Paul and John's 47-Words Short Story Unofficial Challenge

Brevity is important. So d the man of wordy sentences and paragraphs. The man who adores Tolkien for his dense descriptions. Brevity is important.

I wish I could write so beautifully about a hazardous hike over 1000+ pages.

Anyway, like I said brevity is important. It's important, sometimes, to get to the point. All bracketed wordings are by John. (Don't worry, y'all. He'll get to the point eventually.)

A word from some experts. Dead experts. Deadsperts, if you will!

“Brevity is the soul of wit.” - William Shakespeare from Hamlet. (which is ironic since it is uttered by the obnoxiously loquacious Polonius)

“If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.” - George Orwell.

“Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip.” - Elmore Leonard (ole Elmore knew a thing or two about storytelling!)

("Well, less is more, Lucrezia." - Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe

"Keep it simple, stupid! - U.S. Navy

"When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. - Proverbs 10:19)

The Challenge

So what am I getting at. Well, the next unofficial challenge from John Cox and myself is one that will rest your skill in brevity.

We want you to write a story in just 47 words. It should make sense as a story. Even if you opt for an ambiguous ending. (which all of you will since, frick! It's 47 words!)

Why 47?

Well, I am taking inspiration from the Press 53-word story contest.

As they have monopolized 53-word stories I thought I'd go the opposite and knock some off the traditional dribble because I am an arsehole.

I don't know about you but I find when writing a micro, whether it's 300, 200, 100 or 50, I need those precious words and often start with over the limit.

Knowing this you'd think I'd go easy and make it 50. Where is the fun in that and since when has "make things easy" and Paul Stewart been uttered in the same breath? (More stupid, impossible unofficial challenges, Paul! We want em; we love em; we want more of em!)

Also, remember I am an arsehole. (We had forgotten that, Paul. Good thing you keep reminding us!)

Boring Rules and Whatnot.

• One entry per entrant. You can knock yourself out and do more, if you like, but please only submit one to our challenge. We are busy arseholes. (Mostly pretending we're doing important stuff, like dreaming up ridiculous challenges and giggling ourselves sick at all the poor souls who enter our challenges anyway.) A phrase that still in hindsight sounds proper weird. Notice I am not backspacing or deleting that. Unfiltered writing for the win, baby. (Right, Paul! And we all know what a powerful tool unfiltered writing is when tethered to a word limit!)
• The story can be any genre.
• Must be exactly 47 words. (But some of them should be different words). No more, no less. I will banish the writers who submit stories of more or less than 47 words to the Underworld or something. (Hades is filled with souls who could not follow simple instruction. So forewarned is four armed, er or something like that.) Or at least disqualify.
• Must include the subtitle "For Paul and John's 47-Words Short Story Unofficial Challenge."
• Must include a link to this piece below or above your poem. (is this a poem story, Paul, or a story poem. I'm already confused!) Lol, this is why you should always alter the template to match the new challenge. This is definitely a story challenge. But not in the middle of it. That would be weird. Though I dare someone to do that and completely baffle us. I'm looking at you Harper, or fucking Matty, again.
• Must be submitted in the comments section of this piece before April 17st, 2026. Why 17th? I wrote this on the 17th. Arbitrary numbers for the win.
• Must at least make some lick of sense as a story. Where would be the challenge if you were just allowed to string any 47 words together, just because they fit the word count requirement?
• Have fun!

But remember all decisions, whether you disagree with them or not, are final and made by John Cox and Paul Stewart.

What You Get

I know you're not interested in what you get, because as bloodthirsty, fame-hungry underpaid and underfed writers, money is so far from the top of your wants and needs list. We are all in it for the love of the craft. (Note to John - is this sarcastic enough, do you think they'll realise the subtext?) (I say leave it in. We're arseholes. Remember? Ooooh, Deja Vu!)

Anyway, you're going to get prizes whether you like it or not. If you don't like it, that's your fucking problem.

• First Place - a "special" struggle cuddle from a weightlifter or $20
• Second Place - a kiss from a sweaty Panda or $10
• Third Place - a kiss from Megan Fox or Andy Serkis or $5

I shall also throw a few $1 tips to standouts that don't make the Top 3.

I will also give a $1 tip to the first person who can tell me why I used a Star Trek-related image.

We had a brilliant response last time we ran a challenge, I mean 31 writers entered. Did you miss that one and are kicking yourself emotionally? You should be. But you have a chance to redeem yourself. Join in the fun this time around.

We hope you will show up and put your brevity to the test.

We look forward to reading, commenting, and being pissed off at how brilliant you all are.