So I wrote a 78 word story for a short-short fiction (they call these stories Aspens) contest hosted by the Esquire magazine.
78 words, you say?
Well, consider the greatest short-short story ever by Hemingway: "For sale. Baby shoes. Never worn."
Or the Soldier's Field By Colum McCann:
Sweeney was a dreamer. Sweeney was from Galway. Sweeney went to Chicago. Sweeney wanted a green card. Sweeney met a woman who made his vowels curl. Sweeney had a baby. Sweeney bought a swing set. Sweeney joined the army. Sweeney flew helicopters. Sweeney rose. Sweeney could execute beautiful landings. Sweeney went on a second tour.
Sweeney was brought home. Sweeney asked everyone he met to kindly remove the sheet that had somehow been pulled up over his head.
************************
No, I didn’t win. Even though the entry was carefully crafted during the utterly boring lunch hour at work.
Laughing out loud. But here it goes anyway, for those of you interested:
First Love
It has been twenty years since you left. To be honest, I don’t completely remember your face now. Only that smile, those dark eyes, and the white dress, that someone stole from your clothesline one summer afternoon. Remember that summer we picked mangoes to cook chutney, and left behind a blackened saucepan?
I lie in my cell and think about our last night together when my jealousy got the better of me. I wish you were still alive.
/****************************************************************/
3 comments:
Love your 78 word story! I submitted as well. Curious though, did you receive anything from Esquire? Like an email saying you weren't selected or something like that?
Love your 78 word story! Curious though, did Esquire send you any kind of email notification that you weren't selected?
Thanks for your kind words Ellen!!
No, I did not receive any email from Esquire stating my submission did not win. I think they mention on their website that the winners would be notified around Oct 15th.
Post a Comment