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Let’s Make This Quick

Posted on October 10, 2018 by Loni Townsend

I’m the first to admit I’m a verbose writer. I’ve got multiple 170+K books to prove it. Therefore, the art of writing in quick bursts with minimal words is a skill that exceeds my ability. I find it easy to craft stories when I have as many words as I want at my disposal. But build a story in just 10 words? Six words? Now we’re talking tough.

If you haven’t met Sarah Brentyn before, let me introduce you. I’ve known her for years now, met her through blogging and followed her from her original Blogger blog to Lemon Shark on WordPress where she now resides. She’s also a queen of short fiction.

Her book, Hinting at Shadows, is on sale for the month of October for only $0.99. From flash fiction to microbursts, she’s built a collection of stories that leave you mulling over them for days after. Plus, they’re like candy, where you know you can nibble bits at a time, but you just can’t stop until you’ve consumed it all.

Be sure to pick up your copy while it’s on sale. And then, if you like that, check out her next volume, On the Edge of a Raindrop!

Do you enjoy short fiction? Have you met Sarah before? Have you ever tried to write a six word story?

22 thoughts on “Let’s Make This Quick”

  1. Melissa Maygrove says:
    October 10, 2018 at 9:20 AM

    I love the name of her blog.

    Reply
  2. Liz A. says:
    October 10, 2018 at 10:16 AM

    I can’t manage a six word story. I’ve tried. As for shorter fiction, it depends. I have a hard time getting into short stories, but novellas are generally OK.

    Reply
  3. Elizabeth Seckman says:
    October 10, 2018 at 10:37 AM

    I’m verbose too. It’s a trait that follows me in real life too, lol.

    I do love short stories and quick stories. When I get busy, they’re the perfect snack.

    Reply
  4. Alex J. Cavanaugh says:
    October 10, 2018 at 11:15 AM

    I’m brief but I don’t think I could be six words brief.

    Reply
  5. Jeri says:
    October 10, 2018 at 11:32 AM

    I think we’ve been following each other on Twitter for at least a few months now. I actually just downloaded her ebook of microfiction a couple of minutes before I read this blog post. I love it when things like that happen.

    Reply
    1. Sarah Brentyn says:
      October 10, 2018 at 12:34 PM

      We have been and I’m loving your marketing and pubtips. ๐Ÿ™‚ Thank you so much for grabbing a copy of Hinting! Hope you enjoy it.

      Reply
  6. C.G.Coppola says:
    October 10, 2018 at 11:51 AM

    I LOVE flash fiction. It’s like going straight to the climax (which, if we can be honest, is the best part) but yes! Takes definite skill! I’ll check her out ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    1. Sarah Brentyn says:
      October 11, 2018 at 9:18 AM

      Good to see a fellow fan of flash. (Pardon the excessive alliteration.) If you do check the books out, I hope you find them…er…interesting, at least. Wonderful at best. ? Thanks!

      Reply
  7. Sarah Brentyn says:
    October 10, 2018 at 12:25 PM

    Cool. I like being a queen residing with sharks. Thank you for this amazing post, Loni. And just the right length, too. ๐Ÿ™‚

    So appreciate the shout-out and wonderful words about my collection(s).

    Reply
  8. Arlee Bird says:
    October 10, 2018 at 10:28 PM

    I’ve enjoyed much of the short fiction I’ve read. I think I’d have a tough time keeping things short. It’s an art.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

    Reply
  9. Cherie Reich says:
    October 11, 2018 at 9:58 AM

    Congrats to Sarah! I have written flash fiction and micro fiction before, but I don’t think they were quite six words short.

    Reply
  10. Madeline Mora-Summonte says:
    October 12, 2018 at 7:08 AM

    Excellent! I love flash and micro fiction! My shortest stuff usually comes in at 25 words, although over the (many!) years I’ve been writing, there have been a handful of even shorter bursts.

    Reply
    1. Sarah Brentyn says:
      October 12, 2018 at 9:06 AM

      Another flash fan. Nice! And micro, too. It’s a unique and challenging form but I love it. Will check out your site. Cheers!

      Reply
  11. Michelle Wallace says:
    October 13, 2018 at 2:29 AM

    I really LOVE short fiction. I’m a flash fiction junkie.
    Hinting At Shadows – love the open yet suggestive title… now my curiosity has been piqued. Congrats Sarah!

    Loni, just wanted to say that I really, really enjoyed your Full Dark anthology story… ?

    Reply
    1. Michelle Wallace says:
      October 13, 2018 at 2:34 AM

      I couldn’t resist – popped over to Amazon and purchased the book!

      Reply
    2. Sarah Brentyn says:
      October 13, 2018 at 10:00 AM

      Thank you! ๐Ÿ™‚ That makes me so happy. I hope you enjoy it.

      P.S. I LOVED Loni’s story in Full Dark. It’s a fantastic piece.

      Reply
  12. The Blue Grumpster says:
    October 14, 2018 at 2:08 PM

    Long…. short…. I like everything that lures me into the story and makes me forget where I am.

    Reply
  13. Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor says:
    October 15, 2018 at 8:24 AM

    I can’t even begin to imagine writing a six word story. It sounds like poetry in a way where ever single word is so crucial and you have to choose them so carefully. I love Sarah’s cover ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  14. Anna says:
    October 16, 2018 at 5:53 PM

    I like candy. hehehe

    Anna from elements of emaginette

    Reply
  15. Chrys Fey says:
    October 21, 2018 at 2:24 PM

    I do enjoy short fiction, both writing them and reading them, but I don’t think I could do six-word stories. I may have to give it a try some time.

    Reply
  16. Sherry Ellis says:
    October 22, 2018 at 10:26 AM

    I write short stories, but I don’t think I could ever manage one in only six words!

    Reply
  17. J.H. Moncrieff says:
    October 24, 2018 at 1:01 AM

    The shortest I’ve written was 100 words.

    Sounds like a great collection!

    Reply

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Welcome to my blog. I post here on Wednesdays most of the time, but you can find me on social media any day of the week. My topics include my stories and writing, life at the Town's End, creating and tinkering with graphics, things I learn and think might be helpful to others, and the occasional amateur photo. Thanks for stopping by! I hope to see you around.

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