Dangerous Waters
A Story Stack: Separation Method
99 pixel via Pixabay
Step 1: Using a prompt, write a 6-word story.
Is that mist that I see?
Step 2: Using the prompt write a different 25-word story.
After swirling for what seemed like hours, Tim used what little energy he had left to steer himself to safety. Hours later he arrived home.
Step 3: Using the prompt write a different 50-word story.
“She said ‘I don't do things that interest her anymore. I am boring.’ We will see about that.”
Seth paddled faster until he realized the Niagara River was not a good place to prove you are interesting.
The helicopters caught his final moments of terror for the six o'clock news.
Step 4: Using the prompt write a different 100-word story.
The barrel race took an unexpected turn when all the contestants missed the finish line and were pulled by the current into the larger river.
The knowledgeable paddlers paddled with all their might, returning their barrels to the shore. Exhausted, they signalled the remaining paddlers the immediate dangers they were unaware of.
The party paddlers moved together to celebrate. They yelled incoherently at the exhausted paddlers. One by one this group joined together to form a loosely tied raft. They did not notice the current was speeding up.
“Victory is ours!” they yelled as the mist rose behind their backs.
Step 5: Using the prompt write a different 150-word story.
Benny had been trying for half an hour to get the hang of barrel paddling, No matter what he did, he just spun wildly around with each stroke of his paddle.
“Benny,” stated Frieda, “You need to pause your paddle in the water long enough for it to act like a rudder. It will keep you going in a straight line.”
“Is that all?” intoned Benny glumly as Frieda gently pushed him so he was solo once more.
Benny tried paddling Frieda’s way. “Hey! This works,” he whooped excitedly.
They paddled down the lake looking for a place to pull up so they could have a picnic.
“Benny! Watch out,” yelled Frieda.
At that exact moment Benny’s barrel overturned on the sandbar, spilling Benny into the water. He stood up in knee deep water.
“I’m glad you have the picnic basket,” he laughed as he reached to steady her barrel.