A Complete Story in Fewer Words Than This Title?

Yes. It's called Skinny Fiction. It's an awesome concept I just came across recently when I visited this blog, and I've been having a lot of fun with it ever since.

The idea is to write a story in as few words as possible. Potentially, try to get the story across in 10 or 25 words, but definable less than 100 words. This turns it into a poem, of sorts, but the key is that it must have a storyline. A character, a beginning, a middle, and an end.

A great example of Skinny Fiction is by the famous author, Ernest Hemingway. He wrote:

"For sale: baby shoes, never worn."

Now, tell me that doesn't give a whole story. Yes, a lot is implied, but that's the power of Skinny Fiction. It engages the imagination, and can lead each person down their own little road based on the connections and understandings they form.

The following is my Skinny Fiction story which is inspired by my novel, IN AN INSTANT, which I am currently having beta read and doing some edits. It's no wonder that it was on my mind.

Diagnosis
by Melanie James

Uncertainty. Heart races.
A look. A sigh.
Answers.
We cry.
I’m still me.

This story, I wrote a few days before Easter.

Salvation

by Melanie James

Darkness surrounds me. 

I walk toward him; he walks toward me. 

Morning blooms.

And this one was inspired by my precious little one-year-old daughter, Allie.

Little One

by Melanie James

Awake; her face is the dawn. 

Sticky fingers, tears, hugs, kisses, mysteries solved. 

More hugs and kisses.

Away into dreams.

I watch. She doesn't know.

Can you write a story in 25 words or less? 

Bet you can't.