The difference is really in the length, and that really is up to the author. I think sub 150 is probably micro, sub 500 is flash, but it's totally arbitrary and up to you and what you want to achieve. Often I'll use an arbitrary number just as a challenge to see what I can come up with. Miguel sometimes has prompts as low as 50 words which can be fun.
As for the choosing the word, again sometimes a word just comes to you, or sometimes you write a piece and you realise the word afterwards.
For this particular exercise I actually asked ChatGPT to give me a list of about 50 one word prompts. The original aim wasn't to actually create this meta journey but instead just to build a prompt library for exercises. After a while I noticed that a lot of the words could be interpreted as stages on a journey and thought it would be cool if all of the actual pieces could form part of a single narrative so I did a bit of rearranging and reduced the scope a bit to get the final 20.
I didn't want to drop the whole list in one go as I didn't want to spoil the surprise / fun but the final list kinda follows the classic heroes journey. I then thought that it would be interesting to look at the symbolism of each word and see where it fits within the heroes journey and how it can be interpreted, so in a way the final product will have an element of a writing craft book. I think I must have been channeling Jaime Buckley at that point and his Ink & Purpose series looking to see if I could "hide" some learning in side my fiction.
When the Odyssey is complete I'm thinking of packaging the whole thing up, doing a bit of editing and publishing it as a small ebook and maybe a print on demand workbook with spaces for the reader to create their own odyssey.
Oh, Jon—my friend—you magnificent word-weaver, you’ve absolutely made my day with this. I’m genuinely honored that you shared this with me, and even more honored to be invited along for Kev’s journey.
There’s something deeply moving about a hero who isn’t out there swinging swords or shouting from a mountaintop...but instead chooses to show up, to listen, to be present.
That resonates so powerfully with me.
Mismatched socks, a half-empty cup of tea, and a confused heart?
That sounds… well, that sounds like a hero I’d actually trust with my own story.
I love the concept of these micro fictions building a cohesive narrative, yet still allowing each word to stand alone as its own spark. You’ve captured what so many of us wish we could do: be a small, steady light rather than a blinding, explosive one.
That is heroic in the BEST way.
Thank you, sincerely, for including me in this. I’ll be following Kev’s Odyssey with a big grin, a worn travel biscuit, and a heart wide open. And you can bet your best quill I might toss a few of my own tiny tales in along the way.
Haven't ever tried microfiction, to be honest.
Here’s to a path of kindness, mystery, and meaning.
You’ve inspired me, Jon—cheers to the adventure ahead!
What a wonderful idea @Jon Howski. I am looking tremendously forward to where your MicroFic will lead Kev. And maybe I will respond in my own way to one of the prompts. Yet as I just finished my own Creative Challenge #PrideOnThePage today and wrote an Essay or Poem as well as many comments to other creators throughout the month of June and am currently in a Rehabilitation program for my mental health, I don't know when. I will be reading though.
This is... cool. I must admit I've tried micro-fiction and flash fiction but could never quite discipline myself to do it regularly.
I'll change that to-day. Can I ask the difference between Micro & Flash fiction first? Also how do you choose the word?
The difference is really in the length, and that really is up to the author. I think sub 150 is probably micro, sub 500 is flash, but it's totally arbitrary and up to you and what you want to achieve. Often I'll use an arbitrary number just as a challenge to see what I can come up with. Miguel sometimes has prompts as low as 50 words which can be fun.
As for the choosing the word, again sometimes a word just comes to you, or sometimes you write a piece and you realise the word afterwards.
For this particular exercise I actually asked ChatGPT to give me a list of about 50 one word prompts. The original aim wasn't to actually create this meta journey but instead just to build a prompt library for exercises. After a while I noticed that a lot of the words could be interpreted as stages on a journey and thought it would be cool if all of the actual pieces could form part of a single narrative so I did a bit of rearranging and reduced the scope a bit to get the final 20.
I didn't want to drop the whole list in one go as I didn't want to spoil the surprise / fun but the final list kinda follows the classic heroes journey. I then thought that it would be interesting to look at the symbolism of each word and see where it fits within the heroes journey and how it can be interpreted, so in a way the final product will have an element of a writing craft book. I think I must have been channeling Jaime Buckley at that point and his Ink & Purpose series looking to see if I could "hide" some learning in side my fiction.
When the Odyssey is complete I'm thinking of packaging the whole thing up, doing a bit of editing and publishing it as a small ebook and maybe a print on demand workbook with spaces for the reader to create their own odyssey.
I gotcha
Late to the party, but I love this already. I am getting strong Samwise Gamgee vibes here, and I am in!
Thank you so much for that knock prompt! I needed it! Here is my Microfiction story.
https://open.substack.com/pub/rosealicewhite/p/the-allure-of-moonstone?utm_source=app-post-stats-page&r=4df10y&utm_medium=ios
That's a lovely story and I love how it could go in so many different directions.
Oh, Jon—my friend—you magnificent word-weaver, you’ve absolutely made my day with this. I’m genuinely honored that you shared this with me, and even more honored to be invited along for Kev’s journey.
There’s something deeply moving about a hero who isn’t out there swinging swords or shouting from a mountaintop...but instead chooses to show up, to listen, to be present.
That resonates so powerfully with me.
Mismatched socks, a half-empty cup of tea, and a confused heart?
That sounds… well, that sounds like a hero I’d actually trust with my own story.
I love the concept of these micro fictions building a cohesive narrative, yet still allowing each word to stand alone as its own spark. You’ve captured what so many of us wish we could do: be a small, steady light rather than a blinding, explosive one.
That is heroic in the BEST way.
Thank you, sincerely, for including me in this. I’ll be following Kev’s Odyssey with a big grin, a worn travel biscuit, and a heart wide open. And you can bet your best quill I might toss a few of my own tiny tales in along the way.
Haven't ever tried microfiction, to be honest.
Here’s to a path of kindness, mystery, and meaning.
You’ve inspired me, Jon—cheers to the adventure ahead!
Thank you, I'm really excited to see how this pans out.
Sounds great! I’m in!
Welcome to the party
This is going to be wonderful to follow. I am stating my Microficiton series too: https://rolandoandrade.substack.com/p/the-forsaken-chest-memories-never-f88
Thanks, and good luck with the series. Kev'll be watching.
What a wonderful idea @Jon Howski. I am looking tremendously forward to where your MicroFic will lead Kev. And maybe I will respond in my own way to one of the prompts. Yet as I just finished my own Creative Challenge #PrideOnThePage today and wrote an Essay or Poem as well as many comments to other creators throughout the month of June and am currently in a Rehabilitation program for my mental health, I don't know when. I will be reading though.