I miss you when you're not here, I said. My words failed to penetrate as you continued to gaze deep into the small screen in your hand.
— Very Short Story (@VeryShortStory) August 12, 2014
Five years and nearly 200,000 Twitter followers ago, Sean Hill created a Twitter account. He wanted to test out some of his improv skills in a burgeoning format, so @VeryShortStory was born.
At first, Sean tried to craft longer stories with other Twitter users writing back and forth, but it never quite flowed right. “So I started asking my followers to suggest a noun and I kept all of them in a file. I had a batch of nouns ready for whenever inspiration struck,” Sean Hill told me. Two or three nouns were more than sufficient to create a story within 140 characters that left a lasting impression. This was still the early days of Twitter, when a simple and elegant idea was enough to grow a massive following.
Sean fell in love with improv in Austin back in the late 80’s, watching the ComedySportz improv troupe perform at their 6th Street location. His passion for improv eventually led to the founding of The Hideout Theatre in downtown Austin in 1999. “Austin is truly a unique city for improv. Unlike other cities, the improv groups here are really supportive and have a more community like feel,” Sean explained.
Bite Sized Fiction
After a few days, I got used to being a bird. No more job. No more putting up with people's crap. Now, they had to put up with mine.
— Very Short Story (@VeryShortStory) April 3, 2014
It is often said that the first line or two are the most important part of your story. They set the tone and give you the opportunity to capture your audience and reel them in.
But what if that is all you had? One hundred and forty characters to craft a story from beginning to end. Just a few wrds to make an impct.
— Edgar B (@Crafty_Ed) September 6, 2014
It’s not easy. But @VeryShortStory thrives on this limitation. “The real magic is that the mind connects the details on its own. Your brain fills in the gap and it’s almost never the same between two people,” Sean told me.
Sean Hill’s book quickly became a bestseller in the local Austin area (Credit: BookPeople)
Over the years, he has compiled almost 700 bite sized works of fiction. His huge following on Twitter attracted attention from other sources. Just two years after starting the online account, he had a book deal. Very Short Stories: 300 Bite-Size Works of Fiction is a collection of Sean’s Twitter posts, and proves that we live in an age when tweets can catch the eyes of book publishers. The stories in the collection touch on a wide range of life experiences, from romance to family and death.
Outside Houston, Dave pulled over and prayed. He'd fished out the dating pool in his hometown. God sent him to the big city to find love.
— Very Short Story (@VeryShortStory) August 29, 2014
Social Media Is Changing Lives
It happens every day, but it’s hard to believe that our online presence can truly change our lives. Before Twitter, Sean Hill had never considered himself a writer. But the interaction and instant feedback via Twitter about his stories allowed him to hone his craft and become a better writer. His mini-novels have even inspired other people to write, which he learned through positive feedback from fans all over the world. “It’s a great exercise for writers, as it’s such a low risk thing to try and it forces people to be creative, yet concise,” Sean told me.
Outside the window, Mark stood in the moonlight, serenading Vicky. Her heart remained closed, unmoved by the sounds of his tuba.
— Very Short Story (@VeryShortStory) August 4, 2014
His work on Twitter, the book and prior improv experience have expanded his professional path. He has now created and led workshops on the art and craft of storytelling. The seminars have proved popular not only with the theatre-inclined, but also in the business world where effective storytelling can prove useful. Sean is now working on a second book, a children’s novel this time, and is continuing to create stories based on nouns sent to him via Twitter.
Suzy wasn’t sure why she liked Trey. He didn't have much money and wasn't good looking. Maybe the fact he loved her counted for something.
— Very Short Story (@VeryShortStory) June 2, 2014
Beginning as an improv fan on 6th Street in the late 80’s before becoming a published author and traveling the country for speaking engagements, Sean Hill has a story worth more than you can capture in 140 characters.
@Crafty_Ed asks:
What is your favorite story from @VeryShortStory?
