Fantasy and dreampunk author Anna Tizard writes stories and novels inspired by the surrealist word game of Exquisite Corpse. 

Send words to annatizard.com/play and hear what happens when your entries are mixed with other people’s and pulled out of… The Socks of Destiny!

Listen, join in, fall about laughing – and open up your imagination to a whole new world of story ideas.

The new format begins here: a personal update, an update on her writing, followed by game play and story brainstorms.

It’s the Completely Bonkers Halloween Episode! Enjoy 3 spooky, mysterious and downright weird stories written by listeners, who’ve all been inspired by Exquisite Corpse game results on this very show!

Are you sitting comfortably? We have: 

“The Deceased Griffin” by Margaret Homersham (inspired by the Exquisite Corpse: “The deceased griffin dug deep into the sackcloth pockets of the great vicar.”)

“A Tale of an Aggressive Centaur and a Gullible Acrobat” by Eryn McConnell (inspired by the Exquisite Corpse: “The aggressive centaur peered through binoculars at the gullible acrobat.”) Find Eryn’s other fiction and links here: Eryn McConnell | Twitter | Linktree

And:

“The Brazen Maggot” by Joseph Clark (inspired by: “The brazen maggot saved, from the stompers, the pompous dietician.”) Find Joseph Clark on Twitter at @ JOSEPHC36233131

(Warning for younger listeners: stories include one mild swear word and some disturbing ideas - but rest assured, no gore on this show! Most is gentle and bizarre/ humorous.)

Then enjoy more surrealist word game mayhem at the end of the show! For the wildest, most surprising writing prompts you’ll ever try.

Join in at annatizard.com/play

Today’s special feature is about a new anthology:  Midwinter Magic & Mayhem edited by Frances Evelyn. Enjoy a dip into these winter-themed tales and find out what inspired the authors, as well as tips on inspiration – before we indulge in some fresh rounds of Exquisite Corpse in the end section of the show!

NOTE: The e-book of Midwinter Magic & Mayhem will be available to subscribers of Anna Tizard’s private email list as a free gift pre-publication on 8th October 2022, before it’s released on sale on 15th October. Make sure you subscribe at www.annatizard.com and hit the “confirm” button afterwards (this will likely land in your spam folder) before 8th October 2022 to get your free copy!

Other links to the book:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BFXFJJMP/

https://www.bklnk.com/B0BFXFJJMP (international link)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62686826-midwinter-magic-and-mayhem

Today’s show presents a mix of new story ideas based on Exquisite Corpses, suggested by listeners; storytelling from an evolutionary psychology perspective; a new book release announcement; more Exquisite Corpse game play; and a Halloween Challenge for you!

Halloween Challenge: Can you write a 400-2K word story based on one of these, or on an adjective-noun combo in any one of them (e.g. “humungous vampire”)?:

1. The disgruntled ghost hunter eloped with the anthropomorphic mushroom.

2. The brutal woodchuck picked a poisonous plant for the watery burgomaster (European mayor).

3. The deceased griffin dug deep into the sackcloth pockets of the great vicar.

4. The aggressive centaur peered through binoculars at the gullible acrobat.

5. The humungous vampire angrily washed the engorged cheese.

Get writing and get in touch at www.annatizard.com!

Episode 13 includes a journey into space! Sit back, relax and enjoy a short story by regular listener, M.L. White, who was inspired by the Exquisite Corpse:

“The pious wizard drifted across the universe with the eloquent courier.”

Next, a discussion about the tricky balance of description versus action, particularly in world-building fantasy; and how an experience in an oral storytelling workshop showed Anna Tizard how description can be used to deliberately alter the pace of a narrative where needed.

Finally, three new Exquisite Corpse games to generate new writing prompts, zanier than ever!

Pens at the ready! It's time to expand your imagination and be inspired to write.

Go to www.annatizard.com to send your Exquisite Corpse-inspired story ideas (or short stories), comment on the show and deliver words to The Socks of Destiny!

As ever, Anna Tizard is your reliably zany inspiration mystic, here to talk about creative writing, brainstorming story ideas and how to take your imagination into new, unchartered territory – even when time, energy and space (or lack of it) seem to be set against us.

Today, the show looks at frustration with time constraints and low energy, when even 20 mins seems too much. Plus: do we need a “sacred space” for our writing? If so, how can we create that space for ourselves?

Includes comments and tips from the lovely online author community. Plus another session of Exquisite Corpse game play, guaranteed to fill your imagination with unique new story ideas you'd never otherwise dream of!

Comment, send story ideas or new words for the Exquisite Corpse games at www.annatizard.com. Inspire your creative writing today!

Today’s show is all about you! Anna Tizard shares listeners’ comments, feedback and some brand new (and incredibly weird!) interpretations of an Exquisite Corpse plucked from the Socks of Destiny in episode 10.

Is there no limit to the interpretations of these writing prompts?

It’s all in your imagination – literally!

Please send comments and ideas to www.annatizard.com/brainstoryum.

How can you stretch your imagination and boost your creative writing skills with just a 20 minute exercise?

Episode 10 includes two exciting announcements - including the first short story written by a Brainstoryum listener! Plus the usual magic and weirdness of Exquisite Corpse. 

Inspire your writing and brainstorm a new story today!

www.annatizard.com.

The Midnight Ship is complete! Don't forget to download your FREE e-book copy at this link. 

The same link is also found at annatizard.com. Spread the word!

This short story simply would not exist without the jumbled-up word suggestions of M.L. White, Frasier Armitage, Dušan Farrington and @WeirdMicro. I have never previously come across a perfumed elf, nor have I ever associated a ship with invisibility or magic boots. All of these elements came together in a round of Exquisite Corpse played during episode 6 ("6-Story Challenge"), when listeners’ words were picked at random to form that fateful sentence: “The perfumed elf swapped boots with the midnight ship.”

Thanks also to Tammy Nieuwoudt, M.L. White and Alessandro Bozzo for their additional feedback on the development of this story (shared in episode 7, "What Happens Next #2").

Enter a few words and phrases at www.annatizard.com/play and join in with the story brainstorms in Brainstoryum. Listen with a pen or a laptop at the ready, and see where your imagination takes you.

Begin your journey into inspiration today!

Following episode no. 7 where Anna Tizard read out the first part of The Midnight Ship, today she explores the wonderful ideas for "what happens next" in this new story, with contributions from indie authors Tammy Nieuwoudt, Alessandro Bozzo and Mariah Bell (M. L. White). 

Discussion includes: how beginnings and endings are intertwined; why character is so important even in a short story; and why it's worth pausing after your first venture into a new draft story to consider ALL your story development options.

Plus: 3 rounds of the zany surrealist word game Exquisite Corpse, for brand new, unique, and imagination-bending story ideas that will get you writing!

Join in, play and subscribe at www.annatizard.com today.