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 20120521

Given the character of a historical figure, write a story in the gothic romance genre, using the subject a retelling of a Shakespeare play and the theme a warning. If you feel extra creative, use as many puns as possible.

Your word limit is 145 words.

Assignment 20120520

Given the character of two arguing twins, write a story in the text message genre, using the subject a fight over another character and the theme man versus man. If you feel extra creative, use no adverbs.

Your word limit is 450 words.

Assignment 20120519

Given the character of an arsonist, write a story in the contemporary fiction genre, using the subject a short debate and the theme bizarre happenings. If you feel extra creative, write dialog only in questions.

Your word limit is 465 words.

Assignment 20120518

Given the character of a child, write a story in the a really bad poem genre, using the subject improvisational conversation and the theme man versus nature. If you feel extra creative, write acrostically.

Your word limit is 200 words.

Assignment 20120517

Given the character of a clown, write a story in the fan fiction genre, using the subject a campfire story and the theme pure amusement. If you feel extra creative, hit the word limit exactly.

Your word limit is 225 words.

Assignment 20120516

Given the character of a body builder, write a story in the technical writing genre, using the subject a funny anecdote and the theme a prophecy. If you feel extra creative, write from the point of view of a newspaper columnist.

Your word limit is 425 words.

Assignment 20120515

Given the character of a talking frying pan, write a story in the words scribbled in the margin of another book genre, using the subject a love story and the theme man versus the supernatural. If you feel extra creative, use awkward comparisons and images.

Your word limit is 175 words.

Assignment 20120514

Given the character of a small bug, write a story in the horror genre, using the subject how a boring history book might describe it and the theme an exhortation to hope. If you feel extra creative, have the characters take no action besides thinking or speaking.

Your word limit is 125 words.

Assignment 20120513

Given the character of a cowboy, write a story in the overheard on public transportation genre, using the subject a satire and the theme a "just so" story. If you feel extra creative, use as many cliches as possible.

Your word limit is 170 words.

Assignment 20120512

Given the character of the wind, write a story in the a comic book script genre, using the subject a high adventure and the theme coming of age. If you feel extra creative, rhyme well.

Your word limit is 270 words.

Assignment 20120511

Given the character of a mythological figure, write a story in the teen-speak genre, using the subject a retelling of a conversation and the theme bizarre happenings. If you feel extra creative, rhyme badly.

Your word limit is 395 words.

Assignment 20120510

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

Your word limit is 210 words.

Assignment 20120509

Given the character of your grandparents, write a story in the historical fiction genre, using the subject a fairy tale and the theme a fable with a moral. If you feel extra creative, use no words (besides articles and pronouns) shorter than five letters.

Your word limit is 295 words.

Assignment 20120508

Given the character of a mysterious stranger, write a story in the superhero story genre, using the subject a one-up contest and the theme man versus himself. If you feel extra creative, use only conversation.

Your word limit is 170 words.

Assignment 20120507

Given the character of an oyster, write a story in the the back of a cereal box genre, using the subject a confession and the theme man versus man. If you feel extra creative, write from the ending first.

Your word limit is 340 words.