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Fifty-Word Short Story Challenge of the Week

Jayna Locke
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Welcome to the Fifty-Word Short Story challenge — a weekly writing opportunity to test your skills. The goal is to craft an entire story in just 50 words. We have a community of writers who enjoy honing our skills by writing these micro-fiction short stories. I hope you’ll join us.

What’s in this post?

In this post you will find:

  • A short micro-fiction writing workshop.
  • Links to all 50-word stories from the previous week’s challenge.
  • A few story highlights of the week.
  • A new challenge prompt, along with the rules and some very important guidelines for proper use of images. Please be sure to read and follow these guidelines.
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Source: Original Pixabay image by Monoar, modified with Deep Dream Generator

Mini writing workshop

Let’s talk about editing as an important aspect of writing.

All writers need to edit their work. In the professional world, writers also have an editor. Why? Because editing can make the difference between work that is good and work that is great. And we all make mistakes.

There are many resources out there for learning the fundamentals of editing. In this mini-workshop I’ll just touch on one common error in writing: the “comma splice.” You may have learned about this issue in English class. It is also called a “comma fault” and the resulting construction is often called a “run-on sentence.”

These terms mean the same thing: The writer has connected two independent clauses with a comma, like this: “I am a girl, my name is Jayna.” Those are two separate sentences, and should not be separated by a comma.

I’ll make up another example using my own 50-word story from last week, “The Clearing.”

This sentence contains a comma splice:

Water lacerates their skin, they shriek and turn to ash.

The first phrase, “Water lacerates their skin,” is a full sentence. So is the second phrase, “They shriek and turn to ash.” Instead of separating them with a comma, we need to use a period or a semi-colon. Another option would be to add the word “and” after the comma. I prefer a period in this case (and I don’t have a word to spare for my 50-word limit).

Separating the two clauses into separate sentences fixes the comma splice problem:

Water lacerates their skin. They shriek and turn to ash.

I’m experimenting with offering some limited editorial support to writers who would like an editor’s eyes on their 50-word stories before posting. Please mention in a reply to this post if that is of interest to you.

Okay, let’s survey the 50-word stories from last week!

Last week’s story collection

I’d like to welcome our newest contributors, @tristancarax and @hebrewhousewife. Thanks for joining the Fifty Worders! 

Here is the complete list of stories inspired by last week’s “witch” prompt. I hope you will read them all:

If I missed yours, please let me know and I will add it! I always try my best to list them all, but I do occasionally miss one.

Highlights of the week

Each week I choose a few well-told stories from the previous week’s entries to share as inspiration. 

Our little community produced some of the most powerful 50-word pieces I have ever seen emerge from this challenge. Here is a sampling.

The Forgotten Broomstick, by @cizzo

This story reminds us that we all have neglected or forgotten pastimes.

Gertrude took off her reading glasses and massaged the bridge of her nose. She pushed aside boring paperwork and got up.

She went down to the basement. A black cauldron sat empty. An old broomstick teetered against a wall.

She grinned.

A quick buzz around the block wouldn’t hurt anyone.

Leased Body, by @hlezama

I love this story, as it puts a very interesting spin on the notion of evil. Be sure to visit the original, as the author provides some great background on this topic.

What do they know? I did not ask for this curse.

It possesses me as a virus sickens a healthy body; turns me into different creatures.

The pain is excruciating.

Unaware of what my body does at night, or who I hurt, I reveal myself, beat up, knocking for salt.

Which Witch is Which, by @blueeyes8960

This story takes us back to the days of witch hunts.

The bedraggled group of exhausted women huddled together in the crude pen.

The hard eyed men gathered around with pitchforks. One stepped forward, shouting at the women, “Step forward Witch of Logan! We know it is one of you!”

The women looked nervously at each other but no one moved.

The darkness of the night, by @felixgarciap

I love the mystical mood of this story.

The darkness of the night settled on the meadow where the silence dominated.

Suddenly a loud cry of supplication was heard asking for the release of a soul.

There a bewildered witch begged God to assist her in such a delicate moment.

The night was determined not to help her.

The Invocation, by @bex-dk

This story is not for the feint of heart, so brace yourself before reading. (And there is a sardonic pun in that statement.) But as I said to the author: “I think we have to be brave, as writers. Staying in the safe zone won’t stretch us to make our work as powerful and compelling as it can be.”

Amidst the three-pointed symbols of her dark god, she prostrated herself. Another incantation had failed.

Her year-old child cooed in the corner. She gathered him in her arms. He whimpered and she smiled.

Three cuts then his heart beat in her palm. She devoured it.

The power still didn’t come.

The last witch of Ireland, by @ablaze

This historic fiction piece is sad and terrible, and a reminder of the horrific things human beings have done to one another over the centuries, out of fear, hatred and superstition. Be sure to read the backgrounder in the original post.

“Michael, it’s me, can’t you see?”

Bridget’s bottom lip trembled at the madness.

“The fairies have you!” he screamed as he set fire to his wife’s nightgown.

He turned to the others.

“You’ll soon see her go up the chimney.”

He threw the lamp-oil.

Her screams would wake the dead.

Witch in the Light of the Full Moon, by @tristancarax

One more, so we end on perhaps a lighter, more Halloween-y note. (Note that I changed one word, from “crackle” to “cackle.”)

The three bound into the van as the witch swooped down.

They avoided capture by a hair’s breath.

In the light of the full moon, the unhinged witch’s cackle and the black cat’s shrewd meow made them shiver. Her midnight snack she’d find elsewhere.

They slept with one eye open.

Great work, everyone!

This week’s 50-word story prompt

The prompt for this week is “ghost.” Deadline for this week: Saturday, October 27th, with a grace period until the new prompt is published. 

I look forward to reading your stories, Fifty Worders!

Guidelines

Please review and follow the guidelines for proper use of images.

  1. Write a story in 50 words. (Try to hit 50 words exactly.)
  2. Use the #fiftywords tag, and post the link in the comments of this post.
  3. Be sure to read and upvote the work of the other participants. It’s all about community!
  4. Use only artwork that you have the right to use, and attribute it properly. See the following guidelines.

Proper use of images

Proper use of images means one of the following:

  1. The image is public domain, or under creative commons licensing rules.
  2. It is your own image.
  3. If it is not one of the above, you must have actual permission.

Be sure to properly attribute the image’s source or mention that the image is yours. And if it’s not public domain, under creative commons license, or your own image, be sure to state that you have permission.

Here are some creative commons and public domain image resources:

The 50-word story clan

I’m mentioning you here if have participated in the #fiftywords short story challenge in the past. Please let me know if you would like your tag removed in this or future posts. (Note that I do trim the list. Those who have not participated for a long time or are not active on Steemit will eventually drop from the mentions.)

@ablaze, @agmoore, @ahmadmanga, @akdx, @aksounder, @aleli, @alheath, @amelin, @andersonrivas, @anikekirsten, @anixio, @anutu, @aresbon

@bex-dk, @blueteddy, @botefarm

@caleblailmusik, @carn, @cheekah, @cizzo, @clacrax, @creatr

@damianjayclay, @dbzfan4awhile, @deigoam, @deirdyweirdy, @diebitch, @dirge

@eaglespirit, @elbrujo, @elementm, @emergehealthier, @erh.germany, @esttyb, @evgsk

@fairyhedgehogg, @felixgarciap, @felt.buzz, @four20, @foxfiction, @foxyspirit, @fromage

@gaby-crb, @girlbeforemirror, @gmatthe2, @goastrighter

@haisa, @hebrewhousewife, @henry-gant, @hlezama

@iamthegray, @intothewild, @isa93

@jadams2k18, @jasminearch, @jayna, @jonknight,

@kaelci, @khadija14, @kimberlylane

@lightoj, @lucylin, @luiskrupaz

@manoldonchev, @marciabon, @marie-jay, @mineopoly, @mizdais, @momzillanc, @mydivathings

@negativer, @niallon11

@olakunle10, @opiman

@paintingangels, @papacrusher, @pizzachain, @poeticnest, @poetrybyjeremy, @preparedwombat, @prydefoltz, @purpledaisy57, @pyrowngs

@ravencorinn, @rensoul17, @riottales, @roxy-cat, @rvag5

@spalatino, @stbrians, @steemgiant, @steemitdiversify, @sue-stevenson

@tanglebranch, @thatlovechild, @theironfelix, @therosepatch, @thinknzombie, @tristancarax, @tuwore, @tygertyger

@vaitelavicius, @vdux

@yeceniacarolina, @yimiipsa, @zen-art

Thanks so much for reading! I hope you try the 50-word challenge. It’s so fun to see what can unfold in a mere 50 words!

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