Nano-Fiction

Make sure that your 55 word fiction adheres to form.
55 words must form the ten sentences in order.
The first sentence is exactly ten words long.
Each following sentence is one word shorter.
The last will contain one word.
This could seem quite difficult.
In fact, it isn't.
It demands efficiency.
It's simple.
Right?

- Bill Turner

This originally appeared in Per Contra. Bill Turner is a fiction writer and stage playwright whose works have appeared extensively in the web.

Yellow Eyed Demon

Sons look on in horror as Daddy’s yellow eyes gleam.
Big brother’s pressed against the wall, bloody shirt tearing.
Little Sammy holds a gun, but doesn’t shoot.
Demon thinks he’s won and smiles broadly.
One loud bang announces he’s wrong.
He falls to weak knees.
Daddy opens his eyes.
He orders, “Shoot.”
Gun lowers.
“No.”

- Hidden Relevance

This originally appeared in FanFiction.net.

Phantom's Angel

From the catwalk high above, he watches his protégé perform.
He reaches, as if to touch her, but can't.
Lost to music, she sings, unaware of him.
Soon, though, he is sure, she'll realize.
He, only he, can love her.
All others merely pretend to.
He longs for her.
Below, she sings.
He waits.
Patience.

- Hidden Relevance

This originally appeared in FanFiction.net. Hidden Relevance lives in Texas and wants to teach high school English while writing the greatest paranormal romance novel of all time.

The Agony of Defeat

Arms crossed with eagle eyes glued to the screen, Victor
prepares for a final round of Marvel vs. CapCom.
Kick, spin, punch, dodge! Jump, tumble, duck, evade!
He sees an opening and unleashes a
deadly combination but alas, his foe’s
preemptive strike spells his doom!
Again, Chun Li Taseihas
shows him the
meaning of
humiliation!

Lake Erie

We stood on the beach, coarse sand and smooth stones.
Couples shifted position, keeping our distance from each other.
While we waited, we chose water worn stones.
These we slipped into our jacket pockets.
We warmed them with our hands.
Impatient, we waited for sunset.
Foolish, wishing time away!
So we were.
Green flash.
Stone.

- Miriam N. Kotzin


This piece originally appeared in Per Contra.

Surgical Day

She smiles a Cheshire Cat Grin and gives me a Valium.
Radiation-needle markers disguise themselves as tortured croquet wickets.
I fret while talking to the White Rabbit.
I’m rolling down toward the Mad Hatter.
My laughter paints the tension red.
The anesthesiologist visits, breathing drugs.
“Off with your breasts.”
“It’s the Queen.”
“Tea time.”
“Alice?”

- Mary Ellen Letarte


This piece originally appeared in 55 Fiction.

The Arrival of Morning

“I’m not gonna miss this meteor shower,” says Fiona as
she lies down on the blanket with her digital
camera, some Mr. Chips and her iPod. Eyes
closed, she thinks about the praises she’ll
get when she shows the pictures
to her class. Suddenly she
hears, “Wake up, Sweetie!”
It’s Mom. “Breakfast
is getting
cold.”


This piece originally appeared in Paperbag Writes.