What to do: Call and Response

I love it when I see this. One writer posts something on Typetrigger, then another writer works on the same narrative. Yesterday turtledove wrote a response to "blocked drain". Then new member KB1PKL picked it up. We are thinking about ways that we can tie works together so that people can find these threads even if they do not have both writers on their reading list. These are the things that make Typetrigger so exciting.

turtledove

"Hey, dad. Knock knock."

"Who’s there?"

"Apple."

"Apple who?"

"Mmmm, this apple is delicious."

"Good one."

"Dad?"

"What?"

"Knock knock."

"Who’s there?"

"Toy box."

"Toy box who?"

"There are toys in my toy box."

"Sweetie?"

"Sweetie who?"

"No, sweetie. I’m talking to you."

"Oh, right. Okay. Knock knock."

"I need to unclog this drain, honey. The toilet’s going to overflow again."

"Honey who?"

"No, I mean daddy’s busy right now."

"Who’s there?"

"Listen, it’s got to be a joke. After I say, 'Who’s there?' it’s got to be a funny thing."

"Okay. Knock knock."

"Who’s there?"

"Clown."

"Clown who?"

"A clown can help you fix the toilet."

"I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but I don’t get it."

"You said it had to be something funny. Clowns are funny."

"No, I mean . . . Like this. Knock knock."

"Clown."

"No, I’m doing the knock knock now. Knock knock."

"Who’s there?"

"Wendy."

"Hey, that’s my name!"

"I know. So now you say, 'Wendy who?' ”

"Wendy who?"

"Wendy you like to get up in the morning?"

"Okay. I get it."

"Do you?"

"Sort of."

"Try this one. Knock knock."

"Who’s there?"

"Boo."

"Don’t cry! I already know that one, daddy."

"Come on, honey. I want to fix this thing before mommy gets home. "

"Just one more, daddy. Knock knock."

"Okay, last one. Who’s there?"

"Um . . . Actually, I don’t have one. You do one more. Please."

"All right. And this is totally the last one. Knock knock."

"Who’s there?"

"Puppy."

"Puppy who?"

"Don’t p-pee in the t-toilet. It’s c-clogged."

"Awesome! Okay, knock knock . . ."

"Clown."

"No fair, daddy. You didn't let me finish."

KB1PKL

A lady walks in the door, calling "I'm back from the store!". Wendy rushes out and hugs her mother. "Knock knock." "Who's there?" "Daddy" "Daddy who?" "Daddy is unclogging the drain." The young mother stops to think about that one for a bit and then says "I'm not sure I get it, what's the joke?" Looking a bit frustrated, Wendy explains "Daddy is in the bathroom, fixing the toilet." Wendy is lifted up as the lady walks into the bathroom. "Hi dear", said the lady as she rubbed the mans head. Finally, a triumphant shout and a flushing noise! He gets up and hugs his wife. He sniffs the air lightly, saying "Do you smell something?" The lady breathed in deeply, replying "Smells like burning plastic..." At that moment, the fire alarm went off. They couldn't see the source of the smell or feel the heat, but they knew something horribly wrong had happened. As they gather up the animals and evacuate the house, Wendy wonders to herself "I wonder what that noise is." Wendy was rather confused about the whole situation, being only 4 and not exposed to such matters as fire alarms and the dangers that sound implies. The fire trucks arrive and search the house, finding that the stove was left on. Curiously, a child's toy found its way inside the stove.

Sharing on Typetrigger

When we went public a few weeks ago, we added a fine new little feature, but only a few people have discovered it so far. You can now share any piece of writing on Typetrigger if the writer has set their profile to public. We want writers and readers alike to share what they are writing and reading, and it is now easy to do with a click. Whether you prefer to broadcast on Twitter, Facebook and the like, or by email, you can do so via our little "share" button which appears beside the like button at the bottom of each piece of writing.

By sharing what you find or write on Typetrigger, new audiences can discover what we are doing and writers can be introduced to new audiences. We are working on some other interesting ways that Typetrigger members might be able to share information, and we are always interested in hearing from you about what and how you like to share.

Learning how to write on Typetrigger

In the past five months, I have read almost every piece of writing on Typetrigger, and I have written a few dozen. I knew that the tool of Typetrigger would be a good chance for me to tighten my writing, but I didn't know what particular lessons I would learn along the way. Every day I realize something new about writing and about my expectations as a reader. We at Typetrigger want everyone to make their own discoveries through participating, but we also think there is so much we can share with one another so that we who write here (and elsewhere) can continue to improve our work.

So what have you learned? Or how do things you already knew come into play on Typetrigger? What are the strengths of the word limit? How do you apply what you do in short form to longer form work? Are there lessons that translate? We would love to hear from writers and readers about what you have learned or relearned on Typetrigger. In the coming months we will work on ways to spread these tips so that newcomers and old hands alike can benefit. Email us {info (at) typetrigger (dot) com}, comment here, or start a discussion on this blog.