10/7/09 - Writing Words of Wisdom - Spending Your Words Wisely

[damcphail]

BY DANIELLE ACKLEY-MCPHAIL

How many words does it take to tell a story? Can’t really answer that, can we? Or at least, not easily… There are too many variables; too many considerations. Is it a short story? A long one? Complex, or a simple one? What do you want to tell? What do you want to simply imply?

Who can say, really? A haiku can convey a

Comments

[brni]

I posted a 58 word one about a year back on my LJ:

http://brni.livejournal.com/323119.html

I could chisel it down to 55, but I wrote it back in high school, and want to leave it as is for archeological purposes.

[damcphail]

Okay...but those three extra words are going to cost you...

Cool story, by the way! hehehe

[brni]

I've been twisted a long, long time.

[damcphail]

hehehe...Twisted so long it stretched you? ;) hehehehehehehehehehe

[marycatelli]

The box gleamed in her hand, like polished ivory, like mother-of-pearl. She turned it from side to side, eying every inch of it. She did not know whether to believe it came from the horn of a unicorn.

"You don't know what's inside," he said.

"I don't know _now_," she said, and opened the box.

[damcphail]

Oh, now that I really like! Such magic and simplicity, and so much potential! Thanks for posting.

[marycatelli]

blushes

Glad you like it.

[jongibbs]

It's only 54 words. Can I carry the spare forward for the next one? :)

Six chambers, one bullet.
He watches, spellbound, as I put the gun to my head.
Heart pounding, eyes clenched shut; I half-growl, half-shout as I pull the trigger…
Click.
Sick with relief I hold out the pistol. “Now you.”
He stares at me across the table, white-faced and blinking, then takes his turn.
BANG!

[marycatelli]

Nope. Use it or lose it.

0:)

[jongibbs]

Dang. I was hoping they'd be some kind of 'roll-over' clause :)

[damcphail]

What? you think this is minutes or something? we're too quick for that ;)

You asked for it...

[novelfriend]

I do love the 55 word challenges. I haven't won one yet... but that is a new market to try... what do you think of this one:

You kiss me as we leave the gardens. We laugh at the birds darting colors through the trees. When the truck hits us, I see the blue jay land and rest upon your brow and the cardinal spread its wings across your chest, but never fly away.

Re: You asked for it...

[damcphail]

LOL...what is it about microfiction that has all of us automatically gravitating toward the grim? :) Nice story. Loved the ending. Amazing how much can be invoked by mere implication.

Great job!

55 words

[fibitz]

One tweak that was never made in your revisions: in the last sentence,"Then he turned the gun on himself next," either the first or the last word is redundant. Personally, I'd drop "next."

There is an online journal called 55 Words at http://www.birdandmoon.com/55words/guest.html. The story below appeared there in January. Note that the title is a pun!

Ascent

In the crisp dawn, the peaks looked close enough to touch. An easy hike. The day would surely become warmer. He was unprepared for the icy gusts. The summit grew no closer. At sunset he realized that he should turn back, but night had already fallen below. They emerged, snuffling the wind for his scent.

There is also a site, Espresso Stories, http://espressostories.com/, that competitively publishes stories of 25 words or less.

Re: 55 words

[damcphail]

Hey! Thanks for posting, and for the suggestion :) I very much agree.

Some great information here and wow, nice story!

I have submitted to espresso stories, I believe, or something similar. Waiting to find out if the stories made the cut :)