Transcript 55 word story - Cobb Learning

INTO THE NIGHT
Dick Skeen
Look, smile, teeth, lips, voice, sexy, car, feel,
apartment, couch, music, dance, lights, drink,
moist, dry, soft, firm, fast, slow, easy, hard, leg,
knee, thigh, shoulders, breast, fingers, silky,
rough, breath, living room, bedroom,
bathroom, kitchen, basement, bed, pillows,
sheets, shower, cigarette, coffee, stockings,
brassiere, dress, shirt, naked, rattle, door,
husband, scramble, kill, clothes, window.
STRATEGY: ONE WORD NOUNS, ADJECTIVES
HIGHER EDUCATION
Ron Bast
“College was a breeze,” Jennings said, washing
his grimy hands. “With all those budget cuts,
they couldn’t teach much. They just gave us
our grades and sent us on our way.”
“How did you learn?”
“We didn’t, but so what? Look at me now.”
A nurse opened the door.
“Dr. Jennings, you’re wanted in surgery.”
STRATEGY: DIALOGUE
IT WAS A YEAR AGO
A slight breeze blew as Doug stood staring down at
Joey.
“Hello, Joey,” said Doug.
Silence surrounded the two of them.
“Joey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. I didn’t. And Joey
– Merry Christmas.”
Doug placed a rose on Joey’s tombstone and
walked away.
“Can you ever forgive me,” he asked, “for driving
home drunk?”
STRATEGY: POINT OF VIEW
WISHFUL THINKING
Joshua Hanes
Bob had all he wanted. And he still had one
wish left.
“I can’t decide. Can I use it later?” he asked.
“You da boss. I’m just the genie.”
“Cool.”
As he walked down the streets, he searched for
a tune to express his joyous feelings.
“…Oh, I wish I were an Oscar Meyer wiener – “
STRATEGY: CATCHY TITLE, MAKING THE ORDINARY
EXTRAORDINARY
BAD LUCK
Alan E. Mayer
I awoke to searing pain all over my body. I
opened my eyes and saw a nurse standing by
my bed.
“Mr. Fujima,” she said. “You were lucky to have
survived the bombing of Hiroshima two days
ago. But you’re safe now here in this
hospital.”
Weakly, I asked, “Where am I?”
“Nagasaki,” she said.
STRATEGY: REWRITE HISTORY
CHAMELEON SCHLEMIELEON
The Brainiac. The Nerd. Not anymore. A
midsemester move to a new school. A chance
for a new identity.
Algebra. First day. First period. Sitting in the
back with the cool people, hoping to clique, I
finish my exam long before anyone else.
Doubting my calculations, the teacher grades it
aloud: 100.
STRATEGY: FRAGMENTS AND SENTENCE
I’ve failed.
STRUCTURE
THE SUICIDE NOTE
Eric Sandberg
Marie,
Your love meant everything to me. I don’t
blame you though. I always figured some day
you’d realize how worthless I am.
Sorry about the mess. I just couldn’t stand to
live any longer. But you’ll always be with me.
Glenn
P.S. The fish I served you tonight was poisoned.
See you soon.
STRATEGY: LETTER FORMAT
(EPISTOLARY)
THE SALON VISIT
Elizabeth Eula
“Anyway,” the woman in the chair continued, “his
wife’s so gullible! Bill always says he’s going
bowling; she always believes him!”
The beautician smiled. “My husband William loves
bowling.”
Never used to…Goes all the time now…
She paused, frowning,
Then a slow, bitter smile emerged.
“Let’s start on your perm. You’re gonna look
unforgettable.”
STRATEGY: WORD PLAY, ITALICS
FLIGHT TRAINING
James Murphy II
Ahead, the 747 turned west, the captain
climbing safely above its wake turbulence.
ATC said, “United 674, turn left to 265.”
The captain turned without compensating, and
we sank into the turbulence. Shudders
became jolts, then something broke, and our
747 rolled.
The simulator reset the instruments.
I said, “Watch your altitude, Mr. Atta.”
STRATEGY: POINT OF VIEW, NARROWING TO SINGLE PLACE IN TIME
ALEX AND ADAM
Jeremiah Jacques
Alex, an aged almsman, articulated an afterthought.
“Always address agonistics amiably and answer
atheists affectionately.”
Adam, another aged almsman, addressed Alex’s
absurd aphorism, asking, “And after an
apocalypse?”
Alex alluringly assumed an agreeable air and
answered Adam: “Apocalypse and afflatus are
amazingly abstract areas…affection and amiability
accomplish ample acquiescence and alleviate
anger.”
STRATEGY: ALLITERATION
SHIFT WORK
Erica Schalow
“You’re still here? Where’s Dr. Jones?”
The emergency room is busy. I’m pissed at my
missing replacement.
“He’s late again,” I say.
“Hey, Doc! Face versus windshield – better come
quick!”
Cursing to myself, I yell at the charge nurse: “Page
Dr. Jones again!”
As I intubate, I hear Jones’ pager…on the patient’s
belt.
ONE YEAR LATER
Martha Phillips
“Good morning, Eva.”
“Morning, Sheryl.”
“So how’s your garden doing?”
“Growing like a weed!”
They laughed.
“I’m sure it’s given you a lot of comfort since Henry
disappeared,” said Sheryl kindly.
“Actually,” said Eva, “I often feel like he never really
left me at all.”
Her roses were unusually large that summer.
THE TRANSPLANT
Steve Sainsbury
Lying on the gurney, I felt the I.V. medications take
effect.
“You came alone, right?”
“Yeah, Doc, just like you said. I get $10,000 just for
a single kidney?”
“That’s right , son.”
Slipping into unconsciousness, I asked with slurred
speech, “Then…why…all the…secrecy?”
“Because I get twice that for a heart.”
WE’LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THIS
Jill Manni
Beth went through some Growing Pains.
Unfortunately, she learned The Facts of Life from
Perfect Strangers.
She was never taught that Family Matters.
Quickly, she realized that Three’s Company
and moved out.
And to make matters worse, Everybody Loves
Raymond. That’s her best friend.
But like she told her mom, “I Love Lucy.”
STRATEGY: ALLUSIONS
THE RULES
• It must contain 55 words…no more, no less!
• The title does not count in the total, but it
cannot be over 7 words.
• The story must end with a shocking twist.
• Numbers, abbreviations, and contractions
count as 1 word.
• Words with hyphens count as 1 word unless
they can stand on their own with the hyphen
is removed.
STRATEGIES
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Catchy title (i.e. Déjà vu)
Dialogue
Alliteration (Peter Piper picked….)
Focusing on one event or object
Unusual point of view
One word sentences (bedroom, bathroom, kitchen)
Rewrite/get in historical moment
Sentence fragments/run-ons on purpose
Song titles, tv shows put together in one string
Text language
Unusual format (letter/epistolary)
Strange narrator (ghost, dead person, etc.)