We couldn’t be more thrilled with the creative results of our contest in partnership with Slate (600+ entries), and the economic results are looking good, too: As I type, bidding on the Bar-B-Q Jar + Story by Matthew J. Wells is at a very healthy $54! But even before we had settled on a winner, we had decided that the response to our first contest justified another one. We didn’t simply want to repeat ourselves, of course, so we had to think of a new angle, a new wrinkle to add to our data set. And I’m here to announce it: The Significant Objects X SmithMag Six-Word Story Contest.
Create its Significance -- in Six Words
Maybe you’ve encountered SmithMag’s Six-Word explorations in the past: Inspired by a (mythical?) challenge, Ernest Hemingway supposedly concocted a meaningful short story in a mere half-dozen words (“For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”). Inspired by that, SmithMag.net challenged its readers to create six-word memoirs, leading to the best-selling book Not Quite What I Was Planning, and a series of popular follow-ups and reader challenges.
Six Words proved everyone has a story, and of course Significant Objects believes every thing has a story, too. (Hemingway’s story was, after all, about an object.) Or it can, even if you have to make one up.
So what about the object above? It’s a lighter that looks like a small pool ball. But what’s its story?
You tell us. Leave your Six-Word Significance for the above object in the comments to this post at at SmithMag.net. (Don’t leave it on this site.) The best response will be published on the Significant Objects site — and more to the point, in our eBay store. Proceeds from that auction go to to the author of the winning submission.
The deadline: Friday, November 6, 8 pm Eastern. Head over to SmithMag and enter now.
October 29th, 2009 at 9:27 am
Sweet! Entering now…
October 29th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
“Pocket scorched, the break still loomed.” — by Mimi (wonder if it’s the same Mimi who’s already written for Significant Objects?) is a good one. I like the format of this contest — i.e., posting a comment to SmithMag’s post — because you can read the entries in real time, watch themes emerge, and so forth. Very exciting!
October 29th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Are multiple entries allowed?
October 29th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Sure!
October 29th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Grenade: Don’t Open! Told you so.
October 29th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
75 responses already — what a cool contest. Very enjoyable to read all these submissions.
October 29th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Pamikins says: “Insert in nose, light – Hair gone!” Heh.
October 29th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
I realize that I’m setting a bad example, but don’t post your stories here! Post ‘em at SmithMag — click on link in post above.
October 29th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Josh you ARE setting a bad example! I bullied Eileen into re-posting her story over at SmithMag. If “Pamikins” wants to be considered for the honor of S.O.-ness, same deal!
88 responses over there as I type this. Kinda cool..
October 29th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Joshua, Rob – will you keep posting 6 word SO’s that catch your eye in THIS comments section? There’s too many to keep up with!!! Thanks!
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:17 am
Shakily, he lights another—”I’ll break.”
November 2nd, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Katharine — add this to the Smith site’s post if you want to be considered in the contest! We’re trying to keep all entries in one place.