Probably just to make the movie longer as it is only 87 minutes as is.

It's also kind of cool how it takes them, and us out of the reality of why they are there, when its all over, snap back to..they are going to see a dead body. A kid. Pretty heavy stuff for that age, as well as for anybody.
. Ephemeron.

seems like something that would be the focus of an eppy of the dr. phil show.
Season's Greetings!

I'm happy it takes up so much screen time, that's the best part of the movie.

I'll give you 3: 1. yes it takes up screen time for a very valuable reason: because the film is only about 82 minutes long without it. So it's sort of purposely shoehorned in there to drag out the running time. 2. As others have stated it sets up Gordy's future as a wrirer and also endears him to his friends. 3. It also gives us a chance to see what the town's people are like that they live around. I used to do the same with my friends (accept my stories were written). There was something about writing about the people that you know in your town as sort of like a revenge on the things that they did to you.
"Jesus, does anyone?"

Not to beat on it or anything, seems like you got your answer but this is just my 2cents.
To me the point of it being longer than maybe needed or not integral to the plot(or as integral) was not only to exhibit Gordie as a good story teller, but also to underline their youth. I mean, a long revenge/gross out story where everyone pukes all over each other? Sounds like just the kind on entertainment for 12 yr olds.

Ah, got it. Thanks!
"It's Minnie Pearl's murder weapon."

The character is supposedly based on Stephen King himself, and there's a similar situation in "IT" where Bill entertains his friends by telling stories as a kid, so I just assume it's just King drawing from his own experiences as a youth.

Thanks for the explanation even if you felt the need to be a twat about it.
No, you're just too damn sensitive. Walk it off Agnes, its just the internet. Learn to word your queries better.
When theres no more room in Hollywood, remakes shall walk the Earth.

Hm, obviously I have seen the film, I simply didn't know why so much time and production was spent on that sequence. Thanks for the explanation even if you felt the need to be a twat about it.
"It's Minnie Pearl's murder weapon."

The purpose was that Gordie was a good storyteller. He painted a picture so vivid and had his friends attention the whole time.
Oh yeah, Gordie ended up being a great writerhave you SEEN this film?
When theres no more room in Hollywood, remakes shall walk the Earth.