The Making of Butternut Squash Soup: A Story of Random Punctuation

Seeing the new in the normal

Love them, or hate them. ‘Commas’ and ‘fullstops’ are here to stay. What if we used them, but used them wrongly? Would we discover new meanings? A zing zang flow. Fun? A new way of writing sentences.

In this experiment, I wrote a short story about making Butternut Squash soup. Then I gave it a brand new look and flow. Most of my reworded story sucked, but within it, I found new gems, sentences I loved. I hope you find them too.

Punctuated Properly

The Making of Butternut Squash

I must have checked the recipe at least five times. Out of ten highly rated recipes returned by Google search, I selected one by Mary Berry, an acclaimed TV chef. It seemed simple enough, I scrolled whilst glancing through my kitchen cupboard.

What do I need? What do I have?

I had most things, except, perhaps the most important — Butternut Squash. I made a mental note to purchase it, but gazing out the window to a mist grey and dull. Not a day to be out. I sat and wrote instead.

The weather improved.

Within the hour, I had a Butternut Squash in my hands. The task before set, but it was impossible, … until I found the right knife. Peeling off more squash than skin, I found plenty of the orange stuff. Displaying before me, sliced, reminding me of a Barbados sunset, colouring the sky above the ocean, would it darken if I left it out? Not this time.

Next I chopped onions, garlic, peppers and ginger. I would sauté if I was a chef. Instead I fried them quickly in hot fat. A fresh wind blew into the kitchen as I opened the window. I had to, or else my clothes would smell of ginger. Not that I minded the smell of ginger.

Making the soup was easy. I put everything into the Vitamax and waited for 5 mins of thunderous chaos. I wondered if my neighbours heard? It would certainly wake the dead. The house shook while the mixer worked its magic Hot soup in a bowl, five minutes later with a sprig of thyme.

I sat down to heaven.

Punctuated Randomly

The Making of Butternut Squash

I must have. Checked the recipe at least five times out of ten highly rated recipes returned. By Google search I selected one by Mary Berry an acclaimed TV chef it seemed, simple enough I scrolled whilst glancing through my kitchen cupboard what do I need what do.

I have I had most, things except perhaps! The most important — Butternut Squash I made a mental note. To purchase it but gazing, out the window to a. Mist grey and dull not a day to go out I sat? And wrote instead the weather improved within the. Hour I had a butternut.

Squash in my hands the task before set but, it was. Impossible until I found the, right knife peeling off more squash. Than skin I found plenty of the orange stuff displaying before. Me sliced reminding me of a Barbados sunset colouring the sky. Above the ocean would it darken if I left it.

Out not.

This time next I chopped, onions garlic peppers and ginger I would sauté if I was a chef instead I fried them quickly in hot fat a fresh. Wind blew into the kitchen as I opened the window I had to or else my. Clothes would smell of ginger not that I minded the smell of ginger making. The soup was easy I put everything into the Vitamax and waited for 5 mins, of thunderous chaos i. Wondered if my neighbours heard it would certainly.

Wake the dead the house? Shook while the mixer worked its magic hot soup in a. Bowl five minutes later with, a sprig of thyme I sat down to heaven.

Join the Challenge

I invite my fellow writer friends to join the challenge. Please tag me if you do, I’d love to read your stories.

Here’s the process

• Write a short story/article about anything, 250–300 words, or use an existing story with punctuation used correctly.
• Copy the story, and remove all punctuation, Capital letters (except nouns) and paragraphs.
• As quickly as you can insert the punctuation back, randomly without thinking. Do this in less than 30 seconds.
• Lastly paragraphs to your story.
• Read your story again and smile, enjoy the creativity, cool new sentences and word flows.

I would love to read randomly punctuated stories from some of my old friends:

Suntonu Bhadra Gurpreet Dhariwal Jim Latham Aurora Eliam, CMP Lizzie Bestow Pete Ross René Junge George J. Ziogas Darrin Atkins Helen Cassidy Page Linda Caroll Julia E Hubbel Trista Ainsworth Tony Young, Jr. Amy Marley Kathryn A. LeRoy, Ph.D. Desiree Driesenaar Dipti Pande Erin King Alison Tennent Paul Myers MBA P.G. Barnett Rasheed Hooda Henery X Manasi Diwakar Eli Snow Rochelle Miller IMΛBӨПG FΛMIПЦ Wistful writer Gita Das Holly Jahangiri Roz Warren Sherry McGuinn

And inviting a few of my new friends:

Hunter Eskew Sonia Chauhan Harry Hogg David Logan Hayter Darrin Atkins Tony Triche Judson Hurd Leanne Lamalia FILZA CHAUDHRY Jade-Ceres Violet D. Munoz Jessica Cote Jojo Nusrat Nisa Caroline de Braganza Erik Ruof

Hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

My favourite new sentences

A bit random, but could be the start of a great paragraph with a few tweaks

• Mist grey and dull not a day to go out I sat.
• Wake the dead the house?
• Above the ocean would it darken if I left it.
• I have I had most, things except perhaps!
• Wind blew into the kitchen as I opened the window I had to or else my