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.
_____________________________________________________________
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Story: 326
Words: 84
Title: Past Life Inheritance
Soon he would turn thirty-three. But why was the age of past life inheritance thirty-three? And why was the amount he would receive a secret? It could be nothing or it could be millions. There was no way to know how much money was deposited on his behalf upon his death in that previous life. Maybe that’s why the almost insane incentive to make it in this life and take the PLI as a gift—or not. Or maybe there was no past life.
Words: 84
Title: Past Life Inheritance
Soon he would turn thirty-three. But why was the age of past life inheritance thirty-three? And why was the amount he would receive a secret? It could be nothing or it could be millions. There was no way to know how much money was deposited on his behalf upon his death in that previous life. Maybe that’s why the almost insane incentive to make it in this life and take the PLI as a gift—or not. Or maybe there was no past life.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Story: 325
Words: 85
Title: Stars in Two Skies
Evening twilight brings its magic to the mountains with a display of alpenglow. We take a short walk to lakeside and watch the few delightful moments of red orange glow. Soon it will be pitch dark and the stars will begin to take their place in the sky. High in the Sierra Nevada mountains the stars form a carpet of points of light that take us back to Mars and those rare times when the atmosphere is clear of dust and outdoes this earthly sky.
Words: 85
Title: Stars in Two Skies
Evening twilight brings its magic to the mountains with a display of alpenglow. We take a short walk to lakeside and watch the few delightful moments of red orange glow. Soon it will be pitch dark and the stars will begin to take their place in the sky. High in the Sierra Nevada mountains the stars form a carpet of points of light that take us back to Mars and those rare times when the atmosphere is clear of dust and outdoes this earthly sky.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Story: 324
Words: 54
Title: Error of Correction
Lexi saw the bat flying against the twilight sky and ducked instinctively. Damn! she thought, why do I always duck? I’m not afraid of bats. She walked down the darkening path and saw something flying at her. She was determined not to duck this time. She awoke in the hospital with a bandaged head.
Words: 54
Title: Error of Correction
Lexi saw the bat flying against the twilight sky and ducked instinctively. Damn! she thought, why do I always duck? I’m not afraid of bats. She walked down the darkening path and saw something flying at her. She was determined not to duck this time. She awoke in the hospital with a bandaged head.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Story: 323
Date: October 28, 2010
Words: 77
Title: Memories of Earth
As he painted, the sun disappeared behind a distant ridge. It set just as fast as on Earth but it appeared smaller. Phobos rose quickly in the West and raced across the sky into the darkening night. He took a moment and imagined what it would be like if Earth’s moon moved that fast. It would be like some sort of weird acid-trip time speed up. He packed up to leave, sighed deeply, and thought of Earth.
________________________________________
Story: 322
Date: October 27, 2010
Words: 27
Title: Mars Landscape
The colors that best illustrate the Martian landscape are rust with a blue-grey atmosphere. He sat in the Obs1 deck and tried to get the oils right.
Comment: Catching up.
Date: October 28, 2010
Words: 77
Title: Memories of Earth
As he painted, the sun disappeared behind a distant ridge. It set just as fast as on Earth but it appeared smaller. Phobos rose quickly in the West and raced across the sky into the darkening night. He took a moment and imagined what it would be like if Earth’s moon moved that fast. It would be like some sort of weird acid-trip time speed up. He packed up to leave, sighed deeply, and thought of Earth.
________________________________________
Story: 322
Date: October 27, 2010
Words: 27
Title: Mars Landscape
The colors that best illustrate the Martian landscape are rust with a blue-grey atmosphere. He sat in the Obs1 deck and tried to get the oils right.
Comment: Catching up.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Story: 318
Words: 54
Title: Steak No Matter What
You can’t get chicken here on Mars. It’s just way too costly to raise foul. There’s that fake stuff made from tofu and old cardboard that McDonalds sells. You have to put loads of mustard on it. But we do have real beef. Somehow our appetite for steak overcame the problems of raising cattle.
Words: 54
Title: Steak No Matter What
You can’t get chicken here on Mars. It’s just way too costly to raise foul. There’s that fake stuff made from tofu and old cardboard that McDonalds sells. You have to put loads of mustard on it. But we do have real beef. Somehow our appetite for steak overcame the problems of raising cattle.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Story: 317
Words: 53
Title: Mars Revelation
From Marsport take the shuttle up to the Canals of Mars restaurant. The name harkens back to an Earth based time when only telescopes explored Mars. Take a leisurely dinner as the restaurant rotates, providing a spectacular view of this unique landscape. We will remind our children that often the inimitable becomes commonplace.
Words: 53
Title: Mars Revelation
From Marsport take the shuttle up to the Canals of Mars restaurant. The name harkens back to an Earth based time when only telescopes explored Mars. Take a leisurely dinner as the restaurant rotates, providing a spectacular view of this unique landscape. We will remind our children that often the inimitable becomes commonplace.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Story: 312
Date: October 17, 2010
Words: 25
Title: Mantis Waiting
The morning light cast long shadows across the meadow. Praying mantis caught the light energy and took her waiting pose, eyes scanning the waving grass.
________________________________________
Story: 311
Date: October 16, 2010
Words: 19
Title: First Rain
Rain. When will it start. Waiting for the first drops to quench the dry earth and clean the rocks.
Comment: Two for one again.
Date: October 17, 2010
Words: 25
Title: Mantis Waiting
The morning light cast long shadows across the meadow. Praying mantis caught the light energy and took her waiting pose, eyes scanning the waving grass.
________________________________________
Story: 311
Date: October 16, 2010
Words: 19
Title: First Rain
Rain. When will it start. Waiting for the first drops to quench the dry earth and clean the rocks.
Comment: Two for one again.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Story: 310
Words: 63
Title: Mars Surprise
The Marsport lab would have to wait. They took the rock to the research station Tharsis for a closer look. The intriguing feature of the rock was put under the scanner. Within seconds the picture took form. Yes, there could be no mistake. It was a small bone, possibly from the leg of a small creature. Mars had been inhabited before human colonization.
Words: 63
Title: Mars Surprise
The Marsport lab would have to wait. They took the rock to the research station Tharsis for a closer look. The intriguing feature of the rock was put under the scanner. Within seconds the picture took form. Yes, there could be no mistake. It was a small bone, possibly from the leg of a small creature. Mars had been inhabited before human colonization.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Story: 307
Words: 37
Title: Spider and Butterfly
Spider sits motionless on a flower, its multifaceted eyes watching the small butterfly land within jumping distance. Butterfly is easily five times its size. Spider waits and waits. Butterfly quickly flits away. Spider turns toward another butterfly.
Comment: I watched this event occur over and over in my flower garden. The spider usually just waited but when it did jump it missed the butterfly as if it would rather go hungry than take on such a large prey.
Words: 37
Title: Spider and Butterfly
Spider sits motionless on a flower, its multifaceted eyes watching the small butterfly land within jumping distance. Butterfly is easily five times its size. Spider waits and waits. Butterfly quickly flits away. Spider turns toward another butterfly.
Comment: I watched this event occur over and over in my flower garden. The spider usually just waited but when it did jump it missed the butterfly as if it would rather go hungry than take on such a large prey.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Story: 306
Words: 55
Title: The Snow
You look out the window and notice snow coming down. It reminds you of your childhood and being poor. You look away, feeling gratitude inside for the abundance you enjoy now. You think of sharing that wealth with others. A smile comes on your face as you get your coat and head out the door.
Words: 55
Title: The Snow
You look out the window and notice snow coming down. It reminds you of your childhood and being poor. You look away, feeling gratitude inside for the abundance you enjoy now. You think of sharing that wealth with others. A smile comes on your face as you get your coat and head out the door.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Saturday, October 09, 2010
Story: 304
Words: 92
Title: The Argentine Tango
When was the last time you danced the Argentine tango? You know, you went to a club, found a guy and danced your ass off. How long has it been? A year? A month? It’s just that I love that dance, to feel the rhythm of the music, the excitement of the beat. I’m not so weird, you know. Lot’s of ladies like tango—and that’s all, no sex afterward. Not even a drink or late supper. Tango takes you to the brink of excitement and then lets you graze on it.
Words: 92
Title: The Argentine Tango
When was the last time you danced the Argentine tango? You know, you went to a club, found a guy and danced your ass off. How long has it been? A year? A month? It’s just that I love that dance, to feel the rhythm of the music, the excitement of the beat. I’m not so weird, you know. Lot’s of ladies like tango—and that’s all, no sex afterward. Not even a drink or late supper. Tango takes you to the brink of excitement and then lets you graze on it.
Friday, October 08, 2010
Thursday, October 07, 2010
Story: 302
Date: October 7, 2010
Words: 39
Title: Memories
Lunch at the corner deli was a wonderful, quiet affair. So many people to watch and no thoughts to worry about. Then he walked in and those old memories invaded her sanctuary. The mind can be a cruel mistress.
________________________________________
Story: 301
Date: October 6, 2010
Words: 63
Title: Twizzle’s Fear
Twizzle went home earlier than usual that night four years ago. No reason for it, just the way it worked out. The bomb went off just after he left. But this night Twizzle would stay longer and brave the fear. He started to sweat and felt the anxiety rising up his neck. Someone clapped at a joke and Twizzle fell to the floor.
Comment: Two for one. Forgot to write yesterday.
Date: October 7, 2010
Words: 39
Title: Memories
Lunch at the corner deli was a wonderful, quiet affair. So many people to watch and no thoughts to worry about. Then he walked in and those old memories invaded her sanctuary. The mind can be a cruel mistress.
________________________________________
Story: 301
Date: October 6, 2010
Words: 63
Title: Twizzle’s Fear
Twizzle went home earlier than usual that night four years ago. No reason for it, just the way it worked out. The bomb went off just after he left. But this night Twizzle would stay longer and brave the fear. He started to sweat and felt the anxiety rising up his neck. Someone clapped at a joke and Twizzle fell to the floor.
Comment: Two for one. Forgot to write yesterday.
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Monday, October 04, 2010
Story: 299
Words: 91
Title: The New World
To say the we are excited would be the greatest understatement of the century. The interstellar class ship Carl Sagan is in orbit around an earthlike planet we decided to call, NewGaia. Our first mission will be to obtain more data on the proposed landing site to determine its suitability for our colony.
But now I am simply looking at this magnificent planet and thinking about establishing a new human colony in a solar system so far from our birth world. That responsibility is humbling but we ready for the challenge.
Words: 91
Title: The New World
To say the we are excited would be the greatest understatement of the century. The interstellar class ship Carl Sagan is in orbit around an earthlike planet we decided to call, NewGaia. Our first mission will be to obtain more data on the proposed landing site to determine its suitability for our colony.
But now I am simply looking at this magnificent planet and thinking about establishing a new human colony in a solar system so far from our birth world. That responsibility is humbling but we ready for the challenge.
Sunday, October 03, 2010
Story: 298
Date: October 3, 2010
Words: 31
Title: The Paper Fan
It was there on the floor, precisely folded, torn by awful anger. A Japanese paper fan with a picture of a beautiful women in a kimono. And her next to it.
____________________________________________________
Story: 297
Date: October 2, 2010
Words: 45
Title: Broken Promises
You said you would always have my back. You told me you would always love me. Why did you tell her about the dog? It was here only hold on reality. How was I to know the dog was allergic to chocolate? I hate you.
Comment: Two for one since I missed yesterday.
Date: October 3, 2010
Words: 31
Title: The Paper Fan
It was there on the floor, precisely folded, torn by awful anger. A Japanese paper fan with a picture of a beautiful women in a kimono. And her next to it.
____________________________________________________
Story: 297
Date: October 2, 2010
Words: 45
Title: Broken Promises
You said you would always have my back. You told me you would always love me. Why did you tell her about the dog? It was here only hold on reality. How was I to know the dog was allergic to chocolate? I hate you.
Comment: Two for one since I missed yesterday.
Friday, October 01, 2010
Story: 296
Words: 52
Title: The Scream
The scream was hard to miss. Its sound reverberated off the walls and landed everywhere. Screams dig deep into the psyche and stiffen fingers and toes. I jumped up and turned in its direction. She had just one a quarter million on the double diamond slot machine. I pulled the handle again.
Words: 52
Title: The Scream
The scream was hard to miss. Its sound reverberated off the walls and landed everywhere. Screams dig deep into the psyche and stiffen fingers and toes. I jumped up and turned in its direction. She had just one a quarter million on the double diamond slot machine. I pulled the handle again.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
