I’m a blogger of many words. Scroll down this page and you’ll see what I mean. I’ve never quite understood the point of Twitter.
At work I’m just the opposite, often preaching that less is more. Keeping your message short is essential if you want to get any attention in the media flood. I never hesitate to put my butchers knife into a mass of text that is too heavy to be readable.
But when it comes to blogging I allow myself to go wild; I let the words and sentences grow as they like. It’s nice to slip out of control for a change and there’s no customer around to complain about it. I’m the innkeeper here and if it doesn’t suit you, you can go to another bar and hang around.
There are exceptions though, and this post is about one of those. I’ve just stumbled upon a website, Six Word Stories, which made me fall in love on the spot. In case you haven’t seen it, it was inspired by a challenge that once was given to Ernest Hemingway. He was supposed to write a complete story in just six words. He did. The famous story: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn”
The site is full of other six word stories in all sorts of genres. Some are written by real authors, others have been provided by enthusiastic readers, more or less anonymous. Like this one:
“Checked Facebook. Apparently we broke up.” Being an old science fiction fan, I checked out the SF six word stories and immediately found a few that I liked:
“Computer becomes conscious. Immediately commits suicide.”
“TIME MACHINE REACHES FUTURE!!!....nobody there….”
“Dinosaurs return. Want their oil back.”
I’m really not a creative writer in the sense that I can make up fantastic stories, but I couldn’t resist the thought that it should be possible to write “stories” from Azeroth in just six words. Here's a couple:
"Icestone melted. Prime Directive violated. Engage!"
"Baby cries nine months after servercrash."
"Last mage quits. Working as intended."
Now I’m pretty sure you can make up better ones. So I challenge you to make up your own six word story with WoW connection and share it with us - in a comment to this post or on your own blog.
At work I’m just the opposite, often preaching that less is more. Keeping your message short is essential if you want to get any attention in the media flood. I never hesitate to put my butchers knife into a mass of text that is too heavy to be readable.
But when it comes to blogging I allow myself to go wild; I let the words and sentences grow as they like. It’s nice to slip out of control for a change and there’s no customer around to complain about it. I’m the innkeeper here and if it doesn’t suit you, you can go to another bar and hang around.
There are exceptions though, and this post is about one of those. I’ve just stumbled upon a website, Six Word Stories, which made me fall in love on the spot. In case you haven’t seen it, it was inspired by a challenge that once was given to Ernest Hemingway. He was supposed to write a complete story in just six words. He did. The famous story: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn”
The site is full of other six word stories in all sorts of genres. Some are written by real authors, others have been provided by enthusiastic readers, more or less anonymous. Like this one:
“Checked Facebook. Apparently we broke up.” Being an old science fiction fan, I checked out the SF six word stories and immediately found a few that I liked:
“Computer becomes conscious. Immediately commits suicide.”
“TIME MACHINE REACHES FUTURE!!!....nobody there….”
“Dinosaurs return. Want their oil back.”
I’m really not a creative writer in the sense that I can make up fantastic stories, but I couldn’t resist the thought that it should be possible to write “stories” from Azeroth in just six words. Here's a couple:
"Icestone melted. Prime Directive violated. Engage!"
"Baby cries nine months after servercrash."
"Last mage quits. Working as intended."
Now I’m pretty sure you can make up better ones. So I challenge you to make up your own six word story with WoW connection and share it with us - in a comment to this post or on your own blog.
Here's a couple for ya. It's hard to tell a story! They come out more like headlines.
ReplyDeleteHeroes went in, came out purple.
Overlord Saurfang discovered his feminine side.
After smashing, Orc goes home, cries.
Polymorph, mirror image used in bedroom.
Tink, tink, tink. Four cobalt ore.
Goblin, gnome engineers make a Whatchamakaliterizoratorthingamabob.
Armaggedon’s coming with great fiery balls!
ReplyDeleteNeed I say more than that?
News: Warlock arrested for kidnapping souls.
ReplyDeleteKitty bites face off, hunter pleased.
Bah - I like a lot of words... and imagery. I can't do it D:
Ret nerfed. Paladins cried. Crab laughs.
ReplyDeleteThe correct story by Hemingway was "For sale: baby shoes, never worn."
ReplyDeleteSelf ressed and casted frost shock.
ReplyDeleteDivine shield killed the whole raid.
Ten stacks on Gluth, I died.
I drain your soul, mine now.
Goblin creations lead to goblin destruction.
@Geoffrey: corrected. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun!
ReplyDeleteI posted several on my site. But they're more like headlines, like David said. Stories are hard.
But I guess I can't even try to reach the level that Ernest Hemingway did. I can tell myself that, right?
Divine storm strikes, many left wounded
ReplyDeleteGothik: Undead or Alive; you decide!
ReplyDeleteAvoided fire. Boss died. Collected loot.
ReplyDeleteOn forums, everyone complained about everything.
Tempest Keep was merely a setback!
No new engineering plans. How surprising.
Sarth plus two hurts me head.
ReplyDeleteClifdog
Ramblings of a Misguided Hunter - http://wowclifdog.blogspot.com/
Ya I'm BM, and your dead.
ReplyDeleteBM, the spec will never die.
Distract with pet, shoot with gun.
Which bush am i shooting from?
This is a fun lil brain teaser.. LOL
Clifdog
Ramblings of a Misguided Hunter - http://wowclifdog.blogspot.com/
I think you guys are missing the point, largely. The goal is not a six word phrase. The goal is a story. Hemingway's example conjures up feeling of sympathy for the parent who purchased baby shoes for an infant that was never born. Now, I don't know if this is possible to do for WoW, because it's just a game, and so the drama factor is limited. I don't have anything, but I thought this needed to be said.
ReplyDelete@Geoffrey: Well, I think some of the tries are decent, some haven't quite understood the idea. But I think the major problem is that it's pretty difficult to make up something that resembles to a story.
ReplyDeleteAnyway I think it's fun to give it a try... It's a good excersise in creative writing, really. And I don't think that the fact that WoW "only is a game" should make storytelling impossible. The WoW is full of stories and emotions. Our mind is the limit. Not the setting as such.
I really like yours about the baby crying after the server crash! That's vivid, hilarious, and more than likely has happened a time or two! :)
ReplyDeleteI like David's example of the heroes who come out purple too. It's sort of headlinish, but I know exactly what happened "in there".
I'd have to spend some time thinking to see if I could come up with one that was more than just a tagline.
Here's my last try:
ReplyDeleteMankrik's wife is missing, found dead.
Fire, Blood, Anguish; tooltip says all.
ReplyDeleteHehe awesome post as always Larisa, enjoyed thinking of a couple but in the end that was my best shot.
Many words can be good but sometimes refining your convosation to one word really can work.
@All: I won't give you each individual feedback this time. Just a big, collective Thank you! It was great fun to read your contributions to this thread. Many of those stories left me with a big smile on my face. Speaking for myself I think I'll ponder upon a few more stories. It's a perfect thing to occupy you're thoughts with if you're cought in a pocket of time just waiting (for surrection, an AFK to come back, whatever).
ReplyDeleteOne that stands above all others...
ReplyDelete"You have been disconnected from server."
Hard mode, same stuff, really bored.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBah, stupid Button, can't edit commment.
ReplyDelete25 heroic, Kel'Thuzad down. Huntard Needs.
Heart destroyed, Arthas is no more.
ReplyDeleteZebby receives [Twilight Proto-drake]
ReplyDelete"Ninja!"
You cast [Rebirth] [Zebby].
[Zebby] dies.
Dearest Emma, the crops are dying.
Forsaken again at Wrathgate, vultures feast.
"Arthas! Welcome home, my son!"
Where did my free time go?
ReplyDeleteLife balanced on an Ebon Blade
ReplyDeleteHere's mine:
ReplyDeleteThe Pink Pigtail Inn, it's great!
Guess I got mine wrong to start with.
ReplyDeleteI will change it to :
Gothik the Harvester, harvested this morning.
Penny Arcade did a
ReplyDeletecontest with 10 word stories
Having fun playing with this form:-
ReplyDeleteOvernighted at gnome inn: Awoke female!
LF Imba Healer, at first boss.
Heavy repairs, /gquit, now regretting decision.
Told to respec - I decline inelegantly.