A few weeks ago I attended a blog conference where one of the speakers emphasized the importance of keeping things short. He then challenged us to tell a story in six words, using Hemmingway’s example.
The legend goes that Ernest Hemingway once won a bet where he was asked to write a six word short story that was so good, it could make people cry. This is what he came up with:
“For sale: Baby shoes. Never worn.”
While this thought-provoking piece of writing has been floating around the Internet for some time and there is actually no telling whether Hemingway really wrote it, it’s still damn good!
Inspired by this and being a bit of a waffler myself, I decided to give this a try. I also challenged two fellow bloggers, Monster and Brain Droppings, to give it go. The challenge was soon on, with each of us having to produce ten 6-word stories. Besides, it seemed like a fun Friday thing to do...
Here’s my best shot:
- Swimming to shore. Grey shadow follows.
- She walks home. He watches. Waits.
- Last round, with nowhere to go.
- Saw spider on ceiling. Now gone.
- Seeking partner in crime, South Africa.
- Bath drawn, razor sits sharpened.
- Kept him forever. Limb by limb.
- Gunshots next door. Children start crying.
- Man walks dog and returns alone.
- Hear scratching in cupboard. No cupboard.
Noticeably most of them have a horror angle.
- I blame everything on Stephen King.
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