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, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Story: 294
Words: 62
Title: First Kiss
“Did you know that milkshakes were originally shaken? And that they contained alcohol?” he asked across the table.
“Really?” she replied.
“Yeah,” he said. He looked into her eyes and his mind was on anything but milkshakes. He took her hand in his. She leaned forward and they had their first kiss.
“And they were advertised as a ‘wholesome’ food,” he said licking his lips.
Words: 62
Title: First Kiss
“Did you know that milkshakes were originally shaken? And that they contained alcohol?” he asked across the table.
“Really?” she replied.
“Yeah,” he said. He looked into her eyes and his mind was on anything but milkshakes. He took her hand in his. She leaned forward and they had their first kiss.
“And they were advertised as a ‘wholesome’ food,” he said licking his lips.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Story: 292
Words: 75
Title: The Ultimate Addiction
How interesting, I thought, to have a body and a mind. How fun to feel the Earth under my feet. How challenging to think about my relationship to this mind and body. A world of duality wrapped up in a mind-body that I created for my own enjoyment. Turns out there are no limits to this adventure. I can create a unique reality. But who would have known that it would become so completely addictive.
Words: 75
Title: The Ultimate Addiction
How interesting, I thought, to have a body and a mind. How fun to feel the Earth under my feet. How challenging to think about my relationship to this mind and body. A world of duality wrapped up in a mind-body that I created for my own enjoyment. Turns out there are no limits to this adventure. I can create a unique reality. But who would have known that it would become so completely addictive.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Story: 291
Words: 52
Title: Roswell, NM
It was past three in the morning. We were camping in the desert outside Roswell. You guessed it, there was a bright light in the sky. But don’t get excited. It was just an Air Force helicopter checking us out. There for a minute I thought we would be taken. No luck.
Words: 52
Title: Roswell, NM
It was past three in the morning. We were camping in the desert outside Roswell. You guessed it, there was a bright light in the sky. But don’t get excited. It was just an Air Force helicopter checking us out. There for a minute I thought we would be taken. No luck.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Story: 288
Words: 97
Title: The Crutch
The first thing you saw when you walked into Mike’s house was a crutch hanging on the wall. When asked, he was proud to tell its story:
“One day I was huntin’ the ridge. I came upon a place where I could sit and watch the stream below for deer to come drink. Well, I dowsed off. All of a sudden there was this bang! and I jolted up. I fell off that ridge and broke my leg. That taught me to keep the safety on when I was sleepin’. And so the reminder on the wall”
Words: 97
Title: The Crutch
The first thing you saw when you walked into Mike’s house was a crutch hanging on the wall. When asked, he was proud to tell its story:
“One day I was huntin’ the ridge. I came upon a place where I could sit and watch the stream below for deer to come drink. Well, I dowsed off. All of a sudden there was this bang! and I jolted up. I fell off that ridge and broke my leg. That taught me to keep the safety on when I was sleepin’. And so the reminder on the wall”
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Story: 287
Words: 76
Title: The Wave
He knew what a parade was and loved to go to them. This time he was more determined than ever. He could see the floats go buy and began to plot a path through the forest of legs in front of him. There it was, the perfect route. He saw the right float coming and made tracks through the forest and in an instant was at the curb waving to the clown. And he waved back!
Words: 76
Title: The Wave
He knew what a parade was and loved to go to them. This time he was more determined than ever. He could see the floats go buy and began to plot a path through the forest of legs in front of him. There it was, the perfect route. He saw the right float coming and made tracks through the forest and in an instant was at the curb waving to the clown. And he waved back!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Story: 286
Words: 80
Title: The Diversion
The ship came close enough to Jupiter to feel the pull of the gas giant. We had experienced this phenomenon enough times to feel it ourselves. There was a challenge this time to see who could feel it first. With a $1000 buy in the bet was very popular. Pete had created a short routine to monitor the room sounds, detect the first yelp, and check the angular momentum of the ship. Long voyages require clever diversions to remain sane.
Words: 80
Title: The Diversion
The ship came close enough to Jupiter to feel the pull of the gas giant. We had experienced this phenomenon enough times to feel it ourselves. There was a challenge this time to see who could feel it first. With a $1000 buy in the bet was very popular. Pete had created a short routine to monitor the room sounds, detect the first yelp, and check the angular momentum of the ship. Long voyages require clever diversions to remain sane.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Story: 285
Words: 56
Title: Moon’s Secret
Luna Base 8 has a wonderful view port where you can watch Earthrise. The room is small and intimate. Better it can be reserved for a private party. We sat watching Earth crest the horizon. I thought that Earthlings have no idea how great sex can be in one-fifth gravity. It’s a secret we natives keep.
Words: 56
Title: Moon’s Secret
Luna Base 8 has a wonderful view port where you can watch Earthrise. The room is small and intimate. Better it can be reserved for a private party. We sat watching Earth crest the horizon. I thought that Earthlings have no idea how great sex can be in one-fifth gravity. It’s a secret we natives keep.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Story: 284
Words: 75
Title: Russian Woman
The Russian woman stood by the fence staring into the vacant lot. She was dressed like I would imagine a typical peasant woman would dress like, but what do I know. I wonder what she is looking at as she stands motionless. Perhaps she is reminiscing about her mother country and the poverty she faced. Or maybe she is happy to be in the United States, the vacant lot merely a mantra for her reverie.
Words: 75
Title: Russian Woman
The Russian woman stood by the fence staring into the vacant lot. She was dressed like I would imagine a typical peasant woman would dress like, but what do I know. I wonder what she is looking at as she stands motionless. Perhaps she is reminiscing about her mother country and the poverty she faced. Or maybe she is happy to be in the United States, the vacant lot merely a mantra for her reverie.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Story: 283
Words: 79
Title: Sweet Sugar
Sweet Sugar took the stage and started playing their brand of all original ballad rock. In the last row of the audience sat a lady of middle age. Her eyes began to well up with tears as she remembered holding that bass player as a baby.
“The bass player, that’s my son,” she whispered to the man next to her who nodded acknowledgment.
She remembered holding him gently after he was born and the angst of letting him go.
Words: 79
Title: Sweet Sugar
Sweet Sugar took the stage and started playing their brand of all original ballad rock. In the last row of the audience sat a lady of middle age. Her eyes began to well up with tears as she remembered holding that bass player as a baby.
“The bass player, that’s my son,” she whispered to the man next to her who nodded acknowledgment.
She remembered holding him gently after he was born and the angst of letting him go.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Story: 281
Words: 64
Title: Too Good to be True
Bright Velvet came in dead last. They looked at each other with that surprise that made unbelievable a good thing. They found each others hand and walked away, not aware of their feet or where they were going.
“How could we have been so stupid?” he said out loud.
“It’s that asshole Sid’s fault,” she said passing blame.
They found their car and left.
Words: 64
Title: Too Good to be True
Bright Velvet came in dead last. They looked at each other with that surprise that made unbelievable a good thing. They found each others hand and walked away, not aware of their feet or where they were going.
“How could we have been so stupid?” he said out loud.
“It’s that asshole Sid’s fault,” she said passing blame.
They found their car and left.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Story: 278
Words: 63
Title: Intravel 7
He had the information he needed. The Perseus was destroyed by people who did not want the alien craft debris recovered. Sometimes no information is all the information that is needed.
He closed his human eyes and fell back through the fog into interdimensional space. He found himself with his fellow angels and made a report to Gabriel. Something had invaded their universe.
Words: 63
Title: Intravel 7
He had the information he needed. The Perseus was destroyed by people who did not want the alien craft debris recovered. Sometimes no information is all the information that is needed.
He closed his human eyes and fell back through the fog into interdimensional space. He found himself with his fellow angels and made a report to Gabriel. Something had invaded their universe.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Story: 277
Words: 88
Title: Intravel 6
He thought this sounded like a cover up. How else could one explain it?
“Monitor, what are chances that the Sentry malfunctioned and the anomaly was covered up?” he asked.
“Near zero,” Monitor repeated.
“Monitor, what are chances that the Sentry fired on command?” he asked.
“One moment, please,” Monitor politely said.
He speculated that this was not an accident and when the Perseus came to scavenge the remains, it too was destroyed.
Monitor was ready, “Chances are approximately 82 percent that this incident was not an accident.”
Words: 88
Title: Intravel 6
He thought this sounded like a cover up. How else could one explain it?
“Monitor, what are chances that the Sentry malfunctioned and the anomaly was covered up?” he asked.
“Near zero,” Monitor repeated.
“Monitor, what are chances that the Sentry fired on command?” he asked.
“One moment, please,” Monitor politely said.
He speculated that this was not an accident and when the Perseus came to scavenge the remains, it too was destroyed.
Monitor was ready, “Chances are approximately 82 percent that this incident was not an accident.”
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Story: 276
Words: 70
Title: Intravel 5
Monitor had some data, “The answer to your question is there are no references to a trawler named Perseus.”
He was stunned and asked, “Any reference to a trawler by any name on such a mission?”
“No, but there is reference to a sentry ship that malfunctioned and began firing on ships indiscriminately,” Monitor added.
“I thought the sentries had a zero failure rate?”, he said.
“Near zero,” said Monitor.
Words: 70
Title: Intravel 5
Monitor had some data, “The answer to your question is there are no references to a trawler named Perseus.”
He was stunned and asked, “Any reference to a trawler by any name on such a mission?”
“No, but there is reference to a sentry ship that malfunctioned and began firing on ships indiscriminately,” Monitor added.
“I thought the sentries had a zero failure rate?”, he said.
“Near zero,” said Monitor.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Thursday, September 09, 2010
Story: 274
Words: 96
Title: Intravel 3
Galactic Headquarters held the information he needed. All he need do was go into an access rooms and ask Monitor. The Monitors guarded the information and parsed out only what was needed. He entered the room.
“Monitor. I come in peace. I need information about the space trawler Perseus. It was on a mission to recover debris from a mysterious craft that was destroyed by an automated sentry ship,” the man said.
Monitor looked at him with artificial eyes that somehow communicated understanding. “I will do my best. Please be patient,” Monitor said and was silent.
Words: 96
Title: Intravel 3
Galactic Headquarters held the information he needed. All he need do was go into an access rooms and ask Monitor. The Monitors guarded the information and parsed out only what was needed. He entered the room.
“Monitor. I come in peace. I need information about the space trawler Perseus. It was on a mission to recover debris from a mysterious craft that was destroyed by an automated sentry ship,” the man said.
Monitor looked at him with artificial eyes that somehow communicated understanding. “I will do my best. Please be patient,” Monitor said and was silent.
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Story: 273
Words: 49
Title: Intravel 2
He found himself looking at the Galactic Headquarters building through the fog of arrival which allowed him to accept his destination without being detected. He confirmed his acceptance and dropped out near a huge tree unseen by others. He walked to the building and entered. This was too easy.
Words: 49
Title: Intravel 2
He found himself looking at the Galactic Headquarters building through the fog of arrival which allowed him to accept his destination without being detected. He confirmed his acceptance and dropped out near a huge tree unseen by others. He walked to the building and entered. This was too easy.
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Story: 272
Words: 56
Title: Intravel
Wrapped up in an energy field was the least of his worries. Where he was going was a bit troubling. But that is the way of interdimensional travel. You set an intent and go where the energy takes you. Hopefully, this journey would be as informative as the rest and provide more information about his mission.
Words: 56
Title: Intravel
Wrapped up in an energy field was the least of his worries. Where he was going was a bit troubling. But that is the way of interdimensional travel. You set an intent and go where the energy takes you. Hopefully, this journey would be as informative as the rest and provide more information about his mission.
Monday, September 06, 2010
Story: 271
Words: 70
Title: The Parking Lot Gull
They were playing that game with the parking lot gulls where you throw food into the air and watch them snatch it before it hits the ground. Turns out this was not a good idea. Notice how a gull looks at you next time you see one. They look psychotic. Ready to take you out at any moment. But the man had trouble seeing the gull with his one eye.
Words: 70
Title: The Parking Lot Gull
They were playing that game with the parking lot gulls where you throw food into the air and watch them snatch it before it hits the ground. Turns out this was not a good idea. Notice how a gull looks at you next time you see one. They look psychotic. Ready to take you out at any moment. But the man had trouble seeing the gull with his one eye.
Sunday, September 05, 2010
Saturday, September 04, 2010
Story: 269
Words: 93
Title: The Enigma
It was early morning as the sun silently climbed over the distant mountains with a promise of another hot day. Jesus was walking along the river contemplating how to talk to his disciples about what he knew in his heart was a truth they would find difficult to accept. He needed them to stop protecting him from the Romans. Perhaps a talk with Judas, he thought. Judas was friends with the Romans and could easily divulge his whereabouts. Jesus was uncertain and walked in silence until he was sure of his next action.
Words: 93
Title: The Enigma
It was early morning as the sun silently climbed over the distant mountains with a promise of another hot day. Jesus was walking along the river contemplating how to talk to his disciples about what he knew in his heart was a truth they would find difficult to accept. He needed them to stop protecting him from the Romans. Perhaps a talk with Judas, he thought. Judas was friends with the Romans and could easily divulge his whereabouts. Jesus was uncertain and walked in silence until he was sure of his next action.
Friday, September 03, 2010
Thursday, September 02, 2010
Story: 267
Words: 51
Title: Under the Counter
Little Charlie stared at the dark under the counter. He knew there was something dreadful there waiting to bite his toes if he got too close.
“Are you staring under the counter again? There’s just dust there,” his mom said.
“I know, Mommy. But the dust is bleeding,” Little Charlie said.
Words: 51
Title: Under the Counter
Little Charlie stared at the dark under the counter. He knew there was something dreadful there waiting to bite his toes if he got too close.
“Are you staring under the counter again? There’s just dust there,” his mom said.
“I know, Mommy. But the dust is bleeding,” Little Charlie said.
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Story: 266
Words: 84
Title: The Lost Day
“What day is it?” he asked, looking for a calendar.
“It’s Wednesday,” she answered.
“No, the date,” he said with a touch of anger.
“August 29th,” she responded.
“And the year?” he asked, irritated.
“What? 2010,” she answered wondering why he would ask for the year.
“I’ve lost yesterday,” he said. The thought of a lost day was almost too much.
“It’s gone,” he said. “I’ve lost our wedding day.”
“Do you remember last night,” she asked.
His chin dropped dejectedly to his chest.
Words: 84
Title: The Lost Day
“What day is it?” he asked, looking for a calendar.
“It’s Wednesday,” she answered.
“No, the date,” he said with a touch of anger.
“August 29th,” she responded.
“And the year?” he asked, irritated.
“What? 2010,” she answered wondering why he would ask for the year.
“I’ve lost yesterday,” he said. The thought of a lost day was almost too much.
“It’s gone,” he said. “I’ve lost our wedding day.”
“Do you remember last night,” she asked.
His chin dropped dejectedly to his chest.
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