Hint fiction is a short short form of writing created by bestselling author Robert Swartswood.  The definition of hint fiction, according to Swartswood, is

a story of 25 words or fewer that suggests a larger, more complex story

That’s as simple as it is.  Below are some examples of hint fiction (all taken from Swartswood’s anthology Hint Fiction):

The Date
How could he admit that this was not, actually, the first time he had seen Claudia’s scar? He couldn’t. He would have to feign surprise. (Sarah Lyons)

A Quiet American
He realized, taking a long swig from his beer, that no one had told him whether swallowing the octopus was guaranteed to kill it.  (Jess Row)

Love Is Forever
We came around the corner and there they were: young lovers, hands clasped. I drew the outline, Joe directed the crowd. (Merrilee Faber)

Trust
At the party, he tells her he’s a painter, meaning of houses. She misunderstands, assumes he’s an artist. Harmless, he thinks. (Don Lee)

Try your hand at developing hint fiction.  Send your own hint fiction in and, if we like it, we’ll post it on the blog.