Flash fiction--also known as a "short short story" or "microfiction"--is a form of prose that has become increasingly popular in the digital age. Known for its compressed format, often with a twist ending, flash fiction pushes the writer to present a story in a tight package, to say much while saying little.
One popular form of flash fiction is the "Drabble," a complete story told in exactly 100 words. Here's an example of a drabble that spells out the rules:
Drabble Rules: The One Hundred Word Variant
by David B. Wake
Introduction
Drabble is played sitting around a fire, while sipping brandy and
partaking of pleasant conversation with friends. The first person
to finish a novel wins.
A Doubtful History
The first game of Drabble, a name coined in a 'Monty Python' sketch,
was played at the beginning of the last century. The winner was
Mary Shelley with 'Frankenstein' and Polidori, who didn't actually
finish during that stormy weekend, came second with 'The Vampyre.'
The Rules
'One hundred words' must be EXACTLY one hundred words: not a
syllable more, not a letter less. In addition, up to fifteen
words (title, sub-titles and the like) are allowed.
Hyphenated-words-are-argued-about.
The End.
We propose a contest (minus the brandy sipping...) Send us your drabble before January 1st (thescop@lyndoninstitute.org), and we'll publish the best three here on The Scop, with the winner receiving a gift certificate to Green Mountain Books! We'll leave you with one more drabble for inspiration:
More Dumb Monsters
by James Steel
The monster climbed. Fighter aircraft, dwarfed by its
massive bulk, fired missile after missile into the scaly armour of
the beast's hide. Roars shattered the windows of the city and
reverberated far into the hills beyond. Artillery lined up in the
streets below, ready to deliver their crushing firepower against
the foe. High pitched screams of terror, barely heard between the
roar of collapsing buildings, announced the creature's hostage to
be still alive.
The creature paused and brought a huge scaly hand towards
its mouth.
"I've got the specimen," it said. "Beam me out of here and
level the place."