New Statesman -- micro fiction
 

Competition No 4300, set by J Seery, calls for “micro fiction: complete, but very brief, stories.” The rubric references the six-word novel often attributed to Hemingway -- “For sale: baby shoes, never worn” -- but the word limit is a loquacious 150 words, not a laconic six. It's not clear whether they'd welcome an entry consisting of, say, 15 stories, each 10 words or less.

The deadline is November 14.

comp@newstatesman.co.uk

Laconic? Hell, the blabbermouth could have got it down to 4 words:

"Selling baby shoes, unworn."

The Hemingway quote is new to me, but I recall a classified ad in a local publication, which went "For sale, diamond engagement ring; cost $3500, will take $2000 cash. Never seriously worn".

Local humorist Tim Sample cites this ad in the same publication;
"Will trade diamond wedding ring for 12 guage pump action shotgun", and says that a whole novel could be based on that.

My English teacher once told the class that the shortest short story ran 'That morning, the sun rose in the west.'

Stories this short are not going to be easy - possible, even - to come up with.

I seem to remember this competition from way back.

I'll give a try.


The hotel maid changes her plans as the red water drains from the bathtub.

Deleted....

I yam what I yam!

thinner
winner

Deleted.....

I thought I'd said this. It must be a Senior moment. Shhhh! Keep it to yourself.

In case John is being a bit cryptic, I think that what he means is:

Don't forget that anything you post here will be disqualified by the New Statesman on the grounds of previous publication.

I suppose 'veni, vidi, vici' might be the, um, locus classicus for this one, but whether or not the baby-shoes quote issues from Hemingway it illustrates the method in his best (early) work: the emotional core of the situation is inferential, not stated, squeezed into the space between words. Probably a good way to go here if 'very brief' means what it says (10-20?), & not 150 words. Moi, I'm used to composing micro-fictions at 100-150 words, but I don't think I'll try it in this case.

Dusted Off
 

Adam

Spit filled dust,
rib a bust,
inherited lust,
raised some dust,
started to rust
died as he must
dust to dust

You're probably right, Bazza. The trouble is that these 10-20 word thingies (and especially the 6-word example) are doomed to be pretty boring - which, admittedly, wouldn't be a first for the NS. So I'm sticking with the 150 words. At least that way, when I lose, I'll have the satisfaction of knowing I wuz cheated.

On reflection, I could do a 100-word story plus a few shorter ones. It's a bugger, though. I certainly preferred the recent Speccie one that asked for 1 flash fiction with a twist.

But don't forget, everyone, that Alex has kindly created "Deep Drills" to cater especially for such a scenario.

(Chris, why not simply post the NS comps on this new board, away from prying eyes?)

John and I have the password, if anyone needs it.

Jayne

A (micro) Tragedy

5 yrs in bliss
5 in abyss
10 yrs wed
11th dead