“I’ve been reading those six-word stories recently. Many of them moved me to the core. They’re like tiny advocates telling good stories don’t need big words. Or many words.”
I admire six-word stories as they don’t lose their essence even though they’re brutally condensed. Their soul stays while the excess words are shredded away.
They’re also among the easiest ways to finally put pen to the paper instead of making excuses. Maybe you don’t have time to write a novel, but you can write a six-word story, right? Works for me.
I also admire Earnest Hemingway, the pioneer of six-word stories, because he chose simplicity over flowery language. His sentences are swift. His words sweep you along with them. No pretentiousness whatsoever.
Recently I read this article sharing Hemingway’s tips on writing. One point he mentioned was ‘write six-word stories,’ so I followed his advice. I wrote a hundred of them.
However, I’m not posting all of them because most of them are trash (like a part of any work is, always). Anyway, it’s always good to experiment.
Here are the stories I’ve written
Some of these stories are horror and thriller. Some are sad and dramatic. Anyway, the task has been on my to-do list for a while, so here they are, finally.
Also, here are some things I’ve learned
- Writing happy stories is harder than writing gloomy stuff
- The smallest of tasks can help us remain creative
- Writing stories or quotes helps in building momentum
- Stuff gets better as we go on creating
- Brutal simplicity encourages betterment
- Any work is better than no work
- Random experiments pay off
Finally, it seems like a good idea to dive into versatile creative activities, like doodling, making jokes, creating spec ads, or brushing with the non-dominant hand. Deviating from day-to-day activities and stretching creative abilities in some or other way helps us move beyond our cozy comfort zones.
Worth it? Absolutely.