Challenges

Paperback Writer has a challenge up on her blog called Dictionary: Impossible.



In PBW's blog post you can see examples of Levels 1-3.

This is such perfect timing for me! I really needed to get some short story ideas to help me through February so off I go... big, fat, red dictionary in hand. :)

No Excuses. Just Write.
December Editing Challenge: 3 of 20 editing hours completed.

My titles and their premise:

Imperative Embalming Spray
The Imperative Embalming Spray that allows the people of Lake Southcrest to pass though to the other side has gone missing and the souls are getting restless.

Swab Mate
The crew of the Gold Dream are stuck within the Tarnished Realm and only the prophesied Swab Mate can get them home.

Centre for Bemused Deities
The ruling deities have been captured by Hell and the bemused deities are humanities last hope to restore the balance of good and evil.

Titanium Overcast
The Duchy of True Water and Duchy of the Seven Badgers are locked within a vicious war. The True Water Army has new armour that protects against all known weapons but their soldiers are falling deathly ill.

No Excuses. Just Write.
December Editing Challenge: 3 of 20 editing hours completed.

My 10 words:
1. Scarify
2. bothered
3. combat
4. relay
5. pink
6. pompous
7. believe
8. apart
9. fungus
10. Inhospitable

My titles and premises:

Inhospitable
Young Victor meets the girl of his dreams on a paradise planet. She's intelligent, exotic and charming. However, they're different races, different religions and from different cultures. Despite this, they want to make it work. To do this, he has to pass some tests, mostly a visit to her family on a harsh and inhospitable border planet.

Apart
On his first deep space mission, Kaleb will go years without seeing his home planet, his family and friends. Can he cope with being apart from everything he knows and loves?

Relay
Down on his luck, Simon, a former war hero gets hired as a pilot on a new 'pony express' delivery service that caters to governments and the super-rich. When he gets wind of a plot to hijack the unhijackable relay courier, his loyalties are divided about what side of the line he wants to be on.

I Believe in Fungus (working title ;-) )
A young mycologist is sent to a newly discovered planet to study the amazing patterns in the fungi growth there. Amazingly enough, he discovers that they are sentient fungi, and through years of work, manages to talk to them. Their first discussion involves how their fungus brothers on Earth are doing, since they were sent to establish colonies eons ago. How does he explain mushroom soup to them?

Travis.
--
http://cottreau.blogspot.com
http://cottreaureviews.blogspot.com/

Things I've learned - you can't make a good title with "combat" in the title - it just doesn't work, they always sound lame (unlike the fungus one!).

Titles that I didn't use:
Bothered by Pink
Pink Combat
Pompous Fungus
A Fungus Apart

So, I tried sticking with single word titles. :-)

The "I Believe in Fungus", I just made up because I saw that Kerryn had four titles and premises. :-)

Travis.
--
http://cottreau.blogspot.com
http://cottreaureviews.blogspot.com/

I was trying to get five as that was how many PBW gave in her example, but could only make four. My looking at the full definitions of the words I came up with more ideas.

I could have had a story about a horse with Swab in the title.

I like A Fungus Apart. :)

No Excuses. Just Write.
December Editing Challenge: 3 of 20 editing hours completed.

I only have dictionary.com.... so I can't do this till I get one. But as for combat in a title - I don't think it always sounds lame.


After all, I may have gone with:

Inhospitable combat fungus, not bothered by pink pompous relays, will scarify all bar those who believe.

I think it sounds interesting.

I'm trying to find a dictionary here at work, but cannot.

I realize that a paper dictionary is a must for a writer!

It's back to school these days - there are bound to be cheap dictionaries on sale at the book stores - very much worth it.

AND, worth spending some time looking at to see if you like them or not. On line is good and all, but not the same as a paper dictionary (where you can open them at random and pick a word :) )

Travis.
--
http://cottreau.blogspot.com
http://cottreaureviews.blogspot.com/

I just went with three titles, lol im more likely to finish the challenge that way ;-)

My 10 Words
Charlatan
Suck
Craven
Jangle
Nihilism
Tiny
Hollow
Dispose
Outcast
Mocha

The Hollow
Jennifer realizes that her family home is not as it seems when she starts to have peculiar visions after her 18th Birthday. Can she find a way to bring them under control before she loses her mind?

How to Dispose of the Charlatan
Dustin is sure that the Governor of Meadowville is not who he says he is, and sets out on a mission to prove that he is right. As he progresses on his journey he makes some startling discoveries that will rock his view of the world.

Mocha Nihilism
Christy hated coffee, she hated people who drank coffee, and she hated the smell of it. She even hated the shape of coffee beans. Strangely though, the only job she could seem to get was working in a coffee shop.

WIP: Ayden: 97,029/95,000 (estimated total).
Rough Editing: Lifelines: 104/104 pages.

J.C Hart

Hahaha... nice ones cassie.

I like the Mocha Nihilism one, since I can so relate. I think I'm the only non-coffee drinker in my immediate circle of friends. Fortunately, I was able to avoid the coffee shop job! :)

All of these were good actually... I think I'll try the challenge again and see if I can do better than last time.

Travis.
--
http://cottreau.blogspot.com
http://cottreaureviews.blogspot.com/

Hey Chris,

Since you don't have a paper dictionary, I've gotten 10 random words for you to use. That way, you don't have to feel left out. :-)

insipid
comet
fallen
probation
reflexology
reef
bat
era
celebrate
watter-carrier


Have fun. I've already started on mine, but really - Chris hasn't had a go yet and I have. :)

Also - anyone else who might want to chime in and make 3 or 4 book titles, please feel free.

Travis.
--
http://cottreau.blogspot.com
http://cottreaureviews.blogspot.com/

Those are great words! I think everyone else's words are better than mine. He he. Chris should have fun with those.

No Excuses. Just Write.
December Editing Challenge: 3 of 20 editing hours completed.

Indeed:

/insipid
/comet
/fallen
/probation
/reflexology
/reef
/bat
/era
/celebrate
watter-carrier

Fallen Comet in an Era of Reflexology
It is a time where Reflexology is the leading form of research in the world. The team at the forefront of this field have an unexpected opportunity to study reflex behaviour of the entire planet as a Comet unexpectedly changes course and is on target to hit an undetermined location on Earth.

To Celebrate Probation
2 convicted criminals are paroled on the same day after years in prison. On their first days of probation, they each find their new found freedom, leaves much to be desired.

Reef of the Insipid
Off the coast of the Isle of Change lies the Reef of the Insipid. Legend has it that ships which wreck on the jagged rocks of this Reef have their crews suffer a fate worse than death. Somehow, they become almost mindless. Devoid of any vestiges of their original personalities.

Bat Like a Comet
Ricky Hammerhein was in his prime. He'd just signed a record breaking contract for a previously unheard of player to bat for the Red Sox. His public profile, while previously non-existant was suddenly overwhelming. With all this attention and pressure, how would Ricky hold up?

An Insipid Era
Far in the future, life has lost meaning. People exist from day to day just to eat the next meal. Material posessions no longer have the attraction they used to in the past. Hobbies or sports are non-existant. No one makes music anymore, let alone listens to it. The worlds population is in a state of deep depression, hardly able to get out of bed in the morning. No one knows any different until Joyce Carrington is born. As Joyce grows up, she makes some unexpected discoveries and slowly brings joy and interest in life once more to those around her.

Celebrate the Fallen
(I've run out of time gotta head off - will fill this out later)

I agree that the words are good... funny, When I did the exercise with those words, I had one called "The Insipid Era"... mine was about the life of a civilization after they'd finished a big war. It was the Chinese curse, "may you life in interesting times" in reverse.

I also one called "The Bat Comet", which was nothing about baseball.

I wonder what the chances of that were... :) Nice work Chris.

Travis.
--
http://cottreau.blogspot.com
http://cottreaureviews.blogspot.com/

Hey since Chris doesn't have a dictionary, that means I don't either. Somebody give me some words! pleeeaase?

Trying to find the time (as usual)!

Here you are Jane - enjoy.

astonishment
understanding
monograph
mormonism
noiseless
opposing
pavement
runner
bending
clash
whisker

Travis.
--
http://cottreau.blogspot.com
http://cottreaureviews.blogspot.com/

ooops - that's 11. Oh well, that means you need at least 4 titles. :-)

Travis.
--
http://cottreau.blogspot.com
http://cottreaureviews.blogspot.com/

My words are:

* interrupt
* geum
* extortion
* dot
* premise
* granule
* disown
* officiate
* insult
* rustle

Titles:

* To Disown a Geum
* An Insult to Extortion
* The Dot Premise
* Officiate an Insult
* Granule Interrupt

To Disown a Geum: A man denies all knowledge of being a child's biological Father. His life's work however was in cross-pollination of roses, resulting in creating the Geum. His struggle starts with accepting his past and growing to love both his child and his creations.

An Insult to Extortion: On the streets of New York, the line between acceptable extortion and dirty-rules extortion is broken by a newcomer to the 'Hands' racket. Even though they gain money via illegal means, their code of conduct prevents them gaining money from another member. The struggle for power between the old order and the new kid results in violence and blood shed before settlement finally arrives.

The Dot Premise: A daughter's home becomes her world when her Mother dies and her Father becomes bed-ridden in a car crash. The house is small but for the two of them, it encompasses everything they know.

Officiate an Insult: Racial violence in the American South reach record levels when an off the cuff comment from a white judge to a black defendant descends into civil war like actions. Normality only approaches once another Judge becomes personally involved when he resides over the trial.

Granule Interrupt: Nanotech has advanced to the stage where some viruses and bacteria can be attacked and killed inside the human body. Dr. Scream (a moniker he received during his previous exploits in trying to cure disease) realises the key to making it all work and thus save his flailing career. He calls his solution 'Granule Interrupt' because the viruses are attacked and their normal life-cycle interrupted and killed.

Andrew Chilton - http://kapiti.geek.nz/

I read Travis' title Relay and thought that another good title would be a phrase from his description: Hijack the Unhijackable.

I also like Dutton's title: Bat like a Comet.

Andrew Chilton - http://kapiti.geek.nz/

Okay, thanks a bunch Travis, here goes:

A Noiseless Whisper

Rachel, age 12, has her voice box removed due to cancer, and while still in the hospital she uncovers a terrible secret. Before she can even attempt to tell anyone, the men behind the plot find out that she knows and kidnap her, and the story that ensues is about her coming to terms with her new disability in a very trying situation, as well as trying to prevent the evil plot from taking place.

Bending Astonishment

Jim the magician, a street performer, is taking his act to another level, because he had just discovered how to do real magic. At the same time, Polly, a homeless girl who wants to join his act, is working her magic on him! A hilarious tale of love, hardship, and believing in the unbelievable.

The Pavement Runner

Jonathon loved running, but he didn't actually think he was any good at it. Until, that is, he noticed a strange woman watching him - timing him! - as he ran. The next thing he knows he has been invited to compete for the city. The city, then the region, then the country, and soon he finds himself against the top runners in the world. Will Jonathon be able to hold onto the pieces of his old life as he is thrust into a whole new world of sport, competitiveness, and success?

Understanding Clash

The asian boy, about 4, turned up one day on Jennifer's doorstep, speaking only four-year-old Japanese. Jennifer, a woman who had suffered through the social services system, going from foster home to foster home herself as a child, vows not to let that happen to this little boy. She names him Clash because it is a word he keeps saying over and over, and begins her desperate search to find his family, and at the same time uncovers truths about her own past.

Opposing the Monograph

Researcher and Scholar James C. Farious has just written his finest work yet - a monograph about the Derst family, and the common behaviours the have presented themselves generation after generation, dating back 250 years. What he hasn't counted on however, is the last living Derst, Catherine, to take great personal offense to his work. As one of the cities most renowned lawyers, naturally she takes him to court. While James can't help but notice that his observations about the family are showing through in Catherine, he can't help but feel strangely attracted to her...

Trying to find the time (as usual)!

I think it's amazing how this works to come up with ideas. I almost did one called "bending Mormonism" but just couldn't bear to even make an idea based on writing about religion. So mormonism was never used.

I like:

*Andy's Granule Interrupt and the Dot Premise

*Chris's Fallen Comet in an Era of Reflexology sounds so ridiculous I'd probably read it

*Cassie's Mocha Nihilism sound's great *Cottreau's Inhospitable

*Kerryn's Centre for Bemused Deities and Titanium Overcast.

This is great Kerryn, thanks so much!

Trying to find the time (as usual)!