Writer’s Tea Time Challenge

Welcome to the writer’s tea time challenge! A witch offers you a selection of steaming teacups. Which do you choose?

Rose
You take a sip, and find yourself transported back in time, into the body of a young princess. What do you do and what happens next?   

Earl Grey
  You take a sip, and suddenly can see ghosts and the dead, as well as commune and talk with them. What happens next? 

Matcha
  You take a sip, and you glance at your hand to find yourself sprouting green, gossamer scales. Your throat burns, and you scream as you cough fire and begin to transform. What do you do next?

Lavender
  You take a sip and feel very dizzy. When you awake, you find yourself very, very small. But-oh! Where did these tiny little wings come from?

White
  You take a sip and the creamy, white liquid goes down your throat like silk. The following day, you find your feet feel lighter, and your voice is beautiful in every sense of the word. You also seem to be constantly fighting the urge to help people at every turn. Have you always been this benevolent? The weirdest thing occurs when you gaze in the mirror, to find your eyes have turned a distinct shade of gold. What happens next?

Chamomile
  You take a sip and lean back in your chair in a deep sleep. When you awake, flowers have ground all around you, as if protecting you. They have also woven themselves around yourself to form a crown, and you seem to be wearing a white, heavenly gown. What do you do next?

Peach
  You take a sip and blink, only to find yourself gazing at your own body. It seems you have switched places with the witch? What do you do next?

Responses can be as long and short as you want.

To pass it along…

1. Title your post “I chose _______” and fill in the blank with whichever tea you chose.
2. To offer a friend some “tea”, tag your friend in your post and link them to this original challenge.

The Nine Lives Challenge

So I’ve been doing a bit more tags and challenges lately because I was randomly thinking about the old forum games/challenges I used to play back in middle school that would help me practice writing. A lot of these challenges can be found on Weheartit.com as well, so thankfully, if I don’t remember the parameters for a challenge, usually someone has a post dedicated to it over there.

This is one of those such challenges.

The “If I Had Nine Lives” Challenge was insanely fun for me and my old forum friends and I’m excited to see how my answers vary now that I’m older. This challenge is characterized by coming up with neat fictional lives that would have been fun to live so feel free to join in and complete this challenge as well as it can be a joyous day dream.

Life 1 ~ Sculpture

This life would have been characterized by long days spent molding clay and drawing up sketches of human anatomy. I’m kind of thinking this life would have occurred around the late 1400’s and early 1500’s (around the time of Leonardo Da Vinci’s work for reference). The Middle Ages were coming to a close as people were beginning to value books and education more and more and this life was probably right in the middle of it. They probably lived in a European city and enrolled in a artists/artisan’s school where they could train under artistic masters before coming one themselves.

Life 2 ~ Biologist

This gal lived during the Victorian Era on the English Countryside. She hand drew most of her theories and discoveries (fossils, plants/botany sketches, etc.). But due to the nature of this time period, she wasn’t recognized professionally as a biologist until later in life. The concept for this life is heavily inspired by the very real life of Beatrix Potter who was an amazing botanist and scientist who was never really recognized for her work due the fact that she was a woman. I am sure there were many similar stories to hers that occurred during this time.

Life 3 ~ Scottish Lady/Governess

Have I mentioned that I loved Scotland?? I really don’t know what time period I’d place this gal. I researched what was the time frame for the Scottish Monarchs and got quite a range. But besides that, that information was most likely in reference to the official Monarchs of Scotland. Lords, Ladies and Governesses of Scotland still exist to this day I believe. You just gotta own some land (and maybe a castle? I probably need to research the official requirements. I’m curios now).

Anyhow, what I can assure you about this lady is she lives in castle and was widowed young. She has a son who is currently far too young to take control of the estate. So until her son can take over, she will continue to head the castle and protect the family’s honor.

Life 4 ~ Fashion Designer

I have always loved the thought of designing my own fashion line (I mean, what girl hasn’t?). In high school I took to drawing fashion sketches and even though I haven’t drawn one in quite awhile, this life appeals to me quite a bit. This girl probably lived in the mid to late 1900’s, just after world war 2.

The fashion industry was final able to flourish again and this girl wanted in on the action. She lives in Paris (because why not?) and spends her days sketching and comparing fabrics for the fashion company she has the pleasure of working for. She drinks lots of teas and keeps company with about 3 cat back at her apartment. She probably marries later in life as she was guilty of focusing on her career more than anything in her early years.

Life 5 ~ Web Developer

Another fun fact about me, in high school, all my electives fell under computer coding and web design. It was something I was considering going into after high school, but I soon realized that I didn’t think this was the path cut out for me after I graduated and became infatuated with the biological sciences.

Buuuuut in my spare time I do enjoy coding dinky little programs for no apparent reason so its no wonder that I would design a past life based on this potential career.

This Web Developer lives in New York during the mid to late 1900’s. The Internet is now picking up speed and is becoming acknowledged as more than just a trend and she takes full advantage of that. She coded as a hobby at first, but now holds down a job at a corporate company, designing and keeping track of their online presence.

Life 6 ~ Children’s Book Author

Okay, it’s at this point you’re probably realizing that this list isn’t in chronological order. I tried at first but now I’ve stopped. So, that being said, this girl lived during the mid to late 1800’s, just when children’s books were becoming a thing. She lived in England was was a house wife who spent her spare time writing and drawing, at first for only her children, but then moved on to have her work published for others as well.

Life 7 ~ Astronomer

Ahhhh Astronomy. My forbidden career. This life is a cumulation of a life time of infatuation with the night sky. Why didn’t I pursue astronomy then, you might ask? Well the answer is plain and simple:

Math.

I’m only sort of kidding. When looking at the career path of a modern day astronomer, I saw many years of mathematics and physics ahead and I could not bring myself to commit to it in fear that it would destroy my current love for the stars.

But this girl isn’t a modern day astronomer. No, she got into the game early. Around the mid 1600’s to be exact, just after the marvelous observations of the famous astronomer Galileo. She went on to discover with her own homemade telescope, a few moons and stars, detailing their existence in her journals that she would lady reference when writing books on her work later in life.

Life 8 ~ Renaissance Restoration Artist

This is probably one of my favorite “lives”. The thought of carefully painting and restoring the grand works from the Renaissance era seems infatuating (at least until one gets a hand cramp).

This life spends her days restoring paintings upon church’s and cathedral’s walls, in an attempt to show tourists the former glory of these masterpieces. She’s married to a Historian who works on the more historical side of these projects as oppose to the actual restoration.

Life 9 ~ Current Life (college student/writer/biologist)

And finally, my current life, which began in the early 2000’s. This one is a little less cohesive than the others, thus far not being characterized by only one main career but I like it anyway. This gal spends her days drinking over-priced iced coffees, doing homework, going a little small town adventures with her friends, playing DnD on boring Saturdays, petting cats, and drawing.

She isn’t entirely sure where she’s headed yet but she knows its going to be good life when its all said and done.

And concludes The Nine Lives challenge! Again, feel free to participate if you want! See you in my next post!

~Brooke F.

The Writer’s Game: Level 13

Topic: Endings

Threshold: 6,500 Points

Possible Points:  1,100 Points

All Possible Points up until this level:  9,470

• “Write about death.” [100 points]
• “Write about your childhood or something that represents it.” [100 points]
• “Write about healing and moving on.” [100 points]
• “Write about a bittersweet goodbye.” [100 points]
• “Write about a key memory.” [100 points]
• “Write about the seasons changing and have it play a key symbol in the story.” [100 points]
• “Write a tragedy.” [100 points]
• “Write about forever.” [100 points]
• “Write about the end.” [100 points]
• “Reflect on this challenge.” [100 points]
• “Write about whatever you want. You’ve earned it.” [100 points]

And that’s it! The final level. This has been an intense challenge & I hope it has been an enjoyable ride for you! Take a break from writing for a bit if you so desire! You’ve earned it! And if you have a desire to challenge yourself again, I hope you’ll make your way back here. You’re always welcomed. Take care, lovely writer!

~ Brooke F.

The Writer’s Game: Level 12

Topic: Everyday

Threshold: 6,200 Points

Possible Points:  550 Points

All Possible Points up until this level:  8,370

• “Design your own academy/school and place your own characters in it.” [ 50 points]
• “Design your own café/bookstore and place your own characters in it.” [ 50 points]
• “Write about someone looking for a friend and finding them in an unexpected place.” [ 50 points]
• “Write a story that takes place primarily on a rooftop.” [ 50 points]
• “Design your own festival/fair and place your own cast of characters in it to have some fun.” [ 50 points]
• “Write about two unexpected friends.” [ 50 points]
• “Write about someone healing.” [ 50 points]
• “Write about someone coming home.” [ 50 points]
• “Write about someone who finds fulfillment in a place they didn’t expect.” [ 50 points]
• “Write about someone who lives in your dream apartment.” [ 50 points]
• “Write about someone with your dream career.” [ 50 points]

Score 6,500 points to advance to the next level.

When you’re ready to advance to the next level, click here.

The Writer’s Game: Level 11

Topic: Power

Threshold: 5,500 Points

Possible Points:  600 Points

All Possible Points up until this level:  7,820

• “Write about someone with the ability to change their physical form.” [50 points]
• “Write about someone with the ability to control an element or something in nature.” [100 points]
• “Write about someone with the ability to control something with their mind.” [50 points]
• “Write about a war between two groups of gifted/powerful people.” [100 points]
• “Write about someone who is normal in a world of powerful/gifted people.” [50 points]
• “Write about someone who is seen as having a useless gift that proves quite useful in the end.” [100 points]
• “Write about someone who lives in the shadow of their gifted/powerful parents.” [50 points]
• “Write about a normal villain going against a normal hero in a world where gifted people exist just to throw off the dynamic completely. They’re both underestimated in different ways but then chose completely different ways to respond to the prejudice.” [100 points]

Score 6,200 points to advance to the next level.

When you’re ready to advance to the next level, click here.

The Writer’s Game: Level 10

Topic: The Future

Threshold: 5,100 Points

Possible Points:  950 Points

All Possible Points up until this level:  7,220

• “Write about a future where aliens invade.” [100 points]
• “Write about a future where technology takes over.” [ 50 points]
• “Write about a future where the world ends by flooding.” [100 points
• “Write about a future where the apocalypse occurs in an odd way.” [100 points]
• “Write about someone who causes the end of the world.”[100 points]
• “Write what you believe the technological future will look like.” [50 points]
• “Write about mankind finding the secret to time travel.” [100 points]
• “Write about man colonizing space.” [50 points]
• “Write from the point of view of a robot or AI.” [100 points]
• “Write about a future where the world ends by war.” [50 points]
• “Write about a future where there are big scientific advancements. (Biological technology, Medical technology, etc.)” [50 points]

Score 5,500 points to advance to the next level.

When you’re ready to advance to the next level, click here.

The Writer’s Game: Level 9

Topic: Companionship/Love

Threshold: 4,800 Points

Possible Points:  650 Points

All Possible Points up until this level:  6,270

• “Write about the love for a parent.” [50 points]
• “Write about the love for a pet.” [50 points]
• “Write about the love for a childhood friend.” [50 points]
• “Write about love for a new friend.” [50 points]
• “Write about loving yourself.” [50 points]
• “Write about loving someone but not trusting them.” [50 points]
• “Write about a love that has lasted a long time.” [50 points]
• “Write about loving your past or future self.” [50 points]
• “Write about loving someone far away.” [50 points]
• “Write about searching for one kind of love and finding another.” [50 points]
• “Write a love letter without using these words: heart, love, soul.” [50 points]
• “Write about someone who thinks they love someone but is wrong. ” [50 points]
• “Write about love dying.” [50 points]

Score 5,100 points to advance to the next level.

When you’re ready to advance to the next level, click here.

The Writer’s Game: Level 8

Topic: Intangible

Threshold: 3,400 Points

Possible Points:  1,100 Points

All Possible Points up until this level:  5,620

• “Write about a color without using its name.” [100 points]
• “Write a story or poem only using sound.” [100 points]
• “Write a story or poem only using the sense of touch.” [100 points]
• “Write a story or poem only using taste.” [100 points]
• “Write a story or poem describing loss or sadness without using the word.” [100 points]
• “Write a story or poem describing joy without using the word.” [100 points]
• “Write a story or poem describing justice without using the word.” [100 points]
• “List your values. Now write a story involving all of them.” [100 points]
• “Write a story or poem describing ambition without using the word.” [100 points]
• “Write a story or poem describing kindness without using the word.” [100 points]
• “Write a story or poem describing cruelty without using the word.” [100 points]

Score 4,800 points to advance to the next level.

When you’re ready to advance to the next level, click here.

The Writer’s Game: Level 7

Topic: Inspired

Threshold: 3,000 Points

Possible Points:  640 Points

All Possible Points up until this level:  4,520

• “Write a story or poem about a piece of art that inspires you.” [80 points]
• “Write a story or poem about a song that inspires.” [80 points]
• “Write a story or a poem about a movie that inspires you.” [50 points]
• “Write a story or a poem about a show that inspires you.” [50 points]
• “Write a story or a poem about a person or figure that inspires you.” [100 points]
• “Write a story or a poem about a book that inspires you.” [80 points]
• “Write a story or a poem about a game that inspires you. (Think outside the box. Could be a board game or a video game)” [100 points]
• “Write a story or a poem about a children’s show that inspired you growing up.” [100 points]

Score 3,400 points to advance to the next level.

When you’re ready to advance to the next level, click here.

The Writer’s Game: Level 6

Topic: Mystery

Threshold: 2,200 Points

Possible Points:  1,100 Points

All Possible Points up until this level:  3,880

• “Write a short mystery or poem from the killer’s perspective.” [100 points]
• “Write a short story or poem where an item is stolen.” [100 points]
• “Write a short mystery about an escape room of sorts.” [100 points]
• “Write a short mystery about a missing person.” [100 points]
• “Write a short mystery where the detective has the wrong person.” [100 points]
• “Write a short mystery or poem from the murdered person’s perspective.” [100 points]
• “Write a short mystery or poem from the side character’s perspective (specifically, the character that gets showed up when the detective is right).” [100 points]
• “Write a short mystery where the death is faked.” [100 points]
• “Write a short mystery from the perspective of someone unimportant or someone unexpected (e.x. the house cat, the maid, the detective’s dog, etc.).” [100 points]
• “Write a short mystery where the detective is the killer.” [100 points]
• “Write a short mystery where the detective dies.” [100 points]
•  

Score 3,000 points to advance to the next level.

When you’re ready to advance to the next level, click here.