Blog #44

     Today we're doing an exercise called "Random Word Mash-up"

How It Works:

  1. Pick two completely random words (the weirder the combo, the better).

  2. Force yourself to create a character, setting, or story where those two words naturally belong together.

  3. Bonus points if it feels surprisingly cohesive by the end.

My Words: Clock + Dragon

So, here’s the concept:

The world is powered by time dragons, massive serpentine beasts whose scales tick like gears. Every city has one chained in its center, and their steady heartbeats keep time itself flowing smoothly.

But—what happens if a dragon starts slowing down?

  • Guilds of horologists (clock-makers) are basically dragon doctors, tasked with “winding” their city’s beast by crafting enchanted gearwork prosthetics.

  • Time thieves exist—rogue mages who steal seconds, minutes, or even years by injuring or tampering with these dragons.

  • A game set here could have mechanics based on managing limited time, spending it like currency, or even borrowing future moments at great risk.

  • The big twist: players eventually discover that dragons aren’t meant to be bound. The “time crisis” comes from humanity chaining them, not from nature itself.


This exercise is awesome because the clash of random words forces your brain to invent weird connections. You end up creating worlds you’d never have thought of otherwise.

Seriously, try it—grab two words from a dictionary, mash them together, and see what kind of strange universe spills out.

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