Teeth Of A Dragon

“Isn’t he great?” the mother asked amid clanging cymbals.

She looked down noticing that her toddler was no longer by her side.

The dragon who wiggled towards them, opening and closing its massive jaw, had danced its way into the crowd.

The mother searched frantically, calling out her son’s name. She passed grills barbecuing kebabs and performers playing folk music with pan flutes. In better times she enjoyed the ethnic celebration.

An intercom announcement prompted her to hurry to the admin office. Her child sat silently when she arrived.

“I got scared, Mommy. Did you see the dragon’s big teeth?”

From Guest Contributor Krystyna Fedosejevs

Check Out A Story In 100 Words On Instagram And Threads

Hey everyone,

For many years, Twitter was my social media platform of choice when it came to A Story In 100 Words. Now that Twitter is officially dead, I've decided it's time to move on to another option for spreading the word about all the great flash fiction hosted on the site. With that in mind, I've started an Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/astoryin100words/

I'll be posting the stories on IG in addition to here, so it will be easy for you to share your stories and show them off. If you're on Instagram, please go follow to support the site!

I've also started a Threads account, which I can't link to. But if you're on Threads, it's the same username as the IG account.

Thanks for all stories and keep reading and writing!

Plus, don't forget that you can also support the site by purchasing one of my books on Amazon. I super appreciate every one who's bought one.

New Story Contest: Pride Cometh Before The Fall

I continue to get strong interest in these contests, so we're going to have another one in August. The theme for this new contest is Hubris. It seems particularly relevant given the state of the world at the moment. Feel free to interpret it anyway you like.

Submissions are due by July 31st. Please follow the normal submission guidelines (here) but also include Hubris Contest in the subject header so I know it is for the contest. One contest submission per person (though you are free to submit as many pride-themed stories for regular posting as you want).

The rules are simple, but don't get cocky. Submitters somehow fail to follow instructions all the time:

1. All stories must somehow engage with the theme hubris. Be creative.
2. The story must be exactly 100 words, not including the title.
3. Only one submission per person. All entries are due by July 31st.

That's it. Start writing. I hope I get plenty of stories, so spread the word.

*Note: This contest is meant for fun. While there are no actual prizes, as always, EXTREME bragging rights are involved!

Remember, I’ll still be posting non-contest-related posts on a daily basis, so keep sending in your stories on any topic you like!

Please Let Us Know How We're Doing

Hey everyone,

After some time where I let the website coast, I've refocused my attention on making sure I post stories on the regular. Thanks to everyone who's been submitting stories even when I was slow about getting them posted.

It's always been my dream that A Story In 100 Words would be a community exercise, where authors can come together to share their work and improve their writing. I really believe in the 100-word exercise and I want to share that with everyone, whether you're a professional writer, an aspiring creative, or just someone interested in telling stories as part of their personal journey.

With that in mind, I'd LOVE to hear from you about what else you would like to see from the website. Is there anything besides stories you think would be useful/interesting?

A few ideas I've had:

• Story Prompts
• Featured Authors
• Writing Tips
• Contests

I'm sure that you creative people have your own ideas. Please feel free to write in the comments or drop me an email at doc@entropy2.com and let me know what kind of content, in addition to more stories, you'd find valuable.

I've also started a new mailing list after allowing my last one to lapse (it had been so long since I sent out an email, that MailChimp deleted it). That means I'm starting over completely and all those people I had signed up have been lost to the ether. I'd really appreciate you taking a second to sign up here. There will at most be one message per month (and likely a lot fewer). While we're at it, you can also follow me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/entropy_squared. I promise at least one cute photo of my beagle every week.

Thanks as always for your continued support, whether you are sending in stories, or just reading them. I think the fact that we're creating a global community of writers is extremely meaningful.

That is all.

Only Words

She replayed his voicemail message. ‘Sorry I missed you, I’m just catching the plane now.’ Then an airport announcement sounded in the background and almost drowned out the next words. ‘I left a note on the kitchen table. Read it when you get home.’

Now she picked up the note and read it for the umpteenth time: I love you. See you next week. I’m counting the seconds.

It may have been only words, but they were important. Especially now. How she wished she had gone too, then she would not have had to listen to news of the crash.

From Guest Contributor Henry Bladon

Henry lives in Somerset in the UK and writes all types of fiction. He has a PhD in creative writing and runs a writing support group for people with mental health issues. His work can be seen in Writers’ Forum, MicrofictionMonday, FridayFlashFiction, 50-Word Stories and Writers’ Forum, amongst other places.

Small Mercies

Her father had come out a year before he died. Her parents had been divorced more than a decade by then and the news probably shouldn't have comes as such a shock. At the eulogy, she lamented not handling his announcement with more compassion. She would never be able to understand what it had been like for him, growing up in small town Indiana.

She left the election viewing party early. She needed to cry alone. It was the first time she was glad Dad had died. He was spared having to see the wheels of progress start rolling backwards.

The Mad King

You timidly stepped inside the royal chambers, unnerved by the rumors of random beheadings and incoherent proclamations. Many people went for a sovereign audience and were never heard from again.

An old man sat the throne. He looked regal, not crazed, dressed in the golden robes and diamond crown of his august office. He stared sternly as, wobbling, you inched forward. In his lap sat a cat, which he stroked gently.

The man opened his mouth to speak and you dropped to one knee.

"The King has an announcement to make."

Everyone froze as the King opened its mouth.

"Meow."