Writing tight.
It is definitely a challenge. For most folks, it is much easier to go on and on about something than to just get to the point. Learning to say a lot in just a few words is a hard-earned skill for many. Many folks here at FaithWriters have honed that talent in the Writing Challenge, which limits you to 750 words per submission. It really is harder than it looks. 🙂
But challenge-length entries aren’t the shortest ones out there. Ernest Hemingway’s famous short-short story (“For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”) has inspired a website dedicated to six-word stories. If you search long enough, you can likely find challenges for short stories of many different lengths.
Several years ago, FW Challenge Coordinator (etc.) Deb Porter challenged FWers during a Writing Challenge break to write stories in fifty words or less. I rose to that challenge, and came up with five of them, which I posted in the regular articles section.
I would like to challenge YOU to do the same. Feel free to check mine out above for ideas – if you participated “way back when,” go ahead and link to yours in the comments. Here are a few others from that original mini-challenge – from my dear friends Allison Egly, Jan Ackerson, Betty Castleberry, and Seema Bagai.
Simply post yours (with word count included – title does NOT count as long as it isn’t ridiculously long) in the comments here for all to read (if you are having trouble leaving a comment, email me at joannesher at faithwriters dot net with your story and name and I will put it up). I will give you until Friday, May 8 at midnight ET to put up your entry (more than one is fine). If at least ten different people submit a 50-word story, I will do a random drawing for a small prize among all the participants. I am also hoping to post ALL of the stories in a blog post here later.
So, put your thinking caps on, write tight, and get to work on that 50-word (or less) story!
28 Comments until now.
FUN! I don’t remember if I played last time or not, but I’mgoing to try this time. 🙂
How long is too long for a title? My story has a 9-word title IF you count Scripture reference addresses as a single word. Otherwise, it’s longer.
Betsy – that is fine – scripture references don’t count at all in the word count.
Mothering in the hard place between Pr. 30:11 and Gal. 6:1.
How could he do this again, so soon after our heart-to-heart talk, after his repentant prayer?
I doubt last night’s sincerity. But then I remember my own indwelling sin.
“Lord, give me a spirit of gentleness to restore him!”
My son storms in, cursing, as I tearfully pray.
Bold Flower 50 Words
The lone yellow flower towers above the patch of weeds in my shrubbery. The beautiful tulip points upward to Heaven with much confidence, a wondrous sight to be behold. Clearly the flower is thriving, not affected by the weeds. Let your Christian faith point to Jesus with the same boldness.
Ephesians 3:12
Just Believe 50 Words
From the smoking debris of choas I rise.
Fearlessly, shaking off all doubt in
confidence I believe. It is with overcoming
faith I stand certain. My mind is racing
on the tracks of hope. There is the smell
of new beginnings as a bud of fresh
flowers on the horizon.
Hebrews 10:23
One Last Bell
The bell rings. Students leave, happily talking about their next stage of life. It’s amazing what nine short weeks can do. Give them one last blessing. Not a “See you you guys tomorrow!” But instead something much more final, “Have a wonderful life and see ya around!”
Graduation is here.
A Leaky Roof
The house stood, abandoned. Unwilling to finance a necessary roof repair, the owner moved, first to the basement, then to the bunkhouse, leaving her house to rot. A house lost because of a leaky roof.
Like the house, our souls need regular maintenance. Does your soul have a leaky roof?
How Much Do You Love Me? (48 words)
“I love you.”
“How much?”
Grinning, with all-encompassing arms spread wide, the lusting youth replied “this much. No one could desire or love you more.”
“I love you.”
“How much?”
Grimacing with unbearable pain, He stretched his arms out, nailed to His cross – and died.
No greater love . . .
Mother’s Tears (50 words)
A widowed mother begs on painful shaking knees
Weeping, heartbroken, inconsolable,
She pitifully grieves for her soul-less drug-addicted son.
Jesus’s Arms comfortingly enfold her,
as He collects her sparkling tears in His Hands,
He pours them over her rebellious, faithless, fatherless son.
Drenched in Their tears, the young man repents.
A Better Way
“Clench your fist,” the technician said. I obeyed reluctantly. I’d rather fight than be stuck with a needle.
My best Friend is just the opposite. He would rather give all then to raise a fist. In fact, He taught a better way, open your hand and let go. He did.
(50 words)
Grandpa’s Bagel 48 words
Robert Schaetzle
Leonardo came running through to the kitchen and shouted; “Grandpa Bagel!” He takes delight too much on Grandpa’s bagel. “Grandpa Cheez!” Opps…I forgot. His desire is not so much the bagel, but more the crème cheese topping. Leonardo’s acquired taste at age two is… “It’s yummy!”
Venit; vidit; vicit! (50 Words)
Herein lies the challenge:
“We’ll write with fewer words!”
I figured it was worth a try
While one stone killed two birds.
Twenty words and counting
But now the count’s at thirty!
I’d hoped to make a point or two
Without becoming wordy.
Jesus…
He came;
He saw;
He conquered!
Oh dear, I’m afraid my little cat
Has just recently been getting fat.
I’ve begun to exceedingly fear
Multiplication may happen here.
Song of Creation (49 Words)
Battery in. Cover closed. Red in right ear. Blue in left. Now, listen and hear! Birds chirping. Chickens crowing. Flies buzzing. Brook babbling. Gentle wind rustling. The world is suddenly alive with sound. The song of creation’s praise cannot be silenced…”He who has ears (or hearing aids), let Him hear!”
Jason tried to comprehend. He has advanced stages of cancer? Two weeks to live.
Coming to himself at the sound of sobbing, he realized his bride’s heart was breaking.
Putting his arms tenderly around her he held her close, whispering, “Honey, we’ll never have to say goodbye again up there.”
Oh Mary . . . (50 words)
Shaking with terror, she cried she had cancer.
She’s an extremist.
Surely precancerous polyps.
I went through that via colonoscopies.
No biggy.
She had to drink a murky liquid – so very much of it.
I remember. I reassured her, hugs, love and laughter.
Yesterday she underwent a complete hysterectomy.
An Unknown Friend
Weary. Homeless. Friendless. Empty. Ruined. Broke.
Connie’s eyes threatened tears.
Begging? How had it come to this? Surely it’s only a nightmare.
But the sneering teenagers and smear of raw egg running down her shirt was too real.
Looking up her heart leaped! A friendly face. A smile. A wave.
(50 words)
Together We Pray (50 words)
His pain screams to me,
My pain screeches back.
It hurts, oh it hurts
when love rolls off-track.
Together we pray,
together we weep,
unburden grief
to Him – He’ll keep
us close to His Heart.
He takes our angst,
heals our pain.
We who love Him
love each other again.
The Gideon Bible (50 words)
At work I witnessed to a co-worker,
walking “Romans Road To Salvation.”
She bowed her head, repented of her sins and found new life and purpose in Jesus.
She called me later with a question:
“Is it all right if my boyfriend stole a motel’s Gideon Bible for me?”
I now carry extra Bibles.
The End and the Beginning
Pomp and Circumstance swells as you march, head held high, shoulders back, honors showing.
I wave, unseen, tears flowing, still praying, so proud, so thankful.
Speeches drone, cameras flash, names are called and tassels flipped; diplomas gripped.
I only see my child. You did it! I love you, precious son.
Till Death Do Us Part
A hug, a kiss, I love you softly spoken; one enters eternity, one stands alone. Life lived left its mark as memories to take hold, easing the pain as the casket is lowered into the earth. Life begins again; each our separate ways.
“God’s Grace”
The little girl stared at Grace. “What’s wrong with her?”
“She has special needs.”
“Can she walk or talk?”
“She can’t talk.”
“She’s beautiful. I’m sorry for her.”
“Don’t be. God made her this way.”
“Why?”
“Good question.”
“Maybe it’s so I can be glad I can walk and talk.”
“See the Principal!” his teacher said.
Wallace giggled inside. Once, he spilled spaghetti on Jack ‘accidentally’. Later, he set off the fire alarm.
Suddenly, his heart leapt. Did the principal know?
His throat went dry.
“ Your mum passed away!”
He wept. He couldn’t tell her he repented.
Frustrated, I tried again. The response said it’d been shared. I thought it was my creation. After three times I gave up. Isn’t it true we have shared tales like The Flood and Creation. Never write a flash or tidal flood? Ridiculous–I wrote this. Can computers replace us?
My “Brother’s Keeper” (50 words)
She barred me from kitchen and bathroom.
“Pee in a cup.”
Shocked me with breathtakingly fragrant roses and an unbelievably lovely heart massage tucked in a card.
She made scrumptious lemon cake from scratch
.
“Happy Mothers’ Day!”
We couldn’t have children.
My hubby’s caregiver adopted us, gifting us six grandchildren.
Perspective – 50 words
I am blind in one eye with no teeth in my mouth. Surgeries removed two ovaries, womb, one kidney, and appendix. I am gladder without my gallbladder, and I can only count to seven on my two hands. So many missing parts, but I am still thankful to be alive.
I truly relished this exercise! I am an inveterate chatty wordsmith and find it difficult to post without flowery nonsensical whimsies.