"That this book you leant me...." said Captain Joss, head of the Royal Knights.

"The one about the reincarnated villainess who is kicked out of her party, only to discover she is the all-powerful Demon Lord, but really just wants to live a slow life running a cafe and book shop?"

"Yes," he said. "I realized - you are a demon running a book shop. I did some investigation...."

Demon Lord Lemu tensed. "Yes, I wrote that about myself. And?"

"Is... there a sequel?"

#microfiction

I saw it in the bookshop window, brightly lit in the early morning gloom.

I *had* to tell Clive.

I ran out of town and danced, elated, around bushes across the meadows, to the tree.

Clive was there, cross-legged, his back against the trunk, facing away to where the sun would soon rise.

"Clive! My book's out!"

Clive lowered his booklight, turned to me and smiled.

"And quite a good book it is."

#MicroFiction #TootFic #Writing #MastoArt #Art #CuratorPrompts #CuratorPrompts183

It was a smock in rainbow stripes. "This," said Dr. Bertram Birdwhistle, "is the Dress of Transformation. Should you put it on, you will become an entirely different person."

"What kind of person?" asked Avery.

"There's no telling," said Dr. Birdwhistle. "You might become a down-on-his-luck boxer, or a kindly old postman, or a chorus girl."

Avery stared at the dress.

"I must put it on!"

#microfiction #flashfiction

Today's Wandering Shop Stories #prompt is #stable. Feel like writing something short and sweet that has the word "stable" in it? Check out the definitions of the word at: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stable Join in and tag it with #wss366! #writing #WritingLife #microfiction h/t @stevendbrewer

Today's Wandering Shop Stories #prompt is #stable. Feel like writing something short and sweet that has the word "stable" in it? Check out the definitions of the word at: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stable Join in and tag it with #wss366! #writing #WritingLife #microfiction h/t @stevendbrewer

"But why me?"

The Time Police officer zips up the body bag holding my would-be assassin. "I can't say."

"Please, there's been hundreds. What will I do?"

The officer hesitates. "You'll create us."

They both disappear.

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

The #MastoPrompt for Wednesday 11 September 2024 is:

#goat

The poem or story can include the prompt word or be about the prompt word.

@ me, if you like, or just include the #MastoPrompt tag (to allow people to follow or filter their feeds), or keep your work to yourself - all the options are good as long as you're writing.

If you're including an image please do include alt-text so I can boost your post.

#Writing #SmallPoem #Poetry #Fiction #MicroFiction #SmallStories

The #MastoPrompt for Thursday 20 June 2024 is:

#alone

The poem or story can include the prompt word or be about the prompt word.

@ me, if you like, or just include the #MastoPrompt tag (to allow people to follow or filter their feeds), or keep your work to yourself - all the options are good as long as you're writing.

If you're including an image please do include alt-text so I can boost your post.

#Writing #SmallPoem #Poetry #Fiction #MicroFiction #SmallStories

Smoke wreathed the room. Walls were adorned with posters of AC/DC, Metallica, Blind Guardian, In Flames, and Slipknot. In the corner guitars sat on stands - a Gibson Les Paul, a Paul Reed Smith with winged birds on the fretboard.

Xarnath stood in a magic circle. "You have summoned me from the pit of hell," he growled, "and your request of me is... to sing?"

Hans grinned. "Every band claims to be evil or demonic," he said, "but how many have an actual demon on vocals?"

#microfiction

The #MastoPrompt for Friday 8th March 2024 is:

#redirect

The poem or story can include the prompt word or be about the prompt word.

@ me, if you like, or just include the #MastoPrompt tag (to allow people to follow or filter their feeds), or keep your work to yourself - all the options are good as long as you're writing.

#Writing #SmallPoem #Poetry #Fiction #MicroFiction #SmallStories

The Great Mage Sophix of Kairnmore Kingdom completed the ritual of summoning. To his great surprise, what stood in the magic circle was not a young human, but a giant winged lizard.

"You are... a dragon?" Sophix asked.

The creature inclined its head. "I am."

"This," the mage said, "can work. We summoned you from another world to be the hero to defeat the Demon King...."

The dragon shook his head. "My apologies," she said. "In my world, I am merely an accountant...."

#microfiction

Lady Gygax the lich returned home with a brass parrot in a cage. She opened the door.

"There, my friend. You cannot fly, but you are free to venture where you wish within my domain. Mistress Medea gave you life, but you are now my companion."

"Polly want a cracker?" the parrot asked.

"Oh! That will not do - you are no more a living bird than I am flesh and blood. We must teach you a better phrase."

She leaned in and asked, "Polly want to dismantle the patriarchy?"

#microfiction

Welcome to #QuillsQuest, a weekly #writing #prompt for mastodon.art and beyond!

Theme for Oct 30--Nov 5: Fear

How could we do else at this dark time than take a delve into terrors and horrors beyond our imagining. Whether you seek to frighten or explore being frightened, let your words this week be tinged with fear

All genres are welcome, as are #WIP excerpts! Just be sure to use the hashtag above!

#AuthorsOfMastodon #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #Poetry #MicroFiction
@penprompts

Grandpa Anarchy crashed through plate glass and rolled across a hardwood floor. He came up with fists raised. "Maelficent Mastodon!" he yelled. "At last we've found you!"

A wooly pachyderm glanced up from his desk. "I beg your pardon? I, Sir, am an accountant."

Grandpa's sidekick Mouseketeerorist looked over the mammoth's shoulder. "He speaks true, SIr."

"Dang," muttered Grandpa. "That's three times this month. How many anthropomorphic pachyderms does this city hold?"

#microfiction

The #MastoPrompt for Saturday 14th October is:

#formulate

The poem or story can include the prompt word or be about the prompt word.

#SmallPoems #Poetry #MicroFiction #SmallStories

@penprompts (remove link from any replies)

"The dog is broken." Schrödinger the cat stared at an inert mechanical malmute. "It's not my fault. I barely touched him."

Tim the technomancer inspected the dog. "Bad news. His programming is corrupted - and I'm not sure I can restore it."

"Is that bad news?"

"Hush, you. I have a backup, but it's untested. So do I have a backup? You might say it exists in a quantum superposition. We can't know if it's real until we try it."

The cat sighed. "This, again?"

#microfiction

On the library returns trolley, books told about their adventures.

"I was only checked out yesterday," a thriller said, "and read in one sitting."

"I was out for weeks," said a romance, "and reread twice. I got so many hugs!"

"Oh. I'm never hugged," said the thriller.

"One day."
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

This account has been too quiet and it's entirely my fault--well, mine and a little bit the job that started with an in-person training week. At any rate, let's fix that!

Do you have a #prompt or #writing conversation you'd like people to know about? Drop the hashtag with a little bit of info in the replies and I'll boost everything I see until I can get back to more regularly sharing everybody's awesome words!✨✍️

#AmWriting #WritingCommunity #AuthorsOfMastodon #Poetry #MicroFiction #TootFic

#AuGHOST Day 16: #Camelot

Ms. Dumont raised an eyebrow.
“The suit of armor doesn’t really *go* with the Victorian-haunted-house atmosphere. The owners really are overdoing things. Well, at least I’ll be able to debunk this one quickly.”

From her hiding place, Milly barely suppressed a giggle.
Skeptics were always the most fun

#Watercolor, #Gouache, & #Ink painted on cardboard & scrap paper, then assembled in #Krita.

#AuGhost2023 #mastoArt #Upcycling #MicroFiction #Ghost #Painting

Welcome to #QuillsQuest, a weekly #writing #prompt for mastodon.art and beyond!

Theme for Aug 14-20: Writer's Block

Moments where words/ideas refuse to come are all too familiar to most. This week, look deeply into them; let frustration, triumph, defeat, whatever emotions such instances pull forth in you be fuel.

All genres are welcome, as are #WIP excerpts! Just be sure to use the hashtag above!??

#AuthorsOfMastodon #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #Poetry #MicroFiction
@penprompts

Welcome to #QuillsQuest, a weekly #writing #prompt for mastodon.art and beyond!

Theme for Aug 8-13: Root Systems

Just as the roots of trees interlace beneath the ground to support one another, so are we supported (or betrayed,) by people, places and systems. Let this idea be loam for your #Writing this week.

All genres are welcome, as are #WIP excerpts! Just be sure to use the hashtag above!??

#AuthorsOfMastodon #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #Poetry #MicroFiction
@penprompts

"Why are there no ghost animals?" asked Edie.

"Most animals do not leave this world with regret," Susan stated. "But ghosts of animals do exist."

"Even ghosts of dinosaurs?"

"It would be quite unusual for a ghost to haunt the earth for a hundred million years," the babysitter said. "But I suppose it's possible. Why do you ask?"

Edie watched as the ghostly t-rex pass by the window. It towered over their house.

"No reason," she replied.

#microfiction #flashfiction #tootfic #smallstory

#CuratorPrompts165 #MicroFiction

17:45 on la Rue des Dames, Paris. He sits across from me, silently sipping chilled Chardonnay. I ignore him and instead watch commuters hurrying by. I feel like we’re caught in a bubble of quiet stillness while the world moves on around us.

He touches my hand. “We should go to Rome. Or Madrid.”

I look at him with a frown. “Why?”

He has no answer and falls silent again. I have no objection to his plan, except for that one word, ‘we’.

#ArtReference #Microfiction

The agent checked his chronometer once again as he consulted the myriad branching probabilities on his chart. His target would be sitting at the table outside any minute. He cocked his temporal eliminator and waited.

However unbeknownst to him, the local temporal location of the cafe 'Le 17.45' was ironically two minutes out of phase with the prime timeline and the target had already arrived and was sitting by the toilets, gun aimed at the agent's back.

'You look terrible.'

'Yeah. Haven't slept much lately.'

'How come?'

'New zombies.'

'They moan so loud?'

'No. We found out the zombies dance to music and now we play music all day and night to distract them from chasing us.'

#MicroFiction

New prompt day: Mondays!✨

Welcome to #QuillsQuest, a weekly prompt for mastodon.art and beyond!

Theme for Jul 3/9: Who am I?

With new spaces come introductions, so #write something of yourself in some way. This does not have to be literal--anything that makes your soul sing is perfect!

all genres are welcome, as are #WIP excerpts! Just be sure to use the hashtag above!✍️

#Writing #AuthorsOfMastodon #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #Poetry #TootFic #SmallPoems #MicroFiction
@penprompts

'Not exactly a knight.'

'Or shining armour.'

'Not to mention the lack of white horse.'

The princess clutched her werewolf girlfriend's arm. 'I was only ten years old when I said that, okay? Now I know to appreciate warm feet in bed on cold nights.'

#MicroFiction

Content warning: hashtag spam Reveal/hide

Jax stared at the alien on his doorstep -- a short being in a silver suit, with grey skin, a big head, and dark eyes.

"Your music," the alien said, "is too loud. We can hear it from the dimension next door...."

"Whoa!" said Jax. "From another dimension?"

Behind the alien stood a beautiful elf with pointed ears. "Yes. We hail from the world bordering yours on the other side. It's quite loud."

Jax glanced back at his friend. "Dude, I TOLD you this new sound system rocks!"

#microfiction

"The advantage is a new life in a new world. You choose who you will become."

"And the disadvantages?"

"You leave your old life behind -- your friends, family... and memories. You won't recall who you were."

He was old, with few friends. A new start was enticing. He signed the paperwork, and stepped through the gateway... and into bright sunlight.

She froze. What had she been thinking? Memories drifted then vanished like morning mist. She could not recall.

#microfiction

The #MastoPrompt for Monday 5th June 2023 is:

#self

The poem or story can include the prompt word or be about the prompt word.

#SmallPoems #Poetry #MicroFiction #SmallStories

"It was at that moment," said Meteor Lass, stalking the drawing room before her audience, "when I detected the scent of Taleggio cheese, that I knew for certain that the murderer was...."

"Nobody!" exclaimed Mister Chronos, bursting into the room. Beside him stood the victim. "Once again I went back in time and prevented the murder!"

Meteor Lass sighed. "Master's in Forensic Science," she muttered, "but do I ever get to demonstrate it, even once?"

#microfiction #flashfiction #tootfic

Xox found Zya at the center of the dig. "What have you discovered?"

"Video records," Zya replied. "Documentation of their culture! This one is a story from an ancient war."

Xox watched the projection slab. "Mesmerizing," they said.

"I have been watching for three hours," stated Zya.

"We have duties..." began Xox, but then fell silent.

The video finished. Another began. "I could watch all day," said Xox.

"Yes," replied Zya. "They called this... Youtube."

#microfiction #flashfiction

Hello @Curator

Hello everyone,

I made my first toot some weeks ago.

I like making films and #screenprinting. I'm gaining experience with installations and have a lot of fun making #collages.

Since using this platform I discovered #microfiction which is super inspiring.

Yesterday I wrote my first #writingprompt

I looking forward to all your fascinating toots and hope I continue to contribute once in a while.

#introduction #newhere

#microfiction #horror #writing #ItsNotTheOneWhereMyKidIsAnEldritchAbomination

Two eyes stare at me. Two points of dim light against the pitch black of the night.

Two eyes stare at me.
I stare back.
Two eyes stare at me.
I stare back.
One eye winks at me, playfully.
I exhale, relieved. I wink back.

A dozen eyes stare at me.

"If I pull the sword from the stone, I become king?"

"Exactly so."

"What about that one?"

"That? You become an emperor."

"And that one?"

"Prime minister, elected every four years."

I frowned. "Is there one that offers great wealth, but no responsibility?"

He smiled darkly. "You seek the blade of the dark ruler! An excellent choice!"

"No! I don't want to rule anyone!"

The guardian rolled his eyes. "A socialite? How disappointing. This way, then...."

#microfiction #flashfiction

#CuratorPrompts #CuratorPrompts157

"It's so sad that there's no magic in this world."
"Isn't there, though? Look, there's a centaur over there. The horse head is a decoy. And see that bank? There's Noah's Ark -- hidden behind the trees. And in the park, among the flowers, that is a satyr."
"... I can't believe it! How come you could spot those and I couldn't?"
"My mobile's got a 30x stabilized optical zoom."

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStory / #SmallStories / #FlashFiction

✏️⚡#FlashFictionFriday #writing challenge! ✏️⚡
Let's write a #ShortStory or a bit of #MicroFiction that starts off with the sentence below:

"I was stuck in traffic and I still had no idea where my pants were."

Please boost! And hashtag posts with #FlashFictionFriday.

One day I will find a way to free all the digital zombies,
stuck on a page,
reliving their last post,
final update,
ultimate comment

("You posted this five years ago! Repost as memories? [ ] yes [ ] yes")

One day I will find a way to free all the digital zombies,
trapped by information megacorps,
release their bitful souls

One day I will find a way to free all the digital zombies,
kickstart Apocalypse in ones and zeros

#MicroFiction #TootFic #ShortSciFi #MastoPoetry

Laugh, cry, cringe
Sofa Stories, a picture book for grownups
From me and @monteiro

https://etsy.com/shop/betsystreeter

#Fiction #Microfiction #FlashFiction #Drawing #Illustration #Animals #ArtBook #FediBooks #MastoBooks

The village guard blinked in disbelief when the witch approached with a walking table behind her. 'Halt! What's this?'

'What's what?'

'That table. Did you make it alive?'

'Yes.'

'Why?'

'Wouldn't you like to stretch your legs when you stand around all day and night? So I thought I'd take it some place.'

#MicroFiction (via #TableChallenge by @Curator)

The glorious sun shone down on them. Transfixed, they stared at the humps of the very long snake as it made it's way around the block. You see, a moat surrounded the neighborhood, owned by a very powerful man. The only way to get to the Avalon was to hop in a sewer hole, take an elevator down 3 stories, hop on a conveyer belt that took you across the street and get on another elevator back up. I guess that's the cost of privacy. Which we needed.

#FlashFictionFriday #FlashFiction #MicroFiction

'You never draw any animals or people or other creatures in your illustrations?' asked the girl when she watched him finish one of a sunny small clearing in the woods.

'I don't have to.'

She looked doubtful at him. 'Why?'

'Just sit back and watch.'

They sat silent for a while, and the girl's eyes grew bigger when a rabbit and a squirrel peeked from behind a tree, and a fairy fluttered around blooming flowers.

#MicroFiction

#CuratorPrompts #CuratorPrompts148

(What is Curator Prompts? https://mastodon.art/@Curator/108293755403439999)

Sketch, re-create, or find inspiration for some #SmallPoems , #microfiction #PixelArt, #GlitchArt, #Music, etc. or try a #2MinuteSketch #5MinuteSketch

Join in from any instance!

#ArtReference

Sources:
https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-back-view-of-women-walking-on-the-street-10717311/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/road-bike-15953937/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/interior-of-modern-stylish-room-with-two-tier-layout-and-floral-design-3965563/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/pastel-coloured-vintage-style-image-of-a-car-parked-in-front-of-a-building-and-palm-in-foreground-13397275/

#writever Damselfly

"If I were you I'd stop bothering her."
"Why?"
"She can turn into a damselfly..."
"Er... So what?"
"... A *were*-damselfly. Seven foot long, sevent foot wingspan, six prehensile limbs and mandibles like huge cleavers."
"... Ah."

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStory / #SmallStories / #FlashFiction #english

#CuratorPrompts #CuratorPrompts145

(What is Curator Prompts? https://mastodon.art/@Curator/108293755403439999)

Sketch, re-create, or find inspiration for some #SmallPoems , #microfiction #PixelArt, #GlitchArt, #Music, etc. or try a #2MinuteSketch #5MinuteSketch

Join in from any instance!

#ArtReference

Sources:
https://www.pexels.com/photo/narrow-river-flowing-through-mountainous-valley-5110959/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/landscape-field-animal-countryside-15383518/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/smiling-woman-with-dogs-15094547/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/staircase-outside-a-brown-building-near-sea-11783982/

The #MastoPrompt for Friday 17th March 2023 is:

#reclaim

The poem or story can include the prompt word or be about the prompt word.

#SmallPoems #Poetry #MicroFiction #SmallStories

The #MastoPrompt for Friday 17th March 2023 is:

#reclaim

The poem or story can include the prompt word or be about the prompt word.

#SmallPoems #Poetry #MicroFiction #SmallStories

#CuratorPrompts #CuratorPrompts143

(What is Curator Prompts? https://mastodon.art/@Curator/108293755403439999)

Sketch, re-create, or find inspiration for some #SmallPoems , #microfiction #PixelArt, #GlitchArt, #Music, etc. or try a #2MinuteSketch #5MinuteSketch

Join in from any instance!

#ArtReference

Sources:
https://mastodon.art/@Billthoo/110015121583911042 by @Billthoo
https://mastodon.art/@curiousquail/109983052262073927 by @curiousquail
https://mastodon.art/@FlyingTerra/109959519762526174 by @FlyingTerra
https://ohai.social/@elsaelva/109432756462098425 by @elsaelva

#CuratorPrompts #CuratorPrompts142

(What is Curator Prompts? https://mastodon.art/@Curator/108293755403439999)

Sketch, re-create, or find inspiration for some #SmallPoems , #microfiction #PixelArt, #GlitchArt, #Music, etc. or try a #2MinuteSketch #5MinuteSketch

Join in from any instance!

#ArtReference

https://learn.etchrstudio.com/catalog $10 class coupon code: MAS312YX

Sources:
https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-man-posing-outdoors-15436335/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-chevrolet-car-on-snow-covered-ground-13862328/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/dirt-road-cover-by-dried-leaves-235721/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/2-green-palm-trees-beside-wooden-door-3075974/