You discover a letter on a path that affects you deeply. Today, write about this encounter. And your twist? Be as succinct as possible.
You stumble upon a random letter on the path. You read it. It affects you deeply, and you wish it could be returned to the person to which it’s addressed. Write a story about this encounter.
Today’s twist: Approach this post in as few words as possible.
None of us will ever know the whole story in other words. We can only collect a bag full of shards that each seem perfect.
— From 100 Word Story‘s About page
Brevity is the goal of this task, although “brief” can mean five words or five-hundred words. You might write a fifty-word story, as writer Vincent Mars publishes on his blog, Boy in the Hat. Or you might tell your tale in precisely one-hundred words, like the folks at 100 Word Story — an approach that forces you to question every word.
For writers who tend to write more, a longer word count may be considered concise, too. At Brevity, writers publish nonfiction of seven-hundred-fifty words or less: there is space to develop a piece, yet a focus on succinctness.
For inspiration, browse two fifty-word stories — on the silence between a husband and wife, or a story on time and a missed connection — or these one-hundred words by H. Edwards to see how others write clever concise tales.
Need a helping hand? Head to The Commons.
What happened to the follow up posts in SERIAL KIller… Very confused by Day 5 going rogue..
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they might be back as other assignments later on, as I guess… or basically all is up to us 🙂
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I have to watch my back now, because I publish this post below instead of Day Five assignment… so the serial killer on one side has its own follow up then
http://byswav.com/2014/06/07/intuitive-writing/
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they said it would happen later…they don’t want us getting completely attached to that one post, they probably have their reasons
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Writing is a process; it’s also not always an organized one. We might work on an idea one day, and then work on something else the next. Posts that might require more thought take time to “simmer” — it’s great to let pieces/bigger ideas sit, like your “serial killer” series.
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They replied to someone saying they will give us Post 2 and Post 3 later on in the month. 🙂
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They follow-up posts to the “Serial Killer” assignments are interspersed throughout the course for some variety.
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Don’t leave! Come back!
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“Day 5 going rogue” made me laugh.
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Like it 😉
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Well, I guess I screwed that up. 😉
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You just made my day… sorry, a night actually 🙂 where is the link to your blog on your website, by the way ?:) I’ll go have a look at your post…
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http://wp.me/p4qNGz-5m
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Thanks, Swav. First, I thought I did it right, then I thought I did it wrong. Now, I know that it’s really neither right nor wrong. Hey, maybe I’m ahead of the game! Ha!
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Just the inducement I need toward more word efficiency.
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I was actually excited about continuing my mojo tale today..oh well maybe tomorrow!
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So was I, planning my next two stories. 🙂
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So was I!
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Me too 🙂
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Me too!
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Save them in the draft folder for later. 😉
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I already have 🙂
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As promised yesterday, we’ll definitely return to your serial post later on this month. Of course, you can work on any post you feel like in the meantime, switch back and forth between multiple posts, or whatever combination works for you and your schedule.
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Thanks for clearing that up! I have no problem with a little variety! At least I have more time to improve or expand on my ideas.
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oh no another dower one to deal with, well i think lol, was hoping for something uplifting to write about, 😦 and its sunny outside i think I will go for a walk haha
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It’s all in the interpretation. 🙂
This could mean anything — you could be happy, sad, angry or feel any other strong emotion.
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http://dumbifyisnotaword.wordpress.com/2014/06/06/not-blog-5-evil-stuff/ Finished! My shortest post so far, but I really like it.
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Your posts crack me up. Well done.
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Haha, that’s clever. Made me laugh out loud too
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This is an Urdu composition I found – I really wish I could return this to the person it was written for. It really touched me..
http://happinessandfood.wordpress.com/2014/04/27/chaahti-hoon-main-tumhe/
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on Easter’s (http://easterellen.com/) call out, I have tried to convey the essence of the poem in English. So if you are stopping by my post, do read the comments to get what the poem is all about. I promise you will love it!
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that is sweet.
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However this sounds awesome 🙂
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I don’t know why people think this one is a downer. It can be an uplifting letter that affects you. Just because it says your deeply affected doesn’t mean it has to be in a bad way. :3
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Indeed — wasn’t intended to be a downer. “Affecting you deeply” can certainly = positive.
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I read it to be immediately as a downer, but I think “downers” are easier to write.
Wow that makes me sound like a lot of fun….
But yeah mine was kind of depressing.
http://gtylermills.com/2014/06/06/day-5-the-note/
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Yeah I feel that these are more free than we probably think so I jsut went with what my muse said to do.
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And It’s okay gtylermills, sometimes you have to write the way you need to write. Why some of mine end up in poems. Poems=win, Prose=fail. Unless it’s short prose like today. XD
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Well, this one was easy. http://pieniajaristyksia.wordpress.com/2014/06/06/a-love-story-in-60-words/
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Absolutely loved yours!
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Thanks! I’m happy to hear that. 🙂
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Nice.
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I laughed so hard because it’s so cleverly written!
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I love This!! You ARE awesome!!!!!
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Love the self-assuredness! 🙂
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Great take on the challenge! Loved it!
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I’m having a hard time with this one. Not the shortness, but the story itself.
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The old adage ‘less is more’ rings true with today’s challenge. Managed to confine my story to 20 words.
http://jemverse.wordpress.com/2014/06/06/writing-101-day-5-be-brief-returned/
Can anyone better that?
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What a great use of rhyme for such a fun answer
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Thanks – there was a thing on FaceBook recently about a story in four words. Kind of inspired me for this.
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I’m kind of disappointed in the amount of joking going on about this assignment. I’m having a difficult time because I LOVE to write. It seems almost impossible, but I’m going to try. I just wanted to add that yours was nicely done, and I appreciate that you actually took it seriously.
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Thanks. Appreciate that. Wanted to convey a bit of mystery here too; no-one actually knows what the letter said, just that I probably shouldn’t have….!
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that was funny and also well written.
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Here is my entry.. found it difficult to think of a topic, but then it came.
http://easterellen.com/2014/06/06/the-heavy-letter/
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Good job!
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http://dx0330.wordpress.com/2014/06/06/and-the-search-begins/
So … this is what I’ve done for this ‘assignment’ and though I had some other ideas and other plotlines and stuff, I’ve decided to write in the format I’ve chosen. It’s my first time writing in this … format … so please leave a comment to tell me if I’ve done it some sort of justice or if I’ve completely made a fool of myself?
Thanks~^^
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wow! It’s great! Good job!
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Thank you~^^
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I really liked your unique take on this and the feelings that it evoked.
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Thanks~^^ the feedback really means a lot, 🙂
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Brilliant. Conveys the theme and betters me on the twist (13 v my 20 words). Respect!
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Haha, thank you, 🙂 though I’m sure content trumps word-count, ^-^
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Love it!
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Haha, thanks 🙂
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you got my attention there!!! *excited*
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http://emilybeks93.wordpress.com/2014/06/06/lost-love/
I took some inspirations from some of these examples. I love the six word story, baby shoes for sale, never worn and tried my hardest to do it with this but I thought I needed to add a few words to make my point. Would love feedback!
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I left a comment on your blog, but in a word: WOW.
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You’ve inspired me with this!
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very nice!
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I second that wow! I love the words and the format!
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Here’s my assignment
http://thebebekohchronicles.wordpress.com/2014/06/06/the-lost-art-of-writing-love-letters/
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Ended up writing something much more different than what I had in mind 😀 I blame my stomach for that.
http://pizzasandthat.wordpress.com/2014/06/06/keep-it-short/
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That was really funny, I like how you wrote it
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Yah, this is all about creativity
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This brings me back to when I was writing Harveste Addams! I love this prompt!
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Oh my! This is a challenging one, but exciting. I’m a woman of many words. But I’ll keep it under my usual 500+. 😉
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Assignment completed. I love short stories. They are such a challenge but so much fun to do. Here’s mine:
http://gtylermills.com/2014/06/06/day-5-the-note/
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Great ‘mini’ story. Well worth reading!
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Sweet and sad. 🙂
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Hello,
Here is my offering for today.
http://ronovanwrites.wordpress.com/2014/06/06/love-letter-found/
It is a little different and I hope it conveys appropriately.
Much Respect
Ronovan
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Great!
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Thank you! I was afraid I had done this one wrong.
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Well done!
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Beautiful.
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Nice to be here today, and excited as the challenge is gaining momentum. cheers 🙂 “writing 101, Day Five: Be Brief” http://keempres.wordpress.com/2014-6-6/. hope it’ll okay for you reading.
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http://keatongwolfe.wordpress.com/2014/06/06/her-girlfriends-armpit-tasted-like-lime/ It tasted like lime.
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I couldn’t be brief more, otherwise the story will look corrupted
http://smileyface80.wordpress.com/2014/06/06/letter/
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There were so many different paths you could take. I took a lighthearted approach.
http://carlashirley90.wordpress.com/2014/06/07/if-it-were-that-simple/
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very nice!
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This is really short for me, but it was what I immediately thought of. Have a look if you guys want. http://shadowwolfsllife.wordpress.com/2014/06/06/lost-letter-writing-101-day-five/
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also, leave any comments over on the post itself.
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Ok I’m done. A letter to the unknown http://livingwithnoexcuses.com/2014/06/06/a-letter-to-the-unknown/
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This was a challenge!! I managed it in under 100 and I’m pretty happy with that. I’ve also managed to keep within my blog’s parenting theme.
Letters On The Ground | Looking Glass Mama
https://lookingglassmama.wordpress.com/2014/06/07/letters-on-the-ground/
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are we supposed to write about what the letter said…??
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You can approach it in different ways: write what the letter said, tell the story from an outsider/stranger’s POV watching it happen, imagine the original story within the letter, whatever… These prompts are springboards to get you inspired and write.
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thanks for the help…:)
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