Regrets
You need to understand something. I never meant for anyone to die. I know that what we tried to accomplish usually has... what’s that phrase? You know, the one…
Beginnings of Books Unwritten
Your mission, should you choose to accept it: write the opening to a novel. It can be as short as a sentence or as long as the full 1024. Just entice us so much with the opening that we'll wish like _crazy_ we could read the whole novel! Inspiration and examples, if needed, can be found in this Nanowrimo 2010 thread: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3699714 or in Sarah Monette's LJ: http://truepenny.livejournal.com/804710.html Good luck! Enjoy!
Challengers
18 entriesA Life of Service
Marcus sat there on the marble bench in a large hallway still trying to figure out what the turn of events were that brought him here. The figure to his left…
Chain of Events.
In the temple district of Dar Vassir, a priest of Merciful Grevari was busy looking for the mysteriously missing robes he’d left in his locker. In the next…
The Speechless
He walked. He always walked, because it was the only thing he knew how to do. His bare feet dragged along the ground, slow and careful. He had no goal nor…
Lotka Volterra
This wind is too hot. That was the first thought to ever enter my head. I wasn’t even really aware of myself at the time. I just knew that I had to get out…
Twerp’s Big Surprise
“Sorry, I’m late gu-uhh...” Twerp’s jaw dropped with a thud, along with his favorite scuffed baseball. Being tardy for practice again today turned out to be…
The Book of Unwritten Words
The thing about a novel unwritten, is that for all intents and purposes these words should not be writ. What you see here is a book unscribed, a compendium…
...people ask me if I know...
Everyone thinks she is beautiful, the perfect wardrobe, the perfect smile; sweet without being cloying, the perfect voice; as if she scripted her own words…
Vampire Wars
Vladimir Constantinescu kept his back to the wall behind the farthest corner table in the tavern from the door. This table was also the most poorly lit, being…
The Tome of Time
Dripping, mouldy Chester Chadwick emerged from his final resting place, brushed the dirt from his decayed trousers, and surveyed the seedy graveyard with a…
It seemed like a good idea at the time.
Later on, when the paramedics had revived him, the doctors had released him, the cops had interrogated him, the court system had absolved him, the press had…
Little Mistress.
It was not as if Mary was contrary, like the infamous children’s rhyme proclaimed. It was just…a rather inconvenient time to be telling her ugly information…
Blunting the Spearhead
“Even though my brother has tainted his august and royal blood with marriage to an inferior, blood must be thicker than water. Command of this new venture will…
First-Class Breakaway
“Escape? We can’t let you escape! How else will we control you?”
A Murder Mystery
It was cold. I’m sure there were other facts that I should have noticed, but at that moment, all that had ever been or would be was the frigid chill freezing…
Inauguration
January 20: _“...without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am…
Enticing Chocolate Cake
Her bridal shower was a success. Well over half the people Haley had invited chose to attend. The stars had aligned, and everything was perfect. The guests…