Write A 50 Word Short Story

[bjcmatthews]

Hey guys, I'm fascinated with how much one can say with a severe restriction to what one can write. For example when I write letters to pen friends sometimes I will not allow myself more time than 5 mins on a topic, and if I can't say all I want to say about that in five mins, too bad. For the recipients especially Likewise, when I am stuck for ideas with writing, I like to try and write 50 word short stories. Every now and again I'll experiment with not using a certain vowel for a paragraph of writing.

 

Thought it would be interesting to see what others could come up with when writing a 50 word short story.

 

Here's one I did for this post:

 

He always had to know the answer to irrelevant questions.

"Do cat's always land on their feet? Always?"

And today was no different. He approached, his face pale, wearing a sickly grin.

"You know how cyanide, when swallowed, is meant to kill you in three seconds?"

"Yeah?"

"It's been sev-"

 

[psychdude]

Clean, tidy, and organized. Just how she liked it. Everything exactly where she thought it should be.

 

It didn’t matter to her that God had put hands on wrists on arms. She preferred hands sewn onto backs.

 

And so, with a needle, some thread, and the occasional gunshot, she reorganized.

[Ernst Bitterman]

The inspector knew it was murder, but could jury ever be brought to understand it? Eloquent evidence, but in obscure language; a single coffee mug, an eight-cup percolator empty in the kitchen, a big collection of M.R. Jamess stories… and a rake lying just under the window.

Edited June 6, 2012 by Ernst Bitterman

[Nokin]

He concentrated hard, wondering if it could be possible to kill someone, to kill her, purely by the power of thought. No murder weapon, no witnesses, no worry about DNA; just pure thought, and lots of sympathy afterwards. Sympathy for the Devil, perhaps? He doubted that Mick Jagger would approve.

[inkstainedruth]

The Sidekick had somehow found a guitar, cigarettes, and bourbon. I sang along; he raised an eyebrow but didn't stop -- a consummate professional.

"Howdy, Queenie. Play your favorite song?"

"Under the circumstances, your compatriot has ruined it for me."

"Yeah, Himself does that sometimes"

"And you can't control hIm?"

"Nope...."

 

 

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

PS -- this was REALLY hard to do!

[inkstainedruth]

sorry -- duplicate post

(my system is sluggish this afternoon)

Edited June 6, 2012 by inkstainedruth

[Ernst Bitterman]

No enemy in sight, but an awkward sea and the ship had opened like a flower. Six years getting home; at last the ship-builder’s house was there before him. The only remaining question was sword or bare hands, and the dead voices of his mates called for a prolonged resolution.

[myn]

There came a boy from down the lane, his name was Harry Grey. A lively chap

who made me laugh until the war years came. Now it's I who walk the lanes

between the crosses row on row, a rose in hand to lay beside his name.

 

Merrie (aka Myn)

[melissa59]

...when I am stuck for ideas with writing, I like to try and write 50 word short stories. Every now and again I'll experiment with not using a certain vowel for a paragraph of writing.

 

What a great idea! I would never have thought of it.

Here's mine.

 

 

I peeked over the edge, wondering if I should obey the command.

And if so, which one?

“Back away from the ledge,” again boomed the solitary voice.

“Jump! Jump! Jump!” the crowd shouted.

My head ached.

I closed my eyes and dreamed of flying.

No more pain; no more anything.

[Ernst Bitterman]

We're a grim bunch, aren't we? Let's try something more positive:

 

As he sat alone in his study, his darker fancy suggested the guttering candle as metaphor for his marriage.

 

Shaking his head, he took up a taper, transferred the flame to other candles, again and over. Presently the room was dazzling.

 

Smiling, he muttered, Sullen dog. Theres your proper metaphor.

Edited June 8, 2012 by Ernst Bitterman

[ethernautrix]

 

 

This topic dovetails with my intention to pair text (stories) with photographs (visual stories). Also, I feel like I should add such a short story in handwriting. Hmm....

 

Done!

Edited June 8, 2012 by ethernautrix

[mwpannell]

Great exercise, bjcmatthews. I've never done this, thanks for posting the idea. Of course it aids precision, but for me the big thing is it let's me sit down with a mind to do something contained and fun without making a big deal of it. Beyond flash fiction. I think mine are more vignettes than stories though, and I've got to work on that. bjcmatthews, psychdude and others certainly trump mine as far as having a "tidy" story quality. Really enjoyed reading every post, good work all, I'm looking forward to more.

 

I got to work on a number of these this afternoon in the midst of doing something else. Here's the first few. The first is a little "post conscious".

 

---

 

“This is fun, but I don’t think it’ll sell.”

The teacher’s eyes rolled again. His student continued.

“You know you can say more with 50 words than with 500, if you’re good. Do numbers count?”

“Shush. Write.”

“I don’t have enough time. Not enough to make it good.”

“Just write.”

 

---

 

Harlan raised his glass for the last time. Maybe the last.

“Hell-of-a-thing,” he whispered.

“Hell-of-a-thing,” Carp agreed. “Doesn’t take long for someone to drown, does it?”

“Longer than I thought. I don’t think I’m cut out for this.”

“Somebody had to.”

“Yeah. I don’t think I’m cut out for it.”

 

---

 

There was nothing so disheartening, he thought, as not being sure what she was thinking anymore. Her touches were more accidental than meaningful and her glances didn’t read the same.

 

He figured she knew what he was thinking, but the trouble was he was pretty sure she didn’t even care.

[melissa59]

I think mine are more vignettes than stories though, and I've got to work on that.

 

I think vignettes are good. They help stir the imagination and get us to put words on paper (computer, etc.)

It's REALLY hard to write a story, one with a beginning, middle and end, using only 50 words.

 

Here's another, not as morbid as the last:

 

Simon glanced over his shoulder before opening the cookie jar, where his wife kept the grocery money.

He slipped his hand inside.

Crack!

“Ow!” Simon yelped, snatching back his hand.

Attached to the mouse trap dangling from his middle finger was a note:

“Beer money on dresser. Ask next time.”

[psychdude]

I'd agree that vignette is a more appropriate term. Aside from Hemingway's "For sale: Baby shoes, never used.", such short stories are rarely complete!

 

 

He glanced around. No idea where the dog went.

Stupid mutt.

He retrieved the leash and ran off in the direction he heard barking.

Around a corner he saw a woman on the ground, dog standing over her, someone running away with a purse.

Well, this is a great introduction.

[mwpannell]

I agree vignettes are good, but I still like the idea of a true 50-word story as a goal. Until I nail one, I'm personally happy with vignette attempts.

 

 

Carl dropped his bat and headed around the bases. Nothing mattered right now. Not the jitters, fear of fitting in or paranoia he didn’t really have what it took. Right now it was just his pounding stride along a dirty chalk line.

 

He was Big League. A home run hitter.

[alexander_k]

I owe everything to my granny. She took me in when I was a penniless, confused little orphan and gave me all she had: love, care, advice, my own place to live. I’ll never forget the last words she said to me: “Hey, what are you doing with that pillow?”

 

 

[mwpannell]

Nice twist, Alexander. It caught me.

 

OK, I'll quiet down after this. (I do tend to over think.) But I was just out cutting grass and thinking that really, a story of 50 words isn't that hard to write. An interesting 50-word story with depth and feeling that creates a sense of atmosphere and empathy is. A vignette can do that more easily. I think the piece below is a simple story. (Yes? No?) I'm amused by it and I wonder about it, but I'm not really moved.

 

 

Ted woke up and dressed for the match.

Where are my tennis shoes? He wondered.

Under the bed? No.

In the closet? No.

Oh my, there in the toilet? Yes, there in the toilet.

Wearing his hiking boots, Ted headed out for the tournament feeling not very lucky at all.

[melissa59]

I owe everything to my granny. She took me in when I was a penniless, confused little orphan and gave me all she had: love, care, advice, my own place to live. I’ll never forget the last words she said to me: “Hey, what are you doing with that pillow?”

 

Love it!

[psychdude]

Nice twist, Alexander. It caught me.

 

OK, I'll quiet down after this. (I do tend to over think.) But I was just out cutting grass and thinking that really, a story of 50 words isn't that hard to write. An interesting 50-word story with depth and feeling that creates a sense of atmosphere and empathy is. A vignette can do that more easily. I think the piece below is a simple story. (Yes? No?) I'm amused by it and I wonder about it, but I'm not really moved.

 

 

Ted woke up and dressed for the match.

Where are my tennis shoes? He wondered.

Under the bed? No.

In the closet? No.

Oh my, there in the toilet? Yes, there in the toilet.

Wearing his hiking boots, Ted headed out for the tournament feeling not very lucky at all.

 

Love it. Made me laugh out loud in the grocery store.

[Prvt. Toter]

"More" a fifty word short story.

 

Sheriff Sally was sifting through the WANTED posters, looking for somthing worth her skill. "DEAD or ALIVE" was her hope...she wanted to kill! Her last bounty had been a bore, she had planned to shoot him, but he had dropped his weapons to the floor...leaving her wanting...MORE!

 

 

yep, gotta work up a sketch to go with this one...