avatarWill Hull

Summary

The web content discusses the concept of ultra-shortform writing, exemplified by a nano-short poem about a power outage, and reflects on the brevity of such forms, inspired by a prompt from Dr. Michael Burg.

Abstract

The article delves into the intricacies of ultra-shortform writing, presenting a nano-short poem titled "Power Outage" that captures the essence of the form's brevity. The author ponders the distinction between shortform and nanoform, questioning the exact word or character count that defines these categories. After reading Dr. Michael Burg's prompt on nanoform writing, the author attempts to understand the nuances but ultimately embraces the challenge, producing a piece that surpasses the popularity of their previous work. The article also touches on the personal and technical inspirations behind the nano short, including the urgency of dwindling battery life and the impact of significant life events such as lockdowns and near-death experiences.

Opinions

  • The author enjoys the challenge of writing in an ultra-shortform, despite initially being unsure about the distinction between shortform and nanoform.
  • There is a sense of pride and surprise in the author's tone regarding the popularity of their shortest work, which consists of only 13 words and 74 characters.
  • The author acknowledges the influence of their environment and personal experiences, such as the urgency of a dying phone battery and the existential reflections prompted by life-threatening situations, on their writing.
  • There is a hint of self-deprecation in the author's admission that their approach to blogging might be unconventional, as they strive to create content from brief sparks of inspiration.
  • The author seems to measure success not only by the reception of their work but also by their ability to outdo their previous attempts in terms of brevity and impact.

ULTRA SHORTFORM WRITING

Power Outage

A nano-short poem

Photo by natsuki on Unsplash

Power Outage

Darkness Battery light: red Moments left Then I’m dea

Where does short form end? Or nano form begin? How many words? How few characters?

I read the good Dr’s (Michael Burg, MD (AKA Medium Michael Burg)) prompt:

But am still none the wiser.

I enjoy a fun challenge though and that’s what dribbled out.

My shortest work (you can also find it here on TBIN) is 13 words. 74 characters It became popular; go figure

One inspiration for this nano short? Undercut my previous nano short success.

Mission accomplished! 8 1/2 words (technically, 8 and 3/4 words) 50 characters

A spark should lead to a blog — multiple blogs. I’m doing this wrong.

My inspirations were many.

Phone flat lining, laptop same The race for a usb-c cable

Death Ongoing lockdowns Near death moments ICU machines Knowing death is coming again

Laptop is at 6% Redline warning coming There it is.

Poetry
Short Form
Prompt
Life
Creative Writing
Recommended from ReadMedium