What can you say in six sentences? That's the motto of the Six Sentences social networking site on Ning, located here . The aim is simple: write a story in just six sentences. Sound easy? It's not.
The Ning site grew out of the main Six Sentences site which is an online literary magazine based on the same premise, created and edited by Robert McEvily. I recommend going to the main site to get a feel for what a 6S story is all about. Even better, become a "follower".
Once you've got some ideas, sign up to the social 6S site, introduce yourself, and get writing. My 6S page is here.
You'll find we're really a very friendly group over there, which leads me to a few points:
- The feedback that you get at 6S will be positive, as a rule. You'll get told what works and what people like, but will rarely get told if something is really bad. That's good for the ego, but a bit hard to find how you need to improve. Your best guide is that if you posted a story and get few or no comments, they didn't like it. Yes, it's happened to me.
- Keep the positive feedback thing going. That means, read others' stories – they're only six sentences, it won't take all day – and provide positive, upbeat comments on what you liked. Suggestions for improvement aren't outlawed, but please stop and think about what you're trying achieve. Be kind and tactful.
- By joining 6S, you've become part of the online writing community. People in the online writing community generally have their own sites and blogs, and support each other in various ways. As with any community, some are more active than others, and people do come and go. Sometimes there are troublemakers. Usually, it's pretty fun, though.
In summary, if you want to get published, you need to get writing. Six Sentences provides a quick - though not as easy as it looks – practice ground where you'll get feedback and become part of a community. Stick at it, and you may well receive the honour to get published on the main site.
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