Homework for my Writing Class had us writing a page in E-Prime and also beginning to jot down ideas for a Character we'd like to write about.
E-Prime, as explained in the link, has a great deal of potential as a tool to free up the English language from the constraints of too much reliance on the verb to be and with the pleasant side effect of improving readability for a broad range of individuals with difficulties reading contemporary writing. The example given being persons with English as a Second Language (ESL) who have a difficult time following what is meant by our many subtle uses of the verb.
That sounds good, but writing in that mode takes a great deal of attention as I discovered when I combined the two objectives and wrote a story opening with a heavy focus on the main character and entirely in E-Prime.
The result follows, hit the break to see it and my thoughts on the exercise.
Showing posts with label homework. Show all posts
Showing posts with label homework. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Friday, December 4, 2009
Coopertown, Population: Done.
Gary wished he hadn't wasted all that money on life insurance. Grotesquely, this was the only thing he could think about as he ran across Central Ave in the dead of night carrying a shovel in both hands. As he passed under the diffused spotlight of a street lamp he caught sight of the blood and brain matter on the blade of the spade.
I bet they had life insurance, thought Gary, fat lot of good it did them.
Just then he noticed he was running straight towards Coopertown Co-operators where their slogan was bannered across the window, "Insure now, for piece of mind!" Man, had that guy made the most fitting and timely typo in what was proving to be the short history of human civilization.
I bet they had life insurance, thought Gary, fat lot of good it did them.
Just then he noticed he was running straight towards Coopertown Co-operators where their slogan was bannered across the window, "Insure now, for piece of mind!" Man, had that guy made the most fitting and timely typo in what was proving to be the short history of human civilization.
Monday, November 9, 2009
The Technologist!
"Bang! Bang!", rang Maxwell's Silver Hammer as it came down upon her head, in two swift blows.
The teller dropped to the ground as the bank erupted in a shower of shrieks and moans. As the body fell away a sinister smile spread across Maxwell Edison's lips revealing a row of perfect white teeth.
"Anyone else want to reach for any little hidey buttons, cellphones, beepers, guns, or tazers?" His voice rose in pitch as he spoke, sounding feverishly excited as he hit the crescendo, "JUST TRY IT!"
The bank lobby fell to quiet moans and weeping as a pool of blood spread out from Missy, the late teller's, lifeless heap.
"Now Mr. Borrowitz that is a fine idea, yes," he said wryly as he lilted around on the bank manager that had been slying towards the vault room, "Let's get to that money shall we."
-
"The madman Maxwell Edison has seized control of the Utopolis Central Bank building," creaked the ear buds hanging around Tim's neck as he talked on the desk phone in his cube.
"This install will only take about fifteen minutes Mrs. Shaw, I'd just ask that you avoid using the old software until it completes upgrading."
"12 people are visible inside the..." the ear buds continued.
"Not a problem Tim, thanks for calling me back so quickly on a Friday," Mrs. Shaw oozed into the phone.
Tim reflected how pleasant people were when things were going their way. He knew full well how different they could be when they weren't.
"It's my pleasure, give it about 20 minutes and check for a new icon, if you don't see it, give me a call back."
"Great."
"Have a great weekend Mrs. Shaw."
"You as well!"
This is when the nagging feeling in Tim's mind, present since he had reflected on Mrs. Shaw's reaction, hooked his attention on the ear buds.
"That sounds bad," he mumbled, slipping in the ear buds.
"...presently housing one-hundred million in gold bullion, police expect Maxwell Edison is looking to score big but sources close to the police report they are completely baffled how he plans to escape with it."
"Shit," said Tim, he had started to rise at the name Maxwell.
"...What was that? Oh my god, we just saw two flashes of light from inside the bank. That is normally a sign of Maxwell's Silver Hammer and could mean another hostage was just executed!"
"Jesus," said Tim grabbing his coat and running past Soren's cube.
"Hey Soren, check on that install I just started in a half-hour, for PDF Reader. I gotta grab a coffee!"
"Ya, no problem, what is it life and death coffee?!", yelled Soren down the hall.
"It might be," said Tim to himself as he hit the stairwell running.
The teller dropped to the ground as the bank erupted in a shower of shrieks and moans. As the body fell away a sinister smile spread across Maxwell Edison's lips revealing a row of perfect white teeth.
"Anyone else want to reach for any little hidey buttons, cellphones, beepers, guns, or tazers?" His voice rose in pitch as he spoke, sounding feverishly excited as he hit the crescendo, "JUST TRY IT!"
The bank lobby fell to quiet moans and weeping as a pool of blood spread out from Missy, the late teller's, lifeless heap.
"Now Mr. Borrowitz that is a fine idea, yes," he said wryly as he lilted around on the bank manager that had been slying towards the vault room, "Let's get to that money shall we."
-
"The madman Maxwell Edison has seized control of the Utopolis Central Bank building," creaked the ear buds hanging around Tim's neck as he talked on the desk phone in his cube.
"This install will only take about fifteen minutes Mrs. Shaw, I'd just ask that you avoid using the old software until it completes upgrading."
"12 people are visible inside the..." the ear buds continued.
"Not a problem Tim, thanks for calling me back so quickly on a Friday," Mrs. Shaw oozed into the phone.
Tim reflected how pleasant people were when things were going their way. He knew full well how different they could be when they weren't.
"It's my pleasure, give it about 20 minutes and check for a new icon, if you don't see it, give me a call back."
"Great."
"Have a great weekend Mrs. Shaw."
"You as well!"
This is when the nagging feeling in Tim's mind, present since he had reflected on Mrs. Shaw's reaction, hooked his attention on the ear buds.
"That sounds bad," he mumbled, slipping in the ear buds.
"...presently housing one-hundred million in gold bullion, police expect Maxwell Edison is looking to score big but sources close to the police report they are completely baffled how he plans to escape with it."
"Shit," said Tim, he had started to rise at the name Maxwell.
"...What was that? Oh my god, we just saw two flashes of light from inside the bank. That is normally a sign of Maxwell's Silver Hammer and could mean another hostage was just executed!"
"Jesus," said Tim grabbing his coat and running past Soren's cube.
"Hey Soren, check on that install I just started in a half-hour, for PDF Reader. I gotta grab a coffee!"
"Ya, no problem, what is it life and death coffee?!", yelled Soren down the hall.
"It might be," said Tim to himself as he hit the stairwell running.
Last weekend was "sick"!
Many words weasel themselves out of straightforward meanings via the appropriation of newly minted memes and social contexts and idioms. That is not how I meant the usage of sick in the title, in this case it is a poor pun of sorts.
Man, when did I start sounding like a complete geek when writing?? Well because I was down with a cold all weekend and the better part of today, I am going to put up some short story 'beginnings' from my Thursday writing class. Keep in mind these are all written in one go and not edited or filtered as I went and started on a dime, so to speak.
Each will have it's own post and title, comments are appreciated and vote for one if you want me to try to finish it!
Man, when did I start sounding like a complete geek when writing?? Well because I was down with a cold all weekend and the better part of today, I am going to put up some short story 'beginnings' from my Thursday writing class. Keep in mind these are all written in one go and not edited or filtered as I went and started on a dime, so to speak.
Each will have it's own post and title, comments are appreciated and vote for one if you want me to try to finish it!
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