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Tuesday, February 12, 2008 | Categories: Q Blog |
Please note: The contest is now closed. Thanks so much to all who shared 6 words with us. You're all winners, you know that, but below are a smattering of our favourites by category (and the real winners* too.)
It's a Valentine-week writing challenge here on Q: Six-Word Love Stories!
Yes, just SIX words. We can't take credit for that idea. It apparently originated with Ernest Hemingway, who ... once wrote a story in just six words that went like this: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn." He's said to have thought it was his best work.
Since then, many have taken up the challenge. Check out these six words from Joan Rivers: "Liars! Hysterectomy didn't improve sex life." And Margaret Atwood: "Longed for him. Got him. Shit." Joss Whedon: "Gown removed carelessly. Head, less so."
Now it's your turn. Our challenge is simple. Write a love story in 6 words. Feel free to interpret "love story" as creatively as possible: robot love, radar love, escape from love. Let yourself be inspired by ANY of the wide range of feelings Valentine's Day can evoke... Just do it in 6 words.
Post your entries right here or email them to q@cbc.ca. We ... can't ... wait ... to ... read... them. That's 6 words. The winner and some runners-up will be announced on Friday, February 15. We've got some great books to give away too ... so write us. *Be sure to include your full name and where you are writing from.*
Some stories that stood out:
Angry little love stories:
"'I love you too,' he lied." - Wendy Nember, Cambridge, Ont.
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"Guitar Hero is not a date." - Samantha Ashenhurst*, Mississauga, Ont.
Sweet little love stories:
"Fearing loss... She drove him away." - Alex Gill*, Ottawa
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"Both girls, we kissed, families freaked!!" - Tracy Reynolds, Ottawa
Real little love stories:
"You're dying. I cut your toenails." - Peter Rukavina*, Charlottetown
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"Saw her today, cried all night." - Doug Broeska, Winnipeg
Odd little love stories:
"Butcher's strong hands: vegetarian, I fell." - Nicki Haigh, Nanaimo, BC
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"Bondage game. Lost key. Cute locksmith." - Katherine Fawcett*, Penticton, BC
Wise little love stories:
"One hundred years, all new people." - John Henry* (age 81), Charlottetown
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"Dumped on Facebook. Now strictly analog." - Guy Fox*