Our Goals

One of the aims of this website is to produce a variety of short stories using as many authors as possible. But in the main, twenty words invites spectators and participants alike to have some fun, stirring those creative juices. Not only do all participants get to exercise their creative and imaginative skills while having an invigorating interactive “literary” experience, but they have the opportunity to be part of a unique and artistic form of literary expression.

This site requires constant monitoring, maintenance and editorial input. Not only must suggestions for new scenarios and story lines be vetted, streamlined and posted, but once posted all twenty-word submissions must be checked for inappropriate or offensive material. Subsequently the fee of $1 US is incurred by each twenty-word entry. This fee, small as it is, also acts as a deterrent to spoilers and those that wish to control, take over or simply write a great tome at the expense of the interactive process.

How does it work? In order to keep the planned spontaneity interesting while achieving the above mentioned aim, all submissions are limited to a maximum of twenty words. Each author can make more than one submission, but they are encouraged to share the writing with others. Each twenty word submission continues the story from the previous participant’s entry. Idealistically, each twenty word submission, consisting of one or a number of sentences, will develop the plot while continuing the storyline. Together all of the submissions form the story.
As a means of enhancing the flow of the story, and assisting the many authors to write a story that makes sense, a brief narrative structure is provided. This is a generic rather than a strict structure, but it helps avoid never ending stories, while preventing stories from being brought to an untimely end (i.e. the world cannot just come to an end, nor can all of the characters die half way through the second act).

Entries considered inappropriate due to explicit sexual references, excessively offensive language, racist or culturally insensitive comments, or simply because they are complete nonsense will be removed. Where opportunity arrises the participant will be given a chance to rewrite their entry, otherwise the editors will fill in the gap.

There are a number of short stories being written right now. You can read each of them, contribute to one, all or none. The stories span a number of genres from Science Fiction, and Romance to Crime and Black Comedy. Each story begins with a setting, time, place and mood, as well as a set of characters. The rest is up to the many contributing authors that write the story. Obviously each story will only be as good as you, the authors, make it. So be sure to be imaginative, creative and just a little sensible (where appropriate).

Ultimately, at the end of each year, we would like to collate the best short stories for publication. The names of all contributing authors would of course be proudly acknowledged (this is not a promise of publication, as publication depends upon the quality of the collective works).

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