Flash Fiction One Hundred Words

Paper or notebook

Pencil or pen

Challenge: complete story in exactly 100 words.

Choose a prompt: a first line, an object, or a feeling.

Write a rough draft without counting.

Count words. Most drafts will be too long.

Cut: remove unnecessary words, strengthen weak phrases.

If short, add a vivid detail or dialogue line.

Count again. Adjust to exactly 100.

Read aloud. Every word earns its place.

The 100-word constraint teaches the most valuable writing lesson: revision through cutting. Professional writers say "kill your darlings" — removing words you love but don't need. This exercise makes that skill concrete and measurable.

The editing process IS the activity. Writing the first draft takes 10 minutes. Trimming to exactly 100 words takes 20. That ratio mirrors real professional writing.

Word choice becomes crucial when space is limited. "She walked slowly" becomes "She crept." One word replaces two and adds more meaning. That's the power of precise vocabulary.

This is a great weekly challenge. Keep all 100-word stories in a collection. They're surprisingly powerful little pieces.

Try writing about the same prompt multiple times. Each version will be different, teaching that there's never just one way to tell a story.