On Saturday, young authors convened for When Wallets Eat Words, 826LA East's first workshop ever.

All thirteen students learned how to put together stories in one way or another. Screenwriter James Ponsoldt gave them a rundown on carefully piecing together beginnings, middles, and ends, but he also demonstrated rather unconventional methods—the surrealist game Exquisite Corpse and its cousin, the old parlor game Consequences. Below is a story written in the latter manner.

Ryan Seacrest met Gwen in the sewers.
He said to her: "YOU MAKE ME SICK."
She said to him: "YOU SHOULD GIVE ME FLOWERS."
He learned a lesson.

By afternoon's end, the writers felt confident enough to create their first commissioned works. The graphic artists at Poketo have promised to produce designer wallets based on the students' stories (which will form the inner lining of each wallet), and each student proved worthy of the task, taking everything learned that afternoon and crafting his or her own magnum opus.

In a few months, when the wallets are ready, they will be sold, and the proceeds will benefit student programming at 826LA. Of course, every student will receive a wallet lined with his or her story. Once the young authors land paying gigs, they'll have places to put their hard-earned cash.