600

[xenith]

ABC Radio & the Commonwealth Broadcasting Assocation are both running short stories competitions that close at the end of the month. Stories about 600 words that can be read on radio.
The first is for writers in regional Australia, the second for Commonwealth writers. Both pay rather nicely.

But 600 words? How can you write a serious story in the length? Serious, because I've written silly things under 1000 words.

And there's nothing to get a hold of. I mean, if I decided for some reason or other to write about a certain topic or setting or character type, I sort of stick it into my head and it floats around and a story pops out.

But working to a word limit? Not possible.

Or is it. Hmmmmm.

Comments

[capnoblivious.livejournal.com]

But 600 words? How can you write a serious story in the length? Serious, because I've written silly things under 1000 words.

Antipodean often has serious stories at or under 500 words. The Visions comp last year had them at 100.

At that length, I strongly prefer the silly ones, though.

[monissaw.livejournal.com]

Me too.

The first story I sold was about 700 words. I didn't intend it be that length. I wrote a quick first draft for a story and realised that it worked quite well as it was.

That was at time when I was convinced I've never finish a story enough to submit it anywhere. So I sort of tricked myself into finishing one, which broke that barrier.