November 25, 2024, 06:34:58 PM

1,531,355 Posts in 46,734 Topics by 1,523 Members
› View the most recent posts on the forum.


I wrote a short story

Started by Selkie, April 09, 2008, 06:40:48 PM

previous topic - next topic

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

Go Down

Selkie

The Two Cities

There once were two large cities, adjacent to one another, each lying on opposite sides of a majestic river. The difference between these two cities though was apparent to all the ships that traveled between the two, for one boasted electricity, and was utterly illuminated and engulfed in a blanket of light every moment of the day, where the other, not as fortunate, appeared bleak and dark.

One day a man from the less fortunate city decided to take a trip to the electrified and wealthy one. He spent the day and night there, enjoying the novelties and ease that electricity brought to everyday life, but he felt something was simply missing. He returned the next evening to his quaint home nestled on the western coast of the poor city.

Not far upon his return he realized what was missing from the electrified city, something invisible through the canvas of artificial light, those living in that city never saw the sunset.

Cookie

Wheres the gore, swearing and porn that every American loves in s a story.  doodthing;

Knig

Very.. provocative. Although I can't but help that I've heard something similar before.

Houdini

It's a good concept, but it needs to be fleshed out. If you need inspiration, read Bradbury.

NOA_Haunted

That was better than I thought.

NOA_Haunted

Quote from: steal on April 09, 2008, 10:26:20 PM
Short story is simply too short, makes it sound more like a bed time story. Expand it and elaborate.
Yeah that would be nice, Selkie just write a fucking novel.

Samus Aran

Please, do us a favor and expand on this. It's a very interesting concept. It walks dangerously on the edge of being a giant cliche, but you got away with it safely. Some of your word choice is a bit stale for the provocativeness you're going for (bleak and dark? ugh.), but that can be fixed easily. 

This isn't enough to make a novel or anything, but definitely a longer story...maybe even a novella.

Normally I don't show my face in criticizing writing that people do on forums, but this one deserved my attention, because you have a good idea.

Selkie

Thanks guys

I'll take the advice and expand it to make it a bit longer, maybe a lot longer, not a full-length novel obviously though.

I will also fix the wording so it isn't so bland and generic.

Expect the next product probably within a week

Hensa

wow. i definately read more.
the last line was super.
post more on this please.   doodella;

Geno

Quote from: ncba93ivyase on April 04, 2014, 10:31:27 PM
geno i swear to fucking god silvertone and i are going to board you up in your house and have the world's greatest goddamn boyager meetup right next door and put burning bags of dog shit in front of all of your windows and doors and your house will smell like dog shit but you won't be able to extinguish the flames and you'll choke and die on dog shit fumes. what made you will also kill you.

i am throwing down 5 god DAMN dollars geno i will go out and collect the dog shit myself this is fucking happening jesus fucking christ

i'll give you an upperdecker with dog shit and don't you fucking doubt it for one little second you fat bastard

Socks

Am I the only on that's not getting a hard on over this story?

Hensa

Quote from: Socks on April 10, 2008, 10:35:12 AM
Am I the only on that's not getting a hard on over this story?
nope  caterpie;

Kalahari Inkantation

You're much better at writing than you are at making music. Please, take Kaz's advice and make it even better. doodella;

Samus Aran

Quote from: Socks on April 10, 2008, 10:35:12 AM
Am I the only on that's not getting a hard on over this story?


No, but you are the only one who takes friendly appraisal with a side of criticism as "a hard on."

Boogus Epirus Aurelius

I dont know man. It kind of falls  in right along all those other anti-industrialization spoofs. 
It's certainly an interesting concept, which is probably why so many writers choose to take that approach.  As far as the piece stands right now, it seems to fall a little flat in most areas. Had you tried to inject the piece with a certain, specific tone, you probably could have gotten away with it as is. If you had, for example, made it a bit more satirical or light, it would have fit the length better. Some of the word choices seem a bit heavy for the length especially. Plain and simple, it needs development and I'm only repeating what some of the other posts have already stated.
Focus on some particular conflict concerning the developed side. Maybe comment on how fickle and fragile development and industrialization can really be. How easily it can be taken away or broken.  Honest, though, if you stick with the simple concept of the dark city being able to see the stars and such, it's probably going to fall fast. It's a rather tired concept.
    It's nice to see people doing a bit of extra-curricular writing though. Keep it up.

Go Up