Microfiction

Microfiction: short fiction of a few hundred words or less.

Every day there is a new microfiction assignment. Try this to improve your creativity and to cultivate the discipline of writing.

(Feel free to suggest new subjects, topics, characters, genres, themes, and twists.)

Assignment 20100312

Given the character of a mysterious stranger, write a story in the text message genre, using the subject improvisational conversation and the theme a fable with a moral. If you feel extra creative, use awkward comparisons and images.

Your word limit is 315 words.

Assignment 20100311

Given the character of the wind, write a story in the romance genre, using the subject a public service announcement and the theme bizarre happenings. If you feel extra creative, write acrostically.

Your word limit is 365 words.

Assignment 20100310

Given the character of a historical figure, write a story in the steampunk genre, using the subject how a boring history book might describe it and the theme a prophecy. If you feel extra creative, use as many puns as possible.

Your word limit is 420 words.

Assignment 20100309

Given the character of three thieves, write a story in the what radio people say when the microphones are off genre, using the subject a philosophical treatise and the theme man versus himself. If you feel extra creative, use as many cliches as possible.

Your word limit is 255 words.

Assignment 20100308

Given the character of the king of a foreign land, write a story in the a Twitter conversation genre, using the subject an argument and the theme man versus man. If you feel extra creative, write only one sentence at a time.

Your word limit is 370 words.

Assignment 20100307

Given the character of a lottery winner, write a story in the a really bad poem genre, using the subject a short debate and the theme a "just so" story. If you feel extra creative, use only conversation.

Your word limit is 95 words.

Assignment 20100306

Given the character of your grandparents, write a story in the chick literature genre, using the subject a fairy tale and the theme an exhortation to hope. If you feel extra creative, write in dialect.

Your word limit is 110 words.

Assignment 20100305

Given the character of a wise old owl, write a story in the historical fiction genre, using the subject a satire and the theme a fable with a moral. If you feel extra creative, write from the point of view of a first grader.

Your word limit is 260 words.

Assignment 20100304

Given the character of two arguing twins, write a story in the gothic romance genre, using the subject a retelling of a conversation and the theme man versus the supernatural. If you feel extra creative, add another genre of your choice.

Your word limit is 200 words.

Assignment 20100303

Given the character of a mythological figure, write a story in the science fiction genre, using the subject a one-up contest and the theme a warning. If you feel extra creative, write from the point of view of a newspaper columnist.

Your word limit is 370 words.

Assignment 20100302

Given the character of a clown, write a story in the overheard on public transportation genre, using the subject a campfire story and the theme coming of age. If you feel extra creative, add another character of your choice.

Your word limit is 250 words.

Assignment 20100301

Given the character of an arsonist, write a story in the magical reality genre, using the subject a biography and the theme man versus nature. If you feel extra creative, do not use any words longer than four letters.

Your word limit is 145 words.

Assignment 20100228

Given the character of a single mother, write a story in the teen-speak genre, using the subject a television commercial and the theme a "just so" story. If you feel extra creative, write in rhyming couplets.

Your word limit is 380 words.

Assignment 20100227

Given the character of an oyster, write a story in the text message genre, using the subject a love story and the theme a prophecy. If you feel extra creative, rhyme well.

Your word limit is 50 words.

Assignment 20100226

Given the character of a mysterious stranger, write a story in the horror genre, using the subject the storyline for a music video and the theme man versus man. If you feel extra creative, rhyme badly.

Your word limit is 245 words.