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Six-word stories
Hemingway's was "For sale, baby shoes. Never used."
Norman Mailer, David Lodge, Robert Olen Butler, and others try.
Caterina asks her readers. My favorite from the comments is:
She watched the world end.
Again.
I'll try "Demand sloped up, Harry is naked."
How about you?
Posted by Tyler Cowen on October 10, 2006 at 08:15 AM in The Arts | Permalink
Comments
Bobby Fisher makes antisemitic radio shows.
An "A" student at Columbine High
staying here STOP send children STOP
Indian engineer in America; drives taxis
Posted by: Andrew Edwards at Oct 10, 2006 9:16:27 AM
My guess: The higher the price of drugs or booze or fame or hi-jinks, the more of it Harry Nilsson demanded, until he was showing up at people's door naked.
Posted by: Dan Klein at Oct 10, 2006 9:16:50 AM
She looked. He winked. She blushed.
The sequel is:
"How does lunch sound?"
-"Lovely."
"Perfect."
Posted by: hamilton at Oct 10, 2006 9:23:55 AM
Wish I had written Andrew's third.
Posted by: hamilton at Oct 10, 2006 9:25:25 AM
Firing, Gurbrok laughed "Economics? Pah!"
Posted by: Martin at Oct 10, 2006 9:28:00 AM
Tyler's sentence puzzles; economics or porn?
Posted by: Ken Hirsch at Oct 10, 2006 9:32:54 AM
Ripped from the headlines:
Little man. Big bomb. Sun sets.
Posted by: Ted Craig at Oct 10, 2006 9:42:11 AM
Here's a few:
* If only they had suffered more.
* Reluctantly, I welcomed our robot overlords.
* We just weren't greedy enough, eh?
Posted by: jb at Oct 10, 2006 9:47:43 AM
Hemmingway's is superb, as is Tyler's pick from the other comments. Several others are good, but too many try to summarize a story in six words rather than write a story that's only six words long. My effort:
"Release me!"
"No."
"Please?"
"Never again."
Posted by: eddie at Oct 10, 2006 9:56:32 AM
She left for another. Incentives mattered.
Posted by: EclectEcon at Oct 10, 2006 10:01:57 AM
Finally, but it was too late.
Posted by: jon o at Oct 10, 2006 10:16:08 AM
Another try:
I climbed Vesuvius. Pompeii beckoned, teeming.
Posted by: eddie at Oct 10, 2006 10:19:57 AM
She left. He wept too late.
They laughed, sat and hands met.
I second hamilton. Andrew's third haunts my attempts.
Posted by: eriks at Oct 10, 2006 10:22:11 AM
Phillips fast asleep, Ned just won.
Posted by: Yan Li at Oct 10, 2006 10:44:46 AM
Assassinated economist's dying words: "Markets in ..."
Posted by: Ken Hirsch at Oct 10, 2006 11:09:50 AM
I agree with one of Caterina's commenters: sad ones seem easier than happy ones. Here's a chick-flick-style romantic story, offered as inspiration to Megan:
"Coffee?" Thus began a perfect union.
And for the dark comedy fans, with a nod to economics:
Dorothea's estate sale left everyone satisfied.
Props to Andrew's telegram, and all three of jb's.
Posted by: eddie at Oct 10, 2006 11:12:54 AM
"What? Only six words? What a..."
Posted by: Brian Moore at Oct 10, 2006 11:46:53 AM
Reward if found. HP's good name.
Posted by: soaringeagle at Oct 10, 2006 11:50:46 AM
He looked too late. She's alone.
It sounded easy, so was failing.
Brewwery for sale, priced to move.
Seeking ride to New York, one way.
Posted by: ElamBend at Oct 10, 2006 11:51:46 AM
He's dead, but adores his wife.
(Come to think of it, wasn't there an old movie like that?)
And for Eddie, a classic:
"Rent!"
"I can't!"
"Me!"
"My hero."
Posted by: speedwell at Oct 10, 2006 11:54:18 AM
Oh, and I posted this at one of the other sites, but my guy wants me to post it here too:
"Oppression, revolt, chaos, commonality, progress, oppression."
Posted by: speedwell at Oct 10, 2006 11:56:25 AM
Win the game, kid. Wide left.
Posted by: Whit Stevens at Oct 10, 2006 11:56:50 AM
Creation, Corruption, Catastrophe, Christ, Cross, Consumation.
Posted by: Joel B. at Oct 10, 2006 12:02:48 PM
(That's not mine by the way, but it basically sums up a lot of the Bible in six words.)
Posted by: Joel B. at Oct 10, 2006 12:03:47 PM
Breakfast Chez Moi?
Whatever.
Cornflakes then.
Water?
I don't drink.
Heroin?
Naturally!
Lonely?
Not enough.
You'll make it.
Posted by: David Zetland at Oct 10, 2006 12:04:08 PM
