According to “Smith” — an online storytelling community that encouraged reading, writing, and sharing — “legend has it that Hemingway was once challenged to write a story in only six words. His response? “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”
It got me thinking about what I might write; so driving to my piano lesson I conjured the following stories:
“Pawn shop. Tiny diamond. He proposed.”
“Headlines blared: Abductee found alive! Miracle.”
“Teenagers drinking. Driving. Crash. One survivor.”
And in honor of the day: “Valentine’s Day. She broke my heart.”
Trolling the Internet, I found that the November 2006 “Wired” offered many six-words stories. I’m glad I didn’t read any before creating my own, as I think some are much better. Here, with the author identified, is a sampling:
K.I.A. Baghdad, Aged 18 – Closed Casket
– Richard K. Morgan
Epitaph: He shouldn’t have fed it.
– Brian Herbert
Bush told the truth. Hell froze.
– William Gibson
Dinosaurs return. Want their oil back.
– David Brin
Bang postponed. Not Big enough. Reboot.
– David Brin
Metrosexuals notwithstanding, quiche still lacks something.
– David Brin
Death postponed. Metastasized cells got organized.
– David Brin
Will this do (lazy writer asked)?
– Ken MacLeod
Clones demand rights: second Emancipation Proclamation.
– Paul Di Filippo
Commas, see, add, like, nada, okay?
– Gregory Maguire
Weeping, Bush misheard Cheney’s deathbed advice.
– Gregory Maguire
Corpse parts missing. Doctor buys yacht.
– Margaret Atwood
Starlet sex scandal. Giant squid involved.
– Margaret Atwood
Time traveler’s thought: “What’s the password?”
– Steven Meretzky
Parallel universe. Bush, destitute, joins army.
– Steven Meretzky
And finally, one last attempt on my part: ADD version — Wind separates Rhett, Scarlett.
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