On the eve of the summer solstice, I pick seven different flowers, in seven different fields, all in complete silence. I tie them into a bouquet and put it under my pillow.
Doing so means that tonight, I will dream of my true love.
I already live with her, but I like dreaming of her too.
You don't need much - a decent computer, layout software, a laser printer, and a basic time/space machine.
I scour news sites for good news, then write them up, design my zine, print it out, and send copies to my subscribers, a month ago.
Gives them a bit of hope, something to look forward to.
The shieldmaiden raised a tankard to the battered knight. "Dragon got the better of you? Told you."
"I'd like to see you do better!"
"Sure!"
She emptied her tankard, rode out, and soon returned with the princess.
"How?"
"First, make sure the princess wants to be rescued-"
"But-"
"-by you."
** Since it's come up:
If you want to illustrate, animate, stage, or otherwise adapt one of my microstories, you have permission to do so as long as I am credited as the author, and it is non-commercial. (I love seeing those, if you're comfortable with showing me.)
If one of my microstories inspires you to create your own story, in your own words, you don't need my permission - the story you create is yours to do what you want with. (Credit for inspiration is a courtesy, not a requirement.) **
When I speak, toads fall from my mouth.
There was a fairy dressed as some kind of fucking royalty. I got cursed for insufficient deference.
As far as I can tell, my toads are not any of the 500-ish known species.
If you have a degree in biology and want to cowrite a paper on new toads, hit me up.
I check the ticket. Overnight to Krakow. Sleeper, private compartment for two.
"Hurry up!" My fiancé leads the way.
"Wait, the train station is the other-"
"We're here."
It used to be an empty plot. Now it's full of small houses.
My fiancé grins and points to a sign: "Baba Yaga Travels"
"You have improved," the swordmaster said.
"Thanks to my new sword," said the student.
The swordmaster studied the blade and frowned. "This is enchanted?"
"You know about cursed swords that whisper that you should kill?"
"Yes?"
"This tells me I'm loved and valid."
"Ah. Well. It's not wrong."
"Here's our description of ourselves. Er. You said we could leave out shameful things?"
"Thank you," the alien envoy said. "We have asked many groups of humans, so.... Huh."
"What?"
"Other groups of humans hid atrocities they've committed. You included yours. But you've left out reproduction?"
The chieftain turned to one of his warriors. "Say, what is the best pronoun?"
"She, powerful like the sea."
"That is good." The chieftain turned to another warrior. "What say you?"
"He, soft like a breath."
"That is good. Conan! What is the best pronoun?"
Conan thought. "Whichever I choose."
"After years of painstaking research in ancient grimoires and microcontroller logic, I have perfected it!" the professor exclaimed.
"What?"
"All printers are possessed. I've made a PDF which performs an exorcism."
"So you print it, and then the printer works?"
"Yes!"
"What if it won't print?"
Micro SF/F by O. Westin