Write Riveting Stories in 100 Words or Less: A Cheat-Sheet to Microfiction

By Jesse Weiner

As a judge for the popular storytelling platform NYC Midnight, I read a lot of flash fiction and microfiction submissions. For the unfamiliar, flash fiction is loosely defined as a short story of up to 1,000 words. Microfiction is a subset of flash fiction, with stories weighing in at 100 words or less.

If you’re shaking your head, thinking, There’s no way I could write a story that short, let alone a good one, despair not! And please—kick your internal critic to the curb.

You CAN write great microfiction. Like anything, it just takes practice. And some helpful pointers…

No matter the genre, the stories that reel me in, hold my interest, and stick with me long after I’ve stopped reading have the following 5 qualities:

5 Keys to Writing Riveting Shorts:

  • Start with a hook.

  • Make every word matter.

  • Have a clear beginning, middle, and end—AND a full emotional arc.

  • Include rising tension/stakes.

  • Craft round (nuanced) characters.

If you’re wondering, Aren’t those just the basic building blocks of good fiction? You’re 100% right. That’s because great microfiction is a complete, complex story despite its brevity.

Great microfiction grabs the reader from the first sentence and refuses to let go. How? Many successful shorts start not only in Media Res (in the middle of a narrative), but in a moment of conflict/tension. Great microfiction writers start where it matters.

Start your story without preamble, with your protagonist acting, doing, or thinking something that’s not only interesting, but something meaningful. Great hooks are relevant to the plot while also revealing character and/or establishing stakes.

HOT Tips! Hooks:

  • Use your opening sentence not only to grab attention, but to tease/reveal stakes.

  • Your opening sentence isn’t your only hook. Use your title to snag attention and—better yet—set/tease your story’s tone/mood.

A huge part of writing unputdownable fiction is utilizing exacting diction. Make every word count. Consider not only the standard meaning of each word, but the tone, sonority (and by this I mean not only the sound, but the shape and feel of a spoken word), and the emotional resonance evoked through your word choice.

HOT Tips! Diction:

  • Use word choice to impact the speed (aka pace) at which your piece is read. Shorter words = a faster read.

  • Use words with layered meanings to add complexity/nuance.

  • Consider how your word choice can be used to raise tension/stakes.

Okay, now to the bit that might have a few of you sweating…crafting a microfiction with a full emotional arc. This doesn’t mean that your character must have an emotional shift by the story’s conclusion, but it does mean taking your reader through an emotional shift. Give them a surprise twist. Invite empathy, then deliver an emotional sucker punch.

Ask yourself: How can I imbue my story with meaning? How can I invite readers to experience (or explore) a certain idea/emotion through my story?

If this sounds hard, that’s because it is. But hard doesn’t mean impossible. Write longer, then edit shorter. It may take a few drafts to find the heart of your story, but once you’ve found it, knowing what to keep and what to cut gets easier.

HOT Tips! Character Arcs:

  • Keep it simple. Think fewer characters (1-2) and a single problem (or exploring one, very specific question or theme).

  • Use specific details that invite the reader to an emotional experience.

  • Use poetic elements (meter, rhyme, alliteration, personification, rhythm, etc. etc.) to convey meaning/emotion.

Writing microfiction will make you a better writer. Why? Because it forces you to think about internal/external arcs, pacing, and characterization.

Don’t know where to start? Here are a few exercises to get you started:

Writing Exercises:

- Pick a character, an emotion, and a problem. Write a story in 6 words. Now, expand your story.

- Pick an object in your line of sight. Imagine who might’ve used that object last. Now, turn that event into a story with a surprise twist.

You can also try writing micro-fiction to pre-plot a novel. Or as a revision tool. Writing micro scenes can be a handy way to determine the content, order, and emotional impact in each chapter of your novel.

Now, take this handy dandy cheat-sheet, and get your microfiction on!

 Jesse holds an MFA in Writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Learn more about her editorial services at InksationalEditorial.com.

William KenowerWriting, Agoraphobi, Pandemic1 Comment