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So, you have decided to sign-up for Twitter…you don’t know why, but you do know that it is all that…or, at least that is what your younger sister told you. You have gone to the main page, signed up, waited…nothing. That’s right, nothing. You check the screen for days wondering when the “news” will be flooding in. Once, after signing in, you see a large whale on the screen and then a funky bird. After refreshing your browser a few times, you see a blank spot under your update box. You can’t take it any more. So, you decide to have a conversation with yourself using Twitter.

How will you do this? Who is this other personality? Do you create another account? Or, do you just change voices within the tweet itself? Decide if you followed anyone. Decide if you talked to anyone? Decide on what response you got if any from other out there in the random electronic world. Do you find that people are adding you as a friend? What topics do you cover in the conversation with yourself? What impact does this dialogue have on your more physical life?

Parents always push their children to achieve greatness in everything they do, especially in sports. Whether they are five and just beginning their venture of kicking a small, checkered ball around a grassy field, or they are fifteen and riding the bench of high school sports team wondering whatever happened to the fun days of [...]

Life is like a rollercoaster. A common analogy used to explain the ups and downs of life. When thinking of this rollercoaster though, depending on your experience you may picture a stand alone coaster. One in the middle of a park, perhaps sitting next to a carousel or some other ride. Each are enjoyable experiences [...]

During the month of December, Story Institute will be sharing ideas and methods you can use to start, continue, or revisit the tales you wish to write. The summaries will be short, but may help you tie together the poetry topics, short story topics, and the random writing ideas within Story Institute or those from [...]

Coffee is a great stimulator. It provides that get up and go when the get up has just about gone, or perhaps hasn’t even shown up for the day. Tammy drinks three cups of this magical brew each morning before she even gets into work…one before her shower, one after the gym, and one on [...]

Flying above the clouds can be uplifting, but rather dull if you do it often. Such is the case with Bill. He looks forward to being in a different place at the end of the trip, but the path itself is less than exciting. On one trip between Chicago and Orlando, the plane had to [...]

Unid was a shaman for an ancient tribe. Unfortunately, the tribe had recently vanished. Right before the disappearance, the skies grew dark and Unid lay napping under a poonta tree. When he woke and strolled back to the village, he noticed very little. However, when he got within sight of the moving city, he did [...]

The online community is full of friends we may never meet. However, it is also filled with those who have other intentions…Choose a person, male or female. Choose an age, teenager or younger, senior citizen or younger. Choose a reason that individual was online. Allow them to venture into a forum. Describe the messages. Describe [...]

Time stands still when you do not carry a watch. Time also stands still when you do not know what time is…We can hide from reality and even be put in places to help us pretend more. However, we can not dismiss reality when the lights around us signify changes. Tessa went into the home [...]

Traincor was a tree bender. He has served as the royal tree bender for the last 20 years. Usually, his life is simple. Usually, he completes his tasks, spends time with his family, and helps neighbors with simple tasks. Usually, he doesn’t see the Czartin, the ruler of the realm. This is not a usually [...]

Smithy was also a bit on the heavy side, but he was not too large. He was definitely an over-eater who had hoped at various moments to control his appetite. This was to no avail. Every attempt Smithy made to stop eating caused the desire to grow even more. He never left a meal without [...]

All Hallows Eve brings up many visions and expectations from most. From little children to aged adults, this evening conjures many thoughts and pictures of the ghoulish, the spirit world, and the supernatural. What is you are one of those creatures. You know, the scary members of the night. The great part for you on [...]

Jason’s and Jennifer’s father was a quiet man. He never yelled or struck his children. He never had to discipline his children. Their mother would simply say, “wait until your father gets home,” and they would calm down long before he ever did arrive home. He would ask about their days and watch tv, but [...]

Derek had been raised by his father. Once, when Derek was eight, he asked where his mother was. His father simply replied, she is no longer with us, frowned and went about his day. For an eight-year old, this meant that she had died. Not wanting to know how or why, Derek, never asked again. [...]

When the Jill’s pet rabbit went missing, her friends jumped to help her find him. He was last seen in his cage chomping on a carrot. Small signs of how he got out, escaped, or was taken away still remain on his home. Tiny strips of fabric, bright green cloth are trapped on the cage [...]