Ernest Hemmingway once wrote what is, in my opinion, one of the greatest stories ever told and he did it using only six words:
"For sale: baby shoes, never worn."
I'll let you take a moment to digest that.
Good storytelling need not be lengthy or complex in order to be great. This is the reason that I like to read flash fiction, stories typically constrained by a limit of not more than 1000-2000 words. I like to see stories that can be succinctly told in their entirety or, as in the case of the Hemmingway tale, cause my mind to fill in the gaps by going in any of a million directions.
Also, due to the word limit, there really isn't much investment on the part of the reader. They never take more than a couple of minutes from start to finish and, if you didn't like it, you haven't really lost anything.
Anyway, I mention this because I've spent a couple of hours tonight reading through Ficlets, an online collaborative fiction site where people post flash fiction of not more than 1024 characters. Other users may then write their own prequels or sequels to a story, if they like, adding their own spin on what you've written. I saw the site on Wil Wheaton's blog today and he linked to a particular one which I found interesting (he wrote a prequel to it, also pretty good).
Sure, there's a lot of dross out there but, again, it doesn't take any time at all to read and the really good ones are totally worth the effort to look at. If you don't have a lot of time to read a whole book, or you want something to keep in the bathroom for when you do, I'd recommend picking up a flash fiction collection. Or, cruise Ficlets a bit and I'm sure you'll find some things that are to your fancy.
Also, read this flash by Warren Ellis, comic author extraordinare. It will break your heart.
Last, but not least, please enjoy this outtake image from my RetRose Tinted piece on Splatterhouse today. I give you, dancing Monster Rick. I'll see you all tomorrow.
Aww, thanks for the mention Conrad. I'm sure that if you put up a review you can cover a lot of stuff I missed, and say it with a bit more eloquence (oh, and probably more readers).
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about me
I write for Destructoid, primarily reviews and recurring columns. I'm probably best known for RetRose Tinted, a series which I began in the Community Blogs and ran for six months before joining the site staff and taking it to the front page. I also contribute to An RPG Draws Near and the recently minted Sexy Time! column as well as serve up a weekly collection of the best deals on games (and completely gratuitous photos of women) in Discountoid.
I'm fond of all types of gaming, either on a screen or a tabletop. In terms of video games, my interests vary wildly from platformers (2D preferred) to RPGs and the occasional FPS. The greatest game of all time is Mega Man 2 and any suggestion otherwise will be met with swift vengeance.
The mere inclusion of Rodney Dangerfield can vastly improve anything. Films, music, toasters, anything. In particular, the force of Rodney Dangerfield could elevate video games to the level in which they are accepted by the mainstream as a true art form, bringing together people of all races, creeds and tax brackets in peace and harmony.
Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press living the dream since March 16, 2006
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Aww, thanks for the mention Conrad. I'm sure that if you put up a review you can cover a lot of stuff I missed, and say it with a bit more eloquence (oh, and probably more readers).
A nice recap as always Conrad. Is it wrong to like the fails most of all?
How much for those shoes, Conrad?
aren't you getting married? baby must be on the way.
@ceark: Oh, God no. We have years and years for that and I'm entirely too focused on my own selfish desires to worry about those of a child.
Great recap per usual, Conrad. Thanks again for the linkage.
Got damn there's alot of blogging goin' on nowdays...good job conrad.
sad story is sad.
recap is good however :)
Ernest Hemmingway might be my hero. That man lead an absolutely insane life. Nice work on the recap, as always.
Holy Jeez! I got a "Conrad Pick", and I didn't even know it!
Huzzah! Drinks on me!