Monday, November 23, 2009

can you write a story in only 101 words? if i like yours...i'll pay ya!

That was the challenge my Fiction class got last week. We had to write two stories with exactly 101 words--no more, no less. I'll let you read the two I came up with, then....if *YOU* are up to the challenge--write a 101 word story of your own (story=beginning, middle, and end. No poetry). Punctuation and titles don't count, but can't be excessive either. Tell me about it in your comment and I'll come over and read it. The one I like the best gets a $25 AmEx gift card (just in time for holiday shopping!). Since the tumbleweeds will be blowing through blogland until after Thanksgiving--I'll announce the winner on Monday the 30th. It's always more fun when you play along! :)

(Here are mine just to give you a vague idea. I bet you can do better!)

ALIVE
I had a certain order I liked to arrange them in, across the width of my bed: black rabbit, pig, dog, pink rabbit, teddy bear, teddy bear. My 8-year old self assigning such humanity to this line of stuffed animals. I felt their pain when one accidentally fell to the floor. Their cold when left blanketless. Their naked shame when I forgot to dress them. Therefore, I'm not sure why I was so surprised the night the two bears ripped me apart, the rabbits ran off to mate, and the pig just watched--amused--as the dog ate my entrails.
--------
PAPER CUT/INFINITE SKY
I accidentally sliced my thumb against the edge of the telephone bill today--a quick sensation of pain, then the blood. And because I am wont to think of things like this, I imagined the people who lived inside my skin. They were running their streets in a frenzied panic. Above them, their fleshy sky ripped open, spewing stars and moons and clouds and atmosphere out into an unknown void. I pictured citizens on their knees, praying. (Except their scientists who were on their knees, thinking). I paused inside this scene momentarily, then licked the little puddle of red universe from my thumb.


Now....get to writing!!! And Happy Thanksgiving!

22 comments:

*Jess* said...

Some people are gifted writers (as yourself) and some are not (as myself). so I'll just patiently wait to read other's :)

Elena said...

Holy bats, I'm going to be afraid of my stuffed animals for the rest of my life! WHAT is going on inside that brain of yours? LOL! Very nice job. And it always surprises me just how short 100 words really is.

Aubrey said...

101 words are shorter than I thought. Your stories are good. I don't think anyone can best them.

Don't you love the breaks between semesters? I always felt so FREE. Now how 'bout a break between 24/7 mothering sessions? ;)

Kylee said...

Your stories are great. You are a very talented writer. I am not so much. However, my sister is. She is an English Major. I might present this challenge to her and see if she comes up with anything and post them for her. Hope you and the boys have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

ManicMandee said...

You're joking right? You're like the most gifted writer of anyone I've ever known and you're asking me to write a story?! Pshaw. Whatevah! I'd look like an idiot!

Susie said...

I will leave that challenge to the talented writers like you:-)

tigerchick said...

It had been awhile since I had seen her. She was embarrassed about her absence at our church and reluctantly said she was enjoying visiting another church. I stammered and hesitated, not knowing what to say other than attending where you feel comfortable is a good thing. I thought about it later, and wish I had known to tell her this: life can be very difficult, and our spiritual help is not a nice thing, but a vital thing for survival. You need to go where you are fed on Sunday to be ready for what comes throughout the week.

'T' said...

check your e-mail for my entry :)

T

Katy said...

fun idea, I've done this before ..unfortunately for "games sake" I cannot use ANY more brain cells today, they're all simply gone.
Enjoyed your petite stories! Have a GREAT Thanksgiving miss Jennifer P.

Brandy said...

You know Boise Weekly just hosted this as their Fiction 101 contest! Like within the last week or so.

Roxane said...

Hi! I'm stopping by from mamakat's. Just put my finishing touches on my story, and will publish it very soon. Hope you can come on by to check it out :)

Just Lisa said...

I wrote one! It'll be up in the morning!

Niki said...

I love the way you think!

Unknown said...

OK, such a fun prompt. I wrote one. Now my style is similar to that of a poem : ) but it definitely has a beginning and middle and end! When I wrote Washington D.C. I counted that as three words. I don't know if that is write or not. Should it just be 2? That D. and C. confused me.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Mama the Chef said...

I was inspired by the idea over at Mama Kat's...now I am hooked and want to write more!

Melissa Lester said...
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Melissa Lester said...

Prodigal

The crack of the gavel shattered the last glimmer of hope he held for his boy. A willful child, rebellious teenager, and now … .

His shoulders heaved with the weight of the sentence, and he leaned against Michael. His firstborn sat beside him, stoic. He knew Michael had looked after his brother – even gave him a job – until Jake screwed up again.

Insider trading, they said.

“I’m sorry, Dad,” Jake said as they led him away. It’s better this way.

Michael did not meet his brother’s gaze. He sat frozen in icy silence -- years of being The Good Son hiding his guilt.

Brooke said...

I know I am loved. The ones who love me are near. Their songs ring in my ear. The beautiful poetic embrace come quick. My beloved, the joy you bring. The sunshine, the glisten of the snow. Blind may overtake the shadows but the light and love make free.

My heart overloads with the stillness the wind that sweeps over. I know I am full to the brim. Overflowing. The great I AM is in love with me.

Do you recognize HIM? No, you should. It is a love like none other. Then you too will know you are loved.

Stu Pidasso said...

No time to be had, but in my mind I am writing a 101 word story about persevering!

MHW said...

Mail Man

No mail for a week. A whole week! She wondered what could possibly have happened to the evil faceless councillor who had seemed hell bent on her financial ruin. And what about the stern librarian who mailed every other day with his outrageous demands for compensation for a book she had never borrowed. Conspiracy? Were they trying to force her into the open with this attack of paranoia?

Well she would not be had, not like this. She had a plan and she would stick to it.

And then he came, her mail man, and took her away from all this.

MHW said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
MHW said...

Worker

Just because it was Christmas day didn't mean they would cut him any slack. Oh no, he had to work just as hard as any other day. Follow the trail, gather the food, hoist it back home without assistance from anyone, the others always seeming to get in his way, making him work extra hard to go around them.

Some days he loved the discipline of it, it was almost military. Most days he hated it and dreamed of a world where HE could be the pampered one and stay at home all day just nesting.

It sucked, being an ant.