The Short Short Version

Everybody’s blogging about this, but I’m joining the bandwagon.

Hemingway’s favorite story was his shortest: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” Breaks your heart in one breath. He was a bastard, but a genius.

Wired magazine asked for lots of famous authors’ six-word story submissions. So what’s yours? More on this later. In the meantime, here are my favorites:

Longed for him. Got him. Shit.
– Margaret Atwood

Wasted day. Wasted life. Dessert, please.
– Steven Meretzky

It’s behind you! Hurry before it
– Rockne S. O’Bannon

Lost, then found. Too bad.
– Graeme Gibson

I saw, darling, but do lie.
– Orson Scott Card

In the beginning was the word.
– Gregory Maguire

He read his obituary with confusion.
– Steven Meretzky

Dorothy: “Fuck it, I’ll stay here.”
– Steven Meretzky

Edited to add:

• Saw him on the street. Hurting.
• I could never eat jam again.
• Stepping over; pausing; turning around; recognizing.
• “So now what?” “I don’t know.”