A #StoryIn140: A Literary Challenge
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I really can't remember how I stumbled across this idea of writing super short Tweet size stories. I certainly didn't originate it - yet when I searched the hashtag I found an assortment of fits and starts with a challenge to write a short story in the form of a Tweet - and I was intrigued! I guess it's sorta related to the Tweet Me a Book Review idea I had and blogged about a few years ago with it's accompanying Wikispaces lesson page. The activity is below is copied from my Wikispaces page where, at the bottom of the page, I uploaded for you the doublesided paper PDF version for practice or when you want that social media engagement but you can't get to or have the machines.
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Here's the story:
Saw a Twinkie bout a week ago
looked good so I ate it thoa
old lady wanted some &
I said no
u want some fight me tho
Avery & Malechi 7gr
#StoryIn140
Can you tell a story in 140 characters? The size of the average Tweet? This literary challenge requires you to write a super short story that includes a main character, a problem, an event, & intrigue. Try it! Please note: if you add the hashtag #Storyin140 the total will actually be 130, but Story in 130 didn’t rhyme! More examples of student work below.
Here's How!
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To make the reader think: What's going to happen next?
Extra Challenge: If you leave a few extra characters (total 125-130) then you have more chance for people to RT (or re-Tweet) your story, passing it along to the world.
We will be selecting via gallery walk, the best for special recognition, fame, glory, possible lamination, display, and Tweeting them out to the world!
Submit the Final draft in the Google Form: Don’t forget the hashtag #StoryIn140 Your full name will NOT be used just your first & your grade. Non-MHMS students will be deleted.
View the whole thing at my #StoryIn140 Wikispaces page!
Extension ideas:
Why not write a collaborative story via Twitter with your own hashtag? Announce you'll post the next "chapter" on a certain day and at a certain time? This was the very idea that inspired Jennifer Egan’s “Black Box,” a short story tweeted line by line by The New Yorker’s fiction account featured in the Ted Talk below.
Andrew Fitzgerald: Adventures in Twitter fiction
I've also seen some cool historic and literary Twitter accounts that Tweet in persona. Much like the idea of Fakebook I blogged about years ago. Creativity in all it's engaging guises but presented with a new Technology and social media twist!
Suggestions? Additions? I'd love to hear them in the comments!
Love the idea, Gwyneth!!
ReplyDeleteWOW, thanks Julie! Coming from you that's high praise!
DeleteCheers, Gwyneth
We are totally stealing this idea, Ms. Daring! Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteThere is no stealing, my dear friend Mary - when I give it to you freely! All Hail Creative Commons!
DeleteGreat idea. I am thinking that I will try to see if my book club students can write a book review in this way.
ReplyDeleteHi Rhondda! What a great Welsh name! Thank you for your comment! I really get SO Excited when I see a REAL comment and not a SPAM one! LOL
ReplyDeleteI'm also very excited that you'll be trying these with your kiddos - please do share what your kids create & I'll show them to my kids! Too bad our time zones are so far off otherwise I would suggest a Google+ hangout our Skype chat! (9am in DC is 1am in Melbourne) [sad face]
Cheers!
~Gwyneth