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Story Chain!
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Story Chain!
Story Chain!
I think it would be fun to start a story chain. Each person can write a sentence or paragraph to the story. I'll begin...
Kelsey Rose woke up and sighed. It was the first day of school in a new town...
Ok, you continue the story. Don't be afraid to add mythical creatures, or wild adventures to the story.
submitted by Teresa, age 13, Michigan
(January 5, 2013 - 11:54 am)
(January 5, 2013 - 11:54 am)
From TV Tropes:
"MacGuffin (a.k.a. McGuffin or maguffin) is a term for a motivating element in a story that is used to drive the plot. It actually serves no further purpose. It won't pop up again later, it won't explain the ending, it won't actually do anything except possibly distract you while you try to figure out its significance. In some cases, it won't even be shown. It is usually a mysterious package/artifact/superweapon that everyone in the story is chasing."
I take it to mean "That Shiny Thing".
Yava says giii. That's a lot of i's, Yava.
(January 16, 2013 - 6:30 pm)
Thanks, that makes a lot of sense now. I think it's cool when stories have one.
(February 3, 2013 - 2:27 pm)
"Ilene, I don't know what to write next," I complained.
We were sitting on her polka-dotted amethyst bedspread. Ilene was reading some teen magazine and only half listening to me.
"Ilene! Help me, I need to get to chapter three by Tuesday!" I begged. "Ok, so Sophie and Kelsey Rose are looking some sort of dragon . . . ," she started. "MacGuffin," I quickly interjected. "Fine, MacGuffin. So, they arrive and the train station, then what?" "I don't know, I need something exciting or scary," I told her. "Hmmmm... what about the MacGuffin appears before their eyes?" Ilene quickly suggested, then went back to her magazine.
"That isn't good enough," I said. "How about there is a tunnel or secret passage that leads them on a trip to find the MacGuffin?" she said. "Hmm. Now that is a possiblity," I said as I began to write.
(January 12, 2013 - 5:29 pm)
I didn't exactly take Ilene's advice.
As Kelsey and Sophie rode on the literally bald eagle, a huge tunnel approached them rapidly. Sophie muttered something about 'him' and they flew into the vortex at top speed.
"Black holes are the worst," Sophie said as they floated around in zero gravity.
"So are jokes about German sausage," Kelsey pointed out.
"I'm not in the mood for puns, dear," a voice said. It was coming from the literally bald eagle.
"Bring on the flying squirrels," Kelsey muttered.
"Sophie has too much of an evil glint in her eye," Ilene reprimanded. She slashed through the whole page wth a red pencil. "Rewrite that later."
"Yes, general."
(January 13, 2013 - 10:13 am)
Kelsey grips the leather straps holding her seat onto the giant bird. Her knuckles are completely white. The blackness stretches all around them. "Sophie," she asks haltingly, "are you sure this train is safe? And what was that you said about squirrels?"
Sophie looks up from her perch on the train's front paws, where she is busy knitting what looks like a fluffy green armadillo. "Safe as anything," she replies flippantly. "Hey, do you think I should put eyes on this Anglespork? Or would it look better without them?" She contemplates the armadillo-shaped object.
"Anglespork?"
"This."
"Oh. I see." She does not see at all.
Suddenly the train begins to angle downwards - or what she believes would be 'down' in a zero-gravity field. She tightens her grip on the straps as a shape emerges from the darkness. It is small, and rodentlike, and followed quickly by more. "Sophie... What did you say about squirrels?!"
"The flying ones?" Sophie clarifies. "There's an Anglespork for that." She releases the green armadillo into the void. It darts to and fro across the battalions of rodents that Kelsey can now see take the shape of squirrels with large, reptilian wings sprouting from their backs.
The Anglespork wavers in the air, and crashes into a flying squirrel. Sophie curses. "I knew I should've put eyes on it."
Kelsey stares at her partner, incredulous. "That thing that saves us from flying squirrels has no EYES?"
"Well, no..."
(January 13, 2013 - 5:45 pm)
Ilene smacked my ear. "What are you doing, sending them into uncharted territory with a green thing that has no eyes?"
I cowered behind my notebook. "But they need to have an EPIC BATTLE before they reach the dragon's lair and find the maguffin! And then we can-"
She took my pencil from me. "There won't be a plot if you don't use the toast," she said, sketching a battle plan on a loose piece of paper. "Look. While the Anglespork is busy bumping into the flying squirrels and messing everything up, Sophie can activate the Toast Power. It will temporarily short out the squirrels' comlinks, so they aren't coordinated in any way. When that happens, Kelsey will attach eyes to the Anglespork and make it deactivate the black hole. All done!"
"I wanted an epic battle..."
"Too bad. Use the toast."
(('Ello 'ello!
Garthwumpian Flopp thinks this is ueze!
~Quintus))
(January 16, 2013 - 6:55 pm)
Ignoring Ilene's advice, (as I was becoming more apt to do) I decided to have the epic battle anyway.
The armadillo, though grand at first, (if a green armadillo can be grand) was now losing the battle. And although the most in my world a flying squirrel could give you was a technic shot, (and THOSE were enough to make anyone stay away) I wasn't sure what these could do, and I didn't really want to find out. One lunged at me. I closed my eyes and instinctively swung my hand toward to thing. There was a woosh, slice, and...nothing. I opened my eyes. Where the squirrel had been, was a small pile of... Sugar? Seriously? Rabid psychotic flying squirrels turned into SUGAR??? Then I noticed what had turned it into a pile of sugar. In my hand I was holding a large purple sword, with a gold hilt and pink gems. "Cool!" Sophie said, looking at the sword as if it were some new bracelet or other accessory I was showing her, not a 4-foot sword. "I'm more inclined to go with a bow." Then, out of thin air, she pulled a bow. It was at least 3 feet tall, a recurve, I think you'd call it, of a deep reddish-brown, with a silver grip in the middle with one strand of ivy stamped into the middle. On her back appeared a quiver the same color as the bow, with arrows also the same color, and red feathers on the end. She notched one, then shot it at an oncoming squirrel. Poof! It too, turned into sugar. Sophie scooped it into a bag. She caught me starring. "Healing properties," she said, as if this were the most common thing. Okay, sugar with healing properties. Nothing strange about that. I had always wished medicine tasted like sugar! Anyway, we fought, slashing and firing, until not a squirrel remained. Suddenly, our weapons disappeared. "Oh, they'll return when we need them," Sophie said, cradling the green armadillo which had come to her after the battle. "Now, for eyes," Sophie said, sticking, what was that, CARROTS?! Where its eyes should go. It turned and looked at me. It was so bizarre I didn't know whether to laugh or throw up, which after that battle, I seriously felt like doing. "Now", Sophie said looking at the thing, "what should we name you?"....
Okay, I don't know about anyone else, but it's always been MY dream, that medicine would taste like sugar! Anyone else?
Cappie says vucg. Seriously Cappie, I thought you'd agree with me?!?!?!
(January 17, 2013 - 6:09 pm)
The carrot-eyed armadillo turns and stares at Kelsey. "I request that you would bestow upon me the name of 'Sir Kevin', if you will."
Kelsey raises an eyebrow. "Okay, Sir Kevin, whatever you say..."
The Anglespork named Kevin looks taken aback, as much as a green armadillo with carrots for eyes can. "Ah, then. I accept your fealty. You may serve me until the end of your days."
"Sophie...?"
"Eh?" She barely looks up from where she is painting a pinky finger in a glossy blue. "If he's making you swear loyalty to him, don't pay any attention. That's what Anglesporks do."
"Right." Kelsey sits upright on the train, glancing occasionally at Sir Kevin.
(January 18, 2013 - 6:49 pm)
Since this thread is dying, I shall go ahead and make up the next ridiculous part.
"Um, Sophie, what now? Kelsey had begun to wonder if they would ever leave this black hole. Her backside was becoming rather sore. "Oh." Sophie only just now seemed to realize they were still in the black hole. She'd just finished painting her nails light blue with little pink VERY detailed roses. "We sing," she said simply. "Wait, what?" I asked incredulously. "We sing," she answered again in the same placid tone. "Sing what?" I asked, completely baffled. "Oh anything," Sir Kevin the anglespork/armadillo said, looking up at me with those bizarre carrot eyes. "Well, sing!" Sophie said looking at me expectantly. "WAIT!" I said, completely thrown off. "I can't sing!" "Sure you can!" Sophie said smiling. "I mean, I can't, but that doesn't mean you can't, because once I can't, you can, whether you can or can't!" "That doesn't make, ANY sense." "Oh sure it does!" Sophie said, with that same smile. "All right, all right," I say, seeing no way around it with Sophie. I think to myself a moment. A song I hadn't thought to myself in a long time, a song I sang all the time when I thought it was real, when I was little. "The second star to the right, shines in the night for you. To tell you that the dreams you plan, really can come true." "Ooh!" Sophie said looking up, smiling hugely. "Your singing about Neverland! We go there all the time for vacations! That's the island anthem, you know." I looked at her. Well, after all this, could I really question the exsistance of Neverland? Suddenly, the black hole cleared. We were soaring in a clear blue sky, a large expanse of water beneath us. "Sophie, were's the land on your map?" "Oh," she said, a down right scary sort of crazy look in her eyes and in her smile. "You'll see!"
I shall leave the next part to someone else!
(January 25, 2013 - 8:09 pm)
Seriously people! This thread is dying, if not already dead. Someone else post!
(January 30, 2013 - 6:30 pm)
I agree: Medicine should taste like sugar.
(February 2, 2013 - 5:24 pm)
"Oh, okay, then what does it mean that it's now in flames?" Kelsey questioned. "That means trouble. Oh no! Frank told me specifically to make sure you wouldn't be in trouble!! Oh no he's gonna kill me!" Sophie trembled, scared for the first time. "What do you mean we're in trouble? You told me there was no danger!" Kelsey screamed. "I know, but that's because there's never been a problem before. Obviously whatever was controlling that bear, has an influence on what happens to you, when you use magic given to you by someone else," said Sophie, flustered. Kelsey was really freaked out now, magic? It seemed all to much, she couldn't handle it anymore. "What are you talking about? None of this makes any sense, I want to go home!" she cried. Then Sophie said something that surprised both of them, especially her, because she'd never thought she'd admit it. "I should have listened to Frank. Why couldn't I listen to him for once?" Then taking a deep breath she explained, "I wanted to teach you how to use magic by singing, so I gave you a push. Now I see that wasn't a good idea, and because of my mistake we are going to crash land in who knows where." Kelsey broke down and cried. All of a sudden they landed. Both girls didn't expect it to be gentle but it was. "Where are we?" asked Kelsey. "Where you're supposed to be," answered Frank sternly.
(January 30, 2013 - 9:22 pm)
Kelsey looked up, somewhat greatful, a lot bit scared."You landed us?" Kelsey asked timidly. In Frank's hand he held a hunting knife. About as long as his forearm. A light, brighter just a few seconds before was rapidly fading around it. It was a shade of heliotrope, and rather ominous. And while she figured Frank wouldn't hurt her, she really didn't feel like getting anywhere near that blade. "Sophie!" he said angrily, completely ignoring Kelsey. "Why in the name of Hoverment did you bring Kelsey all the way out here?" Sophie, now having regained composure, said blandly, "We were off to find a McGuffin." "A McGuffin," repeated Frank. "Yes," Sophie said, as if everything she was saying made perfect sense. "I asked Kelsey what she wanted to do. And she said she wanted to go on an adventure!" Frank wheeled on Kelsey. "An ADVENTURE?!?!" Kelsey couldn't say a word. "Do you realize that Amnester is looking for you?" "Who," was all Kelsey could say. "AMNESTER!" Frank bellowed, thoroughly exasperated. "The one who sent the bear after you! He knows you're different, Kelsey Rose. He wants your abilities!" "What abilities?" Kelsey cried, near tears. Frank sighed. "Kelsey, you a linixie." "A what?" "A linixie," Frank repeated. "A person who is part pixie. You can do things, I don't know just what, but you can do things no one else can." "HOW can I be part linixie? Both my parents are, in fact, human." "It's probably somewhere in your ancestry," Frank replied. "But my parents aren't like that," Kelsey retorted. "Oh, it can take several generations for it to show up," Frank replied airily. "But believe it or not, face it or not, you've got pixie dust in your blood." "Pixie dust?" Kelsey asks, her tone evidently not convinced. Before Frank could try to further clarify, Sir Kevin poked around Sophie, who had been strangely quiet, and demanded, "Could we please get out of here. I'm rather hungry and have a rather sensitive stomach." It took Frank a moment to process him. "An anglespork, Sophie? Really? Nothing better?" Sophie looked sheepish, Sir Kevin looked indignant. "I will have you know . . . ," Sir Kevin began, but Frank cut him off. "Look, let's just get going." "Wait!" Sophie cried. "We're so close, can't we finish out our quest?" She did the pleading, puppy-pout thing. Frank sighed again, as Kelsey figured he did a lot around Sophie. "All right, but I have to come with you." Sophie clapped with delight, her face radiant. "BUT, we're not taking a train the rest of the way. No function, no versitility. We're taking my pegusi." He gestured to two horses, one white with a silver flowing mane, one black with a gold flowing mane. Sophie grabbed Kelsey's hand before she could even think, and woosh! They were off to find a McGuffin.
All right, long yes. But this thread is dying I fear anyway, so...
Cappie says ghna.
(January 31, 2013 - 7:03 pm)
Top!
(February 2, 2013 - 3:56 pm)
I don't want this thread to die!
Ilene gnawed on the tip of her red pen that she was using to correct my story. I was pacing besides her, hoping that she wouldn't tear this story to pieces like she had earlier. It was taking longer than usually too, so I gazed at her, noticing that she was done. Her eyes were transfixed on the wall.
"Umm... Ilene?" I started. " Alice. This. Is. Amazing," she said, awed. "Thanks, I guess. Is it good enough to turn in without failing?" I questioned, puzzled by my brand-new talent. Ilene snapped out of it, "Are you kidding? You should definitely get an A, if you don't... Well, anyways I think you're beginning to understand the art of writing".
The next day I handed the first three chapters of my story to the English teacher, Miss Wilson. She sighed as she took it and put it into her red folder without even glancing at it. I felt like she assumed that I failed. Well, she would be surprised when she read it!
For the rest of the day, I waited in slow, painful agony. What if Miss Wilson didn't read it and assumed that I failed, so she gave me an 'F'? What if Ilene just said that to make me feel better? My thoughts twisted around my head like a tornado.
The next day, I could hardly swallow my breakfast. I couldn't wait to see my grade.
English finally rolled around. I slid into my seat just before the bell rang. Miss Wilson stood up and walked over to my seat. She placed my story face down and walked away without making any expression.
I stared at the story, and it felt like the story was staring back at me. Then, I slowly turned the pieces of paper over. A beautiful, bright 'A' beamed at me! "Yes!" I squealed out loud. " Is there something you'd like to say Alice?" Miss Wilson said. "Umm... no. Sorry". My faced burned, but Ilene gave my a thumbs up.
I couldn't wait to write more of my story!
(February 2, 2013 - 4:49 pm)