Last month, Penny Arcade ran a contest to tell a story set in World of Warcraft... in exactly ten words. Here were the winners:
Overlord Saurfang is only afraid of one thing... Mrs. Saurfang.
Naked they run, level 1 banks: Clark Kents of Azeroth.
The gunshot echoed like a ghost with nobody to haunt.
The child had vaguely Tauren features. He left, saying nothing.
"Stop making sound effects for spells," she said. "It's annoying."
And let's not forget this little gem:
Show me on this doll, where the murloc touched you. >:]
I don't play WoW, but I thought it was a really neat idea and maybe a fun writing exercise to try over here. So... your task is to write a really short story set in the DMFA universe. Paint an evocative scene using exactly ten words--no more, no less. It doesn't need to be related to what the previous poster wrote. (It can be, but the point is for the ten words to stand on their own as a complete episode.)
I'll start:
Jyrras asked, "So... are you?" Abel grinned and leaned closer.
Easy, huh? Now you try. :mowcookie
Dan loomed over Dark Pegasus, spork in hand - and struck.
"Bad Nightmare? Were Mab's Brownies in them?"
"Unfortunately, they were."
Into the room came hell spawn which were Jyrras' sisters.
"I swear! She yonder had fangs!" quoth he, obviously shaken.
I like those. :mowcookie
The door opened. He gasped. "Please wear a shirt, Wildy!" :animesweat
Before today, never have I seen a lake on fire.
The cat attacked me. Whatever for? I'm only human. :B
Are we the only two that are posting these?!
Doctor Ink, here comes another 'Cubi for the placement exam.
Maybe there will be more interest tomorrow. The thread did start kinda late on a Sunday.
Ink pulled out his long, hard needle. The patient fainted. >:]
It is a national holiday in Canada on Monday... (Like that has anything to do with the previous statement :animesweat)
Fainting happened to be better than the alternative - shōnen ai
Yup. Where are all the other creative Canadians?
Evil minions kidnapped me. Why are you wearing a dress? :mowdan
The rats in the basement pay rent to get cable.
Yay! New players!
Careful. Undead don't like having their heads cut off. :U
the Incubus licked his claws, and considered a wayward soul.
Dan heard Dragons growling. Just where had Fi taken him? :dface
Aaryanna told Dan he must learn control of his powers.
Although a pacifist, Aliyka can enter a berserker bloodlust state.
A child of Dan and Matilda would have many limbs.
Holy, that's not the right way to use a spork!
The new gryph-mech activated, and Jyrras grinned widely.
Quote from: techmaster-glitch on May 19, 2008, 08:17:05 PM
The new gryph-mech activated, and Jyrras grinned widely.
Um... that's only eight words. :animesweat Nine if you want to consider "gryph-mech" as two words.
Gryph-Mech Experiment: Failed. But he got dinner and a movie. :3
Oh... I though it just had to be less than ten words :B
Quote from: techmaster-glitch on May 19, 2008, 08:36:18 PM
Oh... I though it just had to be less than ten words :B
add
had activated, and it will work
Though hiding from Fa'Lina, Abel is more afraid of spiders.
That just dethroned Alexi as Furre's scariest thing in existence!
Yup. Exactly ten words. I updated the rules to make it a bit more clear.
The great dragon fears only one thing: Fa'Lina wanting grandchildren.
Pyroduck gloated that Alexsi had brought him tea wearing little.
Quote from: Deebs' servant on May 19, 2008, 08:52:20 PM
Pyroduck gloated that Alexsi had brought him tea wearing little.
I'd rather you use "scantly clad" :B
Deebs discover the numerous cumbersome consequences of being named "Deathbringer".
Well, you gotta work with whatever fits into your ten words. Stylistically, however, it does help to use the active voice with exciting action verbs. It makes the micro-stories punchier and more interesting. You have so little room to work that a lot must be left to the imagination. It really is a great writing exercise!
Try this take on it, for instance:
Dan's jaw dropped. "My sister brought you tea wearing what?!?"
"I did forget to dress properly while bringing tea. So?"
Hmm...you can fit an entire story into only ten words:
He came. He saw. He conquered. Then? Beer and wenches. :cheers
Chaos and destruction everywhere! This inn is worse than adventuring!
With a fury never before seen, the drunk was ejected.
With her mighty eject hammer Alexsi rules Lost Lakes Inn.
"opps i said ban"
Ah, You'd make a PERFECT Adventurer slayer Dan, Good Job!
Visits to the Fae Kingdom is akin to experiencing phantasmagorias.
seizing the Television in a lovers embrace Sarah eats gillato
"Perhaps we could use that talent wisely...", Dan mischievously smiled.
Quote from: Eibbor_N on May 19, 2008, 11:51:38 PM
Chaos and destruction everywhere! This inn is worse than adventuring!
Brilliant. :mowcookie
Dark Pegasus came back to life. No cookie for him.
a man without a cookie is no man at all.
Afterwards, Jyrass could never look at Abel the same again.
The gravedigger smiled. "Should have used a better spell, Ti'Fiona."
(counts) Yesss.
Abel winces. "No need to scream, Mab; I already knew."
This is fun! :D
Omnipotent fan-girls saved Dan's life mistaking him for Meowth.
Unfortunately, Dan had yet to learn people's looks are rather deceiving.
Please explain to me how the hall started on fire?
That's why you shouldn't tickle a sleeping Dragon.
The plan is obvious; don't lend money to red dragons.
I will NOT tell a story in ten words... DAMNIT!
the amazons missed Dan's birthday party. Dan was very sad.
"A human, Merlitz? A human? Are you feeling all right?"
Hmm... I wonder if I should switch to counting contractions and compounds as one word the way everyone else seems to be doing.
Dan versus the Ice-Orc horde... His loincloth slipped. Instant victory. :mowdan
The more she danced, the more they fell in love.
"Let me rephrase that" said Wildy, brandishing the fork ominously.
She sat and pondered, "Can I write without referencing DMFA?"
Contradiction intended.
Alexsi gave able three seconds to run. He ran fast!
Sentence contains these five words: Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures.
Dan looked around at the mess. "Oh, this isn't good..."
Mellissa is a magical girl. her nemesis is Lord Haxxor.
the magic apples have been stolen. stop that theif now.
Even property damage was not a concern to Dark Pegasus right now.
Teacher wouldn't stop biology practical, so I ate the experiment.
I let the toilet seat up yesterday on purpose, okay?
The fires of rage burned hotter then the sun today.
I refuse to participate in this obnoxious game you're playing.
There was a time when I didn't drink to sleep.
I knew immediately; it would be one of those days.
Tossed my hat in the air, so, um... now what?
naked he slept after wildy had shamed him once more
I just told a story in ten words... so HA!
I can't think of ten words to tell a story.
also...
Darn it, I never did build anything explosive today. - Jyrras (hah! technically ten!)
Jairus once was a frog, but then got plastic surgery.
Shouldn't that be under the "Lies and Slander" thread, yakanaj?
Why there when I can put it under this thread?
A most excellently worded response, quipped Jairus the former frog.
Jairus the former frog has fianally learned his place. Bwhahaha!
Don't count on it, grinned Jairus as he plotted his revenge.
And then the most amazing thing happened! The universe imploded!
Next time, do your own dirty work, Jairus smugly stated.
If I do my own dirty work - I'll be dirty.
This story has ten words and not one word more.
Quote from: Jairus on July 05, 2008, 03:00:59 AM
Don't count on it, grinned Jairus as he plotted his revenge.
That's eleven words, he declared, muttering imprecations under his breath.
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on July 05, 2008, 06:15:25 AM
Quote from: Jairus on July 05, 2008, 03:00:59 AM
Don't count on it, grinned Jairus as he plotted his revenge.
That's eleven words, he declared, muttering imprecations under his breath.
"Curses," cried the mustache twirling villainous scoundrel, "foiled yet again!"
PS: Don't count on it, grinned Jairus as he plotted revenge.
Haha, you got in trouble with the talking box thing!
"Yes, but I have since learned my lesson," Jairus noted.
you say that now, but wait until next the time.
There Will Be No Next Time, he stated with authority.
will this tread be locked to stop us from trying?
Why would they lock it? This is great prose here!
because they like to pick on us, those mean mods.
"But we've been having so much fun!" cried despondent Jairus.
yes, it has been fun, but soon it will end.
"Just like Ozy and Millie," moped Jairus from his couch.
Jairus never leaves the couch for any reason. that's gross.
I am going to ignore that last comment. For now.
Apperently Jairus can't take a little joke. Come on man!
I have one thing to say to you, Yakanaj: GOTCHA!
I have one thing to say to you Jairus. FAIL!
Okay, I will admit that my reply was pretty lame.
The post was lame, the post was sad, you fail.
"Will you stop that infernal raking! It's driving me crazy!"
Rain, rain, go way, don't come back 'till saturday afternoon!
The rain beats on the windows. It's driving me insane.
The heat of the summer was too much for her.
Plum blossoms bloom. Who cares? I don't. I prefer roses.
I like to read manga. Helsing, Naruto, and Bleach RULE!
Fullmetal Alchemist and Magister Negi Magi are on my list. And the Kingdom Hearts II manga, whenever it comes out. (2 x 10 sentence stories)
Jairus should be kicked off for cheating in this thread.
You should use that to ban me in the game.
I like to eat pizza pops. I wish I had more.
Wow, those look good. But they're only available in Canada.
Jairus thinks that I cannot buy Pizza pops in Canada.
What I meant is that I don't live in Canada.
too bad you, as an american, can't buy ketchup chips!
By ketchup chips, do you mean "fries" or "crisps," Yakanaj?
I need to create a character who talks like this.
I mean chips, like dill pickle chips! Or Chedder chips!
Wow, you Canadians have some weird tastes. It's very interesting.
You should try some of these flavors. They're not bad!
Why not? Next time I'm in Canada, I'll try some.
Or maybe there's a special store near where I live.
Please come to Canada to get our weird flavored Chips.
I have marked "visit Canada" on my To Do List.
Note to self. Run away if Jairus is in Canada.
Note to self: get yakanaj to make up her mind.
note to self: keep deciving the others about my sanity.
Note to self: practice evil laughter in front of strangers.
Continue to act as if nothing weird has happened afterwards.
Jairus is stealing my favorite afternoon activities. Not cool man.
There's room for more than one evil villain these days.
Besides, you can never have too much evil laughter, yakanaj.
Too much evil laughter will become you undoing Jairus. Sorry!
Good point, yakanaj. They do say "all things in moderation."
This topic has turned towards ten word replies, hasn't it?
there are only so many stories that can be told.
There are only ten stories: we just tell them differently.
Once upon a time there was a cat named Nana.
His most favorite food in the world was a banana.
And one day he went to the store for milk
Then he learned they were out of one percent milk.
So he thought he might like to try skim milk
Fortunately, they still had plenty of skim milk in stock.
But an elephant came in and tipped the milk over.
He had seen Jyrras doing his own shopping, and freaked.
The mod frowned. "This is not a chat", he growled.
Jairus quickly freaked. "Okay, back to ten word stories, then!"
The fog rolled in last night, and it's cold out.
My dog is now asleep, curled up nice and warm.
Jairus has had his heart stolen. the thief ? widly san
Jyrras dreams of his revenge for Wildy San's Shounen-ai scene.
(Shounen-ai is technically one word: I checked on Wikipedia's entry.)
On thus, Soulja Boy didst Superman that foul, distasteful tramp.
(I have no idea... how I got that...)
I have no idea what you just wrote. Explanation, please.
"Crank Dat" by Soulja Boy. The words "Superman dat h*"
Some things are best left unknown. I shouldn't have asked.
Yeah. In a dead thread.
Please, no necro.