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 20130524

Given the character of two arguing twins, write a story in the words scribbled in the margin of another book genre, using the subject a fairy tale and the theme man versus himself. If you feel extra creative, write in rhyming couplets.

Your word limit is 345 words.

Assignment 20130523

Given the character of an inanimate object, write a story in the technical writing genre, using the subject a high adventure and the theme a prophecy. If you feel extra creative, write only one sentence at a time.

Your word limit is 135 words.

Assignment 20130522

Given the character of a clown, write a story in the steampunk genre, using the subject a campfire story and the theme man versus nature. If you feel extra creative, use only conversation.

Your word limit is 270 words.

Assignment 20130521

Given the character of a talking animal, write a story in the science fiction genre, using the subject a love story and the theme bizarre happenings. If you feel extra creative, use awkward comparisons and images.

Your word limit is 360 words.

Assignment 20130520

Given the character of a single mother, write a story in the a marketing brochure genre, using the subject metafiction about fiction and the theme an exhortation to hope. If you feel extra creative, use no words (besides articles and pronouns) shorter than five letters.

Your word limit is 260 words.

Assignment 20130519

Given the character of a wise monkey, write a story in the a comic book script genre, using the subject a philosophical treatise and the theme a "just so" story. If you feel extra creative, hit the word limit exactly.

Your word limit is 120 words.

Assignment 20130518

Given the character of a mythological figure, write a story in the superhero story genre, using the subject a funny anecdote and the theme pure amusement. If you feel extra creative, do not use any words longer than four letters.

Your word limit is 275 words.

Assignment 20130517

Given the character of a historical figure, write a story in the teen-speak genre, using the subject a biography and the theme a warning. If you feel extra creative, write acrostically.

Your word limit is 460 words.

Assignment 20130516

Given the character of the king of a foreign land, write a story in the text message genre, using the subject a retelling of a conversation and the theme coming of age. If you feel extra creative, use as many puns as possible.

Your word limit is 365 words.

Assignment 20130515

Given the character of a child, write a story in the space opera genre, using the subject how a boring history book might describe it and the theme man versus the supernatural. If you feel extra creative, write in dialect.

Your word limit is 245 words.

Assignment 20130514

Given the character of your grandparents, write a story in the historical fiction genre, using the subject a television commercial and the theme a prophecy. If you feel extra creative, use a character from another work you've read.

Your word limit is 50 words.

Assignment 20130513

Given the character of a body builder, write a story in the back of the box instructions genre, using the subject a retelling of a Shakespeare play and the theme a fable with a moral. If you feel extra creative, have the characters take no action besides thinking or speaking.

Your word limit is 470 words.

Assignment 20130512

Given the character of a lottery winner, write a story in the a really bad poem genre, using the subject a public service announcement and the theme man versus nature. If you feel extra creative, start every sentence with the same letter.

Your word limit is 90 words.

Assignment 20130511

Given the character of a robot balladeer, write a story in the fan fiction genre, using the subject a fairy tale and the theme a "just so" story. If you feel extra creative, add another genre of your choice.

Your word limit is 415 words.

Assignment 20130510

Given the character of a talking frying pan, write a story in the contemporary fiction genre, using the subject a fight over another character and the theme man versus man. If you feel extra creative, rhyme well.

Your word limit is 180 words.