A reference/how-to Site For Drabbles
So what exactly IS a drabble? Well the simplest definition comes from Wikipedia:
"A drabble is an extremely short work of fiction exactly
one hundred words in length...The purpose of the
drabble is brevity and to test the author's ability to express
interesting and meaningful ideas in an extremely confined
space."
HOWEVER: according to subreality.com the drabble is to be taken far more seriously:
"Set by the Birmingham University SF Society as thus: a self-contained vignette of exactly 100 words, no more, no less, with up to 15 more words are allowed for the title. Hyphenated words are in dispute. The term originates from a Monty Python skit: 'Drabble. A word game for 2 to 4 players. The four players sit from left to right and the first person to write a novel wins.'"
Alternately/The Problem:
Many sites where drabbles are put up (mainly fanficion sites) are leniant on the number of words, and the generally accepted amount ranges from 100-250 words. Still, many people have trouble writing drabbles due to the number of words, and this is understandable. Many people end up writing drabbles as moments instead of stories, and therefore write them incorrectly as scenes that come from larger stories. The Smallville drabble community,
wednesday100 reminds their members:
"[a drabble is] a story in one hundred words, not one hundred words of a story"
It isn't that you can't use your drabbles later, or write more of that same subject/theme/plot, but don't simply grab two paragraphs out of a longer story. Drabbles should be like fairy tales or bedtime stories, with a beginning and an end, though your drabble can certainly be more serious and plot driven than Cinderella.
Here is a 100 word drabble, written by LJ user nowhack:
What If?
�Okay, I�ve got one now,� Zane smirked.
After Mohinder shifted over into the left lane, he said, �Go on.�
�The world becomes overrun by flesh-eating zombies. What do you do?�
Mohinder snorted. �You can�t be serious.�
�If I can recall, you were the one who started this game,� Zane threw back at him.
Mohinder sighed.
�I don�t know,� he said, lifting one hand up to rub his temple in exasperation. He thought for a moment, then his face brightened.
�Could you melt them?� he asked, and Sylar couldn�t remember when was the last time he had laughed so hard.
Here is a drabble in under 250 words, written by LJ user Grey Elven Eyes:
Versions
�No, no, Molly�the creature isn�t called �Frankenstein.� Victor Frankenstein was the scientist who created the monster��
�Then what�s the monster�s name?�
��it doesn�t really have a name: it�s just called Frankenstein�s Monster. Or, if memory serves me right, the creature is usually just referred to as �The Monster� or the �The Creature� in Mary Shelly�s book.�
Molly pursed her lip as she looked down at her homework. She�s nearly seventeen and has pouting down to a fine art. �Okay, I get that part�but why did they alter it in the movie, then? Everyone calls the creature �Frankenstein� now. If it�s wrong, then why�d they change it?�
Sylar picks up the book and shuffles through the pages. �Now, see, that I don�t know. It�s been a very long time since I last saw the film.�
Molly sighed and set her pencil down. �I�d rather watch the show on Broadway.�
Sylar looked up from the book. �Frankenstein�s playing on Broadway?�
She shook her head�the shorter layers around her high cheekbones make her look more mature. �No, but Mel Brooks� Young Frankenstein was made into a show.�
Sylar laughed. �You�re kidding.�
�Nope�from what Jenny told me, it�s kinda like when we went to see Evil Dead. Remember that night?� Her big blue eyes peer up at him, and he chuckles.
�Yeah, Mohinder was not happy�I don�t think he appreciates the importance of zombie awareness.�
Seconds?
Want to read and see more of what you see above? --click here--
Better Yet:
Want to try this whole "drabble" thing on your own? Well then
get to work!
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