75–word challenge

The Open Kimono: 75-Word Novels Challenge & Submission Guidelines

Welcome to The Open Kimono’s “Third Quarter Celebration” and 75-word novel challenge! Yes, both our editors will have lived that number of years at our next birthdays. This HUGE number weighs heavily on our minds.

The number 75 isn’t funny—not to this editor, anyway—but that’s not going to stop us from having fun with it anyway. So come play with us, no matter how “young” you are!

The 75-word challenge

What is a 75-word novel or poem, anyway? First, it can only have 75 words, and no more nor less than that. In addition, it must tell a complete story, with characters, a scenario, action, and an interesting finish. It can be in prose or poetry form, whichever you choose.

Writing these extreme short forms is excellent practice for writing in general. Every word has to count, has to contribute to the storyline and character development, and must generate a level of suspense. And most of all, it has to entertain.

And although our super-short novels were intended to amuse and impress the others, sometimes a story would sneak through, true to our 75-word format, that revealed something personal — a hurt, a lost love, an injustice, something deep.

These are the kinds of stories that we want to publish in The Open Kimono.

Here’s what you need to do to join us in this “third-quarter” challenge:

1. To be added as a new writer, send an email to [email protected] and be sure to say “Add me as a writer” in the subject line. Include the link to your Medium profile so that we can find you.
2. Every story must be exactly 75 words. No exceptions. Titles, subtitles and kickers don’t count. Contractions and hyphenated words count as one word. As you’re writing, you can check the word count by highlighting the story in the Medium editor and the approximate word count will appear in the top left corner. However, the Medium editor counts hyphenated words as multiples. Because of this annoying glitch, please copy and paste your story or poem into your favorite word-processing software and use their word count tool.
3. Please add the ‘kicker’ (above the title): 75 WORDS
4. Include the tag 75 word poem, even if your bit isn’t poetic. :D
5. You may include an explanation, summary, or author’s note at the end, after an added elipsis spacer.
6. Caption and credit every image, including your own.
7. Send us as many 75-word stories as you can burp out, but only one per day, please.
8. Review and proof your work. Incorrect spelling and incorrect grammar might result in an editorial hissy-fit. We do nit-pick. But we’ll probably fix them without fanfare.

Thanks! That’s all there is to it. Just open that kimono and let your stories flow out. For a few examples, check these out: The Open Kimono.

We’ve tagged a bunch of folks we believe will be interested in this challenge. If you do not wish to be tagged again, please let us know at [email protected]. Cheers!

The Open Kimono Editorial Staff

Shadowgnosis and Adelia Ritchie

Jenine Bsharah Baines, Steve Fendt, Liam Ireland, Connie Song, Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她), Michael Burg, MD (AKA Medium Michael Burg), Terry Trueman, John Griswold, J.J. Pryor, Aimée Gramblin, America Zed, Stephanie Nicole, J.D. Harms, R. Rangan PhD, Filza Chaudhry, Margie Willis, Jim Mason, Tree Langdon, Bev Potter, Paul Smith, David Rudder, May Hemm, Trista Signe Ainsworth, Michele Thomas, Bicho Do Mato, Marta Calderon, MScE, Debra Wuts, William J Spirdione, David B. Clear, Wendy Van Camp, Georgia Dimitrious, Jay Squires, Rolli, Coco Garcia, VOICES OF THE LOST, Mary DeVries, Robert Trakofler, Dawn Jarvela Henthorn, Island Cow, Floyd Mori, Desiree Driesenaar, John Levin, Will Hull, Dazzling Shene, David Perlmutter, Thief, Mark Tulin, Carol Burt, Jennifer McDougall, Jupiter Grant, Daniel Williams, Matthew Spira, Carolyn F. Chryst, Ph.D., Victor Sarkin, Nancy Walker, Lee Ameka, Filiz Özer, Jim McAulay🍁, Barry Dawson Jr. IV, Joe Luca, Liz Porter, I. Trudie Palmer, Susannah MacKinnie, ScienceDuuude