MINIMAL WORDS FOR MAXIMUM IMPACT

Conveying Concepts Clearly & Concisely:

An Exercise To Focus on Using Only Necessary Words

Can a story plot/mood/genre show itself in just six words? Read the six-word “stories” below, in the left column. Match each mini-story with the conceptual that best describes the plot.

Story:                                                                                     Title:

A) She died. “I cried,” he lied.                    1) DISILLUSIONED

B) She lied, “I tried.” He cried.                   2) GULLIBLE

C) She sighed, “He lied.” I cried.                3) NO LOSS

Write your own mini-stories in 6-10 words, not including titles. You need not rhyme as I have.

This exercise will force you to use only necessary words to convey the plot. Some conceptual title suggestions follow, or you may create your own.

·       CATASTROPHE

·      NEW BEGINNING

·      UNEXPECTED LOVE

·      SERENDIPITY

·      VENGEANCE

·      BETRAYAL

·      REJECTION

·      EPIPHANY