Last week, I introduced Literary Game No. 2. It was rather unique. And because it was so unique, I didn't expect many entries. I got three.
But, oh, what a three!
All three stories, and all three words on which they were based, were incredible. I asked writers to create a new English word, one that ends with the letter J. Those three words, and their creators, were:
- Forj by @beckyroyal
- Croj by @esbat
- Sperj by @alonicus
Now, these are the stories.
From Forj to Sperj: How the Letter J Entertains Us
The first entry in Literary Game No. 2 came from @beckyroyal. Here's how she forjed through Literary Game No. 2 to invent a new word and tell a story using it.
The Need to Forj by @beckyroyal
My invented word is Forj
Meaning: Its meaning is metaphorical and it refers to resilience and ability to push through obstacles.
To read the story, click here.
SWING-BY by @esbat
My proposed word ending in j.
“CROJ": liquor distilled illegally from C-405 engine coolant. It refers to the old grog or watered-down rum that sailors and pirates used to drink on Earth.
To read this amazing bi-lingual microstory by @esbat, click here.
Sperj by @alonicus
"The word is Sperj. Strange, Huh ? It's an acronym. As well as a noun, an adjective and a verb. It comes from the new medication authorised and required by the World Health Authority Presidium (W.H.A.P.). SPERJ.... it stands for Synthetically Produced Endorphin Replacement Jelly. We've all got to take it, and it's guaranteed to be harmless with no adverse side effects !"
Sperj is the longest of the stories, but it's well worth your read. To check out this great creation from @alonicus, click here.
And Now, It's Time for Literary Game No. 3
I try to make each game different. Some are prompts, some are exercises. Some may be writing assignments, or word invention games. Any way you look at it, my goal is to challenge your writing chops. If you're up to the challenge, like this post, share it, and subscribe. I'm taking you on a roller coaster ride.
This week's literary game is this:
Write a FARMPUNK story.
And what is farmpunk, you ask? Glad you asked. Here it is in a nutshell:
Farmpunk is a literary genre that marries high technology with low agriculture. Think tractors powered by artificial intelligence. Rural living with an urban attitude. If you can imagine the coexistence of drug deals gone bad, temple prostitution, and seedy noir murders with wholesome family values, futuristic landscapes, and forward-looking food production practices, then you've got the essence of farmpunk.
Want to see a few examples? Sure, check these out:
- Ember and The Burning Barn - She found a baby dragon. It ate the horses. Then something incredible happened.
- Altland's Gambit - Net Altland and his neighbor are at war. Cows get shot. Tractors explode. And spiderbots chase a man's wife to her lover. You won't believe how this one ends.
- Racioppa's Revenge - PVC cornhole, drone espionage, and a burning barn. What's not to like?
Your farmpunk story can be any length. A short story. Flash fiction. Microfiction. As long as you give it some attitude.
Write about the future. Write about the past. Put it in present-day Mozambique if you wish. But make it about farming. And the underbelly of life. With high-tech as a central focus. Give us Yellowstone with a twist of Star Trek. Or Rollerball with a mid-sized dose of Little House on the Prairie. Above all, surprise us.
And now ... for the rules.
The Unbendable Rules of Literary Game No. 3
Like any game, literary games must have rules. These are the rules of Literary Game No. 3.
- Upvote and reblog this post.
- Tell a farmpunk story that makes us laugh, cry, or puke golden bricks
- Publish before next Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 12:00 UTC
- Tag your story #literarygames.
- Read other participants' stories, upvote the ones you like, and comment.
- Post your farmpunk story into any appropriate writing community, following that community's rules.
- After publishing, drop a link to your story in the comments below.
- HAVE FUN!
Are you a writer looking for a community? Join one of these Hive writing communities:
As usual, I'm looking forward to reading your stories. Have a great week.
@lauretb93 @luchyl @babygirl888 @ozd, still interested in the literary games? Come join us!
Farmpunk image created by Whisk.
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