Mykul Posted June 3, 2008 Share Posted June 3, 2008 In the 1920s, Ernest Hemingway bet a group of colleagues $10 that he could write a story in only 6 words. His story- [B]"For sale: baby shoes, never worn."[/B] Needless to say, he got paid... A little more recently, the short short story form was further explored by some of the more prominent writers and other celebrities of our time. Their pieces were published in an article in [U]Wired Magazine[/U]. Here are a few of those submissions: [B]Failed SAT. Lost scholarship. Invented rocket.[/B] - William Shatner [B]Automobile warranty expires. So does engine.[/B] - Stan Lee [B]The baby’s blood type? Human, mostly.[/B] - Orson Scott Card [B]Kirby had never eaten toes before.[/B] - Kevin Smith [B][U]The Challenge:[/U][/B] Do the same. Write a story [U]in six words exactly[/U]. Keep in mind that your piece should be a story, not just a random phrase. Look above at the examples given. [B]Here's mine: No Photoshop. Made avatar in Paint.[/B] [B]Addendum:[/B] If this thread gets closed because it's already been done, I'll lose my mind. I spent ten minutes searching the site for a thread with this same premise and couldn't find one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandy Posted June 3, 2008 Share Posted June 3, 2008 [quote name='Mykul'][B]Addendum:[/B] If this thread gets closed because it's already been done, I'll lose my mind. I spent ten minutes searching the site for a thread with this same premise and couldn't find one.[/QUOTE] Relax. If everybody thought like that, nobody would dare to post anything. And even if there was a similar thread here, this one would most likely not be closed. There's an unwritten rule here that you should check the first few pages or so for similar threads; if you can't find any, you're free to post your own. Or that's at least the way I think of it. As for the topic itself, I find it absolutely fascinating. I can't come up with a decent short short story myself, but I have to say that the original one from Hemingway just blew my mind. In just six words, he painted an entire story about a child lost before birth and the grieving parents. It shows that he's a professional author, doesn't it? ;D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spectacular Professor Posted June 3, 2008 Share Posted June 3, 2008 [B]Holy crap, this is quite difficult.[/B] Eh, I'll try again later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allamorph Posted June 3, 2008 Share Posted June 3, 2008 [quote name='Mykul][B]Addendum:[/B'] If this thread gets closed because it's already been done, I'll lose my mind.[/quote] [FONT=Arial]Heh. No worries, then. (^_^) ------------------ Pilot; Navigator. Sighted dame. Sank same.[/FONT] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doublehex Posted June 3, 2008 Share Posted June 3, 2008 [B]My headphones broke. Chaos ensued then.[/B] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shy Posted June 3, 2008 Share Posted June 3, 2008 [b][size=1]John hated Jane. So did Jane. It wasn't murder, it was breakfast. "Jesus has returned. News at eleven."[/b] -Shy[/size] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykul Posted June 3, 2008 Author Share Posted June 3, 2008 [SIZE="2"][SIZE="3"][SIZE="2"][quote name='Sandy']It shows that he's a professional author, doesn't it? ;D[/QUOTE] Yes, it sure does show the extent of his talents as a writer! Too bad he ended up going completely insane towards the end of his life... [B]Damn! Everything had gone so well...[/B] [B]Submarines shouldn't leak. This one did.[/B] [B]Basement was dark. Wall was hard.[/B][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellerby Posted June 3, 2008 Share Posted June 3, 2008 [FONT="Tahoma"][COLOR="DimGray"][B]Walter found vengeance at his neighbors. Free candy. Come in side entrance.[/B] Bahaha, that's fun.[/COLOR][/FONT] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykul Posted June 3, 2008 Author Share Posted June 3, 2008 [quote name='8bit']Bahaha, that's fun.[/QUOTE] Isn't it, though? [B]Melting walls, ceiling. Californian Eskimo life.[/B] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allamorph Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 [FONT=Arial]Young man, you look like my son....[/FONT] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykul Posted June 4, 2008 Author Share Posted June 4, 2008 [quote name='Allamorph'][FONT=Arial]Young man, you look like my son....[/FONT][/QUOTE] Cheater! That's seven words! Allamorph, I never in my wildest dreams would have thought that you would be the first person to break the six word count rule! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaryanna Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 [COLOR="DarkGreen"][FONT="tahoma"]Basement Cat: You have been [I]snatched![/I][/FONT][/COLOR] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spectacular Professor Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 [B]Anthology master, beaten at own game.[/B] This is fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunfallE Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 [COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"]Aceburner: Aspiring detective who fell hard. =P[/FONT][/COLOR] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zen Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 [color=royalblue][size=1] Meh. I tried. Two serious, two not. [b]"Victory smells like sweat and blood."[/b] [b]"He stands strong, even in death."[/b] [b]"Snakes... It had to be snakes..."[/b] (A little Indie...) [b]"Vodka, what a cruel mistress..."[/b][/color][/size] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachmaninoff Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 [QUOTE][COLOR="DarkGreen"][FONT="tahoma"]Basement Cat: You have been [I]snatched![/I][/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE][SIZE="1"]So [I]that's[/I] how it works, I should have known. XP[/SIZE] [B]Exquisite performances; the final note; melodious.[/B] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellerby Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 [FONT="Tahoma"][COLOR="DimGray"]Music man plays the wrong chord.[/COLOR][/FONT] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allamorph Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 [quote name='Mykul']Cheater! That's seven words! Allamorph, I never in my wildest dreams would have thought that you would be the first person to break the six word count rule![/quote] [FONT=Arial]I realized what had happened last night during my two-am insomnia attack. Then I laughed really hard. Crap. :p --------------- Earwig: unpleasant morning surprise. Squish time![/FONT] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellerby Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 [FONT="Tahoma"][COLOR="DimGray"][quote name='Allamorph'][FONT=Arial]Earwig: unpleasant morning surprise. Squish time![/FONT][/QUOTE] Allamorph, I can relate to that. (six words, haha!)[/COLOR][/FONT] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allamorph Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 [QUOTE=8bit][FONT="Tahoma"][COLOR="DimGray"]Allamorph, I can relate to that. (six words, haha!)[/COLOR][/FONT][/QUOTE] [FONT=Arial]Boy, I pulled it off my [I]ear.[/I] And now let's get back to writing [I]stories[/I], and less spammery. 'Kay? :animesmil[/FONT] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Decay Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 I think the real challnge is to make the six words speak more than they do. So far most of the entries have been pretty straight forward, with little to no back story. Well, I might as well try. Here it goes! [B]The mirror broke when he fell.[/B] I don't think I got it here... Too literal. [B]I heard you. It just hurts.[/B] This is better, but leaves too much up to the imagination. [B]But inside, she wasn't kissing him.[/B] I like this one. Nowhere as good as Hemingway's, but not bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allamorph Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 [quote name='Decay']I think the real challnge is to make the six words speak more than they do. So far most of the entries have been pretty straight forward, with little to no back story.[/quote] [FONT=Arial]Incidentally, that's the thought that was keeping me awake last night, before I realised my earlier faux pas with the attempted Alzheimer's reference. And I just spelt "realised" British. How odd.[/FONT] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spectacular Professor Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 [quote name='SunfallE'][COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"]Aceburner: Aspiring detective who fell hard.[/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE] [B]Sunfall: Hits nail right on head.[/B] [B]Scientist jumps off roof. Theory disproven.[/B] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrina Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 [FONT="Tahoma"]Many of these stories sound like advertising slogans, even the one done by Ernest Hemingway. Anyway...[QUOTE][COLOR="DarkGreen"][FONT="tahoma"]Basement Cat: You have been [I]snatched![/I][/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE]XD I love that one. Hehe.[QUOTE][B]Exquisite performances; the final note; melodious.[/B][/QUOTE]I like that one, the final performance of a master who has spent their life performing. :catgirl: And now my attempt: [B]Pot boy; Cold steel is unforgiving.[/B][/FONT] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykul Posted June 5, 2008 Author Share Posted June 5, 2008 [B]Mykul checks thread; finds another cheater.[/B] [QUOTE]"Vodka, what a cruel mistress..." -Zen[/QUOTE] Another cheater, but this time cheating in the opposite direction. Remember, stories should be exactly 6 words. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now