Sunday 25 August 2013

The Shortest of Stories


So, what's the shortest story you've ever told? I think going small can be a good plan sometimes. Too much information can kill your story. We often show ourselves more clearly in small stories. Let me show you what I mean...

story card by Sian Fair


Think of a teenage girl you know. Or think back to your teenaged self. She goes to a party. she's all dressed up, there's some great music and somebody admires her new shoes, she spends all night watching the object of her affections, but nothing comes of it, so she goes home..

story card by Sian Fair

Next morning she goes into school. Her friend says

Well, come on, what happened?

and she says .....I think he looked at me.

That's it. The whole story. That says it all. She doesn't say I left the house at 9.00 and the carpark was pretty full and I forgot to stop for petrol and..because in her head she edited out the extra bit. The bit she didn't need to tell her story. And what does this mean? If you can talk, you can tell a story. You can get right down to the important bit, the bit, underneath it all, you understand that we want to know.

So, do it! Write it down! That's my cue to remind you it's Storytelling Sunday next Sunday.It's falling on the very first of the month in September, my favourite month of the year. I'm suggesting a theme, if you need one, of a lucky charm or a talisman, or something you like to have with you or think about if you are far from home...

But any story at all with fit perfectly. See you there?



24 comments:

Lauren Hender said...

Beautiful! I love that bird :-)

Jo said...

I love a story that's short so my imagination can fill in the blanks. Looking forward to Story Telling Sunday :D Thank you so much for your donation, it really means a lot x

Sinead said...

I love short stories, reading them and I also loved writing them when I was in secondary school :D
In one of the Irish papers, they publish a selection of six word stories every Saturday - it's amazing how much can be suggested and intimated in so few words. x

Maria Ontiveros said...

What a thoughtful post. I vacillate between trying to make my stories longer (putting in more detail, etc.) and writing in the shorter style (which feels more natural to me).
Looking forward to Storytelling Sunday (as always) - still need to pick my precious for this month.
Rinda

Fiona@Staring at the Sea said...

The famous Ernest Hemingway 6 word story immediately springs to mind. I think my favourite of all my StS posts is the shortest one! I failed to get one written last month. Must try harder!

debs14 said...

Did my family tell you to write this? I have a reputation of making stories much longer than they need be! I think I'm helping by filling in the details but they just want to know the bare bones! "Just get to the end, Mum" is frequently heard!
This will be a challenge for me ...

Karen said...

Well said. Still thinking about Sunday's precious.

Lisa-Jane said...

Good grief that has come around quick! Loving the colours you've used here.

Lou said...

Lovely cards. I must get around to thinking about sts as I missed last months!

Mel said...

I am a big Hemingway fan and like what is left unsaid and the subtext. However i am a big chatterbox famed for leaving epic answer phone messages! Should be an interesting challenge! X

Melissa said...

I'll be there - I have a story in mind, although it doesn't go with this month's theme, but it's a favorite (I wrote it in elementary school!).

Anonymous said...

A challenge within a challenge. I'll see what I can come up with.

Missus Wookie said...

Been musing over which precious to share this month, I think I like mulling over my choices just as much as reading other people's!

Abi said...

beautiful card Sian. See you on Sunday!

Cheri said...

Time to put on my thinking cap! Love your card!

Susanne said...

Yikes, I guess that is coming up this very Sunday, isn't it. I already had an idea of my story, but I think you've given me an idea for a different layout where just the title and a short subtitle would tell the story. Brilliant post, Sian! (And quite lovely cards, too.)

Ladkyis said...

Me? be short? Well I can, but I don't do it very often. I really don't have a talisman or lucky charm.... OH, OH, yes! I do have one. Now to go photograph it. That story will take more than six words, can't be short for this one.

Susan said...

Your posts are always so interesting to read. The cards are beautiful and so original.

alexa said...

That card is deliciously attractive ... and the sentiments thought-provoking. Yes, short is sometimes just the ticket.

Sheena said...

Beautiful card Sian x

ComfyMom~Stacey said...

I veer between short & long. I have a hard time managing a middle length story.

Sandie said...

Beautiful photography Sian... and cards of course. I often feel myself elaborating when I can cut it shorter, I need to practice keeping to the point. Looking forward to some more story telling.

Anonymous said...

Hmm, a lucky talisman or charm. You know I don't think I have one. I'll have to think on what to write a short story about on Sunday. Guess I better hurry up. :) Beautiful cards Sian.

Barbara Eads said...

Ernest Hemingway said you can tell a story in 6 words. Earlier this year, I challenged one of my classes to do just that. It was so much fun to see what they came up with. Me---as you know---I can be pretty verbose!"

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