Very Short Stories - celebrated authors write stories that have only six words

This Wired article is hilarious. It further proves my “Theory of Constraint” (constraints increase creativity and clarity of any project.)

Wired asked dozens of writers to put their words to paper and to author a six word story.

The challenge was predicated on the fact that according to the article:

” Hemingway once wrote a story in just six words (“For sale: baby

shoes, never worn.”) and is said to have called it his best work. So we

asked sci-fi, fantasy, and horror writers from the realms of books, TV,

movies, and games to take a shot themselves.”

Dozens of our favorite auteurs put their words to paper, and five

master graphic designers took them to the drawing board. Sure, Arthur

C. Clarke refused to trim his (“God said, ‘Cancel Program GENESIS.’ The

universe ceased to exist.”), but the rest are concise masterpieces.”

I have included my favourites here below. The rest are here:

Failed SAT. Lost scholarship. Invented rocket.

– William Shatner

Computer, did we bring batteries? Computer?
– Eileen Gunn

Gown removed carelessly. Head, less so.

– Joss Whedon

Machine. Unexpectedly, I’d invented a time

– Alan Moore

Internet “wakes up?” Ridicu –

no carrier.

– Charles Stross

It cost too much, staying human.

– Bruce Sterling

It’s behind you! Hurry before it

– Rockne S. O’Bannon

The baby’s blood type? Human, mostly.

– Orson Scott Card

Tick tock tick tock tick tick.

– Neal Stephenson

Epitaph: He shouldn’t have fed it.

– Brian Herbert

Bush told the truth. Hell froze.

– William Gibson

Bang postponed. Not Big enough. Reboot.

– David Brin

He read his obituary with confusion.

– Steven Meretzky

Parallel universe. Bush, destitute, joins army.

– Steven Meretzky