Extreme minimalism

 I woke up this morning to a bunch of texts from one of my group chats buzzing. Two people had spent about half the night swapping drabbles (in case that’s a new term for you — they’re a term for stories, usually fanfics, that are exactly a hundred words long and a complete story) about any number of things (it started as d&d character drabbles, then switched to actual fanfics). Towards the time I woke up, they had switched to shorter stories, challenging each other to get shorter and shorter but still tell a good story. The last one was only 10 words!

I’m also reading some vintage crochet and knitting patterns that were written when space was at a premium. They tend toward, well, short and concise don’t even begin to describe them. More like incomplete (sometimes) and requiring interpretation (always). 

So I got inspired. Here are a bunch of really short rpgs and patterns. Each paragraph is a new one, and I’ll give a word count for each, based on the word processor I use. All of these are less than a hundred words, not counting titles or word counts. None of these are fully tested.

Socks (50 words): You are a green sock on a foot. The sock on the other foot is neon pink. Try to explain to the other person playing (wearer) why they need to wear matching socks. If there are three players, have one be the pink sock. The wearer wants mismatched socks. Argue. 

Ghost (10): You are definitely a ghost. Why don't they believe you?

Rectangular Pouch (30): Work in rows of dc using a medium hook and medium yarn. Work rectangle of 20 stitches by 30 rows. Fold in half, sew up sides, add button and loop. 

Iliad (20): A thousand ships, a thousand men, a thousand dogs, a thousand fleas. Why are you fighting in Troy for Agamemnon? 

Drawstring pouch (20): Small hook, small thread. 6 sc in ring, increase 10 rounds, 20 rounds even. Last round add holes for drawstring. 

Sweater (10): Any stitch. Back and front -- identical rectangles. Sleeves -- elongated triangles.