An Inspired Ending

[colinian]

Need a beginning and middle...

Ah, but providing the beginning and the middle is the purpose of this little exercise.

Colin

[Cole Parker]

True. It started as a challenge to all write a story over an agreed-upon ending. We just haven't finished the first part yet.

C

[synystraal]

Sometimes there are no answers. Sometimes there are more answers than questions. Sometimes the answers are so obvious they punch you in the face. Sometimes you have to extract the answer drop by drop by drop. Sometimes, all it takes is to ask. But take care… once received, the answer cannot be returned. You (or I) can only wish to have not asked.

As humorous ending perhaps?

[DesDownunder]

Sometimes there are no answers. Sometimes there are more answers than questions. Sometimes the answers are so obvious they punch you in the face. Sometimes you have to extract the answer drop by drop by drop. Sometimes, all it takes is to ask. But take care… once received, the answer cannot be returned. You (or I) can only wish to have not asked.

As humorous ending perhaps?

It's certainly profound.

[Cole Parker]

It could work for me, thought I'd be pleased if it were trimmed a bit.

C

[synystraal]

Please, trim away. Editing for the sake of storytelling is a writerly responsibility.

[Merkin]

Trim away, Cole. I'm in.

[Cole Parker]

Me? I was just suggesting. I just think it's a little to wordy for a snappy, hit you in the stomach ending. But we've got great, world-class editors here. Let someone else take a stab at it.

C

[DesDownunder]

There is always the possibility of using the suggested words as a guide rather than them having to be used verbatim.

I remember that there was a BBC radio show, way back when the Earth revolved around the Sun, called, My Word.

The show used to end with a panel, whose members would have only moments for each of them to spin a story from a moderator provided phrase to be used as the end of the story.

Audience applause would testify as to which panel member had best succeed in using their phrase in their story; the phrase being different for each panel member. Inevitably, the phrase was twisted into a pun with very amusing double meanings.

I'm not saying that we should follow this format or idea, but I point out that we don't have to be inflexible in our adoption of the words as an inspiring means to an end.

It may also transpire that just discussing -suggesting- these endings will be sufficient to inspire a story with no obvious connection to the words at all. Wouldn't that be a hoot?

Anyway, let's have more suggestions for our story; here's another I have been monkeying around with:

"It's okay everyone, they've found the baby, safe and healthy."

[Bruin Fisher]

I remember that there was a BBC radio show, way back when the Earth revolved around the Sun, called, My Word.

The show used to end with a panel, whose members would have only moments for each of them to spin a story from a moderator provided phrase to be used as the end of the story.

I remember that. One memorable episode, Frank Muir was given the sentence "Oh that this too too solid flesh would melt!" - which is from Shakespeare I imagine. He launched into an involved story about ballet and his own attempts at it and concluded with the triumphant punch line "Oh that this tutu, sullied, flash, would belt!"

[Bruin Fisher]

P.S. Hamlet Act 1 Scene 2 Page 5

[DesDownunder]

Thanks Bruin, that was an excellent example of Frank Muir's talent.

[Merkin]

I, too, remember groaning at Frank Muir's "talent." If it's to be a punning contest, count me out.

[DesDownunder]

I, too, remember groaning at Frank Muir's "talent." If it's to be a punning contest, count me out.

No, no...not a punning contest; indeed not a contest at all.

To repeat what I said above:

I'm not saying that we should follow this format or idea, but I point out that we don't have to be inflexible in our adoption of the words as an inspiring means to an end.

It's about accommodating everyone's style and approach.

[Lugnutz]

I'll supervise.

[synystraal]

Their son pranced to the podium with a beaming smile radiating from his face. It was an inane contest but

…his triumph was joy enough.

…his win was a testament to his will.

...

[Cole Parker]

Possilities. They all have possibilities. I think what we need is for folks to show some enthusiasm for some of them, or one of them. And of course it's possible we haven't reached that juncture yet.

C

[Trab]

This thread seems to have whethered on the vine. (Deliberate)

I absolutely loved one, as it made me laugh so hard. The others, although good, don't tickle my fancy, and truly, this project is going to become a bit of a joke (parody of a serious story) and it should end with a terrific humorous line.

I vote for "He smiled through the pancake batter dripping down his face. It was the most gratifying moment thus far in his short life."

[synystraal]

Many submissions are better suited to be prologues (my fault). Here's a shorty:

Aargh! He/She/They got/infected me with an eye-worm… won’t be easy to wash away *that* image.

[synystraal]

And at the end of this tale, we know who are the real heroes. They're not the ones racing to the cameras and microphones to bray about their non-existent accomplishments and denigrate their detractors. The reals heroes work with quiet determination behind the public face so that the work of others can be accessed and enjoyed. Alien Son, Rutabaga, Cole Parker, and others behind the screen are the real heroes.

[Cole Parker]

Thanks, but I was just a bump on the wall.  The other two get every bit of the credit.

 

Q

[Alien Son]

On 1/8/2024 at 6:35 AM, synystraal said:

And at the end of this tale, we know who are the real heroes. They're not the ones racing to the cameras and microphones to bray about their non-existent accomplishments and denigrate their detractors. The reals heroes work with quiet determination behind the public face so that the work of others can be accessed and enjoyed. Alien Son, Rutabaga, Cole Parker, and others behind the screen are the real heroes.

Thank you for your kind words!

~ John

[Cole Parker]

We owe a huge debt to John and Rutabaga and others for the substantial effort and expertise they put into this.  Without them, AD would be no more.

[Bruin Fisher]

hear, hear!