For me, it started when I picked up Grant Faulkner's collection of 100-word stories, Fissures. Until that moment, I had no idea that a story could even be told in so few words. I would later learn that Grant had gotten his start after reading Paul Strohm's wonderful memoir of 100-word nonfiction stories, Sportin' Jack. After that, I could not quench my thirst for 100-word stories (or drabbles, as they are commonly called).
After reading a plethora of 100-word stories and then writing quite a few, I began to ponder if a novel (defined loosely) could be written using 100-word chapters. After scouring the internet for a while, I discovered no one had published a book like this. (In fact, most people were still digesting the concept of a 100-word story.) There was the novella-in-flash, popular in Bath, England, and the flash novel, developed by Nancy Stohlman, but there was nothing that spread a story arc over the course of one hundred 100-word chapters. So, I decided to write one.
Writing my first 100 x 100 micro novel, or "novel in 100-word stories," was quite a learning experience, but the process taught me a number of skills that have allowed me to write three so far (and a Christmas micro novella with fewer than 100 chapters). For the past few years, I have been evangelizing this form, and I am starting to see people develop books within this space.
If you were ever so inclined to try your hand at writing your current novel (or novella) idea as a 100 x 100 micro novel, here are 10 tips I learned the hard way so you won't have to bump your head unnecessarily on your journey.
1. Either outline the entire story or approach each chapter in an exploratory way.
Much like writing any long story, you have the options of building a thorough outline of all the events of the story (much like a film treatment) or exploring the unknown
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January - February 2025-Ausgabe von Writer’s Digest.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January - February 2025-Ausgabe von Writer’s Digest.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
What Is Your Story Question?
Revision and editing advice to take your first draft to the next level.
Writing for the People We Hope to Become
Elisa Stone Leahy's new middle-grade novel, Mallory in Full Color, tackles the in-between moments of adolescence, when who we are and who we want to become collide.
Creating Community
Whether hot off the presses or on the shelves for years, a good book is worth talking about.
Pat Barker
The Booker Prize-winning author of Regeneration shares the role characters play in developing novel ideas and explains what appeals to her about reimagining mythology.
How to Write in Different Genres
Emiko Jean and Yulin Kuang share tips and strategies for how they successfully write in different genres and mediums.
The Shortest Distance Between Two Points
Ten tips for writing a novel with 100-word stories.
Mayfly Marketing
How to sell your novel in a short-attention-span world.
"You'll be a great essay".
How to write six types of personal essays by finding the funny in your life.
The Idea Factory
Tired of staring at an empty screen? Unlock your inner fiction generator with these surprising inspiration techniques.
Seinfeld Was Right: That's a Story
Use mundane moments from everyday life to create stories that pack a punch.