Summary

The article discusses the concept of ultra-shortform writing, encouraging writers to create concise stories and offering publication suggestions.

Abstract

The article introduces the idea of "nanoform" writing, a form of ultra-shortform content that challenges writers to convey a lot with minimal words. It references the work of Ogden Nash as an example of powerful shortform poetry, specifically his three-word poem "Fleas." The author, Lucy Dan 蛋小姐, empathizes with writers who struggle with shortform content not receiving adequate compensation and suggests ways to expand on their short works to potentially increase their value. She also recommends her own publication, "The Brain is a Noodle," and other Medium publications like "Everything Shortform" and "Doctor Funny" for writers to publish their nano-stories. The article concludes with an invitation for writers to share their ultrashort stories and tags several individuals as a challenge to contribute.

Opinions

The author admires the brevity and impact of Ogden Nash's poem "Fleas," considering it a masterpiece of shortform writing.
There is a recognition that shortform content, such as poetry and cartoons, often receives less pay and recognition compared to longer works.
Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 advocates for the value of expressing much with little, suggesting that writers can expand on their nano-stories to provide more context and depth.
The author acknowledges her own struggle with brevity and credits others, like Sarah Paris, for trying to teach her the art of being pithy.
The article expresses enthusiasm for the growth and potential of shortform writing, particularly on platforms like Medium.

There’s ‘Shortform’ and Then There’s Nanoform

Ultra-shortform writing

**Are these two “short people” or “shorts people”?** * * * * Photo by Ines cancela on Unsplash

There’s a new idea in here, but you’ll have to read on — or skip on — to get it.

Shortform writing, in all it’s various iterations, is all the rage. There are pubs devoted to it. Poetry can be a manifestation, haiku being one of the most notable.

The official definition goes something like this. “The limits imposed on the length of a single text message (160 characters) or a tweet (originally 140 and then 280 characters). It also refers to brief posts on Facebook and blogs.” *

To my knowledge, and probably long before shortform was a “thing,” the famous poet, Ogden Nash, performed the shortest shortform masterpiece ever with just three words … “Adam had ‘em.” That’s the entire substance of his poem entitled “Fleas.”

Fleas

Adam

Had ‘em

You could go on and on about what Mr. Nash “said” with his work, analyzing the humor, the connotations, the social commentary, the fact that he omitted Eve and the two boys from mention, “em” vs “them”, and so on and so forth until you were blue in the face and itchy from talking about fleas, but that changes nothing about the sheer beauty and heft of his three immortal words. Plus, they rhyme. That’s poetic gold for this poetry simpleton.

The WIIFM

So, let’s all channel our inner Nash and do some ultra-shortform “stories.” Become an instant essentialist and express the most with the least, whatever that looks like for you.

Ever sympathetic to the plight of my fellow writers, I know that short stuff gets short shrift here in terms of pay. Poets and cartoonists constantly take it in the shorts because their work, however excellent, can take far less than a minute to read. I know, I’ve published some (crappy) haiku, and it often takes months of steady reads before the pay tally cracks a dollar.

So … after your nano-story, stick around and write something more about it. What prompted it? Who inspired you to write it (could be relational, no?)? What’s it about more broadly? And so on and so forth. Not a requirement, but an option.

As always, publish in a place that makes you happy.

Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她)’s excellent pub The Brain is a Noodle is “a place for all things bite-sized” and a great place to start if you need publication location ideas.

Ditto for Greg Prince’s Everything Shortform. It’s a newer pub and is tearing up the charts.

If you write funny, and in this case short, “Doctor Funny”, my little pub, would be delighted to receive your contributions. Reach out to me with your handle and I’ll add you as a writer.

As you can tell from all this blather I have a hard time keeping it short. People like Sarah Paris have tried to school me on the fine art of “pithy” but I remain a WIP on that score.

Bottom line — my ultrashort story will be along shortly.

Anyone can play, but I’m tagging these fine folks because I can’t remember ever tagging them before, and they just hit me up: E Kendell Davis, Cinette Santangelo, Steve Williams, Quasimodo, Judy Millar, Wally Roxanne, Nick MacIneskar, K. Barrett, Yana Bostongirl

*Short-form-writing Meaning | Best 1 Definitions of Short-form-writing (yourdictionary.com)