True Beauty

(What If? Exercise: Read the description here.)

She had never believed she was good enough to shine.

Until the day she learned to see beneath skin.

Her face was “plain”, but her heart pure.

Friends praised her kindness, intelligence, and love.

And she knew she was valuable.

She smiled at the mirror.

The mirror smiled back.

You believe now?

She did.

Beautiful.


This piece is based on What If? Exercise 93: “Ten to One”. The exercise is to write a 55-word story in which the first sentence has ten words, the second has nine, etc., until the last sentence has only one word. The objective is to show that precision and thrift in writing can produce surprisingly powerful results. I hope you enjoy what I’ve written. Thanks for reading!

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Fire Flowers

(What If? Exercise: Read the description here.)

Our trip to the beach was an annual family tradition.

Every New Year’s, we’d go down to watch them.

The beach would always be crowded that night.

Everyone wanted to welcome the new year.

The final countdown to midnight began.

At one, they started flying.

All along the coast.

Exploding sky flowers.

Colorful embers.

Fireworks!


This piece is based on What If? Exercise 93: “Ten to One”. The exercise is to write a 55-word story in which the first sentence has ten words, the second has nine, etc., until the last sentence has only one word. The objective is to show that precision and thrift in writing can produce surprisingly powerful results. I hope you enjoy what I’ve written. Thanks for reading!

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Christmas Surprise

(What If? Exercise: Read the description here.)

Natalie awoke suddenly to noises coming from down the stairs.

Carefully, she crept out of bed and peeked outside.

She caught sight of reindeer on the roof.

Excitedly, she hurried out into the hall.

He was in the living room.

Placing presents under the tree.

They were for her.

She was certain.

Nattie grinned.

Santa!


This piece is based on What If? Exercise 93: “Ten to One”. The exercise is to write a 55-word story in which the first sentence has ten words, the second has nine, etc., until the last sentence has only one word. The objective is to show that precision and thrift in writing can produce surprisingly powerful results. I hope you enjoy what I’ve written. Thanks for reading!

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Sweet Gold

(What If? Exercise: Read the description here.)

The young bear spotted the bee landing on a daisy.

Curious, he followed the striped insect to its hive.

It led him through meadows rich with wildflowers.

Finally, it vanished into a large tree.

The cub sniffed the hive cautiously.

He reached his paw inside.

Out came something sticky.

It tasted sweet.

Delicious gold.

Honey!


This piece is based on What If? Exercise 93: “Ten to One”. The exercise is to write a 55-word story in which the first sentence has ten words, the second has nine, etc., until the last sentence has only one word. The objective is to show that precision and thrift in writing can produce surprisingly powerful results. I hope you enjoy what I’ve written. Thanks for reading!

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Living Rainbow

(What If? Exercise: Read the description here.)

The wind carried the little seeds into a gray field.

There they landed, in the middle of the grass.

Days and nights of sun and rain passed.

Until at last, the first sprouts appeared.

One by one, bright flowers blossomed.

Soon, the field was alive.

Grays turned to colors.

A beautiful sight.

Magical field.

Rainbow.


This piece is based on What If? Exercise 93: “Ten to One”. The exercise is to write a 55-word story in which the first sentence has ten words, the second has nine, etc., until the last sentence has only one word. The objective is to show that precision and thrift in writing can produce surprisingly powerful results. I hope you enjoy what I’ve written. Thanks for reading!

Back to the story

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