baby shoes

Discussion One – Baby Shoes
Ernest Hemingway’s style has intrigued many readers. He was of the opinion that his job was not to give every detail of a story . . . that the reader had to participate in the understanding of the work. By adding their own details from their own lives, readers relate more directly with the story being told: it has a frame of personal reference for them.

Once at a party, another writer bet Hemingway that he couldn’t write a complete short story in less than ten words. This one has six. The story is below; remember that this is not the title of the story, this is the story itself. Hemingway wrote it on a napkin and passed it along; the story goes that without a word, the bettor paid up on the spot.  This is what he wrote:

“Baby shoes for sale; Never used.”

This isn’t the title of the story: it IS the WHOLE STORY. Here’s an example of how important the READER is in making a great story.  Your assignment is to write 100-250 words telling us what this story is about. Here’s a hint: don’t assume there’s only one solution to the problem.