Rule 1: Don't start until either you've written over 50,000 words and validated, or it's after December 1st.

Rule 2: A single story can be written by 1-3people. No more. And at least one person has to be a member of the Naperville region.

Rule 3: The short story must use at least 50% of the writing prompts (identified by bold font). There may be a special award for any short story that uses 100% of the writing prompts.

Rule 4: Goal is the shortest short story that 'makes sense.' Who determines this? (It's a secret.)

Rule 5: Short story must be submitted by December 31st, midnight. (Exactly how will be explained later. The idea is to let people get started on this as soon as they finish NaNo.)

There's a good chance that we'll have the top three read by the authors at the Kick-Off next year and/or use all submissions in an activity at the Kick-Off.

Writing Prompts

1. until it started raining

2. sacrificial teddy bear

3. scent of smoke

4. right into the ditch

5. dozen wilted yellow roses

6. manacled to the radiator

7. Snapple cap fact

8. smelled like Grandma

9. "I don't think that goes there."

10. step one: die

11. crackled like dried plaster

12. trapped in a soda can

13. smell of old books

14. faint sound of grenades

15. someone tripped her

16. barefoot in a bookstore

17. orange pekoe tea went cold

18. like a flying skunk

19. truth comes out

20. growling got louder

21. 3.14

22. hint of sweat

23. caught nothing but air

24. invasive species

25. hot fudge sundae

26. spilled the drink

27. gold wedding band

28. allergic reaction

29. like cannibalism

30. Psycho soundtrack

My mother decided she wanted to join in this joyous amount of fun. I don't know if you want the stories posted here or not, but since there were no guidelines about that I'm posting it anyway! So here's my mother's 'entry' into this thing. ;D

I wandered slowly out to my Jeep and a smirk came across my face as I passed my sacrificial teddy bearmanacled to the radiator of my front grill. He willingly gave his life for my enjoyment when I first brought my new Jeep home 14 years ago. He smelled like Grandma now; the scent of smoke with a hint of sweat and the smell of old books. This smell actually brings me comfort as I contemplate fond childhood memories. I climb into my Jeep and pop in my Psycho soundtrack into the CD player. I pull out of my driveway and head into town to the only place that lets me go barefoot in a bookstore. There was a fly trapped in a soda can on my dashboard that I had placed there last week. I was amused watching him flit back and forth looking for a way of escape.

Things were going well until it started raining. I started to hydroplane, caught nothing but air going around the corner and headed right into the ditch. I had to walk the rest of the way to the bookstore. It was a long walk on a hot day, so I stopped for a hot fudge sundae along the way. The waitress nervously fiddled with her gold wedding band while taking my order for a sundae and a hot cup of tea. I dont think that goes there, I said impatiently, as she put the cherry on the bottom of my bowl. Her face looked cracked like dried plaster; aged and harsh. I paid the $3.14 and continued on my way.

Outside, a woman carrying a dozen wilted yellow roses, went past me like a flying skunk. Apparently someone tripped her. She bumped into me and spilled the drink. Not that it mattered any longer as my orange pekoe tea went cold long ago.

I thought I was having an allergic reaction to something in the tea so I reached into my pocket for my epipen, but pulled out a Snapple cap fact instead. Panic was starting to set in when I thought I heard something in the bushes. As I turned around trying to find where the noise was coming from, the growling got louder. I knew it wasnt safe to be out alone when the sun went down. The invasive species that like cannibalism had arrived in the US just last month and had already spread this far north. I always knew there were aliens among us, but when the truth comes out it will cause mass panic. This species has one game plan- step one: die, or rather- KILL. The US had recently deployed troops to fight this man eating species. As I made my way into the bookstore the faint sound of grenades could be heard in the distance.