Got a story to tell? If it’s a short one, you could parlay that tale into a free writing class.

How short? Really short. The Gotham Writers Workshop is challenging writers to tell a story in 10 words or fewer – and if you include a title, that counts against the word-limit.

Pretty hardcore, huh? But it can be done. Witness this perhaps-apocryphal example from Ernest Hemingway:

 

For sale. Baby shoes. Never worn. 

 

Sure, it’s more of a skit than a full-length play. But with just a few words, you can evoke a mood, a backstory, a launch pad for a longer piece to be written later.

For now, keep it under 10 words. Here’s how.

 

First, come up with a compelling, clear idea.

Next, boil it down to the absolute nub of a central theme.

Finally, turn it into a short story of fewer than 10 words. For inspiration, consider these two examples from last year’s competition:

 

She sat in the car wondering what other children did.

 

He looks like Pittsburgh, I thought. He’s definitely my father.

 

You have until 11:59 p.m. EDT on Monday, May 20 to enter. Visit this link to learn more. The prize is a 10-week writing class through Gotham Writers.

 

Two giveaways from Savings.com

 

The coupon and deal website Savings.com is giving away $350 worth of gift cards in two separate giveaways.

The first one is in partnership with L’Oreal, the skincare specialists. Five winners will be drawn at random to win a $50 Target e-gift card each. To enter, visit this link and sign up with an e-mail address. That’s it.

The contest ends at 11:59 p.m. EDT Friday, April 5. Wish I’d gotten this up sooner, but the early spring has left me a bit addlepated. However, you still have a couple of days to throw your virtual hat into the virtual ring.

Here are a few current L’Oreal deals through Savings.com:

 

The other giveaway on Savings.com is for a $100 Visa gift card, again drawn at random. To enter, you’ll be asked to take a short (eight-question) survey about shopping habits.

The topics are things like whether you prefer to shop online or in-store, whether you use rebates and the kinds of comparisons you make when shopping. (Potential answers are supplied; all you have to do is click on them.)

Visit this link to enter this giveaway. Good luck in both options, and if you win please come back and brag about it.