Spencer, 66, is hosting the ninth “100 Word Short Story Smash,” a contest of stories exactly 100 words. Not 99 or 101. Don’t even try.
Compete for fame, glory and a little bit of cash in this popular ode to concise editing. Send entries to cspencer@whidbey.com by Oct. 21. No later. Stories will be read at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at Zech Hall Piano Bar, Whidbey Island Center for the Art in Langley. For examples, go to blog.chriswspencer.com.
Bio by Spencer: “After many years living in Europe, Asia and Africa as a CIA brat, I returned to the eastern U.S. to hide out and work as a photographer. When the world embraced digital photography, I fled Philadelphia and the rat race and retired to Whidbey Island in ‘92. Needing an outlet for a fertile imagination and armed with many past adventures, I turned to writing, drinking espresso and walking my dog, Fred, on the windswept moors of Whidbey.”
What are you wearing?
Gold shoes with tassels.
Book by your bed?
“Missing” by Tim Gatreaux.
If you could share a beer with anyone?
Leonardo di Vinci. He was a totally cool dude.
People would shocked to know …
I’m not a Virgo.
Three things in your writing tool kit?
My head, my past, my computer.
Biggest accomplishment:
Surviving to adulthood.
Most brilliant thing you ever wrote:
My two books “100 Quickies” (Vol. 1) and “100 Quickies” (Vol. 2).
One thing you wish others would stop doing?
Using “awesome” for every superlative.
Best year:
1992 is when I finally moved to the semi-autonomous artisan-infested south Whidbey.
Three movies/TV shows in your Netflix queue?
“Citizen Kane.” “12 Angry Men.” “The Russians are Coming.” (Netflix has none of these.)
Pet Peeve:
People who don’t listen to what is spewing from their mouths that they think is erudite.
If you could use only 10 words, what would these be?
Jiminy cricket, just walk it off and get a life.
What do you think about “War and Peace”?
There’s not much going on between the two.
Why 100 words? Why not 140?
One hundred is 2 words; one hundred and forty is 4 words; too much work.
Biggest writer’s mistake:
Edit, edit, edit. Write for your reader, not yourself.
Do you know someone we should get to know better? Send suggestions to abrown@heraldnet.com or call 425-339-3443.
Example of a 100 word story
“Girl Scout Cookies” by Chris Spencer
“Hey Mister, buy some Girl Scout cookies?” she chirped, enthusiastically.
“No thanks, I bought some yesterday.”
“That was yesterday. How about today?”
“I’m watching my weight.”
“So buy them for a friend.”
“I don’t have any friends.”
“Okay, donate them to a food bank.”
“I’m on vacation — just passing through.”
“Take some home as gifts.”
“I live alone.”
“Give them to a stranger.”
“No, I don’t have room in my luggage — jeeze, back off!”
“Listen mister, I need my commission to pay for my anger-management counseling.”
She pulled a machete from her green uniform.
“I’ll take five boxes.”
“Only five?”
Tips for writing a 100-word story (in 100 words)
A short story has a beginning, middle and end. It’s not poetry, or a novel, or a list, or fragmented sentences without pronouns or conjunctions.
The 100-word genre requires simplicity: strong verbs, limited adverbs, contractions, present tense, a powerful first line and concise sentences.
Eschew obfuscation, cutesy wordplay, excessive similes and esoterica.
Avoid complex dialogue and situations.
Edit. Rewrite. Edit and rewrite again. Learn punctuation.
Write for a stranger. Read it to friends. Endure critiques. Deal in universal empathy, pathos or humor. Don’t confuse your reader. If they smile, weep or chuckle, you’re making progress.
It should be easy. Right?
— Chris Spencer
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