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Challenge: The 16 word story (Discussion)

lechuck saidTue, 13 May 2008 20:24:23 -0000 ( Link )

Here is the challenge:

Try telling a story in no less and no more than 16 words. The story subject is the writer preference. The objective is to tell an engaging story that is more than just a statement. It should have a character, though a name is not required.

This is a tough challenge that allows your creative skills to really meet their pressure point but often can result in some amazing results.

Ready, set, write!

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  1. oLahav saidTue, 13 May 2008 20:35:42 -0000 ( Link )

    “A child was born. The townspeople were elated. The witch was not. The child was killed.”

    Hey, the beginning almost sounds like sleeping beauty.

    I hope I didn’t break any of rules… although rules were meant to be broken.

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  2. chermann saidTue, 20 May 2008 14:36:48 -0000 ( Link )

    I traveled, lost myself, loved it. I met you, settled down, loved that more.

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  3. Andrew Brown saidThu, 22 May 2008 17:48:12 -0000 ( Link )

    I could tell you many things about myself, but I’m limited to only using sixteen words.

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  4. csrd saidThu, 22 May 2008 19:37:17 -0000 ( Link )

    Here is a sixteen word story..

    I, a contrivance of Mother Nature, am to write her biography; as I age I manage…

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  5. oLahav saidWed, 28 May 2008 19:38:01 -0000 ( Link )

    Another 16 words story: There once was a mighty king who was loved and respected by all…. Then he died.

    This one is actually a famous story… I think it’s part of a Middle-Eastern folk tale or something of that sort. A guy (let’s call him Joe because I don’t remember his real name, and it was probably terribly long and impossible to write correctly in English anyway) was invited to dinner. Now the other guests wanted to trick Joe, so they asked him to tell them an interesting story, as they figured he’d be stuck telling the story while they eat all of the food and then he’ll be left hungry. So Joe started: “There once was a mighty king who was loved and respected by all”. At that point the food came in and Joe stopped talking and started filling his plate. The other guests asked Joe, “What happened then?”, thinking he will now continue the story and will be unable to eat. “Then he died”, finished Joe, and ate twice as much food as anyone else.

    Come to think of it, it’s not such a great story, is it?

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  6. atikna saidSat, 14 Jun 2008 10:09:13 -0000 ( Link )

    there was a king and a queen. Both died and its the end of my story!!!

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  7. saratheman saidSun, 27 Jul 2008 17:19:37 -0000 ( Link )

    gramma and mother fought endlessly made the boy a rebel n finally a serial “mother’s” killer

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  8. purushp saidSun, 03 Aug 2008 15:19:51 -0000 ( Link )

    “Wow, what a life!”, said the diamond in the crown on looking at the iron sword.

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  9. yuva saidWed, 06 Aug 2008 07:32:57 -0000 ( Link )

    she waits for her lover with 3 expectations from him trust, loyalty and never changing love

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  10. oLahav saidTue, 12 Aug 2008 20:33:20 -0000 ( Link )

    I once wrote a story using sixteen words and only sixteen words. And here it is.

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  11. lucyinthesky saidThu, 28 Aug 2008 19:35:53 -0000 ( Link )

    She said she would rather die alone than try to love again. She died eternally invulnerable.

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  12. chandra_avinash saidWed, 03 Sep 2008 12:15:25 -0000 ( Link )

    Knock Knock!

    Whosedere?

    Einstein’s Train.

    Einstein’s Train Who?

    [Wham]

    Knock Knock!

    Whosdere?

    Bus?

    Bus Who?

    Killer SerialBus

    [scream]


    note: angular brackets – [ and ], enclose the sound effects :)
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  13. purushp saidWed, 24 Sep 2008 14:04:07 -0000 ( Link )

    “I am in love” shouted a tiny fish, “me too”, a whale gulped with hunger satisfied.

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  14. geekgirl saidFri, 26 Sep 2008 11:35:25 -0000 ( Link )

    There was a mighty fight.The good won ,vanquished the evil and lived happily ever after.

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  15. rashmitharao saidSat, 27 Sep 2008 14:21:25 -0000 ( Link )

    I’ve seen her again. This time she breezed past me, taking my breath away . I’m dying…

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  16. rashmitharao saidSat, 27 Sep 2008 14:28:35 -0000 ( Link )

    O lady of my dreams and my waking hours, let me live or let me die.

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  17. rashmitharao saidSat, 27 Sep 2008 14:46:31 -0000 ( Link )

    “Hey , what’s the time?”

    “Welcome!”

    “Do I know you?”

    ” Two hours past your death. Yes”

    “Amen”

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  18. rashmitharao saidSat, 27 Sep 2008 15:51:40 -0000 ( Link )

    “He loves me, loves me not…..”

    “Girl, I love you! Do you love me?”

    “Wonderful! No.”

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  19. rashmitharao saidSat, 27 Sep 2008 15:57:42 -0000 ( Link )

    Once upon a time there lived a handsome English man who wrote what you just read.

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  20. rashmitharao saidSat, 27 Sep 2008 15:59:01 -0000 ( Link )

    Once upon a time there lived a beautiful young lady who read what you just read.

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  21. rashmitharao saidSat, 27 Sep 2008 16:07:36 -0000 ( Link )

    I waited for you all these years. I always knew you’d never come by. Love, me.

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  22. rashmitharao saidSat, 27 Sep 2008 16:40:40 -0000 ( Link )

    Bride : “I don’t.”

    Priest : “Do you need a moment to rethink?”

    Bridegroom : “Plus she needs brain.”

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  23. rashmitharao saidSun, 28 Sep 2008 10:25:57 -0000 ( Link )

    She is here, there and everywhere. I’m lost in her and I can’t find her anywhere.

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  24. chandra_avinash saidSun, 28 Sep 2008 22:05:20 -0000 ( Link )

    I wrote a sixteen word story and published it on toilet paper. Now I am rich :D

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  25. rashmitharao saidMon, 29 Sep 2008 15:08:49 -0000 ( Link )

    I loved. It hurt. I learnt. It healed. I forgot. I loved again.

    So I died.

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  26. chandra_avinash saidTue, 30 Sep 2008 08:19:30 -0000 ( Link )

    I came to conquer, but then I saw things and then I just stuck around lazily :)

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  27. pooja pati saidWed, 08 Oct 2008 17:19:24 -0000 ( Link )

    sixteen words…...... well i am too perfect a creation of god to be described in sixteen words

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  28. pooja pati saidWed, 08 Oct 2008 17:19:25 -0000 ( Link )

    sixteen words…...... well i am too perfect a creation of god to be described in sixteen words

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  29. pooja pati saidWed, 08 Oct 2008 17:19:26 -0000 ( Link )

    sixteen words…...... well i am too perfect a creation of god to be described in sixteen words

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  30. amarjeet saidWed, 15 Oct 2008 20:11:08 -0000 ( Link )

    a kite was flying in the sky ,a boy cut the thread and kite fell down .

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  31. lucyinthesky saidWed, 29 Oct 2008 15:57:28 -0000 ( Link )

    I wake up each day hoping it will be different. No such luck. Life goes on.

    Yay for depressing 16-word stories!

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  32. windwind saidWed, 05 Nov 2008 17:22:16 -0000 ( Link )

    Get back on that horse!

    What if I don’t want to?

    What, Just be yourself ?!

    Yes.

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  33. windwind saidWed, 05 Nov 2008 17:27:31 -0000 ( Link )

    Daphne woke up on a lovely day. She made coffee. Birds were singing. He was gone.

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  34. windwind saidWed, 05 Nov 2008 17:53:09 -0000 ( Link )

    I can’t help quoting a story in 6 words by Hemingay:

    “Baby shoes for sell. Never worn.”

    Isn’t that poignant?

    well, I also can’t help trying my hand again at the 16 one, though I’m not sure anyone is listening anymore. I do have the tendency to come in late, though I try… here goes:

    The little boy fell on his way from school. No hug, no kiss just Fido’s lick.

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  35. windwind saidWed, 05 Nov 2008 22:54:58 -0000 ( Link )

    Partying she saw her husband flirting. To leave or not to leave – that is the question.

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  36. oLahav saidThu, 06 Nov 2008 15:16:03 -0000 ( Link )

    We’re still lisening, have no fear!

    The Hemingway 6 word story is quite powerful… Thanks a lot for posting.

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  37. windwind saidSat, 08 Nov 2008 23:30:07 -0000 ( Link )

    You’re welcome!

    Liz realized she lost her umbrella, job and boyfriend.

    Don’t despair.

    Look up Liz.

    A rainbow.

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  38. swadhina saidSat, 29 Nov 2008 16:02:17 -0000 ( Link )

    “Taxi, will you go station?”

    “Yes”

    “Then go, someone must be waiting there for a taxi”.

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  39. letsdo saidThu, 11 Dec 2008 11:42:45 -0000 ( Link )

    I am here to create wonders. But how to do it I dont know. Help me

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  40. avicster saidThu, 11 Dec 2008 12:49:36 -0000 ( Link )

    Me little boy blue
    I traverse spacetime slice by slice
    Unlike God, I do play dice

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  41. xmonkee saidFri, 12 Dec 2008 09:27:27 -0000 ( Link )

    Big man on stage. Big Man takes microphone. Big Man says a dirty word. Hilarity ensues.

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  42. gummybear saidFri, 07 Aug 2009 13:54:53 -0000 ( Link )

    ” Noooo! Stop!” he cried. But it was too late. She had already jumped. It was over.

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  43. gummybear saidFri, 07 Aug 2009 13:59:49 -0000 ( Link )

    I just realized how little can be expressed in such a few words – this is fun !

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