Johnny B. Truant chose today’s words. Check out his new Bad Ass Project.
BET YOU CAN’T do this writing prompt. Take the 10 random words below and, in the comments, crush writer’s block by creating a cohesive, creative short story tying all of them together! And remember: after (if) you finish, highlight your words and click the bold button to make them stand out and help you determine if you forgot any words. (If you’ve missed previous writing prompts, we BET YOU CAN’T do those, either.)
- Badass
- Fear
- Uncertainty
- Excuses
- Linchpin - A locking pin inserted in the end of a shaft, as in an axle, to prevent a wheel from slipping off; A central cohesive element
- Limitations
- Resistance
- Defy
- Bullshit (BS if you don’t like cursing)
- Huge-ass latte
NOTE: Don’t copy and paste from MS Word. Use a program like notepad that removes formatting or just type in the comment field itself. Also, finish your submission, THEN bold the words. Thanks. (And don’t forget to tweet this and share it with your friends.)
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Resources you should check out:
Thesis: Best Damn Theme on the Web
Collective Ink Well: Personalize Your Thesis Theme
Third Tribe Marketing: Marketing done the right way
Story Structure Demystified: Best damn writing book out there
{ 89 comments… read them below or add one }
“Stapleton, when did you become such a badass?”
“The day they assigned you to be my partner. Someone had to pick up the slack.”
Detective Jason Scott chuckled, “That’s what I thought.”
Silently, Lieutenant Michael Stapleton recognized his good fortune in having such a solid cop as a partner. Even if he was a smartass.
The two of them stood over the remains of the latest victim, vacant eyes somehow still shining with fear. So young. They were all so young. None of them understanding the uncertainty of life.
There were too many damned excuses in this investigation. Half the team is out with the flu. Budget cuts are depleting our resources. There are too many cases like this to solve them all.
Jason knew better than to pull the linchpin from his partner’s fragile control, but he had no choice. Even he had his limitations.
“Mike, I’m leaving.”
“The hell you are. We haven’t even canvassed the scene yet.”
“I’m not talking about the scene. I’m leaving the force.”
Michael felt the kick to his midsection. Showing no resistance, he chose to defy the roaring sound in his head.
“Work the scene.”
What kind of bullshit was this? And with that, he walked away, in search of some real coffee, instead of the huge-ass latte Jason held in his hand.
Really, really good, Cathy!
Great characterization, very skillfully introduced in this scene. It definitely pulled me in and roused my interest.
Thanks, Chris – and to quote you – doh – it should read Half the team is out with the flu – not our with the flu
We’re on the same wavelength, Cathy! I love seeing the return of Lt. Stapleton!
Your attention to the political details of a homicide investigation is lip-smackingly delicious.
I’ve got to go back re-acquaint myself with Jason, though. Did we have any clues for his revelation?
Cheers,
Mitch
@Mitch-Jason has been there as Lt. Stapleton’s partner. He’s always cracking jokes and lightens up the Lt. To be honest, I didn’t know he was going to quit until he told us all.
@Cathy: That was so unexpected and cool. If I don’t read a crime/detective book from you soon on Amazon I’m going to scream!
@Shane-thanks-I know, I know-it’s on the proverbial list-I am screaming, too
I have lately become enamored with detective books. This, I would read more of. Love it. Cop banter, I think, must be hard to do. Well done.
@Jen-thanks-Shane has accused me of working at a cop shop-LOL!
Couldn’t be further from the truth. I think it has to do with growing up with four brothers. 
Okay, Cathy. When is this book coming out? I want one, signed.
@Anne-hopefully I won’t be too old to remember you need that signed copy
Awesome piece of writing you have here! I really enjoyed it.
I love that last line!
@Ingrid-thank you!
Cathy — “…knew better than to pull the linchpin from his partner’s fragile control…”
I really like this dear. As I know that control can be pushed to the limits.
“..vacant eyes somehow still shining with fear.” Great imagery created here.
OK, so here’s another 10×10 response — 10 sentences of 10 words* each, with the first prompt word the first word in the first sentence, the second prompt word the second word in the second sentence, and so forth. (*Note: Maybe it’s cheating, but I’m counting hyphenated words as one word).
“The Hit”
“Bad-Ass!” Tony voiced his awe at the sprawling high-rise apartment.
No fear in the kid, thought Vic. Just blatant cockiness.
No cautious uncertainty; nothing but bluster and bravado. Vic sighed.
He’d make no excuses – the boss wanted Tony brought along.
A once trusted inner linchpin had turned, betraying the family.
Vic’s mission was clear: No limitations in silencing the traitor.
So whatever it took, whatever the resistance, Vic would succeed,
and Tony could watch and learn: Don’t defy the boss!
They found the traitor in the shower. The bullshit done,
Vic sighed when Tony said, “Let’s get a huge-ass latte!”
@Chris Fries – how wonderfully creative and challenging!
Thanks, Cathy! I greatly appreciate your kind words.
But — Doh!!! That last line is supposed to be “Vic sighed…!” Not ‘signed’ Whoops!
Yeah, Chris! This was badass, with or with out the hyphen!
So, I could feel those bad boys from Pulp Fiction, paying a visit to some poor sap.
I’m enjoying this 10×10 format. That has to be a super challenge for you!
Cheers,
Mitch
Thanks, Mitch!
LOL — I was thinking about the hyphens in “huge-ass latte” and “high-rise,” so I must have subconsciously decided that badass needed one too — and it gets highlighted by spell check if it’s not there, so…
Yeah, the 10×10 is a bit of a challenge to work the prompt words into — I find I tend to have more difficulty with the ten-word sentence restriction than with using the prompt words. But I’m having fun with it, and I’m glad you’re enjoying them too.
@Chris: Just fantastic! Can’t get over what you are doing here.
Thanks, Shane! I’m happy you’re diggin’ it.
And thanks for the ‘signed’ to ‘sighed’ fix!
Fantastic! Just yeah. Really great. What a fun way to make the challenge more challenging. And Vic? I think I like him.
Thank you so much for your very kind words, Jen!
Love the 10 x 10 and you do it so well!
Thank you, Anne — I really appreciate that.
Chris –Bravo. a treatment of 10 in 10… I had not thought of doing that.
We all have limitations and bullshit excuses
for not meeting potential and blowing mental fuses.
Many times it’s uncertainty and fear of failing,
but if we want a badass life we need to quit our wailing!
The linchpin of success is to want something better,
so suck down a huge ass latte and be a go-getter!
Resistance to change will weigh you down like a rock,
so defy the odds you will fail, as the clock goes “tick-tock”!
Excellent!!!! Very nice, Margaret!
I love how smoothly the words blend into the rhyme, and also the underlying message is fabulous!
@Margaret – love it! And so true!
Margaret, you’ll put all the motivational gurus out of business, yet!
There simply is no better way to light a fire under someone’s “lattes” than the way you’ve done it here.
Cheers,
Mitch
@Ma: Ahhhhh! Got my Margaret poetry fix back. Thanks.
Suck down a huge ass latte. Love it.
Nice, and true Margaret.
Thank you, Chris and Cathy
The blue portfolios would be the linchpin to this gruesome double homicide. Detective Waters had found someone worthy of his deductive prowess. Despite the limitations of having exactly two items of evidence, he would make no excuses. In fact, he would defy conventional investigative wisdom and reconstruct this entire scenario from logic. Any forensic clues gathered from vacuuming, spatter analysis and other arcane alchemy would only serve to solidify his efforts at catching a killer.
***
15 minutes earlier …
Detective Waters took one look at the remains and thanked Jehovah for skipping breakfast. He could feel the uncertainty of that huge-ass latte in the elevator of his stomach. Shaking off the fear of soiling the crime-scene, he studied the backs of the victims’ heads.
Obviously, resistance was not a factor; these two men knew their killer. The position of the bodies was so casual, the bullet holes in almost the same exact spot at the base of the skulls, there couldn’t have been much time for the second person to react. The shooter was badass, for sure. Was this a professional hit?
He looked around the Spartan conference room. Except for the furnishings, bodies and a couple of blue portfolios on the table, the room was empty. No casings from the gun, no office equipment, nothing. As the technicians finished their forensic duties, one of them was about to place a blue portfolio into an evidence bag. Detective Waters asked to see it. He handled it gingerly, even though he was wearing gloves. The bloody gore and sickly sweet smell punched the “Roof” button on his gastric elevator. He held his breath and opened the booklet.
“What is this bullshit?” He riffled through the whole portfolio, surprised that it was completely blank.
***
Note: Detective Waters first appeared in CCC #185.
@Mitch-LOL-we’re stepping over crime scenes. BTW- great line punched the “Roof” button on his gastric elevator
Thanks, Cathy! I think we’ll avoid jurisdictional chest-pounding, though. We’re a bit east of SDPD
Cheers,
Mitch
@Mitch: That elevator line was outstanding! As for the rest, you know what I always say.
Thanks, Shane. That was my favorite line, too.
Cheers,
Mitch
Oh yeah — back to the carnage left by Lisbeth! Excellent stuff, Mitch.
(And I can’t believe she left the portfolios behind as evidence — I think she’s beginning to crack under the pressure! Unless she’s using them as part of her overall trail of false clues… hmmmm…)
Loving what you’re creating here!
Thanks, Chris. I’m looking forward to the battle of wits…I hope I can keep up with these two!
And, yes, Lisbeth has shown us that she is human.
Cheers,
Mitch
Love the way you set this up and then deliver Mitch. Good job.
This: “uncertainty of that huge-ass latte in the elevator of his stomach.”
Love the setting and style. I saw Sherlock Holmes a Game of Shadows a few weeks ago and made me enjoy the prose more I think.
Thank you all! I am so happy that folks are enjoying Lisbeth and her escapade.
I hope I can keep it going with Ingrid’s words on Monday!
Cheers,
Mitch
FB collaborative story tellers are back!
____
Cindy was the newest resident to move into the city of Badass, population 26.
While Badass wasn’t a city in the true definition of the word, it was a place ruled by city-like fear and longing.
Filled with uncertainty Cindy walked the creepy and devastated streets of Badass. The chill wind got to her bones.
Her walk to work at one of the city’s 21 watchtowers was demanding enough, but once there, she needed to be able to spot them miles away in the distance; there were no excuses for failed interceptions.
And she spotted them right away: The Linchpins, an inner city gang that held the city hostage to their whims.
She had to focus on what she could do, not on her limitations.
The Linchpins often preyed on the weak, the shattered ones, resistance usually led to a futile violent end, Cindy frequently gave in to their intimidation but not today.
In an attempt to defy her own demons, Cindy approached the Linchpin’s dreary clubhouse.
As she knocked on the door twice, rang the bell 3 times and kicked the can to her right, as were the detailed instructions on the plate beside the door, she wondered what was the point of this bullshit ritual when the security cameral overhead had seen her coming from 100 feet down the walkway.
Eventually it opened, and looming in the entire doorway was the Linchpin they called “The Toad”. “What do YOU want, Watcher?” he snarled, his dull stare unchanging as he swigged a mouthful from the huge-ass latte in his left fist.
@Ingrid: Wonderful, wonderful stuff. You have to continue this tale in the next one. See if you guys can do a series.
P.S. Can you get these ten people to choose a word each? We’ll put those words up as your words for Monday’s challenge.
@Shane Yay! I’ve put down the challenge to my random participants.
I’ll send you the word list once I’ve received 10 responses! Thank you for your encouragement. It means a lot.
Hi Shane! I sent you the word list via the contact info. Did you receive it? Let me know!
Great stuff, Ingrid! I love how well this collaboration is going. Much better than in the classic joke about a shared writing assignment:
http://www.snopes.com/college/homework/writing.asp
@Chris Me too! I first started posting the lists tentatively, not really knowing how my friends would respond… but all I can say is they are awesome. And I kind of love that friends from many different periods of my life all come together writing these fun little stories!
*Loved the link*
Ingrid, et. al., this is too much fun. It is amazing how the first writer set the tone for the whole piece. Do you each take turns going first?
I can’t wait to see your word list.
Cheers,
Mitch
There’s no official taking turns
It just kinda happens on its own. The word list is a doozy… I take no responsibility except for my own word. 
Another totally awesome idea. Love this. knocked twice, rang bell three times.
I thought so too! Allison M takes credit for that particularly marvelous line.
Ingrid-love this story and the collaboration
Thank you Cathy!!
Don’t put any bullshit limitations on me. I have no fear. I am one badass woman and I will defy the haters in my head who say, “You can’t do it.” I hear the excuses and laugh. I read the uncertainty in the eyes of others. I am resistance itself; I am, my body is, my heart and mind are, the linchpin that will train for and complete and kick ass in my first marathon. And then I will have a beer, not some lame, sissy girl huge-ass latte.
This one? Totally so much fun!
Loved this one too, like the fire/fight in her.
Alright!!! That’s the can-and-WILL-do attitude of a successful marathoner!
Great job — You rock!
And you know? I’ve ran a marathon. Well, technically, I mean that if you added up all the running I’ve ever done in my entire life, it might add up to around 26 miles… Give ‘er take 25…
Woohoo!
@Jen-right on, sista’
or as Shane would say – write on!
@Jen: Fun to read too! Well done. Love the power of this one.
It was pure bullshit. That badass was full of fear, uncertainty, limitations and, as a result, excuses. He refused the promised linchpin which meant our resistance to defy was futile. Even a huge-ass latte didn’t make me happy, just jittery.
Another excellent prose.
Fabulous job, Anne. Your concise and laser-precise replies always pack a lot of punch!
@Anne-so that’s jittery unhappiness?
@Anne: As always. More of this.
Ha! Love the last line. It IS total bullshit.
Here is my entry for this one.
Not Today
Cursing this linchpin bullshit
while knocking over a huge-ass latte
train accelerated to badass speed
passengers paralyzing fear and uncertainty
desperate to defy the limitations
a mechanical monstrosity of resistance
excuses run out when the train derails
no heroes were made this day
Excellent piece, Justin. I love the “linchpin bullshit” — great combination there.
Thank you
@Justin – love that last line
@Justin G: Train accelerated to badass speed – that was such a cool line. Made me smile as I read.
Thank you, was a fun line.
There were two pigs-one a huge ass, latte puddle was his favorite. The other a bullshit fearless swine. The badass of uncertainty never excused to their life. Life went on like slippery muddy ditches they loved. Unless one day they saw the swan float in the river which defied every bit of dirt. Resistance didn’t worked. But they know the limitations of the genes. The linchpin of ditched heaven failed. Flashes of sparkling whiteness visited regularly as nightmares.
@Sh13: That was so twisted and cool. Loved it.
Yeah, captures the grim situation.
“BullSHIT!”
I smirked. I can’t help it – I always smirk when I’m feeling smug. I’m told it’s one of my least attractive traits.
“You’re going to sit there with your huge-ass latte and tell me you’re being promoted? I don’t believe it…what happened to all that fear? You were so terrified of being wrong, all you did was sit and make excuses for not doing your job. And now you tell me you’re some sort of linchpin? BullSheeeeit.”
I took a sip of my coffee. “Hell no. You got me wrong. I’m all badass and shit, man”
He laughed. “Well Mister Badass, are you going to tell me how the hell you did it?”
“Sure. I don’t think you’re going to believe me, though”
“I’ll be the judge of that. I’m not sure I could believe you any less than I do right now, anyway”
What could I say? There’s no way I could tell him the truth. There’s no way I could tell anyone the truth. But I’m a terrible liar. I like to believe I remain impassive, my internal dialogue a mystery. Sadly, this isn’t the case. My face displays my emotions like a full-page ad. I’m told my attempts to resist this just make me look constipated.
I went for the dishonestly truthful answer. “I decided I was sick of being afraid. I was afraid of my limitations, afraid of uncertainty, afraid of everything. So I decided to defy my fear.”
He snorted. “Positive thinking bollocks, if you ask me.”
“I didn’t. And I don’t care what you think. It’s worked for me, hasn’t it?”
“But surely it can’t be as easy as that?”
“It is. Ok, so I felt a little resistance at first. But I kept going. I started voicing my opinions, telling people what I thought was wrong with them, with their work, with the company. It got out of control. I was high on truth. It ended yesterday, with me stomping into he-who-must-be-obeyed’s office to tell him exactly what I thought of his management style”
He wasn’t laughing now. “Really?”
“Really”
“And that worked? I mean, it’s usually the fast-track to unemployment”
I smirked, again. “I know. What can I say? I’m just good with truth” He stared, laughed and shook his head. “My friend, the truth-telling badass. This has been the weirdest day”
I swirled my cup, trying to ascertain if there was any coffee left beneath the foam. “I don’t know. I think yesterday was weirder.”
I meant it, too. It’s not every day you find your chief executive dressed as a schoolgirl.
@Al: You’re a bad-ass! When are your books coming out? Let us know.
“Hey Billy. I ain’t makin’ excuses or nothin’, but dis first writing assignment for Mr. Brogan is bullshit. How we gonna sell lattes to country folk. They’s gonna have serious resistance. Don’t matter if you call them huge-ass lattes, bad-ass lattes, or petite-ass lattes. They just gonna think you spellt late wrong and wonder why you tryin’ to sell them some late. They already know how to be late; they get up at the crack of noon already.”
“Bobby, don’t let fear and uncertainty defy your inner courage, and transform it into a linchpin of limitations.”
“What dat mean, Billy?”
“Don’t know. Saw it on da bulletin board above da coffee machine.”
LOL… thanks Boys for brighten my day.
John sat at a table in his local Starbucks drinking a huge-ass latte and watching the replacing of a linchpin on a horse drawn carriage for the renaissance fair witch some people used as an excuses to act tuff and one of them gust chose to walk in to challenge ever man in the room to a sword fight with the wooden swords.
Most refused out of fear or uncertainty of their safety as there are no limitations to how much harm a wood sword can do and when everyone refused his challenge he was ask to leave the shop but he would not so John got up walked to the man an said ” I’ve had enuf of your bullshit I’ll take your challenge. 3. 2. 1 GO” with that he swung his fist with the mug from his latte straight in to the guy’s face and without a chance to defy or any resistance his body followed his head in a little circle then fell to the floor.
John put his mug on the side and then walk out whilst some young lady started talking about him being a badass.
@Meek: This was a fun, fun read for me. Thanks.
Mind-full Conversations – Continued
So that bullshittin’ self proclaimed badass is not gonna get out of showing up in court, huh?
No Lovie, no he is not. I find it curious that the trial is slated to start, once again, two years and two days after. Don’t get me wrong… I know it’s going to happen, I just won’t hold my breath that it will be this time either.
And it seems that b**ch of a sister-wife is not gonna keep getting to enjoy huge-ass lattes on the outside much longer either.
Yes, yes-dear … fear not Lovie, the sister-wife is going in front of a jury first now. March 14th. There is some uncertainty as to the outcome, but we can all hope and pray that she gets to spend the rest of her life in prison for her willingness to help him. … I have sent another set of questions over to the Victims’ Advocate as ‘mander had a couple of questions as does miss E and me and … well, many of us do. I wish I lived closer so I could go have a sit down with the DA. But now that we are 1,341 miles away … it is a bit of a drive for a chat, huh Lovie?
Thanks mom.
You are more than welcome dear. I am here to help where I can. You know I don’t mind being a buffer for her. And since the very first show of resistance from Lori to share any info about ‘mander with me … well, in all fairness, Lori did not know if I even knew ‘mander and once I was able to make her see that connection she really had no excuses to not answer my questions. And then after we met and she saw how we all still interact as a family… well, that was the linchpin in Lori’s and the DA’s mind, I am sure. It was only a momentary defy, not a road block.
opps… I wish I had changed the last sentence to:
It was only a momentary defying road block, not a block wall.
Untitled Shannon, Continued
“What took you so long,” Kayla said as Shannon sat down.
“Oh … some misguided fool had to be reminded of his limitations when he put is hand on mmmyyyyyyy backside.”
“Did you show him he wasn’t really Billy Badass and put the fear Shannon into him?” Patty said as she moved the iced in her bucket of rum and coke with a thin red straw.
“There was a moment or two of uncertainty … as to whether he was going to keep his ill-placed digits or not,” Shannon mischievous smile caused chuckles all around.
At that moment Jake stepped up besides her leaning against the windowed wall.
“Oh, I see you already got yourself one.”
“Yep. I sure did.”
“Yah, but not without issues,” Patty added.
“Wha’doyah mean?” Jake asked.
“Some guy put his hands on Shannon’s a**,” Patty jumped at the chance to fill Jake in.
“That’s Bullshit,” Jake spewed as he stood back up to full height and began looking around the bar with stern determination.
“Hey … it’s not a big deal Jake. I put him in his place,” she said beaming with self-confidence. “But if I need some assistance with anyone … well, would you help me out?”
“Yes ma’m. You bet.”
“Thank you.”
“Make sure you let me know if that happens again?”
“I will,”
He looked down at her with a stern face, full of protective concern.
“I will,” she reassured him.
“Okay.”
“I promise. In this crowd … I would be honored to have someone watchin’ my back Jake.”
“Oh, I’m watchin’ it,” he smiled widely with a twinkle in his blue eyes, “I am definitely watchin’ your backside,” he said before walking away.
“Ggiiirrrllllll,” Patty teased, “how can you continue to defy nature?”
“Oh my resistance is strong to the nature of that good old boy, it … is … strong,” Shannon replied playfully. “He’s been tryin’ all week to put a notch on his belt buckle in my honor,” she lifted her glass, “and yah’ll know me better than that. I am just not into becomin’ someone’s once a year tap.” She drank on that note.
“Excuses, excuses. You never know when you will be the linchpin in a man’s life,” Patty said.
“Nope,” Shannon was lightly shaking her head as she looked over at Jake and his cronies, “nope, not for that kind of man. He will be a here today, gone at the end of Rodeo week, off to the next town, the next gal ‘til he tires of the road. The he will jus’ be longin’ after it. Like a sucklin’ colt wantin’ out with momma again.”
“While you head off to get another huge-ass latte,” Kayla piped in.
“At least it is somethin’ I can count on bringin’ me pleasure today, tomorrow and next week.”
The trio broke into a chorus of joyful laughter.
Large coffee Resistance Tough guy Limitations Fear Defy Excuses BS Uncertainty Linchpin
MAJOR RESISTANCE
Feelin’ pretty cheesy about the substitutions herein. Sorry!! Took a few days off and got myself a large coffee before writing this one. Sometimes I do experience major resistance to a list, but I reckon this is a bit more than that. I don’t feel any more like a tough guy when I curse than I do when I don’t; which is to say, I suppose, that I rarely feel like anyone who needs to use these words to get through anything I write. Nor do I feel I can give you anything worth the reading with these limitations. I might be able to work one in as character development… I know I have, at times… but today, I’m out. I fear that so many, in just 10 words, leaves me only with a huge desire to defy the rules. So I accept Challenge defeat today and make my excuses, even though I feel bad about it. We’ll call this list more than I am capable of. Or BS. Or both… and I’ll move past the uncertainty of what to do with this list, when rising to every Challenge (eventually, ha ha) is a linchpin of how seriously I treat this wonderful place, and continue on my merry way to #215. Hoping that 215 doesn’t make me feel quite this prickly.