31 Words from a Master [WRITING CHALLENGE EXEMPLAR]

[Lenny]

I've just come across this 31 word gem from Arthur C. Clarke. It's titled "siseneG", and, as of March 1984, it was the only short story that Clarke had written in ten years.

And God said: DELETE lines One to Aleph. LOAD. RUN.
And the Universe ceased to exist.

Then he pondered for a few aeons, sighed, and added: ERASE.
It never had existed.

Letters of Note: siseneG

Strange to feel so humbled by so few words! Thought it might be of interest to everyone who takes part in the 75 Word Challenge.

 

[Menion]

Re: 31 Words from a Master

Truly epic.

 

[The Judge]

Re: 31 Words from a Master

Very clever. I hope you're not suggesting we move to a 30 word challenge, though, Lenny. It takes me days to fit stories down into 75...

And although the Challenge itself is in Workshop, I'll move this over to GWD as that's more appropriate for it.

 

[Lenny]

Re: 31 Words from a Master

It was more the thought that we all struggle so much to get things down to 75 words, and here is something so effective in less than half that.

We could try a 31 word challenge. Doubt we'd get many participants, though.

Would you mind adding [WRITING CHALLENGE] to the title, so it doesn't go missed by people, please?

 

[sloweye]

Re: 31 Words from a Master

Cool, nice find Lenny.

 

[The Judge]

Re: 31 Words from a Master

I don't think anyone would miss it in GWD, but I certainly wouldn't want anyone to miss out. To avoid confusing people, though, since it's not part of the Challenge itself, I've tweaked your suggestion just a bit. Hope that's OK.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Re: 31 Words from a Master

We could try a 31 word challenge. Doubt we'd get many participants, though.

Oh, I'll bet we would. I know I couldn't resist it, myself, if it were posted.

 

[Jake Reynolds]

Why does God have a PC?

 

[Menion]

....he clicked his fingers and made one?

 

[sloweye]

Why does God have a PC?

Why? you think he'd be better off with a Mac?

 

[Evelinn]

Words have such power, and sometimes simplicity can move us further than volumes packed with explenations.

 

[Menion]

Words have such power, and sometimes simplicity can move us further than volumes packed with explenations.

Who wrote that? I recognize it.

Also, you look new, Bienvenido to the Chrons!

 

[Evelinn]

I wrote it I think. But I most certainly got it from somewhere Doesn`t everyone? Yes I`m knew, love this place, full of likeminded people

 

[Ursa major]

Why does God have a PC?

A personal creation? I don't know.

Why? you think he'd be better off with a Mac?

Macs are designed for a different sort of reign....