{{short description|Narrative of exactly fifty words}} A '''minisaga''', '''mini saga''' or '''mini-saga''' is a short story based on a long story. It should contain exactly 50 words, plus a title of up to 15 characters. However, the title requirement is not always enforced and sometimes eliminated altogether. Minisagas are alternately known as '''microstories''', '''ultra-shorts stories''', or '''fifty-word stories'''.
The form was invented by writer Brian Aldiss and the newspaper ''The Daily Telegraph'', which has held several minisaga competitions, as has BBC Radio 4.
== Uses == Minisagas are used in business, as an educational tool,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish-central-stories-mini-sagas.htm | title=MINI-SAGAS | publisher=British Council | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100729025309/http://www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish-central-stories-mini-sagas.htm | archivedate=2010-07-29}}</ref> a creative outlet, and a source of entertainment. They are not poems, but rather "bite-sized lessons for life and business".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lifebeyondcode.com/category/mini-saga/|title=Mini Saga|publisher=Rajesh Setty|author=Rajesh Setty}}</ref> They are often used to stimulate creativity, stretch one's thinking, determine the essential elements of a story, or enhance discipline in writing. They often attempt to be funny or surprising.
Below is an example by author Daniel H. Pink:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.danpink.com/archives/2009/03/are-you-ready-for-the-50-word-challenge|title=Are you ready for the 50-word challenge?|date=24 March 2009|publisher=Daniel H. Pink}}</ref> <blockquote> When I was shot, fear seized me at first. No surprise that. But once I realized I wasn't going to die – despite the thermonuclear pain and widening puddle of weirdly warm blood – my mind recalibrated. And one thought, comforting yet disturbing, leapt into my head: I need to Tweet this. </blockquote>
There is a limited publishing market for minisagas, but minisaga contests are sometimes held by various publishers or websites, and a dedicated market for "50-word stories" exists at [https://fiftywordstories.com FiftyWordStories.com], with payments available for each month's strongest story.
==See also== {{portal|Novels}} * Drabble * Flash fiction * Literature * Short story
==References== <references/> * Aldiss, Brian. Mini-Sagas: From the ''Daily Telegraph'' Competition 2001. Enitharmon, 2001. {{ISBN|978-1-900564-77-9}} Category:Types of short story
== External links == * {{URL|https://fiftywordstories.com/}}
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