size matters, story matters more

In a piece in the New Yorker a few years back, author Robert Swartwood coined the term "hint fiction" to describe stories that could be told in 25 words or less. In additional to the novels, essays, short stories and poems he writes, he also encourages others to write in this form. He's published an anthology and holds an annual hint fiction contest. I was very happy to receive an honorable mention (here) in this year's round, judged by one of my favorite authors, Ben Percy. Excellent prize was receiving three books of hint fiction, including Swartwood's Phantom Energy that I found myself reading cover to cover all at once. Pick it up and be prepared for big stories to live comfortably in close quarters.