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A Challenging Writing Contest From Robert Hruzek

Robert Hruzek has a great writing contest going on titled, Let’s Be Brief.

The goal is to write an entire story in 6 words. That’s it. 6 words.

I was very happy to see my own writing project was part of the inspiration for Robert to give it a go and flex his community-building muscles.

Robert’s asking that you post your 6-word story on your own blog or comment on his post. He’s lined up a couple judges to help pick winners.

In 2006 Wired magazine wrote a story on being brief, and asked some sci-fi writers to come up with their own 6-word masterpieces. Robert’s got some samples on his site, of which I quite like:

  • “Gown removed carelessly. Head, less so.” – Joss Whedon
  • “Failed SAT. Lost scholarship. Invented rocket.” – William Shatner
  • “The baby’s blood type? Human, mostly.” – Orson Scott Card

David Dale (a pseudonym) also enjoys being brief. On his blog Very Short Novels he writes 299-word novels. Go check it out.

And write your 6-word contest entry for Robert. It’s an entertaining, challenging idea.

Here are mine:

I learned. And the world shrank.

“Marry me, Susan.”
“OK.”
“Really?”
“No.”

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January 16, 2007 Posted in Blogging, Online Community by

  • http://middlezonemusings.blogspot.com Robert Hruzek

    Thanks for the plug, Ben! Yours are great, but – don’t stop there, the contest runs through Sunday! P.S. I especially like #2 – a story with a surprise ending!

  • http://middlezonemusings.blogspot.com Robert Hruzek

    Thanks for the plug, Ben! Yours are great, but – don't stop there, the contest runs through Sunday! P.S. I especially like #2 – a story with a surprise ending!

  • http://www.instigatorblog.com Ben Yoskovitz

    Hey Robert – glad you like my stories. I may come up with others too.

    I like #2 as well. And just so you know, her name wasn’t Susan and she said yes. About 5 and a half years ago actually…so there’s no personal relevance in that story to me, just struck me as funny…and I don’t even know why I thought about it!

  • http://www.instigatorblog.com Ben Yoskovitz

    Hey Robert – glad you like my stories. I may come up with others too.

    I like #2 as well. And just so you know, her name wasn't Susan and she said yes. About 5 and a half years ago actually…so there's no personal relevance in that story to me, just struck me as funny…and I don't even know why I thought about it!

  • http://brainbasedbiz.blogspot.com Robyn McMaster

    Ben, I hope to write a story soon. I agree with Robert that the second one is best. Good luck in the contest!

  • http://brainbasedbiz.blogspot.com Robyn McMaster

    Ben, I hope to write a story soon. I agree with Robert that the second one is best. Good luck in the contest!

  • http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog John Wesley

    Interesting contest, I might have enter. I definitely think I have seen this before somewhere.

  • http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog John Wesley

    Interesting contest, I might have enter. I definitely think I have seen this before somewhere.

  • http://www.instigatorblog.com Ben Yoskovitz

    John – a few people have picked up on the contest including Liz Strauss at Successful-Blog.com – so it might have been there.

    I’d give it a try, it’s fun!

    And thanks for commenting Robyn…glad you like that 2nd story.

  • http://www.instigatorblog.com Ben Yoskovitz

    John – a few people have picked up on the contest including Liz Strauss at Successful-Blog.com – so it might have been there.

    I'd give it a try, it's fun!

    And thanks for commenting Robyn…glad you like that 2nd story.

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  • http://davidbdale.wordpress.com davidbdale

    Wow, Ben, thanks for the plug! I hardly feel qualified to share space with writers who can do the whole job in just SIX words.

    At 299 words each, my Very Short Novels must seem ridiculously verbose!

  • http://davidbdale.wordpress.com davidbdale

    Wow, Ben, thanks for the plug! I hardly feel qualified to share space with writers who can do the whole job in just SIX words.

    At 299 words each, my Very Short Novels must seem ridiculously verbose!

  • http://www.instigatorblog.com Ben Yoskovitz

    David – your site rocks. Although I don’t like the Snap Preview Anywhere (sorry!)

    This sentence hit me hard:

    “Murder doesn’t sleep, he says, and neither can the truth, and someone who could pressure someone is always at a desk somewhere in the world.”

    Damn. I can’t write like that.

  • http://www.instigatorblog.com Ben Yoskovitz

    David – your site rocks. Although I don't like the Snap Preview Anywhere (sorry!)

    This sentence hit me hard:

    “Murder doesn’t sleep, he says, and neither can the truth, and someone who could pressure someone is always at a desk somewhere in the world.”

    Damn. I can't write like that.

  • http://davidbdale.wordpress.com davidbdale

    Thanks, Ben. I don’t think I can control the Snap Preview. It’s a new feature of WordPress. Is it objectionable? Should it be optional for readers, maybe? I should also note for your edification that of the 55 blogs that link to mine, according to Technorati, yours is first in order of authority (I presume because of the more than 500 blogs that link to yours!). So. I may be able to craft a sentence, but, damn, you can build a community!

  • http://davidbdale.wordpress.com davidbdale

    Thanks, Ben. I don't think I can control the Snap Preview. It's a new feature of WordPress. Is it objectionable? Should it be optional for readers, maybe? I should also note for your edification that of the 55 blogs that link to mine, according to Technorati, yours is first in order of authority (I presume because of the more than 500 blogs that link to yours!). So. I may be able to craft a sentence, but, damn, you can build a community!

  • http://www.instigatorblog.com Ben Yoskovitz

    David – there is a way of turning it off — see what Lorelle wrote about Snap. Good luck!

  • http://www.instigatorblog.com Ben Yoskovitz

    David – there is a way of turning it off — see what Lorelle wrote about Snap. Good luck!

  • Pingback: Middle Zone Musings » Let’s Be Brief - Day 2

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About Ben Yoskovitz
I recently joined GoInstant as VP Product. GoInstant changes how we use the web, making it shareable like never before.

I'm also a Founding Partner at Year One Labs, an early stage accelerator in Montreal. Previously I founded Standout Jobs (and sold it). I'm a hands-on startup guy, helping companies grow successfully from the idea forward. You can reach me at byosko at gmail dot com.

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