Short-Short Stories -- A Great Form

Inspiration can come from anywhere.  An important part of being a writer is to constantly get yourself writing.  That's why short little exercises are important.  The greatest musician practices scales and chords.  The best singer still warms up.  You never know when the smallest little writing exercise will inspire you to write something more significant.


That's why I love short short stories.  Write a complete story arc in two or three pages.  That's less than 1,000 words.  Entire classes are taught using just the short-short as a writing exercise.  It's a perfect form if you have a writing group or writing partners, because you can come together weekly or monthly and have a piece that can be read and discussed completely at each meeting.