NationStates Jolt Archive

This month's Wired magazine has an article about nanofiction -- stories told in under fifty words. To prove that this literary phenomenon is more than a gimmick, the editors commisioned a number of provocative writers and thinkers to send in stories of exactly six words.

Soak up their pithy genius, then have a go yourself. It's quite fun...

My entry: "The argument ended violently. Surprise, surprise."

"For sale: Baby shoes. Never worn." --Ernest Hemingway

"Gown removed carelessly. Head, less so." --Joss Whedon

"Failed SAT. Lost scholarship. Invented rocket." --William Shatner

"Automobile warranty expires. So does engine." --Stan Lee

"Computer, did we bring batteries? Computer?" --Eileen Gunn

"machine. Unexpectedly, I'd invented a time" --Alan Moore

"Longed for him. Got him. Shit." --Margaret Atwood

"With bloody hands, I say goodbye." --Frank Miller

"From torched skyscrapers, men grew wings." --Gregory Maguire

"Cellar?" "Gate to, uh... Hell, actually." --Ronald D. Moore

"Epitaph: Foolish humans, never escaped Earth." --Vernor Vinge

"It's behind you! Hurry, before it--" --Rockne S. O'Bannon

"It cost too much staying human." --Bruce Sterling

"Lie detector eyeglasses perfected. Civilization collapses." --Richard Powers

"The baby's blood type? Human, mostly." --Orson Scott Card

"Kirby had never eaten toes before." --Kevin Smith

"Rained, rained, rained, and never stopped." --Howard Waldrop

"To save humankind he died again." --Ben Bova

"Tick tock tick tock tick tick." --Neal Stephenson

"Easy. Just touch the match to--" --Ursula K. Le Guin

"TIME MACHINE REACHES FUTURE!!! ...nobody there..." --Harry Harrison

"Don't marry her. Buy a house." --Stephen A. Donaldson

"I couldn't believe she'd shoot me." --Howard Chaykin

Get the hell off my toe.

Oh, pretty lady. You dazzle me!

Once upon a time the end.

Man eats bowling ball: Others Unimpressed.

once a man, then got drunk

Mods, troll. Troll, mods. Goodbye, troll!

Are acronyms considered one word? ROFLMAO!

Man was lonely, got a whore.

met girl, jumped off a cliff.

Some more:

"This story is self-referential. See?"

"Oh my God, the light! Bright..."

All want power -- at what costs?

"My religion's true." "Mine, too." How?

Resources were scarce. Greed was not.

My Girlfriend locked me in garage.

....true story too.

My Girlfriend locked me in garage.

You must have really annoyed her. :p

Burned my village, set me free.

You must have really annoyed her. :p

I sure did, and loved every minute of it


She was kidding of course...:)

I quite liked:

"Longed for him. Got him. Shit." --Margaret Atwood
"Lie detector eyeglasses perfected. Civilization collapses." --Richard Powers

my name was john fitzgerald kennedy

Mauled by Haiku. What a tale.

Captain, the engines need more power!

To kill a Mockingbird. A recipe....

Recovered from stroke. Hit by car.

Recovered from stroke. Hit by car.

:) :) :)

*laughs at Kanabia's funny short story*

Six words were more than enough.

Wrote a story. Didn't take long.


Billy, just jump across. Billy? Billy!


Do I smoke pot? Damn, forgot.


Dinosaurs: Gone. Humans: Flourish. G.W.: Ruins

Flying Hampster of Doom Rains Coconuts

Watch this, kids. Watch the...OW!

"How do I love thee? Not."

It didn't take long to die.

Rain and smoke hid his tears.

The victim sat down and laughed.

Holy cow, I am so tired.

Holy cow, I am so tired.
Not as tired as I am.

Rhaomi counted his words and smiled.

...

He realized he'd done it again.

Holy crap, three in a row! :eek:

*counts* No, wait, make that four... :)

*wonders how long this will last* :confused:

Alright, I will break the chain.

I'll do it any second now...

...but it is just so addictive...

I can stop whenever I want!

...I just don't want to stop...

Somebody please help! I can't stop!

*waits for help from fellow NSG-ers*

I doubt I can help you.

I doubt I can help you.

At least we can suffer together.

*notices word count of above sentence*

Can't. Stop. Using. Six. Words! :headbang:

*waits for help from fellow NSG-ers*

its ok just take a deep breath and walk away from your desk, go outside and sit quietly.

Hahaha! Alan Moore's one was hilarious!

It done blowed up real good.

This Thread must be very inspiring.

At least we can suffer together.

*notices word count of above sentence*

Can't. Stop. Using. Six. Words! :headbang:

and that is why you failed.

its ok just take a deep breath and walk away from your desk, go outside and sit quietly.

You're right... I'm going to bed.

Maybe sleep will cure my addiction.

(My prospects don't look good, though)

I watched them die. Slowly. Gratefully.

I wouldn't know where to start.

"Hmm, no idea," said technical support.

I had your mum last night.

Man walks into a bar. Ow.

'Click', go the handcuffs. "Oh shit...."

a man gets up and dies.

i love six-word stories. imagine a book: must be real fat :D

Hey! What does this button do?

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