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 20080509

Given the character of a single mother, write a story in the historical fiction genre, using the subject a television commercial and the theme pure amusement. If you feel extra creative, add another genre of your choice.

Your word limit is 415 words.

Assignment 20080508

Given the character of a lottery winner, write a story in the horror genre, using the subject the storyline for a music video and the theme a prophecy. If you feel extra creative, rhyme well.

Your word limit is 440 words.

Assignment 20080507

Given the character of the wind, write a story in the chick literature genre, using the subject a television commercial and the theme man versus the supernatural. If you feel extra creative, use a character from another work you've read.

Your word limit is 160 words.

Assignment 20080506

Given the character of a clown, write a story in the contemporary fiction genre, using the subject a philosophical treatise and the theme coming of age. If you feel extra creative, use only conversation.

Your word limit is 320 words.

Assignment 20080505

Given the character of an inanimate object, write a story in the gothic romance genre, using the subject an argument and the theme man versus nature. If you feel extra creative, add another character of your choice.

Your word limit is 135 words.

Assignment 20080504

Given the character of a cowboy, write a story in the superhero story genre, using the subject a fight over another character and the theme an exhortation to hope. If you feel extra creative, use as many cliches as possible.

Your word limit is 130 words.

Assignment 20080503

Given the character of an arsonist, write a story in the a really bad poem genre, using the subject a short debate and the theme a warning. If you feel extra creative, use no words (besides articles and pronouns) shorter than five letters.

Your word limit is 355 words.

Assignment 20080502

Given the character of a mythological figure, write a story in the space opera genre, using the subject a biography and the theme man versus the supernatural. If you feel extra creative, hit the word limit exactly.

Your word limit is 310 words.

Assignment 20080501

Given the character of two arguing twins, write a story in the back of the box instructions genre, using the subject a confession and the theme a prophecy. If you feel extra creative, do not use any words longer than four letters.

Your word limit is 100 words.

Assignment 20080430

Given the character of the king of a foreign land, write a story in the magical reality genre, using the subject a funny anecdote and the theme pure amusement. If you feel extra creative, write in rhyming couplets.

Your word limit is 305 words.

Assignment 20080429

Given the character of a small bug, write a story in the technical writing genre, using the subject a tall tale and the theme coming of age. If you feel extra creative, start every sentence with the same letter.

Your word limit is 295 words.

Assignment 20080428

Given the character of a body builder, write a story in the science fiction genre, using the subject a retelling of a conversation and the theme man versus himself. If you feel extra creative, write from the point of view of a first grader.

Your word limit is 75 words.

Assignment 20080427

Given the character of an oyster, write a story in the the back of a cereal box genre, using the subject a satire and the theme an exhortation to hope. If you feel extra creative, rhyme badly.

Your word limit is 345 words.

Assignment 20080426

Given the character of a lottery winner, write a story in the text message genre, using the subject how a boring history book might describe it and the theme man versus nature. If you feel extra creative, use a character from another work you've read.

Your word limit is 385 words.

Assignment 20080425

Given the character of the wind, write a story in the fan fiction genre, using the subject a fairy tale and the theme man versus the supernatural. If you feel extra creative, have the characters take no action besides thinking or speaking.

Your word limit is 210 words.