Recordpub.com - One for the Books: Think Short!

Writing articles for the newspaper, I'm forced every day to stay within acceptable limits. No pondering the fate of the universe; the paper wants just the facts. No waxing eloquent on the affairs of Man; only who, what, where, when, why and how. It's good discipline. To paraphrase an old newspaper saying: I can have 1,000 words for you by deadline, but 100 words will take longer. It's true. Shorter takes more time. It requires more focused thought. It's also a humbling experience to see your words chopped off the end of an article simply because they take up too much room; to prevent that, you learn to write what you mean to say and then stop.

Short has always been popular in literature, as well, from Aesop's Fables to the modern short story. Poetry's ultimate expression is perhaps haiku, a rigorous form that forces the poet to distill a thought down to its purest 17 syllables.

WorldsShortestStories LoveandDeath A few years ago, a couple of absolutely wonderful little books were published by Running Press: "The World's Shortest Stories" and "The World's Shortest Stories of Love and Death," edited by Steve Moss with, in the second book, John M. Daniel. The stories were submitted to the editor's Fifty-Five Fiction contest by both novice and experienced writers. This "tightly focused exercise in literary minimalism" had one rule: Each story could be no longer than 55 words. The result: "Storytelling at its leanest, where each word is chosen with utmost care on its way to achieving its fullest effect." Remarkably, the writers build character, setting, or suspense in just a few words. Sometimes, it's poetic. Often, there is a surprise ending.

Here's "Young Love" by David W. Meyers: The lovers found the genie's lamp on the beach. "For freeing me," said the genie, "I will grant you each a wish." Looking into the boy's eyes, the girl said, "I wish we could be lovers until the end of the world." Looking out to sea, the boy said, "I wish the world would end."

And "Uh-Oh" by Michelle Baga: Such a tragedy! Oskar Wellington, killed in the accident, leaving Elena a childless, young widow. Her consolation: She was now free to spend Oskar's multi-million-dollar fortune all by herself. But at the service when the minister called for the widow Wellington to approach the pulpit, 17 women followed Elena up the aisle.

Notquite The short got shorter in 2008 with the publication of "Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure" from SMITH magazine (www.smithmag.net), edited by Rachel Fershleiser and Larry Smith. The first book was so popular, it was followed by "Six-Word Memoirs on Love and Heartbreak by Writers Famous and Obscure," "I Can't Keep My Own Secrets: Six-Word Memoirs by Teens Famous and Obscure," and, just published, "It All Changed in an Instant: More Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure." The premise comes from a legend that author Ernest Hemingway was once challenged to write a story in six words. His creation: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn." Heart-breaking. I don't know if anybody can top Hemingway's, but here are a few samples from the four books:

I thought we had more time. -- Joe Hill

I colored outside of the lines. -- Jacob Thomas

I'm just here for the beer. -- Alex Vournas

My life's a bunch of almosts. -- Shari Bonnin

I still make coffee for two. -- Zak Nelson

We "I do"-ed. Then, he didn't. -- Lisa Parrack

My stockings looked better on him. -- Renee Guillory

He was The One. I wasn't. -- Cathy Collinson

I just hope there's a sequel. -- Lila Louise Nawrocki

Mom just revoked my creative license. -- Nur A.

Former boss: "Writing's your worst skill!" -- Amy Tan

Dragons slain, maidens rescued, villains thwarted. -- Mike Burke

Normal person becomes psychotic on Twitter. -- Robin Slick

Speaking of Twitter, that Internet social networking site presents another challenge: Write a message (or tweet) in 140 characters or fewer, including spaces. Twitter users challenge each other to write six-word stories (#sixwords) and very short stories (#vss). Some tweet entire novels, 140 characters at a time. This phenomenon is what led authors Alexander Aciman and Emmett Rensin to write "Twitterature." They took 83 great or popular works of literature, from "Paradise Lost" to "The Da Vinci Code," "Frankenstein" to Harry Potter, and abbreviated them down to a page or two of tweets using modern language and text-message/Twitter initialisms. The resulting "books" are one or two pages long, are usually funny and sometimes hilarious, irreverent and occasionally offensive. There's even a glossary of terms, which is also funny. Because many of them use adult language, I can't quote an entire "book." But here are some excerpts:

"Hamlet": Why is Claudius telling me what to do again? YOU'RE NOT MY REAL DAD! In fact you killed my real dad. :( ... 2bornt2b? Can one tweet beyond the mortal coil?

"The Aeneid": Got a gift of a huge wooden horse today, here in Troy. Just appeared outside the city gate. BTW: War going poorly.

"Romeo and Juliet": Uh-oh. She's a Capulet. Methinks this can go nowhere good, but why stop now?

"Pride and Prejudice": The English country is a dull place much of the time.... Oh ..., some rich young gentlemen just showed up. Score!

"Moby-Dick": Ahab wants to hunt the whale. Starbuck says we must pursue profitable biz ventures. Argument ensued. Passion defeated capitalism. Go figure.

"Macbeth": @LadyMac: THERE'S NOTHING ON YOUR HANDS, YOU'VE WASHED THEM 100 TIMES ALREADY!!

Now, it's your turn. Your challenge is to write your own six-word memoir or tweet a novel. Add it to this column online in the comments section, send it to me at OneForTheBooks@cheerful.com or send me a tweet, @One4TheBooks. I'll happily forward them to the book editors. Have fun! Think short!

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BOOK NOTES, One for the Books Extra Online
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Follow me on Twitter @One4TheBooks.
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Check out my blog on books, inspiration, fun and thought-provoking goodies! It’s called “Shine A Light!”

http://blogs.dixcdn.com/shine_a_light/

If you lose that link, go to www.recordpub.com. Click “Blogs” in the blue bar at the top of the page, and find “Shine A Light.”

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LOCAL BOOK CLUBS:

The Kent Free Library’s book discussion group meets at 6:45 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month in the second floor meeting room at the library. Previous books discussed include “Moby-Dick” by Herman Melville, “The Great Gatsby,” “A Christmas Carol” and “Anna Karenina.” Members come from Kent, Stow and Rootstown, and everyone is welcome. The discussion is led by librarian Kristin Pool. Any questions should be directed to her at 330-673-4414.

The Book Discussion Group at the Randolph Library meets the first Monday of the month, except August, at 6:30 p.m. in the Randolph Senior Center. The group is open to everyone, and new members are always welcome. The library will stock copies of the books each month. Call the library at 330-325-7003.

Pierce-Streetsboro Library’s Book Discussion Group meets regularly on the second Monday of each month at 6:45 p.m. in the library’s meeting room. New members are always welcome to attend and participate in the discussion. The library is located at 8990 Kirby Lane in Streetsboro, next to the administrative offices of the Streetsboro City Schools. For more information, call the library at 330-626-4458.

The Book Discussion Group at the Mogadore Branch of the Akron-Summit County Library, 144 S. Cleveland Ave., 330-628-9228, meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays to discuss books.
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Here's a link to more book news, including the current best-seller lists:

http://www.recordpub.com/news/article/4706464

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Here are links to other recent One for the Books columns. More links are available on my blog at http://blogs.dixcdn.com/shine_a_light/one-for-the-books/

The “Dome” Tome and “U” -- http://www.recordpub.com/news/article/4753011

Revisiting Jane Austen -- http://www.recordpub.com/news/article/4743712

Fun Christmas Reading -- http://www.recordpub.com/news/article/4727452

Palin-Tology -- http://www.recordpub.com/news/article/4718844

Treats for Dog Lovers -- http://www.recordpub.com/news/article/4709611

Current Best-Sellers -- http://www.recordpub.com/news/article/4694861


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Thanks for reading One for the Books. Please let us know what kind of book news you’d like to see on this page. Send e-mail to Books@recordpub.com. Send other mail to Mary Louise Ruehr, Books Editor, Record-Courier, 126 N. Chestnut St. (P.O. Box 1201), Ravenna, OH 44266.

“One for the Books” appears the second and fourth Fridays of the month in the Record-Courier. Extra columns may appear on occasion, especially preceding Christmas and Hanukkah.