Apr
The Website Is Live
by thegooddoctor in News
Greetings and salutations!
I am happy to announce the new website is now live. Please go check it out: https://www.astoryin100words.com/
I will begin posting stories again on Monday, so start submitting new stories. The same rules apply, which you can read here on our submissions page, or on the new website here: https://www.astoryin100words.com/submissions
If you’ve already submitted stories, I have them and will be posting them in coming weeks.
I’m really excited for you all to see the new site. I hope you dig it!
Feb
Something Strange Is Afoot
by thegooddoctor in News
UPDATE: I’ve received a lot of great feedback. Thanks to everyone who’s filled out the form. I’m definitely going to be building a new site in the near future, but for now everything will continue here, and stories will continue to go up.
If you haven’t, please fill out the survey and let me know what features you’d most like to see in the new site, and make any other recommendations you might have. Speak now or forever hold your peace!
You may have noticed some recent changes on the website. These updates are part of an ongoing evolution of A Story in 100 Words which I hope will lead to more stories, more submissions, and more community. When I started the website more than sixteen years ago (wow!), it was just meant as a personal outlet for my own writing. I never expected to have any submissions, let alone more than 1,800 and counting.
Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the site, and let me assure you that whatever changes do occur, the goal will be the same: to provide a 100% free option for submitting microfiction and getting published online.
The first change to the website involves adding a donation button. Some of you have asked about how to contribute to the site, and suggested a donation option. I’ve always said the best way to contribute to the site is purchasing one of my books on Amazon (which I still recommend as the first choice) but I have decided to give you the ability to make one time or recurring donations via Ko-Fi.
All proceeds will go to maintaining and updating the website. The hosting costs a few hundred dollars a year, not to mention the time that goes into posting stories and responding to submissions/queries. Any support will be very much appreciated.
Also on the wishlist: after 16 years, the WordPress site is running a bit ragged, and I would like to migrate to a new platform. I believe the site could be improved in a number of ways that will help promote community and make the overall experience more engaging and meaningful.
With all this in mind, I’ve created a quick survey to ask what sorts of changes you’d most like to see, and to take recommendations for new community features. Please take five minutes to provide your feedback.
Mar
Best Friends Forever
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Michael sits on the dock with his feet dangling in the water. Frank lounges next to him, his nose alert for danger or snacks.
Perhaps they will go for a walk along the lake, or follow the dried creek bed up to the moss tree. Or Michael might grab a fishing pole from the shed and spend the afternoon at the shady shore. Frank would probably rather chase squirrels and rabbits in the grassy meadow.
It’s the kind of day that you want to freeze in time and make it last forever.
The kind of day made for best friends.
Jun
Old Friend
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
I remember a much younger you, so energetic, so easily scared, so cheaply won over by a treat.
I remember you running in open fields until you realize how far away you are, then running just as fast back to me.
I remember the vet telling me you had cancer, and the impending darkness I endured for two years. When he admitted his mistake I wanted to be mad but couldn’t be. Those years were a gift.
I cherish all the hours that remain to us. I will carry you as far as you are willing and eager to go.
Mar
NEWS: A New 100-Word Site is on it’s Way
by thegooddoctor in News
Hey everyone,
Thanks for everyone who has filled out my survey (see below). It’s been very helpful, and I’ve decided to create a new site.
After much trial and error, and several painful dead ends, I’ve figured out a new host for the site. I’ve successfully ported over all of the (more than 2,000!!!!) stories from here, so we’re not losing any content. And in a coup that’s probably only of interest to me, we’re retaining all of the tags, meaning you’ll be able to search the site by subject, topic, proper noun, or your name (assuming you’ve submitted stories in the past). It was the tag import that was the major sticking point, but thankfully I found a solution that didn’t involve me paying someone to do the whole thing manually.
There’s still a lot of work to be done, and I have a full time job, so it is going to be a couple more weeks before the site’s ready to go live. It will have a new domain, which I will announce here once I’ve finalized the new name. And here’s a sneak peak of what the site is going to look like:
In the meantime, I won’t be posting stories here anymore. But please keep submitting stories. They will be read and posted once the new site goes live.
One final question: If you want to help, I could use a few sets of eyes to look at the new site and give me feedback before I unveil it to the world. If you’re willing, shoot me an email and I’ll add you to my list.
Thanks as always!
That is all.
Mar
Jog
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
I jog along the pathway with my Shih-Tzu Bentley, but the sunshine and heat cause me to stop and rest. Bently jumps on the bench panting. I pour water in the large plastic bowl I brought for him and drink the rest out of the bottle. I probably shouldn’t be jogging in this heat, but my compulsive tendencies tell me otherwise. After a ten-minute rest, I start again along the path.
Sweat drips down my forehead and the temperature feels intense. Suddenly, I get a shooting pain in the chest, and collapse to the ground, Bentley barking.
Everything goes black.
From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher
Mar
Sweet World
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
“I agree. I do find the world very sweet. I know there’s a lot of ugliness in the world, and not everyone is as fortunate as we are, but there’s always a bright side, even at the darkest moments. Like puppies. If there’s one thing that we can all agree on it’s that puppies are the sweetest thing under the sun. Nothing can be so bad that a litter full of puppies won’t bring a smile to your face. Know what I mean?”
After a long awkward pause…
“I was talking about ‘Sweet World.’ The candy shop. I’m craving sugar.”
Mar
Headless
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Mr. Morgan was incapable of making wise decisions.
He constantly confused compost and garbage pickup weeks. Waste-collection trucks drove past his house without stopping.
Mr. Gerald down the street didn’t receive his disability payments. A mail-delivery person was reprimanded for not noticing one differing number between the addresses of Mr. Gerald and Mr. Morgan.
The latter meant to take them over to his neighbor but didn’t after a rumour circulated: he was seen stumbling outdoors in the dark appearing to have no head.
Truth be, he wore a coat over his head for warmth because he often forgot his hat.
From Guest Contributor Krystyna Fedosejevs
Mar
Medley
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Jason worried his life lacked a central essence that defined his identity, and it was preventing him from being his true authentic self.
Jason’s therapist suggested he might consider that life is more of a medley than a single guitar solo.
Jason lay on the couch and considered the possibility Mr. Johnson might be right. Perhaps he was trying too hard to be the lead at everything, and it was okay to enjoy being part of the ensemble.
Then Jason glanced the photograph of Mr. Johnson’s cover band on the wall behind him and decided he needed a new therapist.
Mar
The Dean Of The Old School
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Dad segues into another riveting anecdote with, “That’s not how we did things back in the day.”
All three teenagers glaze over in unison. Closed. They nod if eye-checked for confirmation, but almost immediately they’re not listening. Their father is a bundle of clichés glued together with corn.
Had the kids been striving to understand, they could now know more about activities from back in the day than they know of current events. It seems Dad rides that tangent whenever possible.
Before the present era, everything was more superlative. Right kids? Whereas now it’s flat and probably made from plastics.
From Guest Contributor Todd Mercer
Todd writes fiction and poetry in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His collection Ingenue was published by Celery City Press. Recent work appears in Literary Yard, The Lake and the Michigan Bards Poetry Anthology.
Mar
Above Average Wear And Tear
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Pete grabbed his lucky t-shirt from the back of the closet and threw it on.
“I’m ready.”
“You are not wearing that.”
“What? It’s a classic.”
“It’s barely holding itself together. It must be 20 years old.”
Pete was proud of his vintage Pearl Jam concert tee. Sure it may have seen better days, but the real ones would know. “25 actually. I got it when they played Bridge School in ’99.”
“You promised me you’d dress up tonight.” Rebecca sighed, realizing it was a lost cause.
“Why are guys always more attached to their old clothes than their wives?”
Mar
Furry Friends
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
The park is filled with pets. It’s a hot summer day and I can feel the perspiration on my back. I come here every week to watch the dogs run and play, catching frisbees. It’s comical when one small dog grabs the frisbee and runs away under the tree when the owner is waiting.
You can see in the kids’ and parents’ faces, how their dogs make the family complete with their huge smiles, laughter and affection toward their hairy friends.
I didn’t realize the time. I must leave for an important appointment.
A new furry companion awaits my arrival.
From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher
Mar
Unlucky Day
by thegooddoctor in 100 Words
Being a leprechaun is a delight 99.75 percent of the time. All rainbows and clover and pots of gold. But for a single day in March, everyone wants their three wishes and suddenly life gets a lot more complicated.
Sean O’Patrick O’Reilly knew enough to scout his hiding place early. You never wanted to be caught because you’re scrambling for an empty cave or secluded tree hollow and without warning someone has you by the ankle demanding a million dollars or world peace.
But who could have foreseen an old, fat man’s metal detector stumbling upon Sean’s golden hat buckle?