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.....