Candidate for "best shortest story of the year"?

TheDustyZebra

TheDustyZebra

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I know this could degenerate quickly into a non-writing discussion, but I'm starting it here because of the discussions we've had about 6-word short stories and such as that. This is slightly longer, but it struck me as a good candidate.

I've lost track of where I found it, but it was one of the top comments about one of the stories involving Harold Camping and the judgment day that didn't happen.



"It's all right, Harold. We all make mistakes. It's not the end of the world."
 
That can't have been a genuine line! It's priceless, though.

However, while as a joke it's clever, it isn't a short story on its own, is it? Without knowledge of Harold Camping and the judgement day that wasn't, it loses all impact. The contrast with the iconic "For sale: Baby shoes, never worn." is that there the only outside information we need (eg there are such things as "for sale" ads) are part of our general culture not tied to specific events of which we might or might not have knowledge.


And, yes, everyone, please keep this as a WRITING DISCUSSION otherwise it's on a one-way transfer to the Lounge...
 
As the 6-word story was mentioned:

Harold's intent ends in failure. Rapture.
Click to expand...

(I'm hoping the intent suggests camping, which gives it a little more context.)


By the way, TJ, I'll join in the discussion as soon as someone tells me what it is. ;):)
 
No idea, Ursa. How about, what makes a short story? How much background does one need? Can we fashion a 15 word short out of the Camping events that would make sense to someone who hadn't read the news?

(And never forget that loitering within tent is an offence.)
 
...unless one is a Pole....

(Couldn't resist. :eek:)


Obviously, as the example you gave shows, the shortest story can have as few as six words. Does anyone know of one with only, say, five?
 
I read this earlier but didn't comment as I have no idea who Harold Camping is. Also, TDZ's example reads more like a headline than an actual story to me.

So 'shortest story of the year' I have no idea. I really like Neil Gaiman's Nicholas Was one, but that wasn't this year. That was 100 words.
 
The Judge said:
Can we fashion a 15 word short out of the Camping events that would make sense to someone who hadn't read the news?
Click to expand...

I'll give it a try:

End of the World postponed. Prophet of doom fails to receive memo.


That's 12. I think it would make sense if one had never heard of Harold Camping, but as a joke it would be pretty lame. Possibly it is anyway.
 
Archduke Ferdinand alive and well. World War One a mistake.

That's ten words. The temptation is to try to mimic the six-worder, but it's very difficult without just recreating it...

Wanted: seventeen virgins. Afterlife reward.
 
If we are not limited to the Camping story, how about:

NASA reveals moon landing faked. Footage actually shot on Mars.
 
Sorry, I assumed that the news of the impending end of the world would have reached outside the US. :D

Yes, that was an actual comment following a story I found on Yahoo about how devastated Mr. Camping was that his predictions failed to come true.

You're right, of course, without knowing the background it wouldn't make much sense as a story in itself -- but somehow it felt like a story, and there are always a few stories in the 75-word challenge that I don't know the background for as well. I'm pretty sure this one couldn't be condensed to six words, since the part that makes it a story is "it's not the end of the world" and that's seven already.
 
TheDustyZebra said:
Sorry, I assumed that the news of the impending end of the world would have reached outside the US. :D
Click to expand...

Just me being a dingbat, I suspect!

I'm pretty sure this one couldn't be condensed to six words, since the part that makes it a story is "it's not the end of the world" and that's seven already.
Click to expand...

I can westcountry-fy that for you and make it six. "T'idden the end of the world." ;) Alternatively: "T'ain't the end of the world."

Clever or stupid? We'll never know...
 
How about:

Your Doomsday prophecy bombed again? Never mind, mate. It's not the end of the world.

As for background in the 75-worders, I think the fact they're so long (comparatively!) means it is possible to be unaware of a particular event from which the story is derived, yet still "get" the story at some level. Certainly that's what I always hope when I do my mythological ones -- I'm telling the main points of the story albeit some blanks have to be filled in by the reader.
 
I'm going to stick with 6-word stories, and try for some that are complete in themselves. (Purely in the interests of Harold Camping's self-respect, I'm not going to piggy-back on his recent "misfortunes".

And as this is an SFF site, how about:
Floods on Mars. No humans killed.
Click to expand...


And it would still be chilly out there. (;):))

.
 
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Thanks, Gary and Chaotic, I had a moment of silliness, which doesn't happen often these days.

Ursa, why not revive the old 6 Word Story thread, or start a New 6 Word Story thread? It may be that the time is right.
 
The Judge said:
How about:

Your Doomsday prophecy bombed again? Never mind, mate. It's not the end of the world.
Click to expand...


Ha! I like that one. Also laughing at Teresa's Mars story, while admittedly I did have to read it twice before it registered. :)
 
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