(Today's posts will appear below this one, so keep checking back for additional content)
About a month ago, I got an email from two gents asking me to participate in a special project. The idea was that several bloggers -- some who are published writers, some not yet -- would take the same story idea and spin it into a short story of their own. The common idea? The protagonist is driving along, something hidden in the trunk. He (or she) is pulled over...and the rest is up to the writer.
I'll be linking to the other participants' short stories a little later today in the post directly below this one. So where's mine, you ask?
Right here. It's called "Rulebreaker" and it wasn't the story I'd originally intended to write for this project -- I'd had in mind something a little more leisurely, a little more literary. Instead I produce something a little more off-kilter, but that's how it goes sometimes.
Enjoy, and now I'll spend the rest of my time reading everybody else's stories. Hope you will as well.
Great story, Sarah: little transgressions building to big consequences.
Posted by: Gerald So | January 25, 2005 at 06:56 AM
Very cool, Sarah.
Posted by: John Rickards | January 25, 2005 at 09:12 AM
Good story. I wonder if you could take these stories and figure out the writer's personality?
Posted by: Graham | January 25, 2005 at 11:08 AM
You may not be able to figure out my personality from the story but you'll sure as hell figure out what I was drinking while I wrote it.
Posted by: Bryon | January 25, 2005 at 11:47 AM
I really hope my story doesn't reflect on my personality.
No, wait. It does. Shite.
Posted by: Ray | January 25, 2005 at 12:08 PM
Ha! Your cunning ways won't work on me!
I don't HAVE a personality! Mwahahaha!!!
Posted by: John Rickards | January 25, 2005 at 12:13 PM
I plead the fifth. Oh wait, I'm Canadian...
Posted by: Sarah | January 25, 2005 at 12:16 PM
Change that to "I'll TAKE the fifth," and I think many here would agree with you. I'll take a fifth myself.
Posted by: Graham | January 25, 2005 at 01:33 PM
The stories ended up being more divurgent than I thought. And as far as analzying them to reveal the nature of the author - hell. Don't.
Painful process, putting that little story out there to hang in the bitter, cold wind.
Posted by: Jennifer Jordan | January 25, 2005 at 01:56 PM
I second that emotion, Jennifer. I feel naked without my story going through an editor first.
I'm slowly making my way through the stories, and let me just say this: y'all are in dire need of professional help, Jesus, or a hug. (I mean that in a good way.)
Posted by: Duane | January 25, 2005 at 04:54 PM
Great work Sarah. I just love how that story builds. Wow. So far, 5 down, more to go and you've all done terrific work.
Posted by: Dave White | January 25, 2005 at 05:40 PM
I loved it. I love it. Great story
Posted by: Aldo | January 25, 2005 at 07:04 PM
Tight story, Sarah. Loved how you brought it full circle.
Posted by: Naomi | January 25, 2005 at 08:42 PM
Sarah! Terrific! Why aren't you doing more of this? Why aren't you doing a full length? Not fair - I wanna read more.
Posted by: Elaine Flinn | January 25, 2005 at 11:42 PM
Well, I have to say, I hated every single word of it. You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Weinman, showing us all up to be HACKS like that. Where do you get off being so bloody accomplished, so friggin' effortless?
(storms off to cry in the corner)
Posted by: Ray | January 26, 2005 at 07:36 AM
Great great great story! You may yet convert me back to "shorts."
Posted by: Cornelia Read | January 26, 2005 at 01:09 PM
I always enjoy a good story.
--The Tell Me A Story Writing Competition III.
Posted by: James C. Hess | January 29, 2005 at 07:47 AM