On Microfiction
February 12th, 2009 by Editors
Yes, people really are writing fiction on Twitter these days (see Thaumatrope, for example). Naturally we have been asked whether such work is eligible for awards. The answer for the Hugo Awards was easy. There might be an upper limit on the number of words for a Short Story, but there is no lower limit. A Twittered story is certainly eligible. Whether anyone will nominate it is another matter.
But what about the Campbell? That’s a rather different kettle of fish. Writer and Agent Jenny Rae Rappaport wanted to know, and she made inquiries. What she was told is that Twitter fiction is eligible, but only if the work meets the professional rates requirement. That apparently means a minimum of 3c/word, or $50, which ever is greater. As Twitter has a limit of 140 characters, that means you have to get paid at least $50 for writing a Twitter story before it becomes Campbell-eligible.
And that’s a good thing. Far too many young writers burn their Campbell eligibility early on a few short fiction sales, and then find that they have missed the boat when they finally get a novel out. So if you are a new writer and someone does offer to pay you $50 for a Twitter story, our advice is that you ask for less, unless you have a novel coming out as well.
As much as I enjoy microfiction — and I do — I have a tough time seeing it realistically competing with longer short stories. The limitations of the 140-character length in Thaumatrope, for instance, really do show. The best I’ve read have felt like quick jokes or writing prompts. It does take particular skill to make those good, but I think it’s a slightly different — or at least differently honed — skill than you’ll find at work in non-microfiction.
That said, I’m not sure another new category is the answer. But are a 7,000-word story and a 140-character story really the same thing?
Fred:
No, they are not. And I don’t think there is much chance of microfiction ever getting nominated as a short story. But we were asked if it was eligible, and the answer to that is “yes”.