Summer’s here and I thought for a bit of fun, we could write a story together. Each week I’ll post a bit of the story and you’ll leave comments about where you think the story should go. For those of you who read Amber West’s blog, yep, I totally borrowed this idea from her. You can read all of her installments here.
Image credit: outsiderzone / 123RF Stock Photo
What do we need to get started? A hero and a heroine. In the comments, leave your choice for their names. If you think they are human, werewolves, or a pelican, leave that, too.
Let’s make this totally wild and say the adventure will be beyond the boundaries of any one genre. Meaning, we can have shape shifters, magic, a new world, it can be from 1920’s New York, or modern day Paris. The story can go wherever we want it to go. It’s up to you and me.
Where do you think the story should start? In space? On a boat? Just please, don’t say in a fake hospital room with the hero having amnesia. Seriously.
Once we get the characters and location, I’ll write up the beginning of the tale and next week you’ll help me decide something else for the story. I hope you’ll enjoy this as much as I know I will.
The second thing I need your help with is…
Laird Sapir has been hard at work creating a new website for me (which is fabulous, by the way!), and she created the sweetest little teacup dragon as my logo/mascot. The only thing is, the dragon needs a name!
I’ve thought about it until my mind went fuzzy, but just can’t come up with the right name. SO, I’m asking for you to help me name the teacup dragon. I’ll keep the naming open until the website is ready to go live, then I’ll put all the names to a vote. You’ll get to vote on your favorite from all the entries!
Want to meet her? Here she is, the sweetest little teacup dragon I’ve ever seen.
She looks great as either her pink and sparkly self, or in silhouette. I need to have this put on a t-shirt or something. Don’t you think? Love her!
What name would you give her? I need your help! I know I’ve tasked you with a lot this week, but I have every faith that you’ll come through.
I look forward to reading your name choices for the dragon, and your story ideas. The first installment of our tale will be June 4th. Let the fun begin!
Tameri Etherton 
First, I suspect I’ll be in the minority by suggesting something other than a paranormal setting. I’d open this story with the protag in an I-hate-this-job chauffeur uniform, holding a sign for an arriving client of the firm that employs her. If I were prone to put my heroines in less-than-ideal situations, it would be a rainy day. She would have naturally curly hair. Her chauffeur hat would leave Bozo-the-Clown-like frizz poofing around her face. I’ll stop short of giving that client’s last name a naughty twist — like Zatch or Wiener or Goodbottom.
Aaaah! Love your little dragon. I keep picturing you looking for (and finding) bling at Sassy Flamingo. I don’t know her personality, though. Is she a Sassy Lass? A Blingaling? You asked. I answered. You didn’t say it had to be good suggestions.
I love it! A chauffeur… we could go so many places with that. (Pun totally intended). 😉
Of course the teacup dragon loves bling! She’s pink and sparkly and full of sass. Go crazy, Gloria. I can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Love this! I want to be a part, but I’ve got so much other writing to do today that I’m afraid I’ll get too caught up in your story and neglect my own.
I do love your little dragon. For a name, I’d suggest either Mhegor, which is Welsh for imp, or Iremat, which is YOUR name backwards.
WOW! Those are stellar name suggestions, Gayle.
Those totally are stellar names. Mhegor, I’m going to use that in a story whether it’s chose for teacup’s name or not. I adore that name. And Iremat, how clever you are!
We can’t have you neglecting your own story! Stop in when you can and contribute as you like. It’ll be a wild romp for the summer.
Hmm… I’m not sure about that beauty’s name, but I think she’d rock a neon wig! Gorgeous image. I can’t wait to see the new site. 🙂
She would totally rock a neon wig! I wonder if Laird can make one for her… 🙂
I’m afraid I don’t know any dragon-type names, but she is adorable. Maybe you can find one you like here – http://www.20000-names.com/dragon_names.htm
Hero – Smithie Ruskan. Heroine – Lilliana Blackwood. Smithie’s a carpenter, quite a good-looking one mind you! Lilliana’s a forest fairy. 😉 I can’t keep going.
OooOoooh, thanks for the link! That’s a great place to get names for books, too. I love your character names for the story! A carpenter and a faerie. Hmmm. We could have some fabulous adventures with them.
It’s obvious to me that your teacup dragon’s name is — Darjeeling!
I love Darjeeling and to steal a bit from an earlier post, why not invent (seeing as how this is a teacup dragon) a variety of dragon called a Blingling- a small dragon who is attracted to shiny things (preferably expensive) and all things pink. They are known to curl up in recently used tea cups or can be found hiding out in haphazardly discarded tea cozies. Your particular Blingling could be Darjeeling the Blingling, who is know to cause quite a bit of mischief around your kitchen as she goes in search of warm cups and glittering baubles.
Blingling! That’s pretty much a perfect name for the dragon and myself. I love that you have a whole backstory for her, too. She’s a mischievous one, that teacup dragon. Thanks for the great name and storyline for her!
That’s adorable! Thanks Meredith.
Taking Gloria’s idea and tweaking it, I like the idea of starting the story with one of those singing telegrams. The person is dressed up as a unicorn and sent of on assignment to find????? Maybe they can’t find where it is they are supposed to be to deliver their song and dance. Instead, what happens to them?
I LOVE your dragon. My eyes suck, though. I want to see the picture MUCH bigger. I think you should name her Annabelinda. Such a pretty little dragon. .
A singing telegram! A unicorn gets lost while being picked up by a chauffeur… I can already tell this is going to be a fun story. Wherever it leads us!
I know! I’m so sorry the image is tiny. I tried to make it bigger, but it got corrupted and looked weird. I love the name Annabelinda.
Can’t wait to see your new site–and off the top of my head, what about a name that has T in it? Of course, my brain is mush now, so I can’t think of even one. All I got is T. 🙂
Something using Twinkle, perhaps? It suggests stars, which are sky-bling, and it’s alliterative with Tameri.
Hi, Tameri! I’m busy blog-jacking.
Yes. I should be working on my WIP. Off I go!
Gloria, I love it when you blog-jack! Twinkle is good, too. And I love that stars are sky-bling! You know how I feel about bling. I’m so glad I’m putting the names to a vote, I couldn’t possibly pick just one. It’s going to be hard enough choosing the characters and setting from these great ideas.
Hope you got lots of work done on your WIP, Gloria!
Teacup Dragon is adorable. I vote for Penelope. Or maybe Jezebel.
Next week’s story? Humans, definitely humans. Set in modern day America in a national park, like Yellowstore or Yosemite. Names: Hero = Rhorke; Heroine = Roni. (Doesn’t that just sound good together? Rhorke and Roni?)
Whatever. It’s getting late and I’m tired and hungry. I’ll play along where ever you go.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
Oooh, Penelope! Great name suggestions. You crack me up, Rhorke and Roni. That does sound good together. Hmmm… you all are so creative and giving me such great ideas. Hope you got to eat and rest!
Wow! How fun! You are always full of fun, no matter what you are doing! 🙂 LOVE the teacup dragon – feminine yet fierce. How about Teavana (heaven of tea), Teodora, Isabela? I will give the characters more thought.
Oh my gosh, awesome names! Yeah, I’m super glad I don’t have to pick. That’s up to all of you. Teodora, love!
Tamerie – You’ve outdone yourself again. Yoour Teacup Dragon is adorable and I’m so in favor of putting her on everything you can find. As for names, I’m totally the wrong person to ask. I do love some that have been suggested.
My mind is frayed as I’ve been taking DH from one appointment to another today but if nothing else, will be rooting you along as the story comes to life. I’m not good with ‘other worlds’ but I’ll roll with whatever you select.
Isn’t she the sweetest? I’m just in love with her!
I hope DH is doing well and it’s nothing serious. Make sure you take some time for yourself while you’re caring for your DH!
Aloha 🙂
Ok, so if the dragon is standing over a teacup, there can be only one name for her: Earlie Grey.
And for the cast of characters… Lulu, a top commodities trader who’s bored and lonely meets Kodey, the handsome janitor who’s newly paroled after five years in jail for a crime he *did* commit.
Of course! Aloha is so sweet. Oh, I thought that was your name choice. 😉 Earlie Grey. You slay me!
Newly paroled for a crime he did commit. That’s great! Hmm, what would be the crime? So many great ideas here.
Tipsy the Teacup Dragon?
Tipsy! I love it. She does look a bit tipsy… Thanks for the suggestion. You’re all picking some fabulous names.
Love this! So much fun!
How about Pekoe (tea theme) or Larkspur for your adorable teacup dragon.
For the story? Lets go crazy….
Setting: Steampunk Victorian England.
Hero: Sir Malcom Wallace. Famed knight of the realm, a war hero.
Heroine: Lindsay Skye – crash landed space pilot from an exploration vessel from planet Faraway.
Hahaha. Have fun!
OoOooh, fantastic names. I love them both!
Sir Malcom and Lindsay Skye, I’ve never written steampunk. That could be wild.
Hi Tameri,
Would you be willing to participate in something we are doing for Susie Lindau on Friday morning? I am contacting as many of her followers as possible. My thought is that we all post on our own blogs on Friday with the same title, “Susie Strong”. The content would say something simple like, We are thinking of you. I haven’t known Susie for long but this blogging world is such a family. I thought it would be nice for her to see this message from as many of us as possible. Her husband is going to be updating us after her surgery. He can tell her or she can see it once she is up to it. Are you in? Thanks, Maria aka brickhousechick
Maria, you are the SWEETEST! Hmm, I’ve got a guest post for Friday, but will find a way to incorporate this into the post. I am all about showing our dear Susie how much we love her. Excellent idea! Could I post my Susie Strong today and then have the guest post tomorrow? I need to noodle this.
Hi! We were thinking of surprising her with the Susie Strong tomorrow morning! Could you do two posts? Your guest one and a short one with just the Susie Strong? Whatever you think is best! 🙂
That’s exactly what I was thinking. I’ll set the Susie Strong to post first thing in the morning and Gayle’s post a little after that. GMTA!! (That means, Great Minds Think Alike…)
Thanks again for thinking of this. She’s going to be so surprised!
Eee, teacup dragon! That sounds like a pet I should be able to buy…
And she’s whispering in my ear that her name is Zatima. 😀
And I’m sorry, but I’m totally drained on story ideas the moment O.O. Brain is essentially fried. I’ll let you know if that status changes.
I totally want my own teacup dragon. I would love her and pet her and cuddle her…
Zatima! I am SO glad I don’t have to choose the name. You’ve come up with some great ones! Zatima sounds so flirty and fun, doesn’t it?
Hope your brain isn’t so fried today, but I totally understand.
Your story idea sounds like a blast! For the hero and heroine, I vote Ethan and Hannah (Hannah is one of the heroines in the series I’m writing, but you can borrow it 🙂 ). Both human, but lost in a fairytale.
For your dragon? We already know I’m a little weird, but I like Bob. Since she’s a girl, it could be short for Roberta. 🙂
Ah, Ethan and Hannah. They sound like they could get into some real trouble, don’t they?
I laughed out loud when I read this. My husband and son thought I’d lost my mind, but you totally crack me up. Bob. Love it!
I thought I commented!!
Probably too late for ideas, but I am super excited to see what you come up with!
It’s never to late to comment or add a name! If you come up with one, come back and let us know. Thanks, Amber!
I love the icon! It’s so you! I can’t think of a name…I haven’t had coffee. Though I do think Iremat has interesting possibilities. (as suggested above). Or you could shorten that…Iry. Ire? hmmm, that sounds angry now lol. Yep need more coffee.