Let’s Be Brief
Welcome to the first Middle Zone Musings Writing Contest, Let’s be Brief (and that’s briefs only, no boxers, if you please). If you were following along last week you probably already have a pretty good idea what’s up. But for the sake of clarity and to put everyone on the same level playing field, we shall, as Lewis Carroll put it, “Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop”. (Get it? The end? Briefs? Oh, forget it.)First, some background
In the business world (and other worlds too, I suppose), it occasionally pays to be brief (thank goodness blogging doesn’t!) Not everyone has the gift, I know, but perhaps practice is all you really need. I’m guessing lawyers would be good at it (because they’re always writing in their briefs) but I know one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do was write an abstract for the first proposal I ever did. Have you ever tried to condense and summarize 96 pages into two paragraphs? (Well, I couldn’t do it either – mine was almost two pages. Umm, I’m almost sure that’s why we didn’t get the work.)
Roger von Oech from Creative Think recently wrote about imposing limitations on yourself as one method of enhancing the creative thought process. It’s especially true when writing; limiting yourself to a specific word count or small space makes you very aware of every single word you put on the page.Have you ever tried writing within extremely severe constraints (time, space, words, content)? Sure you have! Not so easy, is it? What if you were given an assignment where you had to write a complete story, but were limited to, let’s see… we’ll make this a hard one: six – yep, you read it right – only six words?
By way of explanation, check out this article from Wired, November 2006:
“We’ll be brief: Hemingway once wrote a story in just six words (“For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”) and is said to have called it his best work. So we asked sci-fi, fantasy, and horror writers from the realms of books, TV, movies, and games to take a shot themselves.”
I’ve picked a few choice ones to demonstrate what I mean. (You can find the complete list of – ahem – shorts here.):
- “Failed SAT. Lost scholarship. Invented rocket.” – William Shatner
- “Gown removed carelessly. Head, less so.” – Joss Whedon
- “Automobile warranty expires. So does engine.” – Stan Lee
- “We kissed. She melted. Mop please!” – James Patrick Kelly
- “The baby’s blood type? Human, mostly.” – Orson Scott Card
- “I couldn’t believe she’d shoot me.” – Howard Chaykin
- “I win lottery. Sun goes nova.” – Stephen Meretzky
- “In the beginning was the word” – Gregory Maguire (although Gregory apparently missed the fact that the actual author of this line was John the Apostle, and it’s from, you know, the Bible.)
I remember long ago reading the world’s shortest horror story (“The last man on Earth sat alone in a room. There was a knock on the door…”) but this – ah, this is simply brilliant! By way of example, here’s one way you might tell a similar (and somewhat modernized) version of this little story using only six words: The last Earthling’s cell phone rang.So Readers, how’s that for a challenge? Feel the creative juices flowing yet? (You do? Well, I hope you’re wearing dark pants ‘cause it’s gonna show!)
The Gauntlet is Thrown (sound of gauntlet being thrown)
Alright, readers, let’s see how many aspiring writers there really are out there. Are you willing to take the challenge? If you had exactly six words to tell an entire story, what would you say? It’s important to remember that the words you don’t use can be as important as the words you do. Since you only have six words, the key to this challenge is to make your reader’s imagination fill in the details. There can be absolutely no context or additional explanation – your reader’s imagination must do it for you.
Remember, you’re not just writing a sentence: John hugged Mary; they kissed passionately. We’re looking for six words that tell a story; words that let you know there’s a whole lot going on that hasn’t been explicitly stated: Tearfully embracing, hearts bursting, they kissed. The second one obviously has much more going on in between the written words, don’t you think?
The Contest is now officially open, and I will be accepting entries through Sunday, January 21. Here’s all you have to do:
- Read (if you like) the stories in the Wired article above to get a feel for how it’s done.
- Write a six-word story! In fact, write a bunch – the more the merrier. (There are really only two rules to this contest: a) use exactly six words, and b) because this is for general consumption, I would appreciate it if you would please keep them G-rated!)
- For those of you with blogs, post your entries on your blog, be sure to mention Middle Zone Musings, and place this hyperlink somewhere in your post (very important!) . Then, send me an email to let me know.
- For those of you without blogs (and why haven’t you started one yet?), you can enter your submissions via the comments on this post. No need to email me in this case.
- In return, I will link back to your post (or mention you by name, if you don’t have a blog) several times during the week, and once more in the archive post.
Also (in order to leave no one out), I will be happy to post your entries anonymously. Just send me an email with your entries and make sure you let me know of your wishes. I promise on my sweet grandmother’s Christmas tacos (hey, you gotta try these things to know what I mean) I will preserve your anonyminity ananominitie anonomousness secret.
AND… as a special bonus, to help determine the winners I’ve lined up a special international cast of judges from across the globe to render their opinions and pick the best (in various categories we will make up on the spot):
- John Koetsier – our distinguished Canadian judge; John runs, among other things, bizhack, a technology and business blog especially focused on “the intersection of business and technology”
- Shawn Callahan – the outstanding Australian judge; Shawn is the founder of Anecdote, a consulting firm that “tackles complex problems like organizational change, learning and project evaluation” with particular attention to storytelling and knowledge gathering
- Yours truly – representing America (with an admittedly slightly twisted point of view); an unparalleled engineering project manager, the founder and sole proprieter of Middle Zone Musings, and an imaginative, all-around nice guy (hey, it’s my blog and I can say it if I want to)
Alas, for this inaugural project I have no prizes to offer (but how would you feel about a pair of commemorative briefs?) except to say that I offer you an opportunity to exercise those creative muscles and break out of the box a bit (although it seems more like climbing into the box and nailing it shut!)But if you’re wondering, “What’s in it for me?” you might consider this: I offer you a simple way to increase the number of links to your blog (similar to the Z-blogs list floating around out there) and, more importantly, perhaps find a new friend or two “out here” in the blogosphere.
Just think – you’ll finally be able to tell everyone you’re a published author. Won’t that be a kick in the shorts! So get those cards and letters in, folks, you may be only a few keystrokes away from fame and fortune, no matter how, er, brief. (Sorry.)
Oh, and by the way, here’s some of the ones I came up with:
- Walked dog. Tripped, fell. Dog gone.
- Blue sky; daydreams drifting like clouds.
- *Ring* Help! He’s– Bang! *Click* Hmmmmmmm
- ‘Way too fast! Hey, look out–
- “I’m hungry,” it said, “come closer.”
- She lived badly, but died well.
- Bam! Pow! Oof! Splat! Thanks, Batman!
- Get back! I think it’s alive!
- “You didn’t eat that, did you?
66 responses so far
Middle Zone Musings is a comfortable place to stop, have a cup of coffee, swap a few stories and share practical ideas for the real world. I don't ask for much, just a bit of your brain every now and then. Have a seat, take a load off, and relax...
tinasam, better late than never, I always say! I’ve added your story to the post where they are all listed.
Check it out here.
He lied
She sighed
He died.
Discipline, discipline, discipline!
Hey Bob, What’s the verdict???????????
Bet you can’t give it in six words!!
mikel – great, you just made it!
Kate Anne – I thought as much; you told a great story, and told it well. We’ll be praying for you in your new adventure!
Bob – thanks! Actually, yes. My words (except for the first two) are colored by recently learning I have to move. Apartment hunting in NYC is NOT fun, especially after 13 years in the same place that one likes. I am trying to remain positive. Send me good thoughts, please.
(Good thoughts sent. Apartment found. Gracias.)
I wish. I am trying to be forward thinking. But, seek and ye shall find. Ask and ye shall receive. And my spirituality includes the knowledge that things do work out. Maybe not the way I expected them to work out. But one thing for sure, it will be interesting. Smiles and peace hugs to you and yours! And thanks again for the contest — fun!
“How you say, (pause), deja vu?”
Kate Anne – you just made it under the wire! And, I really liked your last 6 lines. Were you aware they fit the format I spoke about a few days ago in A Whole New Energy Level?
If you did it on purpose – great job! If you did it by accident – amen!
A few more? On a crazy busy weekend? Perhaps others will appear before midnight? What Cinderellas are we?
- Down times fill with six words.
- Positive accentuated, negative eliminated. Sirens? Arrested!
- “Change is good”? Titanic floats, sinks.
- Door closed. Window opened. Maybe not.
- Caring deeply, she said too much.
- Trust. Things work out. Soon please.
- Things happen. God’s time. Not mine.
- Tears shed. Prayers whispered. Answer awaited.
- Sleep now — all will be well.
- Closed eyes. Dreams beckoned. Daylight dawned.
- Blessings counted and counted upon. Faith.
Sorry about the delay, folks! Yes, I’m really that slow a typist. (I use the Biblical method: “seek and ye shall find”!)
METAPILOT – good suggestion
Jack – very nice; liked #5
Yu^2 – thanks, and get some sleep, Buddy!
Karin – amazingly enough, today it’s sunny again!
Almost home, folks! Can I get at least 50 more to top 400?
Sunday morning, laying in, newspaper read.
The sun Bob, is it back?
- Can’t sleep. Too much caffeine.
- Thoughts in six word sentences.
- Oui, c’est moi. Replied Yu^2
- Falls asleep. Dreams in six words.
1. Kissed; heaven hell, repeat. Kiss; bliss.
2. Crossed turnstile sideways, man visits Bangkok.
3. Nappies galore, eighteen years, not enough.
4. Mortgage, drip, ignore, *creak*, no equity.
5. Few good, infitite bad, few prevail.
how about a hexology?
Karin – I’ll let you know if the sun comes up tomorrow.
Sid – When is the funeral?
Metapilot – Congratulations on having the first entries that fit the 6×6 challenge in A Whole New Energy Level!! I’m still trying to come up with a name for it… Suggestions, anyone?
One more day! Send me MORE!!!
Balance made me write six stories:
1) Earth heaved and mountains were born.
2) Water flowed and valleys peeked through.
3) Energy coalesced and naively became animate.
4) Variation thrives, it struggles, it expands.
5) Awareness, instinct develop into identity, values.
6) A collective mind boldly parses space.
Wrong cut. Man suffers. I die.
Hi Bob, what you mena the whole rest of Saturday, it’s almost evening here! Which reminds me:
Time zones, you’re early, I’m late
Gee, don’t you people ever sleep?! Looking good!
Roberta – Been there, done that!
Phillip – Ouch! That hurts!
nowcleomind – Welcome back; that was just on TV the other night.
Sage – Sorry ’bout that.
Karin – Welcome back; you know it!
Note to Eric Turkewitz: Your email won’t deliver, so here’s my message to you:
Just two things (six words each):
1. Hey, you CAN count! (I’m kidding!)
2. Ya got me! But who knew?
Robert (notice the six letters, Eric?)
______
Looking good, folks, but don’t give up just before the end! You have the rest of Saturday and all day Sunday to bring us across the finish line!
Like thinking, like sharing – enter blog
One more for the road? Addictive
I just have two:
1. Apology necklace. Foreign earring. BMW keyed.
2. Remembering tiny boots during “I do’s”.
shooting star, alien visitors,no dawn
One mystery. One deadman. One shot.
‘Ah…’ she sighed ‘I love arsenic’.
One bungee jump to save her.
Here are my two:
Key turn. Fumble. Rustle. Open window.
Click, click. Sigh. Coffee still warm.
Wow! Turn my back for just a few hours and get deluged with more entries! OK, let’s see…
DM – are you REALLY sure?
BobG – you see what I mean about it being addictive?
mikel – sorry about the pant, man!
mitchgroup (are there more than one of you?) – very deep, I think~
Nice job! Two days left, so keep the ol’ neurons cooking!
Mom, dad together. Son daughter better.
Diet, moot; split pants, radioactive suit.
Taken a day to get back – Can’t stop writing, too much fun! List here for better or worse!
Blogger comments. Feedback happens. Community Grows.
Plane slides resulting in passenger panic.
Winter settles in. Birds fly south.
First day of school. Mothers cry.
Powder snow falls. Skiers dream downhill.
Cat snatches mouse. No more pets.
Corn pops, previews flash, movie rolls.
Go ahead; nobody will ever know.
Darrell – Yikes!
Tedward! – Doggone you! I was going to use that word, but you beat me to it!
Jennifer – Very nice, and… that’s a shame!
Michael – I have NO idea what that means, but good one!
Keep ‘em comin’ folks, only three days left!
Don’t let stupid get you killed!w
Coasting on autopilot. Wasted whole life.
Does the internet validify mundane lives?
the longest story here is supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
awake! buried! alive! but not alone!
Yu^2 – is that you behind those Foster Grants?
Isabella – you’re a machine!
Also, Roger von Oech, the inspiration for this contest (don’t blame me – blame him!), posted a comment and six-word story here.
Don’t stop now, people!
turning in my assignment for today:
paints nails, smokes dope, rolls eyes.
work, work, work, work, work, sleep.
long legs, full lips – but mean.
women who run with puppies.
ball, pumpkin, slipper, wedding. then what?
he came, he saw, he conquered
(ok, that one wasn’t mine)
and then
their women work, their men pray.
that one isn’t exactly mine, either. it’s a translation from the german that a friend of mine in santiago, chile, said of the hare krishna people who were quite active there in the early 1980’s. (revealing my age here, i guess
- Global Warming. Thanks Bush & Co.
- Everything is one. One is Google.
halfnuts – very bold of you! Liked #5
DM – good one, but I’ll have to give Chester the credit
Isabella – you have the record so far at 24 entries!
Karin – you’re thinkin’! Great! (Uh – not that you weren’t thinking before…)
Dr. A – you have the idea, so keep going!
Looking good, folks! Keep ‘em coming!
Hello. I was referred here by D.P. (Ripple of Hope blog). Interesting contest. This contribution is probably not contest-worthy, but I would call in the news:
Bad DNA. Drop charges. Leave case.
-Mike Nifong (former Duke case prosecutor)
Stumbled upon another one, while writing a new blog post, how’s that!
“Learned something again, just by reading”
my contribution for today:
baby cries. no money. sell body.
american idol: guy croons. i vomit.
always wake, work, eat, sleep? escape!
making better lives, making lives better.
(the last one is my tagline, i thought i might as well include it, too
1. Incomplete life, free fall, dead.
2. Desperation, infidelity, divorce, pain, and death.
3. Darkness unfolds, story told, movie over.
“Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue.”
— Admiral Chester Nimitz
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:USMC_War_Memorial_Night.jpg
DM
Disappointed, I discovered my true self.
One testicle, two children. Cancer lost.
Robotic hand like dad’s. Jedis triumph.
Built-in theater, interest-only ARM hides reality.
Inability to complete thoughts continues to
All die but Ishmael and whale.
Isabella, sorry! (not really…)
HART, love #9 – made me blow milk from my nose!
Karin, great play on words!
Daniel, very thoughtful…
To everyone: Great work! Still lots of time!
1. He laughed and people cried, gone!
2. Harmonica cried. Rain poured. Deep breath.
3. Smoking, thinking about his lost passions.
“The catchphrase, it tells the story”:
“Wood You Like, Natural Wooden Flooring”
#7. Dang You Bob! Make ‘Em Yourself!
#8. Lots of entries! Could be more.
#9. Pets don’t mind if you fart.
#10. This is fun .. Can’t you tell?
i should be helping my daughter clean her room. instead i’m doing this. what have you done to me, bob????
morning, day, night: awake. need pills!
sweet love? made his teeth hurt.
you smell. itchy itchy scratchy scratchy.
full moon. late, midnight. happy murmurs.
she blogged about cats. no hits.
Ah Shucks — and to think that in 7 words I could have told you:-) Great idea – Bob – and I hope to blog on the topic too, so will add a trackback – I hope.
Thanks Dr. Weber! Geez, I wish I knew what that meant…
Three words shrink brains. One expands!
Chris, great variety; don’t stop there, you still have until Sunday!
Nowcleomind, it made me look…
indioGlyph, I also like your other ones, too.
G.P., I’m there!
Lucy, keep ‘em comin’.
D.M. I’m with you!
Neoconservatives’ mistakes. We pay the price.
I’ll play
Fish Creek House Making Montana Memories
Perfect story written. World promptly ends.
Hanged man. Locked Door. Wet floor.
Men learn – women forget – bookshops close.
“Nice skin”, he said, replacing it.
Full moon, snapping branch, I whirled
1. She dove. He lunged. Lost forever.
2. A few more steps; finally, home.
3. Shots rang out, then total silence.
4. Too late. Already taken. Love lost.
5. Pain again, from him. Please stop.
6. Moving home today, dreams become reality.
7. Baghdad chaos, explosions everywhere. Returning home.
8. The dreaded call came, heartbreaking news.
9. She waited anxiously; finally he arrived.
Addicted to blogging. Seeking new job.
Thanks, Hart! Can you email me some of those hash browns? I’m hungry!
#1. HART’s FAMOUS HASH BROWNS AND EGGS
#2. When nothing else is around. Enjoy!
#3. Unless you like HART’s PASTA Recipe
#4. I’m just playing with your minds!
#5. Please do not penalize my efforts.
#6. I should probably get some sleep.
Thanks, Liz! Good one!
Open the door. Lights on. Surprise!
[...] Robert Hruzek Let’s Be Brief [...]