In six words or less
Copy editors, our nightly struggle to condense 1,500 words of prose into a six-word headline is understood by few. But count these people in.
Wired magazine noted that Hemingway once wrote a story in six words ("For sale: baby shoes, never worn.") and asked other writers to follow suit.
There are a few I just love:
Gown removed carelessly. Head, less so.Anyone care to give it a try?
- Joss WhedonMachine. Unexpectedly, I’d invented a time
- Alan MooreKirby had never eaten toes before.
- Kevin Smith“I couldn’t believe she’d shoot me.”
- Howard ChaykinBang postponed. Not Big enough. Reboot.
- David Brin
8 Comments:
Wind blows the last orange leaf.
Elvis Costello did it: "Engagement ring for sale."
Whither the "or fewer" camp?
'Twas a dark and stormy night.
Copy editor inserted error? Ready ... aim ...
Bill, can I plead The Idiom?
Poynter exists. All is lost.
Wanted: Editor/designer for small daily.
Hey, I'm on record as favoring "or less." (And being beaten up for it.)
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