How to write

Have you twittered…tweetered, uh, tweeted lately?

If your answer was no, then I know you’re not Ashton Kutcher or one of the million followers who express their thoughts in 25 words or less.  I can barely form a thought much less express it in 25 words or less.  I blame my English teachers, always demanding 250 words on what I did over the summer, or 500 words on a book written in a dead language.  There’s something ironic about a book surviving longer than the language in which it was written.  But that’s a discussion for another day.  My English teachers taught me more words were better; a minimum requirement but no maximum.  After The Odyssey a 25 word story would have been a relief. 

Micro fiction is a writer’s tweet; stories told in 400 words or less.  Ernest Hemingway mastered the art with a complete story told in just 6 words. “For Sale: baby shoes. Never worn.”  It’s astonishing the grief just six words can evoke.  Here are my attempts at six word stories, quality versus quantity.

Did she know I loved her?  

Before my eyes, the skyline burned. 

I changed diapers yesterday. Today: graduation.

Yesterday: regret. Today: reality. Tomorrow: hope. 

It’s hard to squeeze much juice out of six words, but twenty five words should be a snap.