Six word stories

[yaralindi]

I just found these and am really impressed by the ability of some people to tell a complete story in just six words. It's based on the unproved tale that Hemmingway was challenged to write a complete story in just six words. As the story goes, Hemmingway won with, "For sale: baby shoes, never used."

After reading quite a few of these, I wondered how we would fare at creating Tolkien-based, six word stories. I'll start. If you feel inspired, please join in. Quality is not nearly so important as sharing the attempt.

"Parents; at Brandywine, Frodo slowly cries."

[daughter_of_kings]

I'll bite.


Maiden, not man: Witch-King's bane.

[yaralindi]

Nicely done, DoK!


For some reason, this came to mind this afternoon as I was reading a murder mystery.

"Ring in hand with Deagol's blood."

[agape4rivendell]

Stars embrace my throat and feet.

[agape4rivendell]

Whoops - one more - this is fun. (6 words)



Boat. Elven made. Swift current. Farewell.

[daughter_of_kings]

Boat. Elven made. Swift current. Farewell.

Sure is dusty in here, all of a sudden. *sniff*


Here's another... Pockets empty of handkerchief, money, pipe.

[yaralindi]

Osgiliath; Faramir charges as Pippin sings.

[mousechief]

Journey, melt the ring, fly home.

[DoctorGamgee]

Gollum's greed: frees Frodo, loses all.

[MiddleEarthMunchkin]

Tossing rings, tossing dwarves. Epicness.

[yaralindi]

Darkness; scratched stone as Frodo sleeps.

[daughter_of_kings]

Barrow-downs: It's the Wight Place!

[Primula]

Missing: far more than silver spoons.


(Popping in to gather for the Scrapbook, so here's one to add to the pile - who can resist giving it a try?)

[yaralindi]

Yay for all the 6-word stories!

Hi Prim! Nice contribution. You've been sorely missed.

[yaralindi]

I love all these six word stories. Now that we've tried a few, let's look at the original to see if it helps hone the idea a little more.

"For sale: baby shoes, never used."

Remember, a story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. In Hemmingway's story we are presented with a sign in the beginning that tells the story of someone going out to buy baby shoes. There isn't enough room for details but we now have a beginning and a middle - a sign followed by a flashback to buying baby shoes.

Now comes the poignant ending - never used. We are not told why they are never used. They could have been purchased as a gift and were simply the wrong color or ... write your own ending. It is a powerful twist of an ending, however, and that is the key. Most six word stories set up a beginning and then tell the middle part of the story and provide a bit of a twist at the end.

In my first one I set up the beginning with "Parents". One gets the picture of a loving couple standing close to one another. Then comes "at Brandywine" which is the middle and tells a pastoral story of two loving people near a quiet, Shire river. Then comes the twist, "Frodo slowly cries" where we are jolted into the present where Frodo is remembering his parents near Brandywine and crying. It is a jarring twist of an ending.

DoK next got the idea with "Maiden" where we are presented with a medieval name for a young girl. Then comes the middle with its story of the maiden living in a world that is male while she struggles with her femininity and how to cope when she is "not man." Then comes the twisting ending. Because of who she is and what she has done, she is "Witch-King's bane." Nicely done DoK!

I really like agape4rivendell's little tale. We start with a lovely picture of a "Boat, elven made". It draws a clear picture to start the tale and sets the scene well. Then the middle comes as the boat moves in a "swift current". It is a simultaneous quiet and energetic scene that paints a marvelous picture in the mind. Then comes the twist. We end with "Farewell." Since few would say farewell to a boat, we are left with the story of a person leaving in a boat in a swift current. Beautiful.

Look at the others and determine how they fit the notion of a beginning, middle, and end. Unlike a haiku, where we are trying to focus on a single emotion, a six word story truly should have an opening scene, a middle, and usually some sort of twist at the end. Like a story, it should give us a range of emotional responses.

More please!!!