55 Word Short Short Story
In answer to a challenge program being done at LosCon this year. The goal is to tell a complete story in exactly 55 words. Since I had an original story that was 700 words, I thought, "Hmm....I can do this!". The only problem was that I misread the word count requirement as 500 words. So, I edited down to 500 words, went back to the submission guidelines and "Doh!" So, went back and stared editing again. 500 to 250 was fairly easy. From there to 183 was harder. Down to 55? That was tough, but I think I've done it. Yes, some details are lost, but the point is to have a definite beginning, middle, and end that don't leave the reader thinking "Huh?"
This is the 55 word version of a story that I posted just a few posts ago, titled "The Plant".
The Plant
She was tired, taking only five hours each night to sleep.
Every waking moment was spent fussing over her plant.
It had grown since moving in and now filled the house with snaking vines.
One night, the plant wound about her hand, comforting her.
The house collapsed about her decomposed body, destroyed by the vines.
This is the 55 word version of a story that I posted just a few posts ago, titled "The Plant".
The Plant
She was tired, taking only five hours each night to sleep.
Every waking moment was spent fussing over her plant.
It had grown since moving in and now filled the house with snaking vines.
One night, the plant wound about her hand, comforting her.
The house collapsed about her decomposed body, destroyed by the vines.