HOW short can a short story get? I’ve always loved the world’s shortest science-fiction story - in nine words, "Boy meets girl. Boy loses girl. Boy builds girl".

Poetry can get even briefer. Ogden Nash has a poem called ’Microbes’ that goes "Adam / Had ’em", and the Argentinian writer Borges has a lovely (not too long) short story about a man who travels to find a tribe who have been refining their epic poem for generations. When he eventually hears it, it’s been whittled down to the word "Wonder".

Between these two, there’s a new challenge reported on bookninja in the States - the six-word short story. It’s attracted some big names, such as former Star Trek captain William Shatner - "Failed SAT. Lost scholarship. Invented rocket" - and Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator, Joss Whedon - "Gown removed carefully. Head, less so".

The highbrow are in on the game as well: Margaret Atwood offers "Longed for him. Got him. S**t." If readers feel moved to try their hands at a six-word short story, I’d love to hear the results. You can email me at skelly@scotlandonsunday.com, and we’ll print the choice pickings. So to kick off, here’s my take on chick-lit in six words: "Arrogant hunk. Reader, I married him". Chapter and curse

Edinburgh was made Unesco’s first City of Literature three years ago, and since then there has been more than a little grumbling - not least, from me - that there hasn’t been much activity to back up the accolade. It’s heartening, then, that the City of Literature Trust’s website has been redesigned and relaunched. A small party at the Traverse Bar last Tuesday celebrated the event, with various staff topically dressed as witches. You may wish to wait a week or so before logging on to the site - which can be found at www.cityofliterature.com - as there are more than a couple of gremlins.

There’s an interactive map of literary sites in Edinburgh, with four zoom-in areas: only three of them actually have literary sites. Also, they might want to get the National Library and Central Library on the right side of the street. I’ve been assured though that there will be more author biographies, photographs and links - and that feedback is always encouraged. A regular magazine is promised, opening with a thrilling day in the life of Alasdair Gray’s biographer, Rodge Glass, and what AL Kennedy is reading at the moment. They asked if I might contribute a day in the life of a literary editor, but I’m sure there’s already a website for curing insomnia.

There were also some pursed lips and frustrated tutting from the trust’s staff about the bureaucratic red tape that meant their map of Edinburgh only shows the city centre, as if Stockbridge, Leith and Morningside had contributed nothing to the literary heritage of the city.

Fleetingly, I saw James Boyle, former BBC high heid yin and Arts Council supremo, during the City of Literature’s bid, but he had to leave in a rush: presumably he was offered the Thanedom of Cawdor. Dross springs eternal

Autumn: season of mists, mellow fruitfulness and publishers’ spring catalogues. What strange glossy publications these are - so much effort expended on something the public rarely sees. Or so little - it’s massively dispiriting sifting the interesting material from the true crime, D-list celebrities and that ghastly new genre "misery memoir".

But a big prize to the publisher who managed to puff a book about "the damage reeked by emotional depression". Can’t you smell it?