I'm not sure if this belongs in the Tavern, or the AMW, or the Forum Games or what, so if I'm wrong about this move it. This is a writing exercise we used to do in high school and middle school English class. There must be at least 3 people participating. Here's how it works. One person describes a setting: that means time, place, and backdrop in general. Go into as much detail as you can. Then another person describes a single character: that means their appearance, personality, occupation, etc. There can be any number of characters, so anyone can walk in and add a new character even though there can only be one setting. Then, once someone comes up with an idea for a story, they write a short story using the characters and setting established by the other participants. Anyone who wants to can write a short story, there is no limit to how many short stories there are on one set of characters and setting. However, after at least one short story has been submitted, I will reset the exercise. When I reset the exercise, it means all the characters, setting, and plot from the prior story is cleared, and we restart on gathering characters, locations, etc. Please do not create Mary/Marty Sue characters. Make your characters as realistic and believable as possible.
I'll start this out with a character. There's a man, his name is John Paul MacMillan. He lives in a small wheat farm just outside of Topeka, Kansas. He is 31 years old, short(5'7), but tanned and muscular from working on the farm all day. He has short blond hair that's starting to get long again, and blue eyes. He's not too smart, but he's a nice guy nevertheless. He has an old blue pickup truck, and he spends more time fixing it than he does driving it. He's missing both front teeth, they were knocked out when he was a kid. He chews nicotine gum almost constantly, he's trying to quit smoking, and it's not working out too well for him. He also likes to drink bourbon, although he rarely is drunk. He tries to be a good person and honest, but he can be greedy. The farm is falling apart, and he's turned to pickpocketing and stealing money just to keep it together. He tried to commit fraud once, faking a signature on a check, but he got caught. He spent 3 years in prison for that, and was just released a few months ago. He's determined to walk the straight and narrow now, but he is tempted to start stealing again. He's managed to fight it thus far, but that might not last forever.
Hope you don't mind a bit of a science fiction spin. --
The future, steadily making its way toward human society for years, is a blanket just settling over an eagerly waiting world. In the cities, you won't find any aspect of daily life that has't been altered or automated for convenience. Certainly there are greater benefits to this revolution- the introduction of nanotechnology and bionics to medicine and the furthering of many scientific fields, for instance -but there is also a downfall. The man has been ostracized from manpower, replaced by the never tiring, ever enduring machine. In stead, the common worker is given a manual on electronics and machinery in order to maintain his replacement. The rural outskirts of Topeka, Kansas, stick out like a sore thumb against the backdrop of the big city. Farmer John Paul MacMillain tends his land, one of the few left that haven't been bought up and automated by the Agricultural Division. The stress of the situation with the Division, along with his decision to uphold his family's tradition, led to his smoking habit and his economic troubles. Recently out of prison for fraudulence, John has committed himself to the high road; but temptation is ever present, in the form of a looming Division. Though he hasn't the mind for great thoughts, the prospect of losing his farm- and in turn, his family's last shred of dignity- sits heavily on his conscience.
