Are you feeling adventurous? Let’s have a bet. Here’s the challenge… Write something – drivel or Donne, it doesn’t matter. Each sentence must contain a word starting with the next letter of the alphabet. (This piece follows that rule.) Go as far as you can. Then hone it till it reads smoothly. Is it good enough yet? Just a little more tweaking perhaps? Keep at it – you’re halfway there. Perhaps you need to loosen up a bit?
The game was born when some students working as distillery tour guides for the summer tried to make their hourly repetitions more interesting. Their goal was to insert a number of impromptu words into their set spiel. These words had to be added in strict alphabetical order. At the end of the day, they compared notes as to who had got furthest through the alphabet, and the prize winner got a free dram for their pains.
Quaff something stimulating. Mine’s a red wine please. Those sentences are beginning to flow nicely? Then it’s time to share your masterpiece with your audience. Do they understand what you’ve done? Is each letter of the alphabetic thrusting itself into their view? Watch out – if they crack the code, you’ve lost. Their x-raying eyes have caught you out? Yell in despair. Just zip me my winnings.
Free image courtesy of Pixabay
