Okay, let’s kick off the New Year with one of Jim Harstad’s favorites. Some of you have done this before, so you know that it’s an exercise in revising your work. For this exercise, you’ll be posting a pair companion pieces in the same post.
The first piece will be exactly 100, 200, 300, 400, or 500 words. Exactly. Count them using your word processor tools, or if you don’t have a built in word counter, count them yourself.
The second piece, the one that will be posted along with your first one, will be exactly 50 words shorter than the first. So, if your first piece is 100 words exactly, your revised piece will be 50 words exactly. This is Jim’s favorite. To cut your piece in half.
If your first piece is exactly 500 words, then your companion piece will be a revision of exactly 450 words. This would be the least stressful revision. If you’ve not tried this exercise before, maybe exactly 500 word pieces chopped down to exactly 450 words is the best way to go.
As Jim would say, it’s easier to overwrite your first piece than to try to keep adding stuff to get up to, say, 300 words. Pump out your words over the count, revise down to the first count, then revise down to the second count. Or do the add on to get up to your exact first count if you like. Whatever.
Got it?
Okay, here are the prompts you can use to generate your first piece of exactly 100, 200, 300, 400, or 500 words. Exactly. And remember, as always, these are also the suggested prompts you can completely ignore if you want to write whatever.
Happy New Year
Resolutions
Broken resolutions
Broken stuff
Broken hearts
Broken promises
Failure
Success
Recess
What a mess
Nice dress
No stress
High stress
I’m blessed
You’re the best
Taking a test
Making the grade
The ace of spades
It was a very good year
Why are you here?
Why am I here?
Where’s the beer?
What was the question?
Gotta find a restroom
Overactive bladder
Falling off a ladder
What could be sadder?
Why does it matter?
Alma Mater
Class reunion
Civil union
It’s a balloon
Hand me the broom
It’s a sweep
I’m asleep
Take a flying leap
Okay. Poem, story, essay, play, hybrid, whatever.
First piece exactly 100, 200 300, 400, or 500 words. Count the words.
Second piece is 50 words cut out of the first piece. Exactly 50 words chopped. Count the words.
Post both pieces. Give the word count for each piece with the title:
Class Reunion (400 words)
Blah blah blah blah.
Class Reunion (350 words)
Blah, blah, blah bl.
Oh. The title is not included in the word count.
Got a question? Email me: [email protected]
Okay, folks, let us get down and write like Jim Harstad would write with this challenge.
Rules
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This prompt is closed for submissions.