the middle! In my early years of NaNoing this has been a problem – heck, it was a problem last year too!

Anyways, in order to give myself time to change my mind about my plot 10 or 20 times, I start my NaNoNovel plotting in August instead of October with every one else, and it’s a good thing I did. This year I ended up with 13 plots between August 1st and September 30st!

In August, my goal was to write about a creepy circus. I love creepy circuses, always have, always will. Throughout the month of August all my Tweets chattered about my circus history research, but as the month wore on, more ideas popped up and my circus idea changed and evolved many times. From Steampunk to Horror to Romance to Fantasy and than back and forth between them all, my NaNoNovel has yet to settle down into a genre, but it’s plot, has become more clear.

Find Out More About My 2009 NaNoWriMo Project

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

———-
Editing and Drafts
Create a Fantasy Realm
Advice For NaNoWriters!
Creating Character Profiles
Are You A Renegade A Writer?
How To Become a Better Writer
The Top 5 Tools For NaNoWriMo
What Genre Is My Vampire Story?
Where Do You Get Your Ideas?
Improving your writing with what you read.
Have You Written Your Author’s Interview Yet?
How I Reached 50,000 in 30 Days and You Can Too!
———-

. . .

————-

try that again

another test – that last one didn’t come out right

Find Out More About My 2009 NaNoWriMo Project

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

———-
Editing and Drafts
Create a Fantasy Realm
Advice For NaNoWriters!
Creating Character Profiles
Are You A Renegade A Writer?
How To Become a Better Writer
The Top 5 Tools For NaNoWriMo
What Genre Is My Vampire Story?
Where Do You Get Your Ideas?
Improving your writing with what you read.
Have You Written Your Author’s Interview Yet?
How I Reached 50,000 in 30 Days and You Can Too!
———-

. . .

————-

test post

okay, when I changed the template, it messed up the layout and the siggie size/colors so I just went and edited and this is a test post to see what it looks like

Find Out More About My 2009 NaNoWriMo Project

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

———-
Editing and Drafts
Create a Fantasy Realm
Advice For NaNoWriters!
Creating Character Profiles
Are You A Renegade A Writer?
How To Become a Better Writer
The Top 5 Tools For NaNoWriMo
What Genre Is My Vampire Story?
Where Do You Get Your Ideas?
Improving your writing with what you read.
Have You Written Your Author’s Interview Yet?
How I Reached 50,000 in 30 Days and You Can Too!
———-

. . .

Hey, you know what? I sell Avon! I’m an Independent Avon eRepresentative and that means you can buy Avon from me, 24 hours a day, from your computer, from anyplace in the world, and Avon will ship it to you.

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

.
.

.

>What is your inspiration for this year’s NaNovel?

>

As I said, my first thought was: “I want to write about a creepy circus”. From there on in, I threw around ideas about a vampire circus, a zombie circus, a circus from hell, a ghost circus, a circus that shows up every year, a circus that appears every 100 years, and other assorted various ideas about a circus that was not all it seemed.

The plot remained Gothic steampunk for the most part. The original idea itself came from “From Out of the Rain” a Tourchwood episode about a ghostly circus that showed up every time it rained. In that episode, Captain Jack and the gang noticed that every time a theater played old reels of circus side shows on a rainy night – people from the reels vanished from the film, while people from the theater were found frozen to death. Somehow the circus people had been literally captured on film and trapped on the film reels and could only escape if the film was played on rainy nights. Than they became soul sucking vampires who drained the life out of the living and returned to the film reel once it stopped raining. It was one of my favorite episodes of Tourchwood, and I wanted to write a book based on that same basic story line.

Something Wicked This Way Comes, another book/movie based around a ghostly circus, was also attracting my attention. Another circus that appears with changes in the weather – this one riding in on a ghost train, just before lightening storms. These shadowy carnies are attracted to the wicked desires of the hearts of mankind, more or less a circus straight from hell itself sent to give wicked men everything their hearts desire at the cost of their souls. In this story the men no sooner get their wish, than they are swept away and trapped forever as slaves to the circus’s evil leader Mr. Dark.

Another inspiration was “Dig This Cat, He’s Real Gone”, an episode of Tales From the Crypt. Again a circus theme, but this time an ordinary, every day, non-supernatural circus, which gets swindled by a freak of science – a man with a cat’s brain grafted to his own brain, thus giving him 9 lives to live and 8 times to die. He becomes a modern day Houdini, who instead of escaping actually died before your very eyes. After swindling the circus to near bankruptcy he gets his own just deserts when he remembers too late that he only had 7 lives to die because the cat had to die to give him it’s brain.

So throughout August and most of September, while my plot changed quite a bit on a daily basis, it remained firmly in the idea that it was to be based around some sort of creepy circus that could embody the terror these three circuses held for their audiences. And so while it had it’s basic theme, it still had neither plot nor characters to write about.

Find Out More About My 2009 NaNoWriMo Project

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

———-
Editing and Drafts
Create a Fantasy Realm
Advice For NaNoWriters!
Creating Character Profiles
Are You A Renegade A Writer?
How To Become a Better Writer
The Top 5 Tools For NaNoWriMo
What Genre Is My Vampire Story?
Where Do You Get Your Ideas?
Improving your writing with what you read.
Have You Written Your Author’s Interview Yet?
How I Reached 50,000 in 30 Days and You Can Too!
———-

. . .

————-

What is your inspiration for this year’s NaNovel?

As I said, my first thought was: “I want to write about a creepy circus”. From there on in, I threw around ideas about a vampire circus, a zombie circus, a circus from hell, a ghost circus, a circus that shows up every year, a circus that appears every 100 years, and other assorted various ideas about a circus that was not all it seemed.

The plot remained Gothic steampunk for the most part. The original idea itself came from “From Out of the Rain” a Tourchwood episode about a ghostly circus that showed up every time it rained. In that episode, Captain Jack and the gang noticed that every time a theater played old reels of circus side shows on a rainy night – people from the reels vanished from the film, while people from the theater were found frozen to death. Somehow the circus people had been literally captured on film and trapped on the film reels and could only escape if the film was played on rainy nights. Than they became soul sucking vampires who drained the life out of the living and returned to the film reel once it stopped raining. It was one of my favorite episodes of Tourchwood, and I wanted to write a book based on that same basic story line.

Something Wicked This Way Comes, another book/movie based around a ghostly circus, was also attracting my attention. Another circus that appears with changes in the weather – this one riding in on a ghost train, just before lightening storms. These shadowy carnies are attracted to the wicked desires of the hearts of mankind, more or less a circus straight from hell itself sent to give wicked men everything their hearts desire at the cost of their souls. In this story the men no sooner get their wish, than they are swept away and trapped forever as slaves to the circus’s evil leader Mr. Dark.

Another inspiration was “Dig This Cat, He’s Real Gone”, an episode of Tales From the Crypt. Again a circus theme, but this time an ordinary, every day, non-supernatural circus, which gets swindled by a freak of science – a man with a cat’s brain grafted to his own brain, thus giving him 9 lives to live and 8 times to die. He becomes a modern day Houdini, who instead of escaping actually died before your very eyes. After swindling the circus to near bankruptcy he gets his own just deserts when he remembers too late that he only had 7 lives to die because the cat had to die to give him it’s brain.

So throughout August and most of September, while my plot changed quite a bit on a daily basis, it remained firmly in the idea that it was to be based around some sort of creepy circus that could embody the terror these three circuses held for their audiences. And so while it had it’s basic theme, it still had neither plot nor characters to write about.

Find Out More About My 2009 NaNoWriMo Project

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

———-
Editing and Drafts
Create a Fantasy Realm
Advice For NaNoWriters!
Creating Character Profiles
Are You A Renegade A Writer?
How To Become a Better Writer
The Top 5 Tools For NaNoWriMo
What Genre Is My Vampire Story?
Where Do You Get Your Ideas?
Improving your writing with what you read.
Have You Written Your Author’s Interview Yet?
How I Reached 50,000 in 30 Days and You Can Too!
———-

. . .

————-

>Jack’s Revenge – My NaNovel 2009

>

NaNoWriMo 2009 is upon us. We are now counting down the days to the contest start, and everyone’s novel plotting antics are well under way. All across Twitter we see novel plots, character bios, and story outlines being cast left and right. First time NaNoNovelists are figuring out how to juggle the ropes, while long time NaNoer’s are pointing out things they did in years past that’ll they’ll either do again or avoid like the plague. And it’s not just Twitter, every where you go, from FaceBook to MySpace to blogs galore, the impending 11th anniversary of NaNoWrimo is on everyone’s tongues.

As a long time NaNoVeteran, I too am making the return to the NaNoForums and getting ready for the November start date. My main character this year is Jack Frost. My goal is to build a story around him. So, I have updated this blog – a new icy blue layout to match my icy Jack Frost. You’ll be seeing lots of various Jack Frost and Jack Frost type pictures floating around my posts this year, as usual, for the fifth year in a row, this blog is going to be my brainstorming spot for my National Novel Writing Month contest entry. YAY!

So, lets see where we are at at this point. It has a working title *Jack’s Revenge*, but I don’t really like that title, it’s just the first thing that popped into my head, so it’s just there until I can think of something better. I don’t really have an outline yet, and my plot is basically limited to this: Jack Frost builds an army of frozen minions, decides to take over the world, freezing everything and every one in his path, and somehow someone comes along and figures out a way to stop him. I have no idea who my main character is or how they will stop Jack, or if maybe Jack IS the main character. Basically all I’ve got are lots of ideas of ways Jack can destroy the world and not much else. I’m open to ideas and suggestions  if any one has any offers. My plan is for this to be a Steampunk Horror Ghost story of sorts, but it could switch genres on me once November gets going. So, let’s see if my random brainstorming on this blog can flesh out my idea more.

And no, that picture there is not the cover art for my book, obviously. It’s a scan of a cereal box, which I find inspires my plot and will help me to write.

Find Out More About My 2009 NaNoWriMo Project

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

———-
Editing and Drafts
Create a Fantasy Realm
Advice For NaNoWriters!
Creating Character Profiles
Are You A Renegade A Writer?
How To Become a Better Writer
The Top 5 Tools For NaNoWriMo
What Genre Is My Vampire Story?
Where Do You Get Your Ideas?
Improving your writing with what you read.
Have You Written Your Author’s Interview Yet?
How I Reached 50,000 in 30 Days and You Can Too!
———-

. . .

————-

Jack’s Revenge – My NaNovel 2009

NaNoWriMo 2009 is upon us. We are now counting down the days to the contest start, and everyone’s novel plotting antics are well under way. All across Twitter we see novel plots, character bios, and story outlines being cast left and right. First time NaNoNovelists are figuring out how to juggle the ropes, while long time NaNoer’s are pointing out things they did in years past that’ll they’ll either do again or avoid like the plague. And it’s not just Twitter, every where you go, from FaceBook to MySpace to blogs galore, the impending 11th anniversary of NaNoWrimo is on everyone’s tongues.

As a long time NaNoVeteran, I too am making the return to the NaNoForums and getting ready for the November start date. My main character this year is Jack Frost. My goal is to build a story around him. So, I have updated this blog – a new icy blue layout to match my icy Jack Frost. You’ll be seeing lots of various Jack Frost and Jack Frost type pictures floating around my posts this year, as usual, for the fifth year in a row, this blog is going to be my brainstorming spot for my National Novel Writing Month contest entry. YAY!

So, lets see where we are at at this point. It has a working title *Jack’s Revenge*, but I don’t really like that title, it’s just the first thing that popped into my head, so it’s just there until I can think of something better. I don’t really have an outline yet, and my plot is basically limited to this: Jack Frost builds an army of frozen minions, decides to take over the world, freezing everything and every one in his path, and somehow someone comes along and figures out a way to stop him. I have no idea who my main character is or how they will stop Jack, or if maybe Jack IS the main character. Basically all I’ve got are lots of ideas of ways Jack can destroy the world and not much else. I’m open to ideas and suggestions  if any one has any offers. My plan is for this to be a Steampunk Horror Ghost story of sorts, but it could switch genres on me once November gets going. So, let’s see if my random brainstorming on this blog can flesh out my idea more.

And no, that picture there is not the cover art for my book, obviously. It’s a scan of a cereal box, which I find inspires my plot and will help me to write.

Find Out More About My 2009 NaNoWriMo Project

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

———-
Editing and Drafts
Create a Fantasy Realm
Advice For NaNoWriters!
Creating Character Profiles
Are You A Renegade A Writer?
How To Become a Better Writer
The Top 5 Tools For NaNoWriMo
What Genre Is My Vampire Story?
Where Do You Get Your Ideas?
Improving your writing with what you read.
Have You Written Your Author’s Interview Yet?
How I Reached 50,000 in 30 Days and You Can Too!
———-

. . .

————-

>NaNoWriMo 2009 – What shall I write about?

>

Before I start brainstorming, I’m going to write down a list of questions. These questions are things which I will need to find answers to in order to get from day 1 on NaNoWriMo to day 30. Hopefully, by brainstorming on this lens, I will discover the answers.

What should I write about?

Where do I find inspiration?

What’s at stake?

What are the obstacles?

Who has the most to lose?

What is everybody’s motivation?

What needs to change by the end of each scene/chapter?

What do the various characters need to accomplish?

How do I actually get on with writing?

What am I passionate about?

What can I see myself immersing in, researching and spending my morning, days, weekends and evenings writing about?

What do I know about? What am I an expert in? What knowledge can I share with the world? How does that help my novel?

How many broad headings can I come up with to describe my plot? How can I turn them into 12 to 30 chapter headings.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
etc…..

What other questions do I need to ask myself about my plot and characters?

Find Out More About My 2009 NaNoWriMo Project

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

———-

Editing and Drafts
Create a Fantasy Realm
Advice For NaNoWriters!
Creating Character Profiles

Are You A Renegade A Writer?
How To Become a Better Writer
The Top 5 Tools For NaNoWriMo
What Genre Is My Vampire Story?
Edit LensWhere Do You Get Your Ideas?

Improving your writing with what you read.
Have You Written Your Author’s Interview Yet?
How I Reached 50,000 in 30 Days and You Can Too!

———-

. . .

Hey, you know what? I sell Avon! I’m an Independent Avon eRepresentative and that means you can buy Avon from me, 24 hours a day, from your computer, from anyplace in the world, and Avon will ship it to you.

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

.
.

.

>NaNoWriMo RE: Interesting and horrific ways for a supernatural being to kill someone.

>

Yep, I’m on the forum answering questions again. This time it’s: Interesting and horrific ways for a supernatural being to kill someone.

This will hopefully be a disturbing thread, so be forewarned.

As the subject says, I am looking for Interesting and horrific ways for a supernatural being to kill someone. In this case, the being is a fallen angel, self exiled from the heavens to pursue justice against the worst mankind has to offer. I want it to be like a horror movie but in this case, the bad guys are being stalked and killed in gruesome fashion. What I need are some good, dark, disturbing ways for these guys to meet their ends all the while, preserving the piousness of the avenging angel. Is it even possible? Any ideas are welcome.

Enter your darkside, just long enough to pull out the most demented and painful images you can muster, and then quickly, run back into the light.

I work with avenging angels all the time – love them. Amazing creatures!

My first thought is supernatural beings kill using supernatural methods. What need have they for using their hands or carrying weapons? They are supernatural, so give them super powers to match.

Maybe one “shoots” lightening bolts and another “shoots” fire, and another “shoots” ice/hail. That makes for some crispy bad guys who cross their paths.

Shouldn’t they be able to cause the earth to open up and swallow their victims? (an earthquake maybe? crush him with his own house?) Or what about tornadoes that target the bad guy. (Flatten him under a car?) Boulders falling from the sky. Flames shooting up like a geyser out of the sidewalk. Branches tearing themselves off trees and flying through the air, skewering the guy. A house cat suddenly grows to the size of a elephant and eats him. His cup of coffee suddenly starts boiling, turns to acid and melts him from the inside out. You know: Normal acts of nature doing very unnormal things because they are being controlled by supernatural powers.

I find such things far more disturbing than, if the angel just walked up to the guy and gutted him, because any mugger on the street can do that, and your guy could try to fight back in a face to face confrontation, but who but an avenging angel can call down the very mountains to fall on your head – and how can you fight back against a force like that, especially if you can’t see the force that is attacking you thus don’t know where to run to escape it? This goes into the realms of psychological terror, AND each of those methods, can be written to be very dark, disturbing, an bloody if you set about to describing things in detail.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I did also want to let you know – SAVE THIS THREAD/QUESTION and REPOST it Oct 1st! On Sept 30th NaNo shuts down and erases the system – all of your questions and answers will be gone forever! This is the 2008 forum you are posting on right now. The 2009 forum will not go live until Oct 1st.

You will need to reenter your profile information on your profile page Oct 1st as well. EVERYTHING is about to be erased! This close to the erase/reboot date it’s best to not start any new threads, because they be gone in a matter of days. Copy all of your threads, and save them on a blog or your hard drive or something. Than after the system reboots, next week, come back here and start them all over again.

What I do, is I start each of my questions on my blog. I write the blog post asking the question. Than I wait until the system reboots and the new (and very empty!) forums come back, than I copy each of my blog post questions and start my threads asking questions than. That way my questions stay in the system for the entire 2009 year.

Let me know if you restart this thread. I’ll save my answer and repost it in October.

———-
Create a Fantasy Realm
Advice For NaNoWriters!
Creating Character Profiles
Are You A Renegade A Writer?
How To Become a Better Writer
Improving your writing with what you read.
Have You Written Your Author’s Interview Yet?

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

. . .

Hey, you know what? I sell Avon! I’m an Independent Avon eRepresentative and that means you can buy Avon from me, 24 hours a day, from your computer, from anyplace in the world, and Avon will ship it to you.

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

.
.

.

NaNoWriMo RE: Interesting and horrific ways for a supernatural being to kill someone.

Yep, I’m on the forum answering questions again. This time it’s: Interesting and horrific ways for a supernatural being to kill someone.

This will hopefully be a disturbing thread, so be forewarned.

As the subject says, I am looking for Interesting and horrific ways for a supernatural being to kill someone. In this case, the being is a fallen angel, self exiled from the heavens to pursue justice against the worst mankind has to offer. I want it to be like a horror movie but in this case, the bad guys are being stalked and killed in gruesome fashion. What I need are some good, dark, disturbing ways for these guys to meet their ends all the while, preserving the piousness of the avenging angel. Is it even possible? Any ideas are welcome.

Enter your darkside, just long enough to pull out the most demented and painful images you can muster, and then quickly, run back into the light.

I work with avenging angels all the time – love them. Amazing creatures!

My first thought is supernatural beings kill using supernatural methods. What need have they for using their hands or carrying weapons? They are supernatural, so give them super powers to match.

Maybe one “shoots” lightening bolts and another “shoots” fire, and another “shoots” ice/hail. That makes for some crispy bad guys who cross their paths.

Shouldn’t they be able to cause the earth to open up and swallow their victims? (an earthquake maybe? crush him with his own house?) Or what about tornadoes that target the bad guy. (Flatten him under a car?) Boulders falling from the sky. Flames shooting up like a geyser out of the sidewalk. Branches tearing themselves off trees and flying through the air, skewering the guy. A house cat suddenly grows to the size of a elephant and eats him. His cup of coffee suddenly starts boiling, turns to acid and melts him from the inside out. You know: Normal acts of nature doing very unnormal things because they are being controlled by supernatural powers.

I find such things far more disturbing than, if the angel just walked up to the guy and gutted him, because any mugger on the street can do that, and your guy could try to fight back in a face to face confrontation, but who but an avenging angel can call down the very mountains to fall on your head – and how can you fight back against a force like that, especially if you can’t see the force that is attacking you thus don’t know where to run to escape it? This goes into the realms of psychological terror, AND each of those methods, can be written to be very dark, disturbing, an bloody if you set about to describing things in detail.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I did also want to let you know – SAVE THIS THREAD/QUESTION and REPOST it Oct 1st! On Sept 30th NaNo shuts down and erases the system – all of your questions and answers will be gone forever! This is the 2008 forum you are posting on right now. The 2009 forum will not go live until Oct 1st.

You will need to reenter your profile information on your profile page Oct 1st as well. EVERYTHING is about to be erased! This close to the erase/reboot date it’s best to not start any new threads, because they be gone in a matter of days. Copy all of your threads, and save them on a blog or your hard drive or something. Than after the system reboots, next week, come back here and start them all over again.

What I do, is I start each of my questions on my blog. I write the blog post asking the question. Than I wait until the system reboots and the new (and very empty!) forums come back, than I copy each of my blog post questions and start my threads asking questions than. That way my questions stay in the system for the entire 2009 year.

Let me know if you restart this thread. I’ll save my answer and repost it in October.

———-
Create a Fantasy Realm
Advice For NaNoWriters!
Creating Character Profiles
Are You A Renegade A Writer?
How To Become a Better Writer
Improving your writing with what you read.
Have You Written Your Author’s Interview Yet?

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

. . .

Hey, you know what? I sell Avon! I’m an Independent Avon eRepresentative and that means you can buy Avon from me, 24 hours a day, from your computer, from anyplace in the world, and Avon will ship it to you.

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

.
.

.

>try that again

>

another test – that last one didn’t come out right

Find Out More About My 2009 NaNoWriMo Project

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

———-
Editing and Drafts
Create a Fantasy Realm
Advice For NaNoWriters!
Creating Character Profiles
Are You A Renegade A Writer?
How To Become a Better Writer
The Top 5 Tools For NaNoWriMo
What Genre Is My Vampire Story?
Where Do You Get Your Ideas?
Improving your writing with what you read.
Have You Written Your Author’s Interview Yet?
How I Reached 50,000 in 30 Days and You Can Too!
———-

. . .

————-

>Best Books For NaNoWriMo

>

I’m getting ready for the NaNoWriMo contest. So, in preparation for the contest I am currently reading (studying?) the following books:

No Plot No Problem by Chris Baty;

On Writing Horror by The HWA;

The Writer’s Little Helper by James V Smith Jr.;

The Writer’s Book of Matches by Fresh Boiled Peanuts;

On Writing Romance by Leigh Michaels;

Writing Romance Fiction by Helene S Barnhart;

Plots Unlimited by Tom Sawyer;

45 Master Characters by Victoria Schmidt;

The Writer’s Digest Handbook of Short Story Writing by Frank A. and Sandra Smythe Dickson;

Writer’s Digest Handbook of Short Story Writing Vol II by Jean Fredette;

Creating Short Fiction by Damon Knight;

phew! what a list! I’ve read all of them before, and I reread them each again every October, so I’ll be fired up and ready to go once the writing contest in November gets started. I highly recommend you read each of these books if you are getting ready to enter the NaNoWriMo contest, and good luck for every one who’s entering this year!

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

. . .

Hey, you know what? I sell Avon! I’m an Independent Avon eRepresentative and that means you can buy Avon from me, 24 hours a day, from your computer, from anyplace in the world, and Avon will ship it to you.

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

.
.

.

Best Books For NaNoWriMo

I’m getting ready for the NaNoWriMo contest. So, in preparation for the contest I am currently reading (studying?) the following books:

No Plot No Problem by Chris Baty;

On Writing Horror by The HWA;

The Writer’s Little Helper by James V Smith Jr.;

The Writer’s Book of Matches by Fresh Boiled Peanuts;

On Writing Romance by Leigh Michaels;

Writing Romance Fiction by Helene S Barnhart;

Plots Unlimited by Tom Sawyer;

45 Master Characters by Victoria Schmidt;

The Writer’s Digest Handbook of Short Story Writing by Frank A. and Sandra Smythe Dickson;

Writer’s Digest Handbook of Short Story Writing Vol II by Jean Fredette;

Creating Short Fiction by Damon Knight;

phew! what a list! I’ve read all of them before, and I reread them each again every October, so I’ll be fired up and ready to go once the writing contest in November gets started. I highly recommend you read each of these books if you are getting ready to enter the NaNoWriMo contest, and good luck for every one who’s entering this year!

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

. . .

Hey, you know what? I sell Avon! I’m an Independent Avon eRepresentative and that means you can buy Avon from me, 24 hours a day, from your computer, from anyplace in the world, and Avon will ship it to you.

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

.
.

.

>test post

>

okay, when I changed the template, it messed up the layout and the siggie size/colors so I just went and edited and this is a test post to see what it looks like

Find Out More About My 2009 NaNoWriMo Project

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

———-
Editing and Drafts
Create a Fantasy Realm
Advice For NaNoWriters!
Creating Character Profiles
Are You A Renegade A Writer?
How To Become a Better Writer
The Top 5 Tools For NaNoWriMo
What Genre Is My Vampire Story?
Where Do You Get Your Ideas?
Improving your writing with what you read.
Have You Written Your Author’s Interview Yet?
How I Reached 50,000 in 30 Days and You Can Too!
———-

. . .

Hey, you know what? I sell Avon! I’m an Independent Avon eRepresentative and that means you can buy Avon from me, 24 hours a day, from your computer, from anyplace in the world, and Avon will ship it to you.

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

.
.

.

>NaNoWriMo: The DARES Thread 2008 (ARCHIVE) Part 2

>it didn’t all fit into one post! Here’s the rest:

RE: Dares Thread (Part 3)

outoftowner7
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 30, 2008 – 11 25
moonfae13 wrote:
outoftowner7 wrote:
Have the MMC wear only kilts
http://www.urbankilts.com/
*sigh* I love a man in a kilt. Utilikilts are awesome too! It wouldn’t work for my MMC to ONLY wear a kilt… I don’t think… maybe it could… hmm……. I may have to ask him. That’s actually sounding really amusing. I am picturing scenes where the FMC tries to get him to put on something… ANYTHING!…. else.

I accept your challege!

Tyna

awesome. i’d do it myself, but my story is set in the US in the mid-19th centuryv – it unfortunately really won’t do. i’m up for other dares, though.

here’s another: have a character who consistently fakes an accent. there was a guy at my last workplace who had a British accent – but there was an office rumor that he was actually from New Jersey.

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outoftowner7
RE: The Dares

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Oct 30, 2008 – 11 32
Pain au Chocolat wrote:
Yay! Dares!
1) Have your MMC dump his trash accidentally on the MFC

ok, this one i can do!

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bnabound
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 31, 2008 – 18 22
Here’s a few dares:

1. Have one of your characters refer to and/or discuss the US election results of 2008 LOL
2. Your female character is addicted to Pringles and believes that ‘one tub a day keeps frustrations at bay’
3. Get any character to say the wrong name at the altar when getting married.
BP – if the person whose name is said is in the audience
DBP – if the person whose name was said gets up and makes a scene

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bnabound
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 31, 2008 – 18 26
Hayley. wrote:
One of my friends dared me to make the MC throw a bucket of lego bricks at somebody.
Oh, I LOVE this! Fits the character of one of my MMCs perfectly! Thanks!

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watchtherainfall
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Nov 1, 2008 – 14 41
From the first page ; 1) Have your MMC dump his trash accidentally on the MFC

I’ll take that one up. I think it will be pretty funny, actually, and it might be hard .. but I’ll find a way to incorporate it in my story. XD

The Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 8, 2008 – 19 15
I know there is a general dare forum but I thought I would start one for us Chick lit writers.

For the newbies out there, this topic will include things you can include in your novel. Good ideas to include when you are stuck or want to put something random in your novel.

———-

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queen.christina
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 9, 2008 – 01 21
I like it!

Okay…

1. Your FMC can’t read.
BP if she’s always managed to convince everyone that she can.
DBP by the end of the novel, no one ever finds out.

2. Your FMC has a fetish for tea. (Yes, FETISH. How would this work? nfi. But I’m curious to see what you can do with it!)

3. Insert a llama into your novel somewhere (lol, absolutely nothing chick litty about this, I just find random llamas amusing!)
BP if it’s in every chapter.
DBP if it’s actually relevant to your plot.
TBP if this llama saves the day somehow

I’ll be back with more later

———-
Christina

“Take your clothes off, we’ve got some writing to do!”

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Pain au Chocolat
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 9, 2008 – 06 51
Yay! Dares!

1) Have your MMC dump his trash accidentally on the MFC

2) Your MFC is physically very strong and capable, but because she likes being treated like a weak, ditzy princess, she hides her strength desperately. BP+ if she ends up saving the MMC using her muscles more than brains.

3) Your MC finds it hard to remember names and faces, instead she/he recognizes people by their scent and the perfumes they wear.

4) The mom/grandmom of your MC.has had random talks with the main villain. Eg in the park, met and just started to talk wo the bad guy about birds or something (if there’s a bad guy in the story in the first place)

———-
“When in doubt – eat more chocolate.”

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kimby
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 9, 2008 – 08 14
queen.christina wrote:
3. Insert a llama into your novel somewhere (lol, absolutely nothing chick litty about this, I just find random llamas amusing!)
BP if it’s in every chapter.
DBP if it’s actually relevant to your plot.
TBP if this llama saves the day somehow
I’ll be back with more later

If she’s a knitter with an alpaca that’s easy…

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Nathalia
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 9, 2008 – 13 21
Pain au Chocolat wrote:
4) The mom/grandmom of your MC.has had random talks with the main villain. Eg in the park, met and just started to talk wo the bad guy about birds or something (if there’s a bad guy in the story in the first place)

I don’t have villains but the mom of one of my MC’s befriends her son’s rival for a girl’s attention thinking he is a very polite nice man which she hadn’t expected because her son had always refered to him as “the bastard” but she adores him, calls him just to chat, sends him birthday gifts, etc. Also, when she first meets him, she doesn’t realize this guy and “the bastard” his son often talks about are the same guy.
queen.christina wrote:
3. Insert a llama into your novel somewhere (lol, absolutely nothing chick litty about this, I just find random llamas amusing!)
BP if it’s in every chapter.
DBP if it’s actually relevant to your plot.
TBP if this llama saves the day somehow

No way I’m including llamas. But if I can have them be alpacas instead, I won’t be able to resist the challenge. I have the whole alpaca outfit: alpaca poncho, alpaca sweater, alpaca socks, alpaca scarf, alpaca gloves, alpaca hat, alpaca gaiters, an alpaca bag … Don’t ask, I’ve spent some time in Chile. I could also see one of my characters have a stuffed alpaca and another … oh, that’s a dare:
1. Have one of your characters go to an alpaca convention with a friend who is obsessed with alpacas. (Note: I have no idea what they do at alpaca conventions but they do exist. The Alpaca Website.
(I’ll do that one myself.)

2. Have a character make obscure references to something he likes a lot (a movie, a book, a video game) that nobody but him gets.
BP if it’s actually a well-known book, movie, whatever that you should know.

3. Have a male character try to “improve” the music tastes of people around him (no matter if he’s interested in them or not or even barely knows them) by constantly burning mix tapes hoping to convert people.
BP if he actually converts someone.
DBP if his taste in music is horrible.
TBP if by the end of the novel, he has converted all other characters.

———-
2006 – Whodunnit?!
2007 – Ich sehe
2008 – Finding Me

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YourMom
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 9, 2008 – 16 49
Pain au Chocolat wrote:
4) The mom/grandmom of your MC.has had random talks with the main villain. Eg in the park, met and just started to talk wo the bad guy about birds or something (if there’s a bad guy in the story in the first place)
This would be difficult as the mom and grandmom of my MC *are* the villains. Well, mostly. The grandmom more so. They *could* randomly meet the FMC’s mother, which would be… interesting. I might accept this. : )

My dares:
1) One of your characters has to give up an addiction to impress someone else. Hilarious moodswings ensue.

2) Someone spends a scene (a meal at a restaurant for example) thinking about what they would do if a zombie came through the door.

3) Star Wars quote! Character one says: “I love you” and Character 2 says: “I know.”

4) Someone accidentally eats rat poison hidden in peanut butter.

5) Quote: “I can feel gravity!”

Yeah.. that’s all I got for now.
______
2005 – Kandy Kane and the Fairy Boy Revolution (3,000)
2006 – Chrys and Him (14,000)
2007 – The Untitled Belinda Valory Epic (36,000)
2008 – This Book is Not About Mermaids (50,000?)

———-
________
“The race is long, and in the end it’s only with yourself.”

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Lexicon
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 9, 2008 – 19 05
I love the music conversion one.

I’ll see that and raise it one live bug stuck in someone’s braces.
BP if it’s the “clear” braces so the wiggling bug is much more noticable.
DBP if the character picks it out and swallows it.

———-
warm fuzzies~ Lex
2005 Winner Untitled
2007 Winner “Surviving Serengeti”

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Lexicon
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 9, 2008 – 19 08
Oops, double post. I guess there’s no bonus points for that.

———-
warm fuzzies~ Lex
2005 Winner Untitled
2007 Winner “Surviving Serengeti”

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kimby
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 9, 2008 – 22 44
Nathalia wrote:
[2. Have a character make obscure references to something he likes a lot (a movie, a book, a video game) that nobody but him gets.
BP if it's actually a well-known book, movie, whatever that you should know.
3. Have a male character try to "improve" the music tastes of people around him (no matter if he's interested in them or not or even barely knows them) by constantly burning mix tapes hoping to convert people.
BP if he actually converts someone.
DBP if his taste in music is horrible.
TBP if by the end of the novel, he has converted all other characters.

I'll take! I think Frank's gonna' be obsessed with kids music. So he'll be talking about the Wiggles and Imagination Movers, maybe even Doodlebops. And for him to say "Raffi sucks..." and then give friends tapes of kids music, yet the characters thinking it's good stuff...funny!

Dares:

-A character is obsessed with Mother's Circus cookies.
-BP if character makes scenes with animals and acts them out.
-DBP if then before eating them they make eating them into a bloody death scene.

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bluenails
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 10, 2008 - 05 24
The FMC has a conservative gay brother. Which greatly disappoints her mother. Who thinks what’s the point of having a gay son if he isn't camp and refuses to let her join a ”My child’s out and I’m proud support group”.
Oh and the mother has to say to someone-“I don't know why he insists on wearing those business suits every where when I gave him perfectly good mesh singlets for Christmas.”

lol maybe i went a little wild there..

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Lexicon
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 10, 2008 - 14 23
Oh the conservative gay brother would definitely twist my novel into a delightful new shape; my MMC is a pastor!

----------
warm fuzzies~ Lex
2005 Winner Untitled
2007 Winner "Surviving Serengeti"

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Nathalia
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 10, 2008 - 18 57
YourMom wrote:
3) Star Wars quote! Character one says: "I love you" and Character 2 says: "I know."

I'll even top it by having #2 not know it's a Star Wars quote. She's a character who'd come up with it herself to avoid saying it back.
bluenails wrote:
The FMC has a conservative gay brother. Which greatly disappoints her mother. Who thinks what’s the point of having a gay son if he isn't camp and refuses to let her join a ”My child’s out and I’m proud support group”.
Oh and the mother has to say to someone-“I don't know why he insists on wearing those business suits every where when I gave him perfectly good mesh singlets for Christmas.”

I would love to do that, I even have a mother who would act like this and she has a very conservative son but unfortunately, he can't turn gay. His mother would love him even more if he were. She's the kind of woman who complains about her son being "too boring". Maybe I could make one of Jack's several unnamed brothers gay ... nah. I'll save it for another story.
More dares (probably not good ones but I have to include some to justify my totally unnecessary post)

- a straight character (maybe a friend of the MMC) that pretends to be gay so he can get closer to girls and only realizes after quite some time that if they think he's gay, he can't hook up with them.
(I'm sure there are romantic comedies with that spin where the guy does end up with a girl though. I realized how stupid it is after writing it).

- the furniture of a character's house consists of mismatched items, some of them not in their best shape. When someone asks them about it, they explain that instead of buying furniture, they went out to "those parts of the city where people just put the furniture they don't want anymore on the front yard or pavement" and over several months assembled almost everything they needed for the place.
BP if the character finds some object on the street that would look good in their living room and takes it home.
DBP if someone the character is with some co-worker or acquaintance (not friend) who thinks the character is joking.
(That's based on someone I know).

----------
2006 - Whodunnit?!
2007 - Ich sehe
2008 - Finding Me

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bluenails
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 10, 2008 - 22 53
- the furniture of a character's house consists of mismatched items, some of them not in their best shape. When someone asks them about it, they explain that instead of buying furniture, they went out to "those parts of the city where people just put the furniture they don't want anymore on the front yard or pavement" and over several months assembled almost everything they needed for the place.
BP if the character finds some object on the street that would look good in their living room and takes it home.
DBP if someone the character is with some co-worker or acquaintance (not friend) who thinks the character is joking.
(That's based on someone I know).[/quote]

Oh my so going to do that – Well not pick up furniture from the street as i did that at uni but my character is going to have to due to her high dependency on hats that she never wears but just has to have.

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tamlunk
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 14, 2008 – 22 23
Here’s a dare I saw last year and wanted to do it but never got to it.

- Have MC unknowingly stumble into a nudist colony. Perhaps she is making a delivery or put in a slightly wrong address into her GPS and then Wham! everyone is naked. Will she play it cool? freak out? think it is a dream sequence? The possibilities are endless.

Hey maybe a whole bunch of us can do the nudist dare? that would be cool- how many Nano novels can we get to include it? fun fun! It can be the 2008 ChickLit Nudist Challenge LOL

BP- if your MC takes her clothes off
DBP- if you write the scene in the buff—{chuckle- couldn’t resist that one}

———-
My nano stats so far: 4 for 6…going for win #5! Write On!

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dawnsy
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 14, 2008 – 22 42
tamlunk wrote:
Here’s a dare I saw last year and wanted to do it but never got to it.
- Have MC unknowingly stumble into a nudist colony. Perhaps she is making a delivery or put in a slightly wrong address into her GPS and then Wham! everyone is naked. Will she play it cool? freak out? think it is a dream sequence? The possibilities are endless.

Hey maybe a whole bunch of us can do the nudist dare? that would be cool- how many Nano novels can we get to include it? fun fun! It can be the 2008 ChickLit Nudist Challenge LOL

BP- if your MC takes her clothes off
DBP- if you write the scene in the buff—{chuckle- couldn’t resist that one}

That would SO fit my story – my FMC is a independently wealthy who is a “writer” building a character database before actually trying to write somethnig. HA. I might take that dare. Without the double bonus points, though. )

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leilwyn
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 15, 2008 – 02 17
queen.christina wrote:

3. Insert a llama into your novel somewhere (lol, absolutely nothing chick litty about this, I just find random llamas amusing!)
BP if it’s in every chapter.
DBP if it’s actually relevant to your plot.
TBP if this llama saves the day somehow
I’ll be back with more later

At this stage, I think I can do that… Do I get super bonus points if the llama is called Queen Christina?

*edit: Adding a dare… *

– Have one of your characters be a magnet for bird poop.
BP if the character doesn’t own any birds.
DBP if they feel like all the significant moments in their life have been defined by being pooped on.

.:Leilwyn:.

———-
.:Leilwyn:.
Second time lucky…

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LauraH213
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 20, 2008 – 16 01
YourMom wrote:
Pain au Chocolat wrote:
4) My dares:
1) One of your characters has to give up an addiction to impress someone else. Hilarious moodswings ensue.

2) Someone spends a scene (a meal at a restaurant for example) thinking about what they would do if a zombie came through the door.

3) Star Wars quote! Character one says: “I love you” and Character 2 says: “I know.”

Yeah.. that’s all I got for now.
______
I will take on 3 of these…. you have just made my muse, who has refused to come out and play to come out and play…. thank you!!!!

———-
Nano 06 — Lost, but I was sick
Nano 07 — Won with Cat Scratch
Nano 08 — Won with Ryan Says
SF 09 — no title yet, but revenge story and I didn’t even know it.
Nano 09 — not ready to think about yet!!!

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Kendra2103
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 20, 2008 – 16 48
LOL – I’ve had a llama in every NaNo I’ve attempted!

———-
**********************************************************************
Wendy Sullivan
Freelance Writer & Professional Blogger
http://www.girlonthewrite.com

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trephi
RE: The Dares

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Oct 23, 2008 – 01 33
Nathalia wrote:

2. Have a character make obscure references to something he likes a lot (a movie, a book, a video game) that nobody but him gets.
BP if it’s actually a well-known book, movie, whatever that you should know.

Is it bad if this already describes my life? I make pop culture references all the time and I get these funny looks… maybe they are too obscure.
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uberbiz
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 23, 2008 – 09 28
LOL!!… omg, those are some funny ideas, I haven’t even read through all the posts yet (I’m guilty of surfing while at work), but I could totally totally pull off having llama(s) in my story and having them be totally relevant to the plot, ahaha…

———-
“The soul that loves and suffers is in the sublime state.”

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Lexicon
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 23, 2008 – 09 54
I *heart* the bird magnet!

———-
warm fuzzies~ Lex
2005 Winner Untitled
2007 Winner “Surviving Serengeti”

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vertical-chaos
RE: The Dares

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Oct 23, 2008 – 10 43
Does it have to be a LIVE llama?

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vertical-chaos
RE: The Dares

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Oct 23, 2008 – 10 46
Did I miss something? I read back over this entire thread and could not find “bird magnet” mentioned anywhere. Am I losing my mind already?

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Nathalia
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 26, 2008 – 11 59
trephi wrote:
Nathalia wrote:

2. Have a character make obscure references to something he likes a lot (a movie, a book, a video game) that nobody but him gets.
BP if it’s actually a well-known book, movie, whatever that you should know.

Is it bad if this already describes my life? I make pop culture references all the time and I get these funny looks… maybe they are too obscure.

That’s not bad considering this dare is based on me.
———-
2006 – Whodunnit?!
2007 – Ich sehe
2008 – Finding Me

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outoftowner7
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 26, 2008 – 12 12
Have the MMC wear only kilts
http://www.urbankilts.com/

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Asuria
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 27, 2008 – 03 20
tamlunk wrote:
Here’s a dare I saw last year and wanted to do it but never got to it.
- Have MC unknowingly stumble into a nudist colony. Perhaps she is making a delivery or put in a slightly wrong address into her GPS and then Wham! everyone is naked. Will she play it cool? freak out? think it is a dream sequence? The possibilities are endless.

Hey maybe a whole bunch of us can do the nudist dare? that would be cool- how many Nano novels can we get to include it? fun fun! It can be the 2008 ChickLit Nudist Challenge LOL

BP- if your MC takes her clothes off
DBP- if you write the scene in the buff—{chuckle- couldn’t resist that one}

I’m so taking this dare!
And my MC will take her clothes off because she’ll stumble into a nudist beach while on a date with a guy she’s totally in love with.

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rollasoc
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 28, 2008 – 07 28
Nathalia wrote:
YourMom wrote:
3) Star Wars quote! Character one says: “I love you” and Character 2 says: “I know.”
Maybe she should reply. “No you don’t!”. (I’ve had that happen to me before, the first time I said it to one of my exes).

He then has to convince her and fails miserably.

Chris
“Very occasionally, if you really pay attention, life doesn’t suck” – Joss Whedon
2006 Winner – “Lies, Damn Lies & Sadistics”
2007 – “The Fury Well” (working title)
http://www.hairthieves.com
http://www.myspace.com/thehairthieves
http://www.flickr.

———-
“Very occasionally, if you really pay attention, life doesn’t suck” – Joss Whedon
2006 Winner – “Lies, Damn Lies & Sadistics”
2007 – “The Stealer of Hearts”
http://www.chrisrollasonphotography.com
http://www.hairthieves.com
http://www.myspace.com/

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Random Acts of …
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 28, 2008 – 07 52
Pain au Chocolat wrote:
Yay! Dares!
1) Have your MMC dump his trash accidentally on the MFC

3) Your MC finds it hard to remember names and faces, instead she/he recognizes people by their scent and the perfumes they wear.

I can definitely do these two for the same MFC.

outoftowner7 wrote:
Have the MMC wear only kilts
As my story is set in Scotland and my characters Scottish, I will be able to work kilts in there quite easily. However I think it will be the MMC’s grandfather who always wears kilts as he’s the traditional sort!

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rileysmomma
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 28, 2008 – 10 51
Nathalia wrote:
YourMom wrote:
3) Star Wars quote! Character one says: “I love you” and Character 2 says: “I know.”
Maybe she should reply. “No you don’t!”. (I’ve had that happen to me before, the first time I said it to one of my exes).

He then has to convince her and fails miserably.

Ooh, I think can use that in Lizzie and Andrew’s break up scene. She’ll either say “I know, and I wish that were enough” or “No you don’t. You love the idea of me, not me.”

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moonfae13
RE: The Dares

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Oct 29, 2008 – 00 27
outoftowner7 wrote:
Have the MMC wear only kilts
http://www.urbankilts.com/
*sigh* I love a man in a kilt. Utilikilts are awesome too! It wouldn’t work for my MMC to ONLY wear a kilt… I don’t think… maybe it could… hmm……. I may have to ask him. That’s actually sounding really amusing. I am picturing scenes where the FMC tries to get him to put on something… ANYTHING!…. else.

I accept your challege!

Tyna

———-
Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive body but to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, margarita in the other, body thoroughly used up and worn out screaming “WOOOHOOOOOOO! What a ride!”

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Hayley.
RE: The Dares

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Oct 30, 2008 – 08 05
One of my friends dared me to make the MC throw a bucket of lego bricks at somebody.

I might actually do it!

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outoftowner7
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 30, 2008 – 11 25
moonfae13 wrote:
outoftowner7 wrote:
Have the MMC wear only kilts
http://www.urbankilts.com/
*sigh* I love a man in a kilt. Utilikilts are awesome too! It wouldn’t work for my MMC to ONLY wear a kilt… I don’t think… maybe it could… hmm……. I may have to ask him. That’s actually sounding really amusing. I am picturing scenes where the FMC tries to get him to put on something… ANYTHING!…. else.

I accept your challege!

Tyna

awesome. i’d do it myself, but my story is set in the US in the mid-19th centuryv – it unfortunately really won’t do. i’m up for other dares, though.

here’s another: have a character who consistently fakes an accent. there was a guy at my last workplace who had a British accent – but there was an office rumor that he was actually from New Jersey.

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outoftowner7
RE: The Dares

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Oct 30, 2008 – 11 32
Pain au Chocolat wrote:
Yay! Dares!
1) Have your MMC dump his trash accidentally on the MFC

ok, this one i can do!

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bnabound
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 31, 2008 – 18 22
Here’s a few dares:

1. Have one of your characters refer to and/or discuss the US election results of 2008 LOL
2. Your female character is addicted to Pringles and believes that ‘one tub a day keeps frustrations at bay’
3. Get any character to say the wrong name at the altar when getting married.
BP – if the person whose name is said is in the audience
DBP – if the person whose name was said gets up and makes a scene

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bnabound
RE: The Dares

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Oct 31, 2008 – 18 26
Hayley. wrote:
One of my friends dared me to make the MC throw a bucket of lego bricks at somebody.
Oh, I LOVE this! Fits the character of one of my MMCs perfectly! Thanks!

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watchtherainfall
RE: The Dares

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Posted on:
Nov 1, 2008 – 14 41
From the first page ; 1) Have your MMC dump his trash accidentally on the MFC

I’ll take that one up. I think it will be pretty funny, actually, and it might be hard .. but I’ll find a way to incorporate it in my story. XD

Dares Thread (Part 3)

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Posted on:
Nov 14, 2008 – 11 39
Part 1: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3000035
Part 2: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3031688

Previous two topics closed because they hit over 500 comments.
———-
–
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PirateNinjaLass
RE: Dares Thread (Part 3)

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Nov 14, 2008 – 12 49
Include a 300 word sentence.
BP if it’s punctuated correctly

———-
Feet don’t waltz when the roof caves in. . .

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passthebutter
RE: Dares Thread (Part 3)

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Posted on:
Nov 14, 2008 – 15 26
Include a scene in which your characters see a giant NaNo word count bar flying in the sky (or maybe they see one of those planes that carry banners behind them with the bar on the banner).

+ BP if the bar has your current word count underneath it.
++ DBP if it reappears at word count milestones in your book.
+++ TBP if one of your characters remarks on the word count (e.g. “Man, they’re way behind/ahead”)

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princessleopard
RE: Dares Thread (Part 3)

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Posted on:
Nov 14, 2008 – 17 00
Have one of your characters carry a dead animal in their pocket.

BP if it is a mouse

DBP if its name is Squeakums

TBP if they frequently take it out of their pockets and talk to it!!

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princessleopard
RE: Dares Thread (Part 3)

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Posted on:
Nov 14, 2008 – 17 02
I did a couple of the dares that were on the second one X3 I did the one where my charrie glued a coin to the sidewalk, and laffed at people who tried to pick them up X3

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ladynadiad
RE: Dares Thread (Part 3)

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Posted on:
Nov 14, 2008 – 17 49
Quote:
Have your character go to the library to get some obscure book, and when she/he opens it up, there’s an extremely old piece of thin sliced ham between two of the pages.
I’m actually going to break the no editing rule to put this one in since I had an earlier scene with an obscure book and it having an old piece of ham in it would be so funny!

Leaving:

Have a character realize that the next character they see is actually quite attractive
BP: if the next character they see isn’t their normal choice for an attraction (a straight man finding a man attractive for instance)
DBP: If the character is an animal

I left that in the Truth or Dare prompts, but someone else is welcome to make use of it.

Have something important to a character be stepped on by a llama
BP: If the item is broken beyond any chance of repair
DBP: If the item is integral to the plot
TBP and a cookie: If the protagonists win because of this and the llama ends up a hero.

All the llama dares in the first thread inspired this. Made me remember a real call I got at my old job where phone service was disconnected because a llama stepped on the phone. And no, I’m not joking.

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Invisibly-Visible
RE: Dares Thread (Part 3)

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Posted on:
Nov 14, 2008 – 18 49
Leaving: (most likely for fantasy novel)

Have one of the heroes say something along the lines of ‘You’re a bad person’ to the main villian, and the villian actually stops to think about it.
Double Points: if the villian seems surprised
Triple Points: If its during the climax
Quadruple Points: If the villian spents a lot of time thinking about it, during which the main characters have a random yet serious discussion.
Points and pie: If the discussion ties in with how they defeat the villian
Points and a five pound hershy bar: If the villian finally replies with “Your point?”

———-
*Arm yourself with imagination and fight against reality.*

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raederle.phoenix
RE: Dares Thread (Part 3)

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Posted on:
Nov 14, 2008 – 21 47
ladynadiad wrote:
Have something important to a character be stepped on by a llama
BP: If the item is broken beyond any chance of repair
DBP: If the item is integral to the plot
TBP and a cookie: If the protagonists win because of this and the llama ends up a hero.
All the llama dares in the first thread inspired this. Made me remember a real call I got at my old job where phone service was disconnected because a llama stepped on the phone. And no, I’m not joking.

I love this dare, hilarious. I’m going to have a very important communication device in the possession of my main character get stepped on by a llama! Yeah!

Raederle Phoenix

———-
Raederle Phoenix

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ladynadiad
RE: Dares Thread (Part 3)

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Posted on:
Nov 14, 2008 – 22 00
Came up with another one:

Have a character who thinks a stuffed animal talks to him/her (fantasy or supernatural writers can feel free to have the doll actually have some power that allows it to talk and only this character can hear it)
BP: If s/he talks back to it
DBP: If s/he acts as a translator for the other characters to understand what the stuffed animal says
TBP: If the stuffed animal is somewhat creepy, like a plush Cthulhu
QBP: If a plot is centered around the loss of the stuffed animal because nothing can be done without the words of wisdom from it
5BP: If the character who hears the stuffed animal isn’t a little kid and doesn’t even act like one

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jfarquhar
RE: Dares Thread (Part 3)

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Posted on:
Nov 14, 2008 – 22 47
Princessleopard: Done! Awesome idea for a creepy character quirk.

Have one of your characters write whatever emotion he is feeling on his forehead in texta.

BP if his face physically can’t show emotion so it becomes almost sad that he must do so… but still weird.
DBP if his face is actually permanently stuck in an absurdly happy position.
TBP if he is evil and this leads to his downfall. Eg. MC says something to him about his past, and some hidden weakness he has. His face remains happy, but he has to write “Stricken” or something on his head which lets the MC know s/he is going in the right direction.

Wow, I’m messed up.

———-
2008 – Prime (Winner, 50k)

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Invisibly-Visible
RE: Dares Thread (Part 3)

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Posted on:
Nov 14, 2008 – 23 47
Thought of another one!

When ever a certain character refuses to do something or says they can’t do something, their reason is ‘the overlord won’t allow it.’
+the ‘overlord’ is really the character’s mother
++it is the Main Character
+++the character is an adult who no longer lives with their mother
++++the character is an adult who STILL lives with their mother

———-
*Arm yourself with imagination and fight against reality.*

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Lilreeper
RE: Dares Thread (Part 3)

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Posted on:
Nov 15, 2008 – 02 56
Invisibly-Visible wrote:
Leaving: (most likely for fantasy novel)
Have one of the heroes say something along the lines of ‘You’re a bad person’ to the main villian, and the villian actually stops to think about it.
Double Points: if the villian seems surprised
Triple Points: If its during the climax
Quadruple Points: If the villian spents a lot of time thinking about it, during which the main characters have a random yet serious discussion.
Points and pie: If the discussion ties in with how they defeat the villian
Points and a five pound hershy bar: If the villian finally replies with “Your point?”

Taking this!!!!!
Leaving:

Don’t put ANY contractions in a chapter in your book. (EX: “don’t” “can’t” “won’t”)
+If it still makes sense
++If your narrator comments on it
+++If a character comments on it
++++If there are no contractions in more than one chapter
+++++If there are no contractions in the whole book

———-
Love is a virtue and you’re my shining light.
Hold me through this dark night.
I can’t stand to be alone anymore,
I don’t want to feel like I have before.

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Lilreeper
RE: Dares Thread (Part 3)

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Posted on:
Nov 15, 2008 – 03 00
Just came up with another.

Have a random person on the street come up to your MC and break up with them.
+If no one questions this
++If your MC says it’s “because the world is in love” with them
+++If it happens more than once
++++If it’s crucial to the plot
+++++If it contributes to the villian’s downfall
++++++If licking is somehow involved

———-
Love is a virtue and you’re my shining light.
Hold me through this dark night.
I can’t stand to be alone anymore,
I don’t want to feel like I have before.

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littleowl
RE: Dares Thread (Part 3)

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Nov 15, 2008 – 03 03
So hilarious! I would love to do this… I just might, too, at some point in future.

———-
I am not stubborn. I am merely correct.

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Tawnydust
RE: Dares Thread (Part 3)

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Posted on:
Nov 15, 2008 – 09 51
Invisibly-Visible wrote:
Leaving: (most likely for fantasy novel)
Have one of the heroes say something along the lines of ‘You’re a bad person’ to the main villian, and the villian actually stops to think about it.
Double Points: if the villian seems surprised
Triple Points: If its during the climax
Quadruple Points: If the villian spents a lot of time thinking about it, during which the main characters have a random yet serious discussion.
Points and pie: If the discussion ties in with how they defeat the villian
Points and a five pound hershy bar: If the villian finally replies with “Your point?”

Perfect for my novel! Snagging.

———-
Currently writing an urban fantasy.

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Raivyn Wolf
RE: Dares Thread (Part 3)

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Posted on:
Nov 15, 2008 – 12 00
New dare from Raivyn. I’ve been meaning to but this one up for a while…

Dare: Have a character who responds to danger by closing their eyes or covering their face and continuing what they were doing, whether it be walking, talking, driving, etc.
Bonus Points: The character is a drummer
Cookie: The character’s name is Jaimie

Dare: Include the line “She gave him one of those ‘it’s three in the morning, we’re about to face evil incarnate with limited resources and I haven’t had my coffee yet’ sort of looks.”

———-
~~~~~~~~~~~~
NaNo ’05: Love and Loss (winner)
NaNo ’06: Shadows (winner)
NaNo ’07: Once Upon a Dead Man’s Chest (winner)
NaNo ’08: Vision (winner)

“You’re kidding! What a crazy random happenstance!” -Dr. Horrible

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katiec723
RE: Dares Thread (Part 3)

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Posted on:
Nov 15, 2008 – 12 33
Involve a squirrel carcass in some way
BP- the squirrel was suicidal
DBP- the MC saw the death and turns to the dark side because of it
TBP- the MC starts a gang in the squirrel’s honor
QBP- the MC’s gang fights another gang called the hawks

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Talula_Rouge
RE: Dares Thread (Part 3)

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Posted on:
Nov 15, 2008 – 16 52
This is totally awesome! It just gave me an idea for a whole section. My story town is full of wackos, mainly harmless eccentricities. This will work for the Straight Jacket Club!!
thanks!

Leaving:
Dare:
Have a character who is haunted by mirrors.
BP: If there are really ghosts in his/her mirror
DP: If the ghosts can manifest themselves in other reflective surfaces
TP: If a house keeper comes along and saves the day with a bottle of Windex and an old sock

———-
——
Write ’til you bleed ink!
Be your own vision of beauty!
NANO 2007 title: The Drive Insane
NANO 2008 title: Peacock Ohio
2nd NANO 2008 title: We, The Ugly (if I get on a roll & can get 2 novels done!!)

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raederle.phoenix
RE: Dares Thread (Part 3)

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Nov 15, 2008 – 16 58
Dare: Have one of your MCs get swallowed by an unexplained dark void
BP: If the dark void also swallows something from the scenery that is missed (like a house)
TBP: If this happens repeatedly throughout the book
QBP: If every now and then a void spits something from the other universe into yours (like a four headed evil horse)

———-
Raederle Phoenix

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Kristaaa
RE: Dares Thread (Part 3)

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Posted on:
Nov 15, 2008 – 18 09
Invisibly-Visible wrote:
Leaving: (most likely for fantasy novel)
Have one of the heroes say something along the lines of ‘You’re a bad person’ to the main villian, and the villian actually stops to think about it.
Double Points: if the villian seems surprised
Triple Points: If its during the climax
Quadruple Points: If the villian spents a lot of time thinking about it, during which the main characters have a random yet serious discussion.
Points and pie: If the discussion ties in with how they defeat the villian
Points and a five pound hershy bar: If the villian finally replies with “Your point?”

I take your dare. X3
I love this thread. I would do every one in here if I could in my book. xD

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Kristaaa
RE: Dares Thread (Part 3)

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Posted on:
Nov 15, 2008 – 18 10
katiec723 wrote:
Involve a squirrel carcass in some way
BP- the squirrel was suicidal
DBP- the MC saw the death and turns to the dark side because of it
TBP- the MC starts a gang in the squirrel’s honor
QBP- the MC’s gang fights another gang called the hawks
… The suicidal part made me laugh out loud really hard.

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wishlet
RE: Dares Thread (Part 3)

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Posted on:
Nov 15, 2008 – 18 40
ladynadiad wrote:
Came up with another one:
Have a character who thinks a stuffed animal talks to him/her (fantasy or supernatural writers can feel free to have the doll actually have some power that allows it to talk and only this character can hear it)
BP: If s/he talks back to it
DBP: If s/he acts as a translator for the other characters to understand what the stuffed animal says
TBP: If the stuffed animal is somewhat creepy, like a plush Cthulhu
QBP: If a plot is centered around the loss of the stuffed animal because nothing can be done without the words of wisdom from it
5BP: If the character who hears the stuffed animal isn’t a little kid and doesn’t even act like one

2006- I hardly got anywhere
2007- A sucky can’t-believe-I-wrote-that romance novel and won
2008- hopefully something good!
TAKING!

Leaving:
+Name a bunch of characters in your book the same name
BP if the MC has the same name
TP if it’s like Bob or Steve or Fred or something kind of generic like that.
Qp: if there are 10+

———-
NanoWrimo
2006- I hardly got anywhere
2007- A sucky can’t-believe-I-wrote-that romance novel and won
2008- a story that just barely graced the halfway point.

Script Frenzy
2008- And “intersting” attempt at a mystery/horror
2009- Hopefully somethin

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Bee Loves Tangerines
RE: Dares Thread (Part 3)

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Posted on:
Nov 15, 2008 – 19 36
Taking the one about squirrels and the one about mirrors.

Leaving:

Work in a heroine-laced banana.
BP if there is an elephant that eats it.
DBP if this is part of an elaborate play to take over the world.

Write about saving turkeys for Thanksgiving.
BP if it is a deer hunter that is promoting this cause.
DBP if you can make this deer hunter an animal rights activist.
TBP if you can explain it all and still sound sane.

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ClueBadger24601
RE: Dares Thread (Part 3)

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Nov 15, 2008 – 19 54
Aimed towards those of us who are still stuck in school…

Dare: One chapter/ section of your novel could be turned in as homework (ex. I have to turn in a diary from the POV of someone with Sickle cell anemia for biology next Friday… and guess which disease my FMC’s cousin now has?)

BP:It makes sense in the story
DBP: You actually turn this in as homework
TBP: You get an ‘A’ on it

———-
Nano ’08: The Forest (Complete!)
Screnzy ’09: Old Man and Sideburns (Complete!)

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Ice-Spirit Phoenix
RE: Dares Thread (Part 3)

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Posted on:
Nov 16, 2008 – 00 13
Write a scene from the POV of a kitchen table

BP if it makes sense
DBP if it takes up a whole chapter
TBP if this happens for a very important scene (like the final battle)

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sushimustwrite
RE: Dares Thread (Part 3)

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Posted on:
Nov 16, 2008 – 01 39
Include a zombie cockroach.
Bonus points if it turns into a leaf.
Double bonus points if an apartment is infested wtih zombie cockroaches.
Triple bonus points if the MC kills them.
Quadruple bonus points if there’s a zombie cockroach apocalypse.
Eternal awesome points if zombie cockroaches are a major plot point.

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Kyuuketsuki
RE: Dares Thread (Part 3)

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Joined: Nov 8, 2008
Location: My room
Posts: 158
Posted on:
Nov 16, 2008 – 02 11
I took a couple dares from the last one; I have a bad guy that was talking to animal crackers as though they were real. Actually, how my MC slipped past him was her friend offered to hold a funeral for the drowned cracker. Mr. Elephant drowned in milk. RIP Mr. Elephant.

And that same character that lead him off to a funeral carried around crayons in his pocket. And takes them out to talk to them frequently. He regards them as magical.

I’ll leave…

I dare you to have a character interact with the narrator
DP if they argue
DBP and a cookie if the character kills off the narrator and takes over

———-
Dance, you’re a writer!

(>^-^)>
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<(^-^<) v(^-^)v reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote Aranel RE: Dares Thread (Part 3) 50,077 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 23, 2003 Location: Moriya, Ibaraki, Japan Posts: 16 Posted on: Nov 16, 2008 – 07 06 Have two characters get caught in a Jinx. BP: if they stop whatever they are doing so that the jinxed person can buy the other person a Coke. DBP: if this interrupts the main plot. TBP: if they have major difficulties finding a Coke. QBP: if the search for a Coke becomes your new main plot. QBP and homemade cookies: if the jinxed character never says a word until they finally find that Coke. ———- 2003: Heart of Illyria (32k) 2004: Hunter’s Moon (14k) 2005: Do No Harm (25k) 2007: Sunland (51k) reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote 61,433 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 12, 2002 Location: Decatur, Georgia, USA Posts: 1038 Posted on: Nov 16, 2008 – 01 39 Include a zombie cockroach. Bonus points if it turns into a leaf. Double bonus points if an apartment is infested wtih zombie cockroaches. Triple bonus points if the MC kills them. Quadruple bonus points if there’s a zombie cockroach apocalypse. Eternal awesome points if zombie cockroaches are a major plot point. ———- — Witty signature feature broken. Please try again later. Have you donated? reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote Kyuuketsuki RE: Dares Thread (Part 3) 53,236 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 8, 2008 Location: My room Posts: 158 Posted on: Nov 16, 2008 – 02 11 I took a couple dares from the last one; I have a bad guy that was talking to animal crackers as though they were real. Actually, how my MC slipped past him was her friend offered to hold a funeral for the drowned cracker. Mr. Elephant drowned in milk. RIP Mr. Elephant. And that same character that lead him off to a funeral carried around crayons in his pocket. And takes them out to talk to them frequently. He regards them as magical. I’ll leave… I dare you to have a character interact with the narrator DP if they argue DBP and a cookie if the character kills off the narrator and takes over ———- Dance, you’re a writer! (>^-^)>
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<(^-^<) v(^-^)v reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote Aranel RE: Dares Thread (Part 3) 50,077 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 23, 2003 Location: Moriya, Ibaraki, Japan Posts: 16 Posted on: Nov 16, 2008 – 07 06 Have two characters get caught in a Jinx. BP: if they stop whatever they are doing so that the jinxed person can buy the other person a Coke. DBP: if this interrupts the main plot. TBP: if they have major difficulties finding a Coke. QBP: if the search for a Coke becomes your new main plot. QBP and homemade cookies: if the jinxed character never says a word until they finally find that Coke. ———- 2003: Heart of Illyria (32k) 2004: Hunter’s Moon (14k) 2005: Do No Harm (25k) 2007: Sunland (51k) reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote nowrimoreason RE: Dares Thread (Part 3) 51,475 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 20, 2007 Location: Long Island, The state of exhaustion Posts: 17 Posted on: Nov 16, 2008 – 10 24 I am so stealing the suicidal squirrel idea. I may have the suicide prompt (a feral cat) even speak to the death-ee. Not sure yet. Leaving: An apartment complex….one tenant (actually – 2 men, 1 apartment) have six vehicles between them, taking up six (valuable) parking spaces. Discuss amongst yaselves before it becomes a for-real murder plot. reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote lefty013 RE: Dares Thread (Part 3) 51,328 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Sep 15, 2008 Location: NYC Posts: 183 Posted on: Nov 16, 2008 – 08 58 Invisibly-Visible wrote: Leaving: (most likely for fantasy novel) Have one of the heroes say something along the lines of ‘You’re a bad person’ to the main villian, and the villian actually stops to think about it. Double Points: if the villian seems surprised Triple Points: If its during the climax Quadruple Points: If the villian spents a lot of time thinking about it, during which the main characters have a random yet serious discussion. Points and pie: If the discussion ties in with how they defeat the villian Points and a five pound hershy bar: If the villian finally replies with “Your point?” I can totally work this into my story…… ______________________________ “Those other girls, yeah, they’re beautiful. But would they write a song for you?” reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote Talula_Rouge RE: Dares Thread (Part 3) 55,141 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 11, 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 35 Posted on: Nov 16, 2008 – 09 21 Dare: Include a character who always wears a flamboyant theatre costume and carries a mask on a stick. BP: If the character is not an actor TP: IF the character doesn’t talk but uses the various masks on sticks and a pre-recorded emotional soundtrack to relay messages ———- —— Write ’til you bleed ink! Be your own vision of beauty! NANO 2007 title: The Drive Insane NANO 2008 title: Peacock Ohio 2nd NANO 2008 title: We, The Ugly (if I get on a roll & can get 2 novels done!!) reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote Kester RE: Dares Thread (Part 3) 101,966 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 18, 2007 Location: Cornwall, UK Posts: 198 Posted on: Nov 16, 2008 – 10 02 Here’s a couple, both of which should add to your novel… Have a rape scene BP: You’re serious DBP: If it is graphic TBP: If it results in pregnancy Have your character pick up your novel from a shelf. Self referentially. BP: If another character warns them that the book is terrible DBP: If they read a notable amount of it TBP: If it is a key element to the plot – which it very easily could be ———- hello earthling: a webcomic. I don’t think you’ll like it. reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote Solyss RE: Dares Thread (Part 3) 50,030 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 4, 2008 Location: Granger, Indiana Posts: 3 Posted on: Nov 16, 2008 – 12 10 Dare: Have a character dream about typing 50,000 words. BP: It is your main character DBP: It is a nightmare TBP: It results in your character going insane ———- Life is what it is reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote shyara RE: Dares Thread (Part 3) 12,423 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 2, 2008 Location: Aina (my own little world) Posts: 23 Posted on: Nov 16, 2008 – 14 01 Quote: Have a rape scene BP: You’re serious DBP: If it is graphic TBP: If it results in pregnancy I’m a terrible person! *sniff* I took that one because it is essential to my novel on 5 levels. I feel terrible. It happens to my favorite character, too. I cried when I wrote it. Dare: Include a charcter who is made out of clay BP: if the character tries to take over the world DBP: if the character fails because he gets stuck to the ground when it rains Hey. I tried, ok. reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote Smattering RE: Dares Thread (Part 3) 0 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 5, 2008 Location: Boulder, Colorado Posts: 2 Posted on: Nov 16, 2008 – 15 38 ladynadiad wrote: Came up with another one: Have a character who thinks a stuffed animal talks to him/her (fantasy or supernatural writers can feel free to have the doll actually have some power that allows it to talk and only this character can hear it) BP: If s/he talks back to it DBP: If s/he acts as a translator for the other characters to understand what the stuffed animal says TBP: If the stuffed animal is somewhat creepy, like a plush Cthulhu QBP: If a plot is centered around the loss of the stuffed animal because nothing can be done without the words of wisdom from it 5BP: If the character who hears the stuffed animal isn’t a little kid and doesn’t even act like one I just might have to add a touch of fantasy to my novel. <3>^-^)>
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<(^-^<) v(^-^)v reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote Cassy.Rose RE: Dares Thread (Part 3) 9,555 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 3, 2008 Location: I’m not exactly sure… Posts: 5 Posted on: Nov 16, 2008 – 21 32 I dare you to… Include a character that finishes every sentence with endearing phrases such as my strawberry Pop-Tart of joy and my spectacularly worn T-shirt of sexiness. BP- Said to the villian DBP- Villian is turned on by such things and falls in love with said character. reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote dono_kun RE: Dares Thread (Part 3) 26,000 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 18, 2008 Posts: 7 Posted on: Nov 16, 2008 – 22 59 Lilreeper wrote: Just came up with another. Have a random person on the street come up to your MC and break up with them. +If no one questions this ++If your MC says it’s “because the world is in love” with them +++If it happens more than once ++++If it’s crucial to the plot +++++If it contributes to the villian’s downfall ++++++If licking is somehow involved I’m taking this. x3 LEAVING: Have your main character sneak into a hair salon and pretend to be a hair stylist. +if the salon is a high end expensive one ++if the narrator comments on it +++if nobody in the salon notices reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote scribo_ergo_sum RE: Dares Thread (Part 3) 10,312 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 2, 2008 Posts: 37 Posted on: Nov 17, 2008 – 00 38 Have your narrator speak about the perks of being Third Person Omniscient BP If s/he decides to describe, at some point in the novel, exactly how one graduates to the point of being third person omniscient instead of third person limited. DBP If a character interrupts your narrator’s monologue about narrator school. TBP If your narrator threatens to sack your main character if s/he doesn’t let your narrator finish their story. reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote fuzziekit RE: Dares Thread (Part 3) 46,598 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 26, 2007 Location: Grand Rapids Michigan Posts: 7 Posted on: Nov 17, 2008 – 01 09 This is a dare I am taking on myself and one that I am giving out to all those, like me, who are so lagging behind… Dare: have a 10,000 word day. to add spice and substance…. make your character cross dress to get into a location totally off limits because of who they are. reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote nobigdealio RE: Dares Thread (Part 3) 50,345 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 13, 2008 Location: Groenland Posts: 31 Posted on: Nov 17, 2008 – 01 17 Dare: Include someone named Eileen in your story. + if Eileen is a MC ++ if Eileen is a boy +++ if Eileen isn’t human ++++ if Eileen takes over the world +++++ if you add Eileen without questions I’m starting a trend. Every novel possible must have a character named Eileen in it. A girl at my school wanted to be in my novel, so I’m getting her in more than that! Dare: have a character visit [insert store here] + if its a store everyone knows about ++ if your character trashes it +++ if your novel doesn’t take place on modern Earth ++++ if your character burns it down +++++ if its all the above and Hollister ++++++ if burning down Hollister is crucial to the plot infinite + if burning down Hollister IS your plot Hope those are usable! I’ll be borrowing bits and pieces from this thread, so I posted a couple. reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote October83 RE: Dares Thread (Part 3) 18,272 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 8, 2008 Location: Scotland Posts: 7 Posted on: Nov 17, 2008 – 10 32 Taking – Cassy.Rose wrote: I dare you to… Include a character that finishes every sentence with endearing phrases such as my strawberry Pop-Tart of joy and my spectacularly worn T-shirt of sexiness. BP- Said to the villian DBP- Villian is turned on by such things and falls in love with said character. Haha, oh yes! Leaving – Have a character put on a pretend accent, just for shits and giggles. BP if s/he can make everyone think this is perfectly normal. TBP if s/he changes accents often, never reverting to their “true” accent. reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote Jet RE: Dares Thread (Part 3) 50,043 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 13, 2004 Location: Lansing area Michigan Posts: 23 Posted on: Nov 17, 2008 – 11 15 Fuzzybit? ( I think I got your name wrong-sorry) Taking 10k dare. Probably a couple other dares to get there- including the Eileen one. I think she’ll be a pixie or a witch. Leaving- Don’t know if it’s done yet (impossible to read all dare threads!!) Have a talking parrot enter your novel BP- if it always talks to mc DBP- if it actually is TALKING not mimicking DDBP- If it only talks to MC Finally- extra points if it aways changes colors and flys free. reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote JJohnz RE: Dares Thread (Part 3) 21,349 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 29, 2007 Location: My mind, which incidentally is a place that you don’t want to go. Posts: 1 Posted on: Nov 17, 2008 – 11 25 Love these threads! Don’t know if these have been done, but their really fun. Have a character who use every song title from an your favorite album. BP If no one else knows the songs DBP If the character doesn’t know the songs TPB And a cookie if everyone else but the character using the song titles knows the songs, but he doesn’t. And Have some one talk with a different accent in every chapter. BP If no one notices DBP If the narrator notices and comments on it TBP if only the character doing it doesn’t notice QBP and a cookie if every one of your characters does it and the narrator gets exasperated by it. That’s all i got for now. ———- [IMG]http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff76/J-N-Johnz/Thisissparta.jpg[/IMG] reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote Kopaka RE: Dares Thread (Part 3) 20,040 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 1, 2008 Location: World War Three Posts: 2684 Posted on: Nov 17, 2008 – 12 57 I have one. Have your main character stop during a battle or some other important event and sings ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ BP if your secondary MC begins singing too. DBP if all the good characters join in too. TBP if some of the enemy characters also join in. QBP if the main bad guy gets mad at his minions for this. BP AND A MILLION CHOCOLATE BARS if the main bad guy after he gets angry sees the error of his ways and starts singing too. ———- “Good-bye, good luck… have fun storming the castle” reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote Twiist RE: Dares Thread (Part 3) 80,220 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 16, 2007 Location: At my Desk (Southampton, UK) Posts: 80 Posted on: Nov 17, 2008 – 13 08 Taking… Raivyn Wolf wrote: Dare: Include the line “She gave him one of those ‘it’s three in the morning, we’re about to face evil incarnate with limited resources and I haven’t had my coffee yet’ sort of looks.” Leaving… Include the line “What do you mean your hat doesn’t do anything else?” + If the hat in question does actually do something else (aside from sitting atop somebody’s head and being hat-like, as all good hats should.), but your character doesn’t want the questioner to know this. ++ If whatever else the hat does involves a mechanical Bunny. +++ If the mechanical Bunny is essential to the plot. +GIGANTIC Cookie if any of this makes sense… (I am blaming the line “…and your hat was just a hat” from Metric’s ‘On a Slow Night’… and the fact that I couldn’t think of a better dare.. lol) —————– ’08 – ???? ’07 – Won ———- ___________________________________ ’08 – ‘Of Love and Lies’ – [-Won - 80,220 words (Currently ... STILL bloody Editing ... Rewriting...)-] ’07 – ‘Dirt Nap’ – [-Won - 50,055 words (Scrapped)-] reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote Idiosyncrasy RE: Dares Thread (Part 3) 60,564 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 3, 2008 Location: wonderland Posts: 15 Posted on: Nov 17, 2008 – 14 08 Taking way too many, leaving some inspired from my friends Have a character have a very pinapple-y hairstyle (like, in a spiky ponytail) DBP if it’s blue TBP if he/she has a red eye and a blue eye QBP if one of the character’s friends always likes to buy pineapples from stores, but doesn’t eat it because they say “It’s cannibalism” QIBP if you know what the dare is inspired from =3 (My friend started talking about it and I just decided to put that in here…you can just go with the original dare and the cannibalism part. XD) Have a character who is constantly speaks in l33k DBP if instead of swearing, they constantly go “OMGWTFSTFU” or something similar TBP if they don’t even notice it Have a character accidentally knock over a candle onto another character’s head DBP if the whole thing catches on fire immediately, instead of slowly getting hotter TBP if they run around screaming, “OHMYGODMYHAIRISONFIRE!!!!!” and nobody really cares QBP if they don’t die. XD Have a character who constantly makes lesbian jokes DBP if it’s a guy TBP if you manage to actually pull it off and have it make sense QBP if he’s not gay. XD Have a character who has an obsession with hating things DBP if one of the hated subjects is Twilight. :3 Have a character accidentally slam a door into another character’s eye DBP if it doesn’t start bleeding or throbbing, but it just hurts TBP if the character falls to the ground as result of the door, and starts bleeding from some other part of the body that didn’t even come in contact with the door QBP if everyone notices and nobody questions it Have a character named Bartholomew, and he constantly repeats it like a Pokemon to say what he wants to say DBP if everyone can understand and nobody questions it TBP if you don’t include any footnotes of translations or anything of the sort For a random breaking of writers’ block- Have Kenny McCormick randomly appear in your story DBP if he dies TBP if Stan and Kyle randomly appear, calling, “Oh my God, he/you/they/we killed Kenny!” followed by “You/We’re bastards!” QBP if it is somehow key to your plot Quotes: “Don’t make me call John McCain and his vegetable friends!” “No! Don’t attack me! I have a pillow!” “Yo mamma is so fat that when she steps on the scale, it says ‘Chuck Norris’!” (My brother came up with this…it’s in my story. XD) Yeah…that was alot…I’m really bored. X_X ———- thisiswhereilive. 2008: StepFriends (80k+) This thread is making my fantasy idea much more appealing. I was considering something a little more realistic, but the idea is sorely lacking in characters, plot, setting…while, on the other hand, I’ve been kicking around my fantasy plot for a long time and I’m pretty far along in the overall structure, main characters, and and world concepts. AEWerling wrote: -Have a female character who never once needs saved by a man. —-QBP if she ends up falling for his sister instead. The first one was easy enough since I’ve always had a woman in mind for the hero(ine) and she’s by far the best at fighting. (she’s got plenty of flaws though) I’ve also planned that she meets her sister later on. I figured I wouldn’t ever actually spell that out (they certainly won’t recognize each other), and then, uhh, maybe they fall for each other. Well, anyway, I thought it was an interesting idea, but it’s pretty far out there in a lot of ways (squick!) so I don’t want to just do it unless it feels justified somehow. Quote: P: Each chapter is named after a quote in a movie- and the quote is relevant I always do this, but with the titles of songs. The best part is that they don’t have to be grammatically coherent! Quote: Have your hero be killed just before the fight with the villian. Aww, “just before”? I was going to kill off the Leading Man more during (this was always central to my idea). But it might not be a bad change. Quote: Your magic system works like modern day technology. F’rinstance, the version of magic being used becomes outdated every few months and the hero has to take time out of the quest to upgrade, or the villain has created the magical equivalent of a computer virus, scrying/magical communication is called something similar to e-mail, it’s possible to hack someone’s magic, etc. It’s funny, because I made the “magic as technology” connection for myself already, with items that more or less “possess” the magical qualities and can be essentially used by anyone, if they can get one. The “Malfunctioning Magic” twist never occurred to me though! It’s brilliant and I’m sure it’ll make the whole concept even better. reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote Gaia_Incognito RE: Fantasy Dare thread! 38,250 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 24, 2007 Posts: 77 Posted on: Oct 4, 2008 – 06 09 The villain is the narrator. And I don’t mean tell it from the villain’s POV, I mean the narrator is the Big Bad. Alternatively, make your hero/ine the narrator, and never give them a name, gender, or appearance. * Have everyone else refer to them as Pancakehead, or the foodstuff-head of your choice. * * Don’t explain that either. reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote Azuire RE: Fantasy Dare thread! 11,675 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Aug 26, 2008 Location: ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha Posts: 40 Posted on: Oct 4, 2008 – 08 56 1. The reason the hero’s sword glows is because it’s highly radioactive. [I actually used this last year.] BP– Said hero got his sword at a store called BARGAINS FOR THE BROKE. More BP — if the store’s owner is called Twinkle. 2. One of the characters has amazing magic powers but uses them to do useless things like change their eye colour. 3. The battle cry of the villain is “SUSHI!” 4. The narrator thinks the main character is hot. BP — if narrator follows MC everywhere praising their beauty. More BP — If narrator creeps MC out. 5. Have a church of Google. reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote Flibleene RE: Fantasy Dare thread! 52,606 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Sep 5, 2008 Location: Over here! Posts: 242 Posted on: Oct 4, 2008 – 10 27 Hehe, gotta love it. + One of your characters is named Chex Man. ++ He wears a Chex Mask. +++ He uses a spoon as a weapon. ++++ He finds an electric spork, and uses it as a weapon. +++++ He is found scraping green slime of his boot at the end of a battle. ++++++ You know what this is from. + Somebody kicks a chicken. ++ A bunch of chickens come and attack her/him. +++ S/he gets killed. ++++ Everyone just stands there and watches him. +++++ S/he was a Main Character. ++++++ You don’t know what this is from. Being a nerd is fun <3 those =”)”>>;
But he had the girl right before he died. :B

Umm. Okay.

+ All main characters have AT LEAST four names (not including surname). — names like Mary Kate don’t count as two names.
– Bonus if one of the names is a disease.
– Double bonus if the disease is fatal.
– Triple if the character actually contracts the disease during the course of the story. (Subtract bonus points if the disease is cured.)
– Quadruple if it ends up being a major plot point.

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William Louison
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 35
Posted on:
Oct 11, 2008 – 21 39
Have the main villain be drunk all the time.
Bonus if he carries a flask with him in every scene.
double bonus if he drinks in every scene.
Triple bonus if he drinks while in a sword fight with the hero.

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Lady Browncoat
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Location: Massachusetts
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Posted on:
Oct 12, 2008 – 04 19
Flibleene wrote:
Hehe, gotta love it.
+ One of your characters is named Chex Man.
++ He wears a Chex Mask.
+++ He uses a spoon as a weapon.
++++ He finds an electric spork, and uses it as a weapon.
+++++ He is found scraping green slime of his boot at the end of a battle.
++++++ You know what this is from.

Being a nerd is fun <3 on =”)” too =”)” doing =”]” shelly =”)” date=”20051117″ url=”http://www.mybannermaker.com/link.php?nurl=”http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nanowrimo.org%2Feng%2Fuser%2F211585][IMG]http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/9033/mybanner4908a7698a24bca8.jpg[/IMG][/URL]” url=”http://www.mybannermaker.com/link.php?nurl=”http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mybannermaker.com][IMG]http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/6268/mybanner48f910cb52574zb4.jpg[/IMG][/URL]“>3 I’ve always wanted to try that, except I didn’t for the headaches that would ensue.

Been working on it for years.

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Waryspear
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Posted on:
Oct 25, 2008 – 18 20
Tobaeus wrote:

+ Use the line “Hand me that frozen turkey; I’m ending this now.”
Chocolate cookie if it’s a pivotal point in the story.
I MUST FIND A WAY TO USE THIS!
That’s amazing.

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Waryspear
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Posted on:
Oct 25, 2008 – 18 46
If a character who has amnesia is told by a trickster that jumping in the well will help them get it back.
BP if the character hits their head and gets some of their memory back.
DBP if the character climbs out of the well and recognizes that they knew the trickster.
TBP if the trickster has no idea who the character is.

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Wenderric
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Posted on:
Oct 25, 2008 – 20 21
1. In a store or in someone’s house there is a teapot with a little sign in front of it that says “In case of emergency, break teapot.”

2. Have three fairy companions who are each about six inches tall and spend most of the story sitting on whomever’s shoulder they are a companion to, gossiping about everyone. (Who is clearly interested in who, who has the nicest hair, etc.) Quite loudly. In front of everyone.

3. **Dedicated to my friends who I think want to kill me** Have a character who has just read Watchmen for the first time and will not stop talking about it, even when threatened with violence.

4. Have a character who is carrying around a dragon egg that is completely useless. It does not hatch throughout the duration of the story and is rather inconvenient but the character is convinced he’s going to make it big someday when it does.

5. Include one of these lines:
1. “I’m an adult now, I can make my own decisions! MOOOM! They won’t let me go on an adventure with them!”
2. “Okay…I’m willing to entertain the possibility that I was, in fact, not watching our stuff.”
3. “It’s a guy made of tin. He’s a robot. The Wizard of Oz is science-fiction.” (Bonus points if this starts an argument that pops up at a really inconvenient time.)
4. “Hey, Captain Penny-pincher, I don’t know if you’re aware, but my pocket lint has no nutritional value. How about buying some food?”
5. “I’m only coming with you guys so that I can be a hero. Heroes get laid and baby, I gots to get laid.” (Said by a female)
6. “Dude. I’m a bird.”

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Xumahare
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Posted on:
Oct 25, 2008 – 22 09
Taking more: (This is going to be an interesting story, I tell you…)

use the phrase “It’s like watching porcupines mate.”

MC and friends come across some kind of magical tool that can only be used by one “pure of heart” and will hurt anybody else. The MC and gang all run screaming in terror

5. Include one of these lines:
1. “I’m an adult now, I can make my own decisions! MOOOM! They won’t let me go on an adventure with them!”
2. “Okay…I’m willing to entertain the possibility that I was, in fact, not watching our stuff.”
3. “It’s a guy made of tin. He’s a robot. The Wizard of Oz is science-fiction.” (Bonus points if this starts an argument that pops up at a really inconvenient time.)
4. “Hey, Captain Penny-pincher, I don’t know if you’re aware, but my pocket lint has no nutritional value. How about buying some food?” -(Maybe not, but I’ll try)-
5. “I’m only coming with you guys so that I can be a hero. Heroes get laid and baby, I gots to get laid.” (Said by a female) -(Probably my FMC, who is engaged to my MMC)-
6. “Dude. I’m a bird.” -(I *know I can use this one!)-

Leaving more

A seemingly minor character is very intelligent and can figure things out quicker than anyone else.
BP If everyone else thinks he just gets lucky guesses.
DBP if they never ask for his opinion and he never gives it.
TBP if he says, “I knew this was going to happen,” in a convincing manner. When the other characters ask him why he never said anything, he replies, “You never asked.”

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Word-Girl
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Oct 26, 2008 – 00 32
Kalayna wrote:
–The MC blacks out at the beginning of every big fight, and the next thing he/she knows is that the fight is over and the good guys are telling him that he really turned the fight in their favor.
+if near the end of the book he realizes that he hasn’t been fighting during the blackouts but providing a very embarrassing distraction
++ if he doesn’t black out for the final boss fight and refuses to be the embarrassing distraction
+++if they lose because of this
hehe, I wish I could take this one, but, alas, it doesn’t fit…
Scuzzimei wrote:
Include a prophecy that says the characters have to go to Nowhere and it turns out Nowhere is the name of a town.
BP if it’s on the map of the kingdom and the characters still have trouble figuring it out.
DBP if the character who eventually does figure it out is mostly or wholly illiterate.
Ooh, I might take this one!
Dataphile wrote:
Do the same thing with the Gnomic Utterances [omt] of Ka’a Orto’o from Diana Wynne Jones’ Tough Guide to Fantasyland.
BP again if they are somehow relevant to the chapter they preface.
Wheee!! I shall try to do this if at all possible. Don’t know if it will be…
So, I dare you to:

Include a Sea Nymph in every chapter
Bonus: the Sea Nymph is not a main character
Double: it is a different Sea Nymph every time
Triple: each Sea Nymph has a name and backstory
Quadruple: the Sea Nymphs never talk or affect the story in any way at all; they’re just there, with names and backstories
Quintuple: your story is not set anywhere near any sort of sea or ocean
Cookie: there are no other magical or mythical creatures in your story.

Use the word “mumpsimus” correctly in a sentence
Bonus: a character says it
Double: it’s a character who doesn’t normally use big or obscure words
Triple: the character goes on to use the word “sumpsimus” in contrast to the “mumpsimus”
Quadruple: one or both words is used multiple times throughout the book
Cookie: you know what “mumpsimus” and “sumpsimus” mean without looking them up (which you could do here.)

Use one made-up word that’s neither a noun nor dirty
Bonus: you use it just like a regular word, with no explanation
Double: it makes perfect sense in the context and doesn’t need an explanation
Triple: it could be a useful word in the real world
Times fifty million, six hundred and ninety-eight thousand, two hundred and four (plus a big plate of cookies): your word ends up in a prestigious dictionary, like the OED or Webster’s. (Seriously. Let me know if that happens!! And let me know if you take this one at all.)

Have someone try to commit geocide
Bonus: it’s the main character
Double: they really have a good reason
Triple: they succeed
Quadruple: the earth (or whatever world your story is on) ceasing to exist is not important to the plot
Cookie: they do it by induced Total Existence Failure, or earthquakes induced by making the earth vibrate at the right frequencies (see #1 of the fall-back methods or #4 of the “Other, less scientifically probable ways that Earth could be destroyed” lists here.)

Have one of your main characters break character during the story
Bonus: the character has a conversation with you, the Author
Double: it’s at a crucial moment and causes them to win/lose a big fight
Cookie: the conversation is an argument, and you lose

Have a One-Eyed, One-Horned, Flying Purple People Eater
Bonus: …that isn’t purple
Double: …and doesn’t eat people

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Word-Girl
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Oct 26, 2008 – 00 37
Roecourt wrote:
Party goes to confer with a Sage. When there, his butler (an attractive woman) informs them he can’t be bothered. “Why not?” “Because he’s busy.” “With what?” “I don’t know, but he does this every November. Come back in 30 days or so.”
Ooooh!! I love it! I will so take this one if I can find any way whatsoever. I will create a sage character specifically for this purpose. That is so awesome. =D
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Word-Girl
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Oct 26, 2008 – 00 41
Waryspear wrote:
If a character who has amnesia is told by a trickster that jumping in the well will help them get it back.
BP if the character hits their head and gets some of their memory back.
DBP if the character climbs out of the well and recognizes that they knew the trickster.
TBP if the trickster has no idea who the character is.
QBP if the character’s name is Timmy
5BP if he has a dog who goes and gets help
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Ryan Abigale
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Oct 26, 2008 – 19 19
have a bard character who is famous Hanna Montana/Jonas Brothers/High School Musical style
BP if the hero goes “Oh not him/her/them again!”
DBP if your characters constantly make fun of bard character throughout the story
A Pizza if your villain is the bard character’s biggest fan
a box of Oreos If this has something to with your plot

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larelmian
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Oct 28, 2008 – 11 08
Have your young main character attempt to learn the sword in a matter of hours and carry it into battle, only to promptly and completely accidentally wound one of his or her companions.
Bonus points if this is a major plot point.

Have a character begin an elaborate and complex ritual on which would determine the fate of the world (or something else big like that) only to get whacked over the head with a blunt object before it’s done.
Bonus points if the blunt object is not your typical weapon.
Extra bonus points if this is after more conventional weapons and/or magic have been used to no avail.
A cookie if this was not your main villain performing the ritual.

Use any or all of the following as a dying character’s final words:
“Don’t worry. They couldn’t possibly hit us at this dis–” (Nope, actually they could.)
“Oh. Well. Crap.” (How profound.)
“How did you do that?” (after something goes against laws of magic or using unfamiliar weapon)
“Is that a piano falling towards us?” (splat!)
“It’s very important. Promise me you will . . .” (Dies without saying what s/he wants the person to do.)
“Someone, please just kill me already!” (Someone does.)
“We’re going to die! We’re going to die! We’re going to die! We’re going to die! We’re going to die!” (Bonus points if the dead person’s companions say thank you to the killer for shutting that one up.)
“I cannot be defeated!” (is)
“Oh, wait. That WAS the cup with the poison?” (keels over)
“I am the powerful sorcerer of the inner circle of . . .” (Character gets halfway through title before being killed.)

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Tolly
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Oct 28, 2008 – 10 28
TAKING:

“That’s the last time I hire discount assassins!” ~ I hope. I might be able to work it in during one of the weirder bits.

“I didn’t throw it. I dropped it. Sideways.” ~ I reckon I could talk a character into saying this.

“It’s like watching porcupines mate.” ~ Mwahahahahahahaha! Taken.

LEAVING:

Side Note: I know somebody would take reverse the polarity. Doctor Who fans are everywhere.

A character goes into a Zero-Punctuation style rant.
+If he’s actually talking about a video game you *loathe*
++If nobody knows what the hell he’s on about, and the people around him tell him so.
+++If he winds up in the nuthouse.

At least one of your characters *never ever* swears.
+If they use words like ‘blast’ and ‘damn’ when everyone around them is swearing like a wounded pirate.
++If even your villain is somewhat surprised (read: bloody confused) by this behaviour.
+++If the character in question is ultra-ultra-polite, and their insults take a few seconds to think about before the victim realises they’ve been burned.
Cookie if they swear like a maniac on the last page because they lost a book/stubbed their toe/something small and not that annoying.
Even more Cookies if someone faints.

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larelmian
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Oct 28, 2008 – 11 16
Will take: Characters who never swear. Wait, they already don’t swear.
But this might confuse the villain.
And I could have a polite character insult the villain in a polite tone of voice so that it takes a few seconds to catch on. If they do catch on. But should it be Ty, Miranda, or Catherine who delivers the scathing insult? Decisions, decisions.

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Lady Talia
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Oct 28, 2008 – 23 55
Xumahare wrote:
A seemingly minor character is very intelligent and can figure things out quicker than anyone else.
BP If everyone else thinks he just gets lucky guesses.
DBP if they never ask for his opinion and he never gives it.
TBP if he says, “I knew this was going to happen,” in a convincing manner. When the other characters ask him why he never said anything, he replies, “You never asked.”
QBP if the other characters accept this as a valid answer and state that they will have to ask next time.

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Lady Talia
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Oct 28, 2008 – 23 54
*Deleted double post*

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vitt viking
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Oct 29, 2008 – 00 01
I got one that may be interesting:

Use the opening of Elder Scrolls: Morrowind as the opening to your novel: MC wakes up on a prison ship with no previous knowledge of who he is or how he got there.

BP if MC doesn’t even realize what race he is until someone asks him.

DBP if MC finds a magical item the minute he makes onto land (BP if he is just let go), but imediately has to give it back to the original owner.

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Briard
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Oct 29, 2008 – 02 22
faerionette wrote:
Some of these are hilarious! Here’s a ridiculous one my sister and I came up with.
Have a character who has an Enrique Iglesias-esque mole.
DBP if the mole talks and/or is magical
TBP if the mole plays a vital role in the plot.
QBP if the villain is trying to somehow procure the mole for his own nefarious plans.

XD

5BP If the mole changes locations on the character’s face
6BP If, when asked about the mole having been somewhere else, the character with the mole is shocked to find out they have a mole.

Ahhh… Good ol’ Robin Hood Men In Tights.

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zeraparker
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Oct 29, 2008 – 04 35
Anezka wrote:

A character says “size doesn’t matter, it’s what you do with it that counts” (or something similar)
BP if it refers to a mundane object such as a spork
DBP if the whole conversation that this is part of is full of innuendo
TBP if one of the characters can’t stop laughing as a result
QBP if the other characters don’t know why and carry on innocently spouting innuendo anyway
5xBP if this is at a crucial point in the plot
This is brillaint! And so going to work. Thanks a lot!

Also taking: ‘I didn’t throw it. It dropped. Sideways.’
And the villain gets the girl (which is actually a guy in my story)… and maybe the juggler getting killed while juggling.

Leaving:

Have a character constatly saying ‘Because in [book name] it said so.’
DP: If it’s always the same book.
TP: If the other characters find out it’s been made up.
QP: If it actually is crucial in defeating the villian.

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Nyxia Mara
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Oct 29, 2008 – 06 55
Have your be villain be literately able to kill with a look. He glares, victim drops dead.

Bonus points if it doesn’/t work on your hero because youre hero is blind and can’t look the villain in the eye.

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Anna-Kin
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Oct 30, 2008 – 08 41
’4. Have a character who is carrying around a dragon egg that is completely useless. It does not hatch throughout the duration of the story and is rather inconvenient but the character is convinced he’s going to make it big someday when it does.’

Taking it. It’ll be a minor character, but still… I have to take at least one!

Give one character anatidaephobia (the fear that somehow, somewhere, a duck is watching you).
–If it turns out they’re right – there is a duck watching them.
—If the duck is the real villain of the story, and the person they thought was the villain is the duck’s lackey.
—-If the character with anatidaephobia was thought to be useless, but it turns out they’re being watched because they’re actually the most powerful one there.

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simon.Jester
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Oct 29, 2008 – 09 47
*have a character that is struck with transient hysterical blindness at odd moments
BP if it’s the hero(ine)
2XBP if its the villian
3XBP and a cookie if its the hero(ine) and the villian and both become blind during the big fight

*include a platypus or armadillo( or suitably odd animal of your choice)
BP if one character develops an unhealthy attachment to it.
2XBP if they think it’s a prince(ss) in disguise
3XBP if its not
4XBP if everyone but the character knows but goes along with it because they think its funny.

* give all your warriors different fighting styles with odd names like Insane Grackle or Squatting Toad
BP if they refer to the style while fighting( “I am a master of the Licking Rabbit! Prepare to die!”)
2XBP if they win because the other person collapses with laughter
3XBP if they fight so badly that everyone else accuses them of making it all up

* use any of the following phrases:

“I didn’t know it was made of pudding”
“Why would you steal leaves?”
“I do find you attractive, but I’m viviparous.It could never work between us.” (BP if you don’t have to look up “viviparous”)
“Just like the gruel Mother used to make”
“Should those lumps be moving?”
“My ear just fell off.”
“Why does everything smell purple?”
“Great, now I’m growing fur!”
“Does this swordbelt make me look fat?”(BP if it’s a male character)
“Don’t call me Daphne, damn it!”

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Amara_starleaf
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Oct 29, 2008 – 14 39
“Okay…I’m willing to entertain the possibility that I was, in fact, not watching our stuff.”
Im so taking that one… i know just the character to use it for too. muahahaha.

~~~~~

1. a character -the most evil villian or whatnot- does a huge speach on world domination and then instead of an evil laugh he giggles like a little girl (ive seen one of my friends litterally do this once)

2. someone worships a refrigerator (type device) as a god
BP- if its a vending machine
DBP- if they think the god is pleased with them because of their contributions
TBP- if they keep it in a big shrine
QBP- if they make other people worship it.

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Dataphile
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Oct 29, 2008 – 14 40
I dunno, I do physics. All testudines look alike to me.

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Tawnydust
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Oct 29, 2008 – 20 23
You kill your main character off
DBP if he/she doesn’t come back
TBP if it’s a violent death

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Varha
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Oct 29, 2008 – 21 40
dove_eyes wrote:
Synthrael wrote:
Use this line: “It’s the magical food of the elves, and it tastes like chicken! Chicken!!!!”
Hee hee, will do!

Here’s one for ya:

The magical relic for which the main characters have spent 25k words questing turns out to be a dud, or a fake.
BP if the *real* relic was stolen by a kleptomaniac dragon centuries ago.
DPB if the hero becomes the dragon’s personal slave in order to earn the relic and “save the day.”

i will use both, combining them together.
here’s a hard one for you adventurous writers out there.

-BP if your hero and villain fall in love
–DBP if your hero and/or villain gets a sex change
—TBP if this has any relevance in your story
—-QBP if this causes your hero/villain to win
—–QBP if the hero/villain follows the other character out of love
——SBP if the hero and/or villain was playing the other all along

-BP if your main character is a duck
–DPB if your duck is a rubber ducky!
—TPB if your duck is a different color than yellow
—-QBP if your duck is the villain
—–QBP if your villain is scared of all things girly
——SBP if the all things girly only includes things that are pink and frilly

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Xumahare
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Oct 29, 2008 – 22 46
Taking More: ((Seriously???))

* use any of the following phrases:

“I didn’t know it was made of pudding”
“Why would you steal leaves?”
“I do find you attractive, but I’m viviparous.It could never work between us.” (BP if you don’t have to look up “viviparous”)
“Just like the gruel Mother used to make”
“Should those lumps be moving?”
“My ear just fell off.”
“Why does everything smell purple?”
“Great, now I’m growing fur!”
“Does this swordbelt make me look fat?”(BP if it’s a male character)
“Don’t call me Daphne, damn it!”

Leaving More: ((More like adding on to existing))

Lady Talia wrote:
Xumahare wrote:
A seemingly minor character is very intelligent and can figure things out quicker than anyone else.
BP If everyone else thinks he just gets lucky guesses.
DBP if they never ask for his opinion and he never gives it.
TBP if he says, “I knew this was going to happen,” in a convincing manner. When the other characters ask him why he never said anything, he replies, “You never asked.”
QBP if the other characters accept this as a valid answer and state that they will have to ask next time.

5BP if the other characters never ask said character, no matter what happens/is going to happen.
6BP if the smart character never comments on them not asking when they said they would, just keeps giving the answer “You never asked.”

~^~^~^~^~^~
MC of my story: http://xumahare.deviantart.com/art/Monhare-by-Vein-Tragedy-97337361

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Tolly
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Oct 30, 2008 – 05 16
Include the following exchange:
“You’re as safe as a turtle in it’s shell!”
“Yeah, a turtle dropping from orbit!”
+If you reference where this quote comes from.
++If it makes complete, utter and *total* sense in the context of its use.

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simon.Jester
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Oct 30, 2008 – 14 52
More phrases for you to choose from;

“Darling, I don’t think this situation calls for fine damascened steel honed to a merciless edge.” (BP if it is a male speaking to a female)
“It’s on fire. Why does this always happen when you choose the restaurant?”
“Get out of my way or I will crush you like a cockroach in the night!”
“Why are my legs gone?”
“Is this your thumb or mine?”
“She certainly has childbearing calves!”
“Who serves man-eating fruit at a party!?!”
“Did you see a bottle filled with terrible flesh-melting acid around here? I labeled it ‘**innocuous name appropriate to story**’.”

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HisnameisDaveyoufool
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Posted on:
Oct 30, 2008 – 15 58
Queen.Marlynna.Sage wrote:

One of your characters likes to draw
-S/he starts drawing at random points
–if one of these points is a critical point in the story
—if the plan is ruined because of his/her drawing
Up to this actually works for me because my MC’s brother is a pathetic wannabe artist.

On that note…

The MC writes terrible poetry
DBP if the poetry summons magical creatures
TBP if the magical creatures write even worse poetry

One of the characters has a pet potato
DBP if it’s NOT a sacred all-powerful vegetable of death, but just an ordinary potato
TBP if the character gives up his/her life for said ordinary potato
QBP if someone throws the potato after that in anger and it kills the villain
5BP if the potato is named “Integrity”

One of the characters has weird hairs on his fingers
DBP if the character loses the hairs and has no sense of direction whatsoever until the hairs grow back
TBP if they don’t grow back

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swenson
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Oct 30, 2008 – 16 50
The “good” characters embark upon a quest to defeat the evil overlord expected to be fraught with danger, only to find the pit of lava has been converted into a meadow with bunnies and the evil overlord has moved to a condo in Florida and is living on a pension from the Evil Overlord Society.
-One of the “good” characters dies a horribly painful, gruesome, and utterly disgusting death on the way to Florida.
–The character was sacrificing him/herself to save the others, but in the end, their “sacrifice” was completely useless and actually hurt everything else more than helped.
—The other “good” characters are captured by the evil overlord because of this “sacrifice”.
—-The evil overlord does NOT immediately reveal all of his plans to the “good” characters and proceeds to burn them alive. In his condo. And the firemen don’t even notice.
—–They all wake up in hell, haha, except for the member of the group that everyone liked the least and were sure was a traitor.
——They find out it was all just a group hallucination/dream either caused by eating magic mushrooms in the bunny meadow or caused by the evil overlord at the very beginning of the quest. They proceed on the quest expecting it to be all bunnies and condos, only to discover it’s actually a pit of lava.
——-They fall in.

If you do the entire thing (in order), you win a prize, a ribbon, a hug from me, the Ultimate NaNo’er award, and I’ll even bake you a cake (and it won’t even be a lie!).

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Synthrael
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Oct 30, 2008 – 17 37
Have at least three characters named Ed.

“The potato/s touched me in an unhappy place!”
“You know what? Beacuase I sure as hell don’t.”
“I’m glad my feet taste good.”

Give your MMC fangirls.

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Burmabright
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Oct 30, 2008 – 18 24
HisnameisDaveyoufool wrote:

The MC writes terrible poetry
DBP if the poetry summons magical creatures
TBP if the magical creatures write even worse poetry
^ Rawr I’m so pinching that one C:

Mine is : Your MC is bald (seemingly tame, but what great stigma!)
DBP if they are female
TBP if they are under 30

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Thalraxal
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Oct 31, 2008 – 22 20
Roecourt wrote:
Party goes to confer with a Sage. When there, his butler (an attractive woman) informs them he can’t be bothered. “Why not?” “Because he’s busy.” “With what?” “I don’t know, but he does this every November. Come back in 30 days or so.”
I’m so taking this one.

I did the “That’s the last time i hire discount assassins!” last year. I like it and I’d use it again, but it really wouldn’t fit in my current story.

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Icelilylady
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 1, 2008 – 07 39
Jessii wrote:
Have your villain turn out to be the hero, and your hero turn out to be the villain
3 I’ve always wanted to try that, except I didn’t for the headaches that would ensue.

I’m trying it. The thought had already come to mind since I love a good sympathetic villain, but it’s very fitting for the main character and the villain.

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dead boots
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 1, 2008 – 08 55
Have your cat walk across the keyboard to come up with names for your characters
DBP if you don’t alter them at all afterwards
TBP if they are impossible to read

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LadyOfLutes
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Posted on:
Nov 1, 2008 – 12 04
I’m taking more of these than are probably appropriate for my story…

- Give your MC a one-night stand with another character.
– BP if it has nothing to do with the plot.
— DBP if the character being one-night-standed never appears again.
—- TBP if the character being one-night-standed is never mentioned again.
—– Major BP and a cookie if the character being one-night-standed is a mythological figure or a character from another famous novel.

(I’m doing all of this in my novel… wondering if anyone else wanted to ^_^)

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Roecourt
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 1, 2008 – 12 21
simon.Jester wrote:

* use any of the following phrases:
“I didn’t know it was made of pudding”
“Why would you steal leaves?”
“I do find you attractive, but I’m viviparous.It could never work between us.” (BP if you don’t have to look up “viviparous”)
“Just like the gruel Mother used to make”
“Should those lumps be moving?”
“My ear just fell off.”
“Why does everything smell purple?”
“Great, now I’m growing fur!”
“Does this swordbelt make me look fat?”(BP if it’s a male character)
“Don’t call me Daphne, damn it!”

Yep, we’re going to attempt those…

***

2006: The Zaqqum Tree (Victory is Mine!)

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Amara_starleaf
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 1, 2008 – 15 29
“Darling, I don’t think this situation calls for fine damascened steel honed to a merciless edge.” (BP if it is a male speaking to a female)

haha i m so taking that one *points up* and it just so happens that it IS a male talking to a female…. lol

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Jackalpup
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 1, 2008 – 20 30
lol i like the one about including chickens or ducks in every scene! yoink! i’m all over it…

- mention food in every scene somehow
(i actually noticed this in a book i was reading once and it starting to be a running joke with me and my boyfriend! i think the author was writing before supper or something to make him unintentionally write in food in every dang chapter!)
- bonus if it’s always eaten, not JUST mentioned
- super bonus if somebody mentions that the hero has put on some weight toward the end of the story from eating all this food all the time!

^_^

good times! i love the dares!

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L wolfe
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 1, 2008 – 23 32
Have the hero’s journey to find the magical artifact be really short in comparison to the journey back home.
+ if the hero is teleported to the location of the artifact
++ if once teleported the hero discovers that the artifact really was back at home but can’t teleport back
+++ if the person who teleported him had the artifact
++++ if the person who teleported him was secretly the villian and, having read the evil overlord list, placed a want ad for the artifact several months prior
+++++ if the person the hero thinks is the villain is really a completely random person the real villain told the hero to kill for imaginary reasons
++++++ if the hero never realizes the person was innocent

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Absion
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 2, 2008 – 00 52
Have your mc’s visit a city/country that is inhabited with people called Nanoites, or nanowrimians. Something to the same effect.
-BP- if they visit during novemeber and every (nanoian) is busy writing, even when they are supposed to doing other activities.
-tbp- the longer the mc’s spend in the village, the more an urge to write a novel over whelms them.
QBP- if some people die while writing because they did not eat or sleep.

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joshlevy
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 2, 2008 – 23 14
1x = There is a magical book which will instantly kill anyone whose face in drawn into it.

2x = The hero acquires this book, and uses it in an attempt to vanquish all forms of evil, which includes the villain.

3x = … despite the fact that she has no artistic talent, and her drawings are little more than stick figures.

4x = If their inability to draw ends up saving the villain’s life.

5x = If the book is at any time referred to as a “Face Book”.

*runs and hides*

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Buggy
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 3, 2008 – 01 15
From simon.Jester: “I do find you attractive, but I’m viviparous.It could never work between us.” (BP if you don’t have to look up “viviparous”)

SO taking this. It even works in the context of my story! Well, it can anyways…

It’s late and I can’t think of anything to leave right now. I’ll try to post something later.

Jessii wrote:
Have your villain turn out to be the hero, and your hero turn out to be the villain
That’s what I was already planning on doing. Same with the villain getting the girl. My main characters are basically the bad guys, though they don’t see themselves that way.

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Buggy
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 3, 2008 – 19 52
Give one of your “normal” human MCs an abnormal body part, like an extra set of limbs.
BP if you first mention this casually about halfway through the story.
2BP if no one provides an explanation for their anatomical abnormality.
3BP if none of the other characters seem to notice or care.
4BP if they pick on another character who has a harelip, or a unibrow.

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hilohello
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 4, 2008 – 20 22
Include a reference to the dwarven fortress of Boatmurdered (Kaganusan if you want).
BP If your reference includes its “mythology,” so to speak.
DBP If names are dropped.
TBP If it’s important to the plot.

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Dataphile
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 6, 2008 – 10 23
Word-Girl wrote:
Dataphile wrote:
Do the same thing with the Gnomic Utterances [omt] of Ka’a Orto’o from Diana Wynne Jones’ Tough Guide to Fantasyland.
BP again if they are somehow relevant to the chapter they preface.
Wheee!! I shall try to do this if at all possible. Don’t know if it will be…
Use the word “mumpsimus” correctly in a sentence
Bonus: a character says it
Double: it’s a character who doesn’t normally use big or obscure words
Triple: the character goes on to use the word “sumpsimus” in contrast to the “mumpsimus”
Quadruple: one or both words is used multiple times throughout the book
Cookie: you know what “mumpsimus” and “sumpsimus” mean without looking them up (which you could do here.)

Have someone try to commit geocide
Bonus: it’s the main character
Double: they really have a good reason
Triple: they succeed
Quadruple: the earth (or whatever world your story is on) ceasing to exist is not important to the plot
Cookie: they do it by induced Total Existence Failure, or earthquakes induced by making the earth vibrate at the right frequencies (see #1 of the fall-back methods or #4 of the “Other, less scientifically probable ways that Earth could be destroyed” lists here.)

…Should I be disturbed by the fact that I knew where both of these came from without clicking the links?
Leaving behind:
Use the FFF system of measurement in your book. (FFF = furlongs, firkins, and fortnights.)
BP if you use them with SI prefixes. (“With magical aid, I get it to go about 60 megafurlongs per fortnight!”)

(The link has a hand reference table. 60 kilometers/hour = 37 miles/hour = 100 kilofurlongs/fortnight.)
- – - – - – - – - -
The preceding article has been approved for publishing because it serves the cause of the Light.
–Night Watch

The preceding article has been approved for publishing because it serves the cause of the Dark.
–Day Watch

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Liesel B.
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 6, 2008 – 12 08
Neil Black wrote:
[
-The hero is the villain's father
DP - if the hero sends the villain to his room without dessert

Ooooh, Darth Vader in reverse, I like!

Hmmm, here are some lame ones.

*Your story must take place in a magical world, but your lead character can't use ANY magic at ALL. And this can NOT be because the character stumbled into the magical world from our world. Your lead character must be BORN in the magical world.

*Have a vampire character who wears a color other than black.

*Tell a story about a character who finds a mermaid in her swimming pool who can't survive in the ocean because her body has grown accustomed to inhaling chlorine.

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Ysavvryl
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 6, 2008 - 13 34
I'm taking this one and adding onto it! hehe.

Give your MMC fangirls.
BP if he's scared of them
DBP if he's straight and still scared of them
TBP if, at one point, the fangirls beat up the villian for nearly defeating their hero.
QBP if the villian uses the fangirls as a distraction to kidnap the love interest.

Use something that happened to you today in your story.

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Star Davies
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Posted on:
Nov 6, 2008 - 15 50
Xumahare wrote:

"Why would you steal leaves?"
"Should those lumps be moving?"
"Does this swordbelt make me look fat?"(BP if it's a male character)
Totally stealing these! i already know when and how to use them!

Have a small group of adventurers walking through a cavern and the first stumbles over a rock and bumps his head on the ceiling.
BP The next in line does the same while laughing at him about doing it in the first place
DBP The next calls them both idiots, ducks, trips over the rock, and falls face first against the cold stone tunnel floor
==========================================================
You are born to die, but not before fulfilling your destiny.
It's not who you are, but what you do that defines you.
Blood Forsaken ISBN: 1434898962 at www.stardavies.com

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prolificscribe
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 7, 2008 - 18 59
I didn't even see this but that's what I have, my MC is bald, under thirty and a female... WEIRD

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prolificscribe
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 7, 2008 - 19 08
Dare: Have evil two year olds in your book.
BP: Have the two year olds unable to say anything AND be the main villian
DBP: Have the two year old carry around a teddy bear that they use to control the MC (voodoo bear)
TBP: Have the two year old's mother be completley oblivious even though she stays with them all day
QDP: Have the two year old's mother invite the MC over for tea to discuss politics

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Arcana
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 7, 2008 - 22 15
Question: What do BP, DBP, TBP, QBP, SBP etc. mean?

I was going to post some, but I don't know what they mean, so I cant use them.

EDIT: Now I know what they mean, so here I go...

Make your main character something really wimpy (for example, a mouse or a flea), but then make them feel like they're about to win a huge battle, but they explode of overestimating themselves.

BP if the character is something that could hardly do anything, such as an amoeba.
DBP if they are fighting something that they could simply be squished by.

Sorry, I'm not good at this... this is my first one XD

EDIT2: Second one!

Make your main character kill him/herself at the end of the book.

BP if the character jumps of a cliff or something and you end your book just before they hit the bottom.
DBP if it's for no reason.

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larelmian
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 7, 2008 - 22 28
BP: bonus points DBP: double bonus points TBP: triple bonus points QBP: quadruple bonus points SBP: sextuple bonus points (Just in case anyone else was wondering)

I dare you to have an inept sorceress attempt to summon a band of heroes to slay the dragon/ogre/whatever monstrous menace, and instead get the most unlikely group of "heroes" possible.
BP if they actually succeed in the task.
DBP if they only agree to do it so they can get back home.
TBP if the battle actually involves negotiating.

(More fun to come from the latest RP thread my buddy and I hijacked.)

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shiremaya
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 8, 2008 - 00 02
Have a ball of light randomly appear in the corner of every room your MC enters.
BP is no one but a side character notices
TBP if the ball of light is important in the climax

Have a war/pirate ship with a completely inappropriate name (Like Puppy)
BP is there is a really good reason is has that name
TPB is that reason ISN'T that they're trying to look harmless

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angharad
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 8, 2008 - 00 31
I love this thread!!!!

Here's my try:

Have a building be your villain.
BP If it's something totally innocuous, like a library
2BP If there's a reason for this, and it's not cliche
3BP If the person everyone thinks is a villain ends up blowing up said building (and therefore defeating it)
4BP If this all makes total sense in the context of your story
5BP If it manages to say something profound at the end, or at least try hard.

Lol can you tell I'm doing this .... hmm.

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Shasta V.
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 8, 2008 - 00 58
Dare:
Have your Hero dare your Villain to a match of whits.
+points for making it three rounds of useless questions
++ points for having the Villain win
+++ points if the prize was the fair maiden to which the Hero was promised to.

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Quetzalcoatzin
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 8, 2008 - 09 22
joshlevy wrote:
1x = There is a magical book which will instantly kill anyone whose face in drawn into it.
2x = The hero acquires this book, and uses it in an attempt to vanquish all forms of evil, which includes the villain.

3x = ... despite the fact that she has no artistic talent, and her drawings are little more than stick figures.

4x = If their inability to draw ends up saving the villain's life.

5x = If the book is at any time referred to as a "Face Book".

EVERYTHING in me wants to snag this one. Let's give it a whirl!!! XD

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GinnyAnn
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 8, 2008 - 10 31
MouseyCat wrote:
Barnardine wrote:
Have your villian ride around on a pink unicorn.
BP: The Unicorn is an old, grouchy male who talks.
DBP: The Unicorn ends up being the bad guy, having had the suspected villianb under mind control.

TBP: The Unicorn's name is Charlie.
A cookie if you recognize the reference.
*snerk* Couldn't help it.

Charlie... we're going to candy mountain Charlie.. we're almost there! *snigger*
Any ways........so You're main character is not the Hero until the Hero does something really stupid. Like fall off a cliff. Or choke and die on his lasagna. Then, the main character is the hero.
BP: If the original hero dies by something to do with chickens.
DBP: If it's a small chicken he's planning to kill and eat for dinner.
BP: If he trips over it.

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Dichali
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 8, 2008 - 11 07
TAKING!!!

Use 'Reverse the polarity of the neutron flow!'
+BP if your world has no science at all
++BP if someone smacks the character and tells him to stop drinking so much

A character says "size doesn't matter, it's what you do with it that counts" (or something similar)
BP if it refers to a mundane object such as a spork
DBP if the whole conversation that this is part of is full of innuendo
TBP if one of the characters can't stop laughing as a result
QBP if the other characters don't know why and carry on innocently spouting innuendo anyway
5xBP if this is at a crucial point in the plot

LEAVING:
Have your MC and the most unlikely person in the story get caught somewhere in very close quarters e.g. a closet, bathroom, et.c
BP - If it is during a scene where they are not supposed to be where they are
BPx2 - If they get locked/trapped in there
BPx3 - If they start doing anything sexual
BPx4 - If they get caught

Tell me if you use this! I really do want to know!!!

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Roecourt
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 8, 2008 - 14 17
*A vending machine which functions perfectly well in a fantasy environment
BP for having it in a location vending machines weren't supposed to be.
DBP for having an item in the vending machine be required by the MC
TBP for the MC doesn't have enough change/money to get the item and they have to figure out how to get it out
QBP for the vending machine and its glass are invulnerable to breakage
and a cookie if you get a vending machine repairman involved somehow...

*A magic user is kidnapped/connived/blackmailed into doing something ridiculously easy for the party, such as heating up a bowl of soup.
BP if this makes perfect sense.

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Frazzlegreen
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 8, 2008 - 16 36
Nyxia Mara wrote:
Have your entire plot be centered around a group of people who are trying to survive their Halloween decorations. Bonus points if the decorations aren't possessed/alive/animate.
Gah! Brings back memories of something that really happened years ago in Philadelphia -

A fraternity had decorated their house very elaborately for the Halloween party. They didn't stop to think about fire hazards. And sure enough there was a fire, the house was completely destroyed, and at least one person died. And because there is / was a law in Pennsylvania that if someone dies as a result of a felony, that's first degree murder, the people who (accidentally) started the fire were tried for murder (or maybe it was the ones who put up the decorations, I'm not sure any more).

I believe they were acquitted. Yes, I remember now - nobody gave testimony to prove that the value of the frat house and contents was over the (very small) dollar amount required to qualify as arson, so it wasn't a felony.

So, it's not a fantasy plot, but if you wanted to change genres to something John Grishamesque you might get somewhere with it. Or it could become urban fantasy with a little tweaking. Though I feel a bit ashamed to push that idea - as I said, people really died in the actual fire.

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Tolly
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 9, 2008 - 11 55
New dare!

Use the phrase "I'm invincible. I can't be vinced."
+If you know where this line comes from
++If you acknowledge this in the scene
+++If you also name the episode
Cookie if the character actually *is* invincible.

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Wolf Tears
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 9, 2008 - 15 03
Flibleene wrote:
+ Somebody kicks a chicken.
++ A bunch of chickens come and attack her/him.
+++ S/he gets killed.
++++ Everyone just stands there and watches him.
+++++ S/he was a Main Character.
Ah, The Legend of Zelda. ^^ Killing the chickens is still my prefered method of getting back at the game when it frustrates me.

Of course, then I die, but y'know. Whatever.

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KitFisticuffs
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 9, 2008 - 16 16
Continue writing your novel as you were planning to until you get to 30000 words. It must then become a Choose Your Own Adventure story.

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simon.Jester
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 10, 2008 - 16 37
I just thought of this one and can't use it!

Have a magicworker who uses instant ( or dehydrated) water.
BP if it comes in a packet like cocoa.
DBP if another character swallows some by mistake and starts "leaking"

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Word-Girl
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 10, 2008 - 23 06
Dataphile wrote:
Word-Girl wrote:
Dataphile wrote:
Do the same thing with the Gnomic Utterances [omt] of Ka’a Orto’o from Diana Wynne Jones’ Tough Guide to Fantasyland.
BP again if they are somehow relevant to the chapter they preface.
Wheee!! I shall try to do this if at all possible. Don’t know if it will be…
Use the word “mumpsimus” correctly in a sentence
Bonus: a character says it
Double: it’s a character who doesn’t normally use big or obscure words
Triple: the character goes on to use the word “sumpsimus” in contrast to the “mumpsimus”
Quadruple: one or both words is used multiple times throughout the book
Cookie: you know what “mumpsimus” and “sumpsimus” mean without looking them up (which you could do here.)

Have someone try to commit geocide
Bonus: it’s the main character
Double: they really have a good reason
Triple: they succeed
Quadruple: the earth (or whatever world your story is on) ceasing to exist is not important to the plot
Cookie: they do it by induced Total Existence Failure, or earthquakes induced by making the earth vibrate at the right frequencies (see #1 of the fall-back methods or #4 of the “Other, less scientifically probable ways that Earth could be destroyed” lists here.)

…Should I be disturbed by the fact that I knew where both of these came from without clicking the links?
Leaving behind:
Use the FFF system of measurement in your book. (FFF = furlongs, firkins, and fortnights.)
BP if you use them with SI prefixes. (“With magical aid, I get it to go about 60 megafurlongs per fortnight!”)

(The link has a hand reference table. 60 kilometers/hour = 37 miles/hour = 100 kilofurlongs/fortnight.)

Yay! *gives cookies to Dataphile*
I think I’ll take the FFF dare. No particular reason not to. …Well, I won’t use microfortnights–just fortnights, weeks, days, etc.–but I’ll do the rest, including the SI prefixes for the other two.
Leaving:

For a crucial fight with high stakes and lots of tension, have the main character and the enemy grab toy swords and fight with them.
BP if they act like it is real, e.g. when one of them is hit in the arm, he continues to fight without that arm, if he’s hit in the leg, he doesn’t use that leg, etc.
DBP if they’re both usually very serious people.
TBP if the battle is really decided that way.
QBP if the MC is the one who is “killed.”
5BP if they both know it’s not real.

Have one or more of the characters say “shiny” as slang for “good, fine, cool, etc.”
DBP if said character wears a brown coat all the time.
Big cookie if you know what that’s from.

Have the color puce be an important recurrent motif, but in different contexts.

Have one character whose speech is spelled with all British spellings (if you’re American), or all American spellings (if you’re British), but nobody else in the book talks that way, and he/she uses the same words as everyone else, despite the different spelling.
BP if he/she gets into an argument with another character who corrects the spelling of something he/she said out loud.
DBP if the character writes normally.

During the siege, have the defenders drop an anvil from the tower on the attackers.

P.S. Looks like I won’t be able to take the Gnomic Utterances dare, since I’m not really writing in chapters this year…

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surfgirlusa_2006
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Posted on:
Nov 11, 2008 – 01 25
This is a great thread!

Taking: “That’s the last time I hire discount assassins.” I can totally work it in

Leaving: Have a character who lives/sleeps in a closet. S/he never wants to leave this closet, and people are constantly telling him/her to “come out of the closet.”

Have a character who uses a thinly disguised version of wikipedia to find the answers to his/her problems.
Bonus if the answer leads to disaster and death, because of using misinformation that was a result of poor editing.

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Tobaeus
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 11, 2008 – 10 56
I have another dare, and you earn my undying devotion if you can tell me where each of the references comes from.

Have a character who performs “trouser defying” magic.
Bonus points if it grosses out the other members of the party and they tell him that he should wear pants if he wants to keep fighting evil.

*ducks back into her dark hole*

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Roecourt
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 15, 2008 – 12 46
simon.Jester wrote:
I just thought of this one and can’t use it!
Have a magicworker who uses instant ( or dehydrated) water.
BP if it comes in a packet like cocoa.
DBP if another character swallows some by mistake and starts “leaking”

You can’t, I can… a rather nasty method of assassination in my book…

***

2006: The Zaqqum Tree (Victory is Mine!)

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Roecourt
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 15, 2008 – 12 50
Leaving:

* MC finds a treasure: a coffee cup (or similar item) which holds liquid regardless of the angle it is held in.
BP if someone attempts to scald someone else with said cup, and it succeeds WITHOUT the liquid coming out of the cup or someone inserting something into the cup.

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Roecourt
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 15, 2008 – 13 09
Word-Girl wrote:

During the siege, have the defenders drop an anvil from the tower on the attackers.
P.S. Looks like I won’t be able to take the Gnomic Utterances dare, since I’m not really writing in chapters this year…

Anvils! That’s what I forgot!

Leaving:

DP if the dropping of the anvils sounds out the Anvil Chorus

***

2006: The Zaqqum Tree (Victory is Mine!)

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Nenya_s Wings
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 15, 2008 – 14 17
shiremaya wrote:
Have a ball of light randomly appear in the corner of every room your MC enters.
BP is no one but a side character notices
TBP if the ball of light is important in the climax
Almost. The ball of light is actually a charrie. But he doesn’t glow all the time.

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
— Maya Angelou

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chary
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 15, 2008 – 14 53
GinnyAnn wrote:
Any ways……..so You’re main character is not the Hero until the Hero does something really stupid. Like fall off a cliff. Or choke and die on his lasagna. Then, the main character is the hero.
BP: If the original hero dies by something to do with chickens.
DBP: If it’s a small chicken he’s planning to kill and eat for dinner.
BP: If he trips over it.

Can’t help myself:

TBP: If this somehow helps in defeating the villain.

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Star Davies
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 15, 2008 – 17 02
GinnyAnn wrote:
MouseyCat wrote:
Barnardine wrote:
Have your villian ride around on a pink unicorn.
BP: The Unicorn is an old, grouchy male who talks.
DBP: The Unicorn ends up being the bad guy, having had the suspected villianb under mind control.

TBP: The Unicorn’s name is Charlie. (Star’s Add: And he’s angry that someone took his kidney)
A cookie if you recognize the reference.
*snerk* Couldn’t help it.

Charlie… we’re going to candy mountain Charlie.. we’re almost there! *snigger*
I want to add to this one. Have a character make this reference: “It’s a leoplurodon Charlie. A magical leoplurodon!”

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Aranel
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 16, 2008 – 07 08
In your fantasy story where everyone has awesome “unusual” names that are perfectly normal for the setting, name one of your male characters Jack.
BP: if it’s his real name, not a nickname.
DBP: if people constantly comment on it and ask him how he got stuck with it.
TBP: if he replies, “My mother read it in a book once.”
alternatively, QBP if NOBODY ever comments on it.

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manbule
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 16, 2008 – 15 16
Crap, sorry about the double post.

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manbule
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 16, 2008 – 15 15
LukeSDonavan wrote:
Have your hero be killed just before the fight with the villian.
-BP if he comes up behind his group as their mourning over their loss of him and asks what they’re crying about.
–TBP if he explains to them that he simply reloaded his saved game.
—QBP if this somehow makes sense within the story and is a crucial plot point.
—-5xBP if the villian can’t finish the final fight because his mom is telling him to come to dinner.
Oh my gosh, it is like you read my story so far and decided to dare someone else to do it! How dare you! jk. I am already doing all but the last one. I might have to work that in there though ….

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Golden_Moon
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 16, 2008 – 16 08
Have your MC’s weapon be a giant fork/spork, and no one else has any forks/sporks, even little ones to eat with
BP if it has a really impressive sounding name
DBP if everyone is amazed at the giant fork/spork and runs in terror when he uses it
TBP if he actually never has to poke anyone
QBP if the villain and he get in a fight, then the MC has to convince the villain to leave him alone because he can’t really fight with it
BP and a cookie if the villain and the MC go into business making tiny forks/sporks as memorablila, then someone realizes that they can eat with them and they get very rich

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Stratadrake
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 16, 2008 – 17 09
Dare: Have two nations declare war over, literally, one chunk of cubic zirconia.

2x: The stone has no magical powers or practical use whatsoever. It is, literally, just a pretty stone.

3x: If the nations know about #2 but are still fighting and killing each other to claim it just the same.

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Alexis313
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 20, 2008 – 10 32
Have a charactor who is allergic to the word ‘no’ and breaks into song everytime he hears it.
BP if he dances too
TBP if he sings, dances and breaks out into hives
QBP if his annoying little allergy saves the day.

Have a minor charactor who can’t say ‘danger’
BP if he sneezes when someone around him thinks ‘danger’
TBP if his annoying problem kills off the F/MC
QBP if he is a traitor and was lying the entire time and can say danger after all and killed off the F/MC for no reason.

=)

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taffypearls
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 20, 2008 – 21 40
Taking:
Have one or more of the characters say “shiny” as slang for “good, fine, cool, etc.”
DBP if said character wears a brown coat all the time.
Big cookie if you know what that’s from.

And the dragon who insults smokers, and

Have your MC and the most unlikely person in the story get caught somewhere in very close quarters e.g. a closet, bathroom, et.c
BP – If it is during a scene where they are not supposed to be where they are
BPx2 – If they get locked/trapped in there
BPx3 – If they start doing anything sexual
BPx4 – If they get caught

Have your villian ride around on a pink unicorn.
BP: The Unicorn is an old, grouchy male who talks.
DBP: The Unicorn ends up being the bad guy, having had the suspected villianb under mind control.
TBP: The Unicorn’s name is Charlie.
A cookie if you recognize the reference.

Leaving:
Have two characters fall in love, who just happen to be closely related.
+And they spend most of the book unaware of this.
++But, most everyone else does know, and doesn’t tell the two.
+++If at the end, they find out, and still decide to stay together.
++++If it’s because the female character is pregnant with her relative-lover’s child.
+++++If they give the child away to a random passerby in the end.
++++++If the characters are the villain, and hero.

Have a character who is a talking cat.
+Who comments like Simon from American Idol whenever anyone sings.
++Or even says something that rhymes.
+++If this is found perfectly normal by the other characters.
++++Except for random talking dogs.
+++++If the cat is the villain’s cat.
++++++If the cat turns out to be the real villain.

Have a dog named Digby.
+Who has a pig brother named Pigby.
++Who are owned by a socially awkward man who runs a bakery that specializes in pie, and has a blonde, perky serving wench.
+++If there is a pigeon named Pidge included as well.
Cookie if you get this reference.

Have a character who can resurrect the dead for exactly sixty seconds or someone else dies.

Have a wizard who’s only power is the ability to give other people powers.
+If the powers he gives are entirely useless to the person.
++If the MC manages to use their useless power in the Final Battle.
+++But lose, and someone important to the MC dies because of the useless power.
++++If the wizard turns out to be a lackey of the villain.

Have a character who randomly has delusional visions involving random songs.
+If he bursts into singing while having the visions.
++If the visions come true.
+++If the visions come true, but only because the visionee instigated them.
++++If the visionee’s friends are all killed because the visions/his instigating them.

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XD
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 21, 2008 – 02 25
LEAVING:
Have your MC and the most unlikely person in the story get caught somewhere in very close quarters e.g. a closet, bathroom, et.c
BP – If it is during a scene where they are not supposed to be where they are
BPx2 – If they get locked/trapped in there
BPx3 – If they start doing anything sexual
BPx4 – If they get caught

Yesh I will Use it

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Tolly
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 21, 2008 – 07 17
More dares…

Have the characters get into trouble with the law and get defended by a cranky old lawyer
+If he’s actually *called* Horace Rumpole
++If he quotes Wordsworth

One of your recurring characters behaves exactly like Stargate Atlantis’ Rodney McKay!
+If he/she berates everyone around them over a teeny tiny mistake
++If it later turns out that he/she was wrong
+++If your MCs decide to hire him/her because he/she is just that damn clever
++++And then fire him once they discover he/she was wrong
A million zillion cookies if they’re going up against vampires

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Roecourt
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 22, 2008 – 12 01
Leaving:

A vampire who is allergic to blood.

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Stratadrake
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 23, 2008 – 18 33
Dare somebody to give their MC a dream of significant length (at least one full chapter), where the dream itself has absolutely NOTHING to do with the surrounding narrative.

2x – If the MC believes the dream is a prophecy, and becomes obsessed over making it come true

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Octoba
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 23, 2008 – 17 52
Taking:
—Use the line “Hand me that frozen turkey; I’m ending this now.”

—Include this line: “I didn’t throw it. I dropped it. Sideways.”

Leaving: (I don’t know if these were already used…)
—Have a character who thinks that everyone in the novel is fictional and they are all being fooled into thinking that they are real
—-The character lives in an insane aslyum and predicts most of the novel correctly

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Xumahare
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 23, 2008 – 19 02
Tolly wrote:
More dares…
One of your recurring characters behaves exactly like Stargate Atlantis’ Rodney McKay!
+If he/she berates everyone around them over a teeny tiny mistake
++If it later turns out that he/she was wrong
+++If your MCs decide to hire him/her because he/she is just that damn clever
++++And then fire him once they discover he/she was wrong
A million zillion cookies if they’re going up against vampires

+++++If another character tells him to “Go suck a lemon.” (At least I think that was him.)
–
MC of my story: http://xumahare.deviantart.com/art/Monhare-by-Vein-Tragedy-97337361

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RodwenofRohan
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 23, 2008 – 22 30
Roecourt wrote:
*A vending machine which functions perfectly well in a fantasy environment
BP for having it in a location vending machines weren’t supposed to be.
DBP for having an item in the vending machine be required by the MC
TBP for the MC doesn’t have enough change/money to get the item and they have to figure out how to get it out
QBP for the vending machine and its glass are invulnerable to breakage
and a cookie if you get a vending machine repairman involved somehow…
I just may do this…

Vending machines…. and faeries… Muahahaha!!!!!! XD

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larelmian
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 24, 2008 – 13 33
Don’t know if I included this yet, but it really upped my word count:

Have your villain’s long, heavily detailed monologue get interrupted by a scathing running commentary from the captive heroes.

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Stratadrake
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 24, 2008 – 21 38
Dare to have an Elf race that is technologically advanced yet magically inept and environmentally destructive.

2x – If there’s a single elf (or elf family) among the entire race that fits the description of Tolkeinesque elves (e.g. magic, harmony with environment, etc.)
3x – If their last name is Tokken…
4x – …If at any time they are referred to as a “Tokken elf”

(Beware, puns can be deadly..)

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treehugger91
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 25, 2008 – 22 36
This is funny! Okay, here’s one:
At some point in your story, have one of your strongest characters break out screaming all of the random things the other characters have ever done to annoy them.

DBPs: if one of the things is eating the last cheez-it in the box.
TBPs: if that cheez-it later ends up giving the character that eats it magical powers.
QBPs: if those magical powers turn out somehow getting the character killed.
A cookie: if that character shows up later alive, with a box of cheez-its in his hand.

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a.n.pesch
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 25, 2008 – 22 38
–Make your MC go over to the dark side.
BP if he does so for a stupid reason.
DBP if the reason is homemade cooking or a juggling monkey.
TBP if the juggling monkey ends up being the villain.
QBP if the MC falls in love with the juggling monkey.
And a trillion cookies if the juggling monkey throws poo at the MC’s face and takes the villain instead, so the MC’s whole reason for going to the dark side is pointless.
Uhh…. oh yeah! Then make the MC’s old love interest kill him out of rage.

~a.n.pesch

I am so using these phrases:

“My ear just fell off.”
“Why are my legs gone?”

They’ll ROCK! XD

Ok…I’ll try to come up with one.

Have it revealed at the end of your story that there is no such thing as magic, and all the wizards have actually been using something called the “internet”.
BP if the internet has nothing to do with our world.
DBP if they can only use the internet by sitting at the bottom of a lake in their underwear for five minutes straight.

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Flibleene
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 27, 2008 – 13 10
I did it! I didn’t think I would, but I did have someone(s) break out in a pink and purple polka-dot rash! Then they died…
I also had a character who had to look at the sun, they used him as a compass, AND he looked away from the sun, lit himself on fire, and that was plot important…! I’m ub3r 1337!

Have someone say, ‘Why is my couch eating a gerbil?’ Or something along those lines.
+ S/he throws the couch out.
++ The bad guy takes the couch.
+++ The couch eats the bad guys minions…!
++++ The bad guy uses this as a torture device.
A box of cookies if the couch eats the bad guy.

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Stratadrake
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 27, 2008 – 21 45
Dare to inform the reader about EVERY time that your MC’s need to take a bathroom break, including what the other characters are doing while they’re on the pot.

2x – If the MC’s are planning a journey / quest / other long distance travel, and they have to include bathroom stops in their itinerary, especially if they have to debate about when to schedule them.

3x – If they miss out on something important because one of the characters was on the pot when it happened.

4x – If the above was a one-time-only occurence.

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RodwenofRohan
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Nov 28, 2008 – 01 03
I did put in the pixies and vending machines part!!!! Yay me! The scene actually got me over 50k, so…
LOL the ending line of the humorous scene was a Human walking by and seeing the remains of the food the pixie had filched from the machine- “We have to do something about those squirrels.”

**********

DARE:

Have your character insist on eating Thanksgiving dinner, in a strange place.
+if your character is not from the USA
++if your character says this while on the road.
+++if they eat the full meal, turkey, dressing, mashed taters and gravy, all of it.
++++if you have to write a bathroom scene afterwards because they ate too much.

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angharad
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Jan 25, 2009 – 01 53
joshlevy wrote:
1x = There is a magical book which will instantly kill anyone whose face in drawn into it.
2x = The hero acquires this book, and uses it in an attempt to vanquish all forms of evil, which includes the villain.

3x = … despite the fact that she has no artistic talent, and her drawings are little more than stick figures.

4x = If their inability to draw ends up saving the villain’s life.

5x = If the book is at any time referred to as a “Face Book”.

EPIC WIN.

… I have nothing to contribute. *wanders away disconsolately*

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Sarley
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Jan 26, 2009 – 14 38
I took…actually, more than I could possibly use. Still, you people have crazy minds. Thanks!

Leaving:

Your characters must travel through some sort of portal that only allows one-way travel at a time (i.e., if you put your arm through, you must follow it, because you can’t pull it out). However, they can’t, because something is stuck halfway through.
BP: Your characters have no other option, and must find a way to pull it through
DBP: It’s a dragon, really wedged in place
TBP: It tries to eat your characters
QBP: It gets at least one of them
5BP: After being released, it asks to join your characters anyway
6BP: They allow it, because it’s less stupid/annoying/unhygienic than the character it ate.
6BP+Cake: They spend at least three pages debating before coming to this decision.
6BP+Dessert buffet: They don’t need any discussion whatsoever to make this decision.
The Universe: The above is a major plot, taking more than 20K to get through.
The Multiverse: The above is your entire plot.

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ceruleas
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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May 10, 2009 – 22 51
Tobaeus wrote:
+ During the epic fight, have the villain pull out a laser gun (or other ridiculous item that doesn’t belong) and the hero says, “Put that away, you idiot! This is fantasy.” The villain puts up the weapon and the fight resumes like nothing happened.

I love this one, and I may tweak it a little for a modern-day non-fantasy story… Change “laser gun” to “longsword” (complete with epic name) and change “This is fantasy.” to “This isn’t fantasy.”
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Mimiyu
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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May 12, 2009 – 03 38
I just came up with that one, but I don’t know, if it’s funny in English too.

Have your hero/heroine and the whole party go to a part and get really, really drunk
+ if your hero/heroine starts to sing and dance “Moskau/Moscow”
++ if everyone dances with him/her
+++ if nobody cares/wonders, that moscow ist’n even existing in that fantasy world
++++ if dancing that song together is the solution of a longwinded and complex quest
+++++ if your villain is also at the party, but doesn’t regonize the hero, because s/he is drunk too
++++++ if your villain also dances along
+++++++ if that makes totally sense in your story

For all those not knowing the song I’m refering to, check http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1wG9g1wjSA .
It’s quite famous in Germany, especially on parties.

PS: I admit, I’ve been to a friends party recently and we all danced to the song, what can be quite difficult after some glasses XD.

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Dragon Gal
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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May 14, 2009 – 07 27
taking and adding to this:

You include a yodeling pickle in your story
+BP: The pickle has a name and is well known
++TP: Your character is somehow emotionally attatched to the pickle
+++QP: There is a “Pickle Song of Doom”
++++5xP: Your main plot revolves around this pickle

6xP: Have the Hero get REALLY hungry and eat the pickle, therefore ending the novel… because you can’t go on without the yodelling pickle!

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phantom000
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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May 21, 2009 – 11 35
Have your F-MC cast a spell on someone by performing a dance for that person.
+If it is a sensual performance.
++If she does it in a very skimpy out fit, like a harem girl costume.

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Raiynagh
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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May 21, 2009 – 17 30
phantom000 wrote:
Have your F-MC cast a spell on someone by performing a dance for that person.
+If it is a sensual performance.
++If she does it in a very skimpy out fit, like a harem girl costume.
I think I may well have to take this… it’s perfect for my FMC, especially since it’s already established that her magic works far better if there’s contact. Plus she knows someone with a harem, so the costume’s not hard

Erm, nothing to leave

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DarckRedd
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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May 25, 2009 – 15 47
Quote all the lyrics of Never Gonna Give You Up at some point in your novel.

+ points if the lyrics appear in order
++ points if the characters recite the lyrics
+++ points if the characters do so unintentionally.

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braveheart
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Posted on:
May 25, 2009 – 16 25
DarckRedd wrote:
Quote all the lyrics of Never Gonna Give You Up at some point in your novel.
+ points if the lyrics appear in order
++ points if the characters recite the lyrics
+++ points if the characters do so unintentionally.

++++If one of the characters screams out “We’ve been Rick Rolled!” at some point.
And now for some of my own:

Have a character make long speeches on a single subject, driving the other characters insane.
> Bonus Points if the subject is friendship
>>Double Bonus Points if one of the characters starts taking a drink of whatever they carry around every time this subject is mentioned.
>>>Triple Bonus points if the whole cast of your novel joins into this game, including the villain
>>>>Quadruple Bonus points if you keep a running total of how many times the word is mentioned and place the final total somewhere in the novel.

Have all the characters announce what they are doing in battle in an over the top, flamboyant style. For example: “I attack with flaming sword of doom!
>Bonus Points if they start doing this is practice as well as in the battles.
>>Double Bonus Points if the villain is the only one to ask why the characters do this and seem rather confused by the whole deal.
>>>Triple Bonus Points if the question that the villain poses (i.e. why do you do this?) causes the whole battle to stop until one character shrugs and answers “I don’t know.”
>>>>Quadruple Bonus Points if the subject is dropped, the battle is continued and the subject is never touched again.

Have a situation where two souls inhabit one body.
>Bonus Points if they are of two separate genders/sexual orientations.
>>Double Bonus Points if more lost souls or something of the like keep trying to join with the character.
>>>Triple Bonus Points if the phrase “How many souls do you think I can fit in this thing?” comes up…and is not spoken by the original owner of the body.
>>>>Quadruple Bonus Points if the second soul was gain in a totally unusual way, like it was hidden in an orange.
>>>>>Bonus Points x5 if the second soul really was hidden in an orange and there is nothing ‘chosen one’ about it. One character ate an orange one day and woke up the next with an extra soul.
>>>>>> Bonus Points x6 if the character feels the need to put on some obnoxious piece of jewelry or something similar as an excuse as to why he acquired and extra soul to keep their own self esteem up and not admit that it was gained in a lackluster way.

Use as many Yu-Gi-Oh: The Abridged Series (or any other abridged series that you may wish) quotes as you can.

My Novels
’04 Seeker of theSouls (was distracted by other novel and never finished)
’05 Spirithorse (was distracted by same other novel as above)
’06 Silverbane (finished, but never actually got on here to insert word count)

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SirDoctorofGAllifrey
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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May 25, 2009 – 16 38
Have the villian’s minions get their arms and legscut off in the final battle

BP if they have a covorsation about “is this my leg or yours?”
DBP if they take the wrong body parts
TBP if they put them on backwards

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Crime-and-Punishment
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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May 25, 2009 – 18 07
I love the rick rolled idea. The reader wouldn’t know what hit them XD

Anyways, I am leaving:

Have the villian be self-ansored and they have mirrors all around their ‘lair’ and on them at all times so they can check their appearance.
-BP if the villain asks one of his henchmen if their butt looks big in their attire.
–TP if the henchmen replies with a disguised insult
—QP if you have a scene when someone details a henchman mimicking the villain for laughs and the villain walks in

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firestarter911
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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May 28, 2009 – 12 16
Alright, I’m leaving before I go through and choose some to take:

1. Incorperate a character into the main cast that is a seriously despicable douche bag (as in, betrayal is his middle name or something equally bad)
–Bonus points if the character is needed for the main plot but everyone wants to kill him anyway.
—Triple bonus points if this character is shamelessly flirtatious in spite of being a major douche.
—-Quad bonus points if he tries to score with the main character.
—–Quintuple bonus points if the main character is male.
——Sextuple bonus points if he succeeds.

2. Have a scene in which the main cast is sitting around reading headstones.
-Bonus points if the headstones have funny references to the most geeky things you can think of. (Example: “Here lies a peasant, burninated in his thatch-roofed cottage”, or, “The final resting place of Fred, who found himself at the wrong end of a magic missile”)

3. In frustration, at some point in the novel, the hero kicks a chicken.

Infinate cookies if you can work in any other Fable references.

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Laura the Kansas hic
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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May 28, 2009 – 15 55
Use this line: “It’s the magical food of the elves, and it tastes like chicken! Chicken!!!!”

I’M TAKING THIS ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!XD

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Flibleene
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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May 29, 2009 – 13 40
Part of the book, they spend trying to find the Magic Doom!… Cookie.
-BP If someone eats the cookie, and is then told he’s going to explode.
–DBP If they try to get s/he into the bad guys lair before he explodes.
—TBP If someone says “That’s not the Magic Doom!… Cookie, that’s my wife!”

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Crime-and-Punishment
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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May 29, 2009 – 21 13
ignore.

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MirkwoodElf
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Jun 15, 2009 – 15 12
larelmian wrote:

Have your villain introduce himself as “The Great and Mighty Overlord of the Evil Castle of Doom.” (Caps are required.)
BP if the heroes ask if they can call him The Idiot instead.
DBP if they use the word for idiot in Elvish (or whatever language you have).
QBP if the villain is ultimately defeated by someone clubbing him before he can finish his introduction.
A cookie if he comes back after being clubbed completely brain-damaged and cannot get his title straight. (“I am the Mighty and Evil Castle of the Great Overlord of . . .”)

Oh. My. Gosh. I am so doing this. Seriously.
Selah Ex Animo wrote:

Include a thinly disguised copy of your favourite fantasy book as part of the Hero’s belongings.
BP if the Hero uses it as an Idiot’s Guide to Doing Fantasy Right
DBP if the Villain uses the Evil Overlord List as the Idiot’s Guide to World Domination

This too. For my dares:
*Every time they see a rabbit, one of your characters cowers and screams, “It’s the Guardian of the Cave!”
**DP if everyone laughs at them for this.
***TP if at some point a rabbit bites off someone’s head (preferably one of the laughers) and the first character yells, “I told you so!”
*At some point, someone gets turned into a newt.
**DP if they mysteriously “get better”
***TP if the person who turned them into a newt is put on trial for witchcraft
****QP if this world is highly magical, and NO ONE ELSE gets tried for witchcraft. EVER.
*Your characters have a discussion about the difference in velocity between the flights of an European and an African swallow
**DP if the reason why they’re talking about this involves coconuts
***TP if this becomes a major plot point, or at least a minor one.
((O)) a cookie if you get those references

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MirkwoodElf
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Jun 16, 2009 – 17 27
Taking (again):
Kassil wrote:

Include the line “‘Because it’s funny’ is not a valid reason for turning the enemy troops into fluffy pink bunnies.”
Double points if the person doing the transforming then offers a valid tactical reason.
Triple bonus points if they add, “And because it’s really funny.” to the end.
Quadruple if this is accepted as a valid reason.
Quintuple points if this is the only thing the transforming character ever does.
Hextuple if the main villain is defeated by being turned into a fluffy pink bunny and kept in a cage as a pet.
Septuple if this was actually part of the villain’s plan.
Octuple if the plan was something silly and inane such as never paying for a meal again.

I’m changing it to wombats, though, because wombats are major in my story.
Leaving( again):
*Give your MC luposlipaphobia. (the fear of being pursued by timber wolves around a kitchen table while wearing socks on a newly-waxed floor)
**Double if you didn’t need to look it up
***Triple if this crops up at random moments
****Quadruple if the main villain is a timber wolf
*****Quintuple if the final battle involves the MC getting chased around a kitchen table by the villain while both of them are wearing socks and the floor is newly waxed.
A cookie and MirkwoodElf’s eternal admiration if this sounds suitably epic and readers don’t laugh the whole time they’re reading it.
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Raksab
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Jun 16, 2009 – 22 57
Just in case no one’s proposed it yet …

Have an elf (male or female) who hits on someone incessantly using the lines in the “Bad Elven Pick-Up Lines” thread.

Bonus points if they hit on several persons using those lines.

Double bonus points if they hit on at least one person of each gender.

Mega bonus points if someone actually takes the bait and goes to bed with them. (Even bigger bonus points if it’s the most hideous person in the room and the elf wasn’t actually expecting to hook them.)

Super-duper bonus points if someone takes the bait, goes home with them … and they turn out to REALLY spend all night watching the moon or practicing calligraphy or baking waybread. And they have a great time doing it.

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MirkwoodElf
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Jun 17, 2009 – 14 40
Raksab wrote:

Super-duper bonus points if someone takes the bait, goes home with them … and they turn out to REALLY spend all night watching the moon or practicing calligraphy or baking waybread. And they have a great time doing it.

lol, all of my elves would likely do something like that, quite obliviously, thereby traumatizing everyone in the room except for the other elves, who would end up literally hugging the pet rowan in someone’s yard or something. XD

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Silbena
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Jun 17, 2009 – 22 07
I’m taking the chicken. I mean, the duck. I am going to include a duck in every scene I write. … I actually think that the duck might become vital to the plot somehow. Thank you so very much for this one, my life will become so much more interesting now. <3>Bonus Points if other characters speculate on this and come up with the answer “Because the animators were lazy and didn’t want to draw in more of the background.”
>>Double Bonus Points if there is a whole branch of philosophy dedicated to this question.

Have a character have to save the world and prevent the darkness from taking over again by doing something other than a major final (epic) battle.
>Bonus Points if it is playing a children’s game that no one really knows the rules to.
>>Double Bonus Points if the hero is cheating (accidentally or purposefully) and the villain is the only one who notices and calls him out on it.

Have a character who is knocked out by chloroform shout “Who just has chloroform?” before falling unconscious.
>Bonus Points if it is the MMC that this is done to.
>>Double Bonus Points if he is the one taken because he was mistaken for the FMC.
>>>Triple Bonus Points if it is only because the MMC has long hair that he was mistaken for the FMC
>>>>Quadruple Bonus Points if this happens often, and the MMC still doesn’t cut his hair.

Have a character that only your MC can see and carry out conversations with. Have them do this often and sometimes accidently say certain things in the conversation out loud.
>Bonus Points if one of the things shouted is “Stop raping my friends’ minds!”

Have a character that is newly granted a genie wish for his own death accidentally.
>Bonus Points if the genie grants it and then asks if that was the right thing to do.
>>Double Bonus Points if the whole plot revolves around the characters trying to get the master of the genie back.
>>>Triple Bonus Points if the ever confusing plot device of going back in time to prevent the event from ever happening is employed…and all they get for their efforts is a rubber chicken.

Have the characters discover and ancient language and/or a person who talks in the ancient language and there are no translators.
>Bonus points if it seems to just be made up of random consonants.
>>Double Bonus Points if the language is solved by adding the letter e in there randomly.
>>>Triple Bonus Points if one character thinks this is the solution to all languages and goes around talking in other languages and adding ‘e’ randomly into the words.

Include bondage slave soccer (or football).

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Kaolin
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Jun 20, 2009 – 06 48
braveheart wrote:
Have a situation where two souls inhabit one body.
>Bonus Points if they are of two separate genders/sexual orientations.
>>Double Bonus Points if more lost souls or something of the like keep trying to join with the character.
>>>Triple Bonus Points if the phrase “How many souls do you think I can fit in this thing?” comes up…and is not spoken by the original owner of the body.
>>>>Quadruple Bonus Points if the second soul was gain in a totally unusual way, like it was hidden in an orange.
>>>>>Bonus Points x5 if the second soul really was hidden in an orange and there is nothing ‘chosen one’ about it. One character ate an orange one day and woke up the next with an extra soul.
>>>>>> Bonus Points x6 if the character feels the need to put on some obnoxious piece of jewelry or something similar as an excuse as to why he acquired and extra soul to keep their own self esteem up and not admit that it was gained in a lackluster way.
You are so amazing! This is officially my new plot.
I don’t really have anything to leave…

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XD
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Posted on:
Jun 21, 2009 – 03 21
braveheart wrote:
Leaving some more.
Have a character who is knocked out by chloroform shout “Who just has chloroform?” before falling unconscious.
>Bonus Points if it is the MMC that this is done to.
>>Double Bonus Points if he is the one taken because he was mistaken for the FMC.
>>>Triple Bonus Points if it is only because the MMC has long hair that he was mistaken for the FMC
>>>>Quadruple Bonus Points if this happens often, and the MMC still doesn’t cut his hair.

Have a character that only your MC can see and carry out conversations with. Have them do this often and sometimes accidently say certain things in the conversation out loud.
>Bonus Points if one of the things shouted is “Stop raping my friends’ minds!”

Have the characters discover and ancient language and/or a person who talks in the ancient language and there are no translators.
>Bonus points if it seems to just be made up of random consonants.
>>Double Bonus Points if the language is solved by adding the letter e in there randomly.
>>>Triple Bonus Points if one character thinks this is the solution to all languages and goes around talking in other languages and adding ‘e’ randomly into the words.

Taking
Leaving:
Your MC must make a feast for the villain in order to save his/her friends
BP: It’s your FMC
DBP: she can’t cook to save her own life
TBP: your villain eats it and dies. Everyone thinks she poisoned the food
QBP, Cookie, and ninja services: It wasn’t. just tasted so horrible

Sincerely Your Reliable Ninja
~XD~

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braveheart
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Jun 22, 2009 – 07 20
Gotta clear out the list of dares I have saved on my computer.

Put your mp3 on shuffle and use whatever songs come up to create a character (attitude, backstory, etc.)

Have a character sense (in a dream, with magical powers, what have you) that one of their companions/friends is in danger and actually act on in immediately.
>Bonus Points if this premonition occurs many times when the companion/friend is in minor danger.
>>Double Bonus Points if the character begins to act to save people only when the premonition occurs.
>>>Triple Bonus Points if the character doesn’t bother to save the same companion/friend when they are in real danger because they honestly think that it’s only minor

Give a character the power to set cups/pots of coffee on fire.
>Bonus Points if they get a lecture about how the beans are roasted before the drink is made.

Have one character restate what just happened in real events. For example: If the hero is fighting and the sword he is using breaks, the character would shout out something along the lines of ‘By (insert deity’s name here), his sword just broke!’
>Bonus Points if none of the characters think this is odd.
>>Double Bonus Points if somebody comments on this behavior in another person once, stating that it is annoying, but nothing is done about the original perpetrator.

Have the first line of your book be this ‘They were really into it, to say the least. It was as if the moment they started they entered their own private world – and that world involved a lot of yelling.’
>Bonus Points if you don’t reveal what the characters are doing for a while.
>>Double Bonus Points if you make is sound as dirty as possible, but reveal it as something totally innocent.

Have a lengthy training session in which the hero proves that he totally fails at whatever he is learning.
>Bonus Points if this session involved being thrown at things and having the word “Dodge!” screamed at him.
>>Double Bonus Points if the hero never really learns what he needed to know and that has repercussions later on in battle.
>>>Triple Bonus Points if the teacher of the hero gave him a weapon that he told the hero was magical and could do anything…but it can’t.
>>>>Quadruple Bonus Points if the hero is told many times that the ‘magical weapon’ is just a normal weapon, but he ignores it.
>>>>>Bonus Points x5 if the hero finds out at the end of the novel, after the final battle and is totally shocked.
>>>>>>Bonus Points x6 if there was plenty of evidence before that the ‘magical weapon’ was not a magical weapon at all.

Have fortune cookie…fortunes or horoscopes as the beginning of each chapter.
>Bonus Points if they foreshadow the events that happen in the chapter.
>>Double Bonus Points if they are totally off the wall and almost make no sense.
>>>Triple Bonus Points if ‘Fate Always Targets the Pretty Ones’ is one of them.

Have a culture where the proper way to respond to a sneeze is “Bloody hell!”

Have the main characters have to cosplay for some reason.
>Bonus Points if only a few do and the rest go as themselves and those that didn’t cosplay are insulted for their horrible renditions of themselves
>>Double Bonus Points if they are famous enough to warrant other people trying to cosplay as them.
>>>Triple Bonus points if your whole plot revolves around getting the group to a con.

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avidfantasywriter
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Posted on:
Jun 23, 2009 – 18 15
Selah Ex Animo wrote:
Have your character eavesdrop on a vital conversation through a library drop box chute.
BP if your character is listening from the outside, public-accessible part of the chute to the conversation inside the drop box room and earning weird looks from the passerby
DBP if the character is listening from inside the room the chute empties in to.
TBP if your character is not a library employee, volunteer, or anyone else with legal access to the drop box room
QBP if someone drops a book down the chute that hits the eavesdropping character in the face
5BP if this is purposely done by the conversationalists to discourage eavesdroppers
SBP if a librarian comes into the drop box room and catches/nearly catches the character
7BP if the librarian was sent by the conversationalists to apprehend any eavesdroppers
OBP if the librarians caught your character sneaking into the back and gave chase. This librarian is the first to stumble upon him or her.
Cake and chocolate (or chocolate cake!) if you can work this into a fantasy setting.
Okay, my story seriously needs this one. X3 Not exactly a fantasy setting, though, ’cause I write urban fantasy. Thanks anyway! Cookies for you!

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bleeding-chocobo
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Jun 23, 2009 – 18 56
braveheart wrote:
Gotta clear out the list of dares I have saved on my computer.
Put your mp3 on shuffle and use whatever songs come up to create a character (attitude, backstory, etc.)

Have a character sense (in a dream, with magical powers, what have you) that one of their companions/friends is in danger and actually act on in immediately.
>Bonus Points if this premonition occurs many times when the companion/friend is in minor danger.
>>Double Bonus Points if the character begins to act to save people only when the premonition occurs.
>>>Triple Bonus Points if the character doesn’t bother to save the same companion/friend when they are in real danger because they honestly think that it’s only minor

Taking

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Meeow-Chan
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Jun 23, 2009 – 19 02
MirkwoodElf wrote:

*Give your MC luposlipaphobia. (the fear of being pursued by timber wolves around a kitchen table while wearing socks on a newly-waxed floor)
**Double if you didn’t need to look it up
***Triple if this crops up at random moments
****Quadruple if the main villain is a timber wolf
*****Quintuple if the final battle involves the MC getting chased around a kitchen table by the villain while both of them are wearing socks and the floor is newly waxed.
A cookie and MirkwoodElf’s eternal admiration if this sounds suitably epic and readers don’t laugh the whole time they’re reading it.
Taking. And I didn’t have to look it up.

Leaving:

Include aguard somewhere who will not let the MCs pass for some random, pointless reason.
BP if his actual name is Guard and he is the guard of the Guard family.
DBP if this happens at multiple places.
TBP if it’s always the exact same guard.
QBP if he claims to be the brother/cousin/father/uncle, etc. of the last Guard the guard of the Guard family.
5BP if someone decides to have a contest with whichever Guard to see who can use the word “guard” more times in one sentence.
6BP if they really turn out to be the father, uncle, grandfather, brothers, cousins, etc. of the first Guard.
7BP if the MCs discover this when the entire Guard family appears to help defeat the major villain in the final battle.
8BP if the heroes are invited to a party at the Guard family’s house afterwards to celebrate the villain’s defeat.

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firestarter911
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Jun 24, 2009 – 21 38
Have a character challenge another character to a duel.
-BP if the scene three sixties to a card game.
–DBP if a reference to “The heart of the cards” is made.

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braveheart
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Jun 29, 2009 – 09 37
firestarter911 wrote:
Have a character challenge another character to a duel.
-BP if the scene three sixties to a card game.
–DBP if a reference to “The heart of the cards” is made.
Taking, my novel needs more insanity.

Leaving:
Have a character follow the band of heroes, attempting to keep the 4th wall intact.
>Bonus points if he gives out harsh punishments to everyone who breaks the 4th wall.
>>Double bonus points if, when asked by the group, he will just split important information…therefore breaking the 4th wall.
>>>Triple Bonus points if there is another group who is trying to break the 4th wall.
>>>>Quadruple Bonus points if the original group of heroes must try to save the 4th wall as part of their quest…without breaking it.

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LadyoftheGarnetRing
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Posted on:
Jul 2, 2009 – 18 09
Stop the plot bunny! To late. Fine. Alright! I change my idea for november! Fantasy Comedy… happy now? Who knows when I will write the Last Train Out now that I have to do you… but you are cuter, funnier, and much more appealing.
I took pages of dares which are all going to work out into my plot… somehow. *looks at cute little bunny sitting before her* “You better know what you’re doing.”

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ptrst
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Posted on:
Jul 2, 2009 – 18 54
Taking:
- Have your villain get the girl
- An enemy assault fails, because their entire plan hinged on knocking down a wall that, it turns out, hasn’t been built yet.
- Defenders win the war by refusing to build a wall for the attackers to knowck down.
- Have your villain turn out to be the hero, and your hero the villain.
- Begin every chapter of your novel with a piece of advice from the Evil Overlord List (I don’t write in chapters, per se, but I’ll make it work regardless).
- Each rule is decided by way of dice roll.
- Each chapter reflects the rule, or the rule influences the events of the chapter in some fashion.
- One of the characters has amazing magic powers but uses them to do useless things like change their eye colour.
- Have the main villain be drunk all the time.
- He carries a flash with him in every scene.
- He drinks in every scene.

(By the way, this thread filled in so many gaps in my plot…)

Leaving:
- Have a character be an instructor for a group of young witches/wizards.
BP if the character teaches them how to do ridiculously useless, specific types of magic (such as turning a turtle orange).
TBP if that’s the only sort of magic that the instructor knows how to do.

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harmonyisarine
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Posted on:
Aug 22, 2009 – 01 22
Quote:
Quote all the lyrics of Never Gonna Give You Up at some point in your novel.
+ points if the lyrics appear in order
++ points if the characters recite the lyrics
+++ points if the characters do so unintentionally

I think I’ll be doing this in my ’09 novel. It’s based on ’80s songs, and, even though this song doesn’t really fit the story, it’s far too priceless to pass up

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windspeck
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Posted on:
Aug 23, 2009 – 15 48
Taking some, leaving:

- At some point of your story, introduce a dragon/wyvern hybrid
BP if said hybrid is infertile
DBP if said hybrid has three legs
TBP and hazelnut brownies if this creature is crucial to the plot

- At some point of your story, introduce a “vegetarian” vampire that drinks only animal blood
BP if said vampire is cursed to sparkle under sunlight
DBP if said vampire falls in love with the most ugly, disgusting, gossiping and generally unpleasant female human character
TBP if said vampire gets staked by a minor character
QBP and a blueberry pie if the minor character is a cute talking animal, or a zombie

- The quest item of your MC is a laptop computer
BP if there is a religion centering around said computer
DBP if one character curses the absence of wireless Internet access somewhere during the journey
TBP if the villain has the all-powerful-machine-of-doom, i.e. the holy laptop, and plays minesweeper on it all day
QBP and chocolate ice-cream if the games of minesweeper determines the fate of the entire world

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Lady Pendragon
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Aug 23, 2009 – 17 03
I love this thread.

Include a king with a bad reputation
+BP if the king is the villain
++DBP if the king is actually quite a gentleman
+++TBP if the people love the way he rules, but think that it is his courtiers working around him.
++++QBP if the main character kills him before this is actually revealed.
A cookie if the people then proceed to go after the main character with torches and pitchforks.

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Aislin
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Aug 24, 2009 – 01 38
I am so glad someone dug up this thread! I love it, it gives me so many ideas and laughs.

- Have one of your characters accidentally get branded. Bonus points if it is somewhere very visible.

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i am the moon
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Aug 24, 2009 – 21 40
Barnardine wrote:
Have your villian get the girl.
Bonus points if “the girl” is also your hero. Ah, true, confilcted love.

I’m doing this in my current novel!

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Clover313
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Aug 25, 2009 – 12 23
>;D I love creating really mean dares, and then taking them myself. My poor characters must loathe me.

MC is allergic to Milk
BP if s/he is also allergic to wheat.
DBP if s/he could not eat sugar
TBP if s/he still eats twice as much as anyone else,
QBP if s/he also manages to eat ice cream, suckers, ect

MC had to be angry to use his/her powers
BP if MC is an extremely calm person
DBP if MC has a pet dragon with him/her to make him/her angry. I.E biting him/her, insulting him/her ect
TBP if said pet dragon is very bad at making MC angry
QBP if said pet dragon ends up being the hero because the MC failed to become angry.

Neither of these would fit my stories. Anyone else can take them.

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larelmian
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Aug 25, 2009 – 12 33
Have a character complain about a stupid, meddling god.
Bonus points if the character knowingly says this to the meddling god’s face.

Have your main characters constantly consult “The Tough Guide to Fantasyland.”
Bonus points if your characters believe every word it says.
Even more bonus points if they hold to that book even when it proves inaccurate.

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Lady Pendragon
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Aug 25, 2009 – 19 14
Aislin wrote:
I am so glad someone dug up this thread! I love it, it gives me so many ideas and laughs.
- Have one of your characters accidentally get branded. Bonus points if it is somewhere very visible.

*giggles* DBP if the branding iron was fashioned into something stupid for a symbol/phrase, and TBP if it’s something like “I -heart- the main villain”

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crazychemist
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Aug 26, 2009 – 13 54
phantom000 wrote:
Have your F-MC cast a spell on someone by performing a dance for that person.
+If it is a sensual performance.
++If she does it in a very skimpy out fit, like a harem girl costume.
Adding:

+++ if she’s a burly, strong no-nonsense character that hates men
++++ if she volunteers for the dance
+++++ if she’s a good dancer
++++++there’s no good reason for this burly strong character to be a good sensual dancer
+++++++ nobody questions it
++++++++ the entire sensual dance thing has nothing to do with the plot

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Redmoonrider
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Aug 30, 2009 – 18 33
I dare you to have a female character that exscuses herself at the worst moments (like they need her to translate something, or she is needed to fight someone, etc). And every time someone always asks where she’s going, she replies, “Never make a lady tell you she’s going to the bathroom” or something like that.

Bonus points if she doesn’t at all act like a lady, and insisted that she isn’t.

Double bonus points if she never does anything she is supposed to because of this.

Triple bonus points if somehow she helps the hero win because of this.

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iGrievous
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Sep 1, 2009 – 12 41
Make a character based off Michael Jackson show up at one of the worst moments of the story.
BP if he is followed by a little band built up of a lute player, and a bongo drummer.
DBP if he starts singing.
TBP if he was hired by a party member, to follow the MC around, singing songs about the situation.
QBP if he is the villain behind everything, right under the MC’s nose.

braveheart wrote:
Gotta clear out the list of dares I have saved on my computer.
Put your mp3 on shuffle and use whatever songs come up to create a character (attitude, backstory, etc.)

For me this isn’t so much a dare as a description of what I do when I run out of ideas on a biweekly basis. Listening to lots of folk metal, power metal, and black metal makes this a considerably less painful exercise than one might imagine…
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larelmian
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Sep 3, 2009 – 20 23
Have the heroes call the villain to repentence.
Bonus points if they do this after the villain has captured them.
Triple bonus points if they succeed.

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Aislin
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Sep 7, 2009 – 12 02
This one has two variations, one for people writing cross-over fantasy and the other for humoristic urban fantasy:

1) Have a portal to another world in a garden centre. The portal leads to an environment exactly like the part of the garden centre it is hidden in: if it’s hidden between palm trees, the portal leads to a tropical island; if it’s between the rocks, it leads to a rocky dessert, stuff like that.

2) Have a tribe of people (whatever species) who live in a garden centre. They genuinly believe they live in the wilderness.

Cookies for the person who knows what this is based on.

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PenGryphon2007
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Sep 7, 2009 – 14 49
XD wrote:
Your MC must make a feast for the villain in order to save his/her friends
BP: It’s your FMC
DBP: she can’t cook to save her own life
TBP: your villain eats it and dies. Everyone thinks she poisoned the food
QBP, Cookie, and ninja services: It wasn’t. just tasted so horrible
That is BRILLIANT. But sadly, I don’t think it’s going to work in my novel… Maybe next years. I see a lot of good fodder for a hilarious novel to be written. And I love your username: XD.

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madwit17
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Sep 8, 2009 – 15 11
Pens_and_Swords wrote:
Your villain’s entire motivation for being the evil villain is to win a bet.
BP if your hero’s entire motivation to stop the villain is that he doesn’t want the villain to win the bet.
DBP if this is because the hero is the one the villain made the bet with.
TBP if the money wagered was only five dollars (or an equally paltry sum).
This is awesome, and would work nicely outside the genre…

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mutewolf_
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Sep 11, 2009 – 15 13
Quote:

-The hero is the villain’s father
DP – if the hero sends the villain to his room without dessert/quote]
heh heh heh.
My NaNo novel aligns with this one already. My hero is indeed the main villan-ess’ father. xD Of course, he doesn’t realize this until later on thinking that’s she’s been dead for the last twenty or so years (yay for complicated insane plots!) but still. He’s her daddy. heh heh.

And I think he’ll threaten her with this at least once…maybe twice.

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Evergreena
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Sep 20, 2009 – 20 47
larelmian wrote:
Have the heroes call the villain to repentence.
Bonus points if they do this after the villain has captured them.
Triple bonus points if they succeed.
Funny! I like this! I might not use it this year though, ’cause this is only the first book in the trilogy. Maybe the last book.

~Evergreena of the Forest~

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Evergreena
RE: Fantasy Dare thread!

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Sep 20, 2009 – 20 57
Meeow-Chan wrote:
Include aguard somewhere who will not let the MCs pass for some random, pointless reason.
BP if his actual name is Guard and he is the guard of the Guard family.
DBP if this happens at multiple places.
TBP if it’s always the exact same guard.
I actually did that in my Script Frenzy screenplay, and I never saw this dare! I had another character named “Man.” And he was almost a main character!

~Evergreena of the Forest~

Romance Dare Thread

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Sep 29, 2008 – 01 53
The Dare Thread looks like a fantabulous idea, but all of the dares there are well… too… fun. And my romance isn’t not fun, but it’s serious, realistic.
So! I thought, why not make a dare thread specifically for those of us writing romance??

So here’s my really lame first dare:
Have a scene where two characters have a restaurant routine (eg: FMC taking off the olives from their slice of pizza and giving them to MMC, at the same time the MMC takes his mushrooms off his pizza and gives them to the FMC).
Bonus points if they do this without talking.
Double bonus points if the other people dining with them think this is the cutest thing ever, but the MCs just think it’s the most normal thing.
Triple bonus points if they don’t know they’re in love. Yet.

Have fun
———-
“Don’t worry about being a writer, or being a novelist, just, ah, take a walk in your brain. Or a bike ride. In your brain. But don’t drive… that’s bad for the environment.”
–Hank Green

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Xephia
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Sep 29, 2008 – 03 03
What does MMC and FMC mean? I’ve seen them used a couple of times on the site.

If the restaurants weren’t all destroyed, and the character’s weren’t living off of cans of baked beans in my novel, I’d use this dare ‘^^

Darn me having characters slash bang in the middle of a war <_<>__>;;;”

o.o That’s perfect! I can totally use that! >D

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tomdg
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Oct 3, 2008 – 00 11
Variant on the first suggestion: have your characters do something like the spaghetti-eating scene from Lady and the Tramp.

Bonus points for using something smaller, like ravioli (a la La Femme Nikita, I think)

More bonus points for long, vivid description involving tongues and the texture of the food.

And if it’s in public. Better still, in a fancy restaurant.

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adexia
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Oct 3, 2008 – 06 54
Here’s another:

Have one of the MCs be blind, and accidentally kiss other people instead of his/her sweetheart.
Bonus points if the accidental kiss is an old woman.
Double bonus points if it’s a hairy biker.

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Pennalynn
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Oct 3, 2008 – 10 53
*suddenly wishes I had a hairy biker option* Hmn … well … lemme see … would hairy calvary soldier work? Horses are like bikes … or … you ride a horse like you ride a bike …. There’s just the whole speed thing … and one is alive while the other is machine ….

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thedrafthorse
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Oct 3, 2008 – 16 21
Or as Craig Ferguson put it, horses are like “fleshy motorcycles.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNVdn4DNOrU

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anotheragenda
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Oct 3, 2008 – 17 19
@ adexia: One of my girls (I’m writing a lesbian romance) is [going] blind! This would be a good idea if she weren’t so afraid of her condition. However, she is going to miss a lot.

More dares please!

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adexia
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Oct 3, 2008 – 22 04
Aha! Another one!

Base as much of the plot as possible off a song. Example: My plot is based off Within Temptation’s Hand of Sorrow (The child without a name grew up to be the hand/To watch you, to shield you, or kill on demand)
Bonus points if you can use multiple songs.
Double bonus points if you use rap music or polka!

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friesaregood
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Oct 4, 2008 – 18 56
OMG I LOVE THAT SONG!!!! xD

And I really like that pizza dare. I think I’ll use it, but I can’t get the triple bonus points because Alex is already head over heels for Cindy, but she only likes him as a friend, and it’s not one of those books where she’s kidding herself. She really isn’t in love with him.

And I think I could do the song title/curling iron dare with Janet and Cindy…hmmm….hehehehehhehehe. xD

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Lady September
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Oct 5, 2008 – 06 45
Quote:
Have a scene where two characters have a restaurant routine (eg: FMC taking off the olives from their slice of pizza and giving them to MMC, at the same time the MMC takes his mushrooms off his pizza and gives them to the FMC).
Bonus points if they do this without talking.
Double bonus points if the other people dining with them think this is the cutest thing ever, but the MCs just think it’s the most normal thing.
Triple bonus points if they don’t know they’re in love. Yet.
Have two of your characters have a whole conversation in song titles.
Bonus points if one of them suddenly says something serious (eg: “Oh, no, here comes a crazed hairdresser armed with a curling iron” … shush! It’s very serious ) and the second character replies with something like, “I don’t know that one, how does it go?” before realising that a crazed hairdresser (or whoever) is coming toward them.

If it’s set in contemporary times, or at least back when Shakespeare was the new and hip thing, have MC1 compare their couple to Romeo and Juliet, and have MC2 say “What…we meet a few times and then kill ourselves?”
I’m using those dares. They’ll fit perfectly into my story ^^

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The Subdefective
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Oct 5, 2008 – 18 45
Yes! The Romeo and Juliet dare can fit in so perfectly to my story! It’s about a forbidden love, so it won’t be hard to bring up Shakespeare!
I’m gonna try that pizza dare too…

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razberrry101
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Oct 6, 2008 – 15 19
Lady September wrote:
Quote:
Have a scene where two characters have a restaurant routine (eg: FMC taking off the olives from their slice of pizza and giving them to MMC, at the same time the MMC takes his mushrooms off his pizza and gives them to the FMC).
Bonus points if they do this without talking.
Double bonus points if the other people dining with them think this is the cutest thing ever, but the MCs just think it’s the most normal thing.
Triple bonus points if they don’t know they’re in love. Yet.
Have two of your characters have a whole conversation in song titles.
Bonus points if one of them suddenly says something serious (eg: “Oh, no, here comes a crazed hairdresser armed with a curling iron” … shush! It’s very serious ) and the second character replies with something like, “I don’t know that one, how does it go?” before realising that a crazed hairdresser (or whoever) is coming toward them.

If it’s set in contemporary times, or at least back when Shakespeare was the new and hip thing, have MC1 compare their couple to Romeo and Juliet, and have MC2 say “What…we meet a few times and then kill ourselves?”
I’m using those dares. They’ll fit perfectly into my story ^^

Ditto

Franziska <3>>Have the couple go walking down the street holding hands when a pigeon poops on the FMC head.
>>Bonus points if the MMC wipes at her hair with his jacket.
>>Double bonus points if th MMC puts the jacket back on.

>>haha, so that was lame xD

Maybe so lame, but with my characters, it’s totally sweet. I’m snagging this one. Thanks!

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Tragic_Affair07
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Oct 20, 2008 – 13 15
ROFL these are awesome!

I think I read somewhere that the dares are for people to start writing before Nano starts and it’s not included in the story!
But then people are like – that’ll fit in mine perfectly, so i’m a little confuzzled!

Anyone available to clear this up??
Thanks x

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Jia_Mekare
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Oct 20, 2008 – 22 58
People who start writing their NaNovel before November 1 suffer instant, painful death. Most people use the dares once november starts in their actual novel. The other people are either cheating (BOOOOO!) or practicing.

Right! A dare….One of your characters is continually walking in on people at the exact wrong time.

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UptownGirl
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Oct 22, 2008 – 21 09
Dare: A main character is attached to his/her cell phone and it’s always ringing at inappropriate times – yet the MC always has to answer it and it’s always the same person on the other end (i.e., work, sibling, friend, parent, child, etc.)

Dare: Main romantic couple is forced to get ready for a big event in the same small space, like a hotel room, or a small apartment with a very small bathroom.

Dare: Couple stuck in a taxi cab in their hometown in rush hour traffic.
Bonus points: Taxi cab driver thinks they’re new to town and gives detailed tour of city.
Double bonus points: Driver starts hitting on one of the main characters and the other main character is not happy, but not yet in love, so can’t explain why he/she is upset.

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Bloodrose
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Oct 23, 2008 – 14 20
OMG – these are all so awesome. I have so many I’m going to try that I won’t bore you all with quoting you and saying “I’m trying this one!” but for sure going for: song titles (and oh how I want to get the homecoming queen’s got a gun in there), rescue scene, continually walking in on people, and getting ready in small space. My MFC is a super hero so these could be really funny. I hadn’t even considered comedy in the novel and now I’m loving it.

So as to not waste a post, another dare:

Sand: Have a character tell the person who is in love with them that they will be with them if they count all of the sand on a particular beach. Bonus points: The counter is a mathemetician and figures out how to get an approximate count based on science! Double Bonus Points: This totally wins over the other character.

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LadyTrue
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Oct 23, 2008 – 15 46
I’m not even doing a romance and may have to steal a few of these!

Okay.

Dare: When the MMC and FMC meet, one is cross-dressing (think fancy-dress party or something)
Double dare: Both are cross-dressing.
Triple dare: The non-cross-dressing MC doesn’t realize that the other MC is cross-dressing.

I have another one…

Dare: One character could be crushing on a member of a band/TV show/movie/etc. (eg FMC is in love with Brendon Urie from Panic At The Disco) and so finds a way to bring up relevant information about the crush, much to the other MC’s annoyance, eg:

MMC: Wow, look at that model
FMC: She’s a handsome woman.
MMC: That was… odd.
FMC: Pretty odd.
MMC: Are you screwing with me?
FMC: Just folkin’ around.
MMC: Are you going to talk properly?
FMC: Build God, then we’ll talk.

(All of FMC’s lines are song titles/an album title, by the way…)

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Lady Doom
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Oct 24, 2008 – 19 40
My novel is going to involve a girl crushing on a lead singer of a band… I could have some fun using song tiles and or lyric lines as a conversation! *copies down for later!*

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Constance Truggle
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Oct 25, 2008 – 00 04
Quote:
If it’s set in contemporary times, or at least back when Shakespeare was the new and hip thing, have MC1 compare their couple to Romeo and Juliet, and have MC2 say “What…we meet a few times and then kill ourselves?”
The Dare: Have one of the characters sneeze during a really romantic kiss
Bonus points if it’s their first kiss
Double bonus points if it’s one of those sneezes that comes with like 20 sneezes

Here we go.
Dare:
Have two of your characters have a whole conversation in song titles.
Bonus points if one of them suddenly says something serious (eg: “Oh, no, here comes a crazed hairdresser armed with a curling iron” … shush! It’s very serious ) and the second character replies with something like, “I don’t know that one, how does it go?” before realising that a crazed hairdresser (or whoever) is coming toward them.
I may use one of these, the first being the easiest to put in. I have a friend who sneezes at least four times during any ‘sneezing episode’ she has. She can’t sneeze just once. And the food thing, my hubby and I do that all the time, so I never saw it as ‘different’. I think I can work with that. Does it matter if it’s best friends and people just thinking they should be/are together? However…

Quote:
Dare: When the MMC and FMC meet, one is cross-dressing (think fancy-dress party or something)
Double dare: Both are cross-dressing.
Triple dare: The non-cross-dressing MC doesn’t realize that the other MC is cross-dressing.
This is perfect! I’m holding masquerade in mine, so this will work great!

CT.

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writingbylori
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Oct 29, 2008 – 09 19
HA! I’m a little afraid that you guys are totally stalking me, my boyfriend and have always switched food…he hates cucumbers and I don’t like asparagus, we used to this back when we were just friends hanging out with the crown, he also calls me squirrel and for some reason he thinks that’s a compliment, and and we have entire conversations that are nothing but song lyrics. I know we’re weird. Oh and did I mention that he totally burped in the middle of our first kiss. Oh yeah, and I was 44 and he was 58 when we started dating so it’s not like we were goofy teenagers.
I can work the Shakespeare one into my novel too. I think.

Dare: I dare you to have a band of gypsies crash a scene
BP: if you keep them around for more than scene
TP: if they become major characters
TP and Snaps: if they become integral to the part

OMG,…nevermind, I just figured out how to use this in my own novel. HA!

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Alhazred
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Posted on:
Oct 31, 2008 – 07 22
bluenails wrote:

a character has a david hasselhoff swimsuit calender
Done and done. Also snagging the OP, too.

This dare is Srs Bizniss, and it’s an actual plot-point I have planned myself, just want to see if I can inflict insanity on others: if you have a romance that’s doomed to fail, it starts off going great with the main character thinking they’ve found their soul mate, and can’t imagine life without the other. At some point, the main character walks in on their significant other cheating, and the cheater’s defense is, honestly and with a straight face, “What’s your problem? It’s only my brother/sister!” Bonus points if you get into the main character’s head after this revelation; how they feel about never suspecting something like this would happen, if it’s a bad reflection on themselves for not seeing it coming, etc. More bonus points if the original pairing is hetero but the cheater’s sibling is the same gender.

Naturally, you get bizzarro-world bonus points if the main character is okay with this after hearing that whopper of a line, if it’s believable.

Re: Cell phone dare. I actually know someone who is like that, on his phone at all the inappropriate times. To make matters worse (or at least more comical), it’s normally his mother.

But there are definitely a couple of these I’ll be trying to work in. : )

And here’s my lame attempt at a dare: One partner, in a very frustrated tone, lists for the other the very odd things MC1 loves about MC2, a la When Harry Met Sally.
Bonus points if it’s the same speech from the movie.
Double bonus points if MC2 totally calls out MC1 on it.
Triple bonus points if this makes MC2 love MC1 all the more.

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Shalayla
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Oct 31, 2008 – 16 16
adexia wrote:
Here’s another:
Have one of the MCs be blind, and accidentally kiss other people instead of his/her sweetheart.
Bonus points if the accidental kiss is an old woman.
Double bonus points if it’s a hairy biker.

Yep, an old and hairy female biker it is! So yeah I’ll be taking that dare on, thank you very much it’ll be a funny scene.

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paculina
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Nov 1, 2008 – 21 12
adexia wrote:
Aha! Another one!
Base as much of the plot as possible off a song. Example: My plot is based off Within Temptation’s Hand of Sorrow (The child without a name grew up to be the hand/To watch you, to shield you, or kill on demand)
Bonus points if you can use multiple songs.
Double bonus points if you use rap music or polka!

I did this in 2005 for my NaNo. I used Martina McBride’s Love’s the Only House for the plot. There’s 4 women mentioned in that song, and I made each woman a main character. The narrator, the woman in the grocery store with no money, the pregnant woman with the long-gone boyfriend and I created a teenage couple who live together in the ghetto area across the river.

I didn’t finish it and I should go back to it. I really liked that story.

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em91011
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Nov 2, 2008 – 18 14
LadyTrue wrote:

Dare: One character could be crushing on a member of a band/TV show/movie/etc. (eg FMC is in love with Brendon Urie from Panic At The Disco) and so finds a way to bring up relevant information about the crush, much to the other MC’s annoyance, eg:
MMC: Wow, look at that model
FMC: She’s a handsome woman.
MMC: That was… odd.
FMC: Pretty odd.
MMC: Are you screwing with me?
FMC: Just folkin’ around.
MMC: Are you going to talk properly?
FMC: Build God, then we’ll talk.

(All of FMC’s lines are song titles/an album title, by the way…)

HAHAHA That totally made my day. I can’t take it, because it would stick out too much in my story and because I have such a huge crush on Brendon Urie that if I wrote something like that and my friends ever read it they would slap me, but I wish I could

Dare:
Have your two MCs have a conversation with a third character where they constantly finish each others sentences.
Bonus points if they don’t even notice they’re doing it
Double bonus points if nobody notices they’re doing it.

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Cyrillen
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Nov 4, 2008 – 19 31
em91011 wrote:
HAHAHA That totally made my day. I can’t take it, because it would stick out too much in my story and because I have such a huge crush on Brendon Urie that if I wrote something like that and my friends ever read it they would slap me, but I wish I could

Dare:
Have your two MCs have a conversation with a third character where they constantly finish each others sentences.
Bonus points if they don’t even notice they’re doing it
Double bonus points if nobody notices they’re doing it.
Aww, I love that! I can totally work this into my story. My plot is stagnant, so this would be perfect to infuse some life into the story! Yay!
—
And she rode by every day, just curious about those curious gnomes.

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ZaNeesee14
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Nov 5, 2008 – 10 15
Lain wrote:
daqu wrote:
The Dare: Have one of the characters sneeze during a really romantic kiss
Bonus points if it’s their first kiss
Double bonus points if it’s one of those sneezes that comes with like 20 sneezes
Ha. I think I might snag this one. It made me giggle out loud thinking of my poor little Flynn finally warming up for a kiss…just to sneeze in Jeremiah’s face.

DUDE! I use sneezing in all my work, so it isn’t really a dare, but man, what a great idea! I want to read all those scenes for anyone who dared to do it!

Already my MMC sneezes in the FMC’s direction, which is how they met. HA HA HA HA!

Um, let’s see, I think a good dare would be to write the infamous sand sex type of scene, only write it realistically. Like, where the sand goes up her rear end, and it’s all scratchy, and both lovers are really annoyed with it. Hope that isn’t too stupid or corny.

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Jody1S
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Nov 5, 2008 – 10 34
UptownGirl wrote:
Dare: A main character is attached to his/her cell phone and it’s always ringing at inappropriate times – yet the MC always has to answer it and it’s always the same person on the other end (i.e., work, sibling, friend, parent, child, etc.)
Dare: Main romantic couple is forced to get ready for a big event in the same small space, like a hotel room, or a small apartment with a very small bathroom.

Dare: Couple stuck in a taxi cab in their hometown in rush hour traffic.
Bonus points: Taxi cab driver thinks they’re new to town and gives detailed tour of city.
Double bonus points: Driver starts hitting on one of the main characters and the other main character is not happy, but not yet in love, so can’t explain why he/she is upset.

THANK YOU! I really liked these different scenarios……I can see how they can create a comedic atmosphere, which I’m shooting for, as well as some sexual tension……I will definitely be using this….

These suggestions gave me the idea that the two main characters meet both in a rush for a taxi, so it turns out they share it……..and not knowing that they’re late for their meeting “with each other” the female goes on to talk about how she can’t stand the guy who she’s about to go interview……….of course later on they meet at the meeting…….uh-oh……lol

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ZaNeesee14
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Nov 5, 2008 – 10 51
Jody1S wrote:

These suggestions gave me the idea that the two main characters meet both in a rush for a taxi, so it turns out they share it……..and not knowing that they’re late for their meeting “with each other” the female goes on to talk about how she can’t stand the guy who she’s about to go interview……….of course later on they meet at the meeting…….uh-oh……lol
Oooh, a good one! I like it! Too late to use it in mine, though. But still, great idea!!

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angelkitten
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Nov 6, 2008 – 07 10
ok let me think… ( i hope noone has said this yet ^-^;;)

Have a scene which involves the MMC teaching the FMC how to walk in high heels

ok bonus points…

bonus points if the he is actually able to strut better than the FMC

Double bonus points for twisting his ankle despite his amazing ability to walk in her heels.

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Hope Ramsay
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Nov 6, 2008 – 16 35
I dare anyone to put a Possum in any of their scenes. Bonus points if the Possum’s debut includes landing in someone’s hair. Double bonus points if it lands in someone’s hair during a kissing scene. Bonus points every time the Possum gets mentioned.

OMG, this is perfect for my redneck romance…

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Jody1S
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Nov 7, 2008 – 15 27
Hope Ramsay wrote:
I dare anyone to put a Possum in any of their scenes. Bonus points if the Possum’s debut includes landing in someone’s hair. Double bonus points if it lands in someone’s hair during a kissing scene. Bonus points every time the Possum gets mentioned.
OMG, this is perfect for my redneck romance…

That’s funny!

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PenanceS
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Nov 7, 2008 – 18 40
Actually. if you are blind you have a more acute sense of smell, therefore you would most likely know whom you were kissing was not your beau — unless you were really plastered.

However I have heard of a few friends of mine that were dating and went into his room, and accidentally forgot to seal the door in his dorm room… both of them were blind and started getting it on in his room, in front of the whole dorm

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Jia_Mekare
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Nov 7, 2008 – 19 25
Find a way to use the phrase, “HA! I’m wearing a second towel!”

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asrai
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Nov 8, 2008 – 00 37
Ally_Hallam wrote:
So here’s my really lame first dare:
Have a scene where two characters have a restaurant routine (eg: FMC taking off the olives from their slice of pizza and giving them to MMC, at the same time the MMC takes his mushrooms off his pizza and gives them to the FMC).
Bonus points if they do this without talking.
Double bonus points if the other people dining with them think this is the cutest thing ever, but the MCs just think it’s the most normal thing.
Triple bonus points if they don’t know they’re in love. Yet.
This is awesome for me. My main characters were in love as teenagers eleven years ago and then he left to play pro-hockey. And now (god I am tired of saying: eleven years ago, eleven years have passed. so now everytime i bring it up my characters whine about how tired they are of thinking it), they are back together through the magic of Facebook. *snark*

This will work great into the novel. Her kid will just totally think they are from outer space. Triple points: eh, not so much. Likely it’s they’ve admitted it to themselves but not each other. Fun!

———-

My mind not only wanders sometimes it leaves completly …

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lefty013
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Nov 14, 2008 – 20 19
angelkitten wrote:
ok let me think… ( i hope noone has said this yet ^-^;;)
Have a scene which involves the MMC teaching the FMC how to walk in high heels

ok bonus points…

bonus points if the he is actually able to strut better than the FMC

Double bonus points for twisting his ankle despite his amazing ability to walk in her heels.
I will find a way to use this….. I can see the scene right now…..

Quote:
“Dammit!” I muttered, getting up off of the bench. “How do you walk in these things?”
“It’s easy,” Dimitri sighed.
I froze, looking at him and raising one eyebrow. “And you know this… how?”
“Does it matter?” he replied.
“Kind of,” I answered.
“Look,” he told me, browsing the shelves, looking for a pair of heels big enough to fit him, “I’ll teach you how to walk in them, but I’m not going to tell you how I learned.”
“And why not?” I asked indignantly.
“A guy’s got to have a few secrets. Aren’t girls crazy about mysterious guys?”
I rolled my eyes, sinking down onto the bench beside him as he began to remove his sneakers.
He had found a pair of thick wedges, and began to lace them up around the ankles, tying the ribbons each in a neat bow.
He stood slowly, and began to walk in a small circle.
“It’s all about balance,” he explained, “and it’s all in the leg. Get up.”
I stood slowly, knees shaking slightly.
“It’s not that scary, Steph. And you’ll never keep your balance if you’re trembling like that.”
I rolled my eyes yet again, crossing my arms and trying to balance.
“Good,” he told me. “Now walk.”
I took a few shaky steps.
“Oh, you got this!” he exclaimed. “Why am I showing you this if you can walk like that in heels? Now you just gotta own it!” He snapped in preppy-girl fashion on each of these last four words, as if punctuating a point. He began to strut down one of the aisles, hips shaking, legs crossing just so, flipping his head with each step. One hand was perched on a hip, the other snapped on every other step.
He stopped at the end of the aisle and turned to me, “Your turn.”
I started to walk, attempting to imitate him.
“You suck at this,” he commented. “I’ll show you again. Watch this time.”
“I am watching!” I insisted.
He half-ran to me (quite impressive for being a guy in heels) and stood behind me.
“Move your hips like this,” he told me, putting his hands on my hips and moving them like so. “Hand here, and this arm moves. Go!” I couldn’t help but feel silly as I did so, but found myself getting strangely into it.
“I’m still better,” he said, “but not bad. Now come back towards me.”
As I walked towards him, he backed up, until he hit that stupid bench and fell backwards over it, landing hard against the shelf behind it.
“Holy crap!” I half-yelled, running over to him, stepping right out of my shoes. “Are you okay?”
“Not really,” he answered. “You better have learned a lot.”
He sat up and removed the shoes.
“Look at that!” he exclaimed, gesturing wildly at one swollen ankle. “I hope you’re happy!”
“I’m so sorry!” I sputtered, unsure of what to say.
His face broke into a smile. “I’m just kidding, Steph. It’s only a sprain. I’ve had much worse.”
I WIN that one.

“Those other girls, yeah, they’re beautiful. But would they write a song for you?”

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Bagel_Sigh
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Nov 15, 2008 – 03 47
Totally used the Romeo and Juliet one AND the heels one

Funnily enough the MMC teaching the FMC to walk in heels is about to start a war … why? Well I’m not really sure, but that’s what my characters decided would happen. I’ve pretty much given up trying to control the direction of the story at this point.

So thank you for those! They were both amazing!

DARE: have your MC lose their cell phone somewhere and then have it be returned by someone (love prospect or not) with their name and number programed into it.

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Lady Doom
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Posted on:
Nov 17, 2008 – 14 30
lefty013 wrote:
angelkitten wrote:
ok let me think… ( i hope noone has said this yet ^-^;;)
Have a scene which involves the MMC teaching the FMC how to walk in high heels

ok bonus points…

bonus points if the he is actually able to strut better than the FMC

Double bonus points for twisting his ankle despite his amazing ability to walk in her heels.
I will find a way to use this….. I can see the scene right now…..

Quote:
“Dammit!” I muttered, getting up off of the bench. “How do you walk in these things?”
“It’s easy,” Dimitri sighed.
I froze, looking at him and raising one eyebrow. “And you know this… how?”
“Does it matter?” he replied.
“Kind of,” I answered.
“Look,” he told me, browsing the shelves, looking for a pair of heels big enough to fit him, “I’ll teach you how to walk in them, but I’m not going to tell you how I learned.”
“And why not?” I asked indignantly.
“A guy’s got to have a few secrets. Aren’t girls crazy about mysterious guys?”
I rolled my eyes, sinking down onto the bench beside him as he began to remove his sneakers.
He had found a pair of thick wedges, and began to lace them up around the ankles, tying the ribbons each in a neat bow.
He stood slowly, and began to walk in a small circle.
“It’s all about balance,” he explained, “and it’s all in the leg. Get up.”
I stood slowly, knees shaking slightly.
“It’s not that scary, Steph. And you’ll never keep your balance if you’re trembling like that.”
I rolled my eyes yet again, crossing my arms and trying to balance.
“Good,” he told me. “Now walk.”
I took a few shaky steps.
“Oh, you got this!” he exclaimed. “Why am I showing you this if you can walk like that in heels? Now you just gotta own it!” He snapped in preppy-girl fashion on each of these last four words, as if punctuating a point. He began to strut down one of the aisles, hips shaking, legs crossing just so, flipping his head with each step. One hand was perched on a hip, the other snapped on every other step.
He stopped at the end of the aisle and turned to me, “Your turn.”
I started to walk, attempting to imitate him.
“You suck at this,” he commented. “I’ll show you again. Watch this time.”
“I am watching!” I insisted.
He half-ran to me (quite impressive for being a guy in heels) and stood behind me.
“Move your hips like this,” he told me, putting his hands on my hips and moving them like so. “Hand here, and this arm moves. Go!” I couldn’t help but feel silly as I did so, but found myself getting strangely into it.
“I’m still better,” he said, “but not bad. Now come back towards me.”
As I walked towards him, he backed up, until he hit that stupid bench and fell backwards over it, landing hard against the shelf behind it.
“Holy crap!” I half-yelled, running over to him, stepping right out of my shoes. “Are you okay?”
“Not really,” he answered. “You better have learned a lot.”
He sat up and removed the shoes.
“Look at that!” he exclaimed, gesturing wildly at one swollen ankle. “I hope you’re happy!”
“I’m so sorry!” I sputtered, unsure of what to say.
His face broke into a smile. “I’m just kidding, Steph. It’s only a sprain. I’ve had much worse.”
I WIN that one.

“Those other girls, yeah, they’re beautiful. But would they write a song for you?”

Epic WIN!

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BellaMishka
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Nov 18, 2008 – 00 06
Pennalynn wrote:

I dare anyone to put a Possum in any of their scenes. Bonus points if the Possum’s debut includes landing in someone’s hair. Double bonus points if it lands in someone’s hair during a kissing scene. Bonus points every time the Possum gets mentioned.
Triple bonus points if that Possum ends up dead and is thrown in the back of someone’s car without them knowing. (You know, the Grumpy Old Men trick.)

OMG, this is *too* perfect. I have an “insane Jane” stalking a man in my romantic comedy and I can just see her sneaking a dead possum into his Jeep. . .thank you, thank you, thank you.

I was really stuck, fell behind in my goal of 2000 words a day. Now I think I can spend an afternoon chortling while I write.

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cideon
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Nov 21, 2008 – 15 49
I am taking a few of these for some other time, though none seem to fit just right with my story right now, tis a shame :[ Here's some I'm leaving, hope at least one might be useful to someone:

Use the line: "Did you know your butt looks smaller with clothes on than without?"

Line: "If you really loved me, you'd slit your--OH MY GOD PUT THE KNIFE DOWN!"

Line: "What would it take for you to feed me grapes daily?" *other's answer* "How about weekly?"

Kill off your MC's lover
BP: If the MC does it on purpose or by accident.
DBP: If there's no voodoo, time travel, etc way to bring them back to life.
TBP: If they do get brought back, but they can't love the hero/ine the same way.
QBP: If the only way to revive dead person is for the hero/ine to die.
Billion Bonus Points: If you spend three chapters with them constantly dying back and forth for each other until someone figures out a way for them to BOTH be alive or dead, and/or the story continues in heaven/hell/reincarnation/etc.

Have one lovebird be betrothed to the other's sibling.
BP: If they don't admit it until declaring their love, or during the wedding preparations.
DBP: If they go through with the betrothal, but this sibling is cool with the lovebirds being together regardless while he/she has a special someone elsewhere.

Kill of a side character and have your MC shout out, "NO! MY ONE TRUE LOVE IS GONE!"
BP: Your MC's REAL true love does not take offense.
DBP: MC's real true love actually shares the sentiment.

Have your MC's antagonist be their love interest, though the whole time there is another antagonist they're fighting against.
BP: If the lover/antagonist has a split personality.
DBP: If the MC also has a split personality.
TBP: Through a lot of work on calenders, they figure out a way to make all their personalities happy.

Use a kumquat in your story.
BP: If people keep commenting on how it sounds like a dirty word.
DBP: If it's code for doing the naked tango.
TBP: If a kumquat is actually the key to winning someone's heart.

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Lain
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Nov 22, 2008 - 12 18
Thanks for posting those, cideon. I need something for mine. It's running out of steam.

I steal

Quote:
Line: "If you really loved me, you'd slit your--OH MY GOD PUT THE KNIFE DOWN!"
And the kumquat one too, perhaps. My friends and I have actually discussed that very thing...

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ChocolateLover17
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Nov 22, 2008 - 20 41
Have a scene that invloves:

the boyfriend trying to calm down his girlfriend's mother
bonus points and a chocolate bar: If she's worried because her daughter is not with him

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andreappd
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Nov 24, 2008 - 13 08
ChocolateLover17 wrote:
Have a scene that invloves:
the boyfriend trying to calm down his girlfriend's mother
bonus points and a chocolate bar: If she's worried because her daughter is not with him

taking this one, the pizza one, the talking in song titles one and the romeo and juliet callout one.
thanks, everyone! these are all great.

Dare: have the MMC ask the FMC if he could use her chapstick
+ If it's after one of her girl friends asks.
++ if no one thinks anything of it
+++ if it's right before their first kiss
++++ if the FMC comments on how its one of her favorite flavors of chapstick after the kiss

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tdforrester
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Nov 25, 2008 - 21 47
Dare: Give a character a personality disorder
DBP if it's either schizoid or schizotypal (these are my favorites and not extremely common)
TBP if it's your main character

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Archon_Huskie
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Nov 26, 2008 - 22 20
Include the dialog from this webcomic

http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1282

bonus points if you reverse the genders

Double bonus points if they have said Marrrr before

Triple bonus points if it actually means something significant

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JMorgan
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Dec 11, 2008 - 22 37
Wow... some of these are going to be really helpful for my NaNo next year! So far I've got the pizza scene (reminds me of a similar scenario in a 21 Jump Street episode, actually), the song-based plot (not sure what I can do with that one, but I'll give it a go), the sneeze, the David Hasselhoff swimsuit calendar (for my FMC, gigglesnort), the cross-dressing meet (again, totally my FMC), the gypsies (THANK YOU SO MUCH! You may have just saved the story with the gypsies), and the returned cellphone (which will also be important).

Okay, so...

I dare your characters to actually care that their love is forbidden.
Bonus points if they sit down, talk about it, and calmly decide to stop seeing each other.
Double bonus points if they manage to stay apart until the powers that be allow them to get together in a nonrebellious fashion (for example, parents decide that the MC is old enough to date now).
Triple bonus points if they can do it without pining for each other constantly.

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storyteller_princess
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Dec 14, 2008 - 13 56
cideon wrote:

Kill off your MC's lover
BP: If the MC does it on purpose or by accident.
DBP: If there's no voodoo, time travel, etc way to bring them back to life.
TBP: If they do get brought back, but they can't love the hero/ine the same way.
QBP: If the only way to revive dead person is for the hero/ine to die.
Billion Bonus Points: If you spend three chapters with them constantly dying back and forth for each other until someone figures out a way for them to BOTH be alive or dead, and/or the story continues in heaven/hell/reincarnation/etc.
Hahaha!! I want to use this one!! And I know how I can do it with the QBP part!!!

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FiaFia
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Feb 27, 2009 - 19 58
YAY!
THREE BONUS POINTS!!!

haha

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Anjirika
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Mar 11, 2009 - 22 22
Taking these dares...

Quote:
Dare - Have the cliche 'Character A, who's in a relationship with Character B, walks in as Character C makes a move on Character A, and gets the wrong idea.' Only, at the same time something tragic happens (An earthquake, part of the roof falling down, a pack of wild and savage vampires attack, whatever) and Person A has to decide whether to rish his life to rescue Persons C and B, even though he thinks that they're having an affair.
So here's my really lame first dare:
Have a scene where two characters have a restaurant routine (eg: FMC taking off the olives from their slice of pizza and giving them to MMC, at the same time the MMC takes his mushrooms off his pizza and gives them to the FMC).
Bonus points if they do this without talking.
Double bonus points if the other people dining with them think this is the cutest thing ever, but the MCs just think it's the most normal thing.
Triple bonus points if they don't know they're in love. Yet

Have two of your characters have a whole conversation in song titles.
Bonus points if one of them suddenly says something serious (eg: "Oh, no, here comes a crazed hairdresser armed with a curling iron" ... shush! It's very serious ) and the second character replies with something like, "I don't know that one, how does it go?" before realising that a crazed hairdresser (or whoever) is coming toward them.

If it's set in contemporary times, or at least back when Shakespeare was the new and hip thing, have MC1 compare their couple to Romeo and Juliet, and have MC2 say "What...we meet a few times and then kill ourselves?"

The Dare: Have one of the characters sneeze during a really romantic kiss
Bonus points if it's their first kiss
Double bonus points if it's one of those sneezes that comes with like 20 sneezes

Dare: A main character is attached to his/her cell phone and it's always ringing at inappropriate times - yet the MC always has to answer it and it's always the same person on the other end (i.e., work, sibling, friend, parent, child, etc.)
Dare: Main romantic couple is forced to get ready for a big event in the same small space, like a hotel room, or a small apartment with a very small bathroom.
Dare: Couple stuck in a taxi cab in their hometown in rush hour traffic.
Bonus points: Taxi cab driver thinks they're new to town and gives detailed tour of city.
Double bonus points: Driver starts hitting on one of the main characters and the other main character is not happy, but not yet in love, so can't explain why he/she is upset.
Have a character tell the person who is in love with them that they will be with them if they count all of the sand on a particular beach. Bonus points: The counter is a mathemetician and figures out how to get an approximate count based on science! Double Bonus Points: This totally wins over the other character.

Dare: I dare you to have a band of gypsies crash a scene
BP: if you keep them around for more than scene
TP: if they become major characters
TP and Snaps: if they become integral to the part

One partner, in a very frustrated tone, lists for the other the very odd things MC1 loves about MC2, a la When Harry Met Sally.
Bonus points if it's the same speech from the movie.
Double bonus points if MC2 totally calls out MC1 on it.
Triple bonus points if this makes MC2 love MC1 all the more.

Have your two MCs have a conversation with a third character where they constantly finish each others sentences.
Bonus points if they don't even notice they're doing it
Double bonus points if nobody notices they're doing it.

Have a scene which involves the MMC teaching the FMC how to walk in high heels
ok bonus points...
bonus points if the he is actually able to strut better than the FMC
Double bonus points for twisting his ankle despite his amazing ability to walk in her heels.

Use the line: "Did you know your butt looks smaller with clothes on than without?"
Line: "If you really loved me, you'd slit your--OH MY GOD PUT THE KNIFE DOWN!"
Line: "What would it take for you to feed me grapes daily?" *other's answer* "How about weekly?"
Kill off your MC's lover
BP: If the MC does it on purpose or by accident.
DBP: If there's no voodoo, time travel, etc way to bring them back to life.
TBP: If they do get brought back, but they can't love the hero/ine the same way.
QBP: If the only way to revive dead person is for the hero/ine to die.
Billion Bonus Points: If you spend three chapters with them constantly dying back and forth for each other until someone figures out a way for them to BOTH be alive or dead, and/or the story continues in heaven/hell/reincarnation/etc.
Have one lovebird be betrothed to the other's sibling.
BP: If they don't admit it until declaring their love, or during the wedding preparations.
DBP: If they go through with the betrothal, but this sibling is cool with the lovebirds being together regardless while he/she has a special someone elsewhere.

Kill of a side character and have your MC shout out, "NO! MY ONE TRUE LOVE IS GONE!"
BP: Your MC's REAL true love does not take offense.
DBP: MC's real true love actually shares the sentiment.

Have your MC's antagonist be their love interest, though the whole time there is another antagonist they're fighting against.
BP: If the lover/antagonist has a split personality.
DBP: If the MC also has a split personality.
TBP: Through a lot of work on calenders, they figure out a way to make all their personalities happy.
Use a kumquat in your story.
BP: If people keep commenting on how it sounds like a dirty word.
DBP: If it's code for doing the naked tango.
TBP: If a kumquat is actually the key to winning someone's heart.
he boyfriend trying to calm down his girlfriend's mother
bonus points and a chocolate bar: If she's worried because her daughter is not with him
dare: have the MMC ask the FMC if he could use her chapstick
+ If it's after one of her girl friends asks.
++ if no one thinks anything of it
+++ if it's right before their first kiss
++++ if the FMC comments on how its one of her favorite flavors of chapstick after the kiss
I dare your characters to actually care that their love is forbidden.
Bonus points if they sit down, talk about it, and calmly decide to stop seeing each other.
Double bonus points if they manage to stay apart until the powers that be allow them to get together in a nonrebellious fashion (for example, parents decide that the MC is old enough to date now).
Triple bonus points if they can do it without pining for each other constantly.
Hopefully they'll find a place in next years attempt.

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Crazywriter_18
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Jul 1, 2009 - 17 22
Ally_Hallam wrote:
The Dare Thread looks like a fantabulous idea, but all of the dares there are well... too... fun. And my romance isn't not fun, but it's serious, realistic.
So! I thought, why not make a dare thread specifically for those of us writing romance??
So here's my really lame first dare:
Have a scene where two characters have a restaurant routine (eg: FMC taking off the olives from their slice of pizza and giving them to MMC, at the same time the MMC takes his mushrooms off his pizza and gives them to the FMC).
Bonus points if they do this without talking.
Double bonus points if the other people dining with them think this is the cutest thing ever, but the MCs just think it's the most normal thing.
Triple bonus points if they don't know they're in love. Yet.

Have fun
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"Don’t worry about being a writer, or being a novelist, just, ah, take a walk in your brain. Or a bike ride. In your brain. But don’t drive… that's bad for the environment."
--Hank Green
Im so uesing this its too cute!!! Thanks!!

~Crazywriter_18

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addictwriter
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Posted on:
Jul 13, 2009 - 07 07
So here's my really lame first dare:
Have a scene where two characters have a restaurant routine (eg: FMC taking off the olives from their slice of pizza and giving them to MMC, at the same time the MMC takes his mushrooms off his pizza and gives them to the FMC).
Bonus points if they do this without talking.
Double bonus points if the other people dining with them think this is the cutest thing ever, but the MCs just think it's the most normal thing.
Triple bonus points if they don't know they're in love. Yet.

I am so using that one to!! Will be perfect for my novel!

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Arazia
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Posted on:
Jul 17, 2009 - 17 29
Ally_Hallam wrote:
The Dare Thread looks like a fantabulous idea, but all of the dares there are well... too... fun. And my romance isn't not fun, but it's serious, realistic.
So! I thought, why not make a dare thread specifically for those of us writing romance??
So here's my really lame first dare:
Have a scene where two characters have a restaurant routine (eg: FMC taking off the olives from their slice of pizza and giving them to MMC, at the same time the MMC takes his mushrooms off his pizza and gives them to the FMC).
Bonus points if they do this without talking.
Double bonus points if the other people dining with them think this is the cutest thing ever, but the MCs just think it's the most normal thing.
Triple bonus points if they don't know they're in love. Yet.

Have fun
----------
"Don’t worry about being a writer, or being a novelist, just, ah, take a walk in your brain. Or a bike ride. In your brain. But don’t drive… that's bad for the environment."
--Hank Green
Taking (again) and tweaking slightly! Thanks, I can definitely use this!

A dare from me:
Have a character such as your FMC be walking on, say, the beach, and have your MMC (or the future love interest, be it a girl or whatnot) be taking a jog and accidentally tackle FMC.
BP if they've never met before.
DBP if, when they land, MMC says something like, "Hey, the name's ___. Wanna go out sometime?"
TBP if FMC says something like, "Hey, it's ______. Um, as long as it doesn't include football, I'm good."

Get it? Tackle? Football? I'm the queen of stuff like that in my town.

And I've actually done the dare in real life. (Accidentally tackling my friend, who then became my boyfriend.)
---"If you're a bird, I'm a bird."---The Notebook---

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Paffle_Waffle
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Posted on:
Jul 26, 2009 - 22 44
Archon_Huskie wrote:
Include the dialog from this webcomic
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1282

bonus points if you reverse the genders

Double bonus points if they have said Marrrr before

Triple bonus points if it actually means something significant

I'll take this one! I'm definately going for BP, but I don't know if I'll make it to DBP or TBP.

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Crazywriter_18
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Posted on:
Jul 28, 2009 - 14 47
angelkitten wrote:
ok let me think... ( i hope noone has said this yet ^-^;;)
Have a scene which involves the MMC teaching the FMC how to walk in high heels

ok bonus points...

bonus points if the he is actually able to strut better than the FMC

Double bonus points for twisting his ankle despite his amazing ability to walk in her heels.

I am soooo you useing this one a some point. It will be so much fun to write.
~Crazywriter_18
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Sella
RE: Romance Dare Thread

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Posted on:
Aug 18, 2009 - 06 07
Ally_Hallam wrote:

Have a scene where two characters have a restaurant routine (eg: FMC taking off the olives from their slice of pizza and giving them to MMC, at the same time the MMC takes his mushrooms off his pizza and gives them to the FMC).
Bonus points if they do this without talking.
Double bonus points if the other people dining with them think this is the cutest thing ever, but the MCs just think it's the most normal thing.
Triple bonus points if they don't know they're in love. Yet.
Aah! Perfect for Kate and Nathan in one of my non-nano stories. They're best friends, so it's totally normal for them to do something like that. I can do ALL the bonus points, including the triple one, yay! All their friends think that they'd be the perfect couple, but they always roll their eyes ... they don't realize they're in love for a while. Yay! I <3 comic="1282" v="WJLoBmaOWhg)"> http://www.facebook.com/group.php?sid=36435f30e6cd5356e4240d59f9ef2119&g...

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abba315
RE: Sci-Fi Dare Thread!

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Posted on:
Jul 26, 2009 - 19 13
angharad wrote:
DarkWitch wrote:
have a character who shouts out random Monty pyhton quotes
BP if its at the right time
DP if its at the wrong time
TBP If the other characters wondering if the one character is insane
QBP if the other characters DON'T wonder if the character is insane, and accept this behavior as perfectly normal
5BP if they reply with the next line of the quote

So taking. Probably will get QBP. Love.
I am so going to make sure that the Knights Who Say Ni are in there somewhere. Along with various people shouting 'Ni!' from random directions.
Leaving:
Dare:
Have a character mention Harry Potter indirectly.
BP: if the character tries to use a stick to 'cast a beam of energy'.
DBP: if it doesn't work.
TBP: if it does.
QBP: if the character gets beheaded/blown to pieces (depending on your weapon of choice) anyway.
EDIT: ALSO!
Dare: Name one of your characters Baothghalach. It means "foolish pride" in Gaelic. Yes, it's a real name.
BP: If the character's personality matches the meaning.
DBP: If this is the main character.
TBP: If it is a girl (this is a boy's name).
QBP: If the character doesn't live in Ireland.

Do it.

This one's a concept I've had, then the story it came from faded away from neglect and never-getting-on-paper setbacks. It was meant to be a cliche subversion.

Create a planet that is, in fact, completely covered in snow.
BP if the name is not self-referential to ice, snow, cold things or the people that live there.
DBP if the name has nothing to do with the planet (I once knew an ice planet named Puzzle in a game called Pickle Wars).
TBP if the planet's main economic factors are contributed by ski resorts, so there are more skier tourists than natives on the planet at any given time, including the staff of said ski resorts.
QBP if the indigenous people don't mind the skiers and will occassionally dig one out in case they find one while exploring the snow fields for space salvage.

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iGrievous
RE: Sci-Fi Dare Thread!

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Sep 1, 2009 - 12 58
Have your MC use the quote,"I have a bad feeling about this."
BP if the story or chapter starts out with that line.
TBP if it starts out with that line, because he's trying a new food.
QBP if the food is pizza.

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J.C. MacKenzie
RE: Sci-Fi Dare Thread!

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Sep 18, 2009 - 14 07
I'm also taking a lot, way too many to mention.

DARE:
Have a group of six space hitch-hikers.
BP if you make some kind of reference to Space Balls.
DBP if you make a reference to Firefly and Space Balls.
TBP if the space hitch-hikers have seen Space Balls/Firefly

I figured... Why not? There's a lot of these out there, but I thought I'd get a little specific.

I'll contribute first:

*have your monster/badguy/vampire/demon/whatever killed with a spoon.
**bonus points if you can find a way to make it plausible.
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Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. -Groucho Marx
It is impossible to discourage the real writers - they don't give a damn what you say, they're going to write. ~Sinclair Lewis

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cbaird
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Oct 14, 2008 - 16 13
So are you daring us to come up with a way to do this now, or in our nano novels?

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NotAnotherExit
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Oct 14, 2008 - 16 30
Include a local bug-a-boo / myth as a plausible monster/who-dun-it
Bonus if that's your main monster
Double bonus if it's your main monster, and the characters die because they don't believe in such childish things

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NaNo 2008: Untitled (Goal: 50k) (Urban Fantasy) (Typewriter)
NaNo 2008: Imperial Judge (Goal: 75k) (Dystopia)
NaNo 2008: The Whistler (Goal: 75k) (Horror)

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Mandarino Techie
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Oct 14, 2008 - 22 17
NotAnotherExit wrote:
Include a local bug-a-boo / myth as a plausible monster/who-dun-it
Bonus if that's your main monster
Double bonus if it's your main monster, and the characters die because they don't believe in such childish things
This is actually what I'm aiming for. Well, no main chars are planned to die by it, but it will kill people!

---

Toss in a little homage to your favourite horror/thriller icon: have a character reading The Blue Nowhere or Dracula in the background, or maybe Jeepers Creepers (in classic horror form or Scooby Doo), whatever is your favourite.

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NotAnotherExit
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Oct 14, 2008 - 23 33
Then you're the kind of person I was hoping to find in my non-traditional monster thread! I'm doing something similar, myself, and wanted to know about other people doing the same. I felt lonely in vampire-werewolf-zombie-and-human psycho ville.

Er, another dare, to make it relevant: Make your monster something other than dark of dress/skin/hair/etc.
Bonus if it's all light colors--pastels, white, etc.
Double bonus if the pastel of choice is pink.

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NaNo 2008: Untitled (Goal: 50k) (Urban Fantasy) (Typewriter)
NaNo 2008: Imperial Judge (Goal: 75k) (Dystopia)
NaNo 2008: The Whistler (Goal: 75k) (Horror)

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foxsmoker
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Oct 15, 2008 - 01 49
I dare someone to have their murderer use an unconventional weapon.
2pts for a rubber chicken
5pts for a pair of false teeth
10pts for one of those big novelty #1 baseball gloves.
And a cookie, the Nobel Prize in Everything, and a knighthood if you still manage to scare somebody!

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Amberdulen
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Oct 15, 2008 - 10 04
Bloodless murder.

Bonus points for not using poison.

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><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
2004: Unday: WON -- 2005: Fortune's Fool: WON -- 2007: Hench: WON -- 2008: The Wey of Dolor: WON

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Persistence
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Oct 15, 2008 - 13 24
Plenty o' that here.

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littlemunkiegirl
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Oct 15, 2008 - 14 36
It is to incorporate into the NaNovel for ways to boost your word count!

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Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. -Groucho Marx

It is impossible to discourage the real writers - they don't give a damn what you say, they're going to write. ~Sinclair Lewis

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LeuMasT
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Oct 16, 2008 - 21 58
1 pt: Man must eat his own lung.
10 pt: He survives.

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Javahir
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Oct 18, 2008 - 04 42
LeuMasT wrote:
1 pt: Man must eat his own lung.
10 pt: He survives.
you know, I was actually thinking of doing something similar - mine is probably going to be about gods and stuff, and I was going to have a Prometheus-like character who had to eat some kind of bit of himself every day.

Several years later, from a taxi, you will see someone in a doorway who looks like her, but she will be gone by the time you persuade the driver to stop. You will never see her again.

Whenever it rains you will think of her.

- neil gaiman.

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Imahilus
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Oct 18, 2008 - 05 55
Include a killer bunny in your novel (yes, a monty python reference).
However, when it is thought to be the killer bunny.. it is not.
When it is thought to be a harmless bunny, it is not (as in, its the killer bun-bun! RUN!)

Bonus points if it has (almost) nothing to do with your plot, and only pops up occassionally.
Double bonus points if this bunny is behind it all in the end!
Double the bonus points allready scored if the holy handgrenade is used (which would mean the killer bunny is a normal bunny.. and the killer bunny is still out there!..)

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Michi
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Oct 18, 2008 - 09 32
Imahilus wrote:
Include a killer bunny in your novel (yes, a monty python reference).
However, when it is thought to be the killer bunny.. it is not.
When it is thought to be a harmless bunny, it is not (as in, its the killer bun-bun! RUN!)
Bonus points if it has (almost) nothing to do with your plot, and only pops up occassionally.
Double bonus points if this bunny is behind it all in the end!
Double the bonus points allready scored if the holy handgrenade is used (which would mean the killer bunny is a normal bunny.. and the killer bunny is still out there!..)

Ha! I actually do have a killer bunny idea. My MC is the owner of several pets in my novel, and each one becomes possessed by demons and other spirits. I am not sure if I am going to use this idea or not, but when my plot starts dragging I will do anything crazy to keep it going.

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Krakatoa
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Oct 20, 2008 - 05 44
I'm writing a horror/psychological story, so I'm bookmarking this thread and I'm going to have a stab at incorporating as many as possible.

Kill one of your characters with a music instrument.
Bonus points if it's not a string instrument.
Over 9000 points if the kill shot is to the genitals.

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Hallows_Eve
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Oct 20, 2008 - 09 51
Death by candle.

(no magic, no using the candle to light a fire to victim, nor using the candlestick holder as a blunt instrument)

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Jackalope-Jones
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Oct 21, 2008 - 14 33
Two words: Zombie Ninjas.
(Or maybe Ninja Zombies? Not sure which works better.)

Double points if they're Non-human.
Triple Points if their uniforms/costumes are plaid.

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isotropico
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Oct 22, 2008 - 11 05
10 pt : Murder with hair
Double point if the victim is not killed by his own hair
1000 pt : if its not by hanging or strangulation

EDIT : 100 000pt for a wig murder
(ah ah I love this plot)

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Herefox
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Oct 22, 2008 - 13 26
Use the line:
Sometimes your toys are evil and have to be killed.

Bonus points if the character using it just demolished a toy in front of the kid that owns it.
Double bonus points if the child in question doesn't think the toy was evil and just thinks that Binky was randomly decapitated.
Triple bonus points if that kid grows up to be your villian and it all ties into having witnessed his evil toy be destroyed when he was young and impressionable.

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Nightgaunt
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Oct 22, 2008 - 18 02
Write a horror novel with a really -bizarre- shape shifter. Something just totally nuts. Like a were-parrot.

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Lofwyr
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Oct 23, 2008 - 16 08
One word: tracheobezoar

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sojourn
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Oct 23, 2008 - 23 44
1 point if you have a death as your opening scene
2 points if that person dies in a gory fashion
3 points if that person is an eldery person
4 points if they fought back with a fire axe
and 10 points if that person was your main character. (no Quintin Tarintino'ing and having your last scene first either)
100 points if he doesn't come back (but is still the main character)

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NotAnotherExit
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Oct 24, 2008 - 01 41
1 point if in the end they wake up and it was all a dream.
100 points if this ending means your reader can rest easy at night.

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NaNo 2008: Untitled (Goal: 50k) (Urban Fantasy) (Typewriter)
NaNo 2008: Imperial Judge (Goal: 75k) (Dystopia)
NaNo 2008: The Whistler (Goal: 75k) (Horror)

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mrmitts
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Oct 24, 2008 - 13 29
10 points: the entire story takes place in daylight
20 points: there is no darkness (even shadows) at all in the story due to high-power artificial lightings

10 points: a priest/rabbi/vicar etc. turns up in the story and gets everything completely wrong
20 points: he does that and survives!
30 points: he not only screws up and survives but saves the day too!
Finish the bottle: he upstages the hero and gets the girl!

1 points: the MCs must think of a cover story for some spooky activity
5 points: their story sucks big cheese
10 points: their story sucks so much it attracts national media attention

5 points: the small-town white-bread police aren't a bunch of racist redneck hillbillies
15 points: the small-town white-bread police ARE a bunch of racist redneck hillbillies, but are professional about it!
40 points: racist small-town redneck hick police are the MCs!
Just finish the damn bottle: and it's not set in America!

10 points: the villain turns out to be a minor deity
20 points: ... a minor deity nobody's heard of, so forcing him/her/it to explain who he/she/it is
30 points: the villain's a MAJOR deity (Kali, Christ, Allah etc.)
50 points: ... and no one believes them even when they say so!
100 points: ... and no one knows what deity that is!

15 points: someone takes one for the team, and it was actually completely worthless
25 points: the team takes one for the 'hero' and he screws up
30 points: ... and dies too

50 points: there's a logical explanation as to how the serial-killer villain can Keep Getting Back Up (and it doesn't involve magic, nanobots or bullet-proof vests)

20 points: there's more than one serial-killer villain
40 points: and most of the plot revolves around them trying to kill each other!

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Ayako
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Oct 25, 2008 - 19 37
I'm liking that strangled with hair one Totally gonna have to work that in!

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And I will look at these scars and shove my despair aside, and forthwidth shall come a grand total of 100,000 words!

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Flibleene
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Oct 26, 2008 - 13 21
If the bad monster starts monologuing.
BP: Your monster can't speak the language your MC speaks.
DBP: At the end of the monologue your MC or whoever was captured asks him to repeat what he just said.
TBP: If the monster repeats everything in the same language.

The bad guy tells his victims how he's going to kill them, when and where, but they still get killed.
BP: If he kills them all by poking them with a poin-ted stick.
DBP: If one of the characters says: "I wish they taught me how to defend myself against poin-ted sticks!"
TBP: If that victim was British.
Some cookies if you know what that's from.

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Krakatoa
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Oct 31, 2008 - 07 17
Your bad guy is a Conservative!

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Vulpine_Wolf
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Oct 31, 2008 - 13 00
Amberdulen wrote:
Bloodless murder.
Bonus points for not using poison.

Do broken necks count? I'm going to have a few snapped necks in my story.

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Philosophie
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Oct 31, 2008 - 15 05
Points: If your villain is a close relative of an already-known villain (ie. Freddy Kreuger from Nightmare On Elm Street).
Bonus points: If your villain is an illegitimate child of the villain, and has never met said villain.
Triple points: If your villain is the child of a villain that nobody knows about, and has to explain who his/her mother/father is several times through the story.
Quadruple points: If your villain gets their parent's name wrong constantly, and someone else corrects them (eg. 'Don't you mean...?')

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rmckinney
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Oct 31, 2008 - 15 16
Bonus: if your monster/creature has some sort of pet (non-human) that it obsesses over and puts its safety first

2X bonus: If your monster uses a hamster ball with the pet

4 X Infinity bonus: If your monster takes pet on murder sprees with it and uses said pet as murder weapon. Killer Ninja Hamster attack!!!!!!

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bunnyfoot
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Oct 31, 2008 - 15 52
Your good guy turns out to be the bad guy.

Bonus points if your bad guy remains a bad guy, meaning your story never actually had a good guy.

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ashtastic
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Oct 31, 2008 - 22 49
1 point: The serial killer's victims are all secretly killers/rapists/criminals/etc themselves.
5 points: They were all on a first name basis with the serial killer.
50 points: They committed crimes in the past with the serial killer.
100 points: Eventually it's revealed that all of their deaths were staged and were part of the plan.
500 points: This contributes to the main character's death.
1000 points: In the end, the serial killer then decides to really kill his accomplices that were faking their deaths.
5000 points: The serial killer also kills themselves.
Ultimate win: The serial killer was the main character's grandfather

Whoa, I got a little carried away with that, yeah?

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RavenWild
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Nov 1, 2008 - 02 16
Have your main character go the whole book without using conventional weapons.

Bonus points if s/he finds a gun and doesn't know how to use it.

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RavenWild
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Nov 1, 2008 - 02 13
((Whoops, didn't mean to double post))

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Towefin
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Nov 4, 2008 - 23 01
Okay you guys, come on! Let's get serious.

When you see the words "Horror Dare Thread" don't you think that the dares should make you afraid to implement them? What I've seen so far is child's play and, like the movie, kinda lame. I say it's time to push the envelope. The dares, if you do them, should make you feel guilt, and should make you feel as though you are turning to the dark side.

100 Points: All your victims are cute children
1000 Points: one of the children who dies is mentally handicapped
10000 Points: Make the other children laugh at how the mentally challenged child died.
100000 Points: Make the mentally challenged kid come back from the dead to feast upon the flesh of the kids who laughed at him.

the adults must be either too apathetic or too stupid to care

*bonus* Justify it all by having a big, touching moral at the end that teaches us all that we should never laugh at people who are different from us.

Since I am quite confident that I will get kicked from the site for good for this one, I will miss you all, and you will always be in my prayers. Goodbye.

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carlottastjean
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Nov 5, 2008 - 01 57
how about killer squirrels instead of a killer bunny?

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Jordy Bhoy 2K8
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Nov 5, 2008 - 05 53
10 points if you use as much game references as possible.

100 points if the main charactor of said game shows up

1000 points if it turns out the main charactor is actually just a dude in a costume, but everyone thinks he is the real thing

10000 points if the dude in the costume is mentally handicapped and himself believes he is the real thing.

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Dataphile
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Posted on:
Nov 6, 2008 - 10 43
Are you familiar with The Luggage?

Make some other household object - furniture, sink, desk light, laptop, closet, whatever - as frightening as The Luggage.

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The preceding article has been approved for publishing because it serves the cause of the Dark.
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SmRutledge13
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Nov 6, 2008 - 20 05
Are water balloons filled with gasoline unconventional enough for you? Because its already in my book... heh.

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SmRutledge13
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Nov 6, 2008 - 20 07
Are water balloons filled with gasoline unconventional enough for you? Because its already in my book... heh.

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SmRutledge13
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Nov 6, 2008 - 20 12
Three points to me. Just read my Excerpt. Opening scene is the brutal murder and cannibalization of a teenage girl using a meat hook and cleaver.

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SmRutledge13
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Nov 6, 2008 - 20 17
10 points: the entire story takes place in daylight
20 points: there is no darkness (even shadows) at all in the story due to high-power artificial lightings

20 points: there's more than one serial-killer villain
40 points: and most of the plot revolves around them trying to kill each other!

My story is about a serial slasher reality show. Most of the murders take place in broad daylight, or under the bright light of a television camera. There are five contestants (killers) and the whole point is to be the last one living to win the contest.

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Artyr
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Nov 7, 2008 - 02 54
Quote:
Kill one of your characters with a music instrument.
Bonus points if it's not a string instrument.

How about a clarinet down the throat?
You know, I always thought string instruments were weak anyway.
Quote:
10 points: the villain turns out to be a minor deity
50 points: there's a logical explanation as to how the serial-killer villain can Keep Getting Back Up (and it doesn't involve magic, nanobots or bullet-proof vests)

It might be a minor deity, but I'm not sure. It definately won't be from a real religion though.
How about they can keep getting up cause they're a minor deity? It's not magic, I swear!
Quote:
Have your main character go the whole book without using conventional weapons.
Bonus points if s/he finds a gun and doesn't know how to use it.

She'll probably use both unconventional and conventional weapons (her first is a baseball bat) but she definately won't know how to use a gun. Well, she will, but just in the sense of aim and pull the trigger.
25 pts. Okay, now I dare you to have your character(s) notice a series of random and trivial but interconnected events that have no impact on the story whatsoever throughtout at least half of the story . Like, say, a dog chasing a cat or something.
50 pts. if it teaches the character(s) a moral of some kind.
75 pts. if that moral helps them in the main story.
100 pts. if the event turns out to actually affect the outcome of an important event (especially the most important one).

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Dataphile
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Posted on:
Nov 11, 2008 - 10 47
Include a cosmic horror named Hihukh'nautb'pr'nownstph'net'klee.

If you don't get it, try saying it out loud.

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The preceding article has been approved for publishing because it serves the cause of the Dark.
--Day Watch

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jmedward
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Posted on:
Nov 14, 2008 - 15 00
Dataphile wrote:
Include a cosmic horror named Hihukh'nautb'pr'nownstph'net'klee.
If you don't get it, try saying it out loud.

Hooked on phonics worked for me. Plus, I need a name for the monster. But my guess is that by final edit I will remove any and all reference to it by name, so consider this one just borrowed for a while. I'll share.

Adjectives on the typewriter
He moves his words like a prize fighter
The frenzied pace of the mind inside the cell
-Cake

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Adjectives on the typewriter
He moves his words like a prize fighter
The frenzied pace of the mind inside the cell
-Cake

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jmedward
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Nov 14, 2008 - 15 19
One of my characters was up late watching a bad horror movie on television, while another was busy being eaten next door. My sleep deprived brain momentarily flashed back to the Evil Fuzzy Bunny Slippers™ from my 2006 NaNoWriMo Novel in coming up with the plot synopsis for the movie, and I just had to share / dare:

* Include one or more pairs of sentient shoes.
* Bonus points if the shoes kill people.
* Double bonus points if the shoes kill people in unexpected ways. I would assume everyone reading this has already thought of strangling someone by the laces or tripping them down the stairs.
*Triple bonus points if one of the murders is by "gassing" the victim to death with presumed foot odor.
*Record number of bonus points if the deadly shoes become the central plot to your novel... plus, let me know and I'll use your novel title as the bad horror movie my character was watching.

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Adjectives on the typewriter
He moves his words like a prize fighter
The frenzied pace of the mind inside the cell
-Cake

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Ayako
RE: Horror Dare Thread

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Posted on:
Nov 16, 2008 - 21 39
1pt if the victim was tortured first
5pts if the murderer had to keep the vicitim alive (pay for hospital treatment exct) due to a prior injury before the murder (like the murderer wants to kill the person, but not when that person is already half dead)
10pts if he proceeds to track and kill family
15pts if he goes as far as distant family that relates back to the great great great great something grandmother/father

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Dreamer of Inescapable Nightmares
ぜつぼした！
And I will look at these scars and shove my despair aside, and forthwidth shall come a grand total of 100,000 words!

Dare: Describe your novel in one concise sentence...

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Nov 19, 2008 - 13 25
I was just chuckling over some of the answers in the thread "You know you're writing literary fiction when...", and it came to me that I'd love to hear what everyone's novels are about, in one concise sentence. They say it's important to be able to sum up your novel in one sentence - a kind of "pitch" line for selling it - and it made me intensely curious. Can we (literary ficcers) do it, without providing paragraphs of supporting explanation?

I'm betting the answers will be illuminating and funny all at once.

As a first stab at my novel I offer the following sentence. Of course... I'll need to think about it some more...

"This is a coming-of-middle-age story about a woman who may or may not be real, who hears and sees people who may or may not be real."

Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 8, 2008 - 08 19
We needed one. I saw a dare go down in another thread, so we definitely need a thread just for dares.

Go for it!
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mdiamond
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 8, 2008 - 12 08
Me and my friends already do this stuff Inside jokes, and ridiculous things our teachers come out with...payment in gummy bears.

I dear somebody to get the phrase "rabid hamster" into their first chapter - that's one of our official dares from every year haha.

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soavezefiretto
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 8, 2008 - 15 25
mdiamond wrote:
Me and my friends already do this stuff Inside jokes, and ridiculous things our teachers come out with...payment in gummy bears.
I dear somebody to get the phrase "rabid hamster" into their first chapter - that's one of our official dares from every year haha.

I'll take you up on that one.

2007: Untitled Novel About Poetry-Quoting Ninja-Girl and Anguished Catholic Detective - FAIL (but it was still a cool idea)

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Raquelin
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 8, 2008 - 15 26
mdiamond: Oh, done.

I dare [generic you] to incorporate weasels and toothpaste somehow.

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Jha’Meia
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 8, 2008 – 15 37
Raquelin wrote:
mdiamond: Oh, done.
I dare [generic you] to incorporate weasels and toothpaste somehow.

Double bonus points if it also involves hedgehogs.
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sixleaf
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 9, 2008 – 10 16
I concur that we need our own dares over here. Here are a few:

-Give one of your characters and office supply fetish, such as enjoying going at it in piles of printer paper. Bonus points if the character enjoys drawing on the other person (or being drawn on) with Sharpies, and it has to be Sharpie brand.

-Give a character a sixth toe. Have this sixth toe become very important to the novel. Bonus points if the toe get severed at some point.

-Have a character dream that she or he has a horrible skin condition (such as boils all over the body). Have him or her wake up still thinking the boils are there, finally decide to bear it and live with the condition, only to tear off the blankets and discover the boils are not actually there. (An actual experience of a friend of mine.)

-Include a character that enjoys dousing herself in perfume (or himself in cologne) and other people avoid this person because it’s too strong. Bonus points if the perfume is something your grandmother would wear.

-Include a character that often uses large words incorrectly. Bonus points if this is the narrator of your novel.

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beanerd
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 9, 2008 – 11 49
-Have a character whose only form of transportation is a unicycle.
–Bonus points if the unicycle can fly.
—Double bonus points if it timetravels.

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daeviant
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 9, 2008 – 11 59
- Have a character go through surgery to remove bottfly larva from his but cheek.

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joanarc4
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 9, 2008 – 13 56
sixleaf wrote:
I concur that we need our own dares over here. Here are a few:
-Include a character that often uses large words incorrectly. Bonus points if this is the narrator of your novel.

On it. In fact, I already have a character that thinks he’s smarter than he is, so this works perfectly. Although he isn’t the narrator, he’s the too-interested and not-subtle-enough co-worker who makes the protagonist want to hide under her desk every time he walks by.

Here’s a new dare: Start each scene with a sequential letter of the alphabet (as in, the first sentence of you novel might start with “After” and the first sentence of the second scene might start with “Buttons”). When you get to the end, start at the beginning again. Bonus points if you work this *into* your novel in some way.

–joanarc4

NanoWrimo 2006: Green Mountain Getaway
NanoWrimo 2007: Sudden Orientation
NanoWrimo 2008: The Milkman

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japeningrish
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Posted on:
Oct 9, 2008 – 23 00
joanarc4 wrote:

Here’s a new dare: Start each scene with a sequential letter of the alphabet (as in, the first sentence of you novel might start with “After” and the first sentence of the second scene might start with “Buttons”). When you get to the end, start at the beginning again.
I may try that in some form.

________________________
Oh, the insanity.

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evelyn
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 10, 2008 – 00 36
sixleaf wrote:
Give a character a sixth toe. Have this sixth toe become very important to the novel. Bonus points if the toe get severed at some point.
Oooh! That’s perfect!
My main character is going to be the ugliest woman on a (small, Scottish, 15th C.) island, and giving her a sixth toe would be great…
…Or else maybe I’ll give her mother the sixth toe, and have it play a crucial role in her (the mom’s) early demise (an impromptu amputation, maybe… ) (Hey! – Then I’d get the bonus points, too!)

The sixth toe would play nicely into the whispers and suspicions that MC’s mom is/was a witch, which contribute to MC’s ostracism, which will be part of the complex personal and societal issues with which I plan to grapple when I’m not busy severing people’s putatively demonic toes.

Cool!

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AnnaBou
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 10, 2008 – 22 58
sixleaf wrote:

-Give one of your characters and office supply fetish, such as enjoying going at it in piles of printer paper. Bonus points if the character enjoys drawing on the other person (or being drawn on) with Sharpies, and it has to be Sharpie brand.
But then it would be a memoir!!!!

(snicker…!)

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Circus
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 11, 2008 – 09 24
- Write one (probably short) chapter using only words that are one syllable.

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crimsonbutterfly23
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 11, 2008 – 15 28
I will do the botfly one. As punishment to my characters who have told me nothing one of their bonding experiences will be one of them somehow getting botflies and then having to get surgery. The sad thing? I am actually really excited about this now.

Random: have a character who knows all there is to know about air fresheners. B.P if they are the narrator and randomly insert metaphors relating to them into conversations or narration.(for example “I looked at him hatefully. I would imagine that my glare would smell like a glade plug in that’s gone bad. I just bought one of those last week and it made me very angry”. LOL that sounds like word padding XD) FAIL. That’s actually a similie -_-’

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thatollie
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Posted on:
Oct 11, 2008 – 22 33
Here’s a few lines for you to consider using…

“Stay away from my lamppost!”

“Yay, putting it down.”

“Does this qualify for a high five?”

and you go into super bonus collecting mode if they’re all in the same scene.

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excentryke
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 12, 2008 – 12 15
Dare: have your character secretly believe that he is a character in your favorite novel and act accordingly. For instance, an office worker who thinks he’s MR TUMNUS from THE LION, THE WITCH, and THE WARDROBE. He can always go around in a winter coat even when it’s summer, complain that it’s never Christmas even on Christmas Day, and mumbles to himself about what a bad faun he is whenever he can’t get his computer to work.

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thatollie
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 12, 2008 – 23 23
excentryke wrote:
Dare: have your character secretly believe that he is a character in your favorite novel and act accordingly. For instance, an office worker who thinks he’s MR TUMNUS from THE LION, THE WITCH, and THE WARDROBE. He can always go around in a winter coat even when it’s summer, complain that it’s never Christmas even on Christmas Day, and mumbles to himself about what a bad faun he is whenever he can’t get his computer to work.
This dare is too realistic for litfic.

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CedwardPattinsonian
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 13, 2008 – 15 01
no, it’s not. i think as long as someone didn’t make any direct references to that book (that includes saying ‘faun’) then it would be fine. it could just be something you mix in there that readers won’t even realize.

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ninelifewriter5
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 14, 2008 – 05 07
thatollie wrote:
Here’s a few lines for you to consider using…
“Stay away from my lamppost!”

“Yay, putting it down.”

“Does this qualify for a high five?”

and you go into super bonus collecting mode if they’re all in the same scene.

Done! (Well, will be doing…)

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thatollie
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 14, 2008 – 06 59
CedwardPattinsonian wrote:
no, it’s not. i think as long as someone didn’t make any direct references to that book (that includes saying ‘faun’) then it would be fine. it could just be something you mix in there that readers won’t even realize.

No, I meant that people believing they’re characters from a novel is a regularly occurring thing. And I should know because I’m a hobbit. [No, really.]
ninelifewriter5 wrote:
thatollie wrote:
Here’s a few lines for you to consider using…
“Stay away from my lamppost!”

“Yay, putting it down.”

“Does this qualify for a high five?”

and you go into super bonus collecting mode if they’re all in the same scene.

Done! (Well, will be doing…)

Please, please, please, please post it here. Did I mention please?
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Ryn
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 14, 2008 – 10 34
sixleaf wrote:
I concur that we need our own dares over here. Here are a few:
-Give one of your characters and office supply fetish, such as enjoying going at it in piles of printer paper. Bonus points if the character enjoys drawing on the other person (or being drawn on) with Sharpies, and it has to be Sharpie brand.
I believe Adrie, one of my MCs, would fit perfectly with this dare. It’s just so her. She would be so likely to draw various flowers on Sonya’s arms while she’s sleeping. XD

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Jha’Meia
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 14, 2008 – 19 46
sixleaf wrote:

-Include a character that often uses large words incorrectly. Bonus points if this is the narrator of your novel.

Double bonus points if MC’s name is Dogberry.
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mdieva
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 15, 2008 – 11 43
…there is a character who does not brush his teeth for what he refers to as “moral reasons.” bonus points if the ensuing bad breath and/or english smile becomes a major plot point.

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annzter
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 15, 2008 – 14 10
sixleaf wrote:
I
-Include a character that enjoys dousing herself in perfume (or himself in cologne) and other people avoid this person because it’s too strong. Bonus points if the perfume is something your grandmother would wear.

I’m absolutely going for this one, thanks!
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Naoise.
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 15, 2008 – 17 13
Quote:
-Have a character dream that she or he has a horrible skin condition (such as boils all over the body). Have him or her wake up still thinking the boils are there, finally decide to bear it and live with the condition, only to tear off the blankets and discover the boils are not actually there. (An actual experience of a friend of mine.)
Totally going for it, since it’ll fit in nicely with one of my central themes (the fact that people spend their lives preparing for things that will never happen.) Yeah, I’ll actually try to take it seriously. Destined to fail, much?

I’ll throw in a few of my own!

—Have an entire scene devoted to a character jumping on a trampoline. (Bonus points if the trampoline symbolises the working class and the jumping character symbolises the social factors oppressing them.)
—Have a character who collects human hair and makes all their clothes, soft furnishings etc. out of it.
—Start a chapter with the line, ‘My life is like a dildo.’
—Resolve a deep conflict through the drinking of pea soup, preferably making puns related to ‘peas’ and ‘peace’ in the process.
—Every few paragraphs or so, have the word, ‘DINGOES!’ appear, uppercase mandatory. (Bonus points if it’s different characters.)

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bellelettres
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 16, 2008 – 07 11
Naoise. wrote:
—Have an entire scene devoted to a character jumping on a trampoline. (Bonus points if the trampoline symbolises the working class and the jumping character symbolises the social factors oppressing them.)
—Start a chapter with the line, ‘My life is like a dildo.’
—Every few paragraphs or so, have the word, ‘DINGOES!’ appear, uppercase mandatory. (Bonus points if it’s different characters.)

I might try one of these. Or a variation (on the word ‘DINGOES!’) In utter, complex seriousness of course. Or maybe just because it’d be ridiculous and thus FUN.

Here, some of my dares:

- Have a character declare sovereignty and make his home+adjoining land (or any space he owns) a mini-country.
- Include karaoke, in whatever form.
- Recall the most delicious meal you’ve ever had and insert into your novel descriptions of it so vivid that anyone who reads it would be drooling and crying about their pathetic culinary experiences thus far.
- Make a character’s life mission the (eternally unsuccessful) quest for larger feet. And link it to Freud.
- Insert freudian slips! Frequently!

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late_stranger
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 17, 2008 – 20 49
Quote:
-Include a character that often uses large words incorrectly. Bonus points if this is the narrator of your novel.

I had to say something: I used to do this in real life with my friends, but I stopped after the time when I heard the word I used incorrectly used by my friend, incorrectly, two days later. It was the same incorrect usage… ooops. ;D

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mistress_siana
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 18, 2008 – 19 43
- Have a character declare sovereignty and make his home+adjoining land (or any space he owns) a mini-country.

I’m in love with this dare. I’ll have to invent a whole new character to make it work, but still.

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ninelifewriter5
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 18, 2008 – 20 28
thatollie wrote:
ninelifewriter5 wrote:
thatollie wrote:
Here’s a few lines for you to consider using…
“Stay away from my lamppost!”

“Yay, putting it down.”

“Does this qualify for a high five?”

and you go into super bonus collecting mode if they’re all in the same scene.

Done! (Well, will be doing…)

Please, please, please, please post it here. Did I mention please?
Sure thing. Man, that’s going to fun to write!

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bellelettres
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 19, 2008 – 07 39
Mistress_siana wrote:
- Have a character declare sovereignty and make his home+adjoining land (or any space he owns) a mini-country.

I’m in love with this dare. I’ll have to invent a whole new character to make it work, but still.

I want to see what happens (: I’ve always wanted to use that but it never worked out so I’m glad some one’s doing it. Hah to you, ninja plot bunny!

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Jha’Meia
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 19, 2008 – 16 13
Naoise. wrote:

—Start a chapter with the line, ‘My life is like a dildo.’

Double bonus points if it’s qualified with “of the vibrating bunny kind.”
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Raquelin
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 19, 2008 – 19 28
Jha’Meia wrote:
Naoise. wrote:

—Start a chapter with the line, ‘My life is like a dildo.’

Double bonus points if it’s qualified with “of the vibrating bunny kind.”
Triple bonus points if you proceed to go on a long tangent on the specifications of the particular dildo.

————
What am I doing still awake?

…Oh wait.

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LFH
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 19, 2008 – 22 46
(Wouldn’t the vibrating bunny ones make bad dildos?)

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Jha’Meia
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 20, 2008 – 09 10
LFH wrote:
(Wouldn’t the vibrating bunny ones make bad dildos?)

(It possibly would, if you were a dude.)
- Have your main character eat pizza, and make the pizza a metaphor for his/her life.
DBP if you include descriptions for the toppings.
TBP if you include condiments and garlic bread.

- Your character drinks a wine named after an obscure authour.

- Your character has a monologue filled with sound and fury, signifying nothing.

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Milesian
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 20, 2008 – 13 20
I cal this one, I’ve got a good idea *smirks*

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sixleaf
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 20, 2008 – 13 37
MORE:

-Include some organization that’s essential to the story and give it an acronym for a name, but never explain what the letters in the acronym stand for.

-Another one based on a friend’s dream: Have a character become impregnated by an animal, but don’t treat it as though it’s a scientific breakthrough. Have the concerns be more mundane such as what precautions must be made for the delivery? Or perhaps the pregnant person is distraught because the birth of this child will mean that her parents will find out she had sex with that animal.
*Bonus points if the animal is a whale.

-Have two characters end a relationship or a friendship over the pirates vs. ninjas debate.

-Include a character with no directional ability but is always being asked for directions, thus providing false ones.
*Bonus points if the character gets lost in his or her own home.
*Double bonus points if the character lives in a studio apartment.

-Give a character a really odd prejudice, such as hating people with freckles.
*Bonus points if you include a tragic story explaining why the character feels this way.

-Have one of your characters be a poet. Make them think they are superb at writing poetry. Include their poetry, but have it be really awful.
*Bonus points if they are all Cinquain poems.

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Arishna1
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 21, 2008 – 21 32
sixleaf wrote:
-Have a character dream that she or he has a horrible skin condition (such as boils all over the body). Have him or her wake up still thinking the boils are there, finally decide to bear it and live with the condition, only to tear off the blankets and discover the boils are not actually there. (An actual experience of a friend of mine.)
I’m definitely going to try to fit this one in…it would be perfect for one of my characters! (and maybe a few thousand words lol)

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mdieva
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 21, 2008 – 21 54
Jha’Meia wrote:
- Your character has a monologue filled with sound and fury, signifying nothing.
shit, i’m writing an entire book like that.

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Fanelia
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 22, 2008 – 08 49
bellelettres wrote:

- Have a character declare sovereignty and make his home+adjoining land (or any space he owns) a mini-country.
- Include karaoke, in whatever form.
I’ll do both. One of my characters happens to be a very livid and crazy hobo. He carries around a cardboard box because he decides he might as well fit the stereotypes.

Also, Karaoke is great.

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sixleaf
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 22, 2008 – 10 22
-Use this quote: “Don’t blame the toilet paper when you’re the one who’s constipated.”
*Bonus points if it’s not a part of dialogue.

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Reese_Roper
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 22, 2008 – 21 46
sixleaf wrote:
MORE:
-Include some organization that’s essential to the story and give it an acronym for a name, but never explain what the letters in the acronym stand for.

-Have two characters end a relationship or a friendship over the pirates vs. ninjas debate.

-Include a character with no directional ability but is always being asked for directions, thus providing false ones.
*Bonus points if the character gets lost in his or her own home.
*Double bonus points if the character lives in a studio apartment.

-Give a character a really odd prejudice, such as hating people with freckles.
*Bonus points if you include a tragic story explaining why the character feels this way.

-Have one of your characters be a poet. Make them think they are superb at writing poetry. Include their poetry, but have it be really awful.
*Bonus points if they are all Cinquain poems.

Doing. All of these. Yes.

-Have a character start their own religion.
–BP if they truely believe it
–TP if they worship pencil sharpeners
—QP if this is not for self-harm reasons

-Mention everyone’s socks. Color, length, etc.
–BP if this is essential to the plot.

-Include a garment made of entirely out of duct tape.
–BP if someone wears it.

-Make a character’s school one floor and one hallway
–BP if this is a metaphor for their life.

-Include the following letter (by the way, this is a real letter my friend’s dad wrote in someone’s yearbook back in high school):
“To a chick that I never did groove ’cause you were just way too far out for me to dig. Stay outta trouble, man, and be a good chick to the dudes.”

–BP if it has nothing to do with the 60s.

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xWallflower
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 23, 2008 – 05 27
Taking:

- Get the phrase rabid hamster into the first chapter.
- Have a character who does not brush his teeth for what he refers to as “moral reasons”.
- Have two characters end a relationship or friendship over the pirates vs. ninjas debate.

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Melpomenesangel
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 23, 2008 – 11 22
sixleaf wrote:
-Use this quote: “Don’t blame the toilet paper when you’re the one who’s constipated.”
*Bonus points if it’s not a part of dialogue.
I call!

I think I can fit it in

how about:

-A character says ‘steak?’ in a conversation about shoes.

DBP if it’s not a waiter

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Clare_W
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 23, 2008 – 11 54
I took loads, so:

–Have a character who says “in your pants!!!” at the end of every sentence anyone else says
– –BP if they turn something normal like badminton into a euphemism
– — –DBP if someone who doesn’t get the joke arrives sweaty with messed up hair “I was just playing badminton, and you’ll NEVER GUESS WHAT HAPPENED”
– — – TBP and epic win if whatever happened has something to do with sex.

–Have a character change accent frequently
– –BP if they use foreign accents often
– — –DBP if they start speaking in languages no one else knows
– — – –TBP if they start speaking in languages THEY don’t know
– — – — –Lemon meringue pie if they ask other people what they just said because they can’t understand their accents.

–Start a chapter with the line “As (MC) walked down the street, a dirty nappy (/diaper) hit her in the face.”

–Use any of the lines
“People are like grapes. They go brown and wrinkly if you leave them in the sun for too long”
“…and that’s why fluffy ducks are evil.”
“…so gum disease could very easily be prevented if people just did more knitting!”

I’ll add some more if I think of them.

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Woodsmoke
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 24, 2008 – 09 03
Clare_W wrote:
I took loads, so:
–Use any of the lines
“…and that’s why fluffy ducks are evil.”

I’m nabbing that one. It’s perfect for Devlin!

The Woodsmoke Blog! http://woodsmoke22.wordpress.com/
2007: The Darkest Twist

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Clare_W
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 24, 2008 – 16 49
=D Glad I could help.

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Roecourt
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 25, 2008 – 12 36
*Use the phrase “Because splitting up into just two separate groups isn’t enough.” (otherwise known as “Scooby Doo Syndrome”).

*A cameo by a prior boyfriend/girlfriend.

*Two characters get involved in the “tea vs coffee” debate and end up taking each other’s sides.

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Crossblades08
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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*Have a scene with a character who uses incomprehensible/ridiculous similes at least two times.

*Have a character who wakes up from a dream about pink frosted doughnuts with sprinkles.
**Double points if…
You then have another character interpret the dream as being profound.

*Include a school/university with a name whose acronym spells out a silly word.

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Bessie_Boo
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 25, 2008 – 17 59
There will be such a hamster in my novel, and his name will be Derek…

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BaKa-NEKO
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 26, 2008 – 02 09
Naoise. wrote:

—Start a chapter with the line, ‘My life is like a dildo.’
Pff, done XD Do I get Bonus Points if my story is written in the third person?

sixleaf wrote:
-Have two characters end a relationship or a friendship over the pirates vs. ninjas debate.
I can’t nab it this time around, but I’ve done this before (they didn’t break it off, per se, but it was a pretty heated arguement).

Roecourt wrote:
*Two characters get involved in the “tea vs coffee” debate and end up taking each other’s sides.
I love this. Taking.

Leaving:

Character constantly makes obscure references to old or otherwise unknown bands or forms of music
–Double Points if it’s your MC of a close supporting character
–Triple Points if your story takes place in a time period prior to the band coming into existence

Character constantly wears sunglasses, even into buildings and at night, and as a result is always bumping into things
–Double Points if they never come off
–Triple Points if they’re misplaced, and searching for them is an integral part of the plot

Always carries around an old, chunky calculator
Character collects lampshades
–BaKa-NEKO
(I’m Your Friendly Neighbourhood)

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kosure
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 26, 2008 – 09 35
sixleaf wrote:
-Include a character that often uses large words incorrectly. Bonus points if this is the narrator of your novel.
Accepted.

I dare ‘you’ to use the trope of a broken window guillotine-ing the bad guy in the end, a la “Ghost.”

BaKa-NEKO wrote:
Character constantly makes obscure references to old or otherwise unknown bands or forms of music
–Double Points if it’s your MC of a close supporting character
Can I have extra bonus points of all my characters will be making obscure musical references consistently throughout the novel?

MORE:

A character’s most prized possession is his or her rubber band ball.
*Bonus points if it is smaller than a golf ball and falls apart frequently.

A character is addicted to a product that is usually non-addictive, such as chocolate milk such that if the character doesn’t get his or her fix, he or she behaves similarly as one would with a drug addiction.
*Bonus points if the character ODs.

Include the line “I’m sweating to beat the band over here!”
*Bonus points if it’s cold.

Have a character consistently typing away on his or her Blackberry. Later reveal that the character isn’t sending messages to others but just writing notes.
*Bonus points if the character is writing a novel.
*Double bonus points if the character is writing YOUR novel.

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Jha’Meia
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 28, 2008 – 10 14
sixleaf wrote:
Can I have extra bonus points of all my characters will be making obscure musical references consistently throughout the novel?

Dude, TRIPLE bonus points if they also make obscure movie references!
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sixleaf
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Oct 28, 2008 – 14 20
Jha’Meia wrote:
sixleaf wrote:
Can I have extra bonus points of all my characters will be making obscure musical references consistently throughout the novel?

Dude, TRIPLE bonus points if they also make obscure movie references!
Done.

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Roecourt
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Nov 1, 2008 – 11 27
Here’s a nasty one:

*Have two characters go on for at least a page of dialogue. At the end of this, have the second character repeat the first line the first character said to start the conversation.
BP if this makes sense and is in context.
DBP if after a pause the first character remembers they said it first and this starts off more dialogue.
TBP if at the end of the second block of dialogue, someone owes someone else a Coke. (“Jinx! Buy me a coke!”)
QBP if the Coke is a plot point.

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LiquidTheBrit
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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-Have a large portion of your novel based solely on dares. Characters, themes, settings, plot, &c.
Bonus points if it’s only from dares in THIS thread.
Double bonus if it’s the above, AND it spans every part of the novel except what you’ve written up to the point that you read this dare.
Quadruple bonus if it’s the entire novel.

I HAVE TO SEE THIS.

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WithAnticipation
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Nov 2, 2008 – 14 47
I’m depressed b/c I’m way behind but this is the first literary laugh I’ve had today! Thanks, mdieva:-)

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WithAnticipation
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Nov 2, 2008 – 14 53
mdieva wrote:
Jha’Meia wrote:
- Your character has a monologue filled with sound and fury, signifying nothing.
shit, i’m writing an entire book like that.

Okay, I meant to quote this in my reply. THIS is the literary laugh I meant. Thanks again:-)

With Anticipation

2005 “Two Truths and a Lie” literary fiction
2006 “Slipping the Tracks” literary fiction (Winner)
2006 “Exit, Pursued by Bear” literary fiction (Non Nano novel)
2007 “The Dream of Safety” literary fiction
2008 Who knows what the hell it’s going to be called . . .

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mdieva
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Nov 2, 2008 – 15 09
Roecourt wrote:
Here’s a nasty one:
*Have two characters go on for at least a page of dialogue. At the end of this, have the second character repeat the first line the first character said to start the conversation.
BP if this makes sense and is in context.
DBP if after a pause the first character remembers they said it first and this starts off more dialogue.
TBP if at the end of the second block of dialogue, someone owes someone else a Coke. (“Jinx! Buy me a coke!”)
QBP if the Coke is a plot point.

i should be able to do this all the way up to the triple points, keeping in mind that context is subjective.

WithAnticipation wrote:
Thanks again:-)
de nada.

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boxofbirds
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Nov 3, 2008 – 01 19
Oh, I’m totally taking the office supply fetish.

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rationalpsychic
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Nov 3, 2008 – 01 59
I thought the office supply thing was enough if it was a recurrent obsession which gets the otherwise-agoraphobe out of the house.

My thing is to pay tribute to Kurt Vonnegut. Just to let leak out onto the page a little bit of the influence he’s had on all of us. Trafalmadorians, Kilgore Trout, the always apt phrase “So it goes,” and maybe the overall concern for humanity’s continuation, even if that concern seems to be a bit fated and leaning toward the expectation of a bad ending.

Love you, Mr. Vonnegut, hope you’re having a nice sleep.

Rationalpsychic

PS, I promise to return here often for welcome inspirations.

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Raquelin
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Nov 4, 2008 – 03 13
Clare_W wrote:
I took loads, so:
–Have a character who says “in your pants!!!” at the end of every sentence anyone else says
– –BP if they turn something normal like badminton into a euphemism
– — –DBP if someone who doesn’t get the joke arrives sweaty with messed up hair “I was just playing badminton, and you’ll NEVER GUESS WHAT HAPPENED”
– — – TBP and epic win if whatever happened has something to do with sex.

My MMC wants you to know that YOU’RE SO ON.

I personally am eagerly anticipating this and hoping the MMC can pull it off. :-p

Leaving:

Have some character analyze the psychology of spectator sports. Bonus points if there is absolutely no context.

————
What am I doing still awake?

…Oh wait.

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estherlyre
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Nov 4, 2008 – 07 06
“Does this qualify for a high five?”

I used this in chapter three and have decided to make it a ritual between my MC and a friend of hers. They do this after putting down each other and the other agreeing it was a good burn.

Thanks!

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MissWoodyard
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Nov 4, 2008 – 09 01
That’s awesome! But…I’m not sure how my MC would continue to do as a father if he suddenly turned into Raskolnikov Romanovitch… *sighs*

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satori11
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Nov 5, 2008 – 14 28
I like. Thanks…

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Sapphira
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Nov 5, 2008 – 21 30
Dare!

Go to your email spam folder and name one of your characters the most awkward sender name you can find. More points if it’s your MC

(Note that I said awkward… not obscene. Though that would definitely do the trick.)

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Sionainn
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Nov 6, 2008 – 01 24
sixleaf wrote:
-Give a character a sixth toe. Have this sixth toe become very important to the novel. Bonus points if the toe get severed at some point.
Do I get bonus bonus points for already having this one?

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MissAnneThrope
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Nov 7, 2008 – 10 01
So many goodies!

Quote:
-Give a character a really odd prejudice, such as hating people with freckles.
*Bonus points if you include a tragic story explaining why the character feels this way
sixleaf, you are so on!

Quote:
Include the following letter (by the way, this is a real letter my friend’s dad wrote in someone’s yearbook back in high school):
“To a chick that I never did groove ’cause you were just way too far out for me to dig. Stay outta trouble, man, and be a good chick to the dudes.”
–BP if it has nothing to do with the 60s.

Reese_Roper, that is such a touching note *sniff.* I’m moved! I must use it! It’s a perfect note for one of my more banal stoner characters. Your dad and his friend will be happy to know this note will be immortal! hee . . hee . . .

Quote:
Have some character analyze the psychology of spectator sports. Bonus points if there is absolutely no context.
Hey Raquelin this will fit so perfectly in a dialogue I’m working on! I’m on it, thanks!

Hmmmm . . . what to dare?

Have a character that speaks entirely in onomatopoeia.
-Bonus points if they use mechanical sounds,
-Triple points if they use barnyard animal sounds.

Gauntlet thrown!

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speedingcars
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Nov 7, 2008 – 23 50
Reese_Roper wrote:
-Make a character’s school one floor and one hallway
My school IS one floor and one hallway. We stole share another school’s campus. Because we’re ghetto like that.

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SundaysClown
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Nov 8, 2008 – 00 57
Sapphira wrote:
Dare!
Go to your email spam folder and name one of your characters the most awkward sender name you can find. More points if it’s your MC

(Note that I said awkward… not obscene. Though that would definitely do the trick.)

You’re on! My MC is already named, but I will certainly be able to do this somewhere.

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Roecourt
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Nov 8, 2008 – 14 01
* Have a character reply to messages off his answering machine/voice mail as he’s listening to them, out loud, then calling the person and replying to them starting with “AND another thing!”

This should be good for some word count, starting with the person calling back and going “What the heck are you talking about???”

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blearywinged
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Nov 11, 2008 – 01 04
I’m brand new to this.. okay …”rabid hamster” …love it! I used the phrase in the second sentence of my first chapter. Chuckle…

“Imagine an enormous yellow face plastered on a bright white sack, beady eyes staring you down like a rabid hamster.”

Thanks.

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stephbutler
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Nov 12, 2008 – 18 39
MissWoodyard wrote:
That’s awesome! But…I’m not sure how my MC would continue to do as a father if he suddenly turned into Raskolnikov Romanovitch… *sighs*
I really want to model one of my devious antagonists, well the most horrible one of all after Raskolnikov. When I have time to edit I will read more Doestoyevsky and hopefully learn something in the process.

I dare someone to incorporate a drunken hallucination into their story line.

Meanwhile I am trying to find a dare I can apply to my story.

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stephbutler
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Nov 12, 2008 – 18 44
Jha’Meia wrote:
LFH wrote:
(Wouldn’t the vibrating bunny ones make bad dildos?)

(It possibly would, if you were a dude.)
- Have your main character eat pizza, and make the pizza a metaphor for his/her life.
DBP if you include descriptions for the toppings.
TBP if you include condiments and garlic bread.

- Your character drinks a wine named after an obscure authour.

- Your character has a monologue filled with sound and fury, signifying nothing.

Okay since my work is riddled with allusions and my MC is a budding alcoholic I can do the one about the obscure author lol and who knows she could have a drunken monologue that signifies nothing-YAY dare I can do!!! (I don’t want to sacrifice the quality of my work for the sake of fun but this could work).

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Kathryn Cassand
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Nov 12, 2008 – 22 02
Naoise. wrote:
—Have an entire scene devoted to a character jumping on a trampoline. (Bonus points if the trampoline symbolises the working class and the jumping character symbolises the social factors oppressing them.)
OMG this is a perfect filler for my novel. I am so going to do this. Or something rather similar.

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JimmyChanga
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Nov 13, 2008 – 13 17
Have your main character be taken on a tour of some kind. Describe everything he sees and his reaction to everything he sees. Also describe the person who is leading the tour. The leader doesn’t have to be a tour guide… as long as it’s someone the MC is following for some reason (i.e. if he’s stalking someone, that would count).

DBP – if the “tour guide” is an animal of some sort
TBP – if the tour goes across the space/time continuum

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Reese_Roper
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Nov 14, 2008 – 21 12
So’s mine, which is what made me think of it. People ask directions during things like basketball games and I want to tell them “Just walk down the hall and find it yourself! Not like you’re going to get lost!”

Which reminds me…

-Make a building have a strange history, like a gymnasium that was once a potato barn (like ours!)

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perpetual_blockage
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Posted on:
Nov 14, 2008 – 21 47
Sapphira wrote:
Dare!
Go to your email spam folder and name one of your characters the most awkward sender name you can find. More points if it’s your MC

(Note that I said awkward… not obscene. Though that would definitely do the trick.)

My junk folder contains Lenny Beatify and Paige Booty. Also, Tabatha Giribaldi.

Too bad there’s no room in my NaNo for this D:

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Roecourt
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Nov 15, 2008 – 13 19
perpetual_blockage wrote:
Sapphira wrote:
Dare!
Go to your email spam folder and name one of your characters the most awkward sender name you can find. More points if it’s your MC

(Note that I said awkward… not obscene. Though that would definitely do the trick.)

My junk folder contains Lenny Beatify and Paige Booty. Also, Tabatha Giribaldi.

Too bad there’s no room in my NaNo for this D:

There’s ALWAYS room in the Nano, even if it’s just a discussion between characters about stupid names…

Leaving:

Have a character say “It is what it is, lesbian”
BP if the person it is said to is not, in fact, a lesbian.
DP if someone has to explain what radio show this came from (good for a few dozen words). (http://www.benandskin.com/)

***

2006: The Zaqqum Tree (Victory is Mine!)

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nicbouskill
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Nov 15, 2008 – 13 52
Um, haven’t read the whole thread… meant to be writing… so apologies if this has already been dared…

DARE: Have a character who always includes an anagram in any sentence they say.
eg. “The star of the arts programme had hair like rats’ tails”

BONUS POINTS: Use sentences that only use anagrams: Do you have a watch? Time item?

DOUBLE BONUS POINTS: Use palindromes for sentences. A man, a plan, a canal, Panama! A dog, a panic in a pagoda.

Very silly. Sorry.

x

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mdieva
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Nov 17, 2008 – 21 50
mdieva wrote:
Roecourt wrote:
Here’s a nasty one:
*Have two characters go on for at least a page of dialogue. At the end of this, have the second character repeat the first line the first character said to start the conversation.
BP if this makes sense and is in context.
DBP if after a pause the first character remembers they said it first and this starts off more dialogue.
TBP if at the end of the second block of dialogue, someone owes someone else a Coke. (“Jinx! Buy me a coke!”)
QBP if the Coke is a plot point.

i should be able to do this all the way up to the triple points, keeping in mind that context is subjective.

done, more or less. please see the excerpt in my profile. first line of conversation = “damn, she’s cute.” THERE IS TERRIBLE FOUL LANGUAGE ALL OVER THE PLACE SO DON’T READ IT IF YOU’RE EASILY OFFENDED I WARNED YOU THANKS.

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BaKa-NEKO
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Nov 19, 2008 – 03 27
mdieva wrote:
done, more or less. please see the excerpt in my profile. first line of conversation = “damn, she’s cute.” THERE IS TERRIBLE FOUL LANGUAGE ALL OVER THE PLACE SO DON’T READ IT IF YOU’RE EASILY OFFENDED I WARNED YOU THANKS.
Saving Private Ryan Win. That excerpt made me endlessly happy. Mind if I buddy you?

–BaKa-NEKO
(I’m Your Friendly Neighbourhood)

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mdieva
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Nov 19, 2008 – 21 44
booyah. thanks for the kind words.

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Roecourt
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Nov 22, 2008 – 12 09
Leaving:

Have a character apply for a job they’re not even slightly qualified for.
BP if they go to the interview dressed inappropriately.
DBP if their dress isn’t noticed or mentioned by the interviewer.
TBP if they get the job and actually show up to do it
QBP if getting the job and doing it is a plot point.

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DavidAndrewTow
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Nov 22, 2008 – 22 09
Taking this
Have a character consistently typing away on his or her Blackberry. Later reveal that the character isn’t sending messages to others but just writing notes.
*Bonus points if the character is writing a novel.
*Double bonus points if the character is writing YOUR novel.

Actually, I am in my novel writing my novel, but I’m not very nice AND I get killed.

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Tanequil
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Nov 30, 2008 – 09 36
Roecourt – I’ll take you up on that job interview one. I’ll try for quadruple bonus points. XD

edit (timeloop): Well, I managed to hit 50K, but I’m not done yet, so I’ll probably do this when I finish my novel up.

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bouncing_bear
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Feb 24, 2009 – 22 43
Naoise. wrote:

—Have an entire scene devoted to a character jumping on a trampoline. (Bonus points if the trampoline symbolises the working class and the jumping character symbolises the social factors oppressing them.)
perfect for the style I’m writing (trying to write) in anyway, I’ll do it!

some of my own dares just cause:

- Have a scene take place in a library with the main character looking at the books and thinking about how they’re all LIES and just STORIES and being all angsty and cynical about it (no, I wasn’t planning on using that myself, *cough, cough*)

-Name a character based on an email address in your contacts list (not one that just has someone’s name

-Base a chapter on the song you’re listening to at the time you write it. Bonus Points if you put your music on random before you do it

-Have a character that eats something “unusual” (such as electronics, snot, wood, play-dough, etc.) Bonus Points if they don’t eat anything besides that one thing

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bouncing_bear
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Feb 24, 2009 – 23 02
Naoise. wrote:

—Have an entire scene devoted to a character jumping on a trampoline. (Bonus points if the trampoline symbolises the working class and the jumping character symbolises the social factors oppressing them.)
perfect for the style I’m writing (trying to write) in anyway, I’ll do it!

some of my own dares just cause:

- Have a scene take place in a library with the main character looking at the books and thinking about how they’re all LIES and just STORIES and being all angsty and cynical about it (no, I wasn’t planning on using that myself, *cough, cough*)

-Name a character based on an email address in your contacts list (not one that just has someone’s name

-Base a chapter on the song you’re listening to at the time you write it. Bonus Points if you put your music on random before you do it

-Have a character that eats something “unusual” (such as electronics, snot, wood, play-dough, etc.) Bonus Points if they don’t eat anything besides that one thing

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anju
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Jun 12, 2009 – 01 52
Quote:
* Have a character reply to messages off his answering machine/voice mail as he’s listening to them, out loud, then calling the person and replying to them starting with “AND another thing!”
Have a character consistently typing away on his or her Blackberry. Later reveal that the character isn’t sending messages to others but just writing notes.
*Bonus points if the character is writing a novel.
*Double bonus points if the character is writing YOUR novel.

- Have a scene take place in a library with the main character looking at the books and thinking about how they’re all LIES and just STORIES and being all angsty and cynical about it (no, I wasn’t planning on using that myself, *cough, cough*)

I might take these ones. Thank you a lot^^

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Azzie-chan
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Jun 17, 2009 – 00 22
Quote:
-Base a chapter on the song you’re listening to at the time you write it. Bonus Points if you put your music on random before you do it
To add to this one… c:

DBP if you start a new chapter every time the song changes.

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.Nox.Smith.
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Aug 15, 2009 – 13 59
Clare_W wrote:

–Have a character who says “in your pants!!!” at the end of every sentence anyone else says
– –BP if they turn something normal like badminton into a euphemism
– — –DBP if someone who doesn’t get the joke arrives sweaty with messed up hair “I was just playing badminton, and you’ll NEVER GUESS WHAT HAPPENED”
– — – TBP and epic win if whatever happened has something to do with sex.
–Have a character change accent frequently
– –BP if they use foreign accents often
– — –DBP if they start speaking in languages no one else knows
– — – –TBP if they start speaking in languages THEY don’t know
– — – — –Lemon meringue pie if they ask other people what they just said because they can’t understand their accents.
I’ll attempt the first one! It sounds hilarious.

The second one… I just thought I’d mention that my girlfriend does that. She was born in England, lived in Belfast for a while and now lives in rural northern ireland. Her accent travels all over the british isles, even to places she’s never lived or been to…for example, she loves Oasis, so her accent frequently goes Mancunian thanks to watching all the interviews… Same with the Beatles and scouse accents, Russell Brand and Essex accents… She can also do Belfast, Dublin, other places in the north and south of Ireland, American, Australian, Italian and German, but notably not French. My accent does a similar thing (all this in unintentional, btw) but it only goes around England.

Here’s some.

- Insert a random sing a long to Yellow Submarine.
–BP if it means so much to one character that they burst into tears.

- Have a character who occasionally shouts certain phrases or parts of their sentence for no reason. (Also something my girl does).

- Insert the phrase ‘lord of the flies fantasy’ somewhere.

- Have a character with a very posh accent who uses a lot of slang. Ie, in an upperclass English accent: ‘Oi, darling, bring us a brew, will you? Ta, love. This tea is the dog’s bollock’s, innit?’

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keyismykitty
RE: Lit Fic Dare Thread!

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Sep 5, 2009 – 16 51
-Have a character that eats something “unusual” (such as electronics, snot, wood, play-dough, etc.) Bonus Points if they don’t eat anything besides that one thing

Taking…one of my characters lives in a basement that keeps flooding, and I’ll have her eat whatever happens to float by her.

Leaving:

have one of your characters constantly pack up all their things in boxes as if they’re moving, then unpack it all again in less than a week.
BP if they never actually intend on moving.
TBP if they’re doing it to hide all their stuff from something insane, like Bigfoot.

Mainstream Fiction Dare Thread

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Posted on:
Oct 28, 2008 – 14 01
Come on, every other genre forum has one. We might as well join the band wagon.

*Have a character awake from a dream about doughnuts with pink frosting and rainbow sprinkles.
**Double Points if another character interprets the dream in a profound way.

*Have a character who always eats strange food combinations.
**Double points if the character is not pregnant.
***Triple points if the character convinces another character to try one of the combinations and they like it.

*Give a character a post-it-note fetish.
**Double points if you describe how their home is covered with post-it-notes.
***Triple points if a character struggles to locate a specific note.
———-

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Bessie_Boo
RE: Mainstream Fiction Dare Thread

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Posted on:
Oct 28, 2008 – 16 29
-Give a character tourettes. Double points if one of their tics involves shouting inappropriate comments and a lot of bad language.Triple points if you never explain this to the reader!!!

- Invent a place where characters refuse to visit, and name it after your worst enemies surname. Have your characters insist this is because “everybody there smells like cabbage.”

-Try and fit the word “erogenous” into every chapter. Adapt your plot to fit in anyway you see fit. Using the character with tourettes is cheating!

———-

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Jeimuzu
RE: Mainstream Fiction Dare Thread

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Oct 28, 2008 – 21 09
Have the characters invent their own form of slang. Double points if you never tell the readers what the words actually mean. Triple points if these words are actually unpronouncable by anyone who isn’t able to accurate replicate the sound of swallowing marbles.

“Ah, that tyhredgtpohny over there with the red hair? Don’t worry about him, he’s just a exghtsflgargil.”

Have a character who sleeps underneath his bed. Double points if they’re a respectable intelligent wealthy middle-aged person. Triple points if nobody else in the novel regards this as strange.

Incidentally, I plan to use several of these. =D

———-
______________________________________________________________
an open mind against a dying race

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Les.Oiseaux.Bleus
RE: Mainstream Fiction Dare Thread

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Oct 28, 2008 – 22 20
*Have a character only speak in single syllable words
**Bonus if no one notices
***Double Bonus if everyone, including himself, has more than single syllable names

*Have a character start ever sentence with “When I was your age…”
**Bonus if the character is the youngest one there

*Have a character only speak in popular song lyrics
**Bonus if other characters mysteriously find the songs stuck in their head

*Have a character always carrying a cup of coffee with his hands full
**Bonus if another character always manages to ask him the time
***Double Bonus if he never catches on

———-

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Crossblades08
RE: Mainstream Fiction Dare Thread

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Oct 28, 2008 – 22 34
Les.Oiseaux.Bleus wrote:

*Have a character always carrying a cup of coffee with his hands full
**Bonus if another character always manages to ask him the time
***Double Bonus if he never catches on

I’m going to tackle this one. Part of the story takes place on a college campus; so, It should be easy to find someone dedicated enough to have to carry everything and the coffee they need to keep moving.
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mattkinsi
RE: Mainstream Fiction Dare Thread

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Oct 29, 2008 – 10 55
Glad to see a dare thread here – some of the dares/quirks I’ve seen out there just dont fit with mainstream fic.

Dare: The character has to watch The View every morning, or their day is ruined
Bonus Point: The character yells repeatedly at the TV during the show
Double Bonus Point: After 10 minutes the character gets so angry they have to change the chanlle, but feel guilty after 2 minutes and turns it back.

Dare: The character lives lives in a pigsty, and it’s never clean there.
Uber-Bonus: It’s an actual pigsty instead of a really messy house

Dare: Character refuses to drink coffee unless it’s cold outside, despite the temperature in the room, and gets into arguments about it

Dare: America only: Take your zip code, reverse the digits (so if I live in 12345 I look at 54321), and that’s where your novel takes place. If its not an actual zipcode, make up a city thats in the same general location as one close by.

Dare: Character’s dream is to be on a reality TV program
Bonus: The character is really boring
Double Bonus: They make it on a show

I might take that zip code – turns out I’d be writing about Arlington, TX. Hmm. I’ll try to come up with some more later!

———-
Back for year #5

The goal: Something other than my norm of spiritual lit, and finish it. Update – the muse has decided I must split my first idea into 2. nuts.

The first novel: Ava’s Sunflower
The genre: Mainstream Fiction
Status : 40,002/60,000

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Crossblades08
RE: Mainstream Fiction Dare Thread

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Oct 29, 2008 – 15 04
mattkinsi wrote:

Dare: America only: Take your zip code, reverse the digits (so if I live in 12345 I look at 54321), and that’s where your novel takes place. If its not an actual zipcode, make up a city thats in the same general location as one close by.
Gah! This stinks. I was all set on using this one, but nothing remotely similar exist.

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Jeimuzu
RE: Mainstream Fiction Dare Thread

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Posted on:
Oct 29, 2008 – 21 00
Crossblades08 wrote:
mattkinsi wrote:

Dare: America only: Take your zip code, reverse the digits (so if I live in 12345 I look at 54321), and that’s where your novel takes place. If its not an actual zipcode, make up a city thats in the same general location as one close by.
Gah! This stinks. I was all set on using this one, but nothing remotely similar exist.

Hey, in England we’ve got all sorts of letters in ours. I’d be baffled to find that anything similar exists over here. It’s a shame, because it’s a good idea.
Anyone who manages to use all the dares in this whole thread gets quadruple points. =D

———-
______________________________________________________________
an open mind against a dying race

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Jessindistress
RE: Mainstream Fiction Dare Thread

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Posted on:
Oct 30, 2008 – 09 19
Crossblades08 wrote:
Come on, every other genre forum has one. We might as well join the band wagon.
*Have a character awake from a dream about doughnuts with pink frosting and rainbow sprinkles.
**Double Points if another character interprets the dream in a profound way.

*Have a character who always eats strange food combinations.
**Double points if the character is not pregnant.
***Triple points if the character convinces another character to try one of the combinations and they like it.

*Give a character a post-it-note fetish.
**Double points if you describe how their home is covered with post-it-notes.
***Triple points if a character struggles to locate a specific note.
Thankyou– I can use all of these– and probably will.

http://nano-jess-2008.livejournal.com/profile

———-

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n00blerLuver
RE: Mainstream Fiction Dare Thread

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Nov 1, 2008 – 04 06
Quote:

Dare: Character refuses to drink coffee unless it’s cold outside, despite the temperature in the room, and gets into arguments about it
Taking. My main character seems likely to do this.

Dare: Have a character who believes they are destined to marry a Jamaican. You can change the nationality if you wish.
Bonus: This character actually goes to said country to find a spouse.
Super Awesome Bonus Points: They actually get married to someone from that country.

Dare: Insert Chuck Norris into your novel.
Bonus if he roundhouse kicks people in the face.
Super Special Awesome Bonus if he’s a reoccuring character.

Nano 06: Empty-58,100 words (won)
NaNo 07: Broken-51,915 words (won)
SF 08: Eleven-17,895 words (won)
NaNo 08: A Goldfish Named Spartacus: Plot in progress!

“Give a man a fire and he’s warm for a day, but set fire to him and he’s warm for the rest of his life”-Terry Pratchett

———-
Nano 06: Empty-58,100 words (won)
NaNo 07: Broken-51,915 words (won)
SF 08: Eleven-17,895 words (won)
NaNo 08: A Goldfish Named Spartacus: Plot in progress!

“Give a man a fire and he’s warm for a day, but set fire to him and he’s warm for the rest o

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MTeson
RE: Mainstream Fiction Dare Thread

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Nov 1, 2008 – 17 51
Crossblades08 wrote:
*Have a character awake from a dream about doughnuts with pink frosting and rainbow sprinkles.
**Double Points if another character interprets the dream in a profound way.
Done and done. It really worked! Thanks.

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altoplaya94
RE: Mainstream Fiction Dare Thread

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Posted on:
Nov 3, 2008 – 06 19
-Try and fit the word “erogenous” into every chapter. Adapt your plot to fit in anyway you see fit. Using the character with tourettes is cheating!
*Have a character start ever sentence with “When I was your age…”
**Bonus if the character is the youngest one there
Snagged these!
Leaving:
Have three characters who will only speak in alphabetical name order.
BP: If the second or third character often hits the first one to signal the first on to talk, and the first two say something lame like: What’s up? Or hello.
DBP: if the third character is at a crucial meeting, and a conversation like this follows
“As you can see people, the stock markets are plummeting and we need-“
Kayla threw a shoe at Beth, signaling her to say something.
“What’s up?” Beth asked.
“Not the stocks,” Diana, the second girl of the trio, said.
“Well, Mr. Whoever, to fix the stocks, I believe we need to…”

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assepoester
RE: Mainstream Fiction Dare Thread

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Nov 14, 2008 – 06 27
n00blerLuver wrote:

Dare: Have a character who believes they are destined to marry a Jamaican. You can change the nationality if you wish.
Bonus: This character actually goes to said country to find a spouse.
Super Awesome Bonus Points: They actually get married to someone from that country.
Definitely taking this one! Brilliant. I haven’t started writing my NaNo yet, but will surely use this once I do. (Have been busy and didn’t catch the start of the NaNoWriMo).

Anyway, I am leaving some too:

*have a character be very conscious about their belly button cotton (don’t know the real English word for this)
**have them collect it in a jar for a scientist doing research after the phenomenon
***have a burglar taking the jar

*have a character whose goal it is to solve all rubik’s cubes in the world
**let them constantly have a backpack full of rubik’s cubes, so that every forgotten minute can be spent solving them
***find a way to make them succeed

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J-A-D
RE: Mainstream Fiction Dare Thread

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Nov 14, 2008 – 10 32
I’m doing some of these, if I can- even though my novel’s filed under “Misc.”

They seem a better fit to what I need .. *Grins*

Edit: Except the ‘every chapter’ ones which would require me to fatten my notes in a painful way and be counter productive, to me, anyway.

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heavy hedonist
RE: Mainstream Fiction Dare Thread

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Nov 21, 2008 – 10 18
Crossblades08 wrote:
Les.Oiseaux.Bleus wrote:

*Have a character always carrying a cup of coffee with his hands full
**Bonus if another character always manages to ask him the time
***Double Bonus if he never catches on

I’m going to tackle this one. Part of the story takes place on a college campus; so, It should be easy to find someone dedicated enough to have to carry everything and the coffee they need to keep moving.
hey, that’s my past life you’re talking about!

———-
one bite at a time…

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lightonwings
RE: Mainstream Fiction Dare Thread

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Nov 28, 2008 – 00 50
Les.Oiseaux.Bleus wrote:
*Have a character start ever sentence with “When I was your age…”
**Bonus if the character is the youngest one there

I’m definitely going to use this in something. This is funny!
NaNoWriMo ’08- Applefruit

———-
NaNo 2008–Applefruit (won!)
NaNo 2009–Every Third Yesterday

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ZigZag
RE: Mainstream Fiction Dare Thread

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Posted on:
May 11, 2009 – 16 00
mattkinsi wrote:
Dare: America only: Take your zip code, reverse the digits (so if I live in 12345 I look at 54321), and that’s where your novel takes place. If its not an actual zipcode, make up a city thats in the same general location as one close by.
This fits in perfectly with the novel I’m planning on taking on next month! My zip code reversed is a small town in Kansas (population 336!), and my original plan was for it to take place in a small town in Nebraska. A couple tweaks and voila, instant setting!

Mystery Dares

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Posted on:
Sep 28, 2008 – 00 44
I dare all of you mystery writers out there to have a masked villain in a costume, like in the old pulp magazines and movie serials. (The Octopus and Gargoyle from the two Spider serials are good examples, as is Atom Man from the second Superman Serial. And, of course, let’s not forget the Scorpion from Captain Marvel!)

Double Bonus Points if you show your villain having trouble collecting a gang of henchmen (and/or henchwomen, of course) because they don’t take him/her seriously.

Triple bonus Points if the masked villain is a lone wolf because nobody wants to follow them.

While I’m at it, I also dare you to make the butler the murderer.
———-
–
Blackout in Tinseltown 2004 (Winner)
The Door Into No Place 2005 (Winner)
For the Good of the Legion 2006 (Winner)
Bottled in Blonde 2007 (Winner)
Counting Electric Sheep 2008(Winner)

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Saipanwriter
RE: Mystery Dares

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Posted on:
Sep 28, 2008 – 19 37
I dare you to give each of your characters elaborate men’s hairstyles, from bald to afro, from butch to flattop, from dreadlocks to pompadours, etc.

http://www.ftmguide.org/haircuts.html
http://coolmenshair.com/

———-
Saipanwriter
http://saipanwriter.blogspot.com

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NotAnotherExit
RE: Mystery Dares

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Posted on:
Sep 29, 2008 – 10 50
I dare you to give your main character a stuffed animal sidekick.

Double points if it stays inanimate and doesn’t further the plot.

———-
NaNo 2008: Untitled (Goal: 50k) (Urban Fantasy) (Typewriter)
NaNo 2008: Imperial Judge (Goal: 75k) (Dystopia)
NaNo 2008: The Whistler (Goal: 75k) (Horror)

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writersbane
RE: Mystery Dares

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Sep 29, 2008 – 22 16
I dare all who read this to have your MC smack someone in the head hard enough for it to hurt with an unusual object that shouldn’t hurt.

Examples:
A loaf of bread
A paper fan
a rolled up robe

etc.

———-
MSN- Sorinchako@hotmail.com

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AravisGirl
RE: Mystery Dares

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Posted on:
Oct 3, 2008 – 08 48
I dare all of you to have your crime-solver carry around a spyglass

———–

———-
Don’t use words too big for the subject. Don’t say ‘infinitely’ when you mean ‘very’; otherwise you’ll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite.
~C. S. Lewis

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Sideburns
RE: Mystery Dares

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Oct 3, 2008 – 14 09
I must say, I’m quite disappointed here. Not one of your dares has anything to do with the genre. The point here, ladies and gentlemen, is to create dares that are relevant to mysteries, so as to help people come up with ideas.

OK, let me give you another example: I dare you to do what I did for my first nano, and intend to do again this year. I dare all of you to write a mystery that doesn’t revolve around murder. I double dare you to do what I’m going to try to do: write a mystery with no deaths, not even “…but I thought you were dead…” as a cheat.

———-
–
Blackout in Tinseltown 2004 (Winner)
The Door Into No Place 2005 (Winner)
For the Good of the Legion 2006 (Winner)
Bottled in Blonde 2007 (Winner)
Counting Electric Sheep 2008(Winner)

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babswrites
RE: Mystery Dares

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Oct 3, 2008 – 16 12
Sideburns, I am just about starting to plot, but I had thought of something like that as well – for a change.
It’s not going to be that easy, because with mystery novels, of course it’s soo easy to kill off a few minor characters and surprise the readers, enhance the story…
But I think the dare is a good one, so I’m considering it.

I’ll come up with a dare in a while, so remind me if I don’t!

Cheers,
Barbara

———-
_____________________________________________________________________
Why contain yourself like any other book on the shelf?
Eddie Vedder – “Far behind” from “Into the wild” OST

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acedia
RE: Mystery Dares

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Oct 4, 2008 – 11 49
Ok, I´m considering to take on dares about the stuffed animal, the loaf of bread of the paper fan and the spyglass. Already I think about places to fit them in.

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improg
RE: Mystery Dares

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Oct 5, 2008 – 13 49
OK, here are some dares:

1) Your detective resorts to a Magical Eight Ball at some critical juncture in the case.
- Extra points if Magical Eight Ball is wrong.
- Double extra points if Magical Eight Ball turns out to be the reincarnation of an ally of the criminal.

2) A key piece of evidence was eaten by an animal and later recoverd from their doo doo.
- Extra points if animal craps directly on the detective’s shoe.
- Double extra points if the animal was mistreated by the criminal and ate the evidence on purpose.

3) An eye-witness of the case is a person with Alzheimer’s.
- Extra points if the person helps the detective with seeminly nonsensical rhymes.
- Double extra points if the person was faking Alzheimer’s for a reason that makes with the plot.

———-
www.43things.com/person/improg
www.myspace.com/improg
http://improg.writing.com

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Tonamel
RE: Mystery Dares

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Oct 5, 2008 – 16 26
I dare you to…

…write a mystery plot in which no crimes have been committed or are being investigated. (I’ve thought of at least one way this could be done already!)

…have the main character discover that half their clues were pointing to an ARG or some other puzzle-based scavenger hunt type game, and thus were red herrings. Bonus points if they weren’t red herrings after all.

…have a Mexican standoff between the investigators and investigated using weapons that aren’t guns. Bonus points for Nerf.

…use no guns at all, especially if you’re writing a traditional hardboiled detective story.

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writersbane
RE: Mystery Dares

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Oct 6, 2008 – 21 41
I have a few more:

- Have the MC consult a psychic at least once.
Bonus points if they are actually related.
Extra bonus points of they use something other than tarot cards and palm readings (rune stones, smoke, bones, etc.)

- Have the MC kiss a co-worker, if only to shock them into shutting up long enough to think.
Bonus points if they follow the MC like a lost puppy.
Extra bonus points if said co-worker is of the same gender.
Super extra bonus points if it was in front of multiple witnesses.

- Have some kind of decisive evidence be sabotaged.
Bonus points if more than one was destroyed.
Extra bonus points if the room said evidence was in blows up.
Super extra bonus points if someone on the case other than the MC was responsible.

———-
MSN- Sorinchako@hotmail.com

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Sideburns
RE: Mystery Dares

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Oct 7, 2008 – 01 31
Your first dare is a slam-dunk for me. My MC has a friend who’s a vampire, and techno-mage. Doc Sideburns can sometimes tell the future, but he’s not always right. BTW, does this count for the Magic 8-Ball dare as well?

———-
–
Blackout in Tinseltown 2004 (Winner)
The Door Into No Place 2005 (Winner)
For the Good of the Legion 2006 (Winner)
Bottled in Blonde 2007 (Winner)
Counting Electric Sheep 2008(Winner)

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writersbane
RE: Mystery Dares

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Oct 7, 2008 – 11 28
Hm…. I don’t really know. It’s definitely different! Go ahead and count it if you want!

———-
MSN- Sorinchako@hotmail.com

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Saipanwriter
RE: Mystery Dares

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Nov 3, 2008 – 04 01
Sideburns wrote:
I must say, I’m quite disappointed here. Not one of your dares has anything to do with the genre. The point here, ladies and gentlemen, is to create dares that are relevant to mysteries, so as to help people come up with ideas.
Ah, but any of these dares COULD have something, everything to do with the mystery, or with solving it!

———-
Saipanwriter
http://saipanwriter.blogspot.com

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lurgee
RE: Mystery Dares

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Oct 10, 2008 – 03 46
Raymond Chandler, discussing the difference between Hammett’s hardboiled writing and the more traditional cosy styl eof murder mystery:

“Hammett gave murder back to the kind of people that commit it for reasons, not just to provide a corpse; and with the means at hand, not with hand-wrought duelling pistols, curare, and tropical fish.”

You challenge – to include hand-wrought duelling pistols, curare, and tropical fish in the story.

Bonus points if someone is actually killed with one of the above.

Double bonus if all three are used to commit murders.

Special insanity bonus points if the murder has no reason, other than someone trying to use the means mentioned by Chandler, for the Hell of it.

Other things Chandler envisages which could used as dares:

“But fundamentally it is the same careful grouping of suspects, the same utterly incomprehensible trick of how somebody stabbed Mrs. Pottington Postlethwaite III with the solid platinum poignard just as she flatted on the top note of the Bell Song from Lakmé in the presence of fifteen ill-assorted guests”

DARE – Have a character called Mrs. Pottington Postlethwaite III, have her killed by a solid platinum poignard in the circumstances mentioned.

“old ladies jostle each other at the mystery shelf to grab off some item of the same vintage with a title like The Triple Petunia Murder Case, or Inspector Pinchbottle to the Rescue. They do not like it that “really important books” get dusty on the reprint counter, while Death Wears Yellow Garters is put out in editions of fifty or one hundred thousand copies on the news-stands of the country”

DARE – use one of these titles as the title of your nano and make it fit.

” It would be fun to read it, even if I did have to go back to page 47 and refresh my memory about exactly what time the second gardener potted the prize-winning tea-rose begonia.”

DARE – make the timing of the potting of the prize-winning tea-rose begonia by second gardener somehow important. Intergalactic Cutulu Victory points if you can make this happen on page 47 of your manuscript.

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CorpseInCrimson
RE: Mystery Dares

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Oct 11, 2008 – 07 44
lurgee wrote:
Raymond Chandler, discussing the difference between Hammett’s hardboiled writing and the more traditional cosy styl eof murder mystery:
“Hammett gave murder back to the kind of people that commit it for reasons, not just to provide a corpse; and with the means at hand, not with hand-wrought duelling pistols, curare, and tropical fish.”

You challenge – to include hand-wrought duelling pistols, curare, and tropical fish in the story.

Bonus points if someone is actually killed with one of the above.

Double bonus if all three are used to commit murders.

Special insanity bonus points if the murder has no reason, other than someone trying to use the means mentioned by Chandler, for the Hell of it.

Other things Chandler envisages which could used as dares:

“But fundamentally it is the same careful grouping of suspects, the same utterly incomprehensible trick of how somebody stabbed Mrs. Pottington Postlethwaite III with the solid platinum poignard just as she flatted on the top note of the Bell Song from Lakmé in the presence of fifteen ill-assorted guests”

DARE – Have a character called Mrs. Pottington Postlethwaite III, have her killed by a solid platinum poignard in the circumstances mentioned.

“old ladies jostle each other at the mystery shelf to grab off some item of the same vintage with a title like The Triple Petunia Murder Case, or Inspector Pinchbottle to the Rescue. They do not like it that “really important books” get dusty on the reprint counter, while Death Wears Yellow Garters is put out in editions of fifty or one hundred thousand copies on the news-stands of the country”

DARE – use one of these titles as the title of your nano and make it fit.

” It would be fun to read it, even if I did have to go back to page 47 and refresh my memory about exactly what time the second gardener potted the prize-winning tea-rose begonia.”

DARE – make the timing of the potting of the prize-winning tea-rose begonia by second gardener somehow important. Intergalactic Cutulu Victory points if you can make this happen on page 47 of your manuscript.

That last dare sounds amazing.
I’ll try and fit it in, although I can’t make too many promises about that one ^^;

Although, now I seriously considering re-naming my novel “Death Wears Yellow Garters” because I can see how I’d make it fit…

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thirteenthdancer
RE: Mystery Dares

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Oct 15, 2008 – 16 54
improg wrote:
OK, here are some dares:
1) Your detective resorts to a Magical Eight Ball at some critical juncture in the case.
- Extra points if Magical Eight Ball is wrong.

Hah, I like that. It’d be a cute quirk for my sleuth to have. Totally doing it.

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Sideburns
RE: Mystery Dares

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Location: Camarillo, CA
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Oct 15, 2008 – 18 04
I’ve just decided to (more or less) take one of my own dares: although I’m planning on avoiding any murders, I’ve decided that the person my MC is hunting will turn out to be named Samuel J. Butler.

———-
–
Blackout in Tinseltown 2004 (Winner)
The Door Into No Place 2005 (Winner)
For the Good of the Legion 2006 (Winner)
Bottled in Blonde 2007 (Winner)
Counting Electric Sheep 2008(Winner)

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Eladrin
RE: Mystery Dares

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Location: Sault Ste. Marie, ON
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Oct 19, 2008 – 00 03
This thread is win; I’ll take the 8-ball dare, the psychic dare, and the NO BODIES dare. Nope, no murder in my mystery….everyone’s already dead. >.> <.< reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote kalindria RE: Mystery Dares 51,633 / 50,000 Municipal Liaison Joined: Oct 20, 2005 Location: Temecula, CA Posts: 221 Posted on: Oct 19, 2008 – 01 14 Tonamel wrote: I dare you to… …use no guns at all, especially if you’re writing a traditional hardboiled detective story. Done. I hadn’t planned on any guns at all – in fact while the cops will naturally be wearing them, they probably won’t even be mentioned. Diann ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ML in Temecula, CA ———- Diann NaNo Winner: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 ScriptFrenzy Winner: 2007, 2009 ScriptFrenzy Participant: 2008 reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote WaruiChibi RE: Mystery Dares 52,225 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 2, 2006 Location: Martinsville Posts: 25 Posted on: Oct 19, 2008 – 21 45 “1) Your detective resorts to a Magical Eight Ball at some critical juncture in the case. – Extra points if Magical Eight Ball is wrong. – Double extra points if Magical Eight Ball turns out to be the reincarnation of an ally of the criminal.” Love it! I have got to work this somehow. I absolutely LOVE IT! reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote jandrocafe RE: Mystery Dares 103 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 2, 2007 Location: San Diego, California Posts: 14 Posted on: Oct 20, 2008 – 02 34 I’m hesitant to do this one, because I’m afraid that it might torpedo some poor fool’s novel, but here goes. No watering hole. this includes a bar, tavern, drinking circle, or anything even bearing a semblence to one. you are not to allow your character that secure place where he/she/it goes to chat with friends/contacts/the bartender over a drink. bonus if they’re clean shaven and not a recovering alcoholic. ———- -jandrocafe 2007 NaNo: The Odd Jobs (23,864) incomplete 2008 NaNo: Wetworks Anonymous (103) never got off the ground 2009 NaNo: Artifacts (0) currently in pre-planning for Sci-Fi piece. reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote inkcap RE: Mystery Dares 124,503 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Aug 31, 2008 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 52 Posted on: Oct 20, 2008 – 03 28 jandrocafe wrote: No watering hole. this includes a bar, tavern, drinking circle, or anything even bearing a semblence to one. you are not to allow your character that secure place where he/she/it goes to chat with friends/contacts/the bartender over a drink. bonus if they’re clean shaven and not a recovering alcoholic. Oooh, yes please! Although that might be slightly cheating on my part, as I’m writing a cosy… reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote Mariana OConnor RE: Mystery Dares 50,191 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 16, 2003 Location: UK Posts: 74 Posted on: Oct 22, 2008 – 08 44 Ok… I dare you to: Have the detective be wrong at least five times about who did it. Have them arrest/gather everyone together/have a confrontation with supposed villain and then place all of their evidence only to be proved wrong at the last moment by some inconsequential character. The final time this happens (when they are correct) have everyone turn to the inconsequential character to check that they’re right. Bonus points if in the end the inconsequential character is actually the bad guy, Double bonus points if the seemingly inconsequential character who was actually the bad guy only helped the detective along because s/he hates it when people are incompetent. (this would work really well if the butler did do it) ———- Nanowrimo – My kind of stupid. reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote kprescott RE: Mystery Dares 4,100 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Jul 28, 2008 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 24 Posted on: Oct 22, 2008 – 10 38 Quote: No watering hole. this includes a bar, tavern, drinking circle, or anything even bearing a semblence to one. you are not to allow your character that secure place where he/she/it goes to chat with friends/contacts/the bartender over a drink. bonus if they’re clean shaven and not a recovering alcoholic. Would it be a cheat if I choose this one, considering my sleuths are 15 years old? I loved the Raymond Chandler dares, and I might try one or more another time. reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote sandraregina RE: Mystery Dares 18,067 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 4, 2004 Location: The Royal City Posts: 26 Posted on: Oct 23, 2008 – 10 35 Sideburns wrote: I must say, I’m quite disappointed here. Not one of your dares has anything to do with the genre. The point here, ladies and gentlemen, is to create dares that are relevant to mysteries, so as to help people come up with ideas. OK, let me give you another example: I dare you to do what I did for my first nano, and intend to do again this year. I dare all of you to write a mystery that doesn’t revolve around murder. I double dare you to do what I’m going to try to do: write a mystery with no deaths, not even “…but I thought you were dead…” as a cheat. My mystery involves time travel and stolen babies. Murder isn’t even a sub-sub-sub plot. Death is a possibility, a high one, but no murders. Sandra Regina Hope Springs Eternal ———- Sandra Regina Hope Springs Eternal reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote Mandolynn RE: Mystery Dares 25,115 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 2, 2008 Location: Lancaster, PA Posts: 72 Posted on: Oct 25, 2008 – 19 54 My mystery wasn’t going to involve any murders either. The MC investigates insurance fraud, so not all of his cases involve murder. I’m new at all of this, but maybe this is an acceptable dare: I dare you to have your detective investigate a crime in a locale where the natives have a unique pronounciation for some place name that is confusing to outsiders. (That is, it’s not pronounced the way it is spelled, or the accented syllable is unexpected.) Double bonus points if the detective has difficulty interviewing witnesses because he/she keeps forgetting to use the native pronunciation. Triple bonus points if the solution to the crime hinges on someone who is supposedly a native mispronouncing the name. And the Wahoo! Award if at the end of the story the detective somehow discovers that the origin of the native pronunciation is based on a deliberate mispronunciation by some long ago detractor of the region who intended it as an insult. I was just thinking about this because 18 years ago I moved to LANK-uh-ster, PA and learned quickly to pity the poor wretch who comes to town and pronounces it “Lan-CAS-ter.” The reason for the accent on the first syllable is shrouded in mystery since the standard explanation is that it’s the correct pronunciation of the town based on the way they say it in England; but that’s largely been disproven by people who have visited England and discovered otherwise. If I was guessing, I’d guess that it may have been the fashionable pronunciation in England back in the late 1700′s but that over time it’s changed there but not here, but that’s just a theory. reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote Sideburns RE: Mystery Dares 50,167 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 19, 2004 Location: Camarillo, CA Posts: 98 Posted on: Oct 27, 2008 – 01 41 I live near LA, and my mystery takes place there. Southern California has lots of places with spanish names, many of which are hard to pronounce if you’re new to the area: Tujunga, Cahuenga and La Jolla are just a few examples. One that’s not spanish, but confuses people for some reason is Pacoima. Alas, none of this will affect my detective, because he’s an Angelino, born and bred. ———- — Blackout in Tinseltown 2004 (Winner) The Door Into No Place 2005 (Winner) For the Good of the Legion 2006 (Winner) Bottled in Blonde 2007 (Winner) Counting Electric Sheep 2008(Winner) reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote TheMadHatter08 (not verified) RE: Mystery Dares 0 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Dec 31, 1969 Posts: 117 Posted on: Oct 27, 2008 – 18 50 Mariana OConnor wrote: Ok… I dare you to: Have the detective be wrong at least five times about who did it. Have them arrest/gather everyone together/have a confrontation with supposed villain and then place all of their evidence only to be proved wrong at the last moment by some inconsequential character. The final time this happens (when they are correct) have everyone turn to the inconsequential character to check that they’re right. Bonus points if in the end the inconsequential character is actually the bad guy, Double bonus points if the seemingly inconsequential character who was actually the bad guy only helped the detective along because s/he hates it when people are incompetent. (this would work really well if the butler did do it) Taken. Totally taken, along with the psychic dare, the 8 ball dare, the stuffed animal dare, and the costume/henchmen dare. This is gonna be a great book. reply Flag as offensive quote erikmoore RE: Mystery Dares 1,616 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 28, 2002 Location: santa barbara california, usa Posts: 1 Posted on: Oct 28, 2008 – 00 54 Unfortunately death, guns and booze are completely too enticing to be avoided… but I’m definitely naming it, “Death Wore Yellow Garters”! If I can find a way to include dueling pistols, curare, and tropical fish, I’m “in” on that one too! reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote SpyGirl116 RE: Mystery Dares 1,252 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 1, 2006 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 3 Posted on: Oct 29, 2008 – 08 56 Aw man, Death Wore Yellow Garters is a deliciously aweseome name. Too bad my novel takes place today… Here’s a dare for you: Name your novel “Death Wore Yellow Garters” and make the garters in question belong to a man. Double points if he’s not a practicing cross-dresser. Triple points if they’re the key to the whole mystery, and discovered by another man. reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote cutiepie619 RE: Mystery Dares 17,707 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 19, 2006 Location: I’ll find out when it stops spinning Posts: 47 Posted on: Nov 2, 2008 – 21 31 Taking stuffed animal, magic eight ball, and possibly the one about the wrong guesses. reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote findingmysky RE: Mystery Dares 59,188 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 26, 2007 Location: The desert Posts: 25 Posted on: Nov 2, 2008 – 22 36 AravisGirl wrote: I dare all of you to have your crime-solver carry around a spyglass ———– Actually, my crime-solver does carry around a spyglass, but he has a relevant reason to do so. There are no mirrors in a spyglass. ———- reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote findingmysky RE: Mystery Dares 59,188 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 26, 2007 Location: The desert Posts: 25 Posted on: Nov 3, 2008 – 03 11 All right, I came up with one of my own. I dare you to give the femme fatale of the story a “Bond Girl” name. Bonus points if the name refers to a body part or a sex act. Triple points if all female characters have Bond Girl names. ———- reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote diannelamerc RE: Mystery Dares 50,061 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 4, 2002 Location: Glendale, California, USA Posts: 126 Posted on: Nov 4, 2008 – 02 25 What’s wrong with “Pacoima”? *native Angelina shakes her head* Non-natives are weird. Then again, my southern grandmother visited once and was entranced by her visit to “saan jew-on ca-PI-stra-no”. *facepalm* But yeah, El Cajon, Van Nuys (or at least no one can spell it), and the ever priceless Port Hueneme*! Yup, I’m in the same boat: everyone’s local and know these cold. *(That’s “wye-NEE-mee”, for you non-natives. ———- ~~~ Participant since 2001 ~ Winner since 2002! reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote Sideburns RE: Mystery Dares 50,167 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 19, 2004 Location: Camarillo, CA Posts: 98 Posted on: Nov 4, 2008 – 18 45 In that case, try taking your MC on a trip to Anaheim, Azusa and Cuc… There are always places in any city or town that are well-known to locals but exotic far-away places to visitors. Use them. Take your story to the Descanso Gardens in La Canada, Watts Towers, Santa Monica Pier or Griffith Park Observatory. For that matter, if you come anywhere near Hollywood, there’s the Walk of Fame and the Chinese Theater. I dare you, daiinelaerc, to use at least one of those locals in your nano! …amonga. ———- — Blackout in Tinseltown 2004 (Winner) The Door Into No Place 2005 (Winner) For the Good of the Legion 2006 (Winner) Bottled in Blonde 2007 (Winner) Counting Electric Sheep 2008(Winner) reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote ThePiratess RE: Mystery Dares 50,301 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 9, 2005 Location: West Chicago, Illinois Posts: 48 Posted on: Nov 6, 2008 – 14 37 I may have to take the paper fan dare… It would amuse me terribly if Dahlia or Valentine smacked someone with a paper fan… Also, I’m taking the no murders dare. Someone may die in the end when the crap hits the fan, but it’ll be in self-defense. And that’s not murder, right? In turn, I’m leaving this dare: Have your MC and his/her love interest NEVER get together in the course of your novel. End it just before they kiss for the first time. That’s the plan for mine. My characters hate me for it. But I plan to write more books about these two, and they can get together then. But for this book, I’m just going to sit and laugh while they struggle with their feelings for each other while trying to focus on their case. ———- NaNo 2004- WON! 56k | NaNo 2005- WON! 54k | NaNo 2006- WON! 93k | NaNo 2007- WON! 51k | NaNo 2008- WON! 50k NaNo 2009- Blood Oath: A Valentine Covington novel Planning to win for the sixth year running. reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote redhatmom RE: Mystery Dares 50,297 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Jun 19, 2008 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 9 Posted on: Nov 7, 2008 – 05 01 My mystery is not a murder mystery, and my plot has no deaths planned at this time. Of course, my plot might be called more a thriller than a mystery, but I have a character trying to determine whodunnit. There will be clues, but I don’t know yet who did it. reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote Latymer14 RE: Mystery Dares 50,014 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 14, 2006 Location: Detroit Posts: 1 Posted on: Nov 8, 2008 – 12 15 i am going to have a masked villain in costume, i have a Halloween party. reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote Sideburns RE: Mystery Dares 50,167 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 19, 2004 Location: Camarillo, CA Posts: 98 Posted on: Nov 8, 2008 – 17 03 To do the Masked Villain Dare properly, your villain must always appear in costume, until the climax where your MC reveals his/her identity. Just having them show up once in a costume is skating on the edge. If you can’t rent the various serials I mentioned, look them up in the IMDB; you may get some good inspiration from them. If not, imagine a story where Batman catches the Joker, and pulls off a mask revealing… ———- — Blackout in Tinseltown 2004 (Winner) The Door Into No Place 2005 (Winner) For the Good of the Legion 2006 (Winner) Bottled in Blonde 2007 (Winner) Counting Electric Sheep 2008(Winner) reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote Saipanwriter RE: Mystery Dares 51,986 / 50,000 Municipal Liaison Joined: Oct 9, 2005 Location: Saipan, CNMI, Northern Marianas, Micronesia Posts: 398 Posted on: Nov 10, 2008 – 20 54 Dare: Jelly or jam. It’s a key to the mystery, but NOT because of poison. BP: The jelly or jam is an unusual or old-fashioned fruit (like kumquat or dewberry). DBP: You get 500 words out of describing the taste of the jelly or jam. TBP: You have a character involved in picking the fruit or making the jelly/jam. Dare: A popular dance troupe arrives in your setting. BP: Your MC screws up the opportunity to perform with/for them. DBP: You MC manages to meet them anyway. TBP: A troubling accident for fatality occurs to one of hte dance troupe. ———- Saipanwriter http://saipanwriter.blogspot.com reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote acedia RE: Mystery Dares 60,731 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 31, 2007 Location: Östersund, Sweden Posts: 120 Posted on: Nov 11, 2008 – 16 47 Hitting someone with a loaf of bread – check! Hitting someone with a paper fan – check! Detective carrying a spyglass – check! No guns at all – check! Evidence sabotaged – check! (Alchohol with poison stolen and drunk by a burglar) Detective suspecting wrong person five times – check! MC and love interest does not get together – check! How many points do I get? reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote inkyfingas RE: Mystery Dares 50,316 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 6, 2005 Location: Trumansburg, NY Posts: 3 Posted on: Nov 11, 2008 – 21 41 I’m a thrower…and I decided it was dangerous so I made up my mind to only throw soft objects…so I was shocked when My sock crashed thru the living room window. My toddler nephew had stuffed the sock with a rock but my mind/hand didn’t sense that till it had left my hand and done it’s dirty work…so…someone in my novel gets to do that this time around…thank you for this dare! PS I labeled my office tape dispenser “Blunt Object” ———- Bumper Sticker Philosophy… “The best things in life aren’t things!” reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote jokeeffe RE: Mystery Dares 0 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 12, 2008 Location: Australia, Sydney Posts: 2 Posted on: Nov 12, 2008 – 20 15 good story, i stoped throwing things when i threw my walet through my dads bedroom door, won’t be doing that again! reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote diannelamerc RE: Mystery Dares 50,061 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 4, 2002 Location: Glendale, California, USA Posts: 126 Posted on: Nov 18, 2008 – 23 01 (How did I miss this response for so long? You’re on, Sideburns. Hmmm… *runs down the list* Yup, been to every one, some many times. Griffith Park is too easy, I live five minutes away and I used that last year (and the year before — it was a 2-parter and that was the break point.). Yeah, my characters need to get out a bit… they’re getting a bit claustrophobic (as am I)… …hmmm… a side trip to Disneyland would eat up words like a ravenous beast. Of course I’d have to take it all out before doing anything with the story, lest the Mousy Empire sue my ass off for suggesting that a murderer suspect might wander harmlessly around there on their day off, but…. ———- ~~~ Participant since 2001 ~ Winner since 2002! reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote eowynspen RE: Mystery Dares 0 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 29, 2008 Location: My own little world Posts: 65 Posted on: Jul 31, 2009 – 13 27 I am so taking the magic eightball dare! And I get extra points because it’s wrong (poor Michael!)! Do I still get double extra points if the criminal is just joiking about it being the reincarnation of his ally? My dare: I dare you to… …Have someone give your detective one of those weird coats and hats associated with cartoon detectives …Have someone use a typewriter …Have the murderer be the detective (or someone on the detective force) …Have the victim be the murderer! (suicide, fake death, dressing up someone’s body as your own… take it any way you want!) …Have a secret code where certain fruits are codewords (my friends and I have that) reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote Dennis Dunjinman RE: Mystery Dares 50,000 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 10, 2008 Location: Ghost Zone Posts: 331 Posted on: Aug 23, 2009 – 21 01 Just two. Write the mystery in a format similar to a Where In The World is Carmen Sandiego? game (go to a location, find a clue, go to next location and chase). OR: Write the mystery in a format similar to Blue’s Clues (Three Clues. A handprint will be on each one and they go together somehow. But you have to do a task before you find one). reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote littleoph RE: Mystery Dares 57,854 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 11, 2006 Location: Southeastern Parisland Posts: 228 Posted on: Sep 10, 2009 – 08 50 inkcap wrote: jandrocafe wrote: No watering hole. this includes a bar, tavern, drinking circle, or anything even bearing a semblence to one. you are not to allow your character that secure place where he/she/it goes to chat with friends/contacts/the bartender over a drink. bonus if they’re clean shaven and not a recovering alcoholic. Oooh, yes please! Although that might be slightly cheating on my part, as I’m writing a cosy… That would be fun… if my MMC wasn’t a bartender to begin with. I guess I’ll leave a few dares in October. ———- NaNo 2006 : Et pour quelques gigahertz de plus (Won) NaNo 2007 : Les Deux Reines (Won) NaNo 2008 : Le prix d’un mensonge (Won) reply Flag as offensive Write to author quote lou1sb RE: Mystery Dares 0 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Sep 16, 2009 Location: Japan Posts: 7 Posted on: Sep 17, 2009 – 21 02 I dare you to write a mystery where the detective gets it wrong, completely wrong. Like, insanely so. What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views! . . .

Hey, you know what? I sell Avon! I’m an Independent Avon eRepresentative and that means you can buy Avon from me, 24 hours a day, from your computer, from anyplace in the world, and Avon will ship it to you.

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>NaNoWriMo: The DARES Thread 2008

>

Seeing how we are nearing the end of September, that means we are just days away from the deletion of the NaNoWriMo forums. In a few days every word written in 2008 will be gone forever. On October 1st a brand new NaNoWriMo website will surface so we can start fresh for the new contest. Well seeing how the DARES Thread of 2008 ran over into 3 parts and 7 genre specific spin offs – a sum total of 88 pages and some 4,440 posts I thought is would be a waste to see all that writing advice scrapes, so I saved it on my hard drive and well – here it is – all 4,400 posts of it:

The 2008 NaNoWriMo DARES Thread:

The Dares Thread

50,091 / 50,000
Staff
Joined: Nov 3, 2002
Location: Macon, GA
Posts: 3907
Posted on:
Sep 8, 2008 – 10 19
Looking for a quick a dirty way to get those creative juices flowing? Try taking a DARE!

———-
–
Heather Dudley
Forums Moderator – Broke? You can still donate!
Couldn’t verify your winning novel? Contact the general hotline for help.

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sophieandstuff
RE: The Dares Thread

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Sep 26, 2008 – 15 07
A dare? I don’t get it.

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Liamliayaum
RE: The Dares Thread

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Posted on:
Sep 26, 2008 – 15 23
Have you heard of or participated in a game of Truth or Dare?

You know when a person picks dare and someone thinks of something outrageous for them to do? It’s the same concept here, except that a dare is something that helps your novel along.

For example, let’s say you were stuck at a point in your novel and had no clue what to do next. You could ask for a dare and someone would give you one. Then, you would work that dare into your writing, hopefully sparking an idea in your mind.

I hope that helps!

———-
Make it work!

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Miri Mirror
RE: The Dares Thread

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Posted on:
Sep 26, 2008 – 15 23
People post things that other people should do in their books if they’re stuck.

For instance:

I dare you to:

Include a duck named Larry.
Bonus points if Larry can talk.
Double bonus points if Larry teaches high school physics.

———-
NaNo ’08: One Out of One
Black Friday 10k Challenge: 3.3k/10k
Status: Need food.

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featherjean
RE: The Dares Thread

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Sep 26, 2008 – 15 38
I dare you to have a character come across a mysterious, very long, very complex computer program. (Descriptions of said computer program are good for upping the word count!)
Bonus points if he/she becomes obsessed with figuring it out.
Double bonus if the program is actually pointless/unsolvable.
Triple bonus if one of your other characters created the program because he was bored.

———-

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demonmouse500
RE: The Dares Thread

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Sep 26, 2008 – 16 17
I’ll throw a few in here:

Have the first line of your novel be “Where the hell are my pants?”
BP if the character can’t find their pants and the novel becomes a search for pants.
DBP if your character never finds any pants and goes pantsless forever and ever (insert evil laugh here)

Include a purple moose
BP if the moose is essential to the plot
DBP if the moose is your main character

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larelmian
RE: The Dares Thread

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Location: Oregon
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Posted on:
Sep 26, 2008 – 16 22
I dare you to have a dragon (or other fire creature) mock a smoker, calling him a pathetic imitator.
Bonus points if the dragon falls over laughing.
Even more bonus points if the smoker was the main bad guy and now his minions won’t take him seriously.

I dare you to have a food fight in your novel.
Bonus points if it’s essential to the plot.
Extra bonus points if it takes place somewhere unusual for a food fight — the royal banquet hall, a 5-star restaurant, a wedding reception, etc.
A cookie if you top 2k with a detailed description of the food fight.
(I’ve featured food fights in my last two NaNo’s.)

———-
“What you create doesn’t have to be perfect. . . . Don’t let fear of failure discourage you. Don’t let the voices of critics paralyze you — whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside.” – Dieter F. Uchtdorf

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Willowe
RE: The Dares Thread

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Sep 26, 2008 – 16 22
I posted this on the old forums, but figured I’d post it on the new ones as well.

Have a character who says “That seems like something from a NaNo dare!” when something strange happens.
-BP If no one questions their comment
–TBP if they say it every time something odd happens
—QBP if the situation involved no other dares at all

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RebelDork
RE: The Dares Thread

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Sep 26, 2008 – 16 25
I dare you to quote Percy Shelley.

BP if it’s in your novel or chapter titles.

DBP if he makes a cameo!

———-

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midnghtjade83
RE: The Dares Thread

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Joined: Nov 4, 2006
Location: Probably in the forums. >.< Posts: 257 Posted on: Sep 26, 2008 – 16 36 I dare you to solve a problem McGuyver style, using only a rubber-band, a paperclip and toothpaste. BP if the Main Character has a mullet. DBP if the setting doesn’t lend to modern office technology (ex. feudal Europe) TBP if the solved problem leads to world destruction. ———- __________________________________________ When childhood dies, we call it’s corpse an adult and it enters into society, one of the politer names for hell. Flag as offensive Write to author Gennaia RE: The Dares Thread 12,002 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Sep 18, 2008 Location: New York Posts: 24 Posted on: Sep 26, 2008 – 16 44 I dare you to have a character with intense ADHD. Bonus points if halfway through their explanation of a major plot point they get distracted by a shiny rock. Extra bonus points if various other characters try to get them on meds. Super bonus points if this turns out to help the good guys win. Flag as offensive Write to author Eika RE: The Dares Thread 51,051 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 11, 2005 Location: Claremont, N.H. (currently Plymouth, NH for college). Posts: 27 Posted on: Sep 26, 2008 – 16 51 I dare you to include a character named Someone. Bonus if his name is equally nondescript A cookie if no one ever gets confused except ONE CHARACTER, and no one ever understands how that one character gets confused. Flag as offensive Write to author transience RE: The Dares Thread 50,000 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 4, 2006 Location: don’t know… but it looks depressing Posts: 296 Posted on: Sep 26, 2008 – 16 52 Have a character dipping animal crackers in milk. BP – if he/she acts like they’re real and goes on to talk about having to save them. DBP – if they’re an adult and they’re in a situation where animal crackers aren’t readily available. Have a character sing “If You’re Happy And You Know It” during a really serious moment in the novel. Have a character lose one really expensive shoe only to have to replace it with a really ugly shoe. BP – if the character walks around with the mismatched shoes throughout the entire novel. DBP – if the shoe is a major plot point. ———- ~*~ “If I’m so happy – I’ve got everything to lose. And now it’s always raining – you’re the one to blame” I’m in the Scriptwriter’s Mafia. Are you? Flag as offensive Write to author Marilyth RE: The Dares Thread 9,086 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 29, 2007 Location: Troy, NY Posts: 5 Posted on: Sep 26, 2008 – 16 55 Gennaia wrote: I dare you to have a character with intense ADHD. Bonus points if halfway through their explanation of a major plot point they get distracted by a shiny rock. Extra bonus points if various other characters try to get them on meds. Super bonus points if this turns out to help the good guys win. This would be a great way to insert my bf into my novel. I have to write this one down!! Flag as offensive Write to author KarenChii RE: The Dares Thread 71,027 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Dec 22, 2007 Location: Groton, CT Posts: 489 Posted on: Sep 26, 2008 – 17 07 Dares: One of your characters keeps a computer mouse in his/her pocket all of the time because he/she loves it and it is his/her pet. Bonus Points if he/she named it Mousey and Triple Bonus Points if he/she takes it out when he’s/she’s feeling upset and strokes it. One of your characters always says “Thank you for calling Dominoes, how may I help you” every time they pick up the phone (instead of Hello). Have your character glue a penny heads up onto the ground somewhere and throughout the novel have other characters see it and think that their luck is going to change, but then they can’t pick it up because it’s glued to the ground. Have your character accidentally prank call someone they know. Your characters are made out of chocolate we learn one day when one takes a bite of the other. Bonus Points if it’s hollow chocolate and their eyes are made out of sugary candy bits. Have your character go to the library to get some obscure book, and when she/he opens it up, there’s an extremely old piece of thin sliced ham between two of the pages. A character wears the same clothes every day throughout your entire novel. Bonus Points if she rarely or never washes them. Triple Bonus Points if it is a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt (even when it’s summer). Your character gets stopped in a mall by the people with America’s Next Top Model because they think she has an interesting look. Your character gets to be on a show like Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader, Deal or No Deal, etc. Your character gets to guest star (voice if cartoon) on the tv-show of your choice. A bee comes out of nowhere and stings your character. Bonus Points if it’s in the middle of a tense scene, or in the middle of a romantic scene. A group of Christians randomly comes up to your characters and starts talking to them about God. A character claims to have gotten Carpal Tunnel from a car accident. Have the title of every chapter be a song title from a band of your choosing. The fun part is making what happens in the chapter relevant to the chapter title! (This was one I used from last year’s dares thread [I did the Beatles], and it was a lot of fun). **Let me know if you like any of these or if you plan to use them!** ———- ~~~~~~ Nanowrimo 2009: To Foresee a Pregnancy =) -Highest Daily Word Count – 0 ~ New Record: N/A -# of Characters – 6 -Days with No Nanoing – 0 Flag as offensive Write to author CrimsonBlood RE: The Dares Thread 686,415 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 4, 2005 Location: Chicago, Illinois Posts: 349 Posted on: Sep 26, 2008 – 17 04 I dare you to turn one of your main characters into a talking encyclopedia through magical interference with a leprechaun. Flag as offensive Write to author Eika RE: The Dares Thread 51,051 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 11, 2005 Location: Claremont, N.H. (currently Plymouth, NH for college). Posts: 27 Posted on: Sep 26, 2008 – 17 21 demonmouse500 wrote: I’ll throw a few in here: Have the first line of your novel be “Where the hell are my pants?” BP if the character can’t find their pants and the novel becomes a search for pants. Did that last year. Turned into a major subplot. Turned out to be an April Fool’s prank. transience wrote: Have a character lose one really expensive shoe only to have to replace it with a really ugly shoe. BP – if the character walks around with the mismatched shoes throughout the entire novel. DBP – if the shoe is a major plot point. I can do that. It’ll be FUN. [url=http://tinyurl.com/5s96oa][img]http://tinyurl.com/65tb9m[/img][/url] [url=http://tinyurl.com/69s6wh][img]http://tinyurl.com/6ox22x[/img][/url] [url=http://tinyurl.com/67quev][img]http://tinyurl.com/6496ur[/img][/url] Flag as offensive Write to author AuroraIgniz RE: The Dares Thread 50,405 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 2, 2007 Location: The USA Posts: 101 Posted on: Sep 26, 2008 – 17 33 Hmm….I will take one definitely, but it’ll depend on which of the two ideas I’m currently toying with I actually end up writing. I dare someone to have a character named Seymour. BP if it’s a manly man DBP if another character sings the song “Suddenly, Seymour” from Little Shop of Horrors to them TBP if it becomes a running joke among your characters You just completely win if their name is not originally Seymour, and Seymour is an alias they are forced to go by for some reason, and they hate it, but at the end of the novel they decide to keep the name Seymour as their real name And I dare someone to make one of their characters a cannibal. BP if one of his names is Todd. DBP if he’s bald. TBP if he’s NOT the villain QBP if he eats one of the other main characters And I dare someone to make one of their characters yell “BROCCOLI” at some point BP if it’s during a really tense scene DBP if it’s a character who is normally very serious TBP if they then go on to yell “Can’t catch me, I’m BROCOLI!” QBP if they change their name to Broccoli Flag as offensive Write to author Kitty Taylor RE: The Dares Thread 116,697 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 13, 2006 Location: Derby, UK Posts: 58 Posted on: Sep 26, 2008 – 17 39 Quote: I dare someone to make one of their characters yell “BROCCOLI” at some point BP if it’s during a really tense scene DBP if it’s a character who is normally very serious TBP if they then go on to yell “Can’t catch me, I’m BROCOLI!” QBP if they change their name to Broccoli I’m totally using this one. Have a character who is totally obsessed with a colourful assortment of wax crayons and constantly carries them in their pocket throughout the novel. BP if the crayons somehow save the characters from danger. DBP if they somehow become integral to the plot. TBP if after being saved by awesome colourful crayons, the characters decide they must be magic, mash them up into dust, and snort them while singing tribal chants, backwards. :B ———- “Are people born Wicked, or do they have Wickedness thrust upon them? After all, she had a father. And a mother…” Flag as offensive Write to author Maemi RE: The Dares Thread 50,011 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 15, 2005 Location: Farmington, Maine Posts: 99 Posted on: Sep 26, 2008 – 18 21 Have the following conversation: Character one: Be careful with that! It’s a very toxic and corrosive chemical! Character two: Your MOM is a very toxic and corrosive chemical. Character one: Be that as it may… Include references to DEATH WATER! (look up Let’s Play Mario Wacky World on YouTube if you want to get the reference) Have the word pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis (people in the past have said it’s good for upping word-count by having people fail to pronounce it several times) ———- Flag as offensive Sira RE: The Dares Thread 51,243 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 30, 2004 Location: United States Posts: 2 Posted on: Sep 26, 2008 – 18 25 Have a character die in a freak trombone accident. Flag as offensive Write to author Kitty Taylor RE: The Dares Thread 116,697 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 13, 2006 Location: Derby, UK Posts: 58 Posted on: Sep 26, 2008 – 18 34 Quote: Character one: Be careful with that! It’s a very toxic and corrosive chemical! Character two: Your MOM is a very toxic and corrosive chemical. Character one: Be that as it may… I’m SO gonna fit this into my novel. X3 Include the phrase: “But the Internet is only good for PORN” during an incredibly serious discussion. BP if this is said by a character who is morally against everything sexual. DBP if this character is also prone to be highly serious. TBP if this character is actually right. ———- “Are people born Wicked, or do they have Wickedness thrust upon them? After all, she had a father. And a mother…” Flag as offensive Write to author thousandenemies RE: The Dares Thread 50,068 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Sep 26, 2008 Location: moonbase, moon no. 3, the sphere Posts: 15 Posted on: Sep 26, 2008 – 18 34 Have a character, in any situation, need to sing scores of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. BP if he, she, or whatever else is doing a headstand. DBP if it’s in any sort of unusual costume. TBP if you actually include any performance of a G&S operetta, and QBP if it becomes important to the plot. Flag as offensive Write to author Goolgol Girl RE: The Dares Thread 0 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Sep 26, 2008 Posts: 1 Posted on: Sep 26, 2008 – 18 37 I dare you to write a story where humans are the bad guys. BP if the humans are don’t even realize it. DBP if there’s smexy vampires imvolved. QBP if the vampires win. ———- Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways – Chardonnay in one hand – chocolate in the other – body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and scre Flag as offensive Write to author tashe_19 RE: The Dares Thread 54,064 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 2, 2007 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 64 Posted on: Sep 26, 2008 – 18 38 Insert a lurid pink plastic flamingo in your story, with at least one mention of said flamingo per chapter BP if there is, at some point, a herd of pink plastic flamingos DBP if the flamingos are/become sentient TBP if one of the flamingos becomes a main character QBP if the cast of your novel consists solely of lawn ornamentations (the oft-mentioned flamingos, ceramic garden gnomes, etc.) Flag as offensive Write to author TessD1891 RE: The Dares Thread 50,005 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 2, 2007 Location: Ossining, NY, USA Posts: 64 Posted on: Sep 26, 2008 – 19 07 I took this one last year and it worked really well, so this year I’m leaving it for someone else. Have a character who finishes every sentence with “…according to the prophecy.” ———- The Right Word at the Write Time (my blog) 2007: Quest for Serentasia (winner) 2008: Swimming in the Garden (winner) Flag as offensive Write to author rustydragonfly RE: The Dares Thread 50,694 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Sep 26, 2008 Location: Dystopia, South Yorkshire, UK Posts: 50 Posted on: Sep 26, 2008 – 19 41 I think I will be able to use the complex computer program dare. Since my novel centres around a magical early computer analogue and one of my characters built and programs it… Leaving these lines: “You built THAT in your room?” “I could hardly build it in the kitchen, could I?” “This is the biggest cock up in the history of things cocking up.” ———- The author formerly known as aeireono. NaNo 2008 – Haixtlan 2007: Moths 2006: Eye of Rakaros 2005: Senahri: Approximate Destruction 2004: JSBCBS 2003: From Here To There Flag as offensive Write to author banyangirl RE: The Dares Thread 39,053 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 16, 2006 Location: USA Posts: 43 Posted on: Sep 26, 2008 – 19 50 I’m so doing this. Flag as offensive Write to author Kueble07 RE: The Dares Thread 7,134 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 8, 2003 Location: Alden, New York Posts: 6 Posted on: Sep 26, 2008 – 20 11 I dare you to make one of your characters have an imaginary pet dinosaur. Bonus points if the Dinosaur turns out to be real. Double bonus points if the dinosaur ends up saving the day. Flag as offensive Write to author clarazzle RE: The Dares Thread 76,501 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 22, 2006 Location: bern, switzerland Posts: 67 Posted on: Sep 26, 2008 – 21 08 Include the comment “8 inches?! Wow!” BP if it’s not sexual at all Include a very religious character who thinks God lives in a fishbowl Have a character that speaks in abbrives. Like, they legit say things like “that whole convo was mad bril”. And “legit”, for that matter. Include the line “Give it to me hard, weather gods!” Include the line “Well what’s he gonna do? He’s a PANDA!” Include a ghost that isn’t unfriendly, isn’t particularly friendly either, doesn’t communicate much with the living, and just generally tolerates the people living in his house. BP if he turns on the radio, just because he likes music DBP if he takes occasional showers TBP if the people living in his house (or place or whatever) know about him, and just say “Oh yeah, that was the ghost” like it’s nothing weird Describe a game of imaginary badminton Describe a game of “midnight scrabble” (which is best played slightly tipsy) Include a vegetarian who will eat pepperoni, bacon, and anything from Subway. BP if this person considers these exceptions “food from the gods” DBP if this person also won’t eat other random things because “duh, i’m a vegetarian” i.e. “have some guacamole” “are you serious? i’m a vegetarian” Write one whole chapter in the form of text message conversation transcript Include a character who always knows what’s going to happen next BP if no one thinks this is weird DBP if no one listens anyway TBP and a sprinkled donut if later, when the person turns out to be right, they point it out and no one believes them. This thread is how my novel gets written, no joke ———- when in doubt, write something anyway Flag as offensive Write to author Deleted User 130743 RE: The Dares Thread 50,635 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 6, 2006 Posts: 27 Posted on: Sep 26, 2008 – 21 20 Oh, my characters in last year’s novel played midnight scrabble that led to sex on a trampoline. Epic win. Incorporate the semiphore version of Wuthering Heights (perhaps with a school color guard?) Include a Pretentious English Major. They don’t even have a name. Name a character Drarry or Ryden. BP if they’re a fan of either Harry Potter or Panic! DBP if they have a normal name, and name their child that ———- [IMG]http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn258/loveandviolets/banner-1.jpg[/IMG] Flag as offensive Write to author Pixel_Toa RE: The Dares Thread 20,193 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 4, 2003 Location: Michigan (Our Lakes Can Beat Up Your Lakes!) Posts: 49 Posted on: Sep 26, 2008 – 21 47 Have a character who speaks in verbose gentleman speak. IE: (http://encyclopediadramatica.com/Verbose_Thread) Double points if they’re all internet memes. In verbose gentleman speak. If you have a robot in your story (and if not, then there should be), then use the narration to constantly call attention to the fact that it cannot love. ie: “My censors are detecting Wonderzonians in the area. We should be careful,” said T1000 without a trace of love, since that was the one thing it was incapable of doing. Have a cybersex scene. Ahhhh, I’ll probably think of more later. Dares are fun. ———- I’m happy Hope you’re happy too . . . Flag as offensive Write to author larelmian RE: The Dares Thread 50,114 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 25, 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 3867 Posted on: Sep 26, 2008 – 21 51 A fantasy dare: Have your villain introduce himself as The Great and Mighty Overlord of the Evil Castle of Doom. Bonus points if the heroes ask if they can call him The Idiot instead. Double bonus points if they use the term for “idiot” in Elvish (or whatever other language you have). Triple bonus points if he has a girly name (I used Fran). Quadruple bonus points if he is defeated by someone clubbing him over the head before he can finish saying his title. ———- “What you create doesn’t have to be perfect. . . . Don’t let fear of failure discourage you. Don’t let the voices of critics paralyze you — whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside.” – Dieter F. Uchtdorf Flag as offensive Write to author -Juliette RE: The Dares Thread 1,909 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: May 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere, this side of Alderaan Posts: 54 Posted on: Sep 26, 2008 – 22 22 transience wrote: Have a character sing “If You’re Happy And You Know It” during a really serious moment in the novel. OMG, snagging this one!! Wow, that is TOTALLY something Henry would do. Henry’s a genious, but that unfortunately means that he’s never on the same page as every one else. I can see it now… *sigh* ~Juliette ———- ~Juliette Nano ’09: Tight Enough to Break Your Fingers Flag as offensive Write to author -Juliette RE: The Dares Thread 1,909 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: May 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere, this side of Alderaan Posts: 54 Posted on: Sep 26, 2008 – 22 33 Somehow fit a discussion of english’s longest words into the plot Bonus if you include the word: acetylseryltyrosylserylisoleucylthreonylserylprolylserylglutaminyl- phenylalanylvalylphenylalanylleucylserylserylvalyltryptophylalanyl- aspartylprolylisoleucylglutamylleucylleucylasparaginylvalylcysteinyl- threonylserylserylleucylglycylasparaginylglutaminylphenylalanyl- glutaminylthreonylglutaminylglutaminylalanylarginylthreonylthreonyl- glutaminylvalylglutaminylglutaminylphenylalanylserylglutaminylvalyl- tryptophyllysylprolylphenylalanylprolylglutaminylserylthreonylvalyl- arginylphenylalanylprolylglycylaspartylvalyltyrosyllysylvalyltyrosyl- arginyltyrosylasparaginylalanylvalylleucylaspartylprolylleucylisoleucyl- threonylalanylleucylleucylglycylthreonylphenylalanylaspartylthreonyl- arginylasparaginylarginylisoleucylisoleucylglutamylvalylglutamyl- asparaginylglutaminylglutaminylserylprolylthreonylthreonylalanylglutamyl- threonylleucylaspartylalanylthreonylarginylarginylvalylaspartylaspartyl- alanylthreonylvalylalanylisoleucylarginylserylalanylasparaginylisoleucyl- asparaginylleucylvalylasparaginylglutamylleucylvalylarginylglycyl- threonylglycylleucyltyrosylasparaginylglutaminylasparaginylthreonyl- phenylalanylglutamylserylmethionylserylglycylleucylvalyltryptophyl- threonylserylalanylprolylalanylserine Double bonus points if another character trumps this character with: Methionylthreonylthreonyl…isoleucine (189,819 letters) Triple bonus points if the fact that Methionylthreonylthreonyl…isoleucine (189,819 letters) is stable in a test tube is highly important to the plot Enjoy this one! ———- ~Juliette Nano ’09: Tight Enough to Break Your Fingers Flag as offensive Write to author angrysunbird RE: The Dares Thread 50,130 / 50,000 Municipal Liaison Joined: Oct 21, 2003 Location: Wellington, New Zealand (next to the Antarctic) Posts: 53 Posted on: Sep 26, 2008 – 23 09 Have a character who is terrified of albatrosses. Bonus points if he isn’t even near the sea. Double points if an albatross actually does him in. Have someone have an alarming obsession for otters. Have an illicit pirate/ninja romance. Bonus points if they are the MCs. Double points if they end it like Romeo and Juliet. Have one charater only speak lyrics from Rolling Stones songs. Bonus points if it is a MC. Have someone killed with one of the more harmless looking kitchen implements. Have someone found a religion based on Martha Stewart. ———- 2003: St Augustine’s Chickens (w) 2004: Arcanagencia (w) 2005: The Exile War (w) 2006: The Exile’s Return (w) 2007: The March Beyond Progress (w) 2008: The Monarchs of Paradise Flag as offensive Write to author Foreign Street RE: The Dares Thread 0 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Sep 26, 2008 Location: USA Posts: 42 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 00 09 Have a character who is always trying to convince everyone that he/she is really a robot. Flag as offensive Write to author Feather Qwill RE: The Dares Thread 37,022 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 9, 2004 Location: Vancouver Island, Canada Posts: 19 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 03 02 Quote: Have a character who speaks in verbose gentleman speak. IE: (http://encyclopediadramatica.com/Verbose_Thread) Double points if they’re all internet memes. In verbose gentleman speak. If you have a robot in your story (and if not, then there should be), then use the narration to constantly call attention to the fact that it cannot love. ie: “My censors are detecting Wonderzonians in the area. We should be careful,” said T1000 without a trace of love, since that was the one thing it was incapable of doing. Have a cybersex scene. Ahhhh, I’ll probably think of more later. Dares are fun. Excellent. Yet another homophobic Encyclopedia Dramatica article. Just what the internet needs. ———- Flag as offensive Write to author KirbyHead RE: The Dares Thread 0 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 21, 2007 Location: In your closet, eating your snack cakes. Posts: 9 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 02 26 Sira wrote: Have a character die in a freak trombone accident. My main character is totally going to die by this at one point in time. Man, I’m taking so many dares (so many that I can’t list them all here without taking up major space!), and my novel is supposed to be somewhat serious. How will I ever manage? XD I’ll leave some to make up for it: -Make one of your major characters a human thesaurus. Bonus Points: If the other characters use his talents frequently throughout the story. Double Bonus Points: If they ask him/her synonyms for really stupid or impossible things (especially articles like “the” and “an”) or ask for antonyms for things that don’t have any (like names, places, or technical terms). Triple Bonus Points: If they ask for an alternate word in the middle of a climax or dramatic soliloquy. -Have a character who relates everything to punching people in the face. (i.e. “It was as easy as punching him in the face!” “Man, I’m so hungry I could punch somebody’s face in…” “Dude, you are face-punchingly awesome!” “That guy’s a total face punch”, etc.) Bonus Points: If this character actually does punch someone in the face, at a dramatic interval in the story. Double Bonus Points: If absolutely no one mentions the correlation between this action and the constant face punching metaphors. -Include a narcoleptic bird somewhere in the story, and have your characters carry out a deep philosophical discussion about the futility of human existence and the ephemeral nature of life itself in reference to the bird. Bonus Points: If the bird was once a major character OR is central to the plot of the story. Double Bonus Points: If they later eat the bird. Flag as offensive Write to author Kester RE: The Dares Thread 101,966 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 18, 2007 Location: Cornwall, UK Posts: 198 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 04 21 Include a pet turtle named ‘Awkward’. BP if he/she is, at some point, on his/her back. ———- hello earthling: a webcomic. I don’t think you’ll like it. Flag as offensive Write to author CeNedra RE: The Dares Thread 59,479 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 16, 2007 Location: Bournemouth, England Posts: 54 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 05 36 “Have your character accidentally prank call someone they know.” Taking this! Great thread, just like last year ^^ ———- ————————————- November 07 NaNo – The Rift – Winner! Flag as offensive Write to author manic247 RE: The Dares Thread 0 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Sep 27, 2008 Posts: 4 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 05 49 One character is convinced that he’s the reincarnation of Barbara Streisand BP if he’s butch, manly and straight TP if he’s your main character A character must find frog snot to add to the witches potion BP if it’s your main character that has to do it TP if the frog is really p*ssed off QP if the frog and a gang off his frog mates come after your character One of the characters in your book is permanently on fire BP if no one finds this strange or questions it TP if your novel has nothing at all to do with fantasy/fairytale/sci-fi/supernatural etc… ———- If toast always lands butter side down, and cats always land on their feet, what happens if you strap toast to the back of a cat and drop it? Flag as offensive Write to author SpiritWolf7377 RE: The Dares Thread 50,042 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 11, 2006 Location: Westminster, MD Posts: 110 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 07 24 larelmian wrote: A fantasy dare: Have your villain introduce himself as The Great and Mighty Overlord of the Evil Castle of Doom. Bonus points if the heroes ask if they can call him The Idiot instead. Double bonus points if they use the term for “idiot” in Elvish (or whatever other language you have). Triple bonus points if he has a girly name (I used Fran). Quadruple bonus points if he is defeated by someone clubbing him over the head before he can finish saying his title. Oh, my god that is perfect for my story!! My villian is going to be quite the joke anyway and I wasn’t sure how to go about introducing him. And I’ll be at least doing the bonus and the triple too. 2006: Untitled, unfinished 17K 2007: Godschosen 18K 2008: ??? ———- —— Nanos 2006: Untitled 17K 2007: Godschosen 18K 2008: Eyes Like a Wolf (50K winner!) Scripts 2009: Brother Mine Flag as offensive Write to author BritishHobo RE: The Dares Thread 50,002 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 23, 2007 Location: Waaaaaales. Posts: 129 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 08 57 Have a peice of food that’s constantly with the main characters. Douple points if it talks. Triple points if no-one finds this weird. Quadruple points if you never explain it. ———- NaNo 2008: You Broke Christmas. NaNo 2009: True Love Never Dies, But You Might (Working Title) NaNo 2010: Where’s Wally? NaNo 2011: What The Devil Is Happening? NaNo 2012: Oops. ‘Any last words, you giant moron?’ Flag as offensive Write to author Kore-of-Myth RE: The Dares Thread 50,039 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: May 19, 2008 Location: Out of my Mind Posts: 91 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 09 16 Ooh, taking so many of these. Wil start a list…May drop them eventually but they’re SO good this year. Drats, I should leave one shouldn’t I? Have one of your characters refuse to go anywhere without this certain book BP If it’s not the Bible DBP If they’re always quoting it TBP If it’s in another Language A Piece of Cake if it’s a Dictionary Flag as offensive Write to author CrimsonBlood RE: The Dares Thread 686,415 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 4, 2005 Location: Chicago, Illinois Posts: 349 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 10 36 Have a character read aloud one of your previous novels, as if it contained special instructions to do osmething. BP if it actually ties into the story. DBP if the previous novel is an entirely different genre. TBP if the character decides that, after reading it, it would not help in his/her untilate goal, so the character cunsults a psychiatrist instead. Flag as offensive Write to author ThorinLight RE: The Dares Thread 65,700 / 50,000 Municipal Liaison Joined: Oct 3, 2007 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 129 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 12 11 I’m planning on using your “Ham in a Book” dare! I love it! It’s so random! ———- ___________________________________ *Co-ML for Tucson, AZ* You see these? You see these words? These are REVLON words! Flag as offensive Write to author ThorinLight RE: The Dares Thread 65,700 / 50,000 Municipal Liaison Joined: Oct 3, 2007 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 129 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 12 12 KarenChii wrote: Dares: Have your character go to the library to get some obscure book, and when she/he opens it up, there’s an extremely old piece of thin sliced ham between two of the pages. **Let me know if you like any of these or if you plan to use them!** I’m going to use this one! It’s so random! I love it! ———————————- *Co-ML for Tucson, AZ* This is the most fun I’ve had without lubricant! ———- ___________________________________ *Co-ML for Tucson, AZ* You see these? You see these words? These are REVLON words! Flag as offensive Write to author ThorinLight RE: The Dares Thread 65,700 / 50,000 Municipal Liaison Joined: Oct 3, 2007 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 129 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 12 30 Okay, so I just finished shopping for dares and I’ll leave this one! Introduce a character named Nicky/Nikki Paolo or characters named Nikki and Paolo and make them seem integral to the plot only to kill him/her/them off in the most random way and as quickly as possible! BP if they are buried alive DBP if they’re on an island! __________________________ *Co-ML for Tucson, AZ* This is the most fun I’ve had without lubricant! ———- ___________________________________ *Co-ML for Tucson, AZ* You see these? You see these words? These are REVLON words! Flag as offensive Write to author Neogeisha RE: The Dares Thread 50,801 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 15, 2007 Location: Swansea, Wales, UK Posts: 46 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 12 36 I dare you to include a dwarf zombie BP if the zombie is a veggie DBP if the zombie is called Clyde TBP is Clyde is the biggest person in the story ———- Flag as offensive Write to author Sariah RE: The Dares Thread 50,052 / 50,000 Municipal Liaison Joined: Oct 1, 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 24 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 13 18 KarenChii wrote: Dares: A character claims to have gotten Carpal Tunnel from a car accident. Double bonus points if they were carpooling and crashed in a tunnel? Oh man. I have a small list I’ve been saving for weeks to post up here. I have to go get them! Co-ML for Worcester Massachusetts! ———- Co-ML for Worcester Massachusetts! KarenChii wrote: Have your character go to the library to get some obscure book, and when she/he opens it up, there’s an extremely old piece of thin sliced ham between two of the pages. I want to expand on this one a little because I’m totally going to use it in my book in this order. LOL Bonus Points if the character eats the ham. Double Bonus Points if the character gets severe food poisoning from it. Triple Bonus Points if the character projectile vomits on the antagonist. ____________________________________________________________ NaNo 2005 Project: The Mists of Centarium (Book 2 of 4 completed!) NaNo 2006 Winning Novel: Dancing Into The Night NaNo 2007 Winning Novel: PARALLAX ———- 2005 Novel: The Mists of Centarium 2006 Winning Novel: Dancing Into The Night 2007 Winning Novel: PARALLAX 2008 Winning Novel: Keys in the Lock NaNo 2009 Project: FUSiONFaLL Flag as offensive Write to author blueCOD RE: The Dares Thread 50,117 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Sep 7, 2008 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 192 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 13 59 “A group of Christians randomly comes up to your characters and starts talking to them about God.” *IS PRETTY MUCH HAVING A HEART ATTACK* Holy CRAP that is SO happening in my other novel you don’t even KNOW. Random dude: Hey, would you like to learn about God? Lucifer: *picks self up off ground, looks at sky, looks at dude* ARE YOU RUBBING THIS IN MY FACE? ARE YOU? I DON’T THINK YOU WANT TO KEEP GOING DOWN THIS ROAD. IT IS A ROAD THAT LEADS ONLY TO DEATH. PAINFUL, HUMILIATING DEATH. Anyways. Have one of your charries constantly talk like a Lolcat. + if it’s in a totally irrelevant situation. Say, medieval times. ++ if at some point they say “can I haz cheezburger?” +++ if in context not only does this make sense, but it’s totally important to the plot. If Randall Flagg makes a cameo appearence (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randall_Flagg) Epic win if anybody ever asks him whether he’s thrown any wives off balconies lately. If at some point a character makes a “your mom” joke or replies to an insult with “your mom.” Cookies if it makes sense in context. ———- 2007: YWP epic fail! 2008: Police fantasy with ASLAN 2009: An entire month of bromance and fluff. Probably. WILL I SURVIVE? Flag as offensive Write to author Toaster RE: The Dares Thread 56,473 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 2, 2007 Location: In a box. Posts: 9 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 14 17 “That’s what she said.” –BP if a character says this as often as possible. —DBP if they say this to totally random lines of dialogue. —-TBP if another character finally has an outburst and shouts “SHE DIDN’T SAY THAT!” —–QBP AND A COOKIE if the “that’s what she said” character responds to this by saying that yes, she did say that, it was recently brought up by Sarah Palin in the political debates. If you include the walrus searching for his missing bukkit. –BP your entire novel centers around this. —DBP if characters accuse random passersby of “STEALIN MY BUKKITZ.” —-QBP if a random passerby really *has* stolen mah bukkit. —–QUINTUPLEBP AND TOTAL AWESOMENESS if your characters break into a bank in search of buckets. ———- – - – - – - – - Emmy She didn’t say that! Flag as offensive Write to author featherjean RE: The Dares Thread 50,246 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: May 6, 2008 Location: League City, TX Posts: 73 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 14 18 Thanks, blueCOD, you just made me think of this one: Have a character make a “that’s what SHE said!” crack. BP if it’s at a completely inappropriate time. DBP if they do it at least once per chapter. TBP if that really is what she said. ———- Flag as offensive Write to author Galadriel1010 RE: The Dares Thread 50,295 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 8, 2004 Location: Yorkshire, ENGLAND Posts: 200 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 14 23 Taken: [Quote] Have a character who says “That seems like something from a NaNo dare!” when something strange happens. -BP If no one questions their comment –TBP if they say it every time something odd happens —QBP if the situation involved no other dares at all I dare you to quote Percy Shelley. BP if it’s in your novel or chapter titles. DBP if he makes a cameo! “This is the biggest cock up in the history of things cocking up.” Have a character read aloud one of your previous novels, as if it contained special instructions to do something. BP if it actually ties into the story. DBP if the previous novel is an entirely different genre. TBP if the character decides that, after reading it, it would not help in his/her ultimate goal, so the character consults a psychiatrist instead. [/Quote] Leaving: Have one character get upset when another shows them their new dress and they have one just like it already during an otherwise extremely tense situation BP if you have a 1K description of the dress DBP if one of the characters is male TBP if both of the characters are male QBP if it’s a wedding dress Have morris dancing happening in your story BPif your MC is a morris dancer DBP if he/she is proud of it and spends the rest of the novel trying to convert everyone else TBP if you finish with a mass Bonny Off featuring all your characters (with cake if you know what I mean) ———- “Mobiles, landlines, tin cans with bits of string Everything, absolutely everything! No phones! Phones all broken. Hello is anyone there? No, ’cause the phones aren’t working!” Janto = OTP Squee www.fanfiction.net/~Galadriel1010 Flag as offensive Write to author Sariah RE: The Dares Thread 50,052 / 50,000 Municipal Liaison Joined: Oct 1, 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 24 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 15 20 Okay, here are my dares: Does one of your characters answer phones for a computer help desk? http://www.rinkworks.com/stupid/cs_calls.shtml Courtroom drama? http://www.rinkworks.com/said/courtroom.shtml BP if you use all of them! Just because: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1371223/posts BP if you use all of them! Char A: I’ve never thought of you as a glutton for punishment. Char B: Are you kidding? Look at the people I hang out with! BP if Char B is talking about Char A, or talking about someone else who’s in the room DBP if said character(s) don’t even realize they’re being insulted. Char A: All this is available for the low, low price of- Char B: YOUR SOUL!!!! BP if they are completely serious. DBP if it’s a tv infomercial. TBP if a character actually calls up and buys whatever it was. QBP if it’s a major plot point. Here one from last year that I used and loved! Base a scene off of the Ninja’s Recipe for Disaster. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S_yjfGS2WQ BP if the bearded man makes another appearance. (My bearded man was a main character!) This one shows up every year: http://www.eviloverlord.com/lists/overlord.html Use it! Love it! [Bonus points are mine] BP for either using all of the advice or going against all of the advice. DBP if you do it both ways by having two antagonists. MBP+C (that’s a million bonus points and a cookie) if the one who *doesn’t* follow the advice is the one who’s harder to kill. I would love to know how people use these! ———- Co-ML for Worcester Massachusetts! Flag as offensive Write to author slasher_chick RE: The Dares Thread 50,541 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Jul 29, 2008 Location: Bowling Green, Kentucky Posts: 213 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 15 31 Ooh, the Drarry/Ryden one is really tempting… ———- NaNo ’08: Eighteen Years Gone to Hell (Won!) Flag as offensive Write to author pointytilly RE: The Dares Thread 0 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 19, 2007 Location: Fandom Hell, Wisconsin Posts: 81 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 16 06 Random caffeine-inspired things: Have a character attempt to build toothpick structures with toothpicks and something -other- than marshmallows. – BP if their lack of marshmallows is either related to or IS a plot point. Have a character fond of electronics refer to the inevitable tangled cord madness as them “breeding”. – BP if they ARE breeding. — DBP if any of the resulting bastard electronics are useful during the plot. — TBP if these are otherwise perfectly ordinary devices in a realistic/serious setting (that is, there’s no easy “magic/weird tech did it” explanation for their spawn) Have a character fond of keeping beetles as pets. Large, pinchy beetles. Which, of course, escape. – BP if they end up clipped unusual but NOT painful places, such as dangling from someone’s tie at work. — DBP if their owner clips the escaped beetles to things in a manner that saves the day. Have a character in their thirties (or older) steal a spinny office chair and insist on riding it places completely inappropriate for spinny chairs. – BP if they successfully ride their chair down steps (uninjured, chair intact). — DBP if they act as if nothing is particularly unusual about this. ———- I am a sig, and I now have actual info in me . Site – LJ – Flickr Flag as offensive Write to author shizu_bara RE: The Dares Thread 17,569 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 17, 2004 Location: Mendocino county, CA, USA Posts: 33 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 16 08 here’s a whole bunch of dares that I grabbed from the 2007 Dare list that I might end up doing myself have a character whose sole purpose is to give away the plans of the other characters to the bad guy –DP if the character doesn’t realize he/she is doing it –TP if its something only one other character can see, and when he confronts it, or tells his fellow characters, they dont believe him –TP and a cookie if the other characters then suspect the character who can see the real culprit of selling their secrets Have a character whose eye colour (or hair colour, or skin colour) changes every time you mention it. –DP if nobody mentions it –TP if it’s got massive importance to the plot –TP and COOKIE if the character who does the changing notices it, realizes its massive importance to the plot, and tells everyone. And they think she’s joking. Insert the transcript of an IM conversation. –BP if you make it an important plot point. –DBP if neither IMer is an MC. –TBP if you make it an entire chapter. Have your entire novel based around a character surviving NaNo. –BP if that character is actually a character in someone ele’s NaNo (no, not yours) –DBP if the first character dies a horrible death because the power on the second character’s computer shuts down unexpectedly. –TBP if they then crop up in the epilogue vowing revenge on all computers. Fill an entire chapter with a story told by a side character that has little/nothing to do with what’s currently happening. –BP if this story occurs during a battle. –DBP if the story starts out with “I think it was a antelope. But maybe it was a chicken.” –TBP if, during this story, everyone stops fighting to listen. –QBP if the storyteller is killed (or wounded) in the middle of telling the story because the antagonist is impatient. Have a character who is always reading. Always –BP if they run into stuff –DBP if that’s how they meet your main character –TBP if it IS the main character –QBP if it is the villian. Have a character who hands out cookies every time someone does or says something she likes. –BP if she has a specific type of cookie for every person, and the cookie is somehow related to that person’s personality. –DBP if someone notices this and comments on it. Make a character have an irrational fear of road signs. –BP if this has some relevance –DBP if the entire story (or a large part of it) is based around a road trip –TBP if they have a job related to the making/delivering/placing of road signs Insert 35 weddings into your novel. –BP if they all have a bizarre theme (wedding in an airplane, wedding underwater, etc.) –DBP if the wedding craze is an important plot point –TBP if all your charachters are the ones getting married Go to www.postsecret.com and read the secrets. Pick 3 and give them all to one character. –BP Pick 5 for one character –DBP Randomly select 10 for one character. Write a scene about “The Frozen Lake of DOOM!” –BP If it’s during the summer. –DBP If you always capitalize DOOM! –TBP If your characters meet a crazy hermit from The Frozen Lake of DOOM! who won’t shut up about The Frozen Lake of DOOM! Have a character say “You’re making me think again.” –BP If the character is blone. –DBP If the character is male. –TBP If the moment involves monkees and rocket science. Have someone outside a window near your MC start screeching out an off key version of All By Myself –BP Have your MC throw eggs at them –DBP The eggs hit the singer/screecher in the head/mouth –TBP If the eggs appear out of no where and disappear when they are no longer needed Two words: Homicidal squirrels. –BP if they work as a hive mind. –DBP if try to take over the world. –TBP if they succeed. ———- NaNoWriMo ’04 – Fake Wings : WON NaNoWriMo ’05 – Lonely Road : WON NaNoWriMo ’06 – The Painful Bunny : WON NaNoWriMo ’07 – Twilight, Lost Princess : LOST ;_; NaNoWriMo ’08 – A Fish-Shaped Window : LOST ;_; NaNoWriMo ’09 – Memories Don’t Lie Flag as offensive Write to author Lady_of_the_Moon RE: The Dares Thread 55,286 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 2, 2007 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 164 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 16 38 Yes! I love the dare threads! Have a character who analyzes the handwriting of every person she meets. DBP if she is constantly asking other characters to write things down just so she can analyze their handwriting. TBP if none of that character’s are what their handwriting says they are. Have a character who has the same name as a famous serial killer. DBP if no one makes this connection. TBP if one person knows, but no one believes him/her. QBT if that person then spends a great deal of time trying to prove that said person does have the same name as a serial killer. And a cookie if said character really isn’t named after a serial killer, but the person claiming he does is. Make a character who has a weapon with a ridiculously long name, and every time he introduces himself, he says the name of his weapon, too. For example, ‘I am Andrew from the village of Furthindur, and this is my trusty sword, the Magnificent Fairy-Created Blade of the Light of a Thousand Stars!” Flag as offensive Write to author Elmo RE: The Dares Thread 56,811 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 3, 2007 Location: England Posts: 26 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 17 16 I’m yet to read through all of these, but the ones I have read are amazing! I love the dare thread <3 A couple I took from last year’s thread: Have a character try to pick a door’s lock with a paperclip, fail, and when s/he kicks the door in frustration it swings open. –Bonus Points if kicking is the way that type of door is designed to be opened in the first place. Have a character be convinced he is being followed by albatrosses. –Bonus points if the character is somewhere albatrosses aren’t – as in anywhere away from the sea.
 —Extra bonus points if the character really is being followed by albatrosses. And a couple of my own: Have a character jump or fall off a cliff –Bonus points if his/her excuse is that he/she was following a lemming (whether it’s the furry rodent type or video game character, it’s your choice) —Double bonus points if he/she actually was following a lemming Have a character who is constantly, in every scene he/she is in, playing a video game –Bonus if the game is Tetris —Double bonus if this is during a battle scene —Triple bonus if, by playing the video game, the character is unwittingly controlling the characters around him/her (if you can make a character control other characters in a battle scene by playing Tetris, and pull it off, I will worship you) Flag as offensive Write to author Stephen P. Inzunza RE: The Dares Thread 50,381 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 5, 2005 Location: Stockton, C.A. Posts: 63 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 18 18 I had a character named Odd Lee Somebody in my last NaNo. It was pretty fun to have around…he actually turned out to be the leading mind on Magiscire, a.k.a. Magical Science. What I found most funny about him is that he seemed to BLEED normal, to have an aura of pure normality about him that it was Odd how his name was Odd in the first place. Ah, I miss you Odd Lee Somebody… ———- “Mom is always right. Except when she isn’t, which doesn’t count, because you’re supposed to be ignoring it.” Flag as offensive Write to author jamileigh17 RE: The Dares Thread 50,002 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 4, 2003 Location: San Antonio TX,Texas,USA Posts: 161 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 19 18 *Glomps you* You’re going to owe me cookies. Stealing the colorchanging details, probably to the cookie if I can get it to work, the postsecret one to either BP or DBP, though I may add some from LJsecret too, and the All by Myself one, though probably only to the DBP. ———- — ~Jami~ InSANo ML- San Antonio, TX As the lights go down, the hearts go up. As the lights fade, the imagination grows. Flag as offensive Write to author End-of-Eternity RE: The Dares Thread 50,124 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 20, 2007 Location: Drifting between reality and my mind Posts: 178 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 19 39 This one is based on something I’ve been working on. However, I’m all for inspiring others, so here goes. -As part of the story, write about a gerbil named Gerribelle. -Bonus points if Gerribelle is an evil gerbil. -Triple points if all the evil things she does plays a huge part in the story. -Even more points if your characters know of Gerribelle’s evil actions but don’t know of her. Flag as offensive Write to author Ellimac RE: The Dares Thread 150,787 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 22, 2006 Location: Washington State Posts: 363 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 20 01 I’m totally taking these: Have a character who is totally obsessed with a colorful assortment of wax crayons and constantly carries them in their pocket throughout the novel. BP if the crayons somehow save the characters from danger. DBP if they somehow become integral to the plot. Include a ghost that isn’t unfriendly, isn’t particularly friendly either, doesn’t communicate much with the living, and just generally tolerates the people living in his house. BP if he turns on the radio, just because he likes music DBP if he takes occasional showers TBP if the people living in his house (or place or whatever) know about him, and just say “Oh yeah, that was the ghost” like it’s nothing weird Have someone have an alarming obsession for otters. And here’s one I’m leaving that I do every year: Include the line “a little bit of neither” somewhere in your story. ———- 2006: untitled – finished and won 2007 – untitled – finished and won 2008 – Suspend your Disbelief(working title) – finished and won! Flag as offensive Write to author Engrid H. Hallucy RE: The Dares Thread 50,007 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 14, 2007 Location: Nerdfighteria, Kansas Posts: 74 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 20 17 Miri Mirror wrote: People post things that other people should do in their books if they’re stuck. For instance: I dare you to: Include a duck named Larry. Bonus points if Larry can talk. Double bonus points if Larry teaches high school physics. I WANT THIS ONE. I don’t care if it’s an example. I want it. XD Flag as offensive Write to author EelKat RE: The Dares Thread 238,153 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 9, 2006 Location: Old Orchard Beach & Biddeford, ME Posts: 333 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 20 51 DARE: Write a romance story where the hero is a a vampire who is also a retired ballet dancer. BP=if his lover is also a vampire and the two of them are both hiding their vampire secret from the other. DBP=if one of them is also a ghost TBP=if set in a haunted house or haunted theater ———- Read This Before You Publish Your NaNoNovel! Creating Character Profiles My CosPlay Who Is This EelKat Person? ———- Follow Me Israel8491 RE: The Dares Thread 50,018 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 1, 2007 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 128 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 21 49 Include a llama in your plot Bonus points if the llama is your MC Double Bonus Points if the llama can’t even talk Triple Bonus points if the llama can fly ———- 2007: Poncho- Unmentionable Failure 2008: Blue Sky- Finished! Flag as offensive Write to author this-is-me RE: The Dares Thread 50,061 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 18, 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 17 Posted on: Sep 27, 2008 – 22 02 shizu_bara wrote: Two words: Homicidal squirrels. –BP if they work as a hive mind. –DBP if try to take over the world. –TBP if they succeed. I’m totally doing that. Last year my entire novel was based on dares– I used over 40, not including BP, DBP, TBP, etc, and actually had some kind of plot. Anyway, I’ve thought of tons of dares since last year, but can’t remember most of them now. So take this one: Have a male character who walks past you main character’s house daily, walking a cat (on a leash). –BP if the man says “Howdy!” to everyone he passes –DBP if the cat’s name is Spork –TBP if the cat bites people’s ankles –QBP if this is a major plot element. Flag as offensive Write to author CatsEnjoyPotatoes RE: The Dares Thread 60,055 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 2, 2007 Location: UK Posts: 71 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 01 48 Reading the Dare Thread scares me despite my love for it, because I always find dares which I was going to put in my novel as serious plot points. Last year, for example, some dares were to have your main character unable to talk and suffering a severe disability without referring to it, but still having it handicap them. Both of those were already features of my main character. Clearly I have a demented mind. Anyway, since I’ll probably trawl through and steal a bunch of dares later, I’ll pay my debts now. I’m pretty unimaginative, but take if you like Have your characters break a world record. +Bonus points if they do it unknowingly. ++Double bonus points if it involves paperclips. Have a character obsessed with puns. +Bonus points if his or her name is a pun. ++Double bonus points if everything he or she says is a pun relevant to the current situation. +++Triple bonus points if every pun is also a terrible fish pun. Bonus cookie if at least one of the puns is in another language. Flag as offensive Write to author Dawny RE: The Dares Thread 0 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Sep 19, 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 03 33 demonmouse500 wrote: I’ll throw a few in here: Have the first line of your novel be “Where the hell are my pants?” I’ll take this one. Flag as offensive Write to author manic247 RE: The Dares Thread 0 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Sep 27, 2008 Posts: 4 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 07 02 Have a character who is obsessed with cheese BP… If they find a piece of cheese in every scene TP… If the cheese is always in a random place e.g someones shoe, behind a rock etc. QP… If they have a special Cheese song that they sing every time they find a piece. MAJOR KUDOS… if the cheese saves the main characters life in the end of the story. LEGENDARY STATUS… if at the end of the story all the pieces of cheese join together to form a giant super cheese which turns to the reader, winks and says “….Oh yeah Baby….” ———- If toast always lands butter side down, and cats always land on their feet, what happens if you strap toast to the back of a cat and drop it? Flag as offensive Write to author hybridowl RE: The Dares Thread 50,178 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 2, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 37 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 07 45 KarenChii wrote: Dares: One of your characters keeps a computer mouse in his/her pocket all of the time because he/she loves it and it is his/her pet. Bonus Points if he/she named it Mousey and Triple Bonus Points if he/she takes it out when he’s/she’s feeling upset and strokes it. One of your characters always says “Thank you for calling Dominoes, how may I help you” every time they pick up the phone (instead of Hello). Have your character glue a penny heads up onto the ground somewhere and throughout the novel have other characters see it and think that their luck is going to change, but then they can’t pick it up because it’s glued to the ground. Have your character accidentally prank call someone they know. Your characters are made out of chocolate we learn one day when one takes a bite of the other. Bonus Points if it’s hollow chocolate and their eyes are made out of sugary candy bits. Have your character go to the library to get some obscure book, and when she/he opens it up, there’s an extremely old piece of thin sliced ham between two of the pages. A character wears the same clothes every day throughout your entire novel. Bonus Points if she rarely or never washes them. Triple Bonus Points if it is a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt (even when it’s summer). Your character gets stopped in a mall by the people with America’s Next Top Model because they think she has an interesting look. Your character gets to be on a show like Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader, Deal or No Deal, etc. Your character gets to guest star (voice if cartoon) on the tv-show of your choice. A bee comes out of nowhere and stings your character. Bonus Points if it’s in the middle of a tense scene, or in the middle of a romantic scene. A group of Christians randomly comes up to your characters and starts talking to them about God. A character claims to have gotten Carpal Tunnel from a car accident. Have the title of every chapter be a song title from a band of your choosing. The fun part is making what happens in the chapter relevant to the chapter title! (This was one I used from last year’s dares thread [I did the Beatles], and it was a lot of fun). **Let me know if you like any of these or if you plan to use them!** “knowing full well that had the man beside her not been even an acquaintance yet, he’d say she deserved it. Which she didn’t, for those of you who are wondering.”~between, 2007 …I swear I can use almost every single one of these dares and STILL have the exact same plot without having to add ‘humor novel’ changes. weird. oh; have the love interest call the main character angst-muffin all the time, with no ‘yes, I DO remember your name I’m just a jerk’ moments. BP if his hair is purple. TBP if angst muffin is really the main characters name. Flag as offensive Write to author Kitty Taylor RE: The Dares Thread 116,697 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 13, 2006 Location: Derby, UK Posts: 58 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 08 12 Yey! Somebody is using my crayon dare! XD Also, I can’t believe we completely forgot the Shovel of Death/DOOM. How could we forget the SHOVEL?! I can’t be bothered to find the original dare, so I’ll just make it up as I go along. =D I dare somebody to include a Shovel of Death/DOOM in their novel. BP if it’s actually a magical shovel. DBP if a character is carrying it with them throughout the novel. +DBP if it’s the MAIN character carrying it. ++DBP if it has absolutely nothing to do with the plot. TBP if one of the characters is killed by said shovel. +TBP if nobody thinks this death is odd. QBP if this is then not mentioned for the rest of the novel. Gotta love that shovel. ———- “Are people born Wicked, or do they have Wickedness thrust upon them? After all, she had a father. And a mother…” Flag as offensive Write to author fredtheflyingfish RE: The Dares Thread 53,846 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 2, 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 97 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 08 46 I love this thread I’m so happy my NaNo this year is completely random! Ok my dare… I dare somebody to write their NaNo backwards. DBP if you literally write every word backwards TBP if you don’t attempt to strangle yourself by the end of this. ———- 2006: My Boyfriend Wants to Eat Me-lose 2007: The Rise of Queen Callia-lose 2008: Opening My Eyes-WINNER! Flag as offensive Write to author Lady_of_the_Moon RE: The Dares Thread 55,286 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 2, 2007 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 164 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 10 18 EelKat wrote: DARE: Write a romance story where the hero is a a vampire who is also a retired ballet dancer. BP=if his lover is also a vampire and the two of them are both hiding their vampire secret from the other. DBP=if one of them is also a ghost TBP=if set in a haunted house or haunted theater I think I’ve just found the plot to my novel! EelKat Sama, you are a genius! Flag as offensive Write to author KAYE-becomingstable RE: The Dares Thread 13,386 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Sep 26, 2008 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 91 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 10 35 this-is-me wrote: Have a male character who walks past you main character’s house daily, walking a cat (on a leash). –BP if the man says “Howdy!” to everyone he passes –DBP if the cat’s name is Spork –TBP if the cat bites people’s ankles –QBP if this is a major plot element. This would actually fit into my story quite well, I’m using this xD ———- Flag as offensive Write to author Kittenata RE: The Dares Thread 17,982 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 21, 2007 Location: On my sofa… and under my laptop… Posts: 18 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 10 53 I am so taking the one where I shall start my novel with “Where the hell are my pants?” And the one where a group of christians come up and start talking about God to my characters, I can see it now, a group of vampires nodding intently and asking a lot of questions about God… I shall of course leave one, or two, or three: Have a character who is obsessed with John Barrowman and tries to bring every plot point back to him in conversation. +BP if the other characters have no idea who John Barrowman and do an internet search to find out who he is. +DBP if the other characters believe the obsessive character and also start discussing John Barrowman. +TBP if John Barrowman makes a guest appearance in your novel. +QBP if John Barrowman becomes the main antagonist… Have a character that goes “Dun dun dun!” everytime a plot point is revealed or an important event happens. +BP if no other main character notices this. +DBP if this character is your MC. +TBP if they end up gathering a group of random lesser characters to join in with their chant. +QBP if the group of lesser characters follow the main characters around and no-one notices or mentions them. Have a character wear a hat throughout the entire novel, never once taking it off. +BP if you get a 500+ word description of the hat in. +DBP if it is a ridiculous hat, eg. a purple top hat with a brim wider than most doorframes, that is top heavy and too small for your character. +TBP if no-one finds it odd, and never asks why the hat is worn, nor asks the character to take it off. +QBP if the hat saves the day. ———- Words: 5076 Cups of Coffee: 4 Random Plotlines: 2 Unplanned Characters That Have Appeared: 1 Flag as offensive Write to author Moosey RE: The Dares Thread 22,337 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 2, 2007 Location: Shouldn’t you buy me a drink first? Posts: 66 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 11 14 Taking: Have the title of every chapter be a song title from a band of your choosing. The fun part is making what happens in the chapter relevant to the chapter title! (This was one I used from last year’s dares thread [I did the Beatles], and it was a lot of fun). KarenChili I am totally taking this! Have the following conversation: Character one: Be careful with that! It’s a very toxic and corrosive chemical! Character two: Your MOM is a very toxic and corrosive chemical. Character one: Be that as it may… Taking because it is just too hilarious to leave… Have the word pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis (people in the past have said it’s good for upping word-count by having people fail to pronounce it several times) My characters always seem to be in Biology lessons so this works! And apparently there is an alternate spelling too! Yay! Leaving: Have a character refer to their gay uncle as an “auncle.” Have two characters play the Question Game for an entire chapter: -BP if no one else notices or comments upon it –DBP if they manage to rope in another person without them realising —TBP if all the characters including the MC end up doing it Involve The Game somewhere in your novel… If you do not know what The Game is, then I am honour bound to explain: You are now playing The Game. You have no choice in this. You must now attempt to forget you are playing The Game… go ahead and give yourself a few hours, or a day, to do this. After this point, any time you remember that you are playing The Game, you lose The Game, and you must announce out loud “I just lost The Game.” Anyone around you who is also playing The Game will then also lose the game, with much groaning and swearing. If anyone around you doesn’t know what you’re talking about, explain The Game to them, as I have just done for you. Then go back to forgetting that you’re playing The Game, and so on for the rest of your life. (This is a recycled dare from previous years…) Have a character who says when there is an inconsistency in the story, no matter how small, “It’s the writer’s fault.” -BP if somebody notices and points it out. –DBP if the character then corrects with self blame —TBP if the somebody then thinks the character is a writer —-QBP if the somebody then forces the character to write stories for them Randomly insert ‘in-jokes’ such as: f(x) walks into a bar and orders a pint. The barman says “Sorry sir, we don’t cater for functions.” Someone saying, “This table is a useless as the Weimar Republic!” or “Im drunk with power, quick stop me before i hit the Rhineland!” Have two charcters play the Alphabet Game: e.g. ‘i went to the shops today and i bought an apple’ ‘i went to the shops today and i bought an apple and a beetroot’ ‘I went to the shops today and i bought an apple, a beetroot, and a cat’ etc… -BP if they manage to do it all the way to ‘Y’ then have to stop for some reason, and start over -DBP if they really did all go to the shops -TBP if they have no explanation for the mountain of apples, beetroots and cats etc they are now carrying For any Twilighters out there, I am doing this for a friend, so I thought I might include it here: Have a subplot/backstory where Bella choses Jacob over Edward ———- You know you’re a writer when… Despite anxiety, humiliation and frustration, you can’t stop writing, because you are doing exactly what you should be doing. Flag as offensive Write to author mmorri02 RE: The Dares Thread 50,021 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 2, 2006 Location: Chapel Hill NC Posts: 35 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 11 22 Okay, any nerdfighters might recognize this one: Start your novel with the sentence: “What do you mean you don’t want bacon?” ———- ——————– 2006 NaNo: Those Three Little Words (Winner!) 2007 Script Frenzy: Mr. Blue Sky (Winner!) 2007 NaNo: And Then She Fell Down the Stairs (Winner) 2008 Script Frenzy: [Insert Witty Title That Has To Do With A Crime Fighting Marching B Flag as offensive Write to author invisigirls_sonnet RE: The Dares Thread 0 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Mar 21, 2008 Location: sitting in front of a typewriter in deep thought, a.ka. writer's block Posts: 9 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 - 11 43 I might have to use that pants dare or at least add in a character named Someone. This is definitely one of my favorite threads to read! Can more than one person use the same dare? (I didn't use any dares last year even though they probably would have fit with my crazy story!) Flag as offensive Write to author Elmo RE: The Dares Thread 56,811 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 3, 2007 Location: England Posts: 26 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 - 11 59 mmorri02 wrote: Okay, any nerdfighters might recognize this one: Start your novel with the sentence: "What do you mean you don't want bacon?" I love you. This nerdfighter does indeed recognise the line I'm so taking this dare, but I might just use it as the first line of a chapter, instead of the first line overall. invisigirls_sonnet wrote: Can more than one person use the same dare? (I didn't use any dares last year even though they probably would have fit with my crazy story!) As far as I know, you sure can - if someone's already "claimed" a dare, you can still use it; it's a free-for-all here. Flag as offensive Write to author invisigirls_sonnet RE: The Dares Thread 0 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Mar 21, 2008 Location: sitting in front of a typewriter in deep thought, a.ka. writer's block Posts: 9 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 - 12 30 thanks for the answer about multiple people using the same dare. There are so many dares in these lists that I think i could fit into a story that would at least follow logically for the reader. Some dares of my own (and i really don't know how good they are): have an evil llama in your story- just add one + the evil llama isn't even the villain ++ the llama makes more appearances than the actual villain +++ the MC is paranoid that the llama will spit on him/her awesomeness: this paranoia affects the MC's every action in the story start your story with "OMG! BACON!!" come up with a better exclamation than "OMG" that every character in your story will then use a sci-fi dare I loved from last year but didn't use: Include a mention of an outhouse every five pages. + Have them all be red. ++ Include outhouses in secluded places, such as forests. +++ Have a character love the color blue, and therefore refuse to use the red outhouses for the entire book. Flag as offensive Write to author Galadriel1010 RE: The Dares Thread 50,295 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 8, 2004 Location: Yorkshire, ENGLAND Posts: 200 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 - 12 47 Kittenata wrote: Have a character who is obsessed with John Barrowman and tries to bring every plot point back to him in conversation. +BP if the other characters have no idea who John Barrowman and do an internet search to find out who he is. +DBP if the other characters believe the obsessive character and also start discussing John Barrowman. +TBP if John Barrowman makes a guest appearance in your novel. +QBP if John Barrowman becomes the main antagonist... So taking that one, up to TBP, because I'm using Jack Harkness as my man protagonist and Ianto would just be confused if JB was the bad guy. And I don't think I would work it into the plot... Love Mr. Barrowman so much, that dare is just incredibly perfect Also taking: Quote: Involve The Game somewhere in your novel... If you do not know what The Game is, then I am honour bound to explain: You are now playing The Game. You have no choice in this. You must now attempt to forget you are playing The Game... go ahead and give yourself a few hours, or a day, to do this. After this point, any time you remember that you are playing The Game, you lose The Game, and you must announce out loud "I just lost The Game." Anyone around you who is also playing The Game will then also lose the game, with much groaning and swearing. If anyone around you doesn't know what you're talking about, explain The Game to them, as I have just done for you. Then go back to forgetting that you're playing The Game, and so on for the rest of your life. I've already got Jack and Ianto playing the Game lol Quote: (This is a recycled dare from previous years...) Have a character who says when there is an inconsistency in the story, no matter how small, "It's the writer's fault." -BP if somebody notices and points it out. --DBP if the character then corrects with self blame ---TBP if the somebody then thinks the character is a writer ----QBP if the somebody then forces the character to write stories for them And Quote: Two words: Homicidal squirrels. --BP if they work as a hive mind. --DBP if try to take over the world. --TBP if they succeed. as the plot for my script, if I finish my novel And I'm so happy that I've worked out to quote lol ---------- "Mobiles, landlines, tin cans with bits of string Everything, absolutely everything! No phones! Phones all broken. Hello is anyone there? No, 'cause the phones aren't working!" Janto = OTP Squee www.fanfiction.net/~Galadriel1010 Flag as offensive Write to author Foxlet RE: The Dares Thread 50,294 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 11, 2004 Location: Vantaa, Finland Posts: 39 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 - 13 06 I love this thread, even if it gets a bit overwhelming after a week or so. I have a file full of them every year. Leaving: (most of these are recycled from past years, the last three are my own) Include a character called Mr. Ian Woon, to whom you only ever refer to by his whole name. Have an entire scene spent picking flowers. Have a group of your characters get severely lost in a bus system. Bonus points if this is late at night. Double bonus if it's because the subways already closed, and they were forced to take a bus. Have two characters hold a conversation while sitting in a tree. Include the Dictionary.com word of the day (or the equivalent) in each day's writing. BP if you use more than one word-a-day service thing. (I have three: dictionary.com, AWAD, and Merriam-Webster.) Include the line "I found a wheelbarrow, but it was full of shoes." BP if it makes sense in the context. Include a character who keeps mentioning strange facts. (ie. Alexander Graham Bell's favoured way of answering the phone was 'a-hoy-hoy'. ) BP if the facts are all from QI. (I love that show so very much. Look it up on YouTube.) ---------- It means that it is my job to tell you the true story of what never happened. Perhaps that's a definition of fiction. - Stephen Fry: Making History Flag as offensive Write to author fiwen30 RE: The Dares Thread 0 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Sep 28, 2008 Location: Derby, England Posts: 38 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 - 13 22 angrysunbird wrote: Have an illicit pirate/ninja romance. Bonus points if they are the MCs. Double points if they end it like Romeo and Juliet. /quote] I am SO using this! Flag as offensive Write to author Myobu-sama RE: The Dares Thread 50,198 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 2, 2006 Location: Maryland, USA near Baltimore Posts: 85 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 13 50 Dare: Have a character who always carries a towel with him/her. BP: It’s an MC DBP: The character is hitchhiking at some point in the novel TBP: It’s vital to the plot QBP: The towel’s blue Two Plates of Cookies and three Cakes: The character has read Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. ———- 2006: Death’s Whisper (FAIL) 2007: Untitled (FAIL) 2008: Amante (working title) Flag as offensive Write to author Kittenata RE: The Dares Thread 17,982 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 21, 2007 Location: On my sofa… and under my laptop… Posts: 18 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 13 53 Ahhh I am so taking these Also yay, my John Barrowman dare was adopted Foxlet wrote: Have an entire scene spent picking flowers. Have two characters hold a conversation while sitting in a tree. Include the line “I found a wheelbarrow, but it was full of shoes.” BP if it makes sense in the context. ———- Words: 5076 Cups of Coffee: 4 Random Plotlines: 2 Unplanned Characters That Have Appeared: 1 Flag as offensive Write to author Ellimac RE: The Dares Thread 150,787 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 22, 2006 Location: Washington State Posts: 363 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 14 04 Foxlet wrote: Include the line “I found a wheelbarrow, but it was full of shoes.” BP if it makes sense in the context. I’m so taking this one! ———- 2006: untitled – finished and won 2007 – untitled – finished and won 2008 – Suspend your Disbelief(working title) – finished and won! Flag as offensive Write to author Israel8491 RE: The Dares Thread 50,018 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 1, 2007 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 128 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 14 14 The first sentence of the book is “It was a dark and stormy night.” Bonus points if it is sunny for the rest of the book Couble Bonus Points if it is sunny at night as well ———- 2007: Poncho- Unmentionable Failure 2008: Blue Sky- Finished! Flag as offensive Write to author Israel8491 RE: The Dares Thread 50,018 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 1, 2007 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 128 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 14 22 Wow. In the prolouge, one of the characters DOES get swarmed by Christian activists who each try to convince her that their church is the best and she should donate her entire life savings to them. Ha! ———- 2007: Poncho- Unmentionable Failure 2008: Blue Sky- Finished! Flag as offensive Write to author Moosey RE: The Dares Thread 22,337 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 2, 2007 Location: Shouldn’t you buy me a drink first? Posts: 66 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 14 26 [start your story with "OMG! BACON!!"] Yay! Ah thank you, thank you! I’ve been needed an opening line! And double Yay! My dares got nit-picked… *joy* Oh I would so love to include an Evil Llama….. Here be another dare I have happiley thought of: At some point in your story, include the appearance of a random zoo animal -BP if no one but your MC notices it -DBP if no one beleives your MC when they start shouting about it -TBP if, after a long period of time where the MC tries to prove their sanity, the other characters finally see the animal -TBP and a fair trade biscuit if they then think nothing of it and never mention it again, to the MC’s exasperation ———- You know you’re a writer when… Despite anxiety, humiliation and frustration, you can’t stop writing, because you are doing exactly what you should be doing. Flag as offensive Write to author tjwallis RE: The Dares Thread 51,243 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 7, 2005 Location: Bellevue washington Posts: 52 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 14 28 i may do the broccli one i have a world where characters pick their own names it might actually work ———- [URL=http://www.mybannermaker.com/link.php?nurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mybannermaker.com][IMG]http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/656/mybannerglitterd7d10edayf1.gif[/IMG][/URL] Flag as offensive Write to author tjwallis RE: The Dares Thread 51,243 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 7, 2005 Location: Bellevue washington Posts: 52 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 14 30 TessD1891 wrote: I took this one last year and it worked really well, so this year I’m leaving it for someone else. Have a character who finishes every sentence with “…according to the prophecy.” my boyfriend actually does this, i think he just found his way into my story ———- [URL=http://www.mybannermaker.com/link.php?nurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mybannermaker.com][IMG]http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/656/mybannerglitterd7d10edayf1.gif[/IMG][/URL] Flag as offensive Write to author Ketsurui RE: The Dares Thread 21,074 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 17, 2002 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 62 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 14 48 I am taking: Quote: Have your character glue a penny heads up onto the groundsomewhere and throughout the novel have other characters see it and thinkthat their luck is going to change, but then they can’t pick it up because it’s glued to the ground. A bee comes out of nowhere and stings your character. Have a character try to pick a door’s lock with a paperclip, fail, and when s/he kicks the door in frustration it swings open. Include the line “a little bit of neither” somewhere in your story. I don’t have any to leave yet, but I have a request: Does anyone have a copy of last year’s dares? I had a bunch saved, and then had computer issues. My undying love if you can help me with this! ———- Your Service, Ket Makura Proud Air Force Sister. Flag as offensive Write to author Sariah RE: The Dares Thread 50,052 / 50,000 Municipal Liaison Joined: Oct 1, 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 24 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 15 20 Moosey wrote: Involve The Game somewhere in your novel… For any Twilighters out there, I am doing this for a friend, so I thought I might include it here: Have a subplot/backstory where Bella choses Jacob over Edward Darn you! I just lost The Game! Yay! Team Jacob! ____________________________________ Co-ML for Worcester Massachusetts! ———- Co-ML for Worcester Massachusetts! Flag as offensive Write to author Summerraye RE: The Dares Thread 4,541 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Sep 2, 2008 Location: Waaaaaaay upstate New York (not by choice) Posts: 19 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 16 00 As am I, as am I!!! I already have ideas for some of the ones thrown out there…I love it. PERFECT! ———- ~Writing does not cause misery, it is born of misery~ MONTAIGNE Flag as offensive Write to author Emmersonne RE: The Dares Thread 54,755 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 2, 2006 Location: Hampshire, England Posts: 8 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 16 19 I dare you to include four characters called Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. BP if they are quadruplets and your MCs DBP if at one point you include the line “it was nobody’s fault” and Nobody runs off crying. TBP if name confusion leads to a major plot point. Flag as offensive Write to author Glass Cat RE: The Dares Thread 50,026 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 5, 2006 Location: Great Falls, MT Posts: 173 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 16 51 clarazzle wrote: Include a very religious character who thinks God lives in a fishbowl OK…. now I just came in here out of curiosity, but I think I’ll take this one. It’s truly bizarre how naturally this will fit into the plot I’m working on. Visit My Website — Add Me On MySpace ———- Visit My Website — Add Me On MySpace – My Tips for Surviving (and Winning) NaNo Flag as offensive Write to author Deleted User 130743 RE: The Dares Thread 50,635 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 6, 2006 Posts: 27 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 17 04 Okay, hybridowl, if you stole the angst-muffin from my favorite analogy ever, I might love you. So this dare: Have your characters discuss either potential suitors or fictitious characters using the muffin, pastry, or sandwich analogy. You can find it on http://mistful.livejournal.com/101928.html. ———- [IMG]http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn258/loveandviolets/banner-1.jpg[/IMG] Flag as offensive Write to author Dares: 1) Include the phrase “Lost to man” somewhere in your novel. 2) Have a character talk in another language in their sleep. BP – if they don’t know that language when awake. Flag as offensive Write to author PeanutButter777 RE: The Dares Thread 58,790 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 26, 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 226 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 18 16 Quote: Have the title of every chapter be a song title from a band of your choosing. The fun part is making what happens in the chapter relevant to the chapter title! (This was one I used from last year’s dares thread [I did the Beatles], and it was a lot of fun). Quote: I think I might do this with Matchbox Twenty. They have a LOT of songs, and since my novel’s a fantasy it should be interesting . I’ll probably name the chapter after I’ve written it so the song title and chapter actually make sense together . Sounds fun! DARE: Have a character keep a pet rock with them at all times. DP if the rock has a painted face. TBP if the rock belongs to a completely sane, mentally healthy adult. QBP if the person mentions the rock in a tense or serious scene and strokes it when upset. Flag as offensive Write to author candybrie RE: The Dares Thread 13,790 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 15, 2006 Location: Out of my mind Posts: 14 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 19 17 Have a character obsessed with a soap operah + They only watch it because they like one of the characters ++ Its a guy +++It is some way related to your plot Have a character who always pulls pranks on people +Nobody beleives anything s/he says anymore ++S/He actually knows the answer to the plot Flag as offensive Write to author Scuzzimei RE: The Dares Thread 1,190 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 3, 2006 Location: Southwest US Posts: 37 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 19 42 I so love this topic. I think I might have to borrow some of these but I’m not sure which ones yet. In the meantime I’ll add to the randomness. Open a chapter with the words “See Spot run.” Bonus Points if Spot is a dog. Double Bonus Points if those words are the code to start an alien invasion. Triple Bonus Points if by speaking them your character have caused the aliens to invade prematurely. Flag as offensive Write to author Yoshik RE: The Dares Thread 52,437 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 12, 2006 Location: RI, USA Posts: 397 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 20 19 I’m kind of doing that already. o.O But the dinosaur is neither a pet nor imaginary, just invisible and ghostly. And he’s not really supposed to be a dinosaur. Flag as offensive Write to author Ami RE: The Dares Thread 327 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 2, 2006 Location: Spokane Valley, WA Posts: 4 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 20 25 LOVE the post secret idea. For more: ljsecret.livejournal.com fandomsecrets.livejournal.com —————- NaNo: Wish You Were Here (2006) – winner I Am A Vampire And (2007) – all aboard the failboat! Working Title (2008) – 00,000 k Flag as offensive Write to author Yoshik RE: The Dares Thread 52,437 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 12, 2006 Location: RI, USA Posts: 397 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 20 47 -Include a character who only eats animal crackers a specific way BP if it includes all of the following: organizes them by what animal they are and if they’re broken; eats the broken animals first, then the animals they like the least, then their favorite animals; makes sure there is an equal amount of each of their favorite animals and stuffs the last one of each favorite in their mouth at the same time so they don’t have to choose a true favorite (if they have a true favorite, have the next-favorites stuffed in the character’s mouth at the same time, and then the true favorite after) DBP if this character finds someone who eats animal crackers the same or a similar way TBP and a bag of animal crackers if the antagonist/villain does his/her best to make the animal crackers suffer. (Of course I eat animal crackers this way! It would be silly if I didn’t.) -Have someone wearing moose antlers BP if the character does it so s/he can wear several different hats at once DBP if other characters use the antlers as a hat and/or coatrack -Have a character who attempts to turn every situation into a metaphor for keeping a bunny farm. BP if there actually IS a bunny farm -Choose an object and incorporate it into every scene BP if it’s alive DBP if no one comments on it, even if they come into contact with it -Have a character compose a song about what they’re doing at the moment BP if in the middle of the song, they sing, “And I have no idea why the hell I’m singing!” I’m all out of dares now, but I am snagging quite a few. I don’t know how many, exactly, I’ll be using. Flag as offensive Write to author clarazzle RE: The Dares Thread 76,501 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 22, 2006 Location: bern, switzerland Posts: 67 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 21 39 Pixel_Toa wrote: If you have a robot in your story (and if not, then there should be), then use the narration to constantly call attention to the fact that it cannot love. ie: “My censors are detecting Wonderzonians in the area. We should be careful,” said T1000 without a trace of love, since that was the one thing it was incapable of doing. Have a cybersex scene. question: can the cybersex scene include the loveless robot? More Dares: describe a character talking to him/herself while driving (alone) Include a character who only wears certain colors on certain days of the week (i.e. only wear blue on tuesdays) BP if they wear ONLY one color on each specific day (i.e. white wednesdays, red fridays, etc) DBP if they don’t think this is at all weird TBP if one day they can’t find the right color for that day and walk around in underwear (because it would be so wrong to wear something un-green on a thursday) A cupcake if their pajamas are all grey, so that they won’t wear the wrong color at midnight Include someone who is perfectly capable of walking, and completely healthy, but uses a wheelchair because it “builds up your biceps” BP if there is also someone who actually NEEDS a wheelchair in the novel DBP if the actually disabled person, instead of being offended, agrees and together they sing the praises of wheelchairs ————- Flag as offensive Write to author Eika RE: The Dares Thread 51,051 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 11, 2005 Location: Claremont, N.H. (currently Plymouth, NH for college). Posts: 27 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 21 34 Moosey wrote: Involve The Game somewhere in your novel… I was on a three-month win streak, too. DARN YOU! Flag as offensive Write to author IsilwenDreams RE: The Dares Thread 50,505 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 2, 2006 Location: over the rainbow Posts: 4 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 22 10 Moosey wrote: Involve The Game somewhere in your novel… If you do not know what The Game is, then I am honour bound to explain: You are now playing The Game. You have no choice in this. You must now attempt to forget you are playing The Game… go ahead and give yourself a few hours, or a day, to do this. After this point, any time you remember that you are playing The Game, you lose The Game, and you must announce out loud “I just lost The Game.” Anyone around you who is also playing The Game will then also lose the game, with much groaning and swearing. If anyone around you doesn’t know what you’re talking about, explain The Game to them, as I have just done for you. Then go back to forgetting that you’re playing The Game, and so on for the rest of your life. Is it strange that I was already planning on doing this? XD My various scattered contributions: Include the line: “This looks like a job for the Drama Llama!” Write about an evil tea party. Have your characters go on strike for a chapter. Set a watermelon on fire. Include a ninja mariachi band. Flag as offensive Write to author rorrim_evol RE: The Dares Thread 8,131 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 18, 2007 Location: Oregon! Posts: 3 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 22 58 tashe_19 wrote: Insert a lurid pink plastic flamingo in your story, with at least one mention of said flamingo per chapter BP if there is, at some point, a herd of pink plastic flamingos DBP if the flamingos are/become sentient TBP if one of the flamingos becomes a main character QBP if the cast of your novel consists solely of lawn ornamentations (the oft-mentioned flamingos, ceramic garden gnomes, etc.) I can so do that! yes! Not all of it, but still. I can try! Flag as offensive Write to author star_falling13 RE: The Dares Thread 11,684 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 11, 2005 Location: Nashville, Tennessee Posts: 7 Posted on: Sep 28, 2008 – 22 59 Quote: Involve The Game somewhere in your novel… Haha, I think you just found a way for my MMC to introduce himself to my FMC. And I absolutely ADORE how you made everyone that looks at the dare thread for the next two months lose the Game. XD Quote: Have a group of your characters get severely lost in a bus system. Bonus points if this is late at night. Double bonus if it’s because the subways already closed, and they were forced to take a bus. You know, dares like this are why I always feel like my characters hate me by the end of the month (probably because they do…). I look at the dare thread, find situations like thiiiiiis, and can’t resist throwing them into my novel. Last year I had one of my characters get a concussion because they were attacked by a purple goat wearing yellow silk stockings. Why? Because I combined a couple of dares for extra wordage. Lovely, lovely dares. Leaving: Have a character that carries around a candle all the time. BP if the character is your MC. DBP if the character’s explanation for carrying the candle is that it smells good. TBP if the candle is crucial to the plot. QBP if the candle is never actually lit. A cookie if the villian steals the candle, sniffs it, and keels over because it smells like utter crap. XD Flag as offensive Write to author catching_clouds RE: The Dares Thread 11,000 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 21, 2007 Location: England. Posts: 14 Posted on: Sep 29, 2008 – 03 21 Include mystical doughnuts in the story. BP if they are critical to the ending/climax. DBP if they are the supervillans/bad guys of the story. Flag as offensive Write to author Wilowitch RE: The Dares Thread 59,532 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Sep 29, 2008 Location: England Posts: 10 Posted on: Sep 29, 2008 – 03 49 KYAAAA I so intend to try and use the dare about the pet computer mouse!! That would just be so awesome!! I love it!! NYAHAHAHA *scampers off like gollum to her corner of coffee and pens* Flag as offensive Write to author Wilowitch RE: The Dares Thread 59,532 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Sep 29, 2008 Location: England Posts: 10 Posted on: Sep 29, 2008 – 03 50 nyahaha – I really like this ^^ I think I just might use it. I’m sure my lemon juiced up brain could work it 8D Flag as offensive Write to author Wilowitch RE: The Dares Thread 59,532 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Sep 29, 2008 Location: England Posts: 10 Posted on: Sep 29, 2008 – 03 51 YES!!! I’m gunna find a way to do this even if it kills me!!! WOOT!! nyahahaha *starts pulling pens out of hair* Flag as offensive Write to author CeNedra RE: The Dares Thread 59,479 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 16, 2007 Location: Bournemouth, England Posts: 54 Posted on: Sep 29, 2008 – 04 07 Quote: Have a character who is constantly, in every scene he/she is in, playing a video game –Bonus if the game is Tetris I’ve actually written a character like this who played Tetris on her GameBoy throughout the entire story, she didn’t talk and needed to be spoon-fed. Might use this dare again though. As I took one earlier in the thread, thought I should leave this: Have a character who is building a wall out of a random object (in my case it was anvils, but go wild) BP if this wall is important to the plot DBP if this character isn’t an MC TBP if this character only appears at random moments to steal above-mentioned random item I’ll try to think of more, love the ideas in this thread! Flag as offensive Write to author catching_clouds RE: The Dares Thread 11,000 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 21, 2007 Location: England. Posts: 14 Posted on: Sep 29, 2008 – 05 35 One of your character’s responses to every problem is always “Ninjas. Ninjas always did it.” BP if at one point in the novels it actually was ninjas. And everyone’s still shocked. TP if the character is actually a ninja working undercover, but nobody realises. QP if the character disappears into the shadows every chapter, and is so ninja-like everyone reading it could have worked it out by now, but all the characters are blind. A cookie if by the end of the book, the ninja character suddenly gains chronic amnesia and has forgotten everything about ninjas. Completely. Flag as offensive Write to author rustydragonfly RE: The Dares Thread 50,694 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Sep 26, 2008 Location: Dystopia, South Yorkshire, UK Posts: 50 Posted on: Sep 29, 2008 – 06 44 I have two more for you: Include evil cookies in your story somehow. How they are evil is up to you. (The evil cookies originated here. Possible spoilers for anyone who hasn’t seen the Doctor Who S3 finale yet. They later on showed up here. It is now my mission to spread them throughout the universe, leaving a trail of evil wherever they go.) Have a character leave someone a note saying “gone to get you a maggot”. BP if the context is in any way romantic. TBP if you know where this is from. Flag as offensive Write to author ke7dbx RE: The Dares Thread 1,771 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Sep 29, 2008 Location: Seabeck, Washington Posts: 1 Posted on: Sep 29, 2008 – 07 00 My twisted mind came up with this one. Your Hero ends up in a production of Macbeth. He does not know why. The director decided to do the entire play naked in an out door theater in the middle of December in Alaska or some other very could place in the world. Flag as offensive Write to author crimsonbutterfly23 RE: The Dares Thread 3,368 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Sep 9, 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 116 Posted on: Sep 29, 2008 – 11 42 AuroraIgniz wrote: I dare someone to make one of their characters a cannibal. BP if one of his names is Todd. DBP if he’s bald. TBP if he’s NOT the villain QBP if he eats one of the other main characters I actually have done that in a non-nano wip. his name isn’t Todd, he’s not bald. But he IS not the villain! XD Maybe he’ll have to make an appearance in my nano novel… These are some hilarious dares. Seriously I want to use them all but sadly…that’d be a very VERY odd piece of work. Hm… I dare someone to make a character who carries around slices of pizza(with everything on it) in every possible hiding place(shoes, pockets etc). BP if they never actually eat the pizza or don’t even LIKE pizza DBP if the same slices of pizza stay in their pocket for the duration of the novel TBP if when another character makes reference to the rotten smell the pizza person is seemingly unaware they are carrying old, moldy pizza on their person. ^ kinda lame but I’m sure I’ll come up with others ha ha Flag as offensive Write to author Kitty Taylor RE: The Dares Thread 116,697 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 13, 2006 Location: Derby, UK Posts: 58 Posted on: Sep 29, 2008 – 12 52 I think I’ll be taking the evil tea party dare! Also, the evil cookie dare. :] They’ll both fit into my novel well I think. =P Flag as offensive Write to author Kay Qy RE: The Dares Thread 50,279 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 1, 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 10 Posted on: Sep 29, 2008 – 13 33 Ah, the dares. This year’s NaNo lends itself to them really well, so I’m taking way too many to list, and we’ll see how many I finally end up using! catching_clouds wrote: Include mystical doughnuts in the story. BP if they are critical to the ending/climax. DBP if they are the supervillans/bad guys of the story. *has actually sort of done this* XD TBP if they fly into a rage anytime someone tries to spell it “donut” QBP if you have a final showdown between the Doughnut and its nemesis the Donut BP and a doughnut hole if you give them a girlfriend called Donette. * * * * “A blank page is God’s way of showing you how hard it is to be God.” ~ Anonymous Flag as offensive Write to author skneal RE: The Dares Thread 125,319 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 2, 2006 Location: San Jose CA Posts: 294 Posted on: Sep 29, 2008 – 13 52 Have kung-fu fighing hamsters appear with appropriate theme music. Have a character knit a sexy turkey hat ( http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_11&listing_id=746646…) and have it be intergral to the plot. Have a possessed poodle named Fifi. Flag as offensive Write to author midnghtjade83 RE: The Dares Thread 50,121 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 4, 2006 Location: Probably in the forums. >.< line =”D” fun =”D” p=”6487″ ref=”sr_gallery_11&listing_id=”746646…)” one =”]” them =”D”>:D

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razberrry101
RE: The Dares Thread

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Oct 9, 2008 – 10 45
ok… seriously not one of my best but.. whatever:

Dare: first line of the novel “I’m a pretty little princess! Wheeeeeee!”
Bonus Points: If the character saying it it an old man
Double Bonus Points: If he’s a big part of the story
Extra Double Bonus Points: If he isn’t kidding around, and actually means it. (He also isn’t allowed to to be drunk or anything close to it!)

I wanna see how many people are enough of a rebel to use this one

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Tjhief
RE: The Dares Thread

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Oct 9, 2008 – 12 12
I have dare for you:

Have a character obsessed with getting the white stuff out of everything, ie oreos, twinkies… you know..
BP if he eats it even when it isn’t edible
DBP if he is diagnosed with an immunity for white things
TBP if all other characters die from something white.

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Thefuzzling
RE: The Dares Thread

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Oct 9, 2008 – 12 24
I will do these dares! =3

I dare you to have a dragon (or other fire creature) mock a smoker, calling him a pathetic imitator.
Bonus points if the dragon falls over laughing.
Even more bonus points if the smoker was the main bad guy and now his minions won’t take him seriously.

I dare you to include a character named Someone.
Bonus if his name is equally nondescript
A cookie if no one ever gets confused except ONE CHARACTER, and no one ever understands how that one character gets confused.

Include the line “Give it to me hard, weather gods!”

Include a ghost that isn’t unfriendly, isn’t particularly friendly either, doesn’t communicate much with the living, and just generally tolerates the people living in his house.
BP if he turns on the radio, just because he likes music
DBP if he takes occasional showers
TBP if the people living in his house (or place or whatever) know about him, and just say “Oh yeah, that was the ghost” like it’s nothing weird

Have your villain introduce himself as The Great and Mighty Overlord of the Evil Castle of Doom.
Bonus points if the heroes ask if they can call him The Idiot instead.
Double bonus points if they use the term for “idiot” in Elvish (or whatever other language you have).
Triple bonus points if he has a girly name (I used Fran).
Quadruple bonus points if he is defeated by someone clubbing him over the head before he can finish saying his title.

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studentofrhythm
RE: The Dares Thread

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Oct 9, 2008 – 12 28
I might do this, since it reminds me of growing up in a house where this happened a lot.

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Emmersonne
RE: The Dares Thread

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Oct 9, 2008 – 13 11
I dare you to call your Nano – ‘insert name here’ and Friends.

Bonus Points is “Friends” is actually the name of a character.
DBP if Friends is the MC
TBP if your chosen ‘insert name here’ never features in your nano at all.

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JaTS
RE: The Dares Thread

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Oct 9, 2008 – 14 42
I dare you to include this line:

“It’s a greeny-brown…No, wait. I tell a lie, it’s actually more of a browny-green.”

And:
At one point, have the main animal character of your story slam into a glass door.

It sounds cruel, but if you’ve ever seen it happen to a 16 pound chihuahua you’d appreciate it more =)

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SeerowsKindness
RE: The Dares Thread

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Oct 9, 2008 – 14 52
Stolen from the JulNo forums:

Somehow include all the titles of one season of episodes from a TV show.
BP: Somehow include all the titles from all the season of a TV show.

So, for the TV show Stargate SG-1, for example, I would have to include phrases or words like “Memento Mori” and “Dominion.”

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Kitty_Ninja
RE: The Dares Thread

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Oct 9, 2008 – 16 16
I took some dares so I’ll leave a couple.

Write a portion of your novel as a copy-change (where you take an already existing work, break it down to it’s grammatical components, and then replace the original words with your own. It’s harder than it sounds!)
BP if you write a whole chapter this way
DBP if you write your whole novel this way
∞BP if you write your whole novel this way… and win

Write a chapter of your novel using conscious stream of thought
BP if your MC speaks only in conscious stream of thought
DBP if your MC doesn’t know who T.S Eliot is
TBP if his name is Alfred

And I can’t remember if I thought of this while I was in the library or if it was on last year’s forum but here’s another:

Go into your local library (college/university libraries work best because they have TONS of non-fiction with great titles) and choose a random aisle and a random book. Take the title of that book as the title of your next chapter
BP if you use something from the book (a phrase, a line of dialog, ect.) as the plot of that chapter
DBP if your chapter ends up having nothing to do with the subject of the book
TBP if you do this for all your chapters

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Zeros
RE: The Dares Thread

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Oct 9, 2008 – 17 07
Have a character at a party with a bunch of people he/she is trying to impress and later find that he/she has water paint designs all over his/her face.
-BP if its a male character and someone finally has mercy and tells him about it while they’re peeing at a urinal.
–DBP if the paint designs are actually the key to stopping the alien invasion, or some other oncoming doom the MC is fighting to stop
—TBP if the paint came from character’s younger sibling that ran out of paper to draw on
—-50 billion quatrillion points if the character has an allergic reaction to the paint and it will never wash off.

Have the MC suddenly trip over nothing in the middle of a serious discussion and then not be able to remember who he is
-BP if you just then get rid of that MC and adopt a new one
–DBP if the one you adopt is the MC’s long lost twin and nobody notices except for the mother
—TBP if they aren’t identical twins and the one is actually of the opposite gender

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Falin
RE: The Dares Thread

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Oct 9, 2008 – 17 13
Willowe wrote:
I posted this on the old forums, but figured I’d post it on the new ones as well.
Have a character who says “That seems like something from a NaNo dare!” when something strange happens.
-BP If no one questions their comment
–TBP if they say it every time something odd happens
—QBP if the situation involved no other dares at all

I see the perfect spot for that in my NaNo this year. So I’m snatching it up.

——-
2007: First year: The Story/Homeward Bound-WON!
2008: The Last Child

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Falin
RE: The Dares Thread

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Oct 9, 2008 – 17 18
Gennaia wrote:
I dare you to have a character with intense ADHD.
Bonus points if halfway through their explanation of a major plot point they get distracted by a shiny rock.
Extra bonus points if various other characters try to get them on meds.
Super bonus points if this turns out to help the good guys win.
Taking this one too.

2007: First year: The Story/Homeward Bound-WON!
2008: The Last Child

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wrbcosta
RE: The Dares Thread

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Oct 9, 2008 – 17 36
transience wrote:
Have a character sing “If You’re Happy And You Know It” during a really serious moment in the novel.
I am definetely taking this one =) It will actually be perfect for one of my characters

Here is my toothpaste inspired dare:

Have the opening line of the novel be: “For better results, squeeze tube from bottom.”
BP If it means something dirty.
DBP If it is actually the key to the novel’s mistery (if it is a mistery novel)

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Falin
RE: The Dares Thread

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Oct 9, 2008 – 18 16
This was amazing! Thanks for all the good ideas.
I’m taking the Penny idea, the ham in a book, and getting stopped in the mall for America’s Next…

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Falin
RE: The Dares Thread

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Oct 9, 2008 – 18 23
Yessss!

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SporkGirl
RE: The Dares Thread

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Oct 9, 2008 – 20 23
Have one of your characters talk about their weenis (the skin on your elbow). You can have all sorts of fun with this one.

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HeraldMage
RE: The Dares Thread

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Oct 9, 2008 – 21 43
Here’s a line of dialogue from a story I was writing a while back. I really liked it in context, but I hope someone finds a use for it <3>___< one =”)” v=”8sYBqhOEdRQ&feature=”user” more =”)” bp=”if” dbp=”if” tbp=”if” v=”CsGYh8AacgY)”>< genname=”writechallenge” shelly =”)”>.< Posts: 12 Posted on: Oct 18, 2008 – 04 16 Have a character who only speaks in lyrics from a specific band or singer. BP if he/she is the main character DBP if this is crucial to the plot TBP if no one finds this strange and doesn’t question it A cookie if the lyrics save the day in some way. ———- Pocketful of Rie :: 0/50,000 Flag as offensive Write to author Ortensia RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 50,790 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 23, 2007 Location: Long Island Posts: 116 Posted on: Oct 18, 2008 – 05 19 ~Include a “that’s what SHE said!” comment during the final climactic battle (or climactic event, if your story doesn’t go that way). Bonus points if that isn’t really what she said. ~Have every chapter title be a palindrome OR include a palindrome every other chapter; bonus points if they make sense! ~Make every characters name an anagram of each others’, with the allowed addition of one extra letter per name (use this rule at your leisure and however you would please, it creates a rather nice loophole). Bonus points if you don’t use the added-letter rule. ~Refer to other stories of yours during your NaNo. Bonus points if the characters are the ones making the reference, double bonus points if they know who that story is by and not their own. if anyone chooses any of these, please let me know =D you’re super-special-awesome <333 ———- 2007: Realmkeeper (WIN!) 2008: Disjecta Membra (WIN!) Flag as offensive Write to author Zel RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 50,146 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 2, 2007 Location: Auckland, New Zealand (NZ) Posts: 233 Posted on: Oct 18, 2008 – 05 30 Have a character with a glass eye. DP if the reason the character lost his/her eye is never given TP if it falls out every time he/she sneezes QP if it has a mind of its own ———- —————————— 2007: Sick Bacchus (won!) 2008: Nocturne (going… slowly) Flag as offensive Write to author GrapefruitExplosions RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 12,972 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 12, 2008 Location: Bedfordshire, England Posts: 23 Posted on: Oct 18, 2008 – 08 28 Include a walrus named Gerald. BP if he’s a TV newsreader. DBP if he wears a top hat and a monocle. TBP if he speaks German, but in a 1950s BBC accent. Flag as offensive Write to author BreezyBaby RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 13,728 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 7, 2005 Location: North Bay, Ontario Posts: 16 Posted on: Oct 18, 2008 – 13 51 Hopefully this one hasn’t been done before… Have a hit and run, vehicle vs. pedestrian, with the vehicle being one of those motorized scooters old people drive around on. BP: If the pedestrian is somehow actually hurt. DBP: If the police are involved. TBP: If the scooter is left abandoned and no one can find the driver. Flag as offensive Write to author BreezyBaby RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 13,728 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 7, 2005 Location: North Bay, Ontario Posts: 16 Posted on: Oct 18, 2008 – 14 01 Okay, another one: If you have a fire scene in your story, have a passerby come up to the firefighters and ask what is going on. Have the firefighter explain that it is a shark attack (when it most obviously is not). Flag as offensive Write to author kittyofdoom RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 0 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 10, 2008 Location: durango, co. Posts: 10 Posted on: Oct 18, 2008 – 14 59 Have a genetically altered cat BP:if the cat has a power of some kind TriP:If the cat is with the MC at least through half of the book QP:if it can talk ONLY in lolcat speak 5BP:If he is a loyal pastafarian ———- “Ha. Sanity? What would I do with something as useless as that? Lucky for me, I never had any such thing.” – Kenpachi Zaraki Flag as offensive Write to author theycallmethewriter RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 10,042 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 12, 2005 Location: Suburbs of St. Louis, MO Posts: 19 Posted on: Oct 18, 2008 – 15 51 Oh, this is claimed! And for all the points, too. I dare you to include references to the following: The Search for Spock I am Not Spock I am Spock ———- “Everybody walks past a thousand story ideas every day. The good writers are the ones who see five or six of them. Most people don’t see any.” –Orson Scott Card ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2005: Public Places (Winner) 2006: H Flag as offensive Write to author Izzie RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 0 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 2, 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 7 Posted on: Oct 18, 2008 – 17 00 Insert some flowers into a scene (or scenes!) whose meanings reflect your plot. This site has a lot of the meanings for different flowers, which are love-related. http://www.800florals.com/care/meaning.asp Flag as offensive Write to author Animal_Planet RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 50,090 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 6, 2006 Location: London Posts: 18 Posted on: Oct 18, 2008 – 18 03 Have an asian character read EVERYTHING backwards (newspapers, books, et c) BD: If s/he complains about being spoiled about the end of every book s/he reads (cookie if s/he later finds a book that’s chronologically weird and likes it because s/he didn’t get spoiled). TBD: If reading backwards reveals something that’s crucial to the plot. TBD with cookie: If it becomes such a famous event that reading backwards becomes a national holiday. ———- “They say ninety percent of TV is junk. But, ninety percent of everything is junk.” – Gene Roddenberry Flag as offensive Write to author MikeyCam RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 50,103 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 2, 2007 Location: Central Time Zone Posts: 5 Posted on: Oct 18, 2008 – 20 44 BreezyBaby wrote: Okay, another one: If you have a fire scene in your story, have a passerby come up to the firefighters and ask what is going on. Have the firefighter explain that it is a shark attack (when it most obviously is not). I’m taking this one! ~~~~~~ “I love being a writer. What I can’t stand is the paperwork.” ~Peter DeVries ———- “I love being a writer. What I can’t stand is the paperwork.” ~Peter DeVries Flag as offensive Write to author Animal_Planet RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 50,090 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 6, 2006 Location: London Posts: 18 Posted on: Oct 18, 2008 – 20 56 I have another one! Have a character that constantly says “this feels likes something from Friends”. BP: If it’s something that NEVER would happen in Friends. DBP: If you have six main character, all named after the Friends. DBP with cookie: If Chandler is a girl. And: Have someone promise to write a theme song for your MC. DBP: If the character finishes it and plays it for your MC at the end of the story (cookie if the MC doesn’t like it because it’s not John Williamsish enough). ———- “They say ninety percent of TV is junk. But, ninety percent of everything is junk.” – Gene Roddenberry Flag as offensive Write to author NataliaLW RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 50,718 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 13, 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 125 Posted on: Oct 18, 2008 – 22 03 Have a character be completely terrified of some kind of food. Like cheese. BP If it turns out to be a valid fear DBP If they somehow save the day/world by triumphantly eating it Flag as offensive Write to author fantasyfreak_18 RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 0 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 10, 2008 Location: Las Cruces NM, USA, Earth Posts: 82 Posted on: Oct 18, 2008 – 23 12 Make a charecter deathly afraid of identity theft. BP if their identity is stolen DBP if the theif is the villan TBP if its a medieval swords and sorcery novel A Cookie if the Villan is arrested trying to use the charecters credit card because he had warrents ———- When life gives you lemons, make grape juice, then sit back and let the world wonder how you did it. 2009 Nano project: Arcana Flag as offensive Write to author Katro RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 7,813 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 11, 2008 Location: Denver Colorado Posts: 3 Posted on: Oct 18, 2008 – 23 16 Have characters with the same names as the names of the baseball players in the “who’s on first” skit by abott and costello. BP: The plot is actually about a baseball game. Flag as offensive Write to author Ocea RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 0 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 18, 2008 Location: Home… sewing… eating.. whaha? Posts: 697 Posted on: Oct 18, 2008 – 23 40 Here’s one! Somehow incorperate exploding lip balm BP if it’s a dud DBP if it explodes in a character’s shirt pocket TBP if they have a beard and it gets singed off and someone else goes “OH THANK GOD FINALLY!!!” Have a character shave their beard BP if the character’s child freaks out cause they shaved while they were gone DBP if the child thinks it’s “stranger danger” Use the phrase “STRANGER DANGER!” BP if it’s an adult DBP if they have a kid TBP if the kid hugs the stranger anyway More to come later! ———- OMG HI! Flag as offensive Write to author dream_snail RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 60,055 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 2, 2006 Location: pounding the keys with my face Posts: 147 Posted on: Oct 19, 2008 – 00 23 (Taking the dare about vampire pumpkins, don’t know how or why, but there will be vampire pumpkins in my novel) Dare: Have all your characters eating miniature food throughout the story (mini-tacos, mini-donuts, tiny hamburgers, etc) BP: Never remark upon it or have your characters mention or explain it in any way ———- It came to me in a dream. And I forgot it in another dream. -Prof Farnsworth, “Futurama” — Now he’s trapped in a book I wrote! A crummy world of plot holes and spelling errors! -Fry, “Futurama” Flag as offensive Write to author Cait-Lin RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 6,738 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 10, 2008 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 105 Posted on: Oct 19, 2008 – 00 34 I dare you to have your character killed by an animal Double points: The animal dosen’t usually kill 4pts: The animal is a vegetarian 8pts: The animal is their pet 16pts: The animal has not much form of defense (i.e. A duck) Flag as offensive Write to author TinAK47 RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 563 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Sep 3, 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 55 Posted on: Oct 19, 2008 – 02 31 Have a chase scene involving a segway. BP if it’s a person on foot outrunning a segway. DBP if the segway catches up with a car going average speed, but doesn’t catch the person running TBP if no one questions this. Flag as offensive Write to author summerdragon RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 3,523 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 19, 2006 Location: Tulsa, Ok Posts: 12 Posted on: Oct 19, 2008 – 05 18 Dare: include a fortune telling goldfish in your story. BP if it’s actually a wee little mermaid living in a goldfish bowl, complete with tiny plastic castle. DBP if she swears like a sailor. TBP if she only tells fortunes in exchange for stuff for her bowl. QBP if she makes up her information, but is actually right all the time. Flag as offensive Write to author Mariana OConnor RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 50,191 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 16, 2003 Location: UK Posts: 74 Posted on: Oct 19, 2008 – 06 49 Ok… I dare you to have one character who, whenever they fancy someone says ‘well s/he’s definitely going in the cupboard’ -BP if they actually have a cupboard -DBP if they have kidnapped lots of people and put them in it -TBP if your MC has toevade being put in the cupboard… ———- Nanowrimo – My kind of stupid. Flag as offensive Write to author Falin RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 76,205 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 11, 2007 Location: Little dot in northern: Arky-saw Posts: 71 Posted on: Oct 19, 2008 – 09 02 Oh this is funny! Haha, I don’t know if I’d actually be able to use it, but all the same I am snagging snagging snagging! ———- 2007: First year: The Story / Homeward Bound: WON! 2008: Shutter Bird / The Last Child: WON! Flag as offensive Write to author Yayaomo RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 0 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 19, 2008 Location: Viva Las Vegas?! Posts: 17 Posted on: Oct 19, 2008 – 09 09 Dare: Include a character who gets drowsy or is put to sleep by the sound of salsa music. Bonus points if his friends are constantly springing it on him just to watch his reaction; double bonus points if, inexplicably, it seems to be playing everywhere the character goes. Triple bonus points if it finally puts him over the edge and causes him to go insane. And I think I’m taking the cupboard one, haha! Flag as offensive Write to author Thallie RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 0 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 18, 2007 Location: Hanover, IN Posts: 8 Posted on: Oct 19, 2008 – 09 06 TAKING: -Robin Hood must appear somewhere in your story
BP if he doesn’t tell his name and you don’t tell it either
DBP if he doesn’t steal money but something else, for example dried food or clothes for the poor
TBP if your story takes place in a urban area and not in historical milieu
+an apple if he helps your MC somewhere in the book ~Refer to other stories of yours during your NaNo. Bonus points if the characters are the ones making the reference, double bonus points if they know who that story is by and not their own. -Insert some flowers into a scene (or scenes!) whose meanings reflect your plot. This site has a lot of the meanings for different flowers, which are love-related. LEAVING: – Your MC has two large silver rabbits sitting in their front yard. Like, we’re talking bigger than a person big. – BP if no one ever explains why they’re there. – TBP if there is an entire subplot about various characters trying to ask why/how they got there, but something always comes up so that the MC can’t explain. – QBP and a mountain of candy if the giant silver rabbits are alive and make snide remarks at everyone. – An elderly man comes running up to your MC and whoever they may be with and starts yelling, in a clearly false Russian accent, that they are fleeing to Poland and that he hopes everyone remembered their passports. – BP if this is actually relevant to the story. – TBP if the entire plot revolves around your MC trying to flee to Poland, only to discover they have forgotten their passport. – Your entire story is about your MC’s inability to do a tequila shot. – BP if it turns out to be because your MC is allergic to limes. ———- .I do believe in commas, I do, I do. Flag as offensive Write to author Falin RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 76,205 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 11, 2007 Location: Little dot in northern: Arky-saw Posts: 71 Posted on: Oct 19, 2008 – 09 14 So taking. Man, I will really have to come up with some dares now, because I have been taking like crazy but no giving… ———- 2007: First year: The Story / Homeward Bound: WON! 2008: Shutter Bird / The Last Child: WON! Flag as offensive Write to author Falin RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 76,205 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 11, 2007 Location: Little dot in northern: Arky-saw Posts: 71 Posted on: Oct 19, 2008 – 09 15 Ok, I’m taking this one too. I can’t believe I’m so grabby. My story is so random though, and such a skeleton, that I am grabbing all things random that could be funny and make sense. ———- 2007: First year: The Story / Homeward Bound: WON! 2008: Shutter Bird / The Last Child: WON! Flag as offensive Write to author Falin RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 76,205 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 11, 2007 Location: Little dot in northern: Arky-saw Posts: 71 Posted on: Oct 19, 2008 – 09 47 Ok, so that I contribute a little and don’t feel like I’m just taking and never giving back. I leave you with: Have a character carry around a stuffed animal with them all the time, even though they’re not a kid. BP: If the stuffed animal has a name that the character keeps telling everyone TP: If the character actually has a backpack/messenger bag full of stuffed animals, all of which have names and which they take out when they’re bored. Have a character try to make a new flavor of coffee creamer. BP: If the flavor is something really nasty (like Chicken) TP: If they are then extremely cheesy and make a commercial for their product, saying, “Mmm tastes like chicken!” QP: If the flavor is actually something to do with writing, like creamer that tastes like pen ink, a muse, etc. Have a character that in every chapter, yells a different well wishing, like “Merry Christmas!” even though it’s no where near the season. BP: If the character actually thinks that it is the holiday and cannot be convinced otherwise. ———- 2007: First year: The Story / Homeward Bound: WON! 2008: Shutter Bird / The Last Child: WON! Flag as offensive Write to author Malaloba RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 25,000 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 22, 2007 Posts: 37 Posted on: Oct 19, 2008 – 10 42 Include a referance to someone writing a 50,000 word novel in 30 days BP: if its someone/something that should be unable to (ex: a rat) DP: if this is relevent/important to the plot Flag as offensive Write to author Baker-Street-Ir… RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 10,752 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 4, 2007 Location: Someplace Posts: 24 Posted on: Oct 19, 2008 – 12 32 Probably taking the stuffed animal one. Because I see that in my future, haha! And, because I have a monkey in my story, I leave you this… Dare: One of the characters in your story has a pet monkey. BP: Your MC has a pet monkey. DPB: The monkey IS the MC. TBP: The monkey betrays everyone. QBP: The monkey is the villain. QBP and a starbucks: The monkey is the only main character, or one of the only main characters, left alive at the end. Dare: Inclue a sentient footstool in your story. BP: It talks telepathically with one of the characters. DBP: The character responds. TBP: The character responds OUT LOUD. QBP: The character resonds OUT LOUD and no one remarks on it. QBP and a starbucks: The footstool tells the character something extremely important to the plot. QBP, a starbucks, and an apple pie: The footstool is constantly complaining about one of the other household items. Two apple pies if the character mentions this to someone else. ~God Bless. ———- “Miguel, you know that voice that people have, that tells them to quite while they’re ahead? YOU DON’T HAVE ONE!” – Tulio, The Road to El Dorado. Flag as offensive Write to author Krek RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 12,516 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 9, 2008 Location: In My Kingdom Cold Posts: 28 Posted on: Oct 19, 2008 – 14 11 write about a hyper intelligent Microwave and his (or hers) quest to grow arms and legs and a mouth: BP: he\she hates cooking and tries to avoid being used as such DBP: he\she have to outsmart Scotland yard TBP: he\she must fight a SWAT team Flag as offensive Write to author Draketeeth RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 0 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 9, 2005 Posts: 75 Posted on: Oct 19, 2008 – 14 18 Awesome, vampire pumpkins. Those have got to be in my novel somewhere. It’s probably not a good thing when I’ve already got a character hit list that can be fed to those things. ^.^ Leaving: Have a problem with an unclean bathroom + if its only the mens restroom ++ If the following sign is put up in the unclean bathroom “Stand closer, Objects in hand are smaller than they appear.” Include a character with thin skinny arms. + if the character is somewhat obsessed about his/her stick skinny arms ++ if that character gets e-mailed spam ads for “new arm enlargement” +++ if they order some of the product Include one or more of the lines: Improbable things can really happen! The solution is upsizing Because of a bet . . . . . . just you and my rubber duckie. . . A great banana is your main weapon. . . ———– My collection of little loves Flag as offensive Write to author Anna Sofia RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 3,823 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 18, 2008 Location: UK Posts: 36 Posted on: Oct 19, 2008 – 15 27 summerdragon wrote: Dare: include a fortune telling goldfish in your story. BP if it’s actually a wee little mermaid living in a goldfish bowl, complete with tiny plastic castle. DBP if she swears like a sailor. TBP if she only tells fortunes in exchange for stuff for her bowl. QBP if she makes up her information, but is actually right all the time. I truly, truly love this, and may somehow incorporate it into my story. I also like the Robin Hood dare, too. About the goldfish – I may be imagining this, but I believe that at some point in Garth Nix’s ‘Keys to the Kingdom’ series, there is a MC that is a stateley goldfish that has an army of followers It helps to save the day! Just an awesome link, there Flag as offensive Write to author Blithe RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 21,065 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 2, 2006 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 6 Posted on: Oct 19, 2008 – 15 33 Dare: Write first person perspective of a person blind from birth BP: Write the whole story in this format (Like me! Share in my pain!) Flag as offensive Write to author Becky Creighton RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 17,278 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 14, 2007 Location: Somewhere over the rainbow Posts: 38 Posted on: Oct 19, 2008 – 17 09 Here’s one for ya… Have a character who, in every scene and possible situation, wears a silly hat. -BP If the hat is somehow connected to the plot. -DBP If the hat changes every day. -TBP If no one comments on this. -QBP If the hat is described in an incredibly detailed fashion every time it is mentioned. + a cookie if the hat is able to talk or controls the character’s brain. ———- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shEnpm6apis Flag as offensive Write to author jp_in_pa RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 52,344 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 10, 2004 Location: Pennsylvania – Franklin County Posts: 4 Posted on: Oct 19, 2008 – 17 33 Ocea wrote: Have a character shave their beard BP if the character’s child freaks out cause they shaved while they were gone DBP if the child thinks it’s “stranger danger” Holy cow! My father shaved his beard off when I was a little kid and I screamed and cried because I didn’t believe it was him! Flag as offensive Write to author Talula_Rouge RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 55,141 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 11, 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 35 Posted on: Oct 19, 2008 – 18 39 I love the goldfish fortune teller! It is awesome! I can’t wait to use it. My novel is another vignette piece. THe quaint littel town is insane so these dares will fit perfectly!!!! Ok I leave: DARE: Include a character who hears voices from her toilet bowl. Bonus: If the voices are the spirits of old pets. DB: If the old pets are reincarnated as bathroom items i.e. wash cloth, soap dish, etc. ———- —— Write ’til you bleed ink! Be your own vision of beauty! NANO 2007 title: The Drive Insane NANO 2008 title: Peacock Ohio 2nd NANO 2008 title: We, The Ugly (if I get on a roll & can get 2 novels done!!) Flag as offensive Write to author Heartbeat RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 63,133 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 2, 2007 Location: Columbus, IN Posts: 34 Posted on: Oct 19, 2008 – 20 17 Include a conductor who gets so into the music being performed that he holds his breath until he passes out. BP if this happens during a performance. DBP if the orchestra keeps playing. TBP if someone from the strings section tries to resuscitate the conductor during a long rest. QBP if they fail to resuscitate the conductor and return to their seat to keep playing. x5BP if their idea of resuscitation involves poking the conductor with their bow. If you are writing a fantasy novel, include an appearance by or make mention of the local symphony orchestra. This doesn’t count if you’re writing urban or futuristic fantasy, only old school Sword & Sorcery or High Fantasy. It also doesn’t count if you refer to them as “minstrels”. You must make it known that they are an orchestra. Have one of your main characters get up in the middle of the night and make ramen. BP if they do this regularly. ———- “The autumn leaves rustled like so many pages of a crappy novel thrown into the nearest waste basket.” Flag as offensive Write to author Gibberish RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 65,133 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 1, 2006 Location: Bakersfield, CA Posts: 32 Posted on: Oct 19, 2008 – 21 17 Have your character stop randomly during dramatic moments to eat a mango. DBP If the character does this in the middle of the climax TBP If the villain waits for him to finish Create a character who has a phobia of cheese. DBP If you create a subplot about the character TBP If the character is your main character QBP If the climax involves the character finally confronting his fear ———- 2007: Turbulence: I lost by 4,000 words. My computer crashed. Chaos ensued. I’ve blocked out most of the memories. 2006: The Stone Casket – WINNER Flag as offensive Write to author beccabrighteyes RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 0 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 9, 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 6 Posted on: Oct 19, 2008 – 22 12 Just thought I’d point out Dean Koontz did this in Dragon Tears. The character only spoke in the titles of Elvis Presely Songs. Of course he died in the first 20 pages, but still. ———- http://www.sheroescentral.com/dc/user_files/30839.jpg I am so taking the fainting conductor one…that’s hilarious. XD And I can actually see my band director doing that. Leaving: Have a character write down everything important on sticky notes, which he/she then proceeds to put in a box and forget about. -BP if another character steals the box and learns crucial information from a sticky note near the bottom. –DBP if this is the villain. —TBP if the thief also learns deeply personal and embarrassing information about the character and reveals it to the general public. Have a character completely fluent in Latin, Sanskrit, ancient Greek, or some other “dead” language. -BP if this is their only language. –DBP if they assist their school’s Latin (etc.) teacher during class… —and TBP if they teach the class obscene swear words when the teacher’s not there. Include roof-cleaning ninja assassins. -BP if they have a rigid hierarchy based on the color of their hats. –DBP if they have a deeply held grudge against the fence-building ninja assassins. Flag as offensive Write to author Olympic_hack RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 13,347 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Sep 28, 2008 Location: Riverside County, CA Posts: 3 Posted on: Oct 19, 2008 – 23 49 Dare: Your main character has Alien Hand Syndrome. BP His calls his hand Kyle TBP Kyle is not a main character in your story Flag as offensive Write to author JennSINGS3790 RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 50,260 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Nov 1, 2007 Location: Middle of Somewhere, Georgia Posts: 22 Posted on: Oct 20, 2008 – 00 37 I’m taking about 30 dares…don’t know if I’ll do them all but it should be interesting. My dare: Have a character who dies several times throughout the book. BP: The other characters don’t notice he/she ever died when they come back to life. DBP: Have two characters say, “Oh my God, they killed (character name)!” “You bastards!” TBP: The character who always dies is named Kenny. Yeah, I am crazy about South Park, but if my plot weren’t so planned out already i would definitely do this. ———- 2007 – The Society and Isabella Winchester: Lost 25,782 words, still unfinished 2008 – The Secret Wish, Won 50,260 words, unfinished 2009 – We shall see! ^_^ Flag as offensive Write to author Carrietta Marlow RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 65,550 / 50,000 Municipal Liaison Joined: Oct 30, 2005 Location: Columbus, Mississippi Posts: 150 Posted on: Oct 20, 2008 – 00 41 Saybaar wrote: Leaving: Have a character write down everything important on sticky notes, which he/she then proceeds to put in a box and forget about. -BP if another character steals the box and learns crucial information from a sticky note near the bottom. –DBP if this is the villain. —TBP if the thief also learns deeply personal and embarrassing information about the character and reveals it to the general public. Have a character completely fluent in Latin, Sanskrit, ancient Greek, or some other “dead” language. -BP if this is their only language. –DBP if they assist their school’s Latin (etc.) teacher during class… —and TBP if they teach the class obscene swear words when the teacher’s not there. I am taking these and Leaving Have a Character move from near a big city where there is a ton of shopping to a town in the middle of no where -BP If you have them break down crying in the only grocery store in town when they realize that there is nothing there really no real deli, cheeses, organic food, soda he/she normally drinks… –DBP If the travel over an hour to the “big” mall to find that there is barely any shops there —TBP If they almost jump out of the car or they can really jump out of the car when they see a Barnes and Noble (which is the 1st bookstore they have seen in over two months) Nope this dare has nothing to do with me moving to Mississippi *crosses fingers* —– ML for Mississippi 50,000 or more words while helping my mom (who has just busted up her knee) to unpack our new house and find a job all at the same time; oh and find a university down here that will except all my hours so that I can get MBA ———- —– ML for Mississippi 50,000 or more words while helping my mom (who has just busted up her knee) to unpack our new house and find a job all at the same time; oh and find a university down here that will except all my hours so that I can get MBA Flag as offensive Write to author Aurore RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 16,075 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 18, 2005 Location: IL Posts: 16 Posted on: Oct 20, 2008 – 01 33 TAKING: Have a character who only speaks in lyrics from a specific band or singer. Have a hit and run, vehicle vs. pedestrian, with the vehicle being one of those motorized scooters old people drive around on. BP: If the pedestrian is somehow actually hurt. Have a character that constantly says “this feels likes something from Friends”. BP: If it’s something that NEVER would happen in Friends. Have someone promise to write a theme song for your MC. (and cookies for the MC not liking it) Have a character be completely terrified of some kind of food. Like cheese. Use the phrase “STRANGER DANGER!” LEAVING: Have a character whose favorite song is “Rolly Polly Fish Heads.” Their answer to everything, fun, activities, etc, is “Fish heads!” BP: If they’re a fish DBP: If you know the original song TBP: If it’s a cannibalistic butcher who sings it as he’s chopping up PEOPLE. Name all of your characters hippie names. BP: If they’re not hippies DBP: If their parents aren’t hippies TBP: If it’s some kind of naming law that they have to have hippie names Flag as offensive Write to author Emmie RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 104,909 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 27, 2003 Location: Racine Wisconsin, USA Posts: 48 Posted on: Oct 20, 2008 – 09 50 Use these lines (and please let me know if you do): “Oh… I can’t kick myself in the butt anymore!” “Aargh! My holes don’t work!” “I’m little red riding hood. All I need is a big bad wolf.” “You must have it at the right temperature so you can reach in and grab the thingy.” “Excuse me, are you sniffing me?” “He’s vibrating me!” “I’ve been trying to figure out how to get my mouth around that thing (the huge sucker).” “We’re going to set it on the table so we can do it there later.” “When you put stuff between your legs, that’s what holds it there.” “It’s freakin’ cold outside! My cheeks and nose are cold! I’m gonna get some ice…” “Just because I’m dancing with a dishtowel doesn’t mean I need help.” “Stop resisting and take your throw like a girl. ” “Bones give each other head? No wonder they’re so happy!” “True American Way: Do it to someone else.” “You’re not yourself, you’re your clothes.” “Well then, you must be a Royal Bastard. ” “Just because I’m white doesn’t mean I can’t get down.” “She keeps going horizontal on me.” “I don’t suck, I bite.” “I have handcuffs attached to my bed, what do you think?” “This is hours of entertainment… well, until my arm gets tired, anyway.” “If I agitate both of them, they’ll start going at it.” “You know it’s been a good night when everyone has to switch clothes to go home.” “You’re right, my sword isn’t very big, but it’s big enough to get through you.” “I can’t put my head very many places it doesn’t like to go.” “Balls gravitate toward my head.” “If I had a brain, I’d be scary” “Just because it’s a dress rehearsal doesn’t mean you have to come dressed.” “Show me where you want it to be exactly. That’s exactly what you’ll get.” These are all lines my best friend and her roommates (and others) said while she was in college… they’re called Wall quotes. Have fun! ———- Screnzy 09: The Redeemer (no idea how the title fits with the plot but it sounds cool) Flag as offensive Write to author Smunkeethewriter RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 60,061 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 31, 2005 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 18 Posted on: Oct 20, 2008 – 10 14 BashfulMuse wrote: I don’t know if these have been done before, but: Have a character that can’t/won’t make a left turn. Ever. When walking or driving or whatever. BP if they have a fit whenever they are a passenger and a left turn is made. DBP if forced to finally make a left turn to save the day. Have a character who will only communicate with a hand puppet. BP if the hand puppet is the villain. DBP if the character has no idea that the hand puppet is the villain. Taking both of these, using both of these to make my main characters. Come to the forum without a plot or characters, leave with tons of hilarious ideas……..tis the nature of the dare thread. Flag as offensive Write to author Smunkeethewriter RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 60,061 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 31, 2005 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 18 Posted on: Oct 20, 2008 – 10 17 Have a character who only speaks in cliches BP if they are coherent DBP if they “out” the villian early on but nobody gets it TBP if they say something profound but cliche that makes the villian commit to a life of service to humanity Flag as offensive Write to author hlltwin RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 51,076 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: May 5, 2007 Location: Catskill, NY Posts: 212 Posted on: Oct 20, 2008 – 12 15 If anyone is taking this dare, here’s a site with hippy names: http://www.hippy.com/hippynames.htm ———- “I run at trouble. It usually throws it off.” – Randy, Character of larelmian, Spies and Sorcery [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/hlltwin/Orbsen%20and%20Friends/banner2.jpg[/IMG] Flag as offensive Write to author madberry RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 50,022 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 16, 2008 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 5 Posted on: Oct 20, 2008 – 13 26 I’m thinking of something to do with nymphs/mermaids and I will totally use this. ———- http://www.elizabeth-avery.com Flag as offensive Write to author OrangeTangoDoble RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 60,000 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 11, 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 201 Posted on: Oct 20, 2008 – 13 36 Saybaar wrote: Have a character completely fluent in Latin, Sanskrit, ancient Greek, or some other “dead” language. -BP if this is their only language. –DBP if they assist their school’s Latin (etc.) teacher during class… —and TBP if they teach the class obscene swear words when the teacher’s not there. I am not sure how I’m going to work this one in, but I definitely want to try! 2005-2007: If at first you don’t succeed . . . 2008: Winter White Lights http://www.sufferinstudios.com/nano/Lushguinsig.jpg ———- 2005-2007: If at first you don’t succeed . . . 2008: Winter White Lights http://www.sufferinstudios.com/nano/Lushguinsig.jpg Flag as offensive Write to author HanaBean RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 4,700 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 15, 2007 Location: Yaxley, England Posts: 17 Posted on: Oct 20, 2008 – 14 06 Have one of your characters have a tea party BP if it’s with a character and some dolls DBP if your character gets burnt by the tea TBP if your character gets burnt by the tea and has a temper tantrum Flag as offensive Write to author OrangeTangoDoble RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 60,000 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 11, 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 201 Posted on: Oct 20, 2008 – 14 24 Okay, I want to leave one more: 1. Have a character who wants a career writing fortunes for fortune cookies + if they get a gig ++ if people’s fortunes start coming true +++ if the fortunes start coming true while people are in bed ———- 2005-2007: If at first you don’t succeed . . . 2008: Winter White Lights http://www.sufferinstudios.com/nano/Lushguinsig.jpg Flag as offensive Write to author dk2022 RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 50,370 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 27, 2007 Location: Ceredigion Posts: 85 Posted on: Oct 20, 2008 – 14 43 Taking oh so many of them (rock on having scenes in the heads of many people… Literally.). Leaving: *Have a character called The Potato Monkey BP if it is a monkey out of potato DBP if the monkey is real TBP if the monkey is a villain QBP and a cookie if the monkey talks with a posh English accent before flinging its potato poop at people Include the line, ‘I’m not a pervert, I’m just very observant.’ Enjoy. ———- I could rule the planet, but I decided to write. Flag as offensive Write to author Achama RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 15,789 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Jul 17, 2008 Location: Quebec Canada Posts: 11 Posted on: Oct 20, 2008 – 16 13 Well since I’m aking some I thought it would only be fair if left some behind as well. Personally speaking I would take some of these if I could manage to fiut them in my own story: Add one of the following as a chapter title or a line in your story: “Santa’s red is a blood colored Hell” “Explain the Situation and I’ll consider making a Maid outfit” “Even though you’re a NewType, the more you open your mouth, the more likely you are to put your foot in it” “Good Kids shouldn’t copy these!!! No, Bad Kids and even Adults should never copy either” “It’s not like I’d scream love from the center of the Earth, but how should I say it, the Beast dictating at the top of the Hierarchy!” “Hellbound because of Nekomimi (Cat ear) mode” “In the language of Flowers, St-John’s Worts, in full bloom in the garden, means revenge” BP if you use all of these TBP if they all make sense in context QBP and a cookie if you have a combat butler in your story (and you get where these are coming from) Flag as offensive Write to author Ketsurui RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 21,074 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 17, 2002 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 62 Posted on: Oct 20, 2008 – 17 18 Have a character nearly choke to death on a small candy. -Bonus if it’s a skittle -Double if they swear the skittles are out to kill them. -Triple if they die by skittle eventually. *Eyedart* may be based on real-life events. ———- Your Service, Ket Makura Proud Air Force Sister. Flag as offensive Write to author RainbowConnection RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 63,820 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 7, 2008 Location: Paoli, Indiana Posts: 307 Posted on: Oct 20, 2008 – 17 25 Quote: Have a character who will only communicate with a hand puppet. BP if the hand puppet is the villain. DBP if the character has no idea that the hand puppet is the villain. Oh, god XD It totally wouldn’t fit my novel, but man I wanna steal this…. ———- “Books and movies don’t need plots just emotion and passion” – some idiot on deviantART Flag as offensive Write to author RainbowConnection RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 63,820 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 7, 2008 Location: Paoli, Indiana Posts: 307 Posted on: Oct 20, 2008 – 17 31 My friend’s dog is terrified of cheese 0_o Maybe I should add the dog into my story XD ———- “Books and movies don’t need plots just emotion and passion” – some idiot on deviantART Flag as offensive Write to author AnnieColleen RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 114,204 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 2, 2007 Location: South Texas Posts: 190 Posted on: Oct 20, 2008 – 20 14 Dare: include the sentence “You lose the game” in your novel. 2BP: if it makes sense in context. 3BP: if you explain the rules of the game, in context 4BP: if it starts, ends, or titles a chapter A cookie: if it starts or ends the novel. A batch of fresh-baked most-addictive-cookies-in-the-world: if it’s the title of the novel. (But you have to share.) (and, btw…you all lose the game.) Flag as offensive Write to author BashfulMuse RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 50,053 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 12, 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 142 Posted on: Oct 20, 2008 – 20 32 AnnieColleen wrote: (and, btw…you all lose the game.) Dangit! I was doing so well! “Don’t get it right, just get it written.” – James Thurber ———- “Don’t get it right, just get it written.” – James Thurber Flag as offensive Write to author Rahnawyn101 RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 50,005 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 2, 2006 Location: Camas, Washington Posts: 50 Posted on: Oct 20, 2008 – 21 25 I lost the game too. Dangit! It’s been over a year. Dare: Have a character that screams randomly. Double points if the character also licks people. Triple points if his name is Nathan. ———- I think. I dream. I write. [URL=http://www.mybannermaker.com/link.php?nurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mybannermaker.com%2F][IMG]http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/5024/mybanner492a49f8a5812ah6.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Flag as offensive Write to author Draketeeth RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 0 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 9, 2005 Posts: 75 Posted on: Oct 20, 2008 – 21 27 AnnieColleen wrote: A batch of fresh-baked most-addictive-cookies-in-the-world: if it’s the title of the novel. (But you have to share.) (and, btw…you all lose the game.) Rawr, I haven’t lost in forever till I started reading these dares. Now i’m on a losing streak. I might just take that book title though, it would fit the story so well. Browsing a picture gallery earlier and felt some of them were dare worthy. so I’m leaving you: Have your characters drink Diet Coke with Bacon at some point in your novel. Include these guys somewhere in your novel. + if they get in a fight with pirates ++ if they fight ninjas +++ if they get in a row with both pirates and ninjas. ++++ if any of the battles include the tank in the background – ~ – ~ – ~ – My Collection of Little Loves Flag as offensive Write to author Scarlet RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 4,567 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Mar 26, 2008 Location: Near Salem Oregon Posts: 36 Posted on: Oct 21, 2008 – 00 49 include the line… “Dude……your supposed to smash the guitar AFTER the song!” double points if it’s an innuendo ———- <><>.< ———- OMG HI! Flag as offensive Write to author HolyCheesecakes RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 54,354 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 28, 2007 Location: Columbia, South Carolina Posts: 21 Posted on: Oct 21, 2008 – 19 46 Have someone talk in nothing but Shakespearian quotes +BP: in modern time ++DBP: on a dare to find a date by the end of the month +++TBP: the month is November ++++QBP: the person they end up falling for is writing a NaNo. +++++?BP: ABOUT THEM SAYING NOTHING BUT SHAKESPEARE WHILE DOING THE DARE TO FIND A DATE BY THE END OF THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER! (insert evil laughter) No, really. …. Have an automatic talking redneck fish (like the ones in those commercials) +BP: Have it narrate plot twists before they happen ++DBP: Have the MC confront the talking redneck fish +++TBP: have the talking redneck fish be the villian that’s all I can think of right now… LOL ———- Flag as offensive Write to author Selene98 RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 53,007 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 27, 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 18 Posted on: Oct 21, 2008 – 20 22 Have one of your characters become extremely annoyed whenever someone uses a hairdryer. DP: The character uses a hairdryer constantly TP: The character refuses to talk to someone else if they use a hairdryer QP: The character has to lend their hairdryer to someone as a crucial plot point. 5P: The character takes the hairdryer back before the person they lent it to gets to use it Cookies if the character finally gets over their aggrevation, only to refuse to use a hairdryer themself. Flag as offensive Write to author BewareofBookworm RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 53,748 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 18, 2008 Location: My own little bubble Posts: 4 Posted on: Oct 21, 2008 – 20 49 +You have a character that randomly sniffs people’s hair +They do so to test for strongly-smelling shampoo +Everyone finds them absolutely ridiculous +They end up saving everyone’s life by making somebody change the type of shampoo they use ———- [IMG]http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn80/Twilight_HPfreak/Adpotableavvie-6.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn80/Twilight_HPfreak/Adpotableavvie-5.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn80/Twilight_HPfreak/Adpotableavvie- Flag as offensive Write to author CobaltSnow RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 51,056 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Sep 15, 2008 Location: Naperville Posts: 20 Posted on: Oct 21, 2008 – 21 38 Emmersonne: I dare you to include four characters called Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. (it was on the old Dares Thread) TAKING THIS! XD *is totally thrilled about using this one* Flag as offensive Write to author AnnieColleen RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 114,204 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 2, 2007 Location: South Texas Posts: 190 Posted on: Oct 21, 2008 – 22 59 Draketeeth wrote: I might just take that book title though, it would fit the story so well. I so have to see that if you do! Flag as offensive Write to author meghan.m08 RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 51,806 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 13, 2008 Location: I’m on a boat! Posts: 221 Posted on: Oct 22, 2008 – 00 27 Dare: Have a character who makes sound effects for everything they do (chopping carrots: hah! hah! hah! writing: chchchchch, dialing a phone: doo doo doop de doo) BP: if it is the main character DBP: If someone asks them about it and they deny it completely TBP: If they truly do not realize that they are doing it. Flag as offensive Write to author hotcheri RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 50,003 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Sep 9, 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 26 Posted on: Oct 22, 2008 – 01 49 My very first dare! I don’t know if this one has already been done…too lazy to read through the other dares so I just hope not. Have one of your characters think out loud. BP if they insult the people around them DBP if they don’t know they’re being very loud about their thinking TBP if they do know and just want to annoy as many people as possible Flag as offensive Write to author Hollow RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 50,001 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 5, 2008 Location: Douglasville, Georgia Posts: 47 Posted on: Oct 22, 2008 – 02 24 hotcheri wrote: My very first dare! I don’t know if this one has already been done…too lazy to read through the other dares so I just hope not. Have one of your characters think out loud. BP if they insult the people around them DBP if they don’t know they’re being very loud about their thinking TBP if they do know and just want to annoy as many people as possible Using this! Dare: Have a character promise someone a gift for Christmas/Birthday/Some-other-gift-giving-ceremony by the end of the story. BP: They give them something they didn’t want. DBP: They give them something they KNOW they didn’t want. TBP: They give them a wolverine, which subsequently mauls them. QBP: If you can use this I’ll give you a cookie. Flag as offensive Write to author Krakatoa RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 26,000 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Oct 19, 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 22 Posted on: Oct 22, 2008 – 07 18 Have a character overdose on breath mints. BP if you can make it plausible. DBP if it’s crucial to your story, and it’s plausible. TBP if the brand of the mint is crucial to your story, and it’s plausible. A cookie if another one of your characters slips on an empty packet of breath mints and dies (and it’s plausible). Flag as offensive Write to author luvinpadfoot RE: Dares Thread (Part 2) 51,493 / 50,000 Official Participant Joined: Jun 2, 2008 Location: The US of A! Posts: 71 Posted on: Oct 22, 2008 – 08 32 NOOOOOOOO!!! I was winning!!!!!! Ocea wrote: BTW…. I just lost the game >.<>9000BP: The moving vehicle is a Segway.

Dare: Take every single dare you have posted in both threads so far.
DP: Take every single dare posted in both threads ever.
TBP: Make a coherent story out of it.
QBP: Give up your current NaNo idea to do so.

This is fun.

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Sarurun Kamui
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 22, 2008 – 20 44
Carth wrote:
Dare: Have your main characters do a dance routine.
DP: The dance has nothing to do with your plot whatsoever.
TBP: The song danced to is not in English.
QBP: The dance is completely impromptu and still done perfectly.
5BP: The dance takes place in/on a moving vehicle.
6BP: The moving vehicle is a bicycle.
>9000BP: The moving vehicle is a Segway.
Dare: Take every single dare you have posted in both threads so far.
DP: Take every single dare posted in both threads ever.
TBP: Make a coherent story out of it.
QBP: Give up your current NaNo idea to do so.

This is fun.

Dare: Include the line “It’s over 9000!” somewhere in your story.
+”Over 9000″ becomes a running motif/theme in your story.

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Sadina Saphrite
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 22, 2008 – 21 54
Dare: Write your story in reverse chronological order, starting with current events and moving backwards.
BP: Make the “ending” of your story seven years ago.
DBP: Do not involve a time machine.

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Ruth Cooke
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 22, 2008 – 21 54
Heartbeat wrote:
Include a conductor who gets so into the music being performed that he holds his breath until he passes out.
BP if this happens during a performance.
DBP if the orchestra keeps playing.
TBP if someone from the strings section tries to resuscitate the conductor during a long rest.
QBP if they fail to resuscitate the conductor and return to their seat to keep playing.
x5BP if their idea of resuscitation involves poking the conductor with their bow.
rofl

I am so taking this! We violists don’t get much of a chance to be the heroes, you know…

Leaving one of my faves from a past year (and another site, I think):

Use the following character interaction:

“He tried to kill me!”
“You say that as though it were a bad thing.”
BP if there has been no previous animosity between these characters.
DBP if the first character responds with a variation of, “Oh. Good point.”

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Whisper_in_the_Dark
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 22, 2008 – 23 20
Have someone set off a bomb in a crowded area.
-BP if the bomb squad can’t figure out what type of bomb it is.
–DBP if it’s because it’s a bomb composed of dry ice and a couple 2-liter bottles.
((If you need more information, just send me a message.))

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dsswriter
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 22, 2008 – 23 29
I have taken too many to list. I have copied the user names of those whose dares I may include, so I can let them know if I used it. ‘Cuz I’ll want to know if someone uses one of mine. Here goes:

A character has random memory lapses (forgets someone’s name, can’t think of the word he/she wants to use, etc.)
BP if the lapses are caused by miniature black holes in the character’s head.
DBP if the black holes eventually merge and suck the character into the big black hole.
TBP if it’s the MC.

Have one character lose the conscious functions of his/her brain, while the automatic functions remain unaffected.
BP if the character’s fight or flight response is still working, but in reverse of the natural preservation instinct (he/she fights when everyone else is running away and vice versa).
DBP if the other characters don’t notice.
TBP if it’s the MC.
QBP and a cookie if the character remains this way until the end of the novel, and still manages to save the day.

Please let me know if you use these. Thanks!

Shelly =)

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Mlarg
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 23, 2008 – 00 46
I’m definately taking the Plastic Flamingo one xD

this is an awesome thread

Dare: You have a character who is a thereminist with a broken theremin
DP: It’s the main character
DP + cookie: The search for a working theremin is the main plot

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Catwraith
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 23, 2008 – 00 50
I may or may not take some, but this one came to me today and I thought I might share it.

Have a character who calls everyone ‘whatsisface’ or ‘whatserface’ depending on the gender of the person referred to.
BP if they do it to other characters’ faces.
DBP if there actually is a character named Whatsisface.
TBP if Whatsisface is female.

If you can’t figure out what I’m talking about, break it down and sound it out.

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dsswriter
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 23, 2008 – 01 04
Thought of another one:

Have one character say, “Is that what they’re calling it these days?” all the time.
BP if the character says it during the villain’s monologue.
DBP if the other MCs are able to escape the villain while he’s explaining, “Yes, that is what they’re calling it these days.”

Shelly =)

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thatollie
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 23, 2008 – 01 28
Carth wrote:
Dare: Have your main characters do a dance routine.
DP: The dance has nothing to do with your plot whatsoever.
TBP: The song danced to is not in English.
QBP: The dance is completely impromptu and still done perfectly.
5BP: The dance takes place in/on a moving vehicle.
6BP: The moving vehicle is a bicycle.
>9000BP: The moving vehicle is a Segway.
Dare: Take every single dare you have posted in both threads so far.
DP: Take every single dare posted in both threads ever.
TBP: Make a coherent story out of it.
QBP: Give up your current NaNo idea to do so.

This is fun.

Sarurun Kamui wrote:

Dare: Include the line “It’s over 9000!” somewhere in your story.
+”Over 9000″ becomes a running motif/theme in your story.
Taking the first one and the extension posted.

Leaving…

-Have a ninja bunny attack somewhere in your novel.
++ If there is a prophecy about it.
+++ If the MC gets rid of the bunny with a sake soaked carrot.
[9000 BP and a shapeshifting pizza] If the bunny was warning the MC about some real danger.

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KatietheWriter
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 23, 2008 – 01 32
This thread is one of two reasons I actually managed to finish my one and only finished NaNovel. (The other being the timed sprints. God those helped a lot!)

I’ve swiped so many dares, I’d clog the whole thread by repeating what I’ve taken.

Here’s a couple that I actually managed from my winning novel in ’05:

Have one character that is genderless. Never use gender-specific pronouns. Use a name that’s completely non-specific. Your readers can’t have a clue what gender this person is.
Bonus if whoever reads your NaNovel get into fights over what gender the character is.
Double if you make it through the entire novel by circumventing the gender pronouns somehow.
Triple if you name him/her Alex. (That was my non-gendered character.)
Quadruple if YOU don’t know if your character’s male or female!! (I still don’t and it’s three years later!)

Have a character swear only in a language that is not their own. (English speaking character swears in Russian. Polish person swears in Spanish.)
Bonus if none of your characters ever question it.
Triple if your characters respond in their own language, as though there was no change of language in the first place. (Example:
Char A: Schiesskopf!
Char B: You’re the sh*t-head!)

Have a character that is always asleep.
Bonus if the character is constantly getting jostled, but never wakes up.
Triple if the character is knocked completely out of position, but still sleeps.
Quadruple if the character still gets straight As/gets a promotion at work despite being asleep all the time.
Quintuple if the character finally wakes up at the end of your novel, and no one recognizes them because they’re not asleep.
(First couple pieces of this were from someone else, last two were from me.)

And a couple really of my own:

Include multiple references to obscure scenes/characters from animated Disney movies.
Bonus if you include references from each of the official Disney full-length animated movies. (There’s 40+ now.)
Triple if you include references from all the Disney movies as well as the Pixar movies.
Quadruple if they actually make sense or relate coherently to your plot.

Have an interaction with a young child (no more than 4 years old) which revolves around the child and your character talking to an imaginary someone on a toy telephone.
Bonus if the child “calls” a different someone every five seconds.
Triple if the child says everyone is sick with a cold before handing your character the phone.
Quadruple if this is a major plot point.
Quintuple if the child resolves the whole novel through their phone conversations with their imaginary best friend, with whom they are speaking.
Sextuple if the child’s name is Ryan.
Super awesome hugely massive bonus points and possibly some coffee if all that happens, and then the character who had this interaction later goes on to get a phone call from that imaginary someone.
(Cutest little kid came into my store today, was between two and three, and made me talk to both Goofy and Donald on his play phone, and also said he was talking to Mickey, Cinderella, and Minnie. And all of them were sick. Can you guess what store I work in? Donald sneezed in my ear.)

Include talk of Halloween costumes even though it’s nowhere near Halloween.

Have a character so completely obsessed with a TV show/movie/Broadway musical/book series that they keep making references to it. (“Wow, I feel like Hermione in Book 1, right after they escape from Fluffy!” or “Spock would never tolerate all this emotional bullsh*t.” or “I love you like Sylar loves pituitary glands.”)
Bonus if every time they speak, they make another reference.
Double if they figure out the MC’s dilemma thanks to one of their references.

Create a character who is constantly singing songs at random, which have nothing to do with the others’ conversation at the time.
Bonus if no one yells at the character or finds this quirk strange.
Double if you never explain why this character bursts into song.
Triple if, when the song choice actually makes sense/moves the plot along perfectly, the others stare at this character like he/she is crazy.

Include the lines:
“I gave birth to a pterodactyl.”
“Oh my God, did it sing?”

“Yes, and my best friend Bob will be jetting off to San Quentin with Marilyn Munroe tomorrow.”
“Isn’t Bob dead?”

“I’ll verb that noun right up your expletive if you keep that up.” (Do not substitute words for the parts of speech. Must be as-is.)

Supercalifragilisticexpealidocious mega awesome bonus points if you use any of these and tell me about them!

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silverwings007
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 23, 2008 – 09 24
I like that idea! Thanks for the link; I’ll be sure to use it.

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Vacillator
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 23, 2008 – 11 32
Dare: Visit the grave of Pringle Stokes.
BP: Pringle Stokes has gone.
DBP: He comes back.

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OrangeTangoDoble
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 23, 2008 – 15 11
[quote=KatietheWriter

Have one character that is genderless. Never use gender-specific pronouns. Use a name that's completely non-specific. Your readers can't have a clue what gender this person is.
Bonus if whoever reads your NaNovel get into fights over what gender the character is.
Double if you make it through the entire novel by circumventing the gender pronouns somehow.
Triple if you name him/her Alex. (That was my non-gendered character.)
Quadruple if YOU don't know if your character's male or female!! (I still don't and it's three years later!)

I'm attempting to do that this year! (Decided it before you posted this dare, though). I am not sure it's going to work, but we'll see.

2005-2007: If at first you don't succeed . . .
2008: Winter White Lights

http://www.sufferinstudios.com/nano/Lushguinsig.jpg

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Angrykittykj
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 23, 2008 - 15 15
Have your favorite fictional character walk into a random scene in your story and then excuse themselves saying "Oops, wrong story."
+BP if your characters think this is normal
++DBP if this is crucial to your plot
+++TBP if one of your characters thinks it was a sign and forms a religion around the hopeful second coming of this character

Just silliness, but let me know if you use it.

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OrangeTangoDoble
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 23, 2008 - 15 22
I dare you to include a character who genuinely believes in the Great Pumpkin
+ if you don't make any references to the Peanuts cartoon
++ if the Great Pumpkin actually shows up.

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Imperatrix Xoco
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Posted on:
Oct 23, 2008 - 18 27
Have your characters venture into LaLa Land to see the place of their birth.

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NAVillarreal
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Posted on:
Oct 23, 2008 - 18 42
Ruth Cooke wrote:
"He tried to kill me!"
"You say that as though it were a bad thing."
BP if there has been no previous animosity between these characters.
DBP if the first character responds with a variation of, "Oh. Good point."
Consider it done...two or three weeks into NaNo.

Angrykittykj wrote:
Have your favorite fictional character walk into a random scene in your story and then excuse themselves saying "Oops, wrong story."
+BP if your characters think this is normal
++DBP if this is crucial to your plot
+++TBP if one of your characters thinks it was a sign and forms a religion around the hopeful second coming of this character.
Just silliness, but let me know if you use it.

Taking this. SO taking this. And I'm using Cohen the Barbarian. He'll come in screaming, sword flailing, behead a man who everybody was going to kill anyway, look around, realize what he's doing, say, "Oh, balls, I must have gotten lost on the way down the mountain," and walk off. From there, no clue, but honestly, I need something random like that.
"You're insane."
"Has it really taken you this long to figure that out?"
- Batman: The Long Halloween

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NataliaLW
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Posted on:
Oct 23, 2008 - 20 20
BreezyBaby wrote:
Hopefully this one hasn't been done before...
Have a hit and run, vehicle vs. pedestrian, with the vehicle being one of those motorized scooters old people drive around on.
BP: If the pedestrian is somehow actually hurt.
DBP: If the police are involved.
TBP: If the scooter is left abandoned and no one can find the driver.

LOL, this reminds me of somebody I knew....he was once in a hit and run accident...And yes, he was in one of those motorized wheelchairs.....but it wasn't a pedestrian he hit.....no, somehow he managed to hit a large--stationary--vehicle. Apparently the owner just stared after him in shock after he sped away down the sidewalk! He recently passed away...but he had a great sense of humour, and found the incident very funny, and I bet he'd get a kick out of it if it ended up in someone's story.

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NataliaLW
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 23, 2008 - 20 43
OrangeTangoDoble wrote:
Dare:
Have a character who, upon entering a Starbucks, proceeds to argue with the baristas about proper coffee terminology
+if the character gets thrown out of Starbucks
++if the character gets banned from Starbucks
+++if a barista realizes your character is right, and quits her/his job on the spot
++++if the manager recognizes your character is right, and quits his/her job on the spot
Automatic win if your character is hired to fix Starbucks.
Automatic double-win if your character actually manages to make Starbucks good.

Hmmm....lol....I used to work at a coffee shop, and a lady ordered a cappacino and then complained that there was no "coffee" in it. To illustrate her point, she turned the cup upside down and dumped some of it on the counter.....I just sort of....blinked. She said there was too much foam (..... but that's what a cappacino is like.... ) I explained the difference between a latte and a cappacino, that the latte had more milk and the capp more foam but they have the same amount of coffee, and she insisted that she wanted a cappacino. So I made her a latte and she came back a few minutes later, all happy, to say that it was much better, it had more coffee. *Sigh*

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Undyne
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 23, 2008 - 21 40
Dare: Do NOT think about what you are going to write for NaNo. Do NOT plan a thing.
Get up on November 1st, go to your music player (ipod, mixed cd, windows media player) and hit random. Hit PLAY.
Now, write your story exactly based off of the first song that plays. (nothing cheap like, This is a love song, so I will write a love story)

BP: If you keep it consistent through out the book.
DBP: Never mention the song, or artist, or blately state ANY lines in the lyrics.
TBP: If you make the chorus part of the theme of your novel.
QBP: Make the next random song that plays your SUBPLOT!
* a cookie if your main character's dialogue consists only of the lyrics in the song. (DBP is bi-passed if you pull this off)

Let me know if anyone does this and pulls it off!

duskrider_angel@hotmail.com

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Saphiroko
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 23, 2008 - 22 45
KatietheWriter wrote:
Have a character swear only in a language that is not their own. (English speaking character swears in Russian. Polish person swears in Spanish.)
Bonus if none of your characters ever question it.
Triple if your characters respond in their own language, as though there was no change of language in the first place. (Example:
Char A: Schiesskopf!
Char B: You're the sh*t-head!)

Create a character who is constantly singing songs at random, which have nothing to do with the others' conversation at the time.
Bonus if no one yells at the character or finds this quirk strange.
Double if you never explain why this character bursts into song.
Triple if, when the song choice actually makes sense/moves the plot along perfectly, the others stare at this character like he/she is crazy.

Include the lines:

"I'll verb that noun right up your expletive if you keep that up." (Do not substitute words for the parts of speech. Must be as-is.)

TOTALLY using these!! Especially that song one; great way to type a whole lotta words, especially since I have a lot of song memorized! I'm making my characters swear in Chinese, just because. Or Scottish or Welsh. I can't decide.

Consistency: It's only a virtue if you're not a screw-up.

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Xyex
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 23, 2008 - 23 00
Get the last names for your characters from the Fun Names - Insults generator of the Fantasy Name Generator.
* BP if their first names come from the Fun Names - Idiot Names generator.
* DBP if only one character in your story has a normal name.
* TBP if it's the MC.
* QBP if people only find the 'normal' name unusual.

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PollyNim
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 23, 2008 - 23 46
Have a major character arrested and sent to trial because he ate his coworker's muffin.
Bonus Points: The major character never questions the sanity of this.
Double Bonus Points: The prosecutor calls a cat as a witness
Triple Bonus Points: The defense attorney objects because the cat is a known perjurer.
Quadruple Bonus Points: The cat claims to be a dog on the stand and gets the case thrown out.
Box of Cookies: All the charges are dropped because the character actually ate the coworker's bagel.

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Angrykittykj
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 24, 2008 - 00 02
You'll have to send me the scene because I think it would be hilarious to see!

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Kansk
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 24, 2008 - 08 41
Angrykittykj wrote:
Have your favorite fictional character walk into a random scene in your story and then excuse themselves saying "Oops, wrong story."
+BP if your characters think this is normal
++DBP if this is crucial to your plot
+++TBP if one of your characters thinks it was a sign and forms a religion around the hopeful second coming of this character
I'm going to use this, and about 15 others too

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KatietheWriter
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 24, 2008 - 11 33
OrangeTangoDoble wrote:

I'm attempting to do that this year! (Decided it before you posted this dare, though). I am not sure it's going to work, but we'll see.
I'm telling you, it's not as easy as one might believe. I kept struggling to rework the sentence I was thinking of because I couldn't use a pronoun. And I'm telling you, I still don't know if Alex is a male or female. I even dressed Alex up as a generic Halloween something (don't remember what as it was two years ago). Swear to God, I'm not sure what Alex is.

Saphiroko wrote:

TOTALLY using these!! Especially that song one; great way to type a whole lotta words, especially since I have a lot of song memorized! I'm making my characters swear in Chinese, just because. Or Scottish or Welsh. I can't decide.
Consistency: It's only a virtue if you're not a screw-up.

The foreign language one was fun. I used the little knowledge of German I had for that one. And the song one is my mother, to a T.

She's highly displeased with the fact that I posted that dare. Let me know how it goes!!

More dares for whoever wants:

Have a pair of characters who can't touch each other for fear of death, a la Pushing Daisies. Please try to change the reasoning for the inability to touch though. Makes it more fun.
Bonus if they start dating in spite of the no-touchy.
Double if they kiss through cellophane.
Triple if one of them makes pies as a hobby/stress reliever.

Have a semi-sentient radio that plays whatever song reflects a person's mood best.
Bonus if this is not an unusual thing.
Double if the radio is owned by the villain and its existence clues your MC(s) in to the fact that this character is, in fact, a murder.
Triple if the radio becomes integral to the resolution of your novel.

Have a character that is an avid sports fan, but only roots for whoever is winning at the time.
Bonus if the character switches loyalties several times during a game.

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Whisper_in_the_Dark
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 24, 2008 - 14 25
I'm going to leave all of the ones that I took last year to use for this year. Whoever posted these, YOU ARE A GENIUS. AND YOU HAVE MY ETERNAL GRATITUDE. If there are any repeats, I'm sorry.

"But YOU said it was made of PEANUT BUTTER!" (originally posted by General Seiyaryu)
-BP if they're not talking about food.
--DBP if the character is at least 17 years old.
---TBP if they're talking to a Physics teacher, and the original topic was a capacitor used in electricity.
----QBP if "Chunky or plain?" gets worked in too.

Have a character that doesn’t know really obvious food-related things, i.e., that ketchup is made out of tomatoes, or that granola bars are made out of granola, and when another character tells them, they respond with amazement. Every time.

Have your character eat something, then decide that it was sentient and hold a funeral for it.

Have a character who asks about a character's stance on the liberation of spoons at the beginning of every scene.

Have someone say “There is no spoon.”

-Have a character who talks to a certain type of inanimate objects on a regular basis.
--DBP if they keep a collection of these as pets.
---TBP if they carry at least one around with them for a large part of the novel.
----QBP if they get mad at one of them and have a fight, then refuse to speak with it.
++++Ultimate adoration if the character then 'disposes of' the offending item.

Have one of your characters tell another "You look like you'd taste delicious."

Have a character who tells a character their soul tastes like a cockroach

Have a character climb through a window to get in the classroom (office, etc...) instead of using the perfectly functional door.

Have a character that plays an Irish Tin Whistle or a pan flute or some such instrument and plays it randomly throughout the story.
-BP: If it has nothing to do with the plot.
--DBP: If the story takes place in modern day or in the future.
+++Cookie: If the flute playing character always wears multicolored and/or mismatching clothes.

Have character cook an egg.

Include the word "hootenanny" in your story.
BP if the novel doesn't take place in the deep south
DBP if you also include the word "catawhompus"
TBP if you use the words incorrectly
(I should probably explain that a "hootenanny" is like a social gathering with folk music, "catawhompus" means crooked or askew, and both are the epitomy of deep southern US slang.)

Have a character tell a bald/shaved scalp person to get a haircut.
-BP if they're serious about it.

Have a duel between two characters using those tiny plastic rapiers they stick in sandwiches.

Have a character mistake toothpaste for soap. And use it to wash their hands.
-BP if said character does it all the time

Have a character who spends the entire novel carrying around an iPod with no music (or videos) on it.
Double points if it has nothing but audio textbooks on it.
Triple points if they're on a topic the character has no interest in.
Quadruple points if one of the audio textbooks contains plot-critical information.
Quintuple points if they're in a language the character does not understand.
SEXTUPLE BONUS POINTS (W-W-W-WICKED SICK) if the character starts dancing to one of the audio textbooks in public.

Your main character once swallowed sixty-seven cents in small change. Invent a reason why.

Include this conversation:
Person in the mall: Would you like to try some perfume? -sprays it on someone-
Someone: -screams- Oh God no! NOOOO! I'm melting... death is welcome...

Have a character refuse to drink out of anything but a specific cup.
-BP The cup has some childish cartoon/obscene saying/etc. on it.
--DBP The character is completely grown up.
---TBP The character throws a fit when the cup is missing.

Have a character tell a bald/shaved scalp person to get a haircut.
-BP if they're serious about it.

-Have a main character refuse to rush to an unexpected event. - Hunter
--Bonus points if it's because they're hungry
---Double Bonus points if they absolutely refuse to budge.
----Triple points and a cookie if they eat with chopsticks and don't know how to use them.

Have a character who changes his name in every chapter.

Have a character whose hobby is writing fortunes...leaving them tucked in absolute stranger's bags, taped to doors and lockers, written on bathroom walls. Bonus points if these have nothing to do with the plot, yet show up everywhere.

Have one of your characters have OCD
-BP: if its the MC

Lock two of your characters in a room together for at least 5 pages.
- BP if they are the MMC and MFC of your novel.
-- DBP if they don't do anything remotely romantic or sexual.

Have a character who can't walk past books out of alphabetical order on the shelf
-BP if they get stuck organizing books for more than a chapter.
--DBP if it's the MC.
---TBP if the organizing of the books leads to the resolution of the plot
+++A cookie if one of the books is 'No Plot-No Problem'.

Have a character say, "UGH. I feel like my whole life is a CSI Marathon.”
DP if your character isn't a CSI.
TP if you use a MC.

Have a character's last words be "Well, shit."

Lock two of your characters in a room together for at least 5 pages.
-BP if they are the MMC and MFC of your novel.
-- DBP if they don't do anything remotely romantic or sexual.

Have your FMC rate burps on a scale of one to ten.

"Oh God, if he eats her face one more time, I'm going to go over and ask him whether he'd like my sandwich instead."

Have a duel between two characters using those tiny plastic rapiers they stick in sandwiches.

"Be quiet! I'm exacting my revenge!"
--Infinite bonus points if it's not said by the villain

“There is no spoon.”

"I'm sorry. Was I talking while you were interrupting?"

Have one of your characters describe another character using at least seven insulting words.
-BP While the other character is still in the room

"The area of a circle is pi-R-squared."
"No, dude. Pies are round. And circles are too."

"That definitely doesn't bend that way.”

"Hey, hey, hey! That's my pen you're shoving down your... everyone's gone really quiet now."

Make the first letter of each chapter spell out a sentence when combined chronologically.
* the sentence pertains to the plot

-The story starts during a meal.
-The story must have a criminal in it.
-The story must have a teacher in it.
-During the story, someone is caught in traffic.

Use dictionary.com's Word of the Day in your novel somewhere every day you work on your story.

Have your MC sit down somewhere and eat dinner.
-BP if he/she sits down to eat with the villain

Have someone wonder what the M on the M&M stands for.

Put your characters at a Thanskgiving feast.

Include a pet turtle named Awkward.

Title a chapter 'In Which [Character Name] Is Eaten By A Dragon.’ Bonus points if they actually are NOT eaten by a dragon, and do not even come across one in this chapter. Double bonus if there are no dragons in your story/world

Do a “Take two” of a chapter.
-BP if the reason behind that is a character misbehaving
–DPB if they apologize for it
—TPB if you send them to their room first

“Life is like a cup of tea. You can either sip the tea and be happy or it’ll spill in your lap and burn your crotch.”

“I give up. Look me up when you’re sane again.”

Have a character who has a fat, gray cat named Lint.
BP: If you can come up with a story of why

Have a character try to eat a tablespoon of cinnamon (it’s impossible, coz it dries up your saliva and you physically can’t swallow it all)
- BP if every character in the room thinks they can, and they all try

“I can understand the whisk, and the steel bowl, but DO NOT TOUCH THE BLENDER!”

“One, ow. Two, fuck you. Three, get me a bandage before I bleed to death.”

“If you hassle me again, my bodyguard will defenestrate you. And you don’t really want anything nasty to happen to your fenestrates, now, do you?”

-Have a character who listens to nothing but Kenyan polka. Bonus points if they hold a dance party. Triple points if people attend. Quadruple points if it cues an awesome dance scene in an inappropriate place.

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Holly31416172122
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 24, 2008 – 14 55
Ha, do you mind if I use the one about the firefighter and the shark attack?
I reckon the character might actually believe him

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Holly31416172122
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 24, 2008 – 14 57
Animal_Planet wrote:
I have another one!
Have a character that constantly says “this feels likes something from Friends”.
BP: If it’s something that NEVER would happen in Friends.
DBP: If you have six main character, all named after the Friends.
DBP with cookie: If Chandler is a girl.

And:
Have someone promise to write a theme song for your MC.
DBP: If the character finishes it and plays it for your MC at the end of the story (cookie if the MC doesn’t like it because it’s not John Williamsish enough).

Can I pinch this one? I have a friend who always does the friends thing!

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OrangeTangoDoble
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 24, 2008 – 15 07
KatietheWriter wrote:
OrangeTangoDoble wrote:

I’m attempting to do that this year! (Decided it before you posted this dare, though). I am not sure it’s going to work, but we’ll see.
I’m telling you, it’s not as easy as one might believe. I kept struggling to rework the sentence I was thinking of because I couldn’t use a pronoun. And I’m telling you, I still don’t know if Alex is a male or female. I even dressed Alex up as a generic Halloween something (don’t remember what as it was two years ago). Swear to God, I’m not sure what Alex is.

quote]

Oh, I know it’s gonna be a challenge . . . it’s hard enough not using gender pronouns in the outline! I can’t imagine what it’s gonna be like when I finally start writing this thing.

2005-2007: If at first you don’t succeed . . .
2008: Winter White Lights

http://www.sufferinstudios.com/nano/Lushguinsig.jpg

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whyever
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 24, 2008 – 15 45
A little dare…

Give all of the characters in your novel stereotypically plain “American” names–Susan, John, etc–with the exception of two completely unrelated characters named Balthazar (or anything else of a similarly ridiculous nature).

BP: The Balthazars are the most stereotypically plain characters in the novel.
DBP: There is never any confusion regarding who is who.

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CatyM
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 24, 2008 – 15 58
I’ve jotted down about three pages of these to use.

Include all of the following items in the same scene: a spanner (wrench?), two bars of chocolate, a birthday card, a pack of aspirin, a tub of shoe polish, a bar of soap, an alarm clock, an apple, a wooden carving of a rabbit, a forged bank note, a copy of War and Peace, a condom, a pack of cards, a rhododendron bush and a sepia photograph dating from before 1920.
Bonus points if none of the items appear in shops, shopping lists or any other shopping-related context.
Double bonus points if at least seven of the items are used in some way within the scene.
Triple bonus points if they all are.

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NAVillarreal
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 24, 2008 – 16 11
Whisper_In_The_Dark wrote:
Make the first letter of each chapter spell out a sentence when combined chronologically.
* the sentence pertains to the plot
Okay, definitely using this. And now for another one of my insanely long and convoluted dares.

Have the villain say, “And now, fetch my bunny slippers!”
BP if the villain actually owns bunny slippers.
DBP if the villain says this to the hero.
TBP if it’s in the middle of a climactic battle.
QBP if the hero decides to go do it.
5BP if the villain and the hero wind up talking about some random subject that has no relevance to anything you have said in the book, or any relevance to the plot, when the the hero comes back.
6BP if they share a drink during the conversation.
7BP if they go back to what they were previously doing, i.e. trying to destroy one another.
8BP if the villain is wearing the bunny slippers when this happens.

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CobaltSnow
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Posted on:
Oct 24, 2008 – 16 25
Whisper_in_the_Dark wrote:
Have a duel between two characters using those tiny plastic rapiers they stick in sandwiches.

Have a character who can’t walk past books out of alphabetical order on the shelf
-BP if they get stuck organizing books for more than a chapter.
–DBP if it’s the MC.

I am TOTALLY using these! Thanks!

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Remora_The_Random
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 24, 2008 – 18 15
I dare you to include a character who spills something on them everywhere they go
BP if it’s ketchup
DBP if it always ends up on their forehead

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glynes
RE: Dares Thread (Part 2)

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Oct 24, 2008 – 18 35

>NaNoWriMo RE: Ghosts!

>

Seeing how I’m now planning on ghosts, I’m spending the day read through the ghostly threads on the NaNo Forums:

Anyone Working With Ghosts?

I see plenty of zombie and vampire themes, but is anyone else working with ghosts? Mine sort of glow in the dark – or rather they can if they want – is that typical?

I’m planning on ghosts for 09, still trying to figure them out though. I think they died in a train accident, and now 100 years later a town has built up on that spot, so they are “haunting” the town.

I’m thinking that they can change appearance “slightly” by that I mean from solid to transparent, so that when people first see them, they don’t realize that they are ghosts.

I’m thinking that they avoid physical contact with the living though because their bodies are cold as ice and “freeze” humans when they touch them, thus giving away their ghostliness.

I’m also thinking that when they go all transparent that they have a pale blue glowing mist around them.

[quote=Vinxman]MMy ghosts glowed to some people, but not to everyone. Everyone saw them differently, based on their fears.[/quote]

That’s sort of what I’m doing – my ghosts “feed” on the fears of the living – sort of like how vampires feed on blood, so they appear different to different people depending on what that person’s fear is.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Why are ghosts scary?

You know the old Scooby Doo episides, they always run away from the ghost. Why? What makes them scary? What do they think the ghosts are going to do to them?

If you saw a ghost, would you be afraid? Why? (Or why not?) What is the fear of?

[quote=Laura1013]If I saw a ghost, and was aware that was what I was seeing, you would have to pry me off the ceiling afterward. Ghosts are scary because:
1. They might want something from you
2. You can’t kill them
3. If you lock the door, they can float right through it
4. They look creepy
5. You can’t always see them. So they could be watching you and you not know it. How do you fight against THAT?[/quote]

[quote=Mistress Sekhmet]You have to remember that ghosts can be confined to certain areas, banished, trapped in mirrors or water and easily removed if causing trouble. Most often, from my own experiences, ghosts don’t tend to bother folk without being provoked. I know a guy who does paranormal research and gets into so much trouble because he just doesn’t listen and his crew is not trained properly.

After a particular investigation, all members of that crew became ill, went through losses, had automotive troubles and other nasty stuff happen. Why? Because the dummies wanting to catch something on film and evp, provoked something in the house improperly by being rude. If I were a ghost and someone came into my space being nasty, they’d get nasty sent right back. It’s not to say that all ghosts are not indifferent or unfriendly, because ghosts, like people vary. Overall, it’s best not to provoke any being when you don’t know what you’re dealing with and approach any situation with caution.

It’s best to use common sense at all times and if you are afraid, leave.[/quote]

[quote=BHeins69]I’ve never seen a ghost myself. But my husband used to have a ghost in his house when I first met him. It seemed pretty harmless, mostly did little pranks. It scared the hell out of my husband. He’d call me to come get him and I’d find him walking blocks away from his house. His mother liked the ghost, she named him George and came to discover that a man who died in the house was named George. He whistled like his ghost. He’d do things like rearrange her slippers when she’d get into the shower. Once she ‘bumped’ into him in the hallway. It was dark, but she could feel the presence of a big man. She thought it was her husband and she called his name, but when Jim answered it was from inside the bedroom not in front of her. When they turned the light on the presence was gone.

The ghost did hold my husband down. He was face down in the bed and he could feel someone pressing him down so he couldn’t move. He couldn’t scream either. He just laid there until he relaxed and then when he opened his eyes it was gone.
Other times they’d hear knocking on the walls. Once a fire extinguisher flew off the refrigerator. Maybe some ghosts are mischievous or just want to make their presence known.

I’m writing a ghost story and it totally creeps my husband out. He’s very sensitive to this ghost stuff.[/quote]

[quote=NotAnotherExit]Ghosts don’t exist in the same sort of world that we do. They’ve been dead for who knows how long. Their wants, their needs, their desires… these are all consuming and unknowable. Ghosts don’t care how we feel. They don’t care that we will die. They might even want to help us make that last little journey beyond mortality. And who knows? Maybe they can.

If I saw a ghost, it would depend on the type, as to whether or not it frightened me. A rough looking gentleman, a dead looking soul, those would scare me. A nice looking lady, however, might not.

Little girls have such a bad wrap from horror movies that no matter how nice and peaceful they look, it would probably terrify me.[/quote]

[quote=MartianMenace]I think ghosts are unsettling, because by their very existence they seem to be a negation of the religious beliefs a lot of us take comfort in. If ghosts exist, does that mean there’s no heaven? No other afterlife? Why do they exist?

And the most frightening idea of all – when we die, is that going to happen to US?[/quote]

I think ghosts are scary because you don’t see them every day and even when you say you believe in them, deep down you don’t truly believe in them until you actually see one. I think it’s like anything else that is unusual or rare or thought to be a myth: (vampires, werewolves, zombies, etc) your first response is always to freeze, than run, than stop and ask yourself why you were scared, than go to investigate. It’s just the whole *unknowness* of it, which startles the senses.

once when I was very young maybe 10 or 12 years old, around that time, I woke up to see a man walk through my door, go straight across the room, and than stand staring out the window. He was transparent and had a neon blue glow all around his body; I couldn’t see his feet, it was like at the top of his head he was more solid, but his body got more transparent as it went down until his feet were invisible; He had a very old style dress – late 1300′s era possibly Flemish or German or French. I got the impression that he was very sad, that he had died a long time ago and that he was “alone” (alone in that he could not see or hear any one around him, and had no idea I was there, or that any one else was anywhere either; like every one on the planet had vanished and there was no one left but him – or at least that is how he felt.)

I was not afraid. I don’t know if it was because I was too young to be afraid, or it was because I could tell I had nothing to fear, or what.

I think it is because of this “sighting” that I write about ghosts and describe them as semi transparent with a blue glowing mist around them, because that’s what the one I saw looked like.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Do Ghosts Speak?

I’m writing a ghost story. And as I was describing the plot to my mother, she asked, “Is the ghost going to tell him that?” And I paused. Well, I don’t think the ghost can talk. But I don’t know. It would help my plot. But it seems silly.

So…. if the ghost in the book you were reading spoke, what would you think?

[quote=Frank_Haba]In literature ghosts speak or try to communicate a great deal. Think of Shakespeare or Dickens, or go back to “Castle of Otranto.” Even the Bible has a talking ghost…(King Saul did some summoning and spoke to the departed spirit of Samuel, remember?)

In modern culture, a great example of scary ghost talking to the living is in the del Toro film “The Devil’s Backbone.” In the film the MC asks the ghost directly what it wants and the ghost replies very specifically (a fantastic scene in a fantastic movie BTW).

The bottom line is that yes there is a history of ghosts communicating with the living characters to achieve some end, but ultimately it is up to you. What is your ghost’s purpose, and what would it achieve by communicating? If done right, it can be a chilling moment of realization for the MC. Just some food for thought. Hope it helps…

Frank[/quote]

In popular culture ghosts speak (literature, movies, etc.) but how many REAL documented cases are there of ghosts that talked, or for that matter – how many documented cases are there of ghosts even acknowledging that they know you are in the room with them? Real non-fiction cases with talking ghosts or ghosts that even acknowledge they can see/hear the living are exceptionally rare. Most actual cases report the ghost doing the same ritual movements again and again (walking to the same window; pace on the same porch; siting in the same chair) and doing it completely oblivious to their current soundings.

Only in books and movies do ghosts speak or otherwise interact with the living.

———-
Create a Fantasy Realm
Advice For NaNoWriters!
Creating Character Profiles
Are You A Renegade A Writer?
How To Become a Better Writer
Improving your writing with what you read.
Have You Written Your Author’s Interview Yet?

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

. . .

Hey, you know what? I sell Avon! I’m an Independent Avon eRepresentative and that means you can buy Avon from me, 24 hours a day, from your computer, from anyplace in the world, and Avon will ship it to you.

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

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.

.

NaNoWriMo RE: Ghosts!

Seeing how I’m now planning on ghosts, I’m spending the day read through the ghostly threads on the NaNo Forums:

Anyone Working With Ghosts?

I see plenty of zombie and vampire themes, but is anyone else working with ghosts? Mine sort of glow in the dark – or rather they can if they want – is that typical?

I’m planning on ghosts for 09, still trying to figure them out though. I think they died in a train accident, and now 100 years later a town has built up on that spot, so they are “haunting” the town.

I’m thinking that they can change appearance “slightly” by that I mean from solid to transparent, so that when people first see them, they don’t realize that they are ghosts.

I’m thinking that they avoid physical contact with the living though because their bodies are cold as ice and “freeze” humans when they touch them, thus giving away their ghostliness.

I’m also thinking that when they go all transparent that they have a pale blue glowing mist around them.

[quote=Vinxman]MMy ghosts glowed to some people, but not to everyone. Everyone saw them differently, based on their fears.[/quote]

That’s sort of what I’m doing – my ghosts “feed” on the fears of the living – sort of like how vampires feed on blood, so they appear different to different people depending on what that person’s fear is.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Why are ghosts scary?

You know the old Scooby Doo episides, they always run away from the ghost. Why? What makes them scary? What do they think the ghosts are going to do to them?

If you saw a ghost, would you be afraid? Why? (Or why not?) What is the fear of?

[quote=Laura1013]If I saw a ghost, and was aware that was what I was seeing, you would have to pry me off the ceiling afterward. Ghosts are scary because:
1. They might want something from you
2. You can’t kill them
3. If you lock the door, they can float right through it
4. They look creepy
5. You can’t always see them. So they could be watching you and you not know it. How do you fight against THAT?[/quote]

[quote=Mistress Sekhmet]You have to remember that ghosts can be confined to certain areas, banished, trapped in mirrors or water and easily removed if causing trouble. Most often, from my own experiences, ghosts don’t tend to bother folk without being provoked. I know a guy who does paranormal research and gets into so much trouble because he just doesn’t listen and his crew is not trained properly.

After a particular investigation, all members of that crew became ill, went through losses, had automotive troubles and other nasty stuff happen. Why? Because the dummies wanting to catch something on film and evp, provoked something in the house improperly by being rude. If I were a ghost and someone came into my space being nasty, they’d get nasty sent right back. It’s not to say that all ghosts are not indifferent or unfriendly, because ghosts, like people vary. Overall, it’s best not to provoke any being when you don’t know what you’re dealing with and approach any situation with caution.

It’s best to use common sense at all times and if you are afraid, leave.[/quote]

[quote=BHeins69]I’ve never seen a ghost myself. But my husband used to have a ghost in his house when I first met him. It seemed pretty harmless, mostly did little pranks. It scared the hell out of my husband. He’d call me to come get him and I’d find him walking blocks away from his house. His mother liked the ghost, she named him George and came to discover that a man who died in the house was named George. He whistled like his ghost. He’d do things like rearrange her slippers when she’d get into the shower. Once she ‘bumped’ into him in the hallway. It was dark, but she could feel the presence of a big man. She thought it was her husband and she called his name, but when Jim answered it was from inside the bedroom not in front of her. When they turned the light on the presence was gone.

The ghost did hold my husband down. He was face down in the bed and he could feel someone pressing him down so he couldn’t move. He couldn’t scream either. He just laid there until he relaxed and then when he opened his eyes it was gone.
Other times they’d hear knocking on the walls. Once a fire extinguisher flew off the refrigerator. Maybe some ghosts are mischievous or just want to make their presence known.

I’m writing a ghost story and it totally creeps my husband out. He’s very sensitive to this ghost stuff.[/quote]

[quote=NotAnotherExit]Ghosts don’t exist in the same sort of world that we do. They’ve been dead for who knows how long. Their wants, their needs, their desires… these are all consuming and unknowable. Ghosts don’t care how we feel. They don’t care that we will die. They might even want to help us make that last little journey beyond mortality. And who knows? Maybe they can.

If I saw a ghost, it would depend on the type, as to whether or not it frightened me. A rough looking gentleman, a dead looking soul, those would scare me. A nice looking lady, however, might not.

Little girls have such a bad wrap from horror movies that no matter how nice and peaceful they look, it would probably terrify me.[/quote]

[quote=MartianMenace]I think ghosts are unsettling, because by their very existence they seem to be a negation of the religious beliefs a lot of us take comfort in. If ghosts exist, does that mean there’s no heaven? No other afterlife? Why do they exist?

And the most frightening idea of all – when we die, is that going to happen to US?[/quote]

I think ghosts are scary because you don’t see them every day and even when you say you believe in them, deep down you don’t truly believe in them until you actually see one. I think it’s like anything else that is unusual or rare or thought to be a myth: (vampires, werewolves, zombies, etc) your first response is always to freeze, than run, than stop and ask yourself why you were scared, than go to investigate. It’s just the whole *unknowness* of it, which startles the senses.

once when I was very young maybe 10 or 12 years old, around that time, I woke up to see a man walk through my door, go straight across the room, and than stand staring out the window. He was transparent and had a neon blue glow all around his body; I couldn’t see his feet, it was like at the top of his head he was more solid, but his body got more transparent as it went down until his feet were invisible; He had a very old style dress – late 1300′s era possibly Flemish or German or French. I got the impression that he was very sad, that he had died a long time ago and that he was “alone” (alone in that he could not see or hear any one around him, and had no idea I was there, or that any one else was anywhere either; like every one on the planet had vanished and there was no one left but him – or at least that is how he felt.)

I was not afraid. I don’t know if it was because I was too young to be afraid, or it was because I could tell I had nothing to fear, or what.

I think it is because of this “sighting” that I write about ghosts and describe them as semi transparent with a blue glowing mist around them, because that’s what the one I saw looked like.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Do Ghosts Speak?

I’m writing a ghost story. And as I was describing the plot to my mother, she asked, “Is the ghost going to tell him that?” And I paused. Well, I don’t think the ghost can talk. But I don’t know. It would help my plot. But it seems silly.

So…. if the ghost in the book you were reading spoke, what would you think?

[quote=Frank_Haba]In literature ghosts speak or try to communicate a great deal. Think of Shakespeare or Dickens, or go back to “Castle of Otranto.” Even the Bible has a talking ghost…(King Saul did some summoning and spoke to the departed spirit of Samuel, remember?)

In modern culture, a great example of scary ghost talking to the living is in the del Toro film “The Devil’s Backbone.” In the film the MC asks the ghost directly what it wants and the ghost replies very specifically (a fantastic scene in a fantastic movie BTW).

The bottom line is that yes there is a history of ghosts communicating with the living characters to achieve some end, but ultimately it is up to you. What is your ghost’s purpose, and what would it achieve by communicating? If done right, it can be a chilling moment of realization for the MC. Just some food for thought. Hope it helps…

Frank[/quote]

In popular culture ghosts speak (literature, movies, etc.) but how many REAL documented cases are there of ghosts that talked, or for that matter – how many documented cases are there of ghosts even acknowledging that they know you are in the room with them? Real non-fiction cases with talking ghosts or ghosts that even acknowledge they can see/hear the living are exceptionally rare. Most actual cases report the ghost doing the same ritual movements again and again (walking to the same window; pace on the same porch; siting in the same chair) and doing it completely oblivious to their current soundings.

Only in books and movies do ghosts speak or otherwise interact with the living.

———-
Create a Fantasy Realm
Advice For NaNoWriters!
Creating Character Profiles
Are You A Renegade A Writer?
How To Become a Better Writer
Improving your writing with what you read.
Have You Written Your Author’s Interview Yet?

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

. . .

Hey, you know what? I sell Avon! I’m an Independent Avon eRepresentative and that means you can buy Avon from me, 24 hours a day, from your computer, from anyplace in the world, and Avon will ship it to you.

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

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young/old couple

I was 15 when I started dating my 37 year old teacher (he was single/never married). That was 22 years ago, and we are still together – much to the dismay of friends, relatives, family, and church members. I would also like to add, that he is a high priest, and our relationship caused a more than minor outrage, which has resulted in years of vandalism, being hounded by reporters, finding my picture on the front page of newspapers, and in 2006 an angry mob of members from his church setting fire to my house and burning it to the ground – even though by that time I was in my 30′s and he nearly 70! Some religious people are freaking wackos! Outside of his church – no one cares about our age at all.

I don’t know if I would consider a story of this nature YA however, and I’ll tell you why – it’s illegal to publish a story in the US that involves and older man in a relationship with a minor under 18. I know this, because every book I have ever written (30+) involved this basic story line and to date, I have never been able to get ANY of them published through a traditional publisher and always for the same reason: they tell me they have to comply with “child pornography laws”. I found this reason highly puzzling, because in all of my 30+ books only 1 ever even had a sex scene in it. While my couples are always a young girl/older man, my stories are never romance – I write horror – there isn’t even any hugs or kisses in my stories, let along love making! And yet, they are trapped in the “sorry, but we can’t publish this unless you change the ages pf the couple, because it falls under child pornography laws” ?!?!?! OMG! Just because I mentioned their ages?

So, if you plan on publishing this, just know ahead of time, you’ll most likely have to go through an Indie Press or self-publish via LuLu, because this sort of subject matter is something traditional publishers CAN NOT touch even if they wanted to – due to threat of imprisonment by the government for promoting “child pornography”.

———-
Create a Fantasy Realm
Advice For NaNoWriters!
Creating Character Profiles
Are You A Renegade A Writer?
How To Become a Better Writer
Improving your writing with what you read.
Have You Written Your Author’s Interview Yet?

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

. . .

Hey, you know what? I sell Avon! I’m an Independent Avon eRepresentative and that means you can buy Avon from me, 24 hours a day, from your computer, from anyplace in the world, and Avon will ship it to you.

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

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.

.

>NaNoWriMo RE: Writing About Autistic Characters

>

Here is my response to a question from the NaNoWriMo forums on avoiding the stereo types when writing about characters with Autism:

okay – you know what I can answer you with a very long post if you don’t mind.

copying from my web site: http://www.squidoo.com/Aspergers-Syndrome-and-Me (I actually recommend you read the site, cause it’s got pictures and more detail and stuff)

~Who Is Affected by Autism?~

In one word: me. I have Asperger’s Syndrome, a type of Autism. Life is difficult, not so much because autism affects the things I do, but mostly because people do not take the time to get to know me. My cloths scare off most people, before they get to meet me. The few that aren’t scared off get upset at my not making eye contact when they speak to me. They get more upset when I don’t answer them back. Next they start interigateing me, questions left and right and I sit down on the ground and start drawing or writing in order to block out their words, because I can’t process so many questions all at once like that. Next thing I know they are calling me a retard and telling their friends to stay away from me. Think I’m talking about kids? Think again. I’m over 30 years old. No kid ever called me a retard, but their parents did (and still do), Sunday School teachers did, adults, men and women in the 30s, 40s, and 50s. When you tell someone you have Asperger’s Syndrome they ask: “What’s that? Never heard of it.” When you say it’s a form of Autism, they respond with: “Oh, so you ARE retarded than. I thought so.” My response is: “Was Albert Einstein retarded?” and they say, “No, he was a genius, he was the farthest thing in the world from retarded!” And than I throw the big one at them: “Did you know that Albert Einstein had Asperger’s Syndrome? and so does nearly every other person whom like myself is one of the 3% of the world’s population with an IQ of over 130?” (My IQ is 138 btw.)

There needs to be a better understanding in the world about Autism, and well, you hear doctors and teachers and parents talk about what the “think” it’s must be like, but how often do you hear what it is like from someone who actually has it? Not often enough, I’m afraid, so I am going to speak out, and maybe others like me will read this and than step forward too.

It takes me a long time to get enough used to some one to start speaking to them … years sometimes. It’s very hard, because people don’t want to make an effort to try to understand and worse they never want to become my friend. Autisms = a lonely life.

Asperger’s = The Crazy Cat Woman of Maine

I have Asperger’s, though I didn’t know it until just less than 2 years ago! I always knew I was “different”, but I grew up at a time when, children who were “different” were quickly labeled as either retarded, stubborn, rebellious, or schizophrenic and all of these labels had been used on me by the time I was 4 years old. I guess in the last 30 years people have become more civilized, because now, teachers try to find a diagnosis instead of just name calling.

Growing up, I had great difficulty with things that others found easy to do, and yet, stuff they found difficult, I found easy. I had started reading and writing at age 3, but was never able to learn how to spell words properly, and could not make numbers stick in my head no matter how hard I tried. Today, 30 years later, I still can’t spell, but I’ve developed spell-checking “tricks” to get around it and I still can’t do math, though I can do basic addition and subtraction, and can count money enough to get by.

Today as an adult people call me “The Crazy Cat Woman of Maine”. I currently have 13 cats. All former ferals. People look at you and judge you because you look different, dress different, act different, talk different, whatever. Cats don’t judge. Cats love you without demanded you wear the same cloths they do, talk like them, act like them . . . they don’t care, that you don’t wear fur, purr, or sleep in the sun all day . . . . they love you anyways. As the years went by, my longing for human contact grew, but lack of understanding about me, about autism, about Asperger’s, means that in 34 years, I have had exactly 4 friends. One when I was a kid, but by the time I was 9 her parents had banned her from contact with me. Three when I was a teenager. All three of whom moved away and forgot to write. I have meet thousands of people in my life time. I’ve tried being friends with all of them, but no one wants to be friends with you when you are like me, and so my army of cats, dogs, roosters, rabbits, fish, goats, horses, squirrels, birds, and parrots steadily grew over the years. Animal rescue became my life. In the past 30 years more than 5,000 animals have made their home with me. I started out “crazy”, and due to the way I was treated, or rather neglected by humans, I grew up to become the infamous Crazy Cat Woman of Maine.

The biggest challenge is my difficulty in talking (speaking verbally, face-to-face) and making eye contact, and my needed to have everything “in order”. I became a writer, due to it being my preferred form of communication, rather than speaking verbally. And I live in an alphabetized and color coordinated life.

Have you ever tried looking up information about Aspergers? After I was told I most likely had it, I wanted to know what it was I supposedly most likely had. I found books at the library and sites on Google, all on the same basic theme:

># help for parents of a child with Asperger’s
># what to look for in an Asperger’s child
># why your Asperger’s child does the things he does
># surviving the trauma of raising a child with Asperger’s
># etc, etc, etc . . .

Everyone tells you what it’s like to raise a kid with Aspergers, but no one ever tells you what it’s like to be the kid with Aspergers or what life is like through their eyes, and what about once they grow up? Yes, children with Asperger’s do eventually grow up and become adults with Aspergers. But here’s the thing, you think it’s hard to be a kid with Asperger’s? Do you have any idea how hard it is to be an adult with Aspergers?

I have Asperger’s, and a lot of people don’t understand what it is, or what it’s like to have it or how hard it is to try to live with people who can’t understand why you do the things you do. Well, that is why I decided to create this lens. I know what it’s like to live with it. I’m not a doctor or a parent giving an outsiders view of what it is. I’m it, in and of itself. You can find out more about how I live my life here: http://www.squidoo.com/EelKat

Speaking Verbally vs The Written Word

Outside of the 7 members of my family, I don’t talk. I started reading when I was three, and was writing shortly after wards. In my younger years I was very talkative around family, but near silent all other times. When I was 14 my best friend was murdered, and I just stopped talking and started writing more than ever. Written word took over and I became known for my 20 – 30 page double sided letters. (Which I wrote to 70+ pen pals from all around the globe, as well as letters of protest to many companies.)

Today, many years later, I still rarely speak a word and than only to immediate family members, but now I’m also known for my extremely long-winded articles which I write online. In my lack of speech, writing took over as my main form of communication (which is why I’m better at communication online, than I am face-to-face with someone: online I can type).

I’ve been told I should go to speech therapy. I’ve never been to speech therapy, probably never will. It’s not that I can’t talk or that I having difficulty talking, I just don’t like talking. Talking feels weird. It feels rude. It feels intrusive. I don’t like it.

Why Can’t You Accept Me As Me?

As an Aspie, I can tell you outright that I really hate it when people start sticking pills at me and telling me if I would take them I’d be normal. You know what? I have no problem with who I am, I do not see any reason why I should change. I am different, yes. I know that, and have never denied it. I just want people to stop telling my to *be normal* or how nice it would be if I would *seek medical help*. I’d just like the whole pack of them to leave me alone . . . I don’t need a bunch of Hitlers in my life telling me how to act, how to talk (which I don’t and that pisses most people off), or anything else. I am not you, why do you expect me to act just like you do? I am not a clone. I am me.

I am normal. Normal is what you were born as. Every one was born to be normal in their own way. Just because what is normal for me, is not normal for you, doesn’t make it wrong or bad, or anything else. It just means that for me, normal is different than it is for you. Besides, when you start being rude and staring at me and trying to get me to stare at you, and rudely talking to me, when I didn’t speak to your first, I look at you and think: “What the hell is wrong with this freak? Didn’t any one ever teach them any manners? ” If you had decent manners you would know it was rude to stare and rude to speak when not spoken to, and yet, here you are trying to make eye contact with me and talking your fool head off. You see, in my mind, it is you being weird and freaky and not acting normal, but do I try to poke pills at you or call you retarded? No. I don’t do those things because I have the moral decency not to be rude.

I esp don’t like people who walk up to you and say: “Why don’t you answer me? What are you retarded?” I really, really, REALLY hate that. To be retarded you require an IQ of 70 or less. The average IQ is 90 – 100. Less than 3% of the population has an IQ above 130. Want to know what my IQ is? I’ll tell you. It’s 138. I’m about as far as you can get from being retarded, so don’t call me retarded just because I don’t talk or make eye contact.

I’ve been asked why I don’t join any groups for people like me. I’m afraid I can’t really comment on those groups because I’m not familiar with any of the autism groups. I’m not a busy body who needs constant gossip (what most people call socialization, I call rude gossiping). The way I see it, that’s all those so-called groups are. A place to gossip and waste time. My time is better spent elsewhere.

Of course, as the years went by, I have learned that I don’t like being around people. I don’t like to get involved in groups and such, because that means being around people and being out in public, both of which means there will be folks pestering me to talk and that’ll lead to teasing, and I really don’t want to deal with rude, cruel mouthed, mean people anymore so I rarely leave the house anymore. I used to try to be around people. I used to want to be around people. But there is just so many times you can call a person retarded, or schizoid, or crazy, before I finally, say: Why did I want to be around people when all people do is hurt me?

People preach kindness and understanding and acceptance, but you’d be surprised how very few actually practice what they preach when they are forced to come face to face with someone like me.

The Obsessions:

Undiagnosed, Aspergers and most other types of Autism are easily mistaken as Obsessive Compulsive Syndrome. Indeed, it does seem that you can not have Autism without also having OCD.

As an adult, one of the most often asked questions I hear is: Do you have OCD?

I obsess. I obsess a lot. I obsess over everything. My obsessions started early.

One of the earliest things a parent notices about any form of Autism, is that the child is obsessed with keeping things in order. As soon as they are old enough to walk, they start lining up all their toys: from biggest to smallest, or alphabetically by name, or in categories by subject, or by rainbow-order color. I did this. I did this a lot.

When I was about 3, I had a set of wooden blocks. I lined them up, from one end of the house to the other, by shape and color. All the rectangle red blocks came first, followed by the red square blocks, followed by the orange triangles, than the orange circular pillars, next the green square pillars, and finally the long blue road blocks.

The fact that I can, 30 years later, not only remember that I did it, but also remember in what order I put them, is another common factor in Autism: a photographic memory and the ability to remember almost anything instantly as soon as I see it, and than never forget it ever again.

At around 5, I took an interest in baby dolls after each other my grandmothers and my mother all bought me a baby doll for my birthday. My three dolls were always set in order: the one with brown curly hair first, her name was Cristine and I would only dress her in blue; the one with long black hair second, her name was Colleen and I only dressed her in yellow, Natalie was last. Natalie was a bald preemie that drank and wet herself, and she was the one that I took with me every where. I always dressed her in white.

By the time I was 8, I had 28 Barbie dolls, all of which sat on the shelf, again, in order by hair color and race. (I was unusual, in the 1970′s in that I was a white child in Maine who wanted black and Hispanic Barbies — racial colored Barbies were extremely rare and very hard to find back than.) Whenever I changed the outfit on one doll, I changed the outfits on all the dolls, so that they would all match. For example if one was wearing a wedding dress, than all the others had to wear brides maids dresses or if one wore a bathing suit, than they all did.

I don’t know when my love of crayons started. I can’t remember a time when I did not always have crayons at my side. I also don’t remember a time when I didn’t dump out my crayons on the floor and line them up from red to indigo. I also do not remember a time when I have gone to a store, and walked past a box of crayons without buying one. It may be one of my worst obsessions and I’m not sure what triggers it, but it is impossible for me to walk by Crayola Crayons in the store and not buy them! The end result is, well, I have a lot of crayons! I’ve spent 30 years buying every crayon I see, and than coming home dumping them all out on the floor, and lining them up. It’s like, I can’t go on with anything else, until I have first found some crayons and put them in order.

I do know when my love of comic books started. I was 3 years old. We were at a local fish shack restaurant place known as The Maine Castle. We were buying haddock boxes, which was a white paper box with a breaded haddock fillets, a sour pickle, and fries. Basically it was fish and chips, with a different name. The restaurant was run by a Greek guy whom everyone called Lefty. On the counter next to the cash register, he had a big stack of comic books.

It was our tradition, to go to the Maine Castle every weekend, than to Ray’s Lunch Van (now known as Rapid Rays Diner after he made enough money to buy the block and build a diner in the spot where he parked his van). Than, with The Goldeneagle full of food, we picked a star, any star, and followed it. Sometimes we ended up in New Hampshire! This was a ritual which my parents did right up until the day The Goldeneagle died, for some reason, star chasing in any other car just wasn’t the same.

I loved being in the car, however, for me, to sit and do nothing, for hours on end, was impossible. I had to have something to do on these weekly road trips and that something happened one night at the Maine Castle, when I saw a comic book sitting on the counter, which would forever change my life. There on the counter was a bright pink comic book (pink was always a big attraction for me), on it was a duck wearing a top hat (I’m obsessed with top hats, can’t pass one up, collect them wear them, obsess over anyone who wears one), and fighting a big green dragon (I love dragons). I was mesmerized. I sat there reading the book about this crazy old duck off looking for treasure and fighting dragons, and was so instantly hooked. When we left that night with our haddock boxes, Lefty handed me the book and told me I could have it.

Today, 30 years later, I now own one of the world’s largest and most complete collections of Uncle Scrooge comic books, have gotten the autographs of Don Rosa and Alan Young, and am known by the locals, as “that crazy girl in the red frock coat and top hat.” Yep, my Uncle Scrooge obsession went over big time, and I have nearly every comic book ever made which ever featured the crazy old duck even just for a single panel! I not only collect the English comic either. I have a near complete collect of every French edition of Uncle Scrooge ever made, as well as most of the German editions and several Italian, Danish, and Australian editions too. All together: 7,000+ issues, all bagged, boarded, indexed, and in order by publication date. I also have a card catalog to file them by. That’s how big, an obsession caused by Asperger’s Syndrome can get.

It’s not just my things either. If I’m at someone elses house and they have a box of crayons, I have to dump them out and line them up. If they have a bookshelf and their books are not alphabetized, I can not do anything else until I removed every book off their shelf ad put them in order. If they have a bowl of candy sitting on the table, I have to line them up in order by flavor, brand name, or color. This bothers people, the fact that I do this, and results in very few people allowing me to set foot in their home.

I’m a person that has to have organization and order. I learned the Dewey Decimal System, just so I could properly catalog my private book collection (of 10,000+ books not including the 7,000+ comic books already mentioned). I buy the Crayola Big Box with 120 crayons and the first thing I do is dump it out and put all the crayons in rainbow order from dark red to light red to light orange to dark orange to dark yellow to light yellow and all the way down the line. I do this with my paints, colored pencils, pastels, and even my clothes. I not only know their order visually, but I have all the names of all 120 colors of the crayons memorized and put them in order that way too.

As an adult, I live a very “organized” life. I alphabetize everything or order everything in rainbow-color order, and I have to have everything in it’s place and a place for everything. I always loved crayons, and today am a professional artist, but I still have to have all of my crayons lined up and in order before I can start any drawing.

What bothers me most is that people are always trying to change me and make me do things their way because they think their way is “normal” and that I’m just a freak.

But why? Why do I do this?
you can find out just how far my obsessions can go here: http://www.squidoo.com/LordSesshomaruCostume and here: http://www.squidoo.com/LordSesshomaruCostumeCosts

You see and hear things I can’t see and hear, therefor you are crazy and have Schizophrenia

Since I was 4 years old, I have routinely been accused of seeing and hearing things that no one but myself could see or hear. By the time I was 14, I was being accused of being schizophrenic, however, 3 different doctors said that I was not schizophrenic. In spite of these doctors telling my accusers (namely the bishop of the LDS Cape Elizabeth Ward in the mid 1990′s, thankfully since relieved of his duties as bishop) that I did not have schizophrenia, the bullying got worse and escalated into the bishop demanding that members shun me for witchcraft and poltergeist activities (and he call ME crazy?!?).

Over the years there have been many views and theories regarding what it I actually see and hear when I see and talk with Etiole. The theories range from mild: people saying I have an over active imagination or suffer from fantasy prone personality disorder; to outright insane: that I talk to demons, have a pet poltergeist, and require an exorcism done on me! In the middle range are theories saying that I talk to faeries, have had contact with aliens, or have a rare ability called “second sight” which allows me to see into the spirit realm.

While the debates over who and what Etiole is, and how or why I can see and hear him while (most) others can not (there have been others who’ve said they saw him as well.), is certainly the most often discussed topic regarding the things I see and hear that others do not see and hear, Etiole is not the only thing I see that others do not see.

Okay, before I go any farther, some of what I say, may sound a bit odd if you don’t first know this, so, I should point out one thing: I’m a Mormon. I’m a very strict Mormon. I am called by other Mormons “a fanatic”, “a Jesus Freak”, “a Super Christian”, “an Amish Mormon”, and the not often heard term “an Orthodox LDS Saint”. I live the church laws the way they were written in the 1830′s. I follow the rules to the letter. I do not interpret, translate, or avoid parts of scripture that are “inconvenient”. I take the words of the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and the Doctrines & Covenants at their face value. This, it seems, bothers people, esp the other Mormons who find the strict and rigorous laws of the gospel to be too strict and therefor find reason to interpret the scriptures into “what God REALLY meant to say”. Now that you have been made aware of this fact, some of what follows, should make more sense to you, I hope.

Okay, back to what I was saying: Etiole is not the only thing I see that other people do not see as well. Colors are another thing I see. I’m attracted to esp bright colors, and when I see a color I do not just see a color.

For example, when you see red and think, that’s red, I see red and think: love, lust, passion, fire, or hate depending on the shade of red. To me colors and emotions are interchangeable and every color has a very significant meaning.

All of my life I have seen these “colors” and pointed them out to people, usually my parents, a relative, or a Sunday School teacher, and would say something like: “Look at that black man, how can any one be so evil?” or “That woman is awful green. Why do people get so jealous?” or “Why is that guy so blue?” The adults would look around for a man with black skin, or a woman wearing a green dress, and none would be seen.

I was not aware that others did not see these colors until I was in my late teens, when one Sunday School teacher asked me to explain what I meant when I had said one of the guest speakers in Sacrament meeting “was blessed”. I said: “Only people who are blessed are pale blue like that. That’s the first time I’ve ever actually seen any one that color. It’s very rare.” My teacher was puzzled, because he couldn’t understand how it was that the man was pale blue, and I explained that “his color” was pale blue. My teacher asked, “What color, he was wearing a black suit?” And I suddenly realized that my teacher could not see “the color”, so I explained that every person had a color hovering all around them and that it changed with their moods and emotions and that you could tell when people were happy or sad based on what color their color was.

My dumbfounded teacher asked me how long I had been seeing these colors and I explained that I had always seen them, and asked what was wrong with him that caused him to not see them. He than explained to me, that, no one saw these “colors” I was describing and what I was describing was what some people call an “aura”, but that he’d never heard of any one who could actually see them.

After talking with him, I asked a few other people in church about this, and was stunned to find that NO ONE saw these “colors” I was seeing. This puzzled me, because I had assumed every one saw them too. However, it occurred to me than, that my seeing colors that no one else could see, was the reason for the event which had happened in the temple in 1978.

Like all “good Mormons” my family went to the Temple. It was what Good Mormons were expected to do. However, on this particular day, I was being lead by a temple worker into the sealing room, where a wedding was being held, and I suddenly froze. Nearly every one in the room, was black, and not a normal black like I had seen before, but a weird swirling coal black smoke-like cloud which was growing bigger and bigger and swirling up to the gold painted ceiling. I had never seen anything like it before, nor had I ever been so over whelmed with a feeling that not the people in it, but the room itself was evil, very evil, very, very, very evil, as though Satan himself was standing there in the room. I turned around and ran screaming through the temple with a line of temple workers running after me. I was 4 years old and it took 5 full grown men to over take me and forcibly carry the screaming and kicking and biting and clawing and scratching, freaked out and never more terrified in my entire life, me back to that room.

While I have seen others since than that has a black color around them, I has never before or since, seen anything like that monstrous black cloud that was swirling around those people that day.

This event however, was witnessed by all of our closest friends and family, and from that day forth, I was labeled as “the crazy girl who ran from the temple”. This was a label that stayed with me, and which I was bullied and teased about until my mid-teens, when “the crazy girl who ran from the temple” was replaced with the word “schizophrenic” instead.

Because of this inncidant, I have never since been allowed to get another temple recommend and basically, I am banned for life, by the church, from ever again going to the temple.

(Joseph Smith btw, saw and talked with angels, spirits, dead people, Jesus, and God himself or regular occasions, so if I’m crazy for seeing a few, than he’s a whole lot crazier than me, because he saw dozens!)

more info about things seen but “not seen” by me . . . 238k words about the Faerie Etiole can be found here: http://www.squidoo.com/Amphibious-Aliens and his ship here: http://www.squidoo.com/VISION-D8

You look like you just walked out of a history book . . . why do you dress like that?

All of my life I have had a close affinity with colors. My cloths in their day-glow, bright, neon, and popping colors, are the first thing people notice about me, and are always the start of every conversation any one has with me. In my past 34 years of life, nearly every conversation has started with: “Why are you dressed like that?” or some variation of it. I have no explanation for why I wear the things I do. I started dressing like this at about 12 years old when I learned how to sew my own cloths and have dressed like this ever since.

Before the fire of 2006, my contact with humans was limited to seeing people in church on Sunday. So before 2006, I had no idea, that from Monday to Saturday women do not wear long flowing bright colored dresses. I had never seen a woman dress any differently that in “Sunday Dress” before. This revelation, shocked me. When I try to explain this to people asking about my cloths they respond to say: “But didn’t you see people on TV?” uhm . . . no . . . for many years we did not have a TV. We did have a VCR to watch movies, but, when you consider the movies I watched: Labyrinth, 1776, Scrooge, Fiddler on the Roof. My Fair Lady, Sherlock Holmes, Pirates of the Caribbean, Oliver . . . you’ll understand how I was completely unaware of the fact that hoop skirts, trains, and huge long gowns are not what people wear anymore. You see, I thought people DID dress just like they did on movies like My Fair Lady, and was no fully aware of the fact that people stopped dressing like I do, some 250 years ago.

I love history, but I’m afraid I’ve never studied anything beyond the time Napoleon and Hitler. I started out with ancient history and move upward through the thousands of years, but when I got to Napoleons evil acts followed by Hitler’s worse acts, I decided that I dislike modern history and did not study any part of history any newer than Hitler. So, while I have a very good knowledge of what people wore from centuries BC until the 1930′s, I had no real idea of what people wore after the 1930′s and was not aware of the drastic change that had occurred.

For the past 30 years, I have worn the huge skirts, the long gowns, the hooded capes, the monk-like habits, the kimonos, because that is what people in the history books wore and the history book were my only contact with people. Like I said, before 2006, I only left the farm to go to church and I wasn’t aware of the fact that people wore very different cloths to church from what they wear the rest of the week. I just thought all women wore dresses and all men wore suits.

I think it is safe to say that I am suffering from extreme culture shock at learning that people dress very different;y from me, because I wasn’t aware that I was dressing any different than any one else, until I was suddenly forced to live in contact with humans after the fire of 2006.

More about the vandalism, harasment and how I became homeless can be found here: http://www.squidoo.com/OnBeingHomeless2

Law & Order

As I said back up farther, I live by the laws of the church to the letter, in the strictest of fashions. This puzzles people (keeping in mind here, that the only people I know personally are themselves Mormons.) There have been several occasions (usually missionaries) when I have been asked:

Why don’t you put on a bathing suit and go swimming with the rest of the church?
Why don’t you eat meat?
Why don’t you get a job?
Why do you always wear floor length dresses?
Why don’t you wear make up?
Why don’t you have any piercings?
Why don’t you cut your hair?
Why don’t you own any credit cards?
Life would be much easier for you if you had some money, why don’t you take out a loan?

Why? Because every one of those things are things the church teaches you NOT to do. I am increasingly amazed at the fact that these people, these so-called members, who see absolutely nothing wrong with doing those things.

And if I had a penny for every time a member used the phrase: “But it’s only a little white lie . . . ” I’d be a millionaire now.

So, what does this have to do with Asperger’s? Well, I used to think all of these people were a bunch of no-good, evil rotten, immoral hypocrites who had only joined the church because it was the “thing to do” and they just joined to be hip, rather than because they actually wanted to obey God’s laws. (Actually, I still think that about quite a few of them, but that’s besides the point) However, since finding out I had Asperger’s, I discovered something which I found very odd and possibly the most puzzling thing of all: it’s human nature to want to disobey the law and only people who have Asperger’s see anything wrong with bending rules, finding loop holes, and telling little white lies! OMG!

You mean I’m a freak because I WANT to obey the laws and rules! This realization just about blew me away. It never would have occurred to me, that it was natural for people to not want obey rules. It never occurred to me that strict obedience of rules, regulations, laws, and ordnances was so rare, that it could be considered a symptom of a mental disorder. All these years, I thought people had something wrong with them because they were disobeying laws of the land and laws of God, and now I find out, that it’s me who has something wrong because I DON’T disobey them!

Well, all I can say is I’m completely flabbergasted and have no idea what to say about this. The very idea of willingly being disobedient to anything is just too much for me to comprehend and I don’t know how to deal with people who think it’s okay and completely natural to be disobedient.

More info on no meat, no violence, no guns, anti animal testing, anti war, and how I came to think that way . . . http://www.squidoo.com/No-Meat and the story behind how the Proctor and Gamble Boycott got started by an autistic girl (me): http://www.squidoo.com/Voice-of-the-Voiceless

Excuse me . . . I’m sorry, but I’ve been talking to you for a half hour now and you haven’t heard a word I said . . .

This is a frustrating thing and unfortunately, it happens often. I well be sitting usually writing, sometimes drawing, other times embroidering (the three things I do more than anything else), when suddenly I look up and see some one standing over me, and asking why I haven’t answered them yet. Me? I’m sitting there confused as hell, wondering what it is I am supposed to be answering and how they got there without me noticing them.

I don’t talk, I write. I write a lot. I am often told people like my writing style, because it is unique, and I am often asked, if I could explain or teach them how I write so that they can learn my methods and write like I do. The problem comes when I try to explain what happens to me when I start writing. I guess, if you want to learn to write like me, than you’d have to learn to mimic one the the more outlandish symptoms of Asperger’s: blocking out everything around you and seeing and hearing nothing.

Nothing. Period.

I can’t teach my writing method, because it’s not really teachable, all I can do, is try to explain it.

The biggest problem with my writing style, is the fact that I simply sit down and start writing. Literally. No matter where I am, or what I am doing, I simply sit down and start writing. This is such a huge problem, that you almost never see me go out in public unaccompanied by another adult. This is also why I do not live alone, why I do not drive a car, and why I can not hold a *regular* day job. I sit down where ever I am, when ever the mood strikes and just start writing. If you ever see a comic book character sitting cross legged on the floor in the middle of the milk aisle at Wal-Mart, writing away, well, that’s me.

I actually can not walk in places where I will have to cross the street or a parking lot, unless I have some one with me to guide me across the road, because I frequently, just stop to write right there in the cross walk. It’s a problem I have, and a really bad one that has caused me to be nearly hit by a car on countless occasions, because my mind no longer see things around me.

I once sat down and started writing, and didn’t stop for 48 hours . . . Did not eat, did not sleep, I completely lost track of time. I was totally taken by surprise when I realized the 2 whole calendar days had passed before I noticed it, because to me, it seemed like no more than 20 minutes had passed. The odd thing about this, though, is I only started doing this less than ten years ago, and this seemed to have happened shortly after a month with 4 deaths: first my horse, than my grandmother, than my dog Blackie, and than my other dog Muffin. All four of them died with in 3 weeks of each other. Stress, seems to be the triggering factor that shuts off my brain and causes me to not see or hear anything or any one around me and makes me simply start writing in an uncontrolled and unstoppable manner.

This *shutting off* and writing is the same reason why I rarely speak to people, because fact is, I rarely see them. I see the streets, I see the buildings, if there is a car made prior to 1975, I see that car and that car only and not the other cars speeding by. They simply become totally invisible to me. When I mentioned this to some one last year, they had an explanation which I had never heard of before, but quickly Googled and found out more about: she called it “second sight”.

She said that this “second sight” could explain both my seeing and talking with Etiole, as well, as my odd inability to see and hear people around me at certain times. She explained that “second sight” believers claim there are two worlds: the physical world and the spiritual world and that the co-exist one on top of the other, constantly intermingled, but that neither world is aware of the existence of the other, except on rare occasions when “sightings” (ghosts, faeries, aliens, angels, or demons) occur. She also said that there is a high frequency of Autistic people being able to see through the barrier between the two worlds and see beings from the spirit world. She said that people who can see and otherwise interact with the normally invisible spirit world, are said to have the gift of “second sight” and she believed that this was what was happening when I see Etiole and when I seem to no longer be able to see or here people around me.

Well. Okay. Whatever. I actually haven’t been able to find much info on this “second sight” thing, so I don’t know if I should believe in “second sight” yet or not, but, it did make sense and sound like a plausible answer.

I do talk to people if I notice they are there. The trick is to get me to notice that you are there. Like I said, it’s like watching TV, and I have to switch from one channel to the other in order to notice you there. If I shut off the world in my head, I can see people around me and talk to them fine, the problem is, switching my mind out of the world I write about and into the real world where people around me live. It’s not easy. I know when I stopped talking. I can tell you the exact date: August 21, 1991, the day my best friend was murdered. I know when I started turning off the real world too: after the things that happened at church with the bishop and Pine Land Center. The real world simply became more than I was able to handle on my own and I had no friends or family to turn to.

This also explains my cloths. You see, I dress no different than the characters of my books, and to me this is perfectly normal, as it is the way all of them dress. I don’t notice that real people are dressed different than me, because I don’t very often see the real people around me, and it is not until some one comes up to me and asks me why I’m dressed like I am, that I am brought back from one world to the next, and see that, yes, in this world, I am dressed quite a bit different from other people. But you see, there is another part of the problem: the people I write about are the people Etiole knows. His family, his friends, his enemies. When people ask me where I come up with my ideas, I can’t give them an answer they will believe. I can’t tell them that I am writing down things that Etiole has told me about his world. I can’t tell them that Etiole is not a fictional character from my books. I can’t tell them, that I don’t come up with these ideas, that it is Etiole who comes up with them, and that Etiole is a very real creature who lives along side us, even though very few humans have ever seen him. I use to tell people these things, back in the 1980′s, but no one ever believed me when I told them, so I stopped telling them, and simply, stopped answering them at all.

Of course, my cloths, started when I was just 4 years old, and I was wearing my Wonder Woman underoos under my Cinderella dresses . . . I always did dress like a comic book hero gone princess. No one paid any attention to it though, until after I was about 22 years old, and people started questioning why I didn’t wear *normal* cloths, but the fact is, for me they are normal, because I have never worn any thing else.

Does having a mental illness effect my writing? Most certainly. It effects every thing in my life. But than again, as I have never been diagnosed as having a mental illness, there in lays the question: why do people think I have a mental illness? (Autism is a birth defect not an illness.)

As you can see when people say they think I have schizophrenia, or Aspengers, they are not saying so in jest, to be funny. They are very serious, and often very frightened of me when they say it. In nearly 40 years, I have yet to have a friendship last more than 6 months, because most people, once they get to know me, are completely terrified of me. At first they meet me and think I’m in costume and acting in character, and they think of it as some sort of role playing game, but once it dawns on them, that this is no act, this is no game, that my mind is what my mind is, and that I am like this 24-7-365, I never hear from them again. If I do hear from them again, it is only to ask if I have considered medication to make me *normal* yet. My question is, Why would I want to be *normal*? What incentive is there? None that I can see.

Don’t you know it’s rude to stare?

Not a question asked to me, but a question I ask in response to people demanding I look at them when they talk.

Eye contact. Why do I need to be looking at you to hear what you are saying? I hear with my ears not my eyes. Why do I need to look at you to talk to you? I talk with my mouth not my eyes.

My lack of eye contact, my inability to speak around strangers, and my cloths, resulted in leading to my finding out I had Asperger’s, when in 2005 I was summoned into court as a witness to some case which I had no idea why they were saying I was a witness too. I’ll recap:

A year before the fire or the flood which left my homeless, a man walked up to me, handed me a paper, told me I had been served and I had to show up in court to testify. I found this to be very confusing and puzzling because I didn’t know anything about this so call case that I was supposedly a witness too. I tried to explain this to the man, but I’m not good with verbal explanations. He told me that it didn’t matter wither I thought I was a witness or not, it was a court order and if I didn’t show up at court later that week, I would go to jail.

Very puzzled, and very reluctant, I went to court on the date in question and found it to be one of the most nerve wracking frustrating days of my entire life. First off I had to be searched by a guard, who took my tote bag and dumped it out. (I carry my writing paper, my art supplies, and comic books with me every where . . . it’s a really big tote bag. Next I was questioned about my cloths; this being one of my very first confrontations with the world outside of church, I was completely lost as to understand why I was being asked about my cloths. What was wrong with the way I was dressed?

My things were stuffed untidily and messed up back into my tote bag and I was told to sit on the right side of the court room. I sat in the very last pew and spent about an hour, resorting my crayons, comics and papers back into their proper order. I was interrupted while doing this, by my name being yelled out. Apparently the judge had called my name several times, but I had not heard her because I was busy fixing the mess the guard had made of my writing materials. I stood up, but had no idea what to do next. She called my name several more times, before finally telling me that I was supposed to come up front and sit in a chair in front of all of those people.

Up front, I was asked to repeat a bunch of words, but now came my first really big problem . . . I was being asked to open my mouth and speak, something I had not done in years, and I was being asked to do it in a room filled with 40 or 50 people. This was not my first time in court. When I was 14 I was the only living witness to the murder trail of my 5 friends killed on August 21, 1991. It was court that had stopped me talking before. I spent day after day after day of interigation, back at my friend’s murder trail. When the murder trail ended, I went home and was never able to speak to a stranger again. Now, here I was again 14 years later in court. The judge asked me again and again to repeat the words of the police officer who was standing in front of me. I did. I tried, I said the words, again and again, but though my mouth moved not a sound came from my lips. It was like me throat was strangling them and refusing to let the words escape. The judge finally accepted a nod of yes and told me to sit down.

Than came the questions from the 2 men sitting at the tables in front of the judge. They had to ask and re-ask their questions several times, but I could not hear their words, all I could do was stare out at all of those faces, rows and rows of them sitting in the seats below. I think I answered some of their questions because the judge kept telling me I had to speak loud enough for the tape recorder to hear me, and finally she said she had had “enough of this circus”. She than turned to me and told me to look at her. I looked at her hands. She repeatly demanded I look at her. Than she started yelling and saying that I was a grown woman acting like a child, she started yelling at me about my inappropriate cloths, my refusal to answer questions, my refusal to comply with orders, and my arrogance at not making eye contact. My cloths again. What was wrong with my cloths? She dismissed me as a witness, but told me not to leave the court, but to go wait at the front window.

While I was sitting on the bench waiting, several men and women, I assume to be lawyers based on the fact that they were wearing suits and carrying brief cases and were in a court house, stopped to talk to me about my cloths. Most asked if I had been on my way to a party or a Ren faire when I had come to court. A few elderly women hobbled over to me and started talking about how nice it was to see people dressing up again like when they were young. Someone asked if I was a “dead head”. Dozens of people walked past me ever few minutes going in or out of one of the three court rooms, and nearly every one of them, made a point to stop and ask me about my cloths. With each question, I was growing ever more puzzled about this obsession every one seemed to have with walking up to me and talking about my cloths.

About three hours later the woman at the front window called my name and handed me a paper. It was a court order to see a psychologist, with a slip of paper saying that the State of Maine was going to pay for one 3 hour appointment. As I turned to leave, the woman commented that she liked my costume.

I was wearing a Josephine Empire gown of wedge wood blue, with a 3 foot long train. Over which I wore a 7 yard blue velvet burnoose (a type of hooded cape).

A few weeks later at the psychologist’s office, I was greeted with: “So you are Wendy. Why are you dressed like that?”. (I was wearing a full kimono — many layers of kimono). He told me he had been reading my case (What case? I have a case? Since when?) sent to him by the judge. He commented several more times about my cloths. Asked if he could see the contents of my tote bag, and than spent the rest of the time asking me about my drawings and writings and how I lived my life. During the course of the meeting he commented several times on my “bizarre accent” and use of old style language, which he said was seen only in rare cases of twins left to be raised by themselves. He called it “twin-language”. He said he had read cases of it, but that he had never witnessed it himself before. By the end of the meeting he had become very excited and was acting like he had just discovered the Lost City of Eldorado or something.

He ended by writing up a paper which he said was a request to the State for funding to do a research study on me, saying that I was an “anomaly” which he could not properly diagnose, because I was displaying so many symptoms of so many disorders.

I left his office that day very confused, and for the first time in my life, noticing what people around me were wearing and noticing that it was very different from what I was wearing. I was also, now realizing for the first time, that people look into your eyes when they talk to each other. I was also realizing that people on the street around his office seemed to be doing a lot of standing around (wasting their time) and talking to each other. It has only been 4 years since that meeting, and I still am having a very hard time processing the fact that people talk a lot, people look at each other a lot, and people . . . well, you people just plain dress really weird as far as I can see.

I have not again heard back from the psychologist, however, both my mother and my father have gotten letters from him, and each of them, and my mom’s current husband, and my three brothers were called in to be “evaluated” by him to see if the whole family was like me, or if I was the only one in the family who was like this. I don’t know who else he contacted, but I suspect he was the one who sent the social worker to “the tent” a year later, after the flood and the fire left me homeless and living under a tarp.

All this, because I wouldn’t look a judge in the eye? I remain confused over why the judge responded the way she did to me, and I remain equally confused as to why the psychologist responded the way he did to me. It was my first real contact with any one outside of the Mormon church and I found it very strange. But, as a result of the judge and the psychologist, I also found out that outside of the Mormon church, people do not believe in demon possession, and unlike the Mormon leaders who always said I acted the way I did because I was possessed by a demon, an evil spirit, or a poltergeist, I had now learned from the psychologist that what they had called evil spirits was really some sort of birth defect in my brain, which causes me to see the world on a different brain wave pattern than every one else, resulting in me acting, dressing, and otherwise responding differently to things than does every one else. Well, I must say his medial diagnosis certainly made much more logical sense to me than the religious leaders’ accusation of demon possession.

And now that I know the church leaders were wrong when they called me demon possessed, I no longer feel quite so much like an outcast, unloved, and alone. I’ve since looked into this whole Asperger’s thing, and I must say, it’s kind of a sigh of relief, because now I know what is “wrong” with me, and now, I can figure out how to work my life around it.

Asperger’s vs Sports and Perception

One of the things I discovered was a symptom as Asperger’s quite surprised me. An inability to play sports due to clumsiness and lack of coordination and no depth perception. Interesting. It often surprises people that I hate sports. Not, I don’t like sports, not I don’t watch sports, not I don’t play sports, but I absolutely hate, loath and despise sports with a vengeance. My extreme animosity towards sports takes most people by surprise and has resulted in a lot of teasing, which in turn has only deepened my hatred for them. There is a reason behind my hatred of sports, and it started very early.

I went to public school for three years, from the age of 5 till the age of 8. I played sports in school, because it was required for gym. Initially I loved sports. I jumped in on the whole thing with great enthusiasm. The enthusiasm was quickly shattered. Basketball and baseball were the two sports we had to play every week. At first I liked basketball. At first we played singly not as a team. On my own I was okay. However, being an only child (my 3 brothers were not born until after I was an adult) I had no practice in physical contact with any one, thus no practice being on a team. This proved a glaring problem once we were grouped into teams, and sent to play basketball together. The problem was every one was bumping into each other. It was the first time I remember being touched by a human and it was also one of the ONLY times in my entire life when a person has gotten close enough to me to touch me at all.

During that game of basketball, someone bumped into me, resulting in me screaming bloody murder out of the gym and down the school hall, to hide in the girl’s room. The physical sensation of having the soft flesh of another human being in contact with me was a harrowing and sickly experience, that sent pain rushing through every fiber of my body. The kid had really only brush against my arm, but it felt like he had dropped a truck on me. This was the first time another strange thing occurred: my entire arm turned black and blue as though I’d been beaten. These odd bruises on my arms and legs (usually over 8 inches in diameter) so up every time a person touches me, even if just to hug me. My extremely sensitivity to touch has stayed with me my entire life, and resulted in today, my not letting any one get within two feet of me at all.

This sensitivity to touch was not my only trouble with sports however. We tried baseball a few weeks later. Though I tried several times throughout the school year, I never once hit the ball, and when it came time for me to trow it, it always went completely the wrong way, too far, or not far enough. By the end of the year (and many various failed attempts at sports later) it was concluded by the coach that I had a complete lack of physical coordination, was unable to aim at anything no matter how hard I tried, and apparently had no ability of depth perception at all. For the rest of my four short years in school, I sat on the benches reading while every one else played sports.

Asperger’s Syndrome = I’m an Artist & Author Too!

I got several books out from the library about AS. Unfortunately they are all just a bunch of speculation and observations written by doctors and parents who ask more questions than they answer.

One of the things I read most often is parents noting that their AS child is attracted to crayons, colors, and drawing. So much so that when they pick up a crayon and start drawing, they completely shut out the entire world, unable to see or hear anything that is going on around them. I can testify to the fact that this is true. I can not explain it, but drawing is a must. It’s like eating or sleeping or breathing – I can’t survive without it.

Aspies tend to grow up to be very quiet, but very creative adults. Many of the world’s greatest scientists had AS. Many of the world’s greatest painters had AS. Several famous authors and novelists have AS. These are the three careers most commonly chosen by Aspies. Oddly, two of those three are what I did become: an artist and a writer.

Why do Aspies become scientists, artists, and writers? I’m not sure if there is a reason, but I can tell you my personal theory on the matter. Aspies don’t do well in jobs requiring a lot of contact with people, nor do they do well in places filled with loud noises. High traffic, lots of moving objects, phones ringing, lights flashing, people talking . . . all of these things are like stabbing an Aspie’s brain with thousands of pins and needles. Noise is frustrating. Noise hurts. Noise makes me want to take a book and throw it at whatever or whoever is making the god awful offended noise. (Throwing things “for no reason” is another thing we Aspies do a lot, only we DO have a reason: NOISE HURTS! It causes sering headaches and make my ears ring and is no different than had you just hit me in the head with a hammer. I am often accused of being “overly sensitive”, well, maybe I am, but even soft noises sound like cannons blasting through my ears and I can’t take the pain it causes, so I avoid noise, things that make noise, and places where loud noise is, at all costs.

Well, for me at least, art, writing, researching, and building things are all huge attractions because I can go off by myself, in the garden or at the library or on the beach, some place relaxing and quiet, and I can read and write and draw and study without having to worry about loud noises or sudden movements or people bombarding me with questions. Being an artist, writer, or scientist are “safe” jobs because you can focus on your work without worrying about some loud noise hurting your ears.

Not being able to work around people, means I work at home. I am an artist, an author, and a fashion designer. This article looks at how Asperger’s Syndrome affects my creating art: http://www.squidoo.com/How-To-Create-Beautiful-Art-For-Greeting-Cards-and-T-Shirts

Understanding what is really going on inside the child’s head.

After searching countless forums and sites and library books, I have come to one conclusion, and that is, that the most asked question about AS is: “What is really going on inside that child’s head?”This question, actually bothers me. Why? Well, how rude would it be if I walked up to you and demanded to know what was going on inside YOUR head? See? Doesn’t sound so innocent when it’s asked to a “normal” person does it. It’s like a white person looking at a black person and saying: “Your skin is a different color than mine, so what goes on inside your head?” Can you see how utterly offensive this question would be if it was ask to anyone OTHER than an Aspie? And yet no one seems to see any problem with asking it, and not to the Aspie, mind you, but rather to so-called experts who “claim” to know what’s going on inside the Aspie’s head, because they studied Aspies! Why doesn’t any one actually ask some one who has AS what’s going on inside their head? Why ask people who DO NOT have it? How could some one without AS actually KNOW what is going on inside the head of anyone other than themselves?

Let me ask it this way: How long have you been married? Five years? Ten years? Twenty? You must know you spouse really well them right? Okay, so what are they thinking about right now? What’s going on inside their head? You are such an expert on your spouse, so tell me, what are they thinking? You can’t tell me. And you know why you can’t tell me? Because you are NOT your spouse! You have no way of going inside their head and seeing what it is that goes on in there. So how do these doctors get off claiming to know what goes on inside the head of ANYONE, Aspie or otherwise?

End rant.

Okay, so what does go on inside an Aspie’s head than? I don’t know, what goes on inside your head? I think the problem here is that we are dealing with a very vague question. What goes on inside my head? Well, right now, I’m thinking about how my Ranchus have doubled in size in less than two months and with soon need a bigger tank, and wondering why they eat their eggs within a few hours after they lay them. I’m also wondering why evil men exist in this would and why they think they can get away with crimes and why the government allows them to get away with crimes if they are a priest.

I’m wishing it wasn’t raining right now, because my house (a tarp over a woodpile) is not entirely waterproof after three years, and I’m also looking at these blueprints I drew up yesterday and wondering how I can fix the “tent” and how much longer it’ll have to be my home. Which brings me to thinking about why I live under a tarp, and wondering why people thought it was okay to burn my house down because they didn’t think that someone like me had any feelings to be hurt and thus wouldn’t care that they destroyed my home and caused me to be homeless. Which lead me to thinking about how “normal” people treat people like me who have Asperger’s and resulted in me building this lens about AS.

I’m also thinking that I am hungry, and that I’ll probably cook some pasta and pickles after I get done writing this lens, but first I have to feed my 13 cats (whoops, 16, as of yesterday, 3 new strays showed up in the tent last night!). I’m disappointed that it is raining, because the roosters don’t get to go outside when it’s raining, and they love to help me tend the garden, they esp love digging up weeds, eating grubs, and eating the new shoots off of my long stem roses. On days like today when it is raining, all they cal do is wait in the barn for the rain to stop.

I’m missing my dog Buddy, who was my best friend for 13 years, but who just recently died, and I’m shocked that shelter dogs start at $495 and go into the thousands! I’m very upset that I can not find a way to come up with enough money to pay the shelter $495 for a buff Cocker Spaniel in Biddeford, who was taken away from her family because she attacked the baby. I got my Buddy 13 years ago, because he was a buff Cocker Spaniel who bit a baby. Buddy was different from other dogs, he was temperamental, nervous, skittish, and had a deep set fear of humans, thus he attacked every one that got near him, until the day he was handed to me with the words “Take him, no one can do anything with him, and you have a way with animals, I know you’ll be able to handle him.” Buddy, was like a dog version of me. Outcast, unloved, unwanted, misunderstood . . . all he needed was someone who understood him and was willing to put up with the fact that he just wasn’t your normal average dog. And now this other dog has been in the paper and on web sites, the shelter is desperate to find her a home, but no one wants her because she is different from other dogs. It’s like my Buddy all over again, and I’d take her in a second, but the shelter wants $495 dollars for her, and I just don’t have it.

I’m also wondering what my brothers look like today, because they told me on FaceBook that they got haircuts last night, and since the fire 3 years ago, we don’t live together any more, they live two towns away and I only get to see them a couple of times a week now, which makes me very sad and lonely because I have never lived by myself before and these past three years have been really hard, because I live alone now, and I’m not used to that. I’ve always had my family with me before.

Well, that’s what’s going on in my head right now. Is it any different from the things that go on in your head?

ever woundered what the world looks like through the eyes of autism? find out how I look at the world and how I judge what I read online here: http://www.squidoo.com/Faerie-Squid-Mother

Did you know these people had/have Asperger’s/Autism too?

I’ve been called crazy, stupid, retarded, schizoid, worthless, and other “choice” words due to my so-called “disability”. But you know what? I’m in pretty good company- artists, actors, writers, composers, presidents, scientists (and a few pretty evil companions too — namely Hitler!) . . . even — *shock* the current USA President Obama! Having Asperger’s makes me different, but it doesn’t make me crazy, stupid, or retarded. So before you point to an Aspie and call him/her retarded, make sure you feel comfortable calling these people retarded too, because they all have Asperger’s too!

># Isaac Asimov, 1920-1992, Russian/US writer on science and of science fiction, author of Bicentennial Man
># Hans Asperger, 1906-1980, Austrian paediatric doctor after whom Asperger’s Syndrom is named
># John Denver, 1943-1997, US musician
># Glenn Gould, 1932-1982, Canadian pianist
># Jim Henson, 1936-1990, creator of the Muppets, US puppeteer, writer, producer, director, composer
># Alfred Hitchcock, 1899-1980, English/American film director
># Howard Hughes, 1905-1976, US billionaire
># Andy Kaufman, 1949-1984, US comedian, subject of the film Man on the Moon
># L S Lowry, 1887-1976, English painter of “matchstick men”
># Charles Schulz, 1922-2000, US cartoonist and creator of Peanuts and Charlie Brown
># Andy Warhol, 1928-1987, US artist
># Woody Allen, 1935-, US comedian, actor, writer, director, producer, jazz clarinettist
># Tony Benn, 1925-, English Labour politician
># Bob Dylan, 1941-, US singer-songwriter
># Joseph Erber, 1985-, young English composer/musician who has Asperger’s Syndrome, subject of a BBC TV documentary
># Bobby Fischer, 1943-, US chess champion
># Bill Gates, 1955-, US global monopolist
># Genie, 1957-?, US “wild child” (see also L’Enfant Sauvage, Victor, )
># Crispin Glover, 1964-, US actor
># Al Gore, 1948-, former US Vice President and presidential candidate
># Jeff Greenfield, 1943-, US political analyst/speechwriter, a political wonk
># David Helfgott, 1947-, Australian pianist, subject of the film Shine
># Michael Jackson, 1958-, US singer
># Garrison Keillor, 1942-, US writer, humorist and host of Prairie Home Companion
># Paul Kostabi 1962-, writer, comedian, artist, producer, technician
># Kevin Mitnick, 1963-, US “hacker”
># John Motson, 1945-, English sports commentator
># John Nash, 1928-, US mathematician (portrayed by Russell Crowe in A Beautiful Mind, USA 2001)
># Barrack Hussein Obama, 1961-, President of USA
># Keith Olbermann, 1959-, US sportscaster
># Michael Palin, 1943-, English comedian and presenter
># Keanu Reeves, 1964-, Lebanese/Canadian/US actor
># Oliver Sacks, 1933-, UK/US neurologist, author of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Awakenings
># James Taylor, 1948-, US singer/songwriter
># Adolf Hitler
># Jane Austen, 1775-1817, English novelist, author of Pride and Prejudice
># Béla Bartók, 1881-1945, Hungarian composer
># Ludwig van Beethoven, 1770-1827, German/Viennese composer
># Alexander Graham Bell, 1847-1922, Scottish/Canadian/American inventor of the telephone
># Anton Bruckner, 1824-1896, Austrian composer
># Henry Cavendish, 1731-1810, English/French scientist, discovered the composition of air and water
># Emily Dickinson, 1830-1886, US poet
># Thomas Edison, 1847-1931, US inventor
># Albert Einstein, 1879-1955, German/American theoretical physicist
># Henry Ford, 1863-1947, US industrialist
># Kaspar Hauser, c1812-1833, German foundling, portrayed in a film by Werner Herzog
># Oliver Heaviside, 1850-1925, English physicist
># Thomas Jefferson, 1743-1826, US politician
># Carl Jung, 1875-1961, Swiss psychoanalyst
># Franz Kafka, 1883-1924, Czech writer
># Wasily Kandinsky, 1866-1944, Russian/French painter
># H P Lovecraft, 1890-1937, US writer
># Ludwig II, 1845-1886, King of Bavaria
># Charles Rennie Mackintosh, 1868-1928, Scottish architect and designer
># Gustav Mahler, 1860-1911, Czech/Austrian composer
># Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 1756-1791, Austrian composer
># Isaac Newton, 1642-1727, English mathematician and physicist
># Friedrich Nietzsche, 1844-1900, German philosopher
># Bertrand Russell, 1872-1970, British logician
># George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950, Irish playwright, writer of Pygmalion, critic and Socialist
># Richard Strauss, 1864-1949, German composer
># Nikola Tesla, 1856-1943, Serbian/American scientist, engineer, inventor of electric motors
># Henry Thoreau, 1817-1862, US writer
># Alan Turing, 1912-1954, English mathematician, computer scientist and cryptographer
># Mark Twain, 1835-1910, US writer and humorist
># Vincent Van Gogh, 1853-1890, Dutch painter
># Ludwig Wittgenstein, 1889-1951, Viennese/English logician and philosopher

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I did also want to let you know – SAVE THIS THREAD/QUESTION and REPOST it Oct 1st! On Sept 30th NaNo shuts down and erases the system – all of your questions and answers will be gone forever! This is the 2008 forum you are posting on right now. The 2009 forum will not go live until Oct 1st.

If you repost this thread on the new forum, I’ll repost my answer for you.

You will need to reenter your profile information on your profile page Oct 1st as well. EVERYTHING is about to be erased! This close to the erase/reboot date it’s best to not start any new threads, because they be gone in a matter of days. Copy all of your threads, and save them on a blog or your hard drive or something. Than after the system reboots, next week, come back here and start them all over again.

What I do, is I start each of my questions on my blog. I write the blog post asking the question. Than I wait until the system reboots and the new (and very empty!) forums come back, than I copy each of my blog post questions and start my threads asking questions than. That way my questions stay in the system for the entire 2009 year.

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Create a Fantasy Realm
Advice For NaNoWriters!
Creating Character Profiles
Are You A Renegade A Writer?
How To Become a Better Writer
Improving your writing with what you read.
Have You Written Your Author’s Interview Yet?

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

. . .

Hey, you know what? I sell Avon! I’m an Independent Avon eRepresentative and that means you can buy Avon from me, 24 hours a day, from your computer, from anyplace in the world, and Avon will ship it to you.

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If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

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NaNoWriMo RE: Writing About Autistic Characters

Here is my response to a question from the NaNoWriMo forums on avoiding the stereo types when writing about characters with Autism:

okay – you know what I can answer you with a very long post if you don’t mind.

copying from my web site: http://www.squidoo.com/Aspergers-Syndrome-and-Me (I actually recommend you read the site, cause it’s got pictures and more detail and stuff)

~Who Is Affected by Autism?~

In one word: me. I have Asperger’s Syndrome, a type of Autism. Life is difficult, not so much because autism affects the things I do, but mostly because people do not take the time to get to know me. My cloths scare off most people, before they get to meet me. The few that aren’t scared off get upset at my not making eye contact when they speak to me. They get more upset when I don’t answer them back. Next they start interigateing me, questions left and right and I sit down on the ground and start drawing or writing in order to block out their words, because I can’t process so many questions all at once like that. Next thing I know they are calling me a retard and telling their friends to stay away from me. Think I’m talking about kids? Think again. I’m over 30 years old. No kid ever called me a retard, but their parents did (and still do), Sunday School teachers did, adults, men and women in the 30s, 40s, and 50s. When you tell someone you have Asperger’s Syndrome they ask: “What’s that? Never heard of it.” When you say it’s a form of Autism, they respond with: “Oh, so you ARE retarded than. I thought so.” My response is: “Was Albert Einstein retarded?” and they say, “No, he was a genius, he was the farthest thing in the world from retarded!” And than I throw the big one at them: “Did you know that Albert Einstein had Asperger’s Syndrome? and so does nearly every other person whom like myself is one of the 3% of the world’s population with an IQ of over 130?” (My IQ is 138 btw.)

There needs to be a better understanding in the world about Autism, and well, you hear doctors and teachers and parents talk about what the “think” it’s must be like, but how often do you hear what it is like from someone who actually has it? Not often enough, I’m afraid, so I am going to speak out, and maybe others like me will read this and than step forward too.

It takes me a long time to get enough used to some one to start speaking to them … years sometimes. It’s very hard, because people don’t want to make an effort to try to understand and worse they never want to become my friend. Autisms = a lonely life.

Asperger’s = The Crazy Cat Woman of Maine

I have Asperger’s, though I didn’t know it until just less than 2 years ago! I always knew I was “different”, but I grew up at a time when, children who were “different” were quickly labeled as either retarded, stubborn, rebellious, or schizophrenic and all of these labels had been used on me by the time I was 4 years old. I guess in the last 30 years people have become more civilized, because now, teachers try to find a diagnosis instead of just name calling.

Growing up, I had great difficulty with things that others found easy to do, and yet, stuff they found difficult, I found easy. I had started reading and writing at age 3, but was never able to learn how to spell words properly, and could not make numbers stick in my head no matter how hard I tried. Today, 30 years later, I still can’t spell, but I’ve developed spell-checking “tricks” to get around it and I still can’t do math, though I can do basic addition and subtraction, and can count money enough to get by.

Today as an adult people call me “The Crazy Cat Woman of Maine”. I currently have 13 cats. All former ferals. People look at you and judge you because you look different, dress different, act different, talk different, whatever. Cats don’t judge. Cats love you without demanded you wear the same cloths they do, talk like them, act like them . . . they don’t care, that you don’t wear fur, purr, or sleep in the sun all day . . . . they love you anyways. As the years went by, my longing for human contact grew, but lack of understanding about me, about autism, about Asperger’s, means that in 34 years, I have had exactly 4 friends. One when I was a kid, but by the time I was 9 her parents had banned her from contact with me. Three when I was a teenager. All three of whom moved away and forgot to write. I have meet thousands of people in my life time. I’ve tried being friends with all of them, but no one wants to be friends with you when you are like me, and so my army of cats, dogs, roosters, rabbits, fish, goats, horses, squirrels, birds, and parrots steadily grew over the years. Animal rescue became my life. In the past 30 years more than 5,000 animals have made their home with me. I started out “crazy”, and due to the way I was treated, or rather neglected by humans, I grew up to become the infamous Crazy Cat Woman of Maine.

The biggest challenge is my difficulty in talking (speaking verbally, face-to-face) and making eye contact, and my needed to have everything “in order”. I became a writer, due to it being my preferred form of communication, rather than speaking verbally. And I live in an alphabetized and color coordinated life.

Have you ever tried looking up information about Aspergers? After I was told I most likely had it, I wanted to know what it was I supposedly most likely had. I found books at the library and sites on Google, all on the same basic theme:

># help for parents of a child with Asperger’s
># what to look for in an Asperger’s child
># why your Asperger’s child does the things he does
># surviving the trauma of raising a child with Asperger’s
># etc, etc, etc . . .

Everyone tells you what it’s like to raise a kid with Aspergers, but no one ever tells you what it’s like to be the kid with Aspergers or what life is like through their eyes, and what about once they grow up? Yes, children with Asperger’s do eventually grow up and become adults with Aspergers. But here’s the thing, you think it’s hard to be a kid with Asperger’s? Do you have any idea how hard it is to be an adult with Aspergers?

I have Asperger’s, and a lot of people don’t understand what it is, or what it’s like to have it or how hard it is to try to live with people who can’t understand why you do the things you do. Well, that is why I decided to create this lens. I know what it’s like to live with it. I’m not a doctor or a parent giving an outsiders view of what it is. I’m it, in and of itself. You can find out more about how I live my life here: http://www.squidoo.com/EelKat

Speaking Verbally vs The Written Word

Outside of the 7 members of my family, I don’t talk. I started reading when I was three, and was writing shortly after wards. In my younger years I was very talkative around family, but near silent all other times. When I was 14 my best friend was murdered, and I just stopped talking and started writing more than ever. Written word took over and I became known for my 20 – 30 page double sided letters. (Which I wrote to 70+ pen pals from all around the globe, as well as letters of protest to many companies.)

Today, many years later, I still rarely speak a word and than only to immediate family members, but now I’m also known for my extremely long-winded articles which I write online. In my lack of speech, writing took over as my main form of communication (which is why I’m better at communication online, than I am face-to-face with someone: online I can type).

I’ve been told I should go to speech therapy. I’ve never been to speech therapy, probably never will. It’s not that I can’t talk or that I having difficulty talking, I just don’t like talking. Talking feels weird. It feels rude. It feels intrusive. I don’t like it.

Why Can’t You Accept Me As Me?

As an Aspie, I can tell you outright that I really hate it when people start sticking pills at me and telling me if I would take them I’d be normal. You know what? I have no problem with who I am, I do not see any reason why I should change. I am different, yes. I know that, and have never denied it. I just want people to stop telling my to *be normal* or how nice it would be if I would *seek medical help*. I’d just like the whole pack of them to leave me alone . . . I don’t need a bunch of Hitlers in my life telling me how to act, how to talk (which I don’t and that pisses most people off), or anything else. I am not you, why do you expect me to act just like you do? I am not a clone. I am me.

I am normal. Normal is what you were born as. Every one was born to be normal in their own way. Just because what is normal for me, is not normal for you, doesn’t make it wrong or bad, or anything else. It just means that for me, normal is different than it is for you. Besides, when you start being rude and staring at me and trying to get me to stare at you, and rudely talking to me, when I didn’t speak to your first, I look at you and think: “What the hell is wrong with this freak? Didn’t any one ever teach them any manners? ” If you had decent manners you would know it was rude to stare and rude to speak when not spoken to, and yet, here you are trying to make eye contact with me and talking your fool head off. You see, in my mind, it is you being weird and freaky and not acting normal, but do I try to poke pills at you or call you retarded? No. I don’t do those things because I have the moral decency not to be rude.

I esp don’t like people who walk up to you and say: “Why don’t you answer me? What are you retarded?” I really, really, REALLY hate that. To be retarded you require an IQ of 70 or less. The average IQ is 90 – 100. Less than 3% of the population has an IQ above 130. Want to know what my IQ is? I’ll tell you. It’s 138. I’m about as far as you can get from being retarded, so don’t call me retarded just because I don’t talk or make eye contact.

I’ve been asked why I don’t join any groups for people like me. I’m afraid I can’t really comment on those groups because I’m not familiar with any of the autism groups. I’m not a busy body who needs constant gossip (what most people call socialization, I call rude gossiping). The way I see it, that’s all those so-called groups are. A place to gossip and waste time. My time is better spent elsewhere.

Of course, as the years went by, I have learned that I don’t like being around people. I don’t like to get involved in groups and such, because that means being around people and being out in public, both of which means there will be folks pestering me to talk and that’ll lead to teasing, and I really don’t want to deal with rude, cruel mouthed, mean people anymore so I rarely leave the house anymore. I used to try to be around people. I used to want to be around people. But there is just so many times you can call a person retarded, or schizoid, or crazy, before I finally, say: Why did I want to be around people when all people do is hurt me?

People preach kindness and understanding and acceptance, but you’d be surprised how very few actually practice what they preach when they are forced to come face to face with someone like me.

The Obsessions:

Undiagnosed, Aspergers and most other types of Autism are easily mistaken as Obsessive Compulsive Syndrome. Indeed, it does seem that you can not have Autism without also having OCD.

As an adult, one of the most often asked questions I hear is: Do you have OCD?

I obsess. I obsess a lot. I obsess over everything. My obsessions started early.

One of the earliest things a parent notices about any form of Autism, is that the child is obsessed with keeping things in order. As soon as they are old enough to walk, they start lining up all their toys: from biggest to smallest, or alphabetically by name, or in categories by subject, or by rainbow-order color. I did this. I did this a lot.

When I was about 3, I had a set of wooden blocks. I lined them up, from one end of the house to the other, by shape and color. All the rectangle red blocks came first, followed by the red square blocks, followed by the orange triangles, than the orange circular pillars, next the green square pillars, and finally the long blue road blocks.

The fact that I can, 30 years later, not only remember that I did it, but also remember in what order I put them, is another common factor in Autism: a photographic memory and the ability to remember almost anything instantly as soon as I see it, and than never forget it ever again.

At around 5, I took an interest in baby dolls after each other my grandmothers and my mother all bought me a baby doll for my birthday. My three dolls were always set in order: the one with brown curly hair first, her name was Cristine and I would only dress her in blue; the one with long black hair second, her name was Colleen and I only dressed her in yellow, Natalie was last. Natalie was a bald preemie that drank and wet herself, and she was the one that I took with me every where. I always dressed her in white.

By the time I was 8, I had 28 Barbie dolls, all of which sat on the shelf, again, in order by hair color and race. (I was unusual, in the 1970′s in that I was a white child in Maine who wanted black and Hispanic Barbies — racial colored Barbies were extremely rare and very hard to find back than.) Whenever I changed the outfit on one doll, I changed the outfits on all the dolls, so that they would all match. For example if one was wearing a wedding dress, than all the others had to wear brides maids dresses or if one wore a bathing suit, than they all did.

I don’t know when my love of crayons started. I can’t remember a time when I did not always have crayons at my side. I also don’t remember a time when I didn’t dump out my crayons on the floor and line them up from red to indigo. I also do not remember a time when I have gone to a store, and walked past a box of crayons without buying one. It may be one of my worst obsessions and I’m not sure what triggers it, but it is impossible for me to walk by Crayola Crayons in the store and not buy them! The end result is, well, I have a lot of crayons! I’ve spent 30 years buying every crayon I see, and than coming home dumping them all out on the floor, and lining them up. It’s like, I can’t go on with anything else, until I have first found some crayons and put them in order.

I do know when my love of comic books started. I was 3 years old. We were at a local fish shack restaurant place known as The Maine Castle. We were buying haddock boxes, which was a white paper box with a breaded haddock fillets, a sour pickle, and fries. Basically it was fish and chips, with a different name. The restaurant was run by a Greek guy whom everyone called Lefty. On the counter next to the cash register, he had a big stack of comic books.

It was our tradition, to go to the Maine Castle every weekend, than to Ray’s Lunch Van (now known as Rapid Rays Diner after he made enough money to buy the block and build a diner in the spot where he parked his van). Than, with The Goldeneagle full of food, we picked a star, any star, and followed it. Sometimes we ended up in New Hampshire! This was a ritual which my parents did right up until the day The Goldeneagle died, for some reason, star chasing in any other car just wasn’t the same.

I loved being in the car, however, for me, to sit and do nothing, for hours on end, was impossible. I had to have something to do on these weekly road trips and that something happened one night at the Maine Castle, when I saw a comic book sitting on the counter, which would forever change my life. There on the counter was a bright pink comic book (pink was always a big attraction for me), on it was a duck wearing a top hat (I’m obsessed with top hats, can’t pass one up, collect them wear them, obsess over anyone who wears one), and fighting a big green dragon (I love dragons). I was mesmerized. I sat there reading the book about this crazy old duck off looking for treasure and fighting dragons, and was so instantly hooked. When we left that night with our haddock boxes, Lefty handed me the book and told me I could have it.

Today, 30 years later, I now own one of the world’s largest and most complete collections of Uncle Scrooge comic books, have gotten the autographs of Don Rosa and Alan Young, and am known by the locals, as “that crazy girl in the red frock coat and top hat.” Yep, my Uncle Scrooge obsession went over big time, and I have nearly every comic book ever made which ever featured the crazy old duck even just for a single panel! I not only collect the English comic either. I have a near complete collect of every French edition of Uncle Scrooge ever made, as well as most of the German editions and several Italian, Danish, and Australian editions too. All together: 7,000+ issues, all bagged, boarded, indexed, and in order by publication date. I also have a card catalog to file them by. That’s how big, an obsession caused by Asperger’s Syndrome can get.

It’s not just my things either. If I’m at someone elses house and they have a box of crayons, I have to dump them out and line them up. If they have a bookshelf and their books are not alphabetized, I can not do anything else until I removed every book off their shelf ad put them in order. If they have a bowl of candy sitting on the table, I have to line them up in order by flavor, brand name, or color. This bothers people, the fact that I do this, and results in very few people allowing me to set foot in their home.

I’m a person that has to have organization and order. I learned the Dewey Decimal System, just so I could properly catalog my private book collection (of 10,000+ books not including the 7,000+ comic books already mentioned). I buy the Crayola Big Box with 120 crayons and the first thing I do is dump it out and put all the crayons in rainbow order from dark red to light red to light orange to dark orange to dark yellow to light yellow and all the way down the line. I do this with my paints, colored pencils, pastels, and even my clothes. I not only know their order visually, but I have all the names of all 120 colors of the crayons memorized and put them in order that way too.

As an adult, I live a very “organized” life. I alphabetize everything or order everything in rainbow-color order, and I have to have everything in it’s place and a place for everything. I always loved crayons, and today am a professional artist, but I still have to have all of my crayons lined up and in order before I can start any drawing.

What bothers me most is that people are always trying to change me and make me do things their way because they think their way is “normal” and that I’m just a freak.

But why? Why do I do this?
you can find out just how far my obsessions can go here: http://www.squidoo.com/LordSesshomaruCostume and here: http://www.squidoo.com/LordSesshomaruCostumeCosts

You see and hear things I can’t see and hear, therefor you are crazy and have Schizophrenia

Since I was 4 years old, I have routinely been accused of seeing and hearing things that no one but myself could see or hear. By the time I was 14, I was being accused of being schizophrenic, however, 3 different doctors said that I was not schizophrenic. In spite of these doctors telling my accusers (namely the bishop of the LDS Cape Elizabeth Ward in the mid 1990′s, thankfully since relieved of his duties as bishop) that I did not have schizophrenia, the bullying got worse and escalated into the bishop demanding that members shun me for witchcraft and poltergeist activities (and he call ME crazy?!?).

Over the years there have been many views and theories regarding what it I actually see and hear when I see and talk with Etiole. The theories range from mild: people saying I have an over active imagination or suffer from fantasy prone personality disorder; to outright insane: that I talk to demons, have a pet poltergeist, and require an exorcism done on me! In the middle range are theories saying that I talk to faeries, have had contact with aliens, or have a rare ability called “second sight” which allows me to see into the spirit realm.

While the debates over who and what Etiole is, and how or why I can see and hear him while (most) others can not (there have been others who’ve said they saw him as well.), is certainly the most often discussed topic regarding the things I see and hear that others do not see and hear, Etiole is not the only thing I see that others do not see.

Okay, before I go any farther, some of what I say, may sound a bit odd if you don’t first know this, so, I should point out one thing: I’m a Mormon. I’m a very strict Mormon. I am called by other Mormons “a fanatic”, “a Jesus Freak”, “a Super Christian”, “an Amish Mormon”, and the not often heard term “an Orthodox LDS Saint”. I live the church laws the way they were written in the 1830′s. I follow the rules to the letter. I do not interpret, translate, or avoid parts of scripture that are “inconvenient”. I take the words of the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and the Doctrines & Covenants at their face value. This, it seems, bothers people, esp the other Mormons who find the strict and rigorous laws of the gospel to be too strict and therefor find reason to interpret the scriptures into “what God REALLY meant to say”. Now that you have been made aware of this fact, some of what follows, should make more sense to you, I hope.

Okay, back to what I was saying: Etiole is not the only thing I see that other people do not see as well. Colors are another thing I see. I’m attracted to esp bright colors, and when I see a color I do not just see a color.

For example, when you see red and think, that’s red, I see red and think: love, lust, passion, fire, or hate depending on the shade of red. To me colors and emotions are interchangeable and every color has a very significant meaning.

All of my life I have seen these “colors” and pointed them out to people, usually my parents, a relative, or a Sunday School teacher, and would say something like: “Look at that black man, how can any one be so evil?” or “That woman is awful green. Why do people get so jealous?” or “Why is that guy so blue?” The adults would look around for a man with black skin, or a woman wearing a green dress, and none would be seen.

I was not aware that others did not see these colors until I was in my late teens, when one Sunday School teacher asked me to explain what I meant when I had said one of the guest speakers in Sacrament meeting “was blessed”. I said: “Only people who are blessed are pale blue like that. That’s the first time I’ve ever actually seen any one that color. It’s very rare.” My teacher was puzzled, because he couldn’t understand how it was that the man was pale blue, and I explained that “his color” was pale blue. My teacher asked, “What color, he was wearing a black suit?” And I suddenly realized that my teacher could not see “the color”, so I explained that every person had a color hovering all around them and that it changed with their moods and emotions and that you could tell when people were happy or sad based on what color their color was.

My dumbfounded teacher asked me how long I had been seeing these colors and I explained that I had always seen them, and asked what was wrong with him that caused him to not see them. He than explained to me, that, no one saw these “colors” I was describing and what I was describing was what some people call an “aura”, but that he’d never heard of any one who could actually see them.

After talking with him, I asked a few other people in church about this, and was stunned to find that NO ONE saw these “colors” I was seeing. This puzzled me, because I had assumed every one saw them too. However, it occurred to me than, that my seeing colors that no one else could see, was the reason for the event which had happened in the temple in 1978.

Like all “good Mormons” my family went to the Temple. It was what Good Mormons were expected to do. However, on this particular day, I was being lead by a temple worker into the sealing room, where a wedding was being held, and I suddenly froze. Nearly every one in the room, was black, and not a normal black like I had seen before, but a weird swirling coal black smoke-like cloud which was growing bigger and bigger and swirling up to the gold painted ceiling. I had never seen anything like it before, nor had I ever been so over whelmed with a feeling that not the people in it, but the room itself was evil, very evil, very, very, very evil, as though Satan himself was standing there in the room. I turned around and ran screaming through the temple with a line of temple workers running after me. I was 4 years old and it took 5 full grown men to over take me and forcibly carry the screaming and kicking and biting and clawing and scratching, freaked out and never more terrified in my entire life, me back to that room.

While I have seen others since than that has a black color around them, I has never before or since, seen anything like that monstrous black cloud that was swirling around those people that day.

This event however, was witnessed by all of our closest friends and family, and from that day forth, I was labeled as “the crazy girl who ran from the temple”. This was a label that stayed with me, and which I was bullied and teased about until my mid-teens, when “the crazy girl who ran from the temple” was replaced with the word “schizophrenic” instead.

Because of this inncidant, I have never since been allowed to get another temple recommend and basically, I am banned for life, by the church, from ever again going to the temple.

(Joseph Smith btw, saw and talked with angels, spirits, dead people, Jesus, and God himself or regular occasions, so if I’m crazy for seeing a few, than he’s a whole lot crazier than me, because he saw dozens!)

more info about things seen but “not seen” by me . . . 238k words about the Faerie Etiole can be found here: http://www.squidoo.com/Amphibious-Aliens and his ship here: http://www.squidoo.com/VISION-D8

You look like you just walked out of a history book . . . why do you dress like that?

All of my life I have had a close affinity with colors. My cloths in their day-glow, bright, neon, and popping colors, are the first thing people notice about me, and are always the start of every conversation any one has with me. In my past 34 years of life, nearly every conversation has started with: “Why are you dressed like that?” or some variation of it. I have no explanation for why I wear the things I do. I started dressing like this at about 12 years old when I learned how to sew my own cloths and have dressed like this ever since.

Before the fire of 2006, my contact with humans was limited to seeing people in church on Sunday. So before 2006, I had no idea, that from Monday to Saturday women do not wear long flowing bright colored dresses. I had never seen a woman dress any differently that in “Sunday Dress” before. This revelation, shocked me. When I try to explain this to people asking about my cloths they respond to say: “But didn’t you see people on TV?” uhm . . . no . . . for many years we did not have a TV. We did have a VCR to watch movies, but, when you consider the movies I watched: Labyrinth, 1776, Scrooge, Fiddler on the Roof. My Fair Lady, Sherlock Holmes, Pirates of the Caribbean, Oliver . . . you’ll understand how I was completely unaware of the fact that hoop skirts, trains, and huge long gowns are not what people wear anymore. You see, I thought people DID dress just like they did on movies like My Fair Lady, and was no fully aware of the fact that people stopped dressing like I do, some 250 years ago.

I love history, but I’m afraid I’ve never studied anything beyond the time Napoleon and Hitler. I started out with ancient history and move upward through the thousands of years, but when I got to Napoleons evil acts followed by Hitler’s worse acts, I decided that I dislike modern history and did not study any part of history any newer than Hitler. So, while I have a very good knowledge of what people wore from centuries BC until the 1930′s, I had no real idea of what people wore after the 1930′s and was not aware of the drastic change that had occurred.

For the past 30 years, I have worn the huge skirts, the long gowns, the hooded capes, the monk-like habits, the kimonos, because that is what people in the history books wore and the history book were my only contact with people. Like I said, before 2006, I only left the farm to go to church and I wasn’t aware of the fact that people wore very different cloths to church from what they wear the rest of the week. I just thought all women wore dresses and all men wore suits.

I think it is safe to say that I am suffering from extreme culture shock at learning that people dress very different;y from me, because I wasn’t aware that I was dressing any different than any one else, until I was suddenly forced to live in contact with humans after the fire of 2006.

More about the vandalism, harasment and how I became homeless can be found here: http://www.squidoo.com/OnBeingHomeless2

Law & Order

As I said back up farther, I live by the laws of the church to the letter, in the strictest of fashions. This puzzles people (keeping in mind here, that the only people I know personally are themselves Mormons.) There have been several occasions (usually missionaries) when I have been asked:

Why don’t you put on a bathing suit and go swimming with the rest of the church?
Why don’t you eat meat?
Why don’t you get a job?
Why do you always wear floor length dresses?
Why don’t you wear make up?
Why don’t you have any piercings?
Why don’t you cut your hair?
Why don’t you own any credit cards?
Life would be much easier for you if you had some money, why don’t you take out a loan?

Why? Because every one of those things are things the church teaches you NOT to do. I am increasingly amazed at the fact that these people, these so-called members, who see absolutely nothing wrong with doing those things.

And if I had a penny for every time a member used the phrase: “But it’s only a little white lie . . . ” I’d be a millionaire now.

So, what does this have to do with Asperger’s? Well, I used to think all of these people were a bunch of no-good, evil rotten, immoral hypocrites who had only joined the church because it was the “thing to do” and they just joined to be hip, rather than because they actually wanted to obey God’s laws. (Actually, I still think that about quite a few of them, but that’s besides the point) However, since finding out I had Asperger’s, I discovered something which I found very odd and possibly the most puzzling thing of all: it’s human nature to want to disobey the law and only people who have Asperger’s see anything wrong with bending rules, finding loop holes, and telling little white lies! OMG!

You mean I’m a freak because I WANT to obey the laws and rules! This realization just about blew me away. It never would have occurred to me, that it was natural for people to not want obey rules. It never occurred to me that strict obedience of rules, regulations, laws, and ordnances was so rare, that it could be considered a symptom of a mental disorder. All these years, I thought people had something wrong with them because they were disobeying laws of the land and laws of God, and now I find out, that it’s me who has something wrong because I DON’T disobey them!

Well, all I can say is I’m completely flabbergasted and have no idea what to say about this. The very idea of willingly being disobedient to anything is just too much for me to comprehend and I don’t know how to deal with people who think it’s okay and completely natural to be disobedient.

More info on no meat, no violence, no guns, anti animal testing, anti war, and how I came to think that way . . . http://www.squidoo.com/No-Meat and the story behind how the Proctor and Gamble Boycott got started by an autistic girl (me): http://www.squidoo.com/Voice-of-the-Voiceless

Excuse me . . . I’m sorry, but I’ve been talking to you for a half hour now and you haven’t heard a word I said . . .

This is a frustrating thing and unfortunately, it happens often. I well be sitting usually writing, sometimes drawing, other times embroidering (the three things I do more than anything else), when suddenly I look up and see some one standing over me, and asking why I haven’t answered them yet. Me? I’m sitting there confused as hell, wondering what it is I am supposed to be answering and how they got there without me noticing them.

I don’t talk, I write. I write a lot. I am often told people like my writing style, because it is unique, and I am often asked, if I could explain or teach them how I write so that they can learn my methods and write like I do. The problem comes when I try to explain what happens to me when I start writing. I guess, if you want to learn to write like me, than you’d have to learn to mimic one the the more outlandish symptoms of Asperger’s: blocking out everything around you and seeing and hearing nothing.

Nothing. Period.

I can’t teach my writing method, because it’s not really teachable, all I can do, is try to explain it.

The biggest problem with my writing style, is the fact that I simply sit down and start writing. Literally. No matter where I am, or what I am doing, I simply sit down and start writing. This is such a huge problem, that you almost never see me go out in public unaccompanied by another adult. This is also why I do not live alone, why I do not drive a car, and why I can not hold a *regular* day job. I sit down where ever I am, when ever the mood strikes and just start writing. If you ever see a comic book character sitting cross legged on the floor in the middle of the milk aisle at Wal-Mart, writing away, well, that’s me.

I actually can not walk in places where I will have to cross the street or a parking lot, unless I have some one with me to guide me across the road, because I frequently, just stop to write right there in the cross walk. It’s a problem I have, and a really bad one that has caused me to be nearly hit by a car on countless occasions, because my mind no longer see things around me.

I once sat down and started writing, and didn’t stop for 48 hours . . . Did not eat, did not sleep, I completely lost track of time. I was totally taken by surprise when I realized the 2 whole calendar days had passed before I noticed it, because to me, it seemed like no more than 20 minutes had passed. The odd thing about this, though, is I only started doing this less than ten years ago, and this seemed to have happened shortly after a month with 4 deaths: first my horse, than my grandmother, than my dog Blackie, and than my other dog Muffin. All four of them died with in 3 weeks of each other. Stress, seems to be the triggering factor that shuts off my brain and causes me to not see or hear anything or any one around me and makes me simply start writing in an uncontrolled and unstoppable manner.

This *shutting off* and writing is the same reason why I rarely speak to people, because fact is, I rarely see them. I see the streets, I see the buildings, if there is a car made prior to 1975, I see that car and that car only and not the other cars speeding by. They simply become totally invisible to me. When I mentioned this to some one last year, they had an explanation which I had never heard of before, but quickly Googled and found out more about: she called it “second sight”.

She said that this “second sight” could explain both my seeing and talking with Etiole, as well, as my odd inability to see and hear people around me at certain times. She explained that “second sight” believers claim there are two worlds: the physical world and the spiritual world and that the co-exist one on top of the other, constantly intermingled, but that neither world is aware of the existence of the other, except on rare occasions when “sightings” (ghosts, faeries, aliens, angels, or demons) occur. She also said that there is a high frequency of Autistic people being able to see through the barrier between the two worlds and see beings from the spirit world. She said that people who can see and otherwise interact with the normally invisible spirit world, are said to have the gift of “second sight” and she believed that this was what was happening when I see Etiole and when I seem to no longer be able to see or here people around me.

Well. Okay. Whatever. I actually haven’t been able to find much info on this “second sight” thing, so I don’t know if I should believe in “second sight” yet or not, but, it did make sense and sound like a plausible answer.

I do talk to people if I notice they are there. The trick is to get me to notice that you are there. Like I said, it’s like watching TV, and I have to switch from one channel to the other in order to notice you there. If I shut off the world in my head, I can see people around me and talk to them fine, the problem is, switching my mind out of the world I write about and into the real world where people around me live. It’s not easy. I know when I stopped talking. I can tell you the exact date: August 21, 1991, the day my best friend was murdered. I know when I started turning off the real world too: after the things that happened at church with the bishop and Pine Land Center. The real world simply became more than I was able to handle on my own and I had no friends or family to turn to.

This also explains my cloths. You see, I dress no different than the characters of my books, and to me this is perfectly normal, as it is the way all of them dress. I don’t notice that real people are dressed different than me, because I don’t very often see the real people around me, and it is not until some one comes up to me and asks me why I’m dressed like I am, that I am brought back from one world to the next, and see that, yes, in this world, I am dressed quite a bit different from other people. But you see, there is another part of the problem: the people I write about are the people Etiole knows. His family, his friends, his enemies. When people ask me where I come up with my ideas, I can’t give them an answer they will believe. I can’t tell them that I am writing down things that Etiole has told me about his world. I can’t tell them that Etiole is not a fictional character from my books. I can’t tell them, that I don’t come up with these ideas, that it is Etiole who comes up with them, and that Etiole is a very real creature who lives along side us, even though very few humans have ever seen him. I use to tell people these things, back in the 1980′s, but no one ever believed me when I told them, so I stopped telling them, and simply, stopped answering them at all.

Of course, my cloths, started when I was just 4 years old, and I was wearing my Wonder Woman underoos under my Cinderella dresses . . . I always did dress like a comic book hero gone princess. No one paid any attention to it though, until after I was about 22 years old, and people started questioning why I didn’t wear *normal* cloths, but the fact is, for me they are normal, because I have never worn any thing else.

Does having a mental illness effect my writing? Most certainly. It effects every thing in my life. But than again, as I have never been diagnosed as having a mental illness, there in lays the question: why do people think I have a mental illness? (Autism is a birth defect not an illness.)

As you can see when people say they think I have schizophrenia, or Aspengers, they are not saying so in jest, to be funny. They are very serious, and often very frightened of me when they say it. In nearly 40 years, I have yet to have a friendship last more than 6 months, because most people, once they get to know me, are completely terrified of me. At first they meet me and think I’m in costume and acting in character, and they think of it as some sort of role playing game, but once it dawns on them, that this is no act, this is no game, that my mind is what my mind is, and that I am like this 24-7-365, I never hear from them again. If I do hear from them again, it is only to ask if I have considered medication to make me *normal* yet. My question is, Why would I want to be *normal*? What incentive is there? None that I can see.

Don’t you know it’s rude to stare?

Not a question asked to me, but a question I ask in response to people demanding I look at them when they talk.

Eye contact. Why do I need to be looking at you to hear what you are saying? I hear with my ears not my eyes. Why do I need to look at you to talk to you? I talk with my mouth not my eyes.

My lack of eye contact, my inability to speak around strangers, and my cloths, resulted in leading to my finding out I had Asperger’s, when in 2005 I was summoned into court as a witness to some case which I had no idea why they were saying I was a witness too. I’ll recap:

A year before the fire or the flood which left my homeless, a man walked up to me, handed me a paper, told me I had been served and I had to show up in court to testify. I found this to be very confusing and puzzling because I didn’t know anything about this so call case that I was supposedly a witness too. I tried to explain this to the man, but I’m not good with verbal explanations. He told me that it didn’t matter wither I thought I was a witness or not, it was a court order and if I didn’t show up at court later that week, I would go to jail.

Very puzzled, and very reluctant, I went to court on the date in question and found it to be one of the most nerve wracking frustrating days of my entire life. First off I had to be searched by a guard, who took my tote bag and dumped it out. (I carry my writing paper, my art supplies, and comic books with me every where . . . it’s a really big tote bag. Next I was questioned about my cloths; this being one of my very first confrontations with the world outside of church, I was completely lost as to understand why I was being asked about my cloths. What was wrong with the way I was dressed?

My things were stuffed untidily and messed up back into my tote bag and I was told to sit on the right side of the court room. I sat in the very last pew and spent about an hour, resorting my crayons, comics and papers back into their proper order. I was interrupted while doing this, by my name being yelled out. Apparently the judge had called my name several times, but I had not heard her because I was busy fixing the mess the guard had made of my writing materials. I stood up, but had no idea what to do next. She called my name several more times, before finally telling me that I was supposed to come up front and sit in a chair in front of all of those people.

Up front, I was asked to repeat a bunch of words, but now came my first really big problem . . . I was being asked to open my mouth and speak, something I had not done in years, and I was being asked to do it in a room filled with 40 or 50 people. This was not my first time in court. When I was 14 I was the only living witness to the murder trail of my 5 friends killed on August 21, 1991. It was court that had stopped me talking before. I spent day after day after day of interigation, back at my friend’s murder trail. When the murder trail ended, I went home and was never able to speak to a stranger again. Now, here I was again 14 years later in court. The judge asked me again and again to repeat the words of the police officer who was standing in front of me. I did. I tried, I said the words, again and again, but though my mouth moved not a sound came from my lips. It was like me throat was strangling them and refusing to let the words escape. The judge finally accepted a nod of yes and told me to sit down.

Than came the questions from the 2 men sitting at the tables in front of the judge. They had to ask and re-ask their questions several times, but I could not hear their words, all I could do was stare out at all of those faces, rows and rows of them sitting in the seats below. I think I answered some of their questions because the judge kept telling me I had to speak loud enough for the tape recorder to hear me, and finally she said she had had “enough of this circus”. She than turned to me and told me to look at her. I looked at her hands. She repeatly demanded I look at her. Than she started yelling and saying that I was a grown woman acting like a child, she started yelling at me about my inappropriate cloths, my refusal to answer questions, my refusal to comply with orders, and my arrogance at not making eye contact. My cloths again. What was wrong with my cloths? She dismissed me as a witness, but told me not to leave the court, but to go wait at the front window.

While I was sitting on the bench waiting, several men and women, I assume to be lawyers based on the fact that they were wearing suits and carrying brief cases and were in a court house, stopped to talk to me about my cloths. Most asked if I had been on my way to a party or a Ren faire when I had come to court. A few elderly women hobbled over to me and started talking about how nice it was to see people dressing up again like when they were young. Someone asked if I was a “dead head”. Dozens of people walked past me ever few minutes going in or out of one of the three court rooms, and nearly every one of them, made a point to stop and ask me about my cloths. With each question, I was growing ever more puzzled about this obsession every one seemed to have with walking up to me and talking about my cloths.

About three hours later the woman at the front window called my name and handed me a paper. It was a court order to see a psychologist, with a slip of paper saying that the State of Maine was going to pay for one 3 hour appointment. As I turned to leave, the woman commented that she liked my costume.

I was wearing a Josephine Empire gown of wedge wood blue, with a 3 foot long train. Over which I wore a 7 yard blue velvet burnoose (a type of hooded cape).

A few weeks later at the psychologist’s office, I was greeted with: “So you are Wendy. Why are you dressed like that?”. (I was wearing a full kimono — many layers of kimono). He told me he had been reading my case (What case? I have a case? Since when?) sent to him by the judge. He commented several more times about my cloths. Asked if he could see the contents of my tote bag, and than spent the rest of the time asking me about my drawings and writings and how I lived my life. During the course of the meeting he commented several times on my “bizarre accent” and use of old style language, which he said was seen only in rare cases of twins left to be raised by themselves. He called it “twin-language”. He said he had read cases of it, but that he had never witnessed it himself before. By the end of the meeting he had become very excited and was acting like he had just discovered the Lost City of Eldorado or something.

He ended by writing up a paper which he said was a request to the State for funding to do a research study on me, saying that I was an “anomaly” which he could not properly diagnose, because I was displaying so many symptoms of so many disorders.

I left his office that day very confused, and for the first time in my life, noticing what people around me were wearing and noticing that it was very different from what I was wearing. I was also, now realizing for the first time, that people look into your eyes when they talk to each other. I was also realizing that people on the street around his office seemed to be doing a lot of standing around (wasting their time) and talking to each other. It has only been 4 years since that meeting, and I still am having a very hard time processing the fact that people talk a lot, people look at each other a lot, and people . . . well, you people just plain dress really weird as far as I can see.

I have not again heard back from the psychologist, however, both my mother and my father have gotten letters from him, and each of them, and my mom’s current husband, and my three brothers were called in to be “evaluated” by him to see if the whole family was like me, or if I was the only one in the family who was like this. I don’t know who else he contacted, but I suspect he was the one who sent the social worker to “the tent” a year later, after the flood and the fire left me homeless and living under a tarp.

All this, because I wouldn’t look a judge in the eye? I remain confused over why the judge responded the way she did to me, and I remain equally confused as to why the psychologist responded the way he did to me. It was my first real contact with any one outside of the Mormon church and I found it very strange. But, as a result of the judge and the psychologist, I also found out that outside of the Mormon church, people do not believe in demon possession, and unlike the Mormon leaders who always said I acted the way I did because I was possessed by a demon, an evil spirit, or a poltergeist, I had now learned from the psychologist that what they had called evil spirits was really some sort of birth defect in my brain, which causes me to see the world on a different brain wave pattern than every one else, resulting in me acting, dressing, and otherwise responding differently to things than does every one else. Well, I must say his medial diagnosis certainly made much more logical sense to me than the religious leaders’ accusation of demon possession.

And now that I know the church leaders were wrong when they called me demon possessed, I no longer feel quite so much like an outcast, unloved, and alone. I’ve since looked into this whole Asperger’s thing, and I must say, it’s kind of a sigh of relief, because now I know what is “wrong” with me, and now, I can figure out how to work my life around it.

Asperger’s vs Sports and Perception

One of the things I discovered was a symptom as Asperger’s quite surprised me. An inability to play sports due to clumsiness and lack of coordination and no depth perception. Interesting. It often surprises people that I hate sports. Not, I don’t like sports, not I don’t watch sports, not I don’t play sports, but I absolutely hate, loath and despise sports with a vengeance. My extreme animosity towards sports takes most people by surprise and has resulted in a lot of teasing, which in turn has only deepened my hatred for them. There is a reason behind my hatred of sports, and it started very early.

I went to public school for three years, from the age of 5 till the age of 8. I played sports in school, because it was required for gym. Initially I loved sports. I jumped in on the whole thing with great enthusiasm. The enthusiasm was quickly shattered. Basketball and baseball were the two sports we had to play every week. At first I liked basketball. At first we played singly not as a team. On my own I was okay. However, being an only child (my 3 brothers were not born until after I was an adult) I had no practice in physical contact with any one, thus no practice being on a team. This proved a glaring problem once we were grouped into teams, and sent to play basketball together. The problem was every one was bumping into each other. It was the first time I remember being touched by a human and it was also one of the ONLY times in my entire life when a person has gotten close enough to me to touch me at all.

During that game of basketball, someone bumped into me, resulting in me screaming bloody murder out of the gym and down the school hall, to hide in the girl’s room. The physical sensation of having the soft flesh of another human being in contact with me was a harrowing and sickly experience, that sent pain rushing through every fiber of my body. The kid had really only brush against my arm, but it felt like he had dropped a truck on me. This was the first time another strange thing occurred: my entire arm turned black and blue as though I’d been beaten. These odd bruises on my arms and legs (usually over 8 inches in diameter) so up every time a person touches me, even if just to hug me. My extremely sensitivity to touch has stayed with me my entire life, and resulted in today, my not letting any one get within two feet of me at all.

This sensitivity to touch was not my only trouble with sports however. We tried baseball a few weeks later. Though I tried several times throughout the school year, I never once hit the ball, and when it came time for me to trow it, it always went completely the wrong way, too far, or not far enough. By the end of the year (and many various failed attempts at sports later) it was concluded by the coach that I had a complete lack of physical coordination, was unable to aim at anything no matter how hard I tried, and apparently had no ability of depth perception at all. For the rest of my four short years in school, I sat on the benches reading while every one else played sports.

Asperger’s Syndrome = I’m an Artist & Author Too!

I got several books out from the library about AS. Unfortunately they are all just a bunch of speculation and observations written by doctors and parents who ask more questions than they answer.

One of the things I read most often is parents noting that their AS child is attracted to crayons, colors, and drawing. So much so that when they pick up a crayon and start drawing, they completely shut out the entire world, unable to see or hear anything that is going on around them. I can testify to the fact that this is true. I can not explain it, but drawing is a must. It’s like eating or sleeping or breathing – I can’t survive without it.

Aspies tend to grow up to be very quiet, but very creative adults. Many of the world’s greatest scientists had AS. Many of the world’s greatest painters had AS. Several famous authors and novelists have AS. These are the three careers most commonly chosen by Aspies. Oddly, two of those three are what I did become: an artist and a writer.

Why do Aspies become scientists, artists, and writers? I’m not sure if there is a reason, but I can tell you my personal theory on the matter. Aspies don’t do well in jobs requiring a lot of contact with people, nor do they do well in places filled with loud noises. High traffic, lots of moving objects, phones ringing, lights flashing, people talking . . . all of these things are like stabbing an Aspie’s brain with thousands of pins and needles. Noise is frustrating. Noise hurts. Noise makes me want to take a book and throw it at whatever or whoever is making the god awful offended noise. (Throwing things “for no reason” is another thing we Aspies do a lot, only we DO have a reason: NOISE HURTS! It causes sering headaches and make my ears ring and is no different than had you just hit me in the head with a hammer. I am often accused of being “overly sensitive”, well, maybe I am, but even soft noises sound like cannons blasting through my ears and I can’t take the pain it causes, so I avoid noise, things that make noise, and places where loud noise is, at all costs.

Well, for me at least, art, writing, researching, and building things are all huge attractions because I can go off by myself, in the garden or at the library or on the beach, some place relaxing and quiet, and I can read and write and draw and study without having to worry about loud noises or sudden movements or people bombarding me with questions. Being an artist, writer, or scientist are “safe” jobs because you can focus on your work without worrying about some loud noise hurting your ears.

Not being able to work around people, means I work at home. I am an artist, an author, and a fashion designer. This article looks at how Asperger’s Syndrome affects my creating art: http://www.squidoo.com/How-To-Create-Beautiful-Art-For-Greeting-Cards-and-T-Shirts

Understanding what is really going on inside the child’s head.

After searching countless forums and sites and library books, I have come to one conclusion, and that is, that the most asked question about AS is: “What is really going on inside that child’s head?”This question, actually bothers me. Why? Well, how rude would it be if I walked up to you and demanded to know what was going on inside YOUR head? See? Doesn’t sound so innocent when it’s asked to a “normal” person does it. It’s like a white person looking at a black person and saying: “Your skin is a different color than mine, so what goes on inside your head?” Can you see how utterly offensive this question would be if it was ask to anyone OTHER than an Aspie? And yet no one seems to see any problem with asking it, and not to the Aspie, mind you, but rather to so-called experts who “claim” to know what’s going on inside the Aspie’s head, because they studied Aspies! Why doesn’t any one actually ask some one who has AS what’s going on inside their head? Why ask people who DO NOT have it? How could some one without AS actually KNOW what is going on inside the head of anyone other than themselves?

Let me ask it this way: How long have you been married? Five years? Ten years? Twenty? You must know you spouse really well them right? Okay, so what are they thinking about right now? What’s going on inside their head? You are such an expert on your spouse, so tell me, what are they thinking? You can’t tell me. And you know why you can’t tell me? Because you are NOT your spouse! You have no way of going inside their head and seeing what it is that goes on in there. So how do these doctors get off claiming to know what goes on inside the head of ANYONE, Aspie or otherwise?

End rant.

Okay, so what does go on inside an Aspie’s head than? I don’t know, what goes on inside your head? I think the problem here is that we are dealing with a very vague question. What goes on inside my head? Well, right now, I’m thinking about how my Ranchus have doubled in size in less than two months and with soon need a bigger tank, and wondering why they eat their eggs within a few hours after they lay them. I’m also wondering why evil men exist in this would and why they think they can get away with crimes and why the government allows them to get away with crimes if they are a priest.

I’m wishing it wasn’t raining right now, because my house (a tarp over a woodpile) is not entirely waterproof after three years, and I’m also looking at these blueprints I drew up yesterday and wondering how I can fix the “tent” and how much longer it’ll have to be my home. Which brings me to thinking about why I live under a tarp, and wondering why people thought it was okay to burn my house down because they didn’t think that someone like me had any feelings to be hurt and thus wouldn’t care that they destroyed my home and caused me to be homeless. Which lead me to thinking about how “normal” people treat people like me who have Asperger’s and resulted in me building this lens about AS.

I’m also thinking that I am hungry, and that I’ll probably cook some pasta and pickles after I get done writing this lens, but first I have to feed my 13 cats (whoops, 16, as of yesterday, 3 new strays showed up in the tent last night!). I’m disappointed that it is raining, because the roosters don’t get to go outside when it’s raining, and they love to help me tend the garden, they esp love digging up weeds, eating grubs, and eating the new shoots off of my long stem roses. On days like today when it is raining, all they cal do is wait in the barn for the rain to stop.

I’m missing my dog Buddy, who was my best friend for 13 years, but who just recently died, and I’m shocked that shelter dogs start at $495 and go into the thousands! I’m very upset that I can not find a way to come up with enough money to pay the shelter $495 for a buff Cocker Spaniel in Biddeford, who was taken away from her family because she attacked the baby. I got my Buddy 13 years ago, because he was a buff Cocker Spaniel who bit a baby. Buddy was different from other dogs, he was temperamental, nervous, skittish, and had a deep set fear of humans, thus he attacked every one that got near him, until the day he was handed to me with the words “Take him, no one can do anything with him, and you have a way with animals, I know you’ll be able to handle him.” Buddy, was like a dog version of me. Outcast, unloved, unwanted, misunderstood . . . all he needed was someone who understood him and was willing to put up with the fact that he just wasn’t your normal average dog. And now this other dog has been in the paper and on web sites, the shelter is desperate to find her a home, but no one wants her because she is different from other dogs. It’s like my Buddy all over again, and I’d take her in a second, but the shelter wants $495 dollars for her, and I just don’t have it.

I’m also wondering what my brothers look like today, because they told me on FaceBook that they got haircuts last night, and since the fire 3 years ago, we don’t live together any more, they live two towns away and I only get to see them a couple of times a week now, which makes me very sad and lonely because I have never lived by myself before and these past three years have been really hard, because I live alone now, and I’m not used to that. I’ve always had my family with me before.

Well, that’s what’s going on in my head right now. Is it any different from the things that go on in your head?

ever woundered what the world looks like through the eyes of autism? find out how I look at the world and how I judge what I read online here: http://www.squidoo.com/Faerie-Squid-Mother

Did you know these people had/have Asperger’s/Autism too?

I’ve been called crazy, stupid, retarded, schizoid, worthless, and other “choice” words due to my so-called “disability”. But you know what? I’m in pretty good company- artists, actors, writers, composers, presidents, scientists (and a few pretty evil companions too — namely Hitler!) . . . even — *shock* the current USA President Obama! Having Asperger’s makes me different, but it doesn’t make me crazy, stupid, or retarded. So before you point to an Aspie and call him/her retarded, make sure you feel comfortable calling these people retarded too, because they all have Asperger’s too!

># Isaac Asimov, 1920-1992, Russian/US writer on science and of science fiction, author of Bicentennial Man
># Hans Asperger, 1906-1980, Austrian paediatric doctor after whom Asperger’s Syndrom is named
># John Denver, 1943-1997, US musician
># Glenn Gould, 1932-1982, Canadian pianist
># Jim Henson, 1936-1990, creator of the Muppets, US puppeteer, writer, producer, director, composer
># Alfred Hitchcock, 1899-1980, English/American film director
># Howard Hughes, 1905-1976, US billionaire
># Andy Kaufman, 1949-1984, US comedian, subject of the film Man on the Moon
># L S Lowry, 1887-1976, English painter of “matchstick men”
># Charles Schulz, 1922-2000, US cartoonist and creator of Peanuts and Charlie Brown
># Andy Warhol, 1928-1987, US artist
># Woody Allen, 1935-, US comedian, actor, writer, director, producer, jazz clarinettist
># Tony Benn, 1925-, English Labour politician
># Bob Dylan, 1941-, US singer-songwriter
># Joseph Erber, 1985-, young English composer/musician who has Asperger’s Syndrome, subject of a BBC TV documentary
># Bobby Fischer, 1943-, US chess champion
># Bill Gates, 1955-, US global monopolist
># Genie, 1957-?, US “wild child” (see also L’Enfant Sauvage, Victor, )
># Crispin Glover, 1964-, US actor
># Al Gore, 1948-, former US Vice President and presidential candidate
># Jeff Greenfield, 1943-, US political analyst/speechwriter, a political wonk
># David Helfgott, 1947-, Australian pianist, subject of the film Shine
># Michael Jackson, 1958-, US singer
># Garrison Keillor, 1942-, US writer, humorist and host of Prairie Home Companion
># Paul Kostabi 1962-, writer, comedian, artist, producer, technician
># Kevin Mitnick, 1963-, US “hacker”
># John Motson, 1945-, English sports commentator
># John Nash, 1928-, US mathematician (portrayed by Russell Crowe in A Beautiful Mind, USA 2001)
># Barrack Hussein Obama, 1961-, President of USA
># Keith Olbermann, 1959-, US sportscaster
># Michael Palin, 1943-, English comedian and presenter
># Keanu Reeves, 1964-, Lebanese/Canadian/US actor
># Oliver Sacks, 1933-, UK/US neurologist, author of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Awakenings
># James Taylor, 1948-, US singer/songwriter
># Adolf Hitler
># Jane Austen, 1775-1817, English novelist, author of Pride and Prejudice
># Béla Bartók, 1881-1945, Hungarian composer
># Ludwig van Beethoven, 1770-1827, German/Viennese composer
># Alexander Graham Bell, 1847-1922, Scottish/Canadian/American inventor of the telephone
># Anton Bruckner, 1824-1896, Austrian composer
># Henry Cavendish, 1731-1810, English/French scientist, discovered the composition of air and water
># Emily Dickinson, 1830-1886, US poet
># Thomas Edison, 1847-1931, US inventor
># Albert Einstein, 1879-1955, German/American theoretical physicist
># Henry Ford, 1863-1947, US industrialist
># Kaspar Hauser, c1812-1833, German foundling, portrayed in a film by Werner Herzog
># Oliver Heaviside, 1850-1925, English physicist
># Thomas Jefferson, 1743-1826, US politician
># Carl Jung, 1875-1961, Swiss psychoanalyst
># Franz Kafka, 1883-1924, Czech writer
># Wasily Kandinsky, 1866-1944, Russian/French painter
># H P Lovecraft, 1890-1937, US writer
># Ludwig II, 1845-1886, King of Bavaria
># Charles Rennie Mackintosh, 1868-1928, Scottish architect and designer
># Gustav Mahler, 1860-1911, Czech/Austrian composer
># Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 1756-1791, Austrian composer
># Isaac Newton, 1642-1727, English mathematician and physicist
># Friedrich Nietzsche, 1844-1900, German philosopher
># Bertrand Russell, 1872-1970, British logician
># George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950, Irish playwright, writer of Pygmalion, critic and Socialist
># Richard Strauss, 1864-1949, German composer
># Nikola Tesla, 1856-1943, Serbian/American scientist, engineer, inventor of electric motors
># Henry Thoreau, 1817-1862, US writer
># Alan Turing, 1912-1954, English mathematician, computer scientist and cryptographer
># Mark Twain, 1835-1910, US writer and humorist
># Vincent Van Gogh, 1853-1890, Dutch painter
># Ludwig Wittgenstein, 1889-1951, Viennese/English logician and philosopher

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I did also want to let you know – SAVE THIS THREAD/QUESTION and REPOST it Oct 1st! On Sept 30th NaNo shuts down and erases the system – all of your questions and answers will be gone forever! This is the 2008 forum you are posting on right now. The 2009 forum will not go live until Oct 1st.

If you repost this thread on the new forum, I’ll repost my answer for you.

You will need to reenter your profile information on your profile page Oct 1st as well. EVERYTHING is about to be erased! This close to the erase/reboot date it’s best to not start any new threads, because they be gone in a matter of days. Copy all of your threads, and save them on a blog or your hard drive or something. Than after the system reboots, next week, come back here and start them all over again.

What I do, is I start each of my questions on my blog. I write the blog post asking the question. Than I wait until the system reboots and the new (and very empty!) forums come back, than I copy each of my blog post questions and start my threads asking questions than. That way my questions stay in the system for the entire 2009 year.

———-
Create a Fantasy Realm
Advice For NaNoWriters!
Creating Character Profiles
Are You A Renegade A Writer?
How To Become a Better Writer
Improving your writing with what you read.
Have You Written Your Author’s Interview Yet?

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

. . .

Hey, you know what? I sell Avon! I’m an Independent Avon eRepresentative and that means you can buy Avon from me, 24 hours a day, from your computer, from anyplace in the world, and Avon will ship it to you.

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If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

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>NaNoWriMo RE: Living with Paralysis?

>

Me answering so NaNoWriMo forum questions again. This time on writing about a disabled character.

NaNoWriMo RE: Living with Paralysis?

My main character’s boyfriend is paralyzed below the waist (and has always been), and uses a regular wheelchair to get around. He is not necessarily a sedentary character though–he enjoys going out on the town as long as the places have proper accommodations, he lifts weights to build arm strength, and he sometimes has a race or two against the main character (who roller-blades). He doesn’t have to worry too much about stairs–his house has one floor, and is well-suited to his needs.

+ So first of all, I need to know how someone like him would get in and out of bed (and go to the bathroom, take a shower etc.) I looked on Google, and they said that people in his situation have aides (or in his case, his parents) to help them–but if it’s possible, I’d like him to have an alternative method of doing things besides just “getting help from someone else.” (P.S.: upper-body strength is NOT a problem!)

+ Second of all–I don’t know how anyone would KNOW this, but it’s worth a try–do you think it’s plausible for a wheelchair and a roller-blader to have races like they do? Would one of them have a distinct speed advantage no matter what, and win almost all the time? Or would it all be dependent on the skill level of either racer? Is his lifestyle even plausible?

+ And finally: I read this in a book one time, but I completely forgot how it was done–if he fell out of his chair, how would he instruct someone to help him? I have a scene in the end of the story where this needs to be done, and I have a general idea of how it’s going to go. I just want to be sure.

My uncle is in a wheelchair. Paralyzed from the waist down. His wife has to do everything for him – pick him up, carry him out of bed to his chair, etc. He can not use the toilet at all (being paralyzed from the waist down – means he had no muscle function and thus ZERO ability to “go”. Instead he has to have a catheter http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catheter which is like a really big IV tube – one going up through his ass the other his penis – to pump out wastes and act as muscle replacements – they drain into a plastic bag that is strapped too his leg and runs down the length of his leg inside his pants. (Paralyzed from the waist down mean you’ve got a paralyzed bladder and intestines too! – it also means he has a strict, near liquid diet – no intestinal movement, means no ability to remove solid wastes without surgery.) Someone – usually his wife – has to change these tubes and empty the bags 4 or 5 times or more per day. He can’t take a bath or a shower, instead has to have sponge baths from bed. Upper body strength has nothing to do with it – from the waist down means you can not sit up on your own, no matter how strong your arms are.

Legs only paralyzed sounds like what you are describing – legs only would still be able to do stuff on his own, and could still rely on upper body strength, could still bath himself, use a toilet, dress himself, etc. Waist down – not physically possible AT ALL!

Also – there are much greater things than stairs to worry about – very few houses are sized/equipped for a wheel chair – doors not wide enough, rooms not big enough (remember – to turn around the wheelchair needs at least 4 times it’s diameter, just to make a full swing!) A wheel chair bound person paralyzed from the waist down will usually have the living room turned into his bed room and will never again go into any other room of the house – unless of course he’s a millionaire and can afford to have all the walls knocked out and the rooms doubled in size, and the base of door frames removed (even the slightest bump will flip a wheelchair!).

Sidewalks are near impossible to use – to many cracks and dips in the surface, also brick and cobblestone walks are out of the question – the slightest unevenness in the surface will flip a wheelchair. Going up or down even slight hills, not possible either. In all of these cases, an assistance would be required to steady and brace the chair, basically holding it upright as it moves.

Manhole covers, drain grates, and sidewalk-underground-lifts/elevators must all be avoided – 2 reasons, one the openings/edges catch wheelchair tires and cause the chair to flip forwards; 2 they produce static electricity and will electrocute the guy in the chair – this is a VERY, VERY serious problem, because someone with only half their body function is prone to heart problems, and while a normal person would only get a mind “zap” shock, a paralyzed person could die on the spot of a massive heart attack. My uncle did not believe this – used to say it was an urban legend, until one day he went across a manhole cover and had to be rushed to the hospitable in a near coma from static shock.

Something to consider – a waist down paralyzed person who falls out of his chair will be more worried about how to get someone to call him an ambulance than how to get someone to help him back into the chair. Lack of waist muscle means lack of diaphragm muscle – and thus lack of normal lung movement – he’ll be on oxygen because his waist region muscles will not be pushing on his lungs. Once flat on the ground his lung will stop working, and he’ll not be able to breath let alone talk. He’ll need to be lifted into an upright position until the ambulance gets there. He’ll need to be rushed to the hospital to check to make sure the oxygen loss did not cause brain damage.

Also – as you just saw – upper body strength is going to be highly unlikely, because it requires good lungs and without your waist muscles and diaphragm to push on your lungs, you will be lucky if you can breath without a tank strapped to the back of your chair.

I would like to point out though – again – waist down – no, he can’t race, not unless he has a remote controlled electric wheel chair and those move very, very, VERY slow – snail’s pace at best – most people walk faster. Again – that would be someone with legs paralyzed NOT waist down paralyzed who could race. He would need the ability to bend his waist forward to push the wheels of the chair – waist can’t be bent forward if it is paralyzed! Someone paralyzed waist down would NOT be using a hand pushed wheel chair, again, not a matter of upper body strength, but a matter of a lack of WAIST muscle – upper body strength with out the waist muscle to support it is worthless and actually not scientifically plausible — possible, but highly unlikely and extraordinarily rare. He’d be turning the wheel 2 times for every inch moved. Each turn would require him to lean forward, grabbed the wheel, push it down, leaning his upper body down against his knees, and than letting go of the wheels and using his waist muscles to push himself back upright, than grab the wheel again – someone waist paralyzed has no waist muscle movement and thus no ability to lean either forward or backward.

Someone paralyzed from the waist down would be in a monster sized electric wheel chair – these things are big, most as big as a motorcycle, most can not fit through doors of the average house. These do not have the big wire spoke wheels you can reach down and turn on your own, but instead small “car tire” wheels about 8 inches in diameter. The guy would be harnessed into the chair with a harness belt wrapped around his waist, chest, and shoulders. This harness keeps him upright and stops his upper body from flopping around. (Remember – no waist muscles to support his chest, means without the harness his head will be too heavy for his spine to support and his upper body will always be flung forward with his face resting on his knees any time the harness is removed! Your waist muscles do an awful lot of supporting you – without your waist your upper body strength ain’t worth shit and in fact the more upper body muscle you have, the closer your face is going to be to the ground, because all that chest/shoulder muscle makes you top heavy and there is no waist muscle to keep it upright.)

I think, what you are describing is someone with both legs paralyzed which is markedly different from someone paralyzed from the waist down. He’d still have use of his waist muscles and thus would have the big spoke self pushed wheel chair needed to race a roller bladder, and would still be able to get out of the chair to use the toilet on his own, and he’d be able to bath himself, since he would have waist movement still and thus the ability to sit up on his own.

They do sell racing wheelchairs – they have 3 wheels and are long and skinny and low on the ground. They use them in Special Olympics races. But they are for people paralyzed from the hips or thighs down, not from the waist down. You might want to check out info about The Special Olympics. http://www.specialolympics.org/

Of course, in the future, and in a sci-fi, who’s to say there isn’t some way to get around all of these things? Medical science invents/discovers new things every day, so you can be creative and still be accurate at the same time, by explaining things away as a medical advancement. In any case, good luck on your story.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I did also want to let you know – SAVE THIS THREAD/QUESTION and REPOST it Oct 1st! On Sept 30th NaNo shuts down and erases the system – all of your questions and answers will be gone forever! This is the 2008 forum you are posting on right now. The 2009 forum will not go live until Oct 1st.

You will need to reenter your profile information on your profile page Oct 1st as well. EVERYTHING is about to be erased! This close to the erase/reboot date it’s best to not start any new threads, because they be gone in a matter of days. Copy all of your threads, and save them on a blog or your hard drive or something. Than after the system reboots, next week, come back here and start them all over again.

What I do, is I start each of my questions on my blog. I write the blog post asking the question. Than I wait until the system reboots and the new (and very empty!) forums come back, than I copy each of my blog post questions and start my threads asking questions than. That way my questions stay in the system for the entire 2009 year.

———-
Create a Fantasy Realm
Advice For NaNoWriters!
Creating Character Profiles
Are You A Renegade A Writer?
How To Become a Better Writer
Improving your writing with what you read.
Have You Written Your Author’s Interview Yet?

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

. . .

Hey, you know what? I sell Avon! I’m an Independent Avon eRepresentative and that means you can buy Avon from me, 24 hours a day, from your computer, from anyplace in the world, and Avon will ship it to you.

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

.
.

.

NaNoWriMo RE: Living with Paralysis?

Me answering so NaNoWriMo forum questions again. This time on writing about a disabled character.

NaNoWriMo RE: Living with Paralysis?

My main character’s boyfriend is paralyzed below the waist (and has always been), and uses a regular wheelchair to get around. He is not necessarily a sedentary character though–he enjoys going out on the town as long as the places have proper accommodations, he lifts weights to build arm strength, and he sometimes has a race or two against the main character (who roller-blades). He doesn’t have to worry too much about stairs–his house has one floor, and is well-suited to his needs.

+ So first of all, I need to know how someone like him would get in and out of bed (and go to the bathroom, take a shower etc.) I looked on Google, and they said that people in his situation have aides (or in his case, his parents) to help them–but if it’s possible, I’d like him to have an alternative method of doing things besides just “getting help from someone else.” (P.S.: upper-body strength is NOT a problem!)

+ Second of all–I don’t know how anyone would KNOW this, but it’s worth a try–do you think it’s plausible for a wheelchair and a roller-blader to have races like they do? Would one of them have a distinct speed advantage no matter what, and win almost all the time? Or would it all be dependent on the skill level of either racer? Is his lifestyle even plausible?

+ And finally: I read this in a book one time, but I completely forgot how it was done–if he fell out of his chair, how would he instruct someone to help him? I have a scene in the end of the story where this needs to be done, and I have a general idea of how it’s going to go. I just want to be sure.

My uncle is in a wheelchair. Paralyzed from the waist down. His wife has to do everything for him – pick him up, carry him out of bed to his chair, etc. He can not use the toilet at all (being paralyzed from the waist down – means he had no muscle function and thus ZERO ability to “go”. Instead he has to have a catheter http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catheter which is like a really big IV tube – one going up through his ass the other his penis – to pump out wastes and act as muscle replacements – they drain into a plastic bag that is strapped too his leg and runs down the length of his leg inside his pants. (Paralyzed from the waist down mean you’ve got a paralyzed bladder and intestines too! – it also means he has a strict, near liquid diet – no intestinal movement, means no ability to remove solid wastes without surgery.) Someone – usually his wife – has to change these tubes and empty the bags 4 or 5 times or more per day. He can’t take a bath or a shower, instead has to have sponge baths from bed. Upper body strength has nothing to do with it – from the waist down means you can not sit up on your own, no matter how strong your arms are.

Legs only paralyzed sounds like what you are describing – legs only would still be able to do stuff on his own, and could still rely on upper body strength, could still bath himself, use a toilet, dress himself, etc. Waist down – not physically possible AT ALL!

Also – there are much greater things than stairs to worry about – very few houses are sized/equipped for a wheel chair – doors not wide enough, rooms not big enough (remember – to turn around the wheelchair needs at least 4 times it’s diameter, just to make a full swing!) A wheel chair bound person paralyzed from the waist down will usually have the living room turned into his bed room and will never again go into any other room of the house – unless of course he’s a millionaire and can afford to have all the walls knocked out and the rooms doubled in size, and the base of door frames removed (even the slightest bump will flip a wheelchair!).

Sidewalks are near impossible to use – to many cracks and dips in the surface, also brick and cobblestone walks are out of the question – the slightest unevenness in the surface will flip a wheelchair. Going up or down even slight hills, not possible either. In all of these cases, an assistance would be required to steady and brace the chair, basically holding it upright as it moves.

Manhole covers, drain grates, and sidewalk-underground-lifts/elevators must all be avoided – 2 reasons, one the openings/edges catch wheelchair tires and cause the chair to flip forwards; 2 they produce static electricity and will electrocute the guy in the chair – this is a VERY, VERY serious problem, because someone with only half their body function is prone to heart problems, and while a normal person would only get a mind “zap” shock, a paralyzed person could die on the spot of a massive heart attack. My uncle did not believe this – used to say it was an urban legend, until one day he went across a manhole cover and had to be rushed to the hospitable in a near coma from static shock.

Something to consider – a waist down paralyzed person who falls out of his chair will be more worried about how to get someone to call him an ambulance than how to get someone to help him back into the chair. Lack of waist muscle means lack of diaphragm muscle – and thus lack of normal lung movement – he’ll be on oxygen because his waist region muscles will not be pushing on his lungs. Once flat on the ground his lung will stop working, and he’ll not be able to breath let alone talk. He’ll need to be lifted into an upright position until the ambulance gets there. He’ll need to be rushed to the hospital to check to make sure the oxygen loss did not cause brain damage.

Also – as you just saw – upper body strength is going to be highly unlikely, because it requires good lungs and without your waist muscles and diaphragm to push on your lungs, you will be lucky if you can breath without a tank strapped to the back of your chair.

I would like to point out though – again – waist down – no, he can’t race, not unless he has a remote controlled electric wheel chair and those move very, very, VERY slow – snail’s pace at best – most people walk faster. Again – that would be someone with legs paralyzed NOT waist down paralyzed who could race. He would need the ability to bend his waist forward to push the wheels of the chair – waist can’t be bent forward if it is paralyzed! Someone paralyzed waist down would NOT be using a hand pushed wheel chair, again, not a matter of upper body strength, but a matter of a lack of WAIST muscle – upper body strength with out the waist muscle to support it is worthless and actually not scientifically plausible — possible, but highly unlikely and extraordinarily rare. He’d be turning the wheel 2 times for every inch moved. Each turn would require him to lean forward, grabbed the wheel, push it down, leaning his upper body down against his knees, and than letting go of the wheels and using his waist muscles to push himself back upright, than grab the wheel again – someone waist paralyzed has no waist muscle movement and thus no ability to lean either forward or backward.

Someone paralyzed from the waist down would be in a monster sized electric wheel chair – these things are big, most as big as a motorcycle, most can not fit through doors of the average house. These do not have the big wire spoke wheels you can reach down and turn on your own, but instead small “car tire” wheels about 8 inches in diameter. The guy would be harnessed into the chair with a harness belt wrapped around his waist, chest, and shoulders. This harness keeps him upright and stops his upper body from flopping around. (Remember – no waist muscles to support his chest, means without the harness his head will be too heavy for his spine to support and his upper body will always be flung forward with his face resting on his knees any time the harness is removed! Your waist muscles do an awful lot of supporting you – without your waist your upper body strength ain’t worth shit and in fact the more upper body muscle you have, the closer your face is going to be to the ground, because all that chest/shoulder muscle makes you top heavy and there is no waist muscle to keep it upright.)

I think, what you are describing is someone with both legs paralyzed which is markedly different from someone paralyzed from the waist down. He’d still have use of his waist muscles and thus would have the big spoke self pushed wheel chair needed to race a roller bladder, and would still be able to get out of the chair to use the toilet on his own, and he’d be able to bath himself, since he would have waist movement still and thus the ability to sit up on his own.

They do sell racing wheelchairs – they have 3 wheels and are long and skinny and low on the ground. They use them in Special Olympics races. But they are for people paralyzed from the hips or thighs down, not from the waist down. You might want to check out info about The Special Olympics. http://www.specialolympics.org/

Of course, in the future, and in a sci-fi, who’s to say there isn’t some way to get around all of these things? Medical science invents/discovers new things every day, so you can be creative and still be accurate at the same time, by explaining things away as a medical advancement. In any case, good luck on your story.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I did also want to let you know – SAVE THIS THREAD/QUESTION and REPOST it Oct 1st! On Sept 30th NaNo shuts down and erases the system – all of your questions and answers will be gone forever! This is the 2008 forum you are posting on right now. The 2009 forum will not go live until Oct 1st.

You will need to reenter your profile information on your profile page Oct 1st as well. EVERYTHING is about to be erased! This close to the erase/reboot date it’s best to not start any new threads, because they be gone in a matter of days. Copy all of your threads, and save them on a blog or your hard drive or something. Than after the system reboots, next week, come back here and start them all over again.

What I do, is I start each of my questions on my blog. I write the blog post asking the question. Than I wait until the system reboots and the new (and very empty!) forums come back, than I copy each of my blog post questions and start my threads asking questions than. That way my questions stay in the system for the entire 2009 year.

———-
Create a Fantasy Realm
Advice For NaNoWriters!
Creating Character Profiles
Are You A Renegade A Writer?
How To Become a Better Writer
Improving your writing with what you read.
Have You Written Your Author’s Interview Yet?

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

. . .

Hey, you know what? I sell Avon! I’m an Independent Avon eRepresentative and that means you can buy Avon from me, 24 hours a day, from your computer, from anyplace in the world, and Avon will ship it to you.

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

.
.

.

NaNoWriMo RE: First use of printed calendars?

First use of printed calendars?

Benjamin Franklin had printed up calendars when he had a print shop, (1730s-ish I believe) they were like leaflets and instead of a graph with lists of months (as calendars look today) they were sentences written out – Each day of the year had a sentence to describe it and predict the weather, moon phases, etc. They were called almanacs and nearly every one owned one. There were tons of them. Nearly every print shop owner wrote their own version of one. Basically a calendar back than was 365 page book of gossip, superstition, and folklore. Every date had “significant meaning” (days when witches were most active, days when green beans grew best, ect.) There were hundreds of them being printed, nearly every town had there own version of one.

There were different types of almanacs: some for housewives, some for farmers, some for blacksmythes, ever career had one. For example, The Farmer’s Almanac http://www.almanac.com/ founded in 1790′s and still used today, was written specifically for farmers and listed off planting days. Every page is devoted to a single day of the year and gives detailed information about predicted weather patterns, moon/star patterns, what side of the yard to plant which seeds and what time of the day to plant which seeds, when witches would be most likely to curse your garden and what to do to protect your plants from the evil eye, etc. No farmer in his right mind would be without one. Back than the predictions were hit and miss, but today it uses science to make it’s predictions and now the Farmers Almanac is still used by every farmer around the world. I suggest you buy a copy of it, because it’ll help give you an idea of what calendars looked like back than and how folks used them. If someone in the 1700′s said they had a calendar, they would be referring to an Almanac. Calendars as we know them (hung on the wall with graph lists and pictures) did not exist until around 1870-ish.

———-
Create a Fantasy Realm
Advice For NaNoWriters!
Creating Character Profiles
Are You A Renegade A Writer?
How To Become a Better Writer
Improving your writing with what you read.
Have You Written Your Author’s Interview Yet?

What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!

. . .

Hey, you know what? I sell Avon! I’m an Independent Avon eRepresentative and that means you can buy Avon from me, 24 hours a day, from your computer, from anyplace in the world, and Avon will ship it to you.

————-
If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:

.
.

.