Word Economy

April 24, 2008 at 12:20 pm | Posted in writing | 1 Comment
Tags: challenge, word economy, writing

Sometimes less is more. One way to practice word economy in our writing is to write short pieces with a set word limit. For instance, try writing a 50 word story or a 100 word story. It’s challenging but it’s fun! There is a bit of a trick to it but I think I’ll hold off on sharing that with you. If you think 50 or 100 word limits are too limiting, imagine Ernest Hemingway’s six word story which he is said to have considered his best prose: “For sale: baby shoes, never used.”

Sample 50 word stories:

He was empty. The sweet, sensitive man was gone. His eyes were cold. He was quiet. He missed all of her cues, saying nothing. He did not feel anything anymore. He was a different person. He was going through the motions. For the first time, she was scared for him.

As the airplane left the runway she was overcome by an incredible sadness. She wasn’t able to stop the tears that left her right eye and stained her makeup. Then it hit her…her purpose. She realized that she was put on Earth to make others happy, not to be happy.

The light filtered in through the sheer curtain. Grace’s eyelids fluttered. She turned on to her side, pulling the blanket with her. Turning again, she opened her eyes. It was definitely daylight. She couldn’t avoid it any longer. She had made up her mind and she was ready to act!

He set his half empty coffee cup on the small table, took a slow and deliberate drag from his cigarette then exhaled, stifling the sigh that came from within. What had happened to his life? He watched the smoke drift away from him til it disappeared, just like his life.

Sample 100 word stories:

She didn’t want an apology. She wanted acknowledgement. They had loved each other deeply, then with one press of the “enter” key he told her he was attracted to someone else. It ripped her heart. She told him she knew it wasn’t intentional. It had just happened. He said “Thank you for understanding.” And that was it. Nothing more. She wanted him to say he knew the change this would mean for her. It was easier for him to say nothing. That hurt her. She knew she could go on, but not without that acknowledgement. The hurt stayed and grew.

How could he get her to understand? He had not wanted children before. He had been angry when he found out she was carrying his child. But what she didn’t know was that things were different now. He wanted this child. It was his child, not just hers. She had no right to keep him from the baby. He loved her. He always had, just like he had always loved that baby…his baby. He had needed time to get used to the idea of being a father. He wanted his baby. He wanted her. At long last, he was ready.

Try it if you dare! It’s a worthy skill to learn. Feel free to leave your attempt in a comment or leave a link to your try!

Write on!