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Sep-20-2009 00:25

So, in Writer's Workshop, Heimlich VonVictor advises:

"As tempting as it can be to include a romantic sub-plot or gear your story towards a specific gender, it's better not to, because you will appeal to a much larger demographic."

Secret Squirrel suggested putting "in a non-gender specific romantic sub-plot" to liven things up.

So here is your challenge. Write a non-gender specific romantic story of some sort. It can be like an Intro, or a short story, but you MUST be able to read it as a man or a woman, and envision the opposite gender in the other part.

Spelling and grammar DO count. There is one entry per person, and the deadline is October 4, 23:59 SST.

Winner will get a 3 month subscription!

Good luck and happy posting!

Sep-20-2009 11:23

Thanks Ms Helen! It should prove to be interesting! :D

Sep-20-2009 16:57

I mentioned this in a PM, but I think an example of some sort might help.

Sep-20-2009 17:07

"you MUST be able to read it as a man or a woman, and envision the opposite gender in the other part. "

Shouldn't that read "and envision either gender in the other part."?

/:|

Sep-20-2009 17:59

LOL Ency, we're into the politically correctness in here now, aren't we? hee hee hee.

I was browsing through some gender neutral names and here's few website i found. Hope this helps :)
http://www.prv.se/In-English/Personal-names/Find-your-personal-name/Gender-neutral-first-names/
http://www.babynames1000.com/gender-neutral/
http://evan.nixsyspaus.org/names/
http://lisachellman.com/blog/2009/01/gender-neutral-names-so-hot-right-now

Sep-20-2009 22:00

Ok, here is an example in the form of an Intro.



I gazed into the blue eyes of the sexy body standing in front of me and I just had to kiss those lips...

But just then a knock sounded at the door, my lover pulled back, and the moment was lost.

I bit off a curse as I yanked open the door to my office.

"What?" I asked shortly.

A heavy, timid looking man stood in the doorway, sweeping him right hand through windswept curly hair.

"Hello, detective? Are you...busy?" he looked from me to the body fidgeting uncomfortably behind me.

"Yes, but what is it? Someone died?" I was in no mood to be gentle.

Looking shocked, the man started telling me about his Business Partner, Manfred Lam, murdered the previous afternoon while in bed with his lover. Clearly, this town hated love.

The Business Partner promised me a tidy sum and his eternal gratitude, and gave me some names...

Sep-22-2009 13:32

I could not believe it? The target of my dreams, right in front of me?

My breathing started to get trouble, my concentration faded away...

My ears was listening to THAT voice. The voice that only had appeared in my dreams before. Was it really true? So close to me, and still..

The voice said "Hi", and it sounded so natural, as if we had known each other a long time. I responded with a faint "hi..." and looked up into the most blue eyes you can think of. So wise, so deep. In an instant I was lost. The moment was magic. All those hours I had dreamed about this, and now it was a reality. It was all as tender and loaded as I always believed it would be.

And then.... The touch.
So soft. It said it all.

-----------------
From here the story can go on for a while, or have an ending.
What ending will depend on how the story is to be used. I have sevral alternatives:
--------
Deep inside we both knew that this was going to last forever.
--------
or:
--------
Suddenly the magic broke when a voice from the other room said "You finished now? Do we get the money?"
--------
or:
--------
Then I woke up.
--------
or:
--------
Then a mechanic click, and a voice said "Time's up. Insert new polette to continue"
---------------

Sep-29-2009 21:22

We were in a world of our own, one where nothing mattered, where no one else existed.

My love held me close and whispered words that entwined our hearts. Words that kept me imprisoned in the dream, for it could only be a dream. I knew it was a dream; I knew I was sleeping. And yet... and yet I didn't fight it. Couldn't fight it. For the reality of the waking world would separate me from the heart of my heart.

But it couldn't last, it was never meant to last. Love never does. Dreams fade upon waking, and the pounding on my office door was pulling me quickly to the real world. I'd fallen asleep at my desk again; it had been a late night full of dull surveillance. Who wants to follow an accountant around? Not I, but I was being well paid to do so. But now I was tired.

"Just a moment, don't wear your knuckles out," I yelled, quickly swiping a damp cloth over my face and patting my mussed hair into place. "Come in, come in," I called out after a moment, and was busy rearranging the papers on my desk when the door opened and closed. There was a gentle throat-clearing sound, and I looked up into eyes I'd - until that moment - only seen in dreams.

I did some throat-clearing of my own, blinking rapidly while I gathered my scattered wits. What to say? Inanely, I gestured to a chair, thinking I'd prefer us both on the sofa, side by side, holding hands. Instead, those gentle hands held out a large envelope to me. "Everything you need to know is in there, Detective. It's a fairly simple matter, and you should be able to clear it up quickly." I nodded, drinking in those dulcet tones.

The unknowing center of my universe walked to the door, opened it, and turned to me with a knowing smile.

"See you in your dreams, Detective."

Sep-30-2009 00:12

The moonlight glistened on the river beside us, a shimmering light in the cool night air. Hand in hand we strolled along the river, I don't know how long or how far we walked, I wasn't even sure how long it would last.

We had only known each other for a month but it felt like a lifetime. I knew everything about this soul in front of me and I could tell they thought the same. Oh how wrong they were.

We came to a standstill and slowly turned to face each other. Deep blue, almost black, eyes looked straight into my soul while soft lips moved slowly towards me. It would have been the perfect moment if it wasn't for one thing. My stomach churning, I had a secret and I knew it would mean the end of this seemingly wonderful evening and indeed our life together.

What the person standing in front of me didn't realise was that I was an undercover detective; I had been assigned this 'role' several months in advance. I had thought it would be a difficult role, after all how can you fake love. I was right it was a difficult role but not because I had to fake love but because I was falling in love. I tried to fight it but I couldn't, I really did like this person and the fact that they was a felon barely registered.

I never thought I would have to choose between my job and my personal life, how naive I was.

Oct-2-2009 13:38

I did not know it yet but i just met a my future and my best friend at Lulu's diner. So I sit down at the counter thinking typical night at Lulu's. Jerry and Doris (the elderly couple who adopted me when my parents Died) were sitting at the regular table sipping the afternoon coffee. Kyler (waitress) was off tonight taking care of her kids. Jasper (the best cook ever) cooking a grilled cheese. Hmm I don't know of any regulars that ordered that. Oh well i thought to myself. As i looked at the menu(even though I already knew what I wanted)and scanned it and set it down.
"Give me a cheeseburger and hold the fries" I said.
"Sure, like always." he smiled. "But Let me finish this order." He glanced over my shoulder.
"Will you?" he said shoving a plate ,of grilled cheese and fries, my way motioning towards the table.
I wondered for a moment, then turn to see what he had been talking about. Sitting there in one of the (rarely occupied) booths, was this gorgeous being. Smiling softly I grabbed the plate of food, and slowly walked over. The person smiled.
"Thank you."
I smiled "Your welcome." As I turned to walk away a hand caught my arm.
"Will you stay please?". I thought for a moment.
"Ok sure, I don't have anything to do over there anyway." I sat down and said the only thing I could think to ask.
"Are you new around here?" Of course you dolt! I thought to myself.
"Yes I fact I just moved into a farm house down the road from here."
Hmm the only farm house around here is that old worn down place. Maybe it's a mistake.
"You mean the old Phantom Ranch?" I asked curiously.
"Yes. If you don't mind, Could you tell me why it's called that?"
"Sure. Its really a boring story though"
"I'm Listening" The person said smiling.
************


"And that's why it's called Phantom Ranch."
"You know that makes so much sense now. Um I think we are the only ones left."
For the first time since I sat down, I looked around to see that Jerry & Doris had left. Even Jasper had left. I spotted a paper by the phone booth. I stood up and strode to the booth. I

Oct-2-2009 16:47


We were both locked in an eternal grip. The moon was full and bright: beautiful… almost blinding… Yet I could not help but feel the ache with every passing minute as the night came to an end.

“We cannot continue to meet like this… we have to find a way to make this right.”

“We can only continue like this… you know that…” came the reply I knew I was going to get.

“Why does love have to be persecuted. Is there not enough in the world to worry about? Why are we all that’s wrong in their eyes?”

“Because we were not meant to be.”

But I knew we were. We both knew that our love was meant to exist. The touch of our skins against one another was as soft as the petals of the many lilies we exchanged.

‘Never roses…’ I reflected. ‘Roses were too telling… and our love was not meant to be told.’

“We must get going.” That tender voice broke my immortal silence. “We only have an hour left before sunrise. We must use that hour to get back.”

“Why can’t we use it to express our love? And use every hour after that to do nothing but love?”

I was silenced by a kiss, and like always, we did not speak after we kissed.

***

That next day I was strong and determined. By nightfall I was on my way to our usual midnight meeting.

In my left hand I carried a deep crimson rose.