How Short Is Too Short?

[Chris533]

Any thoughts on how short would be too short for the contest? Any one know of any really short stories that have won? Say, about 2,000-3,000 words?

[J'nae Rae]

They don't list a minimum. But I would hazard a guess a drabble would be a no, flash would likely be a hard sell for winning. Good question as to what is the shortest story to win.

[Dustin Adams]

I believe KD Wentworth's story was the shortest win at 2k.

[amyhg]

I believe KD Wentworth's story was the shortest win at 2k.

Wow. I get the impression that you're the WOTF Anthology guru. Out of curiosity, how many volumes have you read?

[Jeremyteg]

I believe KD Wentworth's story was the shortest win at 2k.

Wow. I get the impression that you're the WOTF Anthology guru. Out of curiosity, how many volumes have you read?

Legend tells that Dustin was there at the dawn of WOTF, long before the first winners walked the earth. His knowledge is vast, his command of rules minutia and useful trivia infinite, and his wisdom as wide as the horizon. Verily, Dustin is the greatest sage among sages.




Or at least that's the impression I get from reading his posts on the forum

[Dustin Adams]

From the dawn of time we came, moving quietly, down through the centuries. No one has ever known we were among you... until now.

No, that's a different Highlander.

I understand Preston has read every word.
However, while I am close to completing my antho collection (still need that big table top volume) I am not the reader he is.
Scott Parkin may have read every word as well. He will be a coordinating judge someday, mark my words.

[MattDovey]

Daniel Davis' v31 story was short, only 2-3k, and RM Graves' Freebot in v32 was 2.5k, for more recent examples. I don't think you could get away with shorter than that, because Dave is a plot structure nerd, and flash is too short to really work with that.

[preston]

I'm pretty sure the shortest WOTF winning story is "The Disambiguation of Captain Shroud" by Gary Shockley. I don't have the book in front of me, but if I remember correctly, it's like two-three pages. It's definitely a flash piece. It won first place.
An even shorter flash story is a finalist called "Just Don't" by Eaolake Stobblehouse. It's one page.
Both are in volume 5. BTW, Shockley's story also one the Gold Award, so yeah...flash might be a hard sell, but done right it can do very well. It did for Gary Shockley!

[KathiLS]

Daniel Davis' v31 story was short, only 2-3k, and RM Graves' Freebot in v32 was 2.5k, for more recent examples. I don't think you could get away with shorter than that, because Dave is a plot structure nerd, and flash is too short to really work with that.

That doesn't bode well for me this quarter.

[LaurieG]

Like Preston said, the shortest was "Just Don't". One short page. I still can't figure out why it won, because the story itself made no sense.

[KathiLS]

Well, then, here's to keeping my fingers crossed. I look forward to a September of twitching.

[Chris533]

Interesting - but - my two page story turned into 20!

[disgruntledpeony]

Interesting - but - my two page story turned into 20!

Yeah, that'll happen.

[morganb]

My Q4 submission started out as a 1,500 word flash story. After it went through Critters, the message I got was that it needed a lot more fleshing out. So after several rewrites, it morphed into 7,000 words. Hope I did it enough justice and didn't just end up blowing lots of hot air into a small balloon.


~Morgan

[KD Julicher]

I'm pretty sure the shortest WOTF winning story is "The Disambiguation of Captain Shroud" by Gary Shockley. I don't have the book in front of me, but if I remember correctly, it's like two-three pages. It's definitely a flash piece. It won first place.
An even shorter flash story is a finalist called "Just Don't" by Eaolake Stobblehouse. It's one page.
Both are in volume 5. BTW, Shockley's story also one the Gold Award, so yeah...flash might be a hard sell, but done right it can do very well. It did for Gary Shockley!

I will urge anyone who wants to win the contest now to avoid thinking too much about what won the contest thirty years ago. I'm in awe of your knowledge, Preston, and totally not dissing your comment - but if one wishes to win the contest now, read maybe the last 5-7 years of anthologies and read Dave's tips. You can learn what he's looking for pretty easily, and if it suits your own style as a writer then writing to get past him will help you level up. I know my writing has improved immensely since first entering the contest. Even since my first finalist piece three years ago!

But there have definitely been some short winners and finalists in recent volumes. Write the story the way it needs to be written. All else is details.

[preston]

I'm pretty sure the shortest WOTF winning story is "The Disambiguation of Captain Shroud" by Gary Shockley. I don't have the book in front of me, but if I remember correctly, it's like two-three pages. It's definitely a flash piece. It won first place.
An even shorter flash story is a finalist called "Just Don't" by Eaolake Stobblehouse. It's one page.
Both are in volume 5. BTW, Shockley's story also one the Gold Award, so yeah...flash might be a hard sell, but done right it can do very well. It did for Gary Shockley!

I will urge anyone who wants to win the contest now to avoid thinking too much about what won the contest thirty years ago. I'm in awe of your knowledge, Preston, and totally not dissing your comment - but if one wishes to win the contest now, read maybe the last 5-7 years of anthologies and read Dave's tips. You can learn what he's looking for pretty easily, and if it suits your own style as a writer then writing to get past him will help you level up. I know my writing has improved immensely since first entering the contest. Even since my first finalist piece three years ago!

But there have definitely been some short winners and finalists in recent volumes. Write the story the way it needs to be written. All else is details.

Thanks, KD! I totally agree. A story has its own organic length. I try to let my own stories dictate their length, though I admit, due to market restrictions, I do try to reign in the word count. As far as the contest, it makes total sense that the later volumes are a better indication of the types of stories that win, as opposed to the earlier volumes. One trend I have noticed is that recently, shorter stories have been winning more often than they used to. Another trend: there are a lot more stories for the judge to choose from. It's interesting how the contest has evolved.

[Katie]

My story is has 10 chapters is that too long?

[jficke13]

My story is has 10 chapters is that too long?

If you're under the word count you're good. People have won with short short stories ("The God Whisperer" from few years ago was short, mine is about 2,000 words), people have won with submissions that are right up on the upper limit.

So beyond be under the word count all I've got for you is:

[RSchibler]

The contest (and most/all other markets) goes by word count not page number or other measures of length. I saw a thread recently where Dave Farland said he goes by word processor word count as well. 17k or under. Good luck!