The 2026 [lit] 750 Word Project Support Thread

[EmilyMiller]

It would be a fun challenge to structure a novel that way, trying to make each 750 word chapter stand on its own, but come together as a narrative whole.

Not something I'm going to do. Sounds crazy hard. But. Could be cool.

Yeah - I was just going to chop the text up…

 

[crookedletter]

Yeah - I was just going to chop the text up…

Sure, that works too.

 

[alohadave]

And why is it 750 and not 833 or 659?

750 word is the smallest submission word count that Lit accepts. There is no technical reason for that, it's just what Laurel and Manu felt was the smallest size they wanted.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Ya, hu, it can be done.

You mean to tell me there are people who can write full stories in FEWER than 750 words even?! I mean, poetry? Sure. But like...stories?!

 

[MillieDynamite]

Hum, so, we're stuck with it. Oh, well, no big deal, it's a short thing. Can't get shorter than short, short story here.

750 word is the smallest submission word count that Lit accepts. There is no technical reason for that, it's just what Laurel and Manu felt was the smallest size they wanted.

 

[TheRedChamber]

You mean to tell me there are people who can write full stories in FEWER than 750 words even?! I mean, poetry? Sure. But like...stories?!

The late great Oggbashan published some collections of micro-stories such as this one here

https://www.literotica.com/s/fifteen-love

Fifteen 50 word stories about love. I had my own crack at super short stories with ten 250 word stories about premature ejaculation

https://www.literotica.com/s/over-in-a-flash

Obviously whether these are complete stories depends on your definition of a 'story' They are fun to write - maybe moreso than being fun to read.

 

[Aoife_from_Ulster]

Maybe I should publish my novel as 120 x 750 word stories

Made me smile Emily

 

[EmilyMiller]

Made me smile Emily

I feel validated

 

[PennyThompson]

Maybe I should publish my novel as 120 x 750 word stories

my attention span might be able to finish it this way!

 

[EmilyMiller]

my attention span might be able to finish it this way!

It was you I had in mind young goldfish…

 

[Trionyx]

You mean to tell me there are people who can write full stories in FEWER than 750 words even?! I mean, poetry? Sure. But like...stories?!

There is the famous six word story attributed, perhaps falsely, to Hemingway:

For sale: baby shoes. Never worn.

 

[EmilyMiller]

There is the famous six word story attributed, perhaps falsely, to Hemingway:

For sale: baby shoes. Never worn.

Versions of the story first appeared in 1906, when Hemingway was 7 years old, and it was first attributed to him in 1991, 30 years after his death.

Wikipedia

 

[Trionyx]

Versions of the story first appeared in 1906, when Hemingway was 7 years old, and it was first attributed to him in 1991, 30 years after his death.

Wikipedia

Wow! What a prodigy!

 

[cw5523729]

I had my own crack at super short stories with ten 250 word stories about premature ejaculation

I wonder if anyone ever made it past the second story before, well, you know....

 

[SamanthaBehgs]

There is the famous six word story attributed, perhaps falsely, to Hemingway:

For sale: baby shoes. Never worn.

There's no crying react, but I know this one. It hit close to home for a time in my life, but I had my rainbow baby.

The shortest poem I know is:
I? Why?

But, again, it's a poem. Hemingway wrote a short story at 7, so, ya know.

Speaking of great poems - anyone ever read "The Purple Cow" and "The Purple Cow 2 (AKA: Confession: and a Portrait Too, Upon a Background that I Rue)"

 

[SkyBubble]

View attachment 2570426​

The 8th Annual 750 Word Project Support Thread

In 2019, author jezzaz wondered:

Is it possible to write a complete story in exactly 750 words? That's the minimum limit that Literotica will accept, and after talking among ourselves, some of the writers on Lit decided to see if we could do it. After all, it's 750 words, right? How hard could it be? It's not like editing it is going to take long, after all.
[...]
It turns out it's harder than you might think to tell a story and have it mean anything in 750 words. But you can judge for yourself, when the fruits of our labors will be posted.

And thus, the Literotica 750 Word Story Challenge was born. Write the shortest story that Literotica will accept in the shortest month that Literortica allows, Febuary. It's quite a task to attempt without falling to the temptation of spreading the story over several 750-word entries, so chapters do not fit the spirit of the challenge.

This challenge gives authors a chance to play with ideas, improving their skills and (most importantly) having fun with words. Some of the challenge stories are developed into longer works. (One of mine is now a novel) One of the reasons Laurel and Manu started Literotica is as a tribute to our love of words. To see writers of all skill levels playfully enjoying this challenge (and all challenges, including the challenge of constructing any story!) makes them smile.

To accommodate the large volume of entries, participants may enter their 750-word tale any time in February 2026.

On March 1st, the full list of all challenge stories will be posted under the Literotica account. (Follow Literotica to be notified of that and all other challenges and contests!)

This challenge is open to all - longtime Literotica authors or brand-new writers, in any story category. To be a part of this challenge, you must:

• Write a story that is EXACTLY 750 words by Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or Literotica Control Panel Editor count - no more, no less. Story must be 750 words EXCLUDING title, intro text, description, tags, etc. Word count includes story text only.
• Copy and paste this phrase into the Note To Admin section of the submission form: "750 WORD PROJECT". Please copy and paste this so that a typo doesn't keep your story from participating!
• Copy and paste this phrase into the Tags section of the submission form: "750 WORD PROJECT"
• Submit your story in any story category February 1st-28th.

Is it possible to write a story in only 750 words? It's a true challenge that tests your vocabulary skills and once you get the story complete, a second story follows. It's a word puzzle that's a lot of fun to solve, and you have a lot of help here from myself and other authors who have completed the event.

Some readers don't understand the event; therefore It is allowable (and encouraged) to set reader's expectations with an introduction line that reads something like:
This story was written for the 2025 Literotica 750 Word Challenge, below this line are exactly 750 words:

This thread is to reach out to each other for support, suggestions, and good-natured ribbing. Please keep in mind that this is a challenge, it is not a contest.
Please, no wagering.


For more information on Author-Organized Challenges, see this thread.

I've had a few stories I've had to add to to get to 750.

 

[ElectricBlue]

You mean to tell me there are people who can write full stories in FEWER than 750 words even?! I mean, poetry? Sure. But like...stories?!

I've got a 750 worder here, in the first anthology IIRC, where the heart of the story is a 450 word anecdote framed within it. It's a micro-vignette.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Question: Is this for next year's challenge?

 

[iwatchus]

For 2026 (next year), but it starts in about three months.

 

[Aoife_from_Ulster]

Question: Is this for next year's challenge?

Yes submissions for the 2026 challenge opens on or about February 1st

 

[MillieDynamite]

Frist, @iwatchus, I sort of understood that next year was 2026. Just how dumb do you think I am?

For 2026 (next year), but it starts in about three months.

@Aoife_from_Ulster, thank you. I have ideas, and when I have time, I'll hammer them out and save them for the contest.

 

[Aoife_from_Ulster]

Frist, @iwatchus, I sort of understood that next year was 2026. Just how dumb do you think I am?

@Aoife_from_Ulster, thank you. I have ideas, and when I have time, I'll hammer them out and save them for the contest.

I am not that well versed in this challenge as others but feel free to reach out if you want to bounce an idea off of someone.

 

[Aoife_from_Ulster]

Okay I am asking a serious question here @Duleigh or @EmilyMiller maybe you can chime in.

I have two stories done and an idea for a thrid.

Is that like snarky of me to submit more than one?

 

[EmilyMiller]

Is that like snarky of me to submit more than one?

You may be asking the wrong woman

https://www.literotica.com/series/se/750-word-stories-1

 

[Aoife_from_Ulster]

You may be asking the wrong woman

https://www.literotica.com/series/se/750-word-stories-1

I was purposeful

It stinks being a Nana / Grammy with no responsibilities this coming week