Can You Pack a Story into 10 Words?

Six 10-word stories give this challenge a try

Photo by iam_os on Unsplash

How do you tell a story in10 words? Tree Langdon offers helpful insight in her piece, The agony of concise writing: “A good story has a relatable character, a setting, a plot, a conflict, and a resolution, which is tricky to fit into a single sentence.”

This idea inspired me, so I attempted it 6 times:

1. Conflict chewed up their love as their candlelight dinner spoiled.
2. Irony robbed their residence while they donated to the poor.
3. The despondent gun enthusiast fired his revolver one last time.
4. The struggling entrepreneur made millions marketing weed to the wealthy.
5. Moonlight filtering into the dark woods comforted the lost hikers.
6. The loner’s puppy nestled close as they listened to jazz.

If you especially like any of these, please leave a comment saying which and why. I’m also interested if you dislike any, and why.

Thanks to Toni Greathouse (In Ten Words) for tagging me to try this fascinating challenge. Sheri Jacobs initiated the challenge in Medium, and many other writers I follow have written lists of wonderful 10-words stories, such as Sara Larca, Lo Everlasting, Bernie Pullen, Ben Ulansey, Benighted, Blogs by J., Carolyn Hastings, and Jenine Bsharah Baines.
I’m excited to invite Patty Apostolides, Ph.D., pencil & ashes (P&A), Josie Quinn, Smita Sinha, Timpoa, and Toni Love to join the fun.