There's just one more week to try writing a succinct, compelling story for our Short Shorts' contest, so get pen to paper!
Anna McConville, a student in The Loft Literary Center’s We Like Short-Shorts! class this spring, demonstrates how it can be done. She’s written two great stories on a common theme.
February
Mom said it would be the month she would die.
In March I dreamed she kissed me goodbye and drove off in a flying car.
I went on vacation despite the dream.
As I reveled in the canyon magic, the phone rang.
I’m home from the hospital.
I didn’t die.
Mom
The cookie jar is empty, the cake pans are stored.
I come with sweet treats.
She smiles and says, Thank you.
What happened to the queen of Raspberry Pies and cake so rich it haunted your dreams?
They gave her 12 months to die.
And five years I’ve watched her live.
Who is that radiant lady before me?
This is my Mom, ready to die.
Write your story. Send it in. We’re waiting to read it. (Story titles are not included in the word count.)
Submission deadline: Midnight on Wednesday, Apr. 4, 2012.
First, second and third place winners will be announced April 11, 2012. Once again, the prize will be a surprise short-short something.
Contest guidelines: Only Minnesota writers can submit. Only one short-short by an individual will be accepted. Your short-short must be under 100 words. Please put your last name and short-short contest in the subject line of the email. Include your name, address, telephone number, email address, word count and a brief biography (up to 150 words). Send your entry — in the body of the email, or as an attachment — to mbarrett [at] minnpost [dot] com. The file must be saved in Word.
Marge Barrett has published prose and poetry in numerous print and online journals and in The Best of the Web 2009 and The State We’re In. Her chapbook of poetry, My Memoir Dress, was published in 2011. She received an MFA from the University of Minnesota, creative work awards from St. Catherine University and grants to writing programs in Prague and St. Petersburg. Currently she teaches various writing workshops and at The Loft Literary Center.