4.28.2011

Xerox - writercize #40 (A to Z 24)

Xerox is a simple fill-in-the-blanks story game I've created for the elusive X-word in the A to Z Blogging Challenge.  It's sort of in the spirit of Mad Libs for those who remember flipping the pages to fill in adjectives, nouns and verbs for ultimate silliness, but I'll leave it up to you to determine what type of word (and how many) to fill in the blank and whether you want to be silly or serious.

The idea is that a document has been copied on a faulty xerox with many splotches.  Where there are splotches, you will see an ellipses (the term for the three dots ... as seen here) and you will fill in the blank.  You determine the size of the splotch, and thus how long the missing word or phrase should be.

When you comment, feel free to take a short cut by using copy and paste for the paragraph below, and just fill in the dots!  Have fun with it.

writing exercise:  The xerox machine has gone berserk and left splotches all over the paper!  Fill in the blanks to complete the document the way you believe the "original author" intended.

There once was a ... who lived in ... .  This ... had many ... powers, the most ... of which was its ability to ... .  It came in especially handy when ... .  One day there was a ... and ... used their power.  It ... .  People who didn't understand asked ... and wondered ... but it was difficult to explain.  ... tried, with a ... result; ... .  The people felt ... and from that day forward ... was ... called upon to serve in times of ... .

(Click "read more" to see writercizer sample response.)
writercizer response:

There once was a giant falcon who lived in Kalamazoo.  This enormous bird had many noisy powers, the most annoying of which was its ability to imitate all sorts of sirens.  It came in especially handy when the falcon was stuck in gridlock.  One day there was a devastating fire in the town and the falcon used their power.  It squawked and squealed and screamed siren noises with all its might to get everyone's attention.  People who didn't understand asked what the noise could be and wondered why people were looking to the sky for more signals but it was difficult to explain.  The town crier tried, with a positive result; neighbors understood it was the sound of a fire engine, saw the smoke and ran to the outskirts of town.  The people felt saved and from that day forward Frankie the falcon was named honorary town siren and always called upon to serve in times of peril and distress that required the loudest emergency message in town.

4 comments:

  1. How fun!

    There once was a (fairy) who lived in (Quairy). This (fairy) had many (unsightly) powers, the most (gruesome) of which was its ability to (turn things inside out) . It came in especially handy when (trolls came calling) . One day there was a (raid by a troll gang) and (they) used their power. It (was to knock people out with their stench) . People who didn't understand asked (the fairy for help) and wondered (why she wasn't affected and what she might do) but it was difficult to explain. (She) tried, with a (putrifying) result; (the trolls were nullified, but the people had a hard time cleaning up the entrails of the trolls) . The people felt (thanked her awkwardly) and from that day forward (the fairy) was (never) called upon to serve in times of (danger, they decided they would handle it themselves).

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  2. These are fun, sorry I forgot the ellipses, but it is way past my bed time. Here it is:

    There once was a sock who lived in a dark mothball filled drawer. This rainbow colored sock had many super hero powers, the most amazing of which was its ability to transform itself into any item of clothing. It came in especially handy when winter came around, he would turn into a cozy scarf and rest loosely around Natie's neck--a much welcomed change to being stuck in a stinky sweaty tennis shoe. One day there was a blizzard and sock used their power. It turned itself into a warm winter coat which looked like skunk fur . People who didn't understand asked what kind of fur was that and wondered if it was faux fur or real skunk fur but it was difficult to explain. . Natie tried, with a happy result; she explained that the skunk fur was actually a sock and that no animals were hurt during the socks transformation . The people felt dumbfounded at such revelation from the little girl and from that day forward sock was enthusiastically called upon to serve in times of attire distress.

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  3. Congratulations on finishing the challenge! I hope you are enjoying your vacation!

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  4. Oh my goodness - these are fabulous! I just found them today. Thank you Tara and Alma for trying it out, and Brianna - thanks for the well-wishes!!

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