Write A 50 Word Short Story

[psychdude]

From the car, he looked at his house. Once a happy place, now disheartening. He believed in fixing; she in disposing.

 

As he backed down the driveway, tears burning cheeks, he heard a shout.

 

Barefooted at top speed, she leapt off the porch, ran across the grass.

 

“Let’s fix it!”

[jar]

Hey guys, I'm fascinated with how much one can say with a severe restriction to what one can write. For example when I write letters to pen friends sometimes I will not allow myself more time than 5 mins on a topic, and if I can't say all I want to say about that in five mins, too bad. For the recipients especially Likewise, when I am stuck for ideas with writing, I like to try and write 50 word short stories. Every now and again I'll experiment with not using a certain vowel for a paragraph of writing.

 

Thought it would be interesting to see what others could come up with when writing a 50 word short story.

 

Here's one I did for this post:

 

He always had to know the answer to irrelevant questions.

"Do cat's always land on their feet? Always?"

And today was no different. He approached, his face pale, wearing a sickly grin.

"You know how cyanide, when swallowed, is meant to kill you in three seconds?"

"Yeah?"

"It's been sev-"

 

 

How about only 26 words, one sentence.

 

A besotted camel departed early Friday going home; I just kept laughing merrily noting one person quickly responded, “See, that undulating voyaging wasteland Xebec yonder zooms”.

 

 

[bjcmatthews]

Okay jar here we go- 26 words and a story:

 

Wandering listlessly through the supermarket, detached from wanton advertising and superfluous products; What I wanted I could not be found here. Because I forgot my list.

 

Took me 10 mins

[jar]

Okay jar here we go- 26 words and a story:

 

Wandering listlessly through the supermarket, detached from wanton advertising and superfluous products; What I wanted I could not be found here. Because I forgot my list.

 

Took me 10 mins

 

Neat; now try using alphabetical order for the first letter of each word. A-Z or Z-A would be acceptable.

[bailofhay]

My desk is a mess. Paper everywhere. Five coffee cups, two empty, none warm. I have a cactus because it should be easy to take care of, but its dead. The orange in the corner has been there for a week. Half a ping pong ball. And me. I’m here.

[Ernst Bitterman]

“Find my McGuffin,” the dame said, and she paid me well to try.

 

Fist fights galore. I showed my gun twice, once to the wrong person. Found the McGuffin, right where it shouldn’t have been.

 

The dame didn’t pay me enough. Living is easy on McGuffin money in Juarez.

[Pfhorrest]

A wily vulture, dressed in peacock's plumes, beckoned enticingly to five ravens, they who promptly bowed to their false Queen. At this the vulture took to the air and transmuted to a woman, speckled gold and green, who flew.

[Redbarchettayyz]

He reached under the couch, knowing the pen had rolled underneath it. As he grasped and clawed at the darkness, his fingers closed around what felt like an old hotdog, a lost remnant of the barbecue he had held last week. Brushing aside the ants, he said to himself, "Man's gotta eat!".

 

I offer my sincere apologies for that.

[inkthefinks]

Here is my attempt:

 

 

Louie knew it was getting bad. It took a certain number of milligrams just to function anymore.

 

He has been a nibmeister once, well respected, with a valuable collection. Now he was down to just one… a black Sheaffer Snorkel.

 

“I’ll go to rehab before I’ll write with an inkstick!”

[penrivers]

Finest distraction movement said Nana with a smile while leaving to the mountains in the west hopin to lure and atract the American and Mexican armies.

Victorio ordered to childs, women and a few warriors to water the horses and fill the leather canteens. Crossing the desert toward Sierra de Santa Rosa or the range mountains of Zapalinamé maybe was dificult for the Americans or the Mexicans, not for him, they could eat roots and chew cactus to get water and mainly they knew for hundreds of years the hidden water wells, and reaching it they can live an eternity in those canyons......hey what is that dust in the horizon?....

[GradesWithFPen]

I'll have a go at this.

 

The red ink represented all her dreams, her successes. Blue ink reflected her failures, her disappointments, her depression. The two bottles perched on her desk, she took a swipe with her hand, and the result was the murky purple mixture of her gloriously tortured life.

[melissa59]

The red ink represented all her dreams, her successes. Blue ink reflected her failures, her disappointments, her depression. The two bottles perched on her desk, she took a swipe with her hand, and the result was the murky purple mixture of her gloriously tortured life.

 

Ah, this explains my quest for the perfect purple ink!

Nice story.

[penrivers]

Finest distraction movement said Nana with a smile while leaving to the mountains in the west hopin to lure and atract the American and Mexican armies.

Victorio ordered to childs, women and a few warriors to water the horses and fill the leather canteens. Crossing the desert toward Sierra de Santa Rosa or the range mountains of Zapalinamé maybe was dificult for the Americans or the Mexicans, not for him, they could eat roots and chew cactus to get water and mainly they knew for hundreds of years the hidden water wells, and reaching it they can live an eternity in those canyons......hey what is that dust in the horizon?....

Rechecking after two cups of cofee.

First paragraph needs clearing supressing words and giving more information.

Second paragraph what a sin repiting the word water 3 times, lets see itand Give it speed:

Finest distraction movement said Nana leading his cavalry to the west hoping to lure and atract the American and Mexican armies.

Victorio set the childs , women, and the few warriors left, water the horses and fill the leather canteens. Crossing the desert to Sierras in the east was no problem for him, they could eat roots and chew cactus for drink, over all, they knew the hidden wells there waiting for them. Once in te mountains they can live in the canyons for years....¡hey¡..whats that?...dust in the horizont¡¡

Edited June 30, 2012 by penrivers

[inkstainedruth]

I was in a weird writing mood, so I thought I'd resurrect this thread. Here's my latest attempt:

 

Not exactly "La Belle et La Bête"; instead, Simon, self-commiserating.

"She took the KIDS!"

"You're surprised?"

"But we never...."

"I told her that. But intent is all. This isn't adolescent male fantasy time -- there's consequences. Collateral damage. You did this to yourself, stupid. And I'm COMPLETELY on her side...."

 

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[jacksterp]

Lamy Safari F with Noodler's Red-Black on Rhodia dots.

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8375/8448688886_fe1d0d698b_c.jpg

Edited February 5, 2013 by jacksterp

[Machoo]

Here goes! 50 words. Pelikan m400. Electric DC Blue

[goby]

The teacher sat and reflected on his life, a life which today he must leave, for today is the day he would retire. Above all else, the knowledge imparted and dreams inspired, what he would miss the most would be the children yelling, "Your Out Mr. Walker!" while playing kickball.

 

- dedicated to a teacher who inspired me and changed my life

[Sasha Royale]

She was easy to love, but needed a friend, who was without ulterior motive.

Six lustrum, he was that. Laughter and tears, hopes and dreams, triumph and defeat,

Everything shared, save a bed. Never a word of deepest hopes.

There was one kiss. She was gone. Ah, she always knew.

[Sasha Royale]

Who are you that approaches me ? Are you friend or foe ?

Your eyes turn away, when I gaze in return. A night creature of harm

one of us must be. Will you steal my peace, my purse, my life ?

I will slay thee. Alas, the creature of harm is me.

[Sasha Royale]

All the free-fall deaths were salvo-ed, save one. It hung crooked ‘neath the wing.

“Dammit”, he grunted. As if the blue iron reaper heard, it loosed it’s hold, and

fell into the night. He never knew where or if or whom it took. Now, he dreams

of it forever.