Drabbles are short stories of exactly 100 words. There are some examples by well-known authors (and a bit of history) at meades.org.
If you’re interested in the form, I’d encourage you to check out the Martian Magazine, or the now-shuttered Speck Lit.
These are some of my favorite (freely accessible) drabble stories:
- Nicholas Was — Neil Gaiman
- Orbital Views — Gretchen Tessmer
- Todd — Jason P. Burnham
- The Reluctant Time Traveler Wears Two Watches — Wendy Nikel
- The Weave — M. Yzmore
- Double Trouble — R. Daniel Lester
- The Forest of Memory — Anna Salonen
- A Cabin to Die In — Anna Salonen
- Of Artistic Temperament — Sophie Flynn
- Redemption — Belinda Saville
You can find some of my own drabbles below.
Haunted
It sounds fun to rent a house haunted by a sexy ghost. I guess it was, at first. The dreams were amazing, until she got stabby.
It took a while for her to stop shrieking and talk, but she eventually told me about the adultery, the murder-suicide, and the whole “vengeance against all men” thing. She says she’ll be free if I burn the bones buried in the cellar. Free to leave, and kill as she pleases.
It wouldn’t be right to unleash a murder-ghost on the world. But if she keeps breaking things, I’ll never get my deposit back.
“No More Kings”
Seto enters the capitol, leading a peasant army. On his left: Kagawa, Lord of Thieves. On his right: Taka, Iron-Fisted Monk. Like a storm, they sweep through the palace. Stone-faced, Seto beheads the evil king.
“Let us crown you in the courtyard,” Taka says.
Seto refuses. “I have done what I set out to do.”
“Who will be king?” Taka asks. “Surely not the Lord of Thieves?”
“I would make a fine king,” Kagawa says, sword drawn.
As lieutenents’ blades clash, Seto shatters the crown. He rides from the burning city. His cottage in the mountains awaits him.
Words Deferred 