Hint Fiction

The following is my friend Jayne Martin’s fault. She urged me to write something for this week’s Hint Fiction challenge, something to kick start my writing. Always a good thing. But what this challenge did was even better, it got me into a Monkey’s Wedding mode, which is where I need to be. (I’ve been promising to get it all shiny and ready for publication, plus I’m going to record the first chapter. More on this later).

So here’s my challenge: Write a story (beginning, middle and end) that hints at a larger story, but is complete within itself, in 25 words or less. The most famous piece of hint fiction was written by Hemingway:

For sale: Baby Shoes. Never worn.

Hint Fiction demands reader involvement. “Why were the baby shoes never worn?” we’re left to contemplate.   It hints at much more, yet is complete in and of itself.

Okay, here goes:

“Monkey’s wedding!” Elizabeth blinked against the sunshower. “Make a wish, Tururu. Something’s about to happen.”

Tururu shivered. How long before Karari caught up with them?

Want to give it a try. Go here to learn more.

Have fun!

15 thoughts on “Hint Fiction

  1. Yes, intrigued. The other day on my walk around my hood I saw a used bassinet sitting at the curb in front of a quaker church. I instantly thought of Hemmingway’s line. My mind went all over the place. The strangest thing was the bassinet sat there for about a week before it was moved. I still wonder. Did you find the limit of 25 words challenging?

    1. Just that, a bassinet and the Quaker church is a whole story right there! How intriguing.

      I started with a guy’s cowboy hat (a story I’ve been trying to bring to life) and then at the last moment, just as I was about to give up, I hit on Monkey’s Wedding and how I should be working on that.

  2. I think the beauty of hint fiction is that such a concise piece can stand on its own while giving readers — and the writer — so much to contemplate. You’ve captured my curiosity with a very intriguing scenario. And, yes, I want more.

  3. Very good, makes one wonder who they are.
    The drive was spotted with puddles as she squished her toes into the warm red mud. Would he come because it had rained? Would he bother?

  4. Really well done! This definitely let my imagination run wild for a bit but I’d like to read the story you’ve already started writing.

    1. This snippet is from a book I’m looking to publish. The other little story I started, cowboy hat is about an experience I had I’d love to flesh out. One of these days.

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