Microfiction Sprint
Write tiny stories—50 to 200 words—in short bursts, then share them aloud if you’d like.
Materials & Shopping Links
Paper or Notecards
Small surfaces to keep stories short and focused
Quantity: 3–5 per person
Pens
Simple pens for quick writing
Quantity: 1 per person
Prompt List
Short phrases or images to spark stories
Quantity: Shared set
Welcome to Your Microfiction Sprint
Microfiction is storytelling in miniature. With only a few sentences to work with, you get to focus on a single moment, image, or twist—and then move on to the next.
Before You Begin
- Best for 3–10 people
- Works in cafés, living rooms, or any quiet space
- Let people know they can always choose not to share
Flow of the Gathering
1. Warm-Up & Prompts (10 minutes)
- Hand out notecards and pens
- Read 3–5 prompts aloud and let people choose one
- Set a word range (e.g., 50–150 words) to keep things tight
2. Writing Sprints (30–40 minutes)
- Run 2–3 sprints of 10–15 minutes each
- Use a fresh card and prompt for each sprint
- Encourage people to keep moving and not overthink
3. Sharing (20–30 minutes)
- Invite volunteers to read a story aloud
- After each, respond with what you liked or found striking—no detailed critique
- Celebrate the variety of voices and tones in the room
Variations & Ideas
- Theme night: All prompts tied to a specific theme (e.g., rain, travel, first day).
- Anonymous reading: Collect stories in a pile and read them without names.
- Digital version: Have people submit stories in a shared doc.