There is a writing exercise I have done only once before, but I still really like it (‘Why have you not done it since then?’ Hush you). You push the random button on wikipedia until you find a page that inspires you. You then have 5 minutes to write a short story about it. In such a small timeframe you really don’t have any time to check spelling or rethink your course. Below are four of these. The first two I wrote sometime last year and the other two I just wrote before posting this. The titles are the actual wikipedia-pages used:
Glory of Heracles
There he sat, gorging himself on meats, wines and expensive spices. The speed with which he ate was almost godlike. This was quite accurate considering he was a half-god. Ever since beating the Hydra, Heracles had been hailed a hero. Carried by the people of Athena’s he was drowned in gifts and the finest of food.
Though some would have expected him to deny such presents, Heracles received them gladly. And why not? Had he not earned this? Had he not saved thousands of lives? This was what heroism was about, right? Why would anyone do something just from the goodness of their heart?
But as Heracles grew sedated and fat, the people started to rebel. Why was he not setting an example for their children. Why did he not show them how much better he was? Instead of the hero everyone looked up too, people started looking down on the fat hog in the chair. They started choosing their own ways and in some way Heracles had set an example.
Phoenix Inferno
O for fuck sake!!” Magnivus yelled as the walls around him started to catch fire. “Really Sam! How stupid are you? I get you’re immortal, but can you please for one sec pay attention! There are other people living here you know.”
Magnivus ran for the door as the flames started closing in on him. He slammed through the door into a blazing hot hallway. The air was like out of a toaster. He grabbed one of the buckets of water that had be put down for these occasions and doused the flames blocking his exit. As he headed through the door outside, he could see that his other roommate, a Cyclops named Bob, was already on the lawn.
“What did he do now?” Bob asked Magnivus “I don’t know” Magnivus answered “He was up in his room when it happened.”
Right at that point there was a loud bang from the house behind them and a streak of flame shot up into the sky. As it neared the clouds, it changed direction towards Bob and Magnivus. Just before it reached them it stopped and turned into a burning bird of legend
“Sorry guys” Sam the Phoenix said “I tripped on a piece of soap”
Empress Zhang (Wenhuan)
Entering the Empress’s throneroom was a harrowing experience for Lee. Probably because he came in through the skylight window. As he got up, holding his hurt leg he could see a dozens of eyes looking at him with astonishment. ‘Morning’ Lee said weakly. ‘What is the meaning of this?!’ A booming voice demanded. Lee looked up at the throne, right into the eyes of Empress Zhang. Though he had been told her beauty rivaled the night sky, right now he only saw an Abyss. He knew that his chances of surviving this little ordeal were now practically zero. Never the less he approaced the Empress holding up what he had just stolen from one of the towers. ‘I have come bearing gifts Lotus Bloom of the East.’ If he could keep up appearances for just a little bit, he might be able to escape without so much as a scratch.
Five minutes later, Lee was beheaded in the throne room. Really, don’t underestimate royalty, they have been trained to see through a fib.
Artamonov (crater)
As Shawn walked on the moon, gravity barely weighing him down, he slowly approached the crater. Artamonov was considered a mystery in the scientific world because of it’s strange shape. As part of a greater mission, Shawn had managed to get NASA to alocate some time in which he could investigate this crater. It had been a long and grueling treck, not to mention convincing his bosses to allow him to do this. But Shawn had been presistent. He knew that his future as a astronomer was likely to be found in his crater. Maybe it had been caused by a unique type of impact with a asteroid. Maybe only part of an asteroid that had broken off moments before. Or even better, an impact of two asteroids at the same time. As he got closer to the crater, his mind started racing with the possibilities.
However, Shawn was not prepared for what he actually found there. In the middle of the crater was a large yellow sheet of what looked like paper. At the bottom of it was an enormously long number, at least 200 digets. Aboved that was a simple message. ‘Sorry, I ran into your moon with my ship. Please call this number so that we can exchange insurance numbers.’
The idea of this exercise is not to be perfect, far from it. It’s to make something without having time to really think about it. You have to follow your gut and nothing else.
Vedalken Treehouse 