Mini-Sagas: Another approach
Published May 20th, 2005Chapter 5 of A Whole New Mind discusses the importance of Story as a professional and personal ability. And one of the exercises in the Portfolio (AWNM’s signature collection of tools, tips, etc.) at the end of the chapter is writing “mini-sagas” — that is, very short stories, only 50 words long.
In southern California this week, I came upon the Los Angeles Times obituary of Steve Moss, who founded a couple of alternative weeklies and who apparently had his own version of mini-sagas. In 1987, Moss launched a short story contest. Entries had to “contain the classic ingredients associated with short stories: a setting, a character or characters, and resolution.” And entries could be no longer than 55 words.
Here’s one of the Moss-collected mini-sagas reprinted in the obit:
“Careful, honey. It’s loaded,” he said, reentering the bedroom.
Her back rested against the headboard.
“This for your wife?”
“No, too chancy. I’m hiring a professional.”
“How about me?”
He smirked. “Cute, but who’d be dumb enough to hire a lady hit man?”
She wet her lips, sighting along the barrel.
“Your wife.”