World’s shortest story with only 6 words

While browsing on my twitter, I read on OMGFacts post, which I am following to, about the world’s shortest story with only has 6 words on it. I was like ‘oh, really?’ then curiously opens the link provided and viola, this is the 6-word story:

           For sale: Baby shoes. Never worn.

Is that it? They must be joking. I can’t find any sense on it. But when I try to remember the characteristics of what a story has, the 6-word story above can seems to fall into this category.

Short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. It only focuses on one incident, one single plot and a single setting with a small number of characters. It also covers only a short period of time. Like in any other forms of fiction, it contains core elements of dramatic structure: intro to setting and characters; the event or situation or rising action; climax; and resolution then the moral. Short stories may or may not follow this pattern as long as the exact characteristic of a short story is present. Since the story only has single setting with minimal characters, length may also be short with a maximum of 1,000 ~ 20,000 words. Stories of less than 1,000 words are called flash fiction and the story above is under this category. Flash fiction is a fictional literature style where you can briefly express a write up in your mind. Due to its limited length, the story elements are left hinted to the readers’ minds. It can also be called as micro-story, from its definition implies. [Wikipedia]

The story above is written by Ernest Hemingway out of a bet. Yes, it is from a bet. This young newspaperman bet his colleagues for $10 that he can write a complete story is just 6 words and he won. The story was written masterfully that without the clear presentation of the characters, the plot or the setting, it leaves the readers an emotional response – a primary aim in creative writing. It’s cheating but done giftedly. The words were carefully chosen, words that can leave readers to fill in the story with the missing elements. [Wikipedia and ezinearticles]

The words that hit me to think really hard are the last two words, ‘Never worn’. If these two words were removed, I can only say that it is an advertising statement. It makes an intriguing setting of the story. It was never added in this story without a purpose. Even the word ‘baby’ has a role itself. It makes you think, what happened to the baby and why the shoes were never worn. Who are the parents and what are they doing for living? Was the baby died or kidnapped or ill? These questions are the clear evidence that the 6-word story by Hemingway was able to leave its readers a good deal of responses. The characters are the baby and its parents (even though not stated). It may also include the seller of the baby shoes, if the seller is not the parents of the baby. The situation is illustrated in the shoes that are being on deal and the trigger point is the idea that it was never worn by the subject. The rest of the event is hinted to the readers as well the ending. A brilliant impose of idea to the audience.

It was indeed a great story. I wanna try to make one, hmm….