The Final Week of Microfiction

This is the last installment of the experiment where I write tiny stories and post them daily on Twitter at @DeferredWords. You can find stories from previous weeks here and here.

If you enjoy this sort of thing, you should check out another Twitter account, @DailyMicroFic, who has been doing this a lot longer than I have. Through them, I discovered the the #vss365 hashtag, where you can find lots of people writing very short stories on Twitter, 365 days a year. See vss365today.com for more info and daily prompts.

I enjoyed writing these. They were a fun exercise in writing under severe limitations, and the format gave some life to lots of little ideas I’ve been kicking around for ages, but I hadn’t been inspired enough to expand into longer formats. I think I’ll have to do it again sometime.

The Furies

It wasn't my fault. I tried to ignore them, their laughs and looks and judgements. They wouldn't stop, so I stopped them. There was no evidence. I'm careful.

Now I see them, in mirrors and dark alleys. The girl, the crone, the woman. Their knives are so, so sharp.#microfiction
— Words Deferred (@DeferredWords) June 21, 2021

The Vine

She wanted to die, until the vine got into her veins and taught her to love everything. She drank the sun. She gave others this gift, but only if they wanted it.

Patriots called her an enemy plot to make them weak. They killed her, to show that they weren't.#microfiction
— Words Deferred (@DeferredWords) June 22, 2021

Desert Bones

The caravan merchants said it's bad luck to disturb desert bones. The ghosts said they just wanted to go home.

We left them, and they weren't too happy. They've been raging in the sandstorm for days. Soon, I fear we'll all be desert bones.#microfiction
— Words Deferred (@DeferredWords) June 23, 2021

Moon and Sea

The goddess Moon and goddess Sea are lovers. Moon caresses Sea with silver light, and Sea glints coyly. Moon dons seductive cloud and Sea darkens, obscuring shoals. Ships crack open like old bones, full of rich marrow. Sea laps greedily. Moon watches, eyes bright.#microfiction
— Words Deferred (@DeferredWords) June 24, 2021

Politically Correct

It was rough when the Senate switched from voting on bills to all-out warfare, but John was elected to do a job, and he was going to do it.

Suppressing fire and a well-timed grenade broke the enemy formation. He won the day, and passed that vital gun-control bill.#microfiction
— Words Deferred (@DeferredWords) June 25, 2021

Jungles of Minnesota

None of the climate models predicted the red jungle that slithered over the globe, from Melbourne to Minneapolis, strangling, stinging, biting. We barely survived until winter ice slowed the growth.

This morning I listen to the drip, drip, drip of the spring thaw.#microfiction
— Words Deferred (@DeferredWords) June 26, 2021

“No More Kings”

Seto didn't want to, but he led the rebel army to defeat the evil king. When they tried to sit him on the dead man's throne, he sighed and broke the crown.

He rode into the mountains and lived in solitude, while petty warlords spilled blood across the kingdom.#microfiction
— Words Deferred (@DeferredWords) June 27, 2021

Author: Samuel Johnston

Professional software developer, unprofessional writer, and generally interested in almost everything. View all posts by Samuel Johnston

3 thoughts on “The Final Week of Microfiction”

sopantooth says:

June 30, 2021 at 5:23 pm

Now that’s a future death-sport that makes sense

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1. Samuel Johnston says:
  
  June 30, 2021 at 6:38 pm
  
  Some days it feels like we’re halfway there.
  
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  Reply
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