At the meetup today, we discussed the need for a San Diego specific dares thread.
A 'dare', for the purpose of nano, is a prompt which you have to fit into your story. It can be anything from absurd (ninjas!), to perverse (geriatric porn!), but it doesn't have to be extreme. It could also be plot points (a text message goes wrong), character development (someone falls out of love), a location (road trip to Vegas!) or setting (set a scene underwater).
The point is *someone else is doing the hard work* of thinking of something to write. All you have to do is fit it into your novel.
I see two ways to do dares: 1. GENERAL dares for everyone in the forum (general dares are the same for everyone) and 2. SPECIFIC dares (specific dares are made upon request and should be tailored to the person/story - so describe your story. Once a request for a specific dare goes up, anyone may offer one).
Since it is not yet time to start writing, until November 1, I'd like to start by collecting 'general' dares. Anyone who wishes may offer as many 'general' dares as they like, but by doing so they are pledging to use at least 25% of the general dares (or 10 total, whichever is smaller) in their novel.
EACH TIME YOU USE A GENERAL DARE, YOU MUST POST TO THIS THREAD TO GIVE CREDIT.
I will begin with the following general dares:
1. Mr. Ian Woon appears at least once in your novel. For those of you who do not know Mr. Ian Woon, here is some background
2. You will have a scene in which a critical character, UNCHARACTERISTICALLY, gets drunk high on something they should not have ingested.
3. You will have a scene involving a ninja battle. If genre or timeline do not permit, pirates or brigands may be substituted. However, zombies and vampires may not. Unless they are zombie or vampire ninjas.
[Note: as general dares are added, I will try to keep this first post edited so one can see them all in one place]
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41,448 / 50,000
Okt 25, 2009 - 19 37
Don't forget the ninjas in a grocery store dare!
50,098 / 50,000
Okt 25, 2009 - 19 39
Your suggestion has been added to the list, and you have been added to those pledging to use 25% (or 10) general dares.
34,669 / 50,000
Okt 27, 2009 - 14 15
So if I post 4 dares, I need to use 10 posted by other people right? Using my own doesn't count.
50,098 / 50,000
Okt 27, 2009 - 14 21
How I saw it (although it's not like there is enforcement)... once you post a general dare, whether 1, 4, 10, or 100, you are 'opting in' to the dare thread and commit to using either (a) 1/4 of all general dares posted in this thread by the end of nano OR (b) 10 dares (whichever is smaller).
I had no rule about using your own dares, but I agree with you that it should not be done. Nor should your dares count towards the 1/4.
However - if very few dares are provided and someone uses their own dare for lack of acceptable alternatives, we may decide (on a case by case basis) to reduce the degree to which we mock them.
(And there are always specific dares as an alternative).
5,566 / 50,000
Okt 28, 2009 - 01 47
A minor / noncritical character gets involved in a fistfight / gunfight / swordfight, and epic loses in an unconventional way.
And this dares thing sounds fun! I'm up for it. ^__^
----------Elliquiy Role Playing Forums :: A different dream exists here . . .
41,448 / 50,000
Okt 28, 2009 - 13 33
More dares:
Have your main character get stuck in an elevator/labyrinth/broom closet with their arch nemesis.
Double Points: if the only objects either character has with them are an umbrella, a ball point pen, a red necktie, and a rubber duck.
Triple Points: if these objects are used to escape said predicament.
Have a scene in which all of the main characters talk like pirates.
Double Points: if this is in a situation where this would be considered unusual, such as an office meeting, wedding reception, job interview, formal dinner, live news, etc.
Triple Points: if the characters talking like pirates are unaware they are doing so. Everyone else, on the other hand, takes notice.
One of your characters, major or minor, is tasked with organizing a surprise party for your main character.
Double Points: if said character hates your main character passionately and comes up with a way to make the surprise party into the perfect revenge scenario.
Triple Points: if the revenge scenario backfires.
5,033 / 50,000
Okt 28, 2009 - 15 29
Have your main character get stuck in an elevator/labyrinth/broom closet with their arch nemesis.
Double Points: if the only objects either character has with them are an umbrella, a ball point pen, a red necktie, and a rubber duck.
Triple Points: if these objects are used to escape said predicament.
I'm so using that one XD OMG BEST IDEA YET! THANK YOU NIBBLES
----------5,033 / 50,000
Okt 28, 2009 - 15 34
I HAVE ONE General
Have a bird crash into your character (Minor or major's) face at some point. DOUBLE points if the character's eating something. TRIPPLE points if it's stolen by a cat that tries to catch the bird.
----------5,033 / 50,000
Okt 28, 2009 - 15 35
Oh, and I wanna say that you're all brave souls for coming up with this XD
----------50,098 / 50,000
Okt 29, 2009 - 13 11
Somehow work three usernames of other wrimos into your novel (as graffitti, for example).
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San Diego NaNoWriMo ML: 2007-2009
3,837 / 50,000
Okt 30, 2009 - 13 05
Here is my offering for a general dare:
"An appearance of some supernatural being/presence".....you fill in the rest....
Danny
20,333 / 50,000
Nov 5, 2009 - 20 13
Here's my dare ( I swear everyone's dare can not go into my story. It'd either be too ridiculous or not fit. And there's absolutely technology. )
Everyone who includes a kissing must find a way to explain it as "And their lips met, like fire"
Anyone who gets that reference is either very stupid or very full of win.
14,000 / 50,000
Nov 5, 2009 - 20 18
I think I shall change my book title to FIRE LIPS!
Yes!
----------Michael Hemmingson
============================================
The Watermelon, my first feature film, releases on DVD July, 2009!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0945521/
see the trailer about a trailer --
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxPqFgA__3U
47,118 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 08 43
Everyone who includes a kissing must find a way to explain it as "And their lips met, like fire"
Anyone who gets that reference is either very stupid or very full of win.
I don't get the reference, but...
----------And so John, the butane elemental, leaned in towards Emily, the living spark. And their lips met, like fire.
(Originally I was just going to use to fire elementals, but then the idea of a doomed romance between fuel and an ignition source came to me)
2005 The Life and Times of an Evil Henchman - 35,615 words
2006 Daybreak - 50,068 words - WINNER!
41,448 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2009 - 12 40
More Dares:
Have a scene or possibly an entire chapter dedicated solely to the daily routine of one of your minor characters. Yes, this includes things like brushing their teeth, cooking meals, doing laundry, bringing in the mail, etc.
DP: Something disrupts this routine in a very dramatic manner, such as a space ship landing in the minor character's backyard or having one of their relatives spontaneously combust. However, this event cannot include ANY of the main characters.
TP: If the minor character in question is unperturbed by whatever the event was that has just taken place and continues as if everything was just a normal day (even whilst everyone else is running and screaming from, say, a giant meteor, or hurrying to grab the sudden windfall of money now lining the streets).
One of your characters is running late to work and must quickly utilize an unconventional mode of transportation in order to get to the office on time.
DP: If the mode of transportation is a hot air balloon, a jet pack, or a magic carpet.
TP: If your character is still late to work, and their boss doesn't believe them when they try to explain how a pigeon flew into and therefore jammed on of the engines of their jet pack (or some other type of crisis that would interupt the fuction of said method of travelling).
11,672 / 50,000
Nov 12, 2009 - 14 47
Okay, here is one I came up with to push my story from dull and lifeless to exciting and unexpected. I personally am going to skip the 4th level but if you wish to go further or use all the challenges be my guest.
Dare: Naked Guy/Girl in inappropriate context (i.e. in a business meeting, walking down the street)
Double Points: Include "Free Bird"
Triple Points: Include rubber ducky
Quadruple Points: Include grease or lube of some type (non-sexual!)
Quadtuple Points: Have he/she reappear later in the story (number if times is up to you)
I bid you good luck.
----------50,098 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2009 - 14 41
Include the easy button from staples in your novel.
Totally wrote a page about where you would buy an easy button and how much fun it would be.
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San Diego NaNoWriMo ML: 2007-2009
11,672 / 50,000
Nov 11, 2009 - 15 40
Fencing chef. As in he fences in his chef's coat.
Change POV randomly. (IE: middle of chapter, at start of new chapter)
DP: Have the POV change only last for a limited time (IE: one chapter or section of chapter)
TP: If that person never appears in the story other than this POV change.
QP: If their POV has nothing to do with your story.
Have something that normally doesn't glow in the dark glow in the dark.
DP: If the item that glows doesn't need to glow.
TP: If the item that glows is useless in the situation (if there is a situation) or is unnecessary to move the story forward.
Natural Disaster. Tornado, hurricane, typhoon, tsunami, earthquake, tidal wave, dustnado, heat wave, fire storm, etc.
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