Tag: writing a funny story

Body Switch

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Sports fans are often in awe of the superstars of their favorite teams. They’d love to meet them, get their signatures, and if they are athletes themselves have half of their talent. Imagine being able to switch bodies, as in many movies, and be a superstar one for just one game?

Some of us are too old for such things, but might like a healthier body, one without excess weight and creaky joints. What if the change could be permanent? I’m not sure I’d like that: after all, I already know all the flaws of my body. All the previously broken bones and knee problems. My wrinkled face no longer terrifies me and I am now longer embarrassed by the ray hair and slightly stooped shoulders.

Taking it a million steps further, what if you resembled someone so closely that you could walk in the same shoes, wear the same clothes, speak the same language and assume the same roles? Would you do it?

Your task is to write a story in which two people switch places. It can be an accidental switch, such as one person stepping through a closing door as the other is stepping out. Or it can be an intentional switch in which one person searches for a look-alike, contacts that individual, and then the two of them agree to change places for a set period of time.

Have fun with this!

Halloween Prank

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            Many comedy shows have kids running up to houses, ringing the bell, then when no one answers, throwing eggs at the door or tossing rolls of toiler paper over tree limbs.

            Or there’s a home invasion, where a scary somebody, like an evil clown or a deranged murdered, sneaks up on a group watching a scary movie on television.

            Some pranks are downright funny, causing no permanent harm. Eggs can be washed away, the friend who dressed up as a criminal will be forgiven, and many laughs about it will be shared for years to come.

            But what it the prank turns out not to be funny or to have lasting impact? What if it causes poor old Mrs. Hubert to have a heart attack or breaks a bunch of windows that the home owner can’t afford to repair?

            Your task is to write a story that features a potentially dangerous prank, that can cause harm to either the doers or the receivers.

            Begin by making a list of things that can logically be done. For example, climbing on the roof might not be possible to seven year olds, but teens could certainly do so.

            Create at least two characters. One might be the instigator, the other hesitant, but goes along with the prank anyway.

            Think of things that can go wrong. Narrow it down to no more than three.

            Write your story, incorporating the fear of Halloween, the mystery of the night, the costumes and the adventure.

            Have fun with this one.

The Phone Call

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            We’ve all been surprised when someone that we haven’t seen in a while calls. At first there’s a bit of shock. You shake your head in wonder, asking yourself if this is an imposter or the real person?

            Once the identity has been verified, you might be annoyed, thrilled or scared, depending on how the relationship ended.

            Stories of former friends finding each other and discovering they’re still in love, warm the heart.

            Your task is to write a story in which someone from the past calls your character. Establish, in your mind, what the relationship was like. For example, if they weren’t best friends, the reaction might be quite different than if they were. Or if there’d been tension between them, then does that tension still exist?

            Have fun with this one.

Fictionalized Story

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            Taking something familiar and turning it into a fiction story can make for some interesting writing. Imagine placing Aunt Myrna in a bit of historical fiction or in a cozy mystery. She might be uptight or laidback. She might have a brilliant co-partner or a funny sidekick.

            If Myrna lived in the country, have her visit the city where she’ll discover something disgusting or heinous. If she’d never stepped foot outside of her place of birth, sending her on a journey might make for a fun story.

            Make your character believable with wants and goals. There must be setbacks along the way, perhaps unusual sightings, or a runaway bull.

            Give her a someone with whom to share the adventure.

            Write some scary parts, some funny parts, some description, some dialogue.

            Have fun with this one.

Scene Prompt

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            Begin your story like this:

            Paula stepped closer to the tiny store, driven by a once-familiar smell.

            You can change the name, the tense and the setting, but the heart of the story has to be the smell.

            First, decide the cause of the odor. Pizza? Baking bread? Flowers? Rotting food? A dirty body? The smell can be pleasant or not, but must remain the focus.

            To make things interesting, have more than one character so that the discovery of the smell can be discussed, as well as whether or not to pursue its source. Tension through dialogue would add interest.

            The characters will share their reactions to the smell. What for one might be tantalizing, for the other might just be nothing special.

            Have fun with this one.

Pizza Time

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            Lots of kids like pizza. Some want only cheese on theirs, while others want as much meat as possible. Some like pineapple while others want only black olives.

            No matter the differences, saying “Let’s order pizza,” generally is greeted by Hurrahs and cheers.

            Nowadays there are many options in terms of preparation. Do you want thick crust, pan pizza or gluten free? Sauce or no sauce? Or maybe a pesto sauce. How about cheese buried inside the outer edge of the crust or extra cheese on top? Chicken or pepperoni?

            When did you first eat pizza? How old were you and where was it? Did your parent make the pizza or did you go to a restaurant? Did you get an individual pizza or one for the family to share?

            Were there fights over what kind of pizza to order or who got the last piece?

            Your task is to write a story in which pizza plays an important role. It can be a sweet remembrance or a story fraught with tension and loud arguing.

            Your protagonist can be a child or an adult. She can like or hate pizza. She can throw temper tantrums if she doesn’t get her way or feel heard.

            Have fun with this one.

Roadside Meal

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            How many times have you been away from home and stopped to eat? What types of places do you normally choose? Fast food chains? Sit-down restaurants? Or something in between?

            When you scan the menu, do you have go-to preferences? Some go for hamburgers, while others choose salads. Some like sweet potato fries, eggs over-easy, chocolate cream pie.

            Your task is to write a story in which your character is traveling and stops for a meal. Depending upon the restaurant, she either reads from a menu board or from a handheld menu.

What does she order? Is it served cold or hot? How does it taste? From her reactions, you tell if it’s as she expected and whether or not she’s satisfied.

If there’s waitstaff, when someone checks in, your character responds by saying what she likes or doesn’t like, whether she’s satisfied or might like to order additional items.

To make it interesting, have someone strike up a conversation with your character. A little tension builds because this person is annoying or clinging and doesn’t take the hint that she’d like to eat alone.

Have fun with this one.

A Day at the Beach

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            Let’s say you’ve been to the beach. It could be at the ocean, at a lake, or even at a large river. No matter where, but there’s some type of beach.

            If you’re lucky, it’s soft sand. If you’re not, it’s rocks that cut the bottoms of your feet.

            Perhaps the water’s warm, but there’s a good chance that it’s not.

            There might be waves, especially if a strong breeze arises or it a watercraft motors by.

            And there are creatures in the water.

            Your task is to write the story.

            Your character and friends go to a beach for the afternoon. Or the weekend if they rent a cabin or pitch tents.

            They’re excited, looking forward to a great time.

            In your story, we want to see what they see, feel what they feel, see and taste all the things they do.

            How does the beach feel on the feet? Describe the picture of them getting to the beach. They’ll talk and laugh and maybe cry out in pain.

How cold is the water? Show us the group as they enter the water. Does one of them run and dive? Do some stand in only ankle-deep water?

Make at least one character worry about whatever might be in the water. Perhaps someone freaks out when seagrasses brush their legs.

Have fun with this one.

Letters Written Home

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            Imagine that you’ve been away from home for some time. You miss your childhood home, your family and your friends. You regularly write home, sharing whatever is happening in your life. Most of the time you recount rather boring details, but this time you’ve got something juicy to share.

            Is it something comedic that happened to you or that you witnessed? Did a coworker get caught under the influence or selling drugs? Has someone made a pass at you that ended badly?

Did you accidentally forget to pay for a scarf that you’d draped over your arm?

            There are so many possibilities!

            Your task is to write the letter, telling the strange happenings that either you did or that you witnessed. Try to insert comedy so that readers will get a good chuckle. Things should be bizarre, yet believable. For example, perhaps a tightrope walker crossed from one high-rise to another in a gusty wind. Imagine how the person teeters to stay on the wire. Maybe a gust tears away a piece of clothing which falls in a dramatic way.

            Let your imagination run wild.

            Have fun with this one.