Shamash Says... : "The Hemingway Challenge"
“Earnest Hemingway was once challenged to write a story in six words. The result: ‘For sale: baby shoes, never used.’ Rumor has it that Hemingway regarded it as his greatest work. Stirred by this masterwork, the editors of BlackBook asked 25 of today’s most renowned writers to offer their own original six-word stories.” – p. 92
Here are my favorites:
“Forgive me!” “What for?” “Never mind.” – John Updike
Eyeballed me, killed him. Slight exaggeration.-- Irvine Welsh
Satan- Jehovah- fifteen rounds. A draw. – Norman Mailer
I saw. I conquered. Couldn’t come. - David Lodge
Oh, that? It’s nothing. Not contagious.- Augusten Burroughs
She gave. He took. He forgot – Tobias Wolff.
So, I give you the Hemingway Challenge. Write a story in six words. Here’s mine:
Thursday, July 20, 2006
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23 comments:
Why six?
Why not?
Because
Stop!
Good one Nithya! I am stumped.
I thought she loved me! "who?"
My best attempt
She came. She kissed. I blushed.
This is fun but most of the times six words (sentences, Bala?!) seem too few.
Another one...
Wife calls husband. Phone with mistress.
if i may.....
what is the intention of a six word story?
it must trigger imagination....and we must see the whole picture from these words right?
----I thought she loved me! "who?"---
This stands out due to couple of reasons...
* The ambiguity expressed by who is the asking the question 'who'
* Love has so many meanings like lust, unadulterated fondness, sisterly affection, which all plays well
----She came. She kissed. I blushed.----
good one; but as it happens with all good things, here is my ulta-pulta naivety:
I saw. She kissed. I killed. :-)
----Wife calls husband. Phone with mistress.---
Pager vibrates. Wife construes work. Mistress.
-----what is the intention of a six word story---
Just SMS. It's Free. Blogs Blocked. ;-)
I stared;
He sensed;
loved
/I saw. She kissed. I killed./
Bala, I like yours better than mine. You have made a good one better.
thanks for the comment bala!
that was a good post.
Thanks for sharing a neat on Priya
Bala,
Forgot to add "me" in that last line.
story in six. sex in five :)
Villain kills narrator. Villain no more.
1) Never was a writer so constrained.
2) Reductio ad absurdum. It works wonders.
3) A story you ask? Won't tell!
4) He said 'I just don't care'
Spellbinding story, life-affirming if time permits.
"Don't worry. He won't bite."
:)
(5 words, okay?)
One hurt. One confused. Both unheard.
"Trrrring" Limpy ran; For her life!
2x3x7: Half a dozen
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