How it began…
Email from Paul Tyrrell to the members of The Hospital’s writers’ salon:
Dear all,
Hemingway once wrote a story in just six words: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” He is said to have called it his best work. Now that we’re winding down for the party season, it seems a fitting homework assignment to ask each of you, before next Monday, to write a six-word story to share with the group.
Multiple entries are fine. Some kind of prize will be on offer for the best. Lighter themes are preferable. Extra mince pies will be awarded if you can work in some kind of seasonal theme.
Wired magazine recently set a similar challenge to about 30 writers (mainly science-fiction novelists), and got the following responses:
“Computer, did we bring batteries? Computer?”
- Eileen Gunn
“Vacuum collision. Orbits diverge. Farewell, love.”
- David Brin
“Gown removed carelessly. Head, less so.”
- Joss Whedon
“…machine. Unexpectedly, I’ve invented a time…”
- Alan Moore
“From torched skyscrapers, men grew wings.”
- Gregory Maguire
“With bloody hands, I say goodbye.”
- Frank Miller
“Epitaph: Foolish humans, never escaped Earth.”
- Vernor Vinge
“It’s behind you! Hurry, before it…”
- Rockne S. O’Bannon
“Lie detector glasses perfected. Civilisation collapses.”
- Richard Powers
“I’m dead. I’ve missed you. Kiss?”
- Neil Gaiman
“The baby’s blood type? Human, mostly.”
- Orson Scott Card
“I couldn’t believe she’d shoot me.”
- Howard Chaykin
“Broken heart, 45, WLTM disabled man.”
- Mark Millar
“Time machine reaches future! Nobody there…”
- Harry Harrison
“Tick tock tick tock tick tick.”
- Neal Stephenson
“Easy. Just touch the match to…”
- Ursula K. Le Guin
Get the idea?
The salon enjoyed the exercise so much that Damian thought we should let the world participate.