The Mini-Saga story


Sophomore Class Mini-Saga Contest

“I didn’t have the time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead.” 
Mark Twain

British science fiction writer Brian Aldiss came upon the idea of the mini-saga years ago when he was writing a fictitious trilogy.  Briefly demoralized at the massive project before him, he decided to tell an entire story in 50 words.  The rest, as they say, is history.  Aldiss so enjoyed his new genre that he telephoned the London Daily Telegraph and pitched to them the idea of a national mini-saga contest.  The newspaper has since sponsored at least four of these competitions, and collections of some of the judges’ favorites have been published in several anthologies (including one you’re welcome to peruse in the English Office.)  Everyday folks and professional writers alike have been challenged to submit themselves to the creative discipline that mini-saga composition requires.

Some of you may have heard of Ernest Hemingway’s “six-word novel.”  Known as a writer of spare, minimalist prose, Hemingway demonstrated his conviction that a good writer could tell a big story with just a handful of words.  His famously grim example of the form:  “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”  What Hemingway and Aldiss knew was that sometimes constraints and limits lead to an amplified creativity.  The prose must obviously be succinct, but the story itself mustn’t suffer for it.

Beginning this past February, the entire sophomore class at Pingree has undertaken its own mini-saga competition.  Every sophomore submitted either one or two mini-sagas, which have been collected on a blog at http://sophsaga2011.blogspot.com/.  Beginning today, the whole world may access our blog via a link on the Pingree School home page.  Over the past month, a panel of expert judges – English Department Chair Edward Kloman; published poet and legendary English teacher Ailsa Steinert; English teacher emeritus Alex Tinari; Writing Center Director Chris Grenier; Pingree Head of School, artist, and Coffee House season ticket holder Tim Johnson; and Pingree alumna and award-winning novelist Lily King ’79 – has organized the submissions into categories, selected winning mini-sagas for each category, and identified three overall winners.  The judges’ selections remain known only to them, for, before they announce their winners, we are conducting a People’s Choice portion of the judging as well.  Yes!  All of you in the broad Pingree community should check out the blog, offer any positive comments you’d like to share, and then vote for your favorites via the link on the blog site.  On Monday, May 9, we will present prizes at the all-school meeting to all Judges’ and People’s Choice winners.  We’ll also post the winners in all categories on the school website and the blogsite.

Our rules for this Pingree contest follow Brian Aldiss’ rules for the Telegraph  competitions: 

            “The rules are simple.  The text must be fifty words exactly. (Hyphenated words receive lenient treatment) and the title should not exceed fifteen words.  But long, laborious titles often sink a promising story – if your story has a good point, a one-word title, the tip of the arrow, will help deliver it.”

Sophomores, as they wrote, carefully considered the important elements of other literary forms:  plot, characterization, setting, voice/point of view, symbols, theme, etc.  Most of the best mini-sagas conclude with a surprise, or twist.  We hope you’ll enjoy perusing the blog, and please direct as many of your friends and family to it, and to vote.  The people will have their voice!