Kipling: Thanks Kip.

I'm hoping to find a few short stories to tell in class. I have quite a few but want some fresh material. I'm looking on the internet but sometimes it a needle in a haystack.

Nirvana: I'm looking for short stories that one can tell in under ten minutes such as Abiyoyo or Dark and Stormy Night. Not too scary or I'll get calls. ;)

Dark and Stormy Night has a funny ending and all the suspense build up is released in a huge ball of laughter! It's such a hit. But I tell it every year (they still want to hear it again tho).

DanDanDan:

You might find something here:

Try these

Nirvana: Woah!!! That's a gold mine!!! You're a life saver! Thanks!!! ;)

wooo hooooo

DanDanDan:

anytime!

Nirvana: ;)

James Du Maresq Clavell(1924–1994), Australian-born American writer, scriptwriter, film director, and producer. Born in Sydney, he was the son of a British commander stationed in Australia to help establish the Royal Australian Navy. When Clavell was nine months old, his family was posted back to England, where he was educated at Portsmouth Grammar School. He left the school at the outbreak of World War II to join the Royal Artillery as a young captain. In 1941 he was captured by the Japanese in Java and, at the age of 18, was shipped to Changi jail in Singapore, where he remained until the end of the war.

In 1953 he moved to Hollywood, where he embarked on a career as a scriptwriter and, later, producer and director. His best-selling novels include King Rat (1962), Tai-Pan (1966), Shogun (1975), Noble House (1981), Whirlwind (1986), and Gai-Jin (1993). His successful works as a scriptwriter include the cult sci-fi film The Fly (1958) and the prisoner-of-war drama The Great Escape (1966). Clavell also wrote, produced and directed To Sir With Love (1966). By the time his film The Last Valley (1969), a meditation on men at war starring British actor Michael Caine, appeared, Clavell was already a best-selling novelist.

Tai-Pan, Shogun, and Noble House were made into TV mini-series, which Clavell produced. When Shogun went on air in 1980 starring Richard Chamberlain, it became the second highest rated mini-series in history. Shogun the musical followed on Broadway in 1989.

Born 10 th October

(found in Encyclopadiea Britannica)

Mason Locke Weems

born October 11 1759

Noah Webster

born 16th October 1758

Henri Louis Bergson

born 18 the October 1859

John Le Carre

born 19th October 1931

Ellery Queen (Frederic Dannay

born 20th October 1905

hi there; can anyone please tell me about story tag. how does 1 get involved.sounds like the mad libs with a pinch of censorship. no protest i understand. but i`d like to be able to throw some sentences in the mix.sounds like fun. mook

mook53lhd:


Click on 'reply' on the bottom left hand corner of the one you want to add to and write your contribution to the story.
Yes ~ it's fun! the censorship is merely a reminder that this is a public board to which children have access and so to watch the language a bit, nothing more than that.

Nirvana: I'll ask again, being that my post was mysteriously deleted. I feel that this is on topic and at the very least deserves a reply.

Shouldn't the excerpt below be credited to this site?



I'm sorry, but I'm really not comfortable with a link to a site with quite a lot of material which is unsuitable for young children (I won't allow my 12 yr old on it) being posted here.

NOT a floosie:

I also write on other sites, including that one, under a couple of other names, including the one you highlighted. I adapted it slightly to make it more appropriate for here.

(Had I seen your post I would have answered it)

Wasn't me.

Nirvana: OH, so that was your contribution to the story. I didn't realize. Posting the sites where the stories can be found might be interesting to people here so they can read the original words and stories.

NOT a floosie:

But that is original story. That particular site has quite a few stories very unsuitable for younger people, so I wouldn't have personally posted that link on a public board. Winnie, for example, is way too young for much of it.

I'd rather my daughters name wasn't brought up with everything to do with youngsters. You have your own kids, use their names.
Besides, I agree with floosie. If you use a story from another site you should give credit to the author and the site where it came from. If its a dubious site with lots of adult material maybe find a story from a different site? Theres plenty to choose from.

Why is that neccesary?
If its Nirvana's work, it's her right to post another version of HER story.
Because a version of HER story appears on another website, is no reason to post a link, IMHO.

IF its Nirvanas work.

Or are we just picking?
I noticed people who post poetry, are not required to provide links to everywhere it may appear on the web, yet all of a sudden stories should?

At least credit the author if you post other peoples work. If its ripped off a specific site, its polite to credit the site too.
I'm not picking, I may not have posted at all if my daughters name had been kept out of it.

harley:

I mentioned your daughter because she has more than once contributed here, at 9 years old the youngest to have done so as far as I know (and also therefore the most vulnerable)

I write on that particular site (and others) and have done for a couple of years. I know for a fact that that particular one has some material which in my opinion both as a moderator and as a parent makes it unsuitable for posting a link to on a public board.

I only post my own work.

harley: I agree with giving credit to original authors.

harley:

I too agree with crediting original authors.

Nirvana: 9 years old and vulnerable. Exactly why I don't appreciate you drawing attention to her.

If you're the original author you're a) stretching the truth on your profile on that site and b) able to reply to the message I sent you there :o)

harley:


I write on other sites, including that one, under a couple of other names i.e more than one, so more than one er profile. I also use another name (as others there do) to review from. I have so far got nothing, apart from a couple of reviews panning it!

I apologise if you think it was inappropriate to mention your daughter's name, it was her age and vulnerability that were particularly on my mind at the time.

Nirvana: I think the point still remains, that the "Arnold Sidebottom boldly goes .." post does not give credit to anyone. even yourself as you may say.

Is it unreasonable to expect credits given to all stories posted. If you wrote it, say so. If you wrote it under a fictious name, give credit to the fictious name.

Sounds simple to me.

*edited to make a little more sense*

Eriisa:

Put like that, it does to me too.

Nirvana: Well now that the post police have cleaned up this neighborhood, we can get back to your story!

Kipling: post police? I assume you mean me, since I made the last statement.

All I did was expand on your post. "I agree with giving credit to original authors."

Or are only certain people allowed to express opinions?

by the way, Nirvana, I had read that story on original site before when you had posted the link. Could you PM me that site again?

Eriisa: Is plural.

Eriisa:


Anyone can express an opinion, provided it is just that, and not boardering on flaming, which in my opinion being told I am er ' stretching the truth ' is.

Nirvana: "being told I am er ' stretching the truth ' is" .... do you really want to go there?
I'd like to respectfully suggest a point has been made and everyone knows where they stand about crediting authors. We should move on to posting stories that are your own work or properly credited.

harley:

and move on from what more and more looks like unwarranted harrassment?

I'm happy with that.

Not harrassment, just people who will speak out when they see somebody's hard work being ripped off. This isn't the board anyway, if you'd like to discuss it in a more appropriate place then feel free.

Once upon a time, and in a far away country, there lived a King who had three daughters. All were grown up, but their father was so fond of them that he could not bear to be parted from any of them, and so, when visiting princes came from other lands to ask the princesses in marriage, the sent them away, one after another.

The royal maidens were by no means content to remain thus unwed year after year, and so when one particularly handsome prince had also been sent away, they sent for their tutor for advice.

The tutor listened to their complaints: ' I will advise you what to do' he said to them. He went down the garden and presently returned with three enormous water melons. Giving one to each, he said' The King is now sitting alone on the Palace veranda, and has ordered a water melon to be brought to him. Each of you take one to him, and I am sure your natural resourcefulness will guide you as to how to proceed.'


(this is a story tag, please be sure to click 'reply' to ensure continuity.)

Stephen Crane

Born 1st November 1871

The three Princesses took their water melons and headed towards the veranda.

The first presented her melon to her father, but as he began to cut it open he exclaimed:
'this melon is shrivelled and yelow and fit for nothing'
and he threw the melon onto the ground below the veranda.
'Bring me a melon I can eat.'
As she left, she said' Shrivelled and fit for nothing am I becoming, and I not yet wed.'

She sent in her younger sister. This too was over ripe, being green and juice less and insipid when he cut it open.
'This too is over ripe' and flung that too onto the ground below.
'Bring me a melon I can eat!' he shouted angrily.
'I too am over ripe, and me not yet wed, Father' said the Princess as she left.

The youngest of thje three Princesses came and cut open her water melon. This time it was pink and juicy, and her father was at last able to enjoy his melon.
'This melon is in prime condition,' he said happily.
'As I am, Father, and I ought to be married.'

Later that day the King sat down at the dinner table and said:
'You are a parcel of hussies. Very well, you shall be married and what is more, you shall choose your own husbands.'

The heralds were summoned and the King bade them announce throughout the land that the Princesses would be given in marriage to whomever they chose.

A few days later, a crowd of suitors filled the court yard. The Princesses came out onto the varanda and looked down upon them. Each had a golden ball in her hand. The first threw her ball at the son of the gand Vizier. The second at the son of the Lord Chamerlain, whom she had long loved in secret. The third caught sight of a handsome but poorly dressed youth sitting to one side and threw her ball at him.
'No ~ he won't do! throw again!'
But agin she threw her ball at the youth.
'Such a son-in-law I will never accept' roared the King. 'Choose again'
This time although the Princess threw hers in a different direction, the youth had wanderdd towards the other side of the crowd, and again the ball struck him.
'I will not agree to such a marriage'
'You gave me leave to choose for myself, and that I have done. I will wed without your blessing' said the obstinate Princess, and went to her chamber.



(this is a story tag, please be sure to click 'reply' to ensure continuity.)

Eden Phillpotts

born 4th November 1862

The double wedding of the two elder Pricesses was a grand affair, celebrated with pomp and ceremony, and the festivities lasted forty days and nights. The following day, the youngest Princess packed a few belongings in a small bag and crept out of the Palace, heading for the local spa, where the lad lived and worked.

She knocked on the door and was admitted.
Face-to-face with the lad, she asked;
'Will you marry me?'
'With all my heart, Princess, for I have long loved you'

The two lovers set off for a neighbouring country where they were not known and wed. The Princess gave her new husband enough money to buy the Spa and the young couple lived happily together in the attached house.

His wife being pregnant, the husband sought a maid to care for her, but the King was still angry with his headstrong daughter, and had forbidden anyone to attend the girl. Since mortal help was refused them, the husband decided to ask the Peris' for help. He spent a few nights at a small alter in the west wing of the Spa, pleading for their assistance.

Soon the Princess's time drew near. The night before her baby was born, three Peris appeared, each beautiful nymph-like women. 'We have come to assist you, my dear, 'said one.
The next night, the baby was born, a beautiful girl. In the morning the Peris' said to the parents: 'this child is also ours and we wish to bestow upon her our most precious gifts.'

The first hung a powerful talisman around the infant's neck, which had the power to preserve her from all ailments. The second gave her the gift of a beautiful smile 'each time she smiles an unfading rose will appear on her cheek'
and the third blessed her tears ' every tear shall become the finest pearl' they then added that the grass on which she walked would become beds of fragrant flowers and the water she bathed in would become liquid gold. They also gave the family a magnificent palace in which to live.

Seeing the gleaming new palace, the King sent for his daughter and her husband, wishing to make amends. He made the young husband a Vizier.

The oldest of the other princesses had long been jealous of her sibling's beauty and so when her time to give birth drew near, she went to the same alter and prayed to the Peris to help her too.

The night her daughter was born, they appeared to her, and assisted, but the girl was so plain that the Peris were not pleased with the baby. They bestowed lesser gifts :
the land on which she trod would become barren, her tears turn to poison, and each time she smiled her ears become those of a mule.

The years passed and the King died, and having been chosen by him, the former Spa~boy became the new King. His daughter became a lovely maiden, loved by all. When she was 17, a neighbouring Prince who had heard of her beauty and magical gifts came to woo the girl to be his bride. His father said he would agree to such a pairng but only if the prince brought him one of the unfading roses from the cheeks of the Princess in question.
Disguised as a dancing dervish, the young prince went to visit the country where the maiden lived. Loitering about the gates, he waited til he saw a beautiful girl walking in the grounds. Instantly, he began juggling and dancing for all he was worth. Seeing the handsome person, she watched with delight. At the end of his performance, she gave him one of the roses and he went back home to his father with his prize.
Immediately upon seeing the rose, the King sent his finest ambassadors to arrange terms with the neightbouring King so that the two young people might be wed.

Albert Camus

born 7th November 1913

G. A. Henty


for Jacob4000.

It was the custom for the bride-to-be to go to the future husband's land to be married, and also for the bride's Mother not to travel with her, so her eldest aunt agreed to go, takling with her her her own daughter. Forty camels were loaded with gifts for the Prince and his court, and the party set out.

As soon as they were a safe distance away, the aunt replaced the attendants with her own and forbade any servants to go near her niece. After three days with nothing but water served to her, the young Princess was very hungry and so begged for something to eat. When her aunt said she could only have it in return for the talisman arond her neck, the poor girl agreed. But all she got was a dried crust of bread. Two days later, she again begged for more, only to be told she would get nothing unless she gav up her eyes. The poor girl again consented and was given food. But the next night as the caravan halted for the night, she lead the poor blind girl to a clearing and left her there to her fate. The caravan itself proceeded the next morning.

Before arriving at their destination, the aunt counselled her daughter:
'Be sure not to walk in the grounds, smile, cry or smile or we are doomed. '

When the Prince went to meet his fiancee, he was dismayed to find such an illfavoured girl.
He cried angrily 'This is not the girl but another they have sent in her stead!'

But his father was afraid of a war with the other country, which he knew he could not win, so he made the young Prince agree to marry the girl.
Preparations were duly made and the Prince married the imposter Princess.

Selma Lagerof


born 20th November 1858

George Eliot

born 22 November

Nirvana:Meanwhile, the abandoned bride walked slowly around the clearing, feeling very lonely and sad at being abandoned. She began to cry. Soon, as a result of the peris' gifts, beautiful flowers were growing in what had previously been an empty clearing. Also, there were many pearls on the ground.