Wisp | Microfiction Friday
A 100-word microfiction story based on the prompt, "paranormal."
Welcome back to Microfiction Friday, the section of my newsletter dedicated to tiny stories with BIG impact!
Today’s story delves a bit deeper into the world of eternal night I’ve been developing for a trilogy. It should give you a pretty good idea of what to expect from the main character, Mortimer (or Mort for short), when the first book releases. Anyway, here’s today’s story: “Wisp.”
(Special thanks to
at The Fiction Dealer for this prompt. Check him out for more great microfiction stories and writing prompts!)Wisp
By J. Louis
The other kids caught lightning bugs in jars, but Mort never saw the appeal.
They were all prisoners themselves, trapped within the walls of the city. Why imprison something so beautiful, so free?
One day, Mort watched the light slip right out of their jar, pass straight through the wall, and disappear into the Nightlands beyond.
The others panicked.
But Mort smiled.
He crept past the guards and followed, his heart pounding in his chest.
Just past the treeline, he discovered a clearing filled with lightning bugs, their bulbs blinking out of sync.
And no jar could possibly contain them.
From the Prompt Vault
Next, it’s your turn! Write a story inspired by: imprison
Imprison is a neat prompt because it has built-in conflict implied through its definition.
To imprison something means to take away its freedom, so you can use it in all kinds of contexts. You can go beyond the fantasy and science-fiction genres, too, and dabble in realistic fiction. Heck, there’s even a “light” way to use this prompt; for example, a preteen gets grounded for doing something dumb or being a jerk to their parents.
If you use this prompt, restack this post and tag me in it so I can read your work! I love seeing what our readers come up with.
(You might even get sponsored in next week’s newsletter!)
Thanks for reading! Subscribe today to get these stories delivered right to your inbox every Friday.
If you’re not ready to subscribe just yet, that’s cool too; but if you want to support my work, you can buy me a coffee with a one-time donation!
Want More Insights Into Creative Writing?
You can learn valuable writing lessons, support my work financially, and promote your own writing by becoming a paid member. For just $10/month (or $50/year), you’ll get access to:
Story Synthesis: Submit custom story ideas and earn sponsorships for your own writing.
Community Writing Hours: Dedicated co-writing sessions to help you set goals, get feedback, and make meaningful progress on your writing projects.
Beyond the Paywall: Access to paid-only posts and chat threads.
That’s all I’ve got for now. Until next time… keep writing!
- Josh
As children, we used to catch fireflies and put them in jars, and watch them in darkened rooms. After realizing they tended to die if we left them overnight, we began letting them go after enjoying the blinking lightening bugs. It was a childhood pleasure. I do understand Mort’s perspective, especially as I’ve gotten older. I love the image at the end of this story, the fireflies being impossible to contain. :)
We love Mort!