Twitter Storytelling

By Jason Boog 

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2008 was the year of Twitter and bite-sized posts, and a number of writers have turned the micro-blogging platform into a storytelling machine.

Way back in November 2006, Smith Magazine built a bestselling six-word memoir series out of reader’s submissions, teaming up with Twitter before Twitter was cool. Here’s a sample from contributor Leslie Stevenson: “Made poor choices, lived through them.” That same year, Wired Magazine published six-word science fiction stories.

This year, Thaumatrope launched a science fiction, fantasy, and horror Twitter-zine. A sample: “The aliens told us about Santa. It didn’t matter. Because we were naughty and not nice, the aliens put us to work in the coal mines.” (Via.)

Finally, author Arjun Basu has started a collection of Twitter stories. A sample: “He thinks the recession means no more manicures. He wants to rediscover Donkey Kong. Inside the fridge, stale pizza, a six-pack and cheddar.” (Via.)

As always, this list is probably woefully incomplete. Add more micro-storytelling sites in the comments section.