Beyond Words

NPR is sponsoring their fourth short story contest. The challenge is to take 4 words-plant, button, trick, and fly- and work them into a short story to be read in less than 3 minutes. The contest will be judged by Ann Patchett, author of Bel Canto.

It sounds like a fun exercise, only 600 words and the chance for some national recognition.  For more information you can look at the NPR story here.

Ann Patchett chose the words saying, “It’s really nice to have little markers to go by, something to sort of occupy one side of your brain while the other side of your brain is being very creative,” Patchett says. “I think of these four words as the splint that will hold the story together.”

There are numerous writing challenges out there. Actually, an overwhelming number.  One could spend time practicing one’s craft without making any progress on a specific piece of work.  It’s a matter of moderation and self-monitoring, from my perspective. For me, it’s important to find the exercises that will address areas of known weaknesses or ones pertinent to memoir writing.