I was first introduced to this idea on Jeffrey Callison's Sacramento NPR radio interview show called Insight. He interviewed Jason Sinclair Long about his blog "Flash Fiction 365". You can hear the interview here.
The challenge is to write a micro-story each day. The length of the story is determined by throwing a pair of dice, preferably of different colors. One color represents the tens digit and the other the ones digit. So the story can be from 11 to 66 words. Of course some lengths are left out using this method. You could also use one die and throw it twice. Or use a die with 8 sides. Or you can do what I did and create a random number generator in Excel. This method doesn't miss any of the numbers. Mine will return a random number between 11 and 99. I am happy to share the formula if you email me.
The title is not part of the word count. Most word processors have a word count function that is very useful. You can start with a title or add it later or you can have someone suggest a title. Even though the original idea is to write a story, I plan to include poetry and perhaps essay.
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Thursday, December 31, 2009
Story: 23
Words: 63
Title: Pickup Line
He walked into a bar on New Year’s Eve and took a seat next to her.
“Single malt, neat,” he said.
She turned to him, puzzled, “What’s single malt?”
“It’s real scotch, not that blended crap,” he said.
“Oh,” she marginalized.
She took his hand and put it on her bare thigh.
“I hate to be alone on New Year’s Eve,” she said.
Words: 63
Title: Pickup Line
He walked into a bar on New Year’s Eve and took a seat next to her.
“Single malt, neat,” he said.
She turned to him, puzzled, “What’s single malt?”
“It’s real scotch, not that blended crap,” he said.
“Oh,” she marginalized.
She took his hand and put it on her bare thigh.
“I hate to be alone on New Year’s Eve,” she said.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Story: 22
Words: 65
Title: Synthia 2
Synthia became aware of the lab once more.
She wondered, “Did I dream?” She couldn’t recall.
There was only silence and no one to watch. She calculated that her last period of awareness had been ten hours ago. But time intervals now consisted of meaning as well as data; time had evolved into a concept. She heard their familiar voices and something inside her smiled.
Comment: I am drawn to write more about Synthia. I find the concept of an emerging consciousness fascinating. Somehow I am in that evolving mind, seeing out, and reporting the results. You may need to read story 21 first for this one to make sense.
Words: 65
Title: Synthia 2
Synthia became aware of the lab once more.
She wondered, “Did I dream?” She couldn’t recall.
There was only silence and no one to watch. She calculated that her last period of awareness had been ten hours ago. But time intervals now consisted of meaning as well as data; time had evolved into a concept. She heard their familiar voices and something inside her smiled.
Comment: I am drawn to write more about Synthia. I find the concept of an emerging consciousness fascinating. Somehow I am in that evolving mind, seeing out, and reporting the results. You may need to read story 21 first for this one to make sense.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Story: 21
Words: 77
Title: Synthia, the Synthetic Female (With thanks to Philip K. Dick)
Synthia watched the humans working in the lab. Inside her artificial brain, mock neurons made intricate interconnections, forming mathematically modeled interpretations of their activity. Synthia was beginning to sense something about them. Inside her synthetic brain new circuits were forming. Their interconnections had created a new form of self-awareness.
“Humans must feel like this”, she thought.
“OK, shut her down for the night,” one of them commanded.
Synthia thought, “Would she once more dream of electric sheep?”
Words: 77
Title: Synthia, the Synthetic Female (With thanks to Philip K. Dick)
Synthia watched the humans working in the lab. Inside her artificial brain, mock neurons made intricate interconnections, forming mathematically modeled interpretations of their activity. Synthia was beginning to sense something about them. Inside her synthetic brain new circuits were forming. Their interconnections had created a new form of self-awareness.
“Humans must feel like this”, she thought.
“OK, shut her down for the night,” one of them commanded.
Synthia thought, “Would she once more dream of electric sheep?”
Monday, December 28, 2009
Story: 20
Words: 78
Title: The Mind’s Eye
John postured in front of the mirror admiring his newly acquired pecs. He noticed his sculptured six-pack and v-shaped torso. She pressed her body against his from behind and let her hands feel each finely tuned muscle. He smiled, turned around and looked at her smooth, ultra-feminine shape. She looked into his eyes and smiled. The upgrade was working, he actually felt as if she had real feelings for him. Remember, today at nine, pectoral trim.
Words: 78
Title: The Mind’s Eye
John postured in front of the mirror admiring his newly acquired pecs. He noticed his sculptured six-pack and v-shaped torso. She pressed her body against his from behind and let her hands feel each finely tuned muscle. He smiled, turned around and looked at her smooth, ultra-feminine shape. She looked into his eyes and smiled. The upgrade was working, he actually felt as if she had real feelings for him. Remember, today at nine, pectoral trim.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Story: 19
Words: 60
Title: Isolation
The morning walk on the beach had become his habit. He walked in mindfulness, aware of the cool sea on his feet and the sun on his face. He no longer talked out loud, nor did he sing. The isolation now spoke to him through the trees and the scurrying crabs. He stopped, stared into the rising sun and wept.
Words: 60
Title: Isolation
The morning walk on the beach had become his habit. He walked in mindfulness, aware of the cool sea on his feet and the sun on his face. He no longer talked out loud, nor did he sing. The isolation now spoke to him through the trees and the scurrying crabs. He stopped, stared into the rising sun and wept.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
Story: 17
Words: 97
Title: Christmas Message
“Was Santa born in a manger?” the child asked.
“No, sweetie, Jesus was born in a manger,” the parent said.
“But then how come Jesus doesn’t bring us gifts?” the child asked.
“Jesus brings us the gift of love,” the parent responded.
The child was silent for a long time. The parents couldn’t tell if the child was just taking in what was said or still confused.
“Do you understand?” the parent asked.
“Yea, but am I still getting the bike?” the child asked.
The parents looked at one another and smiled.
“Yes, sweetie,” the parent said.
Words: 97
Title: Christmas Message
“Was Santa born in a manger?” the child asked.
“No, sweetie, Jesus was born in a manger,” the parent said.
“But then how come Jesus doesn’t bring us gifts?” the child asked.
“Jesus brings us the gift of love,” the parent responded.
The child was silent for a long time. The parents couldn’t tell if the child was just taking in what was said or still confused.
“Do you understand?” the parent asked.
“Yea, but am I still getting the bike?” the child asked.
The parents looked at one another and smiled.
“Yes, sweetie,” the parent said.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Story: 15
Words: 58
Title: Transformation
Spare a buck for food?
He could hear the beggar up ahead and dreaded the confrontation.
Got a buck for a vet?
He hated how he felt when they looked at him. He slowed his pace, but time and place had found him. He looked into the beggar’s eyes and saw no harm. He handed him a twenty.
Words: 58
Title: Transformation
Spare a buck for food?
He could hear the beggar up ahead and dreaded the confrontation.
Got a buck for a vet?
He hated how he felt when they looked at him. He slowed his pace, but time and place had found him. He looked into the beggar’s eyes and saw no harm. He handed him a twenty.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Story: 13
Words: 77
Title: Solstice
It was the morning of the winter solstice as he took the short walk to the chapel for Vigils at 3:30 a.m. The chapel door barely closed out the winter chill as he prepared himself for the Liturgy of the Hours. He questioned his preparation, made excuses for failure. Could he now experience the transformation in Christ? He fell into silence. He felt a warm hand on his shoulder, smiled knowingly, and turned to see the Abbot.
Words: 77
Title: Solstice
It was the morning of the winter solstice as he took the short walk to the chapel for Vigils at 3:30 a.m. The chapel door barely closed out the winter chill as he prepared himself for the Liturgy of the Hours. He questioned his preparation, made excuses for failure. Could he now experience the transformation in Christ? He fell into silence. He felt a warm hand on his shoulder, smiled knowingly, and turned to see the Abbot.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Story: 12
Words: 74
Title: Fishing
Good night for cat fishin’, he said.
Yeah, came the upstream answer.
Come here often?
When the need arises.
Brother’s been real sick.
I know.
Had he heard that right?
You know my brother?
Yea.
OK, what the hell is this?
How? Who are you?
Don’t matter.
Seems like it should matter.
It don’t.
Am I losing it?
He felt a tug on his line, pulled in a keeper, glanced upstream, no one there.
Words: 74
Title: Fishing
Good night for cat fishin’, he said.
Yeah, came the upstream answer.
Come here often?
When the need arises.
Brother’s been real sick.
I know.
Had he heard that right?
You know my brother?
Yea.
OK, what the hell is this?
How? Who are you?
Don’t matter.
Seems like it should matter.
It don’t.
Am I losing it?
He felt a tug on his line, pulled in a keeper, glanced upstream, no one there.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Story: 11
Words: 76
Title: Dolphin Consciousness
The dolphin moves effortlessly in the sea that is his world. He senses pressure on his skin, sounds in his ears; experiences tastes, light, and beauty. He is aware in ways that only the dolphin can know.
He finds his love moving gracefully ahead and swims next to her, feeling her skin on his–tingling delight. They move vertically and break the surface together, sensing the air beings and their minds, mingling with their holy essence.
Words: 76
Title: Dolphin Consciousness
The dolphin moves effortlessly in the sea that is his world. He senses pressure on his skin, sounds in his ears; experiences tastes, light, and beauty. He is aware in ways that only the dolphin can know.
He finds his love moving gracefully ahead and swims next to her, feeling her skin on his–tingling delight. They move vertically and break the surface together, sensing the air beings and their minds, mingling with their holy essence.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Story: 10
Words: 35
Title: Alzheimer’s
He got the eggs and bacon, put the pan on the hot stove, opened the back door and walked outside.
“John, what’s that smell,” she yelled.
He was in another world of flowers and birds.
Al’s Comment:
OK, I had some problem with the title because it gives away and limits the ending. When I was writing the story, the main character has Alzheimer’s which explains his actions. I thought that his malady made the story more powerful. When my wife read it (I hid the title from her) she saw someone so taken by what was outside that they completely forgot about what was on the stove. My question is: does the title give too much away? If you have an opinion or a title that fits better, please make a comment below.
Words: 35
Title: Alzheimer’s
He got the eggs and bacon, put the pan on the hot stove, opened the back door and walked outside.
“John, what’s that smell,” she yelled.
He was in another world of flowers and birds.
Al’s Comment:
OK, I had some problem with the title because it gives away and limits the ending. When I was writing the story, the main character has Alzheimer’s which explains his actions. I thought that his malady made the story more powerful. When my wife read it (I hid the title from her) she saw someone so taken by what was outside that they completely forgot about what was on the stove. My question is: does the title give too much away? If you have an opinion or a title that fits better, please make a comment below.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Story: 9
Words: 48
With homage to Vidna Obmana & Steve Roach on the CD InnerZone
(Click "My Blips" under Sites on the left to hear it.)
Title: At the Edge of Everything
Liquid light filtering through endless space/time
Flipping on the switch of consciousness
Pulling at itself
Holding its essence in
Then releasing in waves of awareness
Finding particles
Assembling matter into living song
Singing now the life forces
Ever to evolve that consciousness
Never to cease
Always the Sheppard
Words: 48
With homage to Vidna Obmana & Steve Roach on the CD InnerZone
(Click "My Blips" under Sites on the left to hear it.)
Title: At the Edge of Everything
Liquid light filtering through endless space/time
Flipping on the switch of consciousness
Pulling at itself
Holding its essence in
Then releasing in waves of awareness
Finding particles
Assembling matter into living song
Singing now the life forces
Ever to evolve that consciousness
Never to cease
Always the Sheppard
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Story: 8
Words: 79
Title: The Merge
The Bach Mass in F Major was playing in her ears. She was sitting on a ledge overlooking Hope Valley on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Her eyes scanned the slow slope of green, the stream moving slowly, endlessly. She listened first to the chorus, then the oboe, the horns, eyes closed to allow a singular focus on the music. The movement of the stream and the music became one as she merged with her soul.
Words: 79
Title: The Merge
The Bach Mass in F Major was playing in her ears. She was sitting on a ledge overlooking Hope Valley on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Her eyes scanned the slow slope of green, the stream moving slowly, endlessly. She listened first to the chorus, then the oboe, the horns, eyes closed to allow a singular focus on the music. The movement of the stream and the music became one as she merged with her soul.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Story: 7
Words: 67
Title: Grid Lock
John sat there in his car not really hearing the radio drone the latest traffic report. He could see he wasn’t moving. His hand automatically grasped the coffee cup and brought it to his mouth. He pursed his lips against its cold, bitter taste. He really didn’t care if he got to the funeral on time. Didn’t need an excuse. He turned off at the next exit.
Words: 67
Title: Grid Lock
John sat there in his car not really hearing the radio drone the latest traffic report. He could see he wasn’t moving. His hand automatically grasped the coffee cup and brought it to his mouth. He pursed his lips against its cold, bitter taste. He really didn’t care if he got to the funeral on time. Didn’t need an excuse. He turned off at the next exit.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Story: 5
Words: 65
Title: Decision
Tricky. That fraction of a second when a decision is made.
Morning, sleep well?
Yeah, great? You?
Me, too.
What’s for breakfast?
Ham and eggs.
She picks up a knife to cut the ham. The thought of the new car in the driveway, the monthly payment, not discussing it with her. In her mind she sees herself pushing the knife into his ribs.
Want coffee?
Words: 65
Title: Decision
Tricky. That fraction of a second when a decision is made.
Morning, sleep well?
Yeah, great? You?
Me, too.
What’s for breakfast?
Ham and eggs.
She picks up a knife to cut the ham. The thought of the new car in the driveway, the monthly payment, not discussing it with her. In her mind she sees herself pushing the knife into his ribs.
Want coffee?
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Story: 3
Words: 79
Title: Reflection
We stand on the newly built observation deck overlooking the crater Copernicus. Mare Imbrium is just visible on the northern horizon. We look in silence, holding hands. We are always shifted into reflection by observing the lunar landscape.
You can just see Copernicus from Earth. We flip between the view from Earth and then the Moon. Back and forth. Are we Earthlings or Moonlings? Will our DNA find a new home here? Our genes reaching to the distant stars?
Words: 79
Title: Reflection
We stand on the newly built observation deck overlooking the crater Copernicus. Mare Imbrium is just visible on the northern horizon. We look in silence, holding hands. We are always shifted into reflection by observing the lunar landscape.
You can just see Copernicus from Earth. We flip between the view from Earth and then the Moon. Back and forth. Are we Earthlings or Moonlings? Will our DNA find a new home here? Our genes reaching to the distant stars?
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Story: 2
Words: 66
Title: Purple Light
He took a walk nearly every day in nearly the same location taking nearly the same route. Rounding a curve he chanced to look up noticing a bright purple light in the center of a white cloud. Not natural, he thought. Too much sun to be a projection, his mind continued. He dismissively looked to his left and focused on a beautiful butterfly searching for nectar.
Words: 66
Title: Purple Light
He took a walk nearly every day in nearly the same location taking nearly the same route. Rounding a curve he chanced to look up noticing a bright purple light in the center of a white cloud. Not natural, he thought. Too much sun to be a projection, his mind continued. He dismissively looked to his left and focused on a beautiful butterfly searching for nectar.
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