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@Voice.club-VIP - Fiction - Tumbleweed - a Voice Club collaboration
Final Version - [2024.10.26]
[This story was written by @JulieRHarris @CarrieOLeary @MargaridaBrei @Regina @SusanGiles @Lotchie @DeborahGoulding @MelissaTaggart ]
Voice Club - VIP Writing Event - Collab 2024
https://Voice.club - “Listen up, everyone!” The saloon keeper shouted down the boisterous crowd. “Grab your hats and leave! Two bad hombres are heading this way. Bound to be trouble. Go home, now!”
The patrons grumbled and downed the last dregs from their glasses before making their way to the door. They exited the saloon into a fiery sunset.
An alarming crash thumped buildings off foundations and sent tumbleweeds flying into the atmosphere. After the dust settled, an unworldly space craft was found buried in the main street.
“Well, shoot,” Shorty muttered. “Looks like it’s them Martian brothers agin. Won’t they never learn to land?”
“Cut!” The producer bellowed. “Can’t you see we’re filming a Western? ‘Martian Invasion’ is Studio B. Now get that hunk of metal outta here! And Shorty - no more ad-libs!”
The film crew approached the partially buried item, grumbling about the time its removal would take. As they reached for the protrusions on its surface, a door suddenly sprung open.
Then they saw a spooky smoke from inside. Then tumbleweed blew around as cold as a ghost coming out and started to fly with an angry sound towards their direction.
“Run as fast as you can!” someone shouted from afar.
The director hollered at the PA nearby. “Shut that door immediately! Nobody leaves the set!" Tumbleweeds whipped at his face.
A scathing scream ripped through the studio. The tumbleweeds were becoming voracious flesh eaters.
“That’s it!” Shorty yelled, throwing down his ten-gallon hat. “I’m calling my agent and SAG union representative. I jes cain’t work like this!”
The producer gathered his actors round. “Only thing left is to go on strike.” Off they marched, smack dab into the Technicolor sunset, signs protesting: “No more AI screen writers!”
A lone tumbleweed rolled through the empty set, leaving behind a single page that simply said, “Fade Out.”
1 Like
Wow! This was some roller-coaster! Lots of excitement produced by all the writers. And those twists and turns were brought to a beautiful finale by Julie and Melissa. Loved it!
Wow! I didn’t expect that it would end as beautiful as this. Yes, Regina ( @Regina ) it is a roller-coaster. I loved it also. I was in tears because of joy while listening and reading to it. Good job to all of us @JulieRHarris @CarrieOLeary @MargaridaBrei @Regina @SusanGiles @DeborahGoulding @MelissaTaggart
This story was indeed a roller-coaster! But it turned out surprisingly well, thanks to all the creative folks who added to it. @Regina - I especially liked your character Shorty and his wonderful vernacular. The AI voice that the Soft Art team picked to record “Tumbleweed” was perfect as Shorty!
Hats off to @MelissaTaggart I couldn’t imagine how to end this story, but Melissa, you did it!! Superb job.
2 Likes
Thank you, Julie.
Hats off to everyone . This was a great collaboration!
1 Like