The challenge ends Monday evening, September 6, at midnight.
Please submit all entries below and discuss them elsewhere.
quote:
"My friends call me Grim.
My enemies call for help, then they die."
(Whoa two challenges at once! )
[LOL Mike! But I'm not thinning about it, I'm just sort of thinking about it. 
]
[This message has been edited by Robyn_Hood (edited September 01, 2004).]
Do you have to be thin? I know you have to be incredily insensitive, and i an probably manage that, but do you have to be thin?
Wait. Too much to do. Must resist...must...re...sist.
Okay, I'll try it. But just as a writing exercise.
I'm in. Maybe. We'll see.
A boy, fine featured and easily mistaken for a girl but for the jaunty thrust of his chin and a stride that mimicked the man he so longed to become.
[This message has been edited by djvdakota (edited September 01, 2004).]
By "most memorable character" are we talking about a physical description or a description of a memorable characteristic, trait, attitude, etc.?
Susan, who is working on paring hers down to 30 words.
What's my prize?
Susan
******
Aneikaze slipped the cherry pit tenderly into the hole. Five months before, the ninja had killed two thieves here; now it was time to return a life for a life.
******
[This message has been edited by shadowynd (edited September 01, 2004).]
“Stanley!”
Stanley turned and pulled his finger from his nose just long enough to slide it into his mouth. His eyes closed as he savored the saltiness, ignoring his mother.
PS. Edmund, your prize is a Laurel and hearty handshake. 
(Blazing Saddles)
[This message has been edited by TruHero (edited September 02, 2004).]
Tower,a powerful meta, looked sadistically at his bounty, cracked his knuckles and said,"We can do this the easy way or the hard way. I prefer the hard way!"
-BHJr-
Maybe now he could sleep.
[This message has been edited by mikemunsil (edited September 02, 2004).]
quote:
Deformed, unfinish'd, sent before my time
Into this breathing world, scarce half made up,
And that so lamely and unfashionable
That dogs bark at me as I halt by them;
Of course I didn't write this, but I think Shakespeare would have posted it himself if he were still around.
[This message has been edited by Robyn_Hood (edited September 03, 2004).]
Figures, those long dead writers can get away with anything!
Susan
quote:
“In the end,” Henry breathed, as he laid his head down for the last time, “In the end, the love will carry through. The love must carry through.”
[This message has been edited by mikemunsil (edited September 02, 2004).]
[This message has been edited by Lizm (edited September 02, 2004).]
bingo, 30 words.
quote:
I think it only fair that if we have to compete with Will, that Robyn Hood find and present one of his character sketches that only comes to 30 words or less.
I have amended Mr. Shakespeare's unofficial contribution to the challenge so that it complies with the rules .
[with all due respect to Will]
[This message has been edited by mikemunsil (edited September 03, 2004).]
quote:
His voice fitted will, carrying with it an air of authority. It was immediately obvious who led this disparate group.
Was that "His voice fitted 'his' will..." or "His voice fitted Will..." ?
Just like on T.V.
He won’t get my lunch money anymore.
But I’m not bad. It was just a game. Cops and robbers.
Just like on T.V.
quote:
Was that "His voice fitted 'his' will..." or "His voice fitted Will..." ?
I read it to be "His voice fitted well..."
Susan
Tanya gripped the sink’s edge, tuning out Jeff’s harsh words. A drop of blood fell from her torn thumb and pooled on broken, white china, before dripping down the drain.
(I hope it's 30 actual words we're counting.)
[This message has been edited by HSO (edited September 05, 2004).]
30 words or less!
Entries with my thoughts:
(Many of these are great writing but not great character descriptions)
Mikemunsil
quote:
"My friends call me Grim.
My enemies call for help, then they die."
Christine
quote:
Some believe that for true love, one should be willing to die. But me, I would be willing to kill my best friend for Jill. That’s true love.
quote:
A boy, fine featured and easily mistaken for a girl but for the jaunty thrust of his chin and a stride that mimicked the man he so longed to become.
quote:
Venin tried hiding the bracelet that marked his treachery. Yet, even if others couldn't see it, its cold magic continually prodded him until he thought he would go mad.
quote:
Aneikaze slipped the cherry pit tenderly into the hole. Five months before, the ninja had killed two thieves here; now it was time to return a life for a life.
quote:
Ferrus Magnate held the sum total knowledge of the universe in his mind. Trouble was, his mind was in a small box outside Hoboken.
quote:
He huddled in the stone corner to cry, wishing desperately that he could remember his name. But his wishes no longer had power. They had stolen that from him, too.
quote:
“Stanley!”
Stanley turned and pulled his finger from his nose just long enough to slide it into his mouth. His eyes closed as he savored the saltiness, ignoring his mother.
quote:
Tower,a powerful meta, looked sadistically at his bounty, cracked his knuckles and said,"We can do this the easy way or the hard way. I prefer the hard way!"
quote:
A slightly rancid odor tickled at Katrina’s nose as she unwrapped the piece of liver, her hands trembling with their customary uncoordinated dance, age spots aquiver. If only an onion.
quote:
Deformed, unfinish'd, sent before my time
Into this breathing world, scarce half made up,
And that so lamely and unfashionable
That dogs bark at me as I halt by them;
quote:
“In the end,” Henry breathed, as he laid his head down for the last time, “In the end, the love will carry through. The love must carry through.”
quote:
Kat fought to remain motionless as the pain shot through her, all sense of time forgotten. “I have to do this for her, I refuse to be weak” she murmured.
quote:
His voice fitted will, carrying with it an air of authority. It was immediately obvious who led this disparate group.
quote:
Vasily's graceful hands danced on the piano keys as if carried away by Beethoven's own soul. Plunged in his music he could forget the face of the people he killed.
quote:
“Bang! You’re dead.”Just like on T.V.
He won’t get my lunch money anymore.
But I’m not bad. It was just a game. Cops and robbers.
Just like on T.V.
quote:
Tanya gripped the sink’s edge, tuning out Jeff’s harsh words. A drop of blood fell from her torn thumb and pooled on broken, white china, before dripping down the drain.
quote:
Hungry, the escaped convict found his next meal: a boy, no older than six, alone at the playground. The cannibal's black, beady eyes scanned for witnesses as he crept closer.
quote:
Fat Teddy often found himself walking into telephone polls as he salivated at passing by women. To solve that problem, he took to wearing a big pillow on his chest.
Good enough, but not as good as the one about the boy with chin and features.
[This message has been edited by Phanto (edited September 05, 2004).]
"Tabitha was young, yet cut off from the youth of spring. She broke rules - would open windows to sniff newly-bloomed roses, willing to suffer thick welts of hives in consequence."
At 6'9, weighing 375, Tower knew he was intimidating. Black hair, black eyes, long black hair, with black shades, and jeans. He completed his ensemble with a black duster and leather boots.
Is this more of what you were looking for Mike? Let me know.
-BHJr-
I think you are limiting yourself overmuch. Rather than just asking "Does this description tell me what the character looks like?", perhaps you should ask "What does this description tell me about the character?"
Many of the entries, if not all, DO tell us something about the featured character, though not necessarily their physical features. But whoever said it HAD to be their physical features?
Aren't all of these things part of a 'character description' too?
*mental/emotional state
*special abilities or talents
*character's past
*marital status
*parental status
*morals
*philosophy
*habits, good or bad
*personality
*financial status
*age
*location
Each of these I gleaned from at least one of the proffered descriptions, often from multiple entries.
Expand your definition of 'character description', Phanto, and you will probably find most of these entries to be quite clever and informative!
Susan
Eh. You are mostly correct, though. I'm being too narrow-minded. Oh well.
Maybe our next mini-challenge out to be "most intriguing physical description"! *G*
Susan
However, I deliberately chose to challenge y'all to make a 'memorable' character, understanding that the term is rather vague and subjective, hoping to see more than just character descriptions. I was not disappointed. Not at all! I bow in y'alls general direction.
To me, the most memorable character is the sociopath that Robyn Hood presented, followed closely by the truly revolting Stanley! Perhaps they're related?
Hrrmm... almost sounds like we've got a good story going with those three entries! *VBG*
Susan
I did it. No one will ever suspect me. Almost all serial killers are male. Sandra smiled and randomly flipped the phonebook back open.
Is it just me, or is there a preponderance of 'dark' responses?
Anyway, I suppose I should contribute, so . . .
“A mugger held a gun to my guts once. I wet my pants; blubbered like a baby.
What’s that say about a man? I thought I was brave.
Now what?”
A "Segway" is that people moving thing invented by that really wealthy and eccentric dude (always wears the same blue chambray shirt and blue jeans) from Manchester, NH. He [and I can't remember his name] flies his own personal helicopter to work each morning, landing the craft on the roof of the building. There was all sorts of hoopla when the first Segways went on sale.
Anyway, it's a commonly misspelled word.
Then again, some people do intentionally misspell certain words for effect. I'm not quite sure what effect they intend, "but u no whut i meen."
I think I will use mine towards a box of Kleenex for Stanley. Now to find a store that accepts "Hatrack Points".
But HUB upgrades sound good too!
I'm thinking about a Motivation Detector, myself.
(edited to correct punctuation)
[This message has been edited by Keeley (edited September 08, 2004).]
quote:
Taylor said, "Daddy, when I grow up I'm gonna get a gun and shoot you."That may have been when David decided the Marines would be perfect for his son.
Okay, so Taylor is unforgettable because he happens to really exist. There was the other incident in which David woke up because Taylor was poking him in the side with a hunting knife. When challanged, he explained that "Daddy" wasn't supposed to wake up
But he's such a well behaved boy otherwise. It wouldn't have been right to put him in the real contest.
How about a Motivation Generator?
quote:
How about a Motivation Generator?
Wouldn't that be too noisy?
quote:
A portable jetpack for getting yourself out of the corner you just painted yourself into.
I must have one of those. And I want it to look like that pack in "The Rocketeer", except it needs to fold up into a rectangle the size of a graham cracker so I'll continue to look sleek and stylish.
Impossible? Nonsense. I'll just use a handwavium pellet and the...science...um...will be resolved?
Note to self: must get stronger handwavium pellets.
[This message has been edited by Keeley (edited September 08, 2004).]
quote:
Wouldn't that be too noisy?
No,no,no. You're thinking Motivation generator, like the kind people use at campgrounds. The kind that motivate some people to shatter the peace and quiet for everyone else in the campground so they can keep the kids glued to the Disney videos or X-box inside the state-of-the-art camper.
No. I'm talking about the Motivation Generator. Capital 'G'. That's the one that's as whisper-quiet as an empty house, or the serenity of the late-night writing binge. You know what I mean. When you finally have some time to yourself. No interruptions, no noise, no distractions...and you can't decide whether you should use this valuable time to write or to do the dishes or to read that novel you've been dying to read or to catch up on critiques you owe thirty-seven fellow Hatracker's or..........
That's when the Motivation Generator would really come in handy.
[This message has been edited by djvdakota (edited September 08, 2004).]
[This message has been edited by djvdakota (edited September 08, 2004).]