Okay, so not so new and improved. It's still the same old thread. If you're looking for genre-specific dares, feel free to check out your genre lounges, since most have a dares thread floating around somewhere. This thread USED to reside in Plot Doctoring, but since Dares are more of a word-count trick than a serious plot device, we felt it was more appropriate for Reaching 50k.
This thread is for when you want to boost your word count, spice things up, or just do something silly to change the pace. Dares are things you take on to make you think in ways you wouldn't normally. Dares are a great way to kick-start your creative juices, or just up the fun level.
There's a traditional format for dares, although you aren't required to use it.
(With thanks to sas_essay, who unwittingly volunteered this dare)
Make your characters play 'The Game.' BP if someone says, "I lost the game" at the climax. DBP if the game is a plot point. TBP if the game isn't ever explained.
No one really keeps track of points. ;) You'll know, though.
LocationTraveling the World from Oct 2011 to Jan 2013!
JoinedOctober 18, 2008
Posts163
I've started compiling the dares found in the thread here: http://writingdares.blogspot.com/
Just started it today, but I'm estimating I'll be adding quite a lot more until October 16th, when I leave. And after that it should be updated at least twice a month (taking an extended trip).
Haha! I think I've already employed a variation of "Do you believe this plot?" I started arguing with my narrator like a week ago and we keep discussing various elements of the story and whether or not they're ridiculous and I keep complaining about his vagueries on certain plot points and ask if he really knows what he's talking about.
1- have your mc be the detective BP if he already knows the awnser before everyone else DBP if he hates mimes and the vics are dressed as such TBP if hes the killer
-Have a character always wearing a letter/number BP if they don't know why DBP if someone asks and they never get an answer TBP if it's the MC Jammy Dodgers if it's a Doctor Who reference
LocationSomewhere over the rainbow, freaking about how far behind I am
JoinedMarch 8, 2011
Posts84
WAIT NO I LIED. My two FMCs have magic pocket watches, so why don't I write the numbers "10" and "11" (both most recent Doctors and the new series Doctors I like... I don't know, Nine just didn't 'feel' right, you know? Not eccentric enough.) on them. Neither of them know why, so when MMC asks, I'll have space pirate robots (read: outcast cybermen) invade the ship. I AM GOING FOR THE JAMMY DODGERS MAN!!!!
on another note: if i have numbers on two MCs, then do I get double TBP?
i'm going to use your pic as a line in my story. dare: have a character say "keep calm and dont blink" BP: if its at the climax DBP: if the antagonist says it to the protagonist TBP: if nothing is happening at all XD
I'm only going for single points with this one but my protagonist is totally racing her child along the street on top of an armchair right now... "Keep calm and don't blink" will do nicely. Thanks!
Taking: -Have a character always wearing a letter/number BP if they don't know why DBP if someone asks and they never get an answer TBP if it's the MC Jammy Dodgers if it's a Doctor Who reference
My MC totally has dogtags that just say "11" on them now.
Leaving: Write a scene entirely devoted to the MC alone in a room looking at a watch BP if it's a pocket watch DPB if the watch is a time-travel device TBP if they start singing "I'm late" from Alice in Wonderland QDP and a TARDIS if the the whole thing becomes a Doctor Who reference
I am taking that pocket watch thing and going for the Doctor Who reference. Somehow I will make this work.
Leaving: Give a character a music box or turntable that can be used to travel through time. BP if you do both and give them to different characters. DBP if you do the BP and have them tag-team with music-related jokes. All of the points if you turn it into a Homestuck reference.
Write a scene entirely devoted to the MC alone in a room looking at a watch-I sort of took this dare. There is part of a scene ,that has Maurice looking at her watch. And she feels as though she should start singing, "I'm Late".
Ok I am doing the numbers thing! I like when there are weird, real life moments in novels. My character's shirt has an 8 on it. Totally random number...
Will take it. Not a Dr. Who fan myself but I have a bunch of friennds who are so they'll probably help me out. And going for DBP and or TBP since the character's a rugby player/fan.
Going for the double points. Unfortunately my MC has no numbers on him at the present time, but a new character will be introduced in the next few paragraphs and I can easily give him a weird, mysterious tattoo...
OMG! YOU KNOW ABOUT THE GAME! (i lost the game) i've been yelling I LOST THE GAME at random times and people just look at me like i'm insane! I didn't think anyone here would know about it! so doing this dare :D
I am afraid to say that not everybody know about the game. I learned about it a year and a half ago, I think. And whenever I say it I get weird looks. Maybe that also has to do with the fact that I do not live in an English speaking country
The game is really easy to lose, and you can never really win. Every time you think about the game, you lose, and you have to say that you lost. Like right now. I just lost the game.
Dare: Use the Urban Dictionary word of the day for every day you write. BP if it only makes sense to one character. DBP if that character can only speak in Urban Dictionary and/or very long words. TBP if everyone somehow understands the character.
Dare: If your mc doesn't know anything about mammals BP: If he starts to research the different kinds of mammals DBP: If he he thinks mammals are strange TBP: If he never realizes he's a mammal QBP: If he can convince another character their a mammal, but their really a reptile.
I just managed to incorporate The Game (damn you, I lost!) and Yellow Car into a brief dialogue scene. :D So I shall make that a challenge for my fellow NaNo'ers as well.
Make your characters play "Yellow Car" BP if it's never explained TBP if it's in a world where there ARE no cars to speak of QBP if one of the characters is colourblind
BP if it has nothing to do with the situation DBP if you make into something important in the plot TBP if you find a way to kill someone with the salt (Preferably as little of it as possible)
I kind of did this dare with my friends in school essay once. Quite funny, when our teacher handed them out again after correcting them and 4 or 5 essays had salt in them and a man called Laurits who died (Another part of that dare) So I edited to match NaNo a little better.
I did this without even knowing it; my villain sliced open someone's hand and poured salt on it, all while having a completely unrelated conversation about how to take care of their enemies.
Dares 2011!
Okay, so not so new and improved. It's still the same old thread. If you're looking for genre-specific dares, feel free to check out your genre lounges, since most have a dares thread floating around somewhere. This thread USED to reside in Plot Doctoring, but since Dares are more of a word-count trick than a serious plot device, we felt it was more appropriate for Reaching 50k.
This thread is for when you want to boost your word count, spice things up, or just do something silly to change the pace. Dares are things you take on to make you think in ways you wouldn't normally. Dares are a great way to kick-start your creative juices, or just up the fun level.
There's a traditional format for dares, although you aren't required to use it.
BP = Bonus Points DBP = Double Bonus Points TBP = Triple Bonus Points
(With thanks to sas_essay, who unwittingly volunteered this dare)
Make your characters play 'The Game.'
BP if someone says, "I lost the game" at the climax.
DBP if the game is a plot point.
TBP if the game isn't ever explained.
No one really keeps track of points. ;) You'll know, though.
Re: Dares 2011!
I've started compiling the dares found in the thread here:
http://writingdares.blogspot.com/
Just started it today, but I'm estimating I'll be adding quite a lot more until October 16th, when I leave. And after that it should be updated at least twice a month (taking an extended trip).
By next year's NaNo, it should be quite large.
Re: Dares 2011!
I love yours! I took "Are we there yet", "He's dead. Or Gay.", "Flower Picking", "Jareth the Goblin King"
For "Flower Picking" my MCs ended up counting dandilions in Spanish xD
Re: Dares 2011!
I'm gonna do "Are we there yet". I'm not sure of anything else, but I'll definitely be back!
Re: Dares 2011!
I just used the site, and did the "Wikipedia dare." The first thing that came up was a place in Poland. Voila, FMC's birthplace. Thank's for that :3
Re: Dares 2011!
Luxuriant mustache. No doubt about it.
Re: Dares 2011!
Haha! I think I've already employed a variation of "Do you believe this plot?" I started arguing with my narrator like a week ago and we keep discussing various elements of the story and whether or not they're ridiculous and I keep complaining about his vagueries on certain plot points and ask if he really knows what he's talking about.
Re: Dares 2011!
:'D I shall take on Only Speaks in Rhyme. This concept amuses, excites, and gives me a place to base my next MC off of. Going for TBP~
Re: Dares 2011!
Done. The Game it is, and no, there shall be no explaination :D
Re: Dares 2011!
i accept your game dare! all of it!
1- have your mc be the detective
BP if he already knows the awnser before everyone else
DBP if he hates mimes and the vics are dressed as such
TBP if hes the killer
Re: Dares 2011!
Dare accepted! The Game will actually work perfectly for what I have in mind.
Re: Dares 2011!
challenge accepted! my protagonist's best friend would completely say this, lol.
Re: Dares 2011!
I was gonna use The Game in some way anyway. I'll go for the whole triple bonus points.
Re: Dares 2011!
Check out your profile pic and my username!!!!
Re: Dares 2011!
@ H and IsHatesMondays totally awesome!!! :D
Re: Dares 2011!
I play The Game wth my family and friends and it is totally addictive! (OH MAN! I LOST THE GAME!) I'll see if I can put it in my novel. :P
Re: Dares 2011!
Reading all of these made me think of a dare!
-Have a character always wearing a letter/number
BP if they don't know why
DBP if someone asks and they never get an answer
TBP if it's the MC
Jammy Dodgers if it's a Doctor Who reference
Re: Dares 2011!
Jammy Dodgers, here I come. My MC's totally wearing an '11' jersey now.
Re: Dares 2011!
I am going after those Jammy Dodgers! Also, my MCs can time travel and hop dimensions. I can make this work!
Re: Dares 2011!
You know, me too.
Re: Dares 2011!
OH MY GOD YOUR ICON LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE
Re: Dares 2011!
seconding the icon love....
Re: Dares 2011!
Love, how the Whovians invaded this page XD! Jammy Dodgers all the way!
Re: Dares 2011!
That's it. My second FMC is now wearing "11" earrings (a 1 in each ear)
Re: Dares 2011!
WAIT NO I LIED. My two FMCs have magic pocket watches, so why don't I write the numbers "10" and "11" (both most recent Doctors and the new series Doctors I like... I don't know, Nine just didn't 'feel' right, you know? Not eccentric enough.) on them. Neither of them know why, so when MMC asks, I'll have space pirate robots (read: outcast cybermen) invade the ship. I AM GOING FOR THE JAMMY DODGERS MAN!!!!
on another note: if i have numbers on two MCs, then do I get double TBP?
Re: Dares 2011!
i'm going to use your pic as a line in my story.
dare:
have a character say "keep calm and dont blink"
BP: if its at the climax
DBP: if the antagonist says it to the protagonist
TBP: if nothing is happening at all
XD
Re: Dares 2011!
OMG SO USING THIS DARE! ALL OF IT!
Re: Dares 2011!
how does that make sense? how can nothing be happening at all at the climax? its an awesome dare anway...
Re: Dares 2011!
I think it's Bonus points if it happens at the climax OR Triple bonus points if there's actually nothing gong on.
Re: Dares 2011!
I'm only going for single points with this one but my protagonist is totally racing her child along the street on top of an armchair right now... "Keep calm and don't blink" will do nicely. Thanks!
Re: Dares 2011!
Taking:
-Have a character always wearing a letter/number
BP if they don't know why
DBP if someone asks and they never get an answer
TBP if it's the MC
Jammy Dodgers if it's a Doctor Who reference
My MC totally has dogtags that just say "11" on them now.
Leaving:
Write a scene entirely devoted to the MC alone in a room looking at a watch
BP if it's a pocket watch
DPB if the watch is a time-travel device
TBP if they start singing "I'm late" from Alice in Wonderland
QDP and a TARDIS if the the whole thing becomes a Doctor Who reference
Re: Dares 2011!
I am taking that pocket watch thing and going for the Doctor Who reference. Somehow I will make this work.
Leaving:
Give a character a music box or turntable that can be used to travel through time.
BP if you do both and give them to different characters.
DBP if you do the BP and have them tag-team with music-related jokes.
All of the points if you turn it into a Homestuck reference.
Re: Dares 2011!
This. I wasn't going to have time travel, I was going to intentionally leave everything unexplained, but this is too good to pass up. (8
Re: Dares 2011!
HOMESUCK
Re: Dares 2011!
and by homesuck I meant homestuck and i was getting very excited about the reference and missed the t.
Re: Dares 2011!
AHAHAH (:
Re: Dares 2011!
Unfortunately I'd have a hard time incorporating this dare since Time just left my novel, but it totally made my day ;D Good dare. Best friend.
Re: Dares 2011!
i'm goign to use the wearing #s 1 :D now who should it be....hm.....
can i add a bonus pt option 2 it?
QDP: if the character hates/despises math
<3
Re: Dares 2011!
does it count if he stares at the watch, shakes it in frustration, looks where the portal should be and mutters "the doctor must die"?
Re: Dares 2011!
Write a scene entirely devoted to the MC alone in a room looking at a watch-I sort of took this dare. There is part of a scene ,that has Maurice looking at her watch. And she feels as though she should start singing, "I'm Late".
Thanks for the dare!
Re: Dares 2011!
Done and done! :D
Re: Dares 2011!
Ok I am doing the numbers thing! I like when there are weird, real life moments in novels. My character's shirt has an 8 on it. Totally random number...
Re: Dares 2011!
Will take it. Not a Dr. Who fan myself but I have a bunch of friennds who are so they'll probably help me out. And going for DBP and or TBP since the character's a rugby player/fan.
Re: Dares 2011!
Jammy Dodgers. I love this dare, I just used it to bring my two MC's close together, almost enough to bring them into a relationship.
Allonsy!
Re: Dares 2011!
Going for the double points. Unfortunately my MC has no numbers on him at the present time, but a new character will be introduced in the next few paragraphs and I can easily give him a weird, mysterious tattoo...
Re: Dares 2011!
Jammy Dodgers?! Cool! :D My MC is probably going to get stuck with a 10 or an 11 on his forehead now, 'cause it sounds fun...
Re: Dares 2011!
Everyone's saying 10 and 11 for this dare... here I was thinking "SIGMA" XD
Re: Dares 2011!
This might actually make sense in my novel. Look out TBP! LOL
Re: Dares 2011!
Challenge accepted. My characters will lose the Game over and over again.
Re: Dares 2011!
I *love* the game (and I just lost, you b**). Will do.
Re: Dares 2011!
I hate that, I haven't lost the game in several months, and now this guy causes me to lose several times in one minute.
At some point somebody really ought to write an entire novel around it. I'd do it myself, but I promised myself one assignment at a time.
Re: Dares 2011!
Sounds like fun, I think I can get TBP on that one. QBP really ought to be getting it past an editor.
Re: Dares 2011!
DARE: Your "monster" is a man-eating bowl of pudding
BONUS POINTS: If it was created by an accident in a high school science lab.
DOUBLE BONUS POINTS: If the science teacher is really a mad scientist in disguise and the accident wasn't really an accident.
TRIPLE BONUS POINTS: If the more the pudding eats, the bigger it gets and is soon bigger than houses.
COOKIES: If you keep the whole thing "kid friendly" and never actually kill anyone.
Re: Dares 2011!
So taking that one as a case for my investigators!
Re: Dares 2011!
OMG! YOU KNOW ABOUT THE GAME! (i lost the game) i've been yelling I LOST THE GAME at random times and people just look at me like i'm insane! I didn't think anyone here would know about it!
so doing this dare :D
Re: Dares 2011!
Lol man, ERRYBODY knows what the game is :P Cos it's be BEST game :P
Re: Dares 2011!
I am afraid to say that not everybody know about the game. I learned about it a year and a half ago, I think. And whenever I say it I get weird looks.
Maybe that also has to do with the fact that I do not live in an English speaking country
Re: Dares 2011!
I don't know what "the game" is.
Now I feel left out. :-(
Re: Dares 2011!
The game is really easy to lose, and you can never really win. Every time you think about the game, you lose, and you have to say that you lost.
Like right now. I just lost the game.
Re: Dares 2011!
The only way to win is by saying "I lost the game" on your deathbed or by getting a signed letter from the pope stating you won the game.
Re: Dares 2011!
I like to post "I lost the game" as my facebook status. The replies are awesome.
Re: Dares 2011!
Thanks for helping me lose!
Re: Dares 2011!
Accepting the game dare.
Re: Dares 2011!
Dare: Use the Urban Dictionary word of the day for every day you write.
BP if it only makes sense to one character.
DBP if that character can only speak in Urban Dictionary and/or very long words.
TBP if everyone somehow understands the character.
Re: Dares 2011!
TRIPLE BONUS POINTS FOR ME!
Re: Dares 2011!
I should have came in here on day 1 to see this. Since I am blank on my story....I will go ahead and take your dare hoping that I can earn DBP orTBP.
Re: Dares 2011!
so having this dare too now.
Re: Dares 2011!
I take that dare
Leaving
Dare: If your mc doesn't know anything about mammals
BP: If he starts to research the different kinds of mammals
DBP: If he he thinks mammals are strange
TBP: If he never realizes he's a mammal
QBP: If he can convince another character their a mammal, but their really a reptile.
Re: Dares 2011!
The Game shall happen... and someone will smack their forehead and say, "I lost the game"... and there will be no explanation. }:^D
Re: Dares 2011!
This...is actually relevant for my story. 0.0
Re: Dares 2011!
...Y'all just made me loose SO. MUCH.
UGH. Now it'll be like a half an hour before I stop thinking about it and stop loosing!
Re: Dares 2011!
I just managed to incorporate The Game (damn you, I lost!) and Yellow Car into a brief dialogue scene. :D So I shall make that a challenge for my fellow NaNo'ers as well.
Make your characters play "Yellow Car"
BP if it's never explained
TBP if it's in a world where there ARE no cars to speak of
QBP if one of the characters is colourblind
Re: Dares 2011!
I might nab this one - it would be a homage to my daughter who was playing yellow car this morning.
Re: Dares 2011!
Write a scene of one character thinking about manatees
BP if they think of themselves as a manatee
DBP if it's your MC
Re: Dares 2011!
ooh, i like this. i will definitely be using it!
Re: Dares 2011!
YES! Thank you. This will really help me, ahem, flesh things out a bit... ;)
Re: Dares 2011!
Somehow bring salt into your story
BP if it has nothing to do with the situation
DBP if you make into something important in the plot
TBP if you find a way to kill someone with the salt (Preferably as little of it as possible)
I kind of did this dare with my friends in school essay once. Quite funny, when our teacher handed them out again after correcting them and 4 or 5 essays had salt in them and a man called Laurits who died (Another part of that dare)
So I edited to match NaNo a little better.
Re: Dares 2011!
I did this without even knowing it; my villain sliced open someone's hand and poured salt on it, all while having a completely unrelated conversation about how to take care of their enemies.
Re: Dares 2011!
I'm doing The Game. Guess what... I Lost The Game.
Re: Dares 2011!
Also I'm not going to explain the game so TBP
Re: Dares 2011!
My 2009 NaNo was called "The Game", the climax was a text message saying "i lost the game" and it was very much of a plot point. :D
Re: Dares 2011!
They will play the Game! (and every time I read it, I will lose the Game. I'm not gonna explain it)