August 19, 2006
301 Links in Story — Chapter 2 Lizzie Meets Fred
Liz published this at 9:11 am
[For those of you just tuning in, this is based on the 301 Lists that Darren Rowse's List Group Writing Project brought together. You'll find Chapter 1 here --> A List Becomes 301 Links in Story  Chapter 1 ]
On the Airplane
Lizzie had just gotten comfortable, when as every frequent flier knows, the inevitable happened. She was interrupted by the guy sitting next to her.
“Hey! Want to hear about Keeping Sociable on Long Trips?” he said. “I’m Fred.”
“No thanks.”
“How about What to Expect When You’re Not Expecting It?”
“Busy. Sorry.”
“Yazarken Dikkat EttiÄŸim Kurallar”
“What?”
“Okay, then,” he said. ” ‘Pahk ya cah Hahvahd Yahd,’ or, Regional Linguistic Pet Peeves might interest you more.”
Listless Lizzie just turned and stared at him.
“Got your attention. Didn’t I? In your opinion, what movies are the Top 13 Black Comedies?”
“Excuse me?”
“I see you read a lot. Perhaps you’re more interested in Graphical Visualization – Making Sense Out of Data.”
“Were you at Successful Blog the night that we invited the Aliens?”
“I’m sorry,” Fred answered. “I noticed you seemed a bit listless. I was doing my best to offer some cheer. Do you need help Finding Time and Creating Balance? Do you know The Top Ten Important Aspects of a Game? Would you like me to explain Why I Tithe? Do you have a boyfriend? Do you need one?”
“No. No. Ah, no. No and no,” Lizzie said, still reading the Top 10 Reasons To Find an Event Planner for your Next Party, and not really listening.
“Then I guess you don’t need Wedding songs for the despair Generation, unless you like to prepare early.”
That’s when Lizzie went back to a list called, Seven Things Not to Do on a Plane, but there was no mention of talking to a guy named Fred. Fred was no Darren. That much was clear. She didn’t need 10 steps to improve your ESP, healing and psychic abilites to figure that out.
Fred Talks Money
Lizzie gave up on the chance for a peaceful flight. She asked Fred what he did for a living. He said he was financial advisor to Steve Forbes and Donald Trump. He offered to give her advice investments and trade deals.
“I can show you the Best Current Deals, Promotions, and Sign Up Bonuses.”
“Sure,” Lizzie thought, “Forbes and Trump — I bet he helps out Greenspan when Greenspan gets confused.”
“While you’re thinking of Alan Greenspan,” Fred interrupted.
“You read that ESP list didn’t you?”
“Let me tell ya the Top Ten Reasons to Love Digital Gold, Greenspan likes it. Sally Greenspan that is.”
“Maybe Fred is the answer to my listlessneess. I could use a challenge,” Lizzie thought. I’ll become an entrepreneur and make mounds of money.”
Our little flyer listened to Fred spout the 5 Reasons Why Every Entrepreneur Should Workout, 10 Ways to Immediately Start Saving Money, and The 10 Best Money Moves You Can Make. Soon she knew How Your Credit Card Can Earn You Money.
Lizzie started taking notes for the future.
Four Kinds of Money Making Websites You can Start By Yourself She’d hire someone to do that.
5 Ways of Marketing Salvation She’d outsource that little piece of heaven.
Non-Profit Websites Fred said to check out their business models.
Best of Small Biz Survival She’d have to remember to ask Becky what wasn’t the best about surviving?
“Hey, Lizzie. Let me tell you The 10 Things We did to Erase almost $9,000 in Credit Card Debt in Less than 6 Months, and then I’ll explain Five reasons why you should always buy in lots.
“What are you talking about? Every little kid knows about lots and lots and lots — who doesn’t want lots? Lots of money — Five things I would do if I had $20,000? Lots of chocolate — How to Gain weight without really trying (and the antitheses)? Lots of sleep — How to be a Better Sports Radio Caller? We all want lots of everything.”
Fred didn’t correct her misunderstanding. After all, he knew she wasn’t about money anyway.
“Oh Fred, you’re so silly, . . . I should have known better than to think I’d find the answer on an airplane tripl I read Manage your time by Mastering Conversation Stoppers. I’m glad I met you though. Quick tell me a story about Steve Forbes and Donald Trump. I need a nap before we land.”
But Lizzie didn’t sleep . . . she was thinking about kids, and lots, and lots, and lots, and Paris, and . . . emoticons.
But that’s what happens in ———————–> Chapter 3.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
.
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30 Comments to “301 Links in Story — Chapter 2 Lizzie Meets Fred”
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Big Roy said
Your Link Stories are incredible Liz. I wish I had half your talent for writing and coming up with ideas.
ME Strauss said
Roy,
You would have to have a LARGE dose of complete insanity and a willingness for the world to see it. I’m not sure you would want that.
Big Roy said
You’re probably right. You are very open to the world. I wonder what it is we don’t see?
One persons insanity could be anothers dream.
Sabine said
Liz, this is brilliant!
While I’m a big fan of Darren’s group writing projects, hist list project didn’t interest me until now.
As an instructional designer, I see a massive list of random lists as information overload. This is not a good thing. One way to help that is to organize the lists in some way.
But you came up with a way I hadn’t even thought of, and one that always grabs people — tell a story. And a funny one, at that.
Great work, I’m impressed as hell with your talent.
Brian Clark said
Liz, this is awesome!
ME Strauss said
Hi Sabine,
I’m not much of a list fan myself. I guess that’s why my bullet points usually become paragraphs.
But this little task that I’ve set for myself reminds me of high school. When we’d get an assignment that wasn’t particularly of interest, I would have find to a way that would make it fun for me.
I didn’t have to link to folks on Darren’s list, but it’s only right that I should . . . so i found a way that it might fun for everyone and that everyone could get a link!
Of course, now I have to write a whole book worth of a story to get it done. I’m not sure I knew what I was getting myself into, but if folks are enjoying. Heck, why not?
ME Strauss said
Brian,
Coming from you . . . Wow! Thank you!
ME Strauss said
Hey Big Roy!
What a philosopher you are! Being a little bit crazy seems to work for me. One of my favorite songs has the line in it
“Crazy is just a point of view.” Guess you agree with it too.
Big Roy said
I agree totally.
Something else to think about.
“Normality is the abnormality of being normal.”
ME Strauss said
Roy,
I so agee. I don’t know what to say to that.
Danielle said
What an awesome post! Whee, I’m in there too (at my goods-collecting blog, Zenin Princess.) My post is useful only to the strange and online-auction-addicted, I fear, but it was fun starting my first series via ProBlogger! (Darren’s fantastic, I wish I’d found him — and you! — earlier on in my blogging “life”.)
ME Strauss said
Hi Danielle,
Yes, I saw you were there. It was fun finding you. I’m glad you’re a part of the family now. We’re having a good time this weekend.
Though I don’t know how I’m ever going to finish this story. . . . I do have some kookie ideas!
mooiness said
Damn that’s a ingenious way of stringing together all those disparate posts! Very impressed, I am. And I hope my little tip can earn you and/or your readers a buck or two.
kahpecüce said
Geez! I am right in there!
The idea is brilliant! must be fun to build up a story with all these lists and links.
ME Strauss said
Hi mooiness,
Welcome and thank you. I had fun reading all of the post as I put them in the story. I’m getting wise and smarter by every link I make.
ME Strauss said
Hello kahpecüce,
it’s fun, but I’ll tell you it’s not so easy. I’m not even half way to finished. I’m still thinking of how to link of the rest.
Thank you for taking the time to comment.
Tasra Dawson said
Very creative response to the list project! I’m impressed. Thanks for the link!
ME Strauss said
Hi Tasra,
Welcome and thank you. This creative response is still under construction. It’s a fun weekend project!
Tammy said
Liz – I was flat out impressed by part one but part two has me wanting to know what happens NEXT plus each link went to the coolest lists ~ Not only do you weave a wickedly wonderful storie … the placement of the links makes you want to click through to see what’s “behind the door.”
Bask in the glory we all know that it’s a creative mindboggling feat!
ME Strauss said
Tammy,
I was over at your blog, reading your post when this comment came. Thinking deeply about your view of the blogosphere and agreeing.
Wow! You give me so much credit! I am now done with Chapter 3 and into Chapter 4 now. There is a touching parting scene with Fred, a great hotel and romance to come . . .
Tammy said
Well in my “high school” you have now moved up a major notch ~
because cool is cool anywhere.
As for view – There is a big, BIG thought coming soon… I’m writing my way through it.
I like Fred already!
ME Strauss said
Hey Tammy,
Thanks, I like your high school too. I can feel the big thought in process. I’ll wait for it.
Fred has a big heart and a kind soul, isn’t he?
Rico said
How many more classic chapters can we expect about this storied saga?
ME Strauss said
Hi Rico,
There are so many links and in order to tell a story I can only get so many links into one post. So right now it’s looking like it will take 6 maybe 7 Chapters to tell the whole story. Right now I’m in the middle of writing Chapter 5 — she’s in a chocolate bar with an artist type named Jean.
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