Welcome to our monthly micro fiction prompt! This is a space for unplaceable fiction—stories that blur genres, bend categories, and resist easy classification. Whether your piece leans literary, speculative, horror, fantasy, romance, historical, or exists in the spaces between, all approaches are welcome.
Each month I’ll post a prompt with an inspirational image, inspired by life as it happens. This month is inspired by an image of a box we gave my son a few years ago. Imagining it could contain anything, could be located anywhere, anytime, I thought it would make a good creative starter kit.
I started reading these aloud on Instagram and TikTok and would love to read yours at the end of the month, too! Check them out @author_kimberly_shyu. Great news: starting tomorrow I’ll post one a night (starting with my January 2026 reading all the way through everything people have contributed through May). Then I’ll be caught up for June and beyond!
“The moment he laid eyes on the legendary box…”
Word limit: 300 words maximum (aim for 150-200)
Genre: Any and all—embrace the unplaceable! Mix genres, bend conventions, surprise us
Format: Use the prompt above to form the beginning of your story (all first lines will begin with that prompt and branch into endless possibilities from there). Post your complete story in the comments below
Deadline: June 30, 2026
Don’t feel confined to a single genre; let your story evolve naturally
Consider: Who is he? Where is he? In what time period does he live? What does the box look like? Why is it legendary? What might be inside? Why is it special?
Trust your instincts if your story wants to shift between realistic and fantastical elements
Be supportive and encouraging in your feedback to fellow writers
If you comment on someone’s story, consider what worked well and what intrigued you
Remember: unplaceable fiction celebrates the unique and unexpected
Can’t wait to see where this prompt takes you! Drop your micro fiction in the comments below. I sincerely love to read other people’s work! I’ll read at least one post from each month’s micro fiction library on my Instagram and TikTok channels to promote you! Links in bio.
Next month’s prompt will be inspired by another moment from my daily wanderings. Stay tuned, and happy writing! Save your money! Subscribe for free!
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