Tiny But Mighty
Newsletter 23
Hi readers!
I had my first piece of fiction published in February by Bag of Bones Press for their horror anthology. I sit comfortably at page 62 with a 206-word story entitled “One Fine Day”. It’s a great little piece which started from a single line that sat simmering in my drafts then suddenly crystallized in one sitting when the call opened. I thought the story had a good chance at being selected and was beside myself when I got the acceptance. Me? You want me?
But I submitted a second story that didn’t get published. I’m proud of it and while it didn’t find a home with that publisher, deserved a space in the spotlight.
Here it is…
By Chance
A hard knock from the radiator startled him awake. His room was still shrouded in darkness as he unfurled his comforter.
She starts work at 3:00am. Maybe this time I’ll go inside.
He threw on the nearest pair of pants and tee shirt.
The lights in the kitchen flicked on as Anna set her bag down in the office. She put on an apron and passed the display case on the way down the hall to the fridge. Even across the parking lot, she could see him standing there. This was the tenth night he’d stood waiting in the dark. Her boss had brushed off her concerns. The man was probably a harmless vagrant waiting to fill his belly with the smell of brioche, he said.
Anna shivered as she opened up the fridge for eggs and butter. On her way back to the prep table, she looked out and saw he’d gone. Her body melted with relief.
He stood by the office door watching her knead dough, admiring the definition of her well toned forearms. Years of trained hands made her work look effortless. So beautiful, he thought. He inched forward and stepped on a dried noodle making a loud snap.
Their eyes met.
What I love about micro fiction is that you have limited space to construct a story. You are forced to be concise, but also more creative. In “One Fine Day” and in my 100-word story “Face-Off”, I add character descriptions and dialogue. The latter even has conflict. In “By Chance”, I switch perspectives twice. There are two settings. There’s the tension of not knowing what’s next.
When I think of myself as a world-builder, short fiction reminds me that a whole world can fit in your hand if you bend it just right. The reader journeys with you constructing the prologue and epilogue. Who is this man? Why is he so interested in the baker? It’s an unfinished thought that the reader is free to complete in their own imagination.
In another sense, seeing these two stories makes me consider all that we write as drafts, leading up to our best work. Where one gets the spotlight, the other remains in the shadows, but also free to become something more, different, or simply be in an another space to be seen. All our drafts are potential waiting to be realized.
Eventually, I’d like all my work to be seen, including the snippets and false starts. While I hadn’t planned on expanding this, maybe we can have a fun, little challenge:
Can you write the next 206 words to this story?
Email theflare@substack.com or leave a comment below. If there are some cool submissions, I’ll post the next installment.
Happy writing!
Speaking of publishing… I have a guest article on Save Our Happy Place, where I provide tips on sustainable living and for my friends at Fictionistas, I’ll be talking about newsletter promotions next week. Check them out!
Liven up your inbox with The Sample, where you get a variety of newsletters catered to your taste. Daily.
Chevanne, congrats on getting published! Very cool story. I couldn't agree more regarding your take about condensed writing. I do find that constraint drives better creativity and in my case, takes away too much fluffy/cutesy language and an overabundance of description.
Congrats on the publication! I really enjoyed your other story as well.
Writing micro is so much fun. I completely agree with what you said. The constraints of the form make us consider word choice/economize language. I think it’s great practice for any writer! I know it’s helped me a ton.