The goal was 500 words. That was the uncompromising ceiling Escape Pod set. Five hundred words to establish relatable characters, set a beginning, middle, and relay an ending that satisfies… Not to mention, develop conflict, stakes, and a tension that feels real. (42 words)
First step: Choosing the story.
Not all tales fit the bill. Some have questions that spill over the edge. Others require too much background info. I needed something that didn’t immediately demand subplots or play with multiple themes. At the same time, it had to be something that wasn’t trite, predictable or boring. Identifying a concept that satisfies the reader is the first and perhaps hardest trick. (109 words)
First, I checked my trunk, that spreadsheet of ideas that every writer has. Was there a seed in there? Something that fit the bill? I found this little time travel sketch whose opening lines demanded I get out of bed start typing. Yes, I thought. This is the one. (158words)
Second Step: Editing
The first draft was way too long. It was 850 words. Still, my radio work had trained me well. I knew how to write to a time slot. I cut descriptions. I cut backstory. I cut explanations of how the science worked. I cut descriptions of how the tech was powered. I added a gag or two. I cut a gag or two. I read and sanded. Read and stripped. Read and reread, parsing every phrase to see if its loss would cost the story rhythm and pace. I weighed my tale like an Egyptian God… aware that the heart of my story had to be lighter than a feather to enter heaven. (274 Words)
After five editing passes, I sent it to a friend to read. It was 498 words. The friend passed along a few notes: He asked for clarification on two bits. I added explainers then, took out the sandpaper again. Every word added meant words subtracted. Finished, I sent it to a second reader. They came up with a gag that was too great not to use. Suddenly, I had to find space for another twelve words .
I did it. Don’t ask me how. (358 words)
Third Step: The Contest
I hit submit before Escape Pod’s deadline.
The stories were judged March Madness style. To my surprise, I won the first bracket. Better, every review of the story was positive. The semi-finals went similarly. The finals, however, started poorly. I thought the journey might be over. You see, there were eight initial groups and my story was in the first batch. The finals started more than a month after most first read my story. I worried that everyone had forgotten my story (or worse that they might like the newer releases better. But day by day, votes kept trickling my way.
And… as Kermit the Frog would say, “Yaaaaayyyyy!” (465 words)
Thanks to everyone who read and voted for my story and to @EApodcasts for managing and running the contest. Thanks also to my beta readers Phil Margolies and Chris Rose. And lastly, to the Animaniacs! (500 words.)
