Micro Fiction: What Is It?

         The phrase "micro fiction" might lead one to believe that it is simply a synonym for the short story. However, the term actually refers to a subset of literature, often written in as few words as one thousand, one hundred, or even six. But how is this possible? How can one write a compelling tale with only a mere handful of words?

        Micro fiction, like any other story, is designed to produce feelings in the reader, drawing them in, and delivering a strong emotional blow. However, their authors only have a fraction of the space to do so. Because of this, they are forced to omit certain structures that would be obligatory for a longer tale, usually starting in the middle (in media res) or ending of events, with little time for backstory.

        Often though, this works to their advantage, as the reader is met with an unexpected twist that would not have been possible with a lengthy beginning. In these stories, you frequently find that what the author chooses to tell the reader is just as important as what they don't.

        Some like to push this medium to its extremes, however. When challenged, Ernest Hemmingway bet that he could write just as powerful a story in only six words, leading to one of the most famous flash fictions of all time, "Baby Shoes." 

        The ability to tell such a heart-wrenching story in so few words has inspired authors throughout the ages to challenge themselves and write the most powerful statements they can into as few words as possible, and with the age of the Internet, it's no wonder creating and sharing these stories is more popular than ever. (There's even a website specifically for these half-a-dozen word writings, full of people submitting them from famous authors, and even ones written by themselves. http://www.sixwordstories.net/)

        Micro fiction has remained a powerful format for generations, allowing for endless creativity, soul-stirring narratives, and a fun challenge, all in less than a thousand words.

Sources:

Towell, Gayle, "The Art of Micro Fiction,"
https://litreactor.com/columns/the-art-of-microfiction

https://www.slideserve.com/herve/micro-fiction

Ann, Lindsey, "How To Teach Micro Fiction Like a Pro," https://lindsayannlearning.com/micro-fiction/

http://www.sixwordstories.net/