Crunch: The Dinosaur
Writing Exercise #41
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This weeks prompt was suggested by
in the paid chat for a recent exercise! This story turned into an installment of the Surveyor Corps Adventures, which you can find at this link!In the Chat each week I will be hosting a discussion about the craftsmanship lessons (or story concepts) that I learned from this exercise, and asking about what aspects of craft paid subscribers are thinking about.
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If you have ideas for Prompts, Crunches, Sprints, Relays, Stretches, Fables, or other writing exercises in the future, please leave them in the comments! If you would like to write your own take for this exercise, please comment with a link so that I can see what you wrote and support your work, maybe even share your version with my subscribers. Please let me know if you have any thoughts, comments, or constructive criticisms as well!
Enjoy!
Crunch: The Dinosaur
When Johnny moved from Boston to Louisiana, it had been a huge shock. The weather couldn’t be more different. The culture, the architecture, the rhythm of life—totally different.
He remembered, mirthlessly, how for about a year and a half he had been unable to predict the weather. His brain was still thinking in terms of Boston, and it hadn’t learned the pattern for Louisiana. After a while he got pretty good, he liked to think—but it’s Louisiana. Prediction isn’t exactly the name of the game.
He had gone camping with friends—he’d had some apprehensions about the Louisiana Wildlife but his friends had assured him there was nothing out there they couldn’t handle. It ended up being fine. He remembered that feeling too—the moment of uncertainty. It was harder to remember the calm.
Life was simpler then. Back on earth. Away from this awful planet.
He huddled in his tent, knuckles white around his flashlight, praying that he wouldn’t need it.
The planet showed abundant signs of life—that’s why they sent him down, that’s what they wanted him to document. He was a biologist after all. He asked them what animals they were—they said they didn’t know. There were signs! Signs of life. That’s what the Surveyor Corps was for.
He closed his eyes, and held his breath, as he listened to the massive creature step heavily around his campsite. He listened to it breathe. Then, his radio crackled to life: “Hey, Johnny, you there?”
(250 words)
Talk to me!
Your feedback helps to improve my writing. I would really appreciate a comment on your thoughts on this writing exercise. Consider telling me your thoughts about:
What is your favorite dinosaur? I know you have one. Don’t pretend.
How recent was your last watch of Jurassic Park? When are you going to watch it next?
What did you have for breakfast? Did you bring enough to share with the class?
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy! Come back next week for another writing exercise!
Have you taken a look at the section called “The Volume” recently? All my longer-form stories are kept there! Be sure to take a look and catch up on any stories you’ve missed!
Thank you and God bless!
Eek! As a Florida native, Louisiana and our general region would make a prime training ground for responding to "alien life."
1) Does Little Foot count? Dinosaurs are neat and all, but I will challenge you and say that I, in fact, do not have a favorite dinosaur.
2) Maybe once as a kid? I guess I'm due to "rewatch" Jurassic Park.
3) I made an omelette for breakfast, which given your subscriber count is not enough to share with the class. 😅
I was not expecting us to end up where we were in this story. I really enjoyed it!
My favorite dinosaur will always be the stegosaurus. I am pretty sure I watched Jurassic Park a month or two ago and will probably watch it again in another month or two. Breakfast was leftover blueberry pancakes with syrup and milk with protein powder. And, no, it was only enough for me.