Channeling My Inner Jack Handey: 100 Random Thoughts in 20 Minutes Writing Challenge

A short, fun creative writing exercise — try it, it’s great!

She’s probably thinking about Maryland Steamed Blue Crabs covered in Old Bay. Photo by DanaTentis/Pixabay.

I have 1,000,002 stories floating around in my weird brain. I may craft and write 2% of these ideas — as long as they remain only ideas, I can lie to myself about my faux genius storytelling talent.

I mostly stay away from writing challenges, but every once in a while, a talented writer friend will bait me and reel me in. And then? I Must. Comply.

So it is with the 100 Random Thoughts in 20 Minutes writing challenge that I avoided through the first go-around a year ago, but Buddy Gott challenged me to take part in the sequel — he’s the nicest human on this platform, and I can’t say no to him.

Buddy was compelled to join in by the Pied Piper of writing challenges, my favorite East Texan, Paul Combs. I call Paul “East Texas” occasionally, and I feel that by doing so, I’ll magically attract Stephen King to get in touch (“East Texas” was Stu Redman’s nickname in The Stand. Paul would’ve made an excellent addition to Mother Abigail’s team in this apocalyptic tale).

I will only throw down the gauntlet to one other writer, Ben Ulansey, because I don’t think he’ll curse my name for doing so, and I know he’ll…