a short story 200 words

Category: 200 words

Short stories with ~200 words

The Whispering Ruins

The island of echoes, the cavern of whispers, the enchanted forest’s secret, echoes of the lost city, the forgotten temple, love in the moonlight, the cursed carnival, the whispering woods, the haunting portrait.

To Cut a Short Story Short

Curious Flash Fiction by Simon J. Wood

Category: 200 word stories

Shoot! Don’t Shoot! (poem)

Their words are writ large, on the pages of life, But to some folks, spelling causes no little strife. Is it ‘to’ or ‘too’ or even ‘two’? Or are you the sort who hasn’t a clue? Nowadays, we’ve Word and the internet, To solve any spelling or grammar point, yet “I’ll ignore Word’s squiggly red and blue lines, “Write what I like, it’ll all be fine “What does a program know about spelling and grammar?” “Well qu-quite a lot,” you’ll hear me st-stammer.

Pipes of Wood (poem)

Nights bring the mystery of the stars and moon The tides of the cosmos flow like the sea Dreams of love till the dawn breaks soon The spirits of those who turn in the grave And the faces of those whose love we crave Come unbidden in waves, like the sea

In Dulci Jubilo

I'm very pleased to announce the publication of In Dulci Jubilo, an omnibus of my first three titles, Bound in Morocco: A Short Story of Intrigue, To Cut a Short Story Short: 111 Little Stories, and To Cut a Short Story Short, vol. II: 88 Little Stories. I have re-read (many for the first time in years) and edited all two hundred stories,  and am delighted to say that I enjoyed them all! So, the omnibus contains the very latest up-to-date versions of every story. They range from one hundred words to seven and a half thousand. The three individual volumes that make up In Dulci Jubilo have been republished with the revised texts, in hardback (not Bound in Morocco), paperback, and Kindle. The description of In Dulci Jubilo reads as follows:

Writing Wrongs (poem)

(250 words) Ray’s ‘great idea’ was a writing group, T’would be held at his house on the first. Me and my friend thought it sounded great, Ray didn’t want no one coerced.

Games People Play (poem)

(260 words) Dangerous baggage, A suitcase of thought. A family judges, But your soul can’t be bought.

A Stoical Man (poem)

Horizontally challenged, that was old Stan, But always so cheerful, a stoical man. Said his wife, Edna, “He’s an amicable bloke, But with only three inches, well, there ain’t much to stroke!” But Stan had his talents, for his missus to share, He wasn’t huge, true, but she didn’t care. Said Edna, “I shouldn’t complain about my old man, He’s a husband, a father, who does what he can.

Hot Off the Press!

Well, it’s been three years since To Cut a Short Story Short, vol. II: 88 Little Stories was published on Amazon, and following on from the success of that title, plus To Cut a Short Story Short: 111 Little Stories and Bound in Morocco: A Short Story of Intrigue, (both published in 2017) it is my pleasure to announce the publication of not one, not two, but THREE new titles! This time, I have curated stories on the themes of humour and the supernatural from ‘the best of my blog,’ re-read and revised, plus unpublished stories. 40 stories on each theme have been collected into two volumes; Letters from Reuben and Other Stories: 40 Little Tales of Mirth, and The Window Crack’d and Other Stories: 40 Little Tales of Horror and the Supranatural.

A Pebbly Beach at 3 a.m.

There’s no moon. Black waves heave and collapse, frothy foam sighing over a myriad of pebbles, like some gigantic water feature. Peeling our clothes off, it feels like we’re doing something illegal. Shauna is a luminescent blob. “Should we go in?” she asks, her timbre saying ‘Let’s go home.’

TCASSS II on Audio

I'm very pleased to report that To Cut a Short Story Short, vol. II: 88 Little Stories has been produced as an audiobook, expertly narrated by Angus Freathy, the narrator of no fewer than 47 audiobooks featured on Audible! It runs for 9 hours and 32 minutes, and features the 'best of the blog' from July 2017 to December 2018 plus an extended 5000 word story, In Dulci Dubilo, not published on the site, an emotional roller-coaster of a story, stunningly brought to life by the audio rendition!

Postcard from Hispaniola

(150 words)

Hello Darling, Well they were right when they said the recipe for a great marriage is to live in different countries! Missing you and ‘the babe’ though.

Contents – To Cut a Short Story Short – 20th Mar 2017

Here the stories are listed according to the categories in the menu, namely 100 word stories, 200 word stories, 300-600 word stories, longer stories, TASWG, excerpts and blog (links open in new window/tab).lilnks open in nw  100 Word Stories 1 Don’t Mind the Police! 30th Nov 2015 2 Dream of a Stone Horse 30th Apr … Continue reading Contents – To Cut a Short Story Short – 20th Mar 2017 →

Hen Morning

“Long time no see.” Sam grinned, opening a shiny Land Rover door. “Hop in.“

Jealousy bubbled.

We bumped down a track to a long silver hangar, ominous in the early morning mist. Just inside were pallets loaded with blue trays, each containing thirty pristine brown eggs.

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Free Short Stories

We believe that the key to writing good short stories is reading good short stories.

Below, we have provided an ever-expanding selection of old and new short stories that are free to download.

Short story writers are listed alphabetically.

In 2020 we’ll be adding a wide range of new stories to read online.

Recently added stories will be fund at the top of the page.

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Aiken, Conrad ‘Silent Snow, Secret Snow’ (online read: c. 6000 words)

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That’s because we’re a very small, but passionate team who spend hundreds of hours curating resources such as these classic short stories. But we don’t just focus on the old. We’re also a paying market, publishing brilliant new work of fiction and non-fiction. Please do consider supporting us in whatever way you can, so we can maintain the work we do. Thank you.

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Anderson, Sherwood ‘The Dumb Man’ (c. 500 words)

Ade, George ‘The Collision’ (c. 1500 words)

Ade, George ‘The Divine Spark’ (c. 1000 words)

Ade, George ‘The Juvenile and Mankind’ (c. 500 words)

Antsey, F. ‘Marjory’ (c. 8500 words)

Baldwin, James ‘Bruce and the Spider’ (c. 500 words)

Baldwin, James ‘The Bell of Atri’ (c. 500 words)

Baldwin, James ‘Casablanca’ (c. 500 words)

Baldwin, James ‘Antonio Canova’ (c. 1000 words)

Baldwin, James ‘Arnold Winkelried’ (c. 500 words)

Baldwin, James ‘Doctor Goldsmith’ (c. 500 words)

Baldwin, James ‘The Endless Tale’ (c. 1000 words)

Balzac, Honore de ‘The Conscript’ (c. 6000 words)

Balzac, Honore de ‘Innocence’ (c. 1000 words)

Balzac, Honore de ‘The Devil’s Heir’ (c. 6500 words)

Bierce, Ambrose ‘An Occurrence at Owl Creek’ (c. 3000 words)

Bierce, Ambrose ‘Oil of Dog’ (c. 1500 words)

Brown, Alice ‘Bankrupt’ (c. 7500 words)

Brown, Alice ‘Heartease’ (c. 3500 words)

Brown, Alice ‘The Advocate’ (c. 4500 words)

Brown, Alice ‘The End of All Living’ (c. 7000 words)

Chekhov, Anton ‘The Bet’ (c. 3000 words)

Chekhov, Anton ‘The Lottery Ticket’ (c. 2000 words)

Chekhov, Anton ‘About Love’ (c. 4000 words)

Chekhov, Anton ‘An Actor’s End’ (c. 2500 words)

Chekhov, Anton ‘Art’ (c. 2500 words)

Chekhov, Anton ‘An Avenger’ (c. 2000 words)

Chesterton, G. K. ‘The Blue Cross’ (c. 7500 words)

Chesterton, G. K. ‘The Bottomless Well’ (c. 6500 words)

Chesterton, G. K. ‘The Eye of Apollo’ (c. 6000 words)

Chesterton, G. K. ‘The God of Gongs’ (c. 6000 words)

Chesterton, G. K.  ‘The Hammer of God’ (c. 6500 words)

Chesterton, G. K. ‘The Purple Wig’ (c. 5500 words)

Collins, Willie ‘A Fair Penitent’ (c. 4500 words)

Conrad, Joseph ‘An Anarchist’ (c. 8500 words)

Crane, Stephen ‘A Desertion’ (c. 1500 words)

Defoe, Daniel ‘The Apparition of Mrs Veal’ (c. 3500 words)

De Mille, James ‘The Artist of Florence’ (c. 7000 words)

De Quincey, Thomas ‘Love-Charm’ (c. 13,000 words)

De Quincey, Thomas ‘The Avenger’ (c. 19,000 words)

Dickens, Charles ‘The Black Veil’ (c. 4500 words))

Dickens, Charles ‘Criminal Courts’ (c. 2000 words)

Dickens, Charles ‘Down with the Taid’ (c. 4000 words)

Dickens, Charles ‘The Ghost of Art’ (c. 2500 words)

Dickens, Charles ‘The Baron of Grogswig’ (c. 4000 words)

Dickens, Charles ‘The Child’s Story’ (c. 2000 words)

Dahl, Roald ‘Lamb to the Slaughter’ (c. 3000 words)

Dostoyevsky, Fyodor ‘The Dreams of a Ridiculous Man’ (c. 8500 words)

Eliot, T. S. ‘Eeldrop and Appleplex’ (c. 3000 words)

Eggleston, Edward ‘A Basement Story’ (c. 6500 words)

Eggleston, Edward ‘Adventures in Alaska’ (c. 1500 words)

Eliot, George ‘Brother Jacob’ (c. 17,000 words)

Field, Eugene ‘Daniel and the Devil’ (c. 3000 words)

Field, Eugene ‘Death and the Soldier’ (c. 1500 words)

Flaubert, Gustave ‘The Dance of Death’ (c. 3000 words)

Freeman, Mary ‘A New England Nun’ (c. 5000 words)

Galsworthy, John ‘The Knight’ (c. 13,000 words)

Galsworthy, John ‘The Stoic’ (c. 30,000 words)

Goldsworthy, John ‘The Silence’ (c. 8000 words)

Goethe, Johann ‘New Paris’ (c. 5500 words)

Gogol, Nikolai ‘The Clash’ (c. 4500 words)

Gaskell, Elizabeth ‘An Accursed Race’ (c. 6500 words)

Gilman, Charlotte Perkins ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ (c. 6000 words)

Greene, Graham ‘The End of the Party’ ( c. 3500 words)

Gissing, George ‘A Capitalist’ (c. 5500 words)

Gissing, George ‘The House Of Cobwebs’ (c. 8000 words)

Gissing, George ‘The Salt of the Earth’ (c. 4000 words)

Hardy, Thomas ‘The Grave by the Handpost’ (c. 4000 words)

Hardy, Thomas ‘The Three Strangers’ c. 8500 words)

Harte, Bret ‘An Heiress of a Red Dog’ (c. 5500 words)

Harte, Bret ‘Under Karl’ (c. 6500 words)

Harte, Bret ‘Who Was My Quiet Friend?’ (c. 3000 words)

Hawthorne, Nathaniel ‘The Wedding-Knell’ (c. 3000 words)

Hawthorne, Nathaniel ‘The Ambitious Guest’ (c. 3500 words)

Henry, O ‘The Gift of the Magi’ (c. 2000 words)

Irving, Washington ‘Conspiracy of the Cocked Hats’ (c. 2000 words)

Irving, Washington ‘Little Britain’ (c. 5000 words)

Irving, Washington ‘The Bermudas’ (c. 2500 words)

Irving, Washington ‘The Birds of Spring’ (c. 2000 words)

Irving, Washington ‘The Legend of the Sleepy Hollow’ (c. 12,000 words)

Ing, Charles ‘Tight Squeeze’ (c. 6000 words)

Ingelow, Jean ‘A Last Want’ (c. 8000 words)

Ingelow, Jean ‘The Prince’s Dream’ (c. 3500 words)

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Jacobs, W. W. ‘The Monkey’s Paw’ (c. 4000 words)

James, M. R. ‘Lost Hearts’ (c. 4000 words)

Jerome, Jerome K. ‘The Man Who Did Not Believe In Luck’ (c. 3000 words)

Joyce, James ‘Araby’ (c. 2500 words)

Joyce, James ‘A Little Cloud’ (c. 5000 words)

Joyce, James ‘After the Race’ (c. 2000 words)

Joyce, James ‘An Encounter’ (c. 3500 words)

Joyce, James ‘Counterparts’ (c. 4000 words)

Joyce, James ‘Eveline’ (c. 2000 words)

Joyce, James ‘The Boarding House’ (c. 3000 words)

Kipling, Rudyard ‘How the Leopard got his Spots’ (c. 2000 words)

Kipling, Rudyard ‘Wireless’ (c. 6500 words)

Kipling, Rudyard ‘A Bank Fraud (c. 2500 words)

Kipling, Rudyard ‘Beyond the Pale’ (c. 2000 words)

King, Charles ‘Starlight Man’ (c. 9500 words)

King, Charles ‘Van’ (c. 8000 words)

Lawrence, D. H. ‘Odour of Chrysanthemums’ (c. 7500 words)

London, Jack ‘Aloha Oe’ (c. 2500 words)

London, Jack ‘The Story of Keesh’ (c. 3000 words)

London, Jack ‘How to Build a Fire’ (c. 7000 words)

Lovecraft, H. P. ‘The Cats of Ulthar’ (c. 1500 words)

Lovecraft, H. P. ‘The terrible Old Man’ (c. 1000 words)

Mansfield, Katherine ‘The Stranger’ (c. 5000 words)

Mansfield, Katherine ‘The Garden Party’ (c. 5500 words)

Mansfield, Katherine ‘The Voyage’ (c. 3000 words)

Mansfield, Katherine ‘The Ideal Family’ (c. 2500 words)

Mansfield, Katherine ‘Miss Brill’ (c. 2000 words)

Mansfield, Katherine ‘The Singing Lesson’ (c. 2000 words)

Marquez, Gabriel Garcia ‘Eyes of a Blue Dog’ (c. 3000 words)

Maupassant, Guy de ‘The Kiss’ (c. 1500 words)

Munro, H. H. (SAKI) ‘The Mouse’ (c. 1500 words)

Nesbit, Edith ‘Acting for the Best’ (c. 4500 words)

Nesbit, Edith ‘Archibald the Unpleasant’ (c. 5000 words)

Nesbit, Edith ‘Billy the King’ (c. 5500 words)

Norris, Frank ‘A Deal in Wheat’ (c. 5000 words)

Norris, Frank ‘The Wife of Chino’ (c. 5500 words)

Norris, Frank ‘Two Hearts That Beat as One’ (c. 4000 words)

Orwell, George ‘The Shooting of an Elephant’ (c. 2000 words)

Osbourne, Lloyd ‘Ben’ (c. 6000 words)

Osbourne, Lloyd ‘The Golden Castaways’ (c. 3500 words)

Parker, Dorothy ‘A Telephone Call’ (c. 2500 words)

Poe, Edgar Allan ‘The Imp of the Perverse’ (c. 2500 words)

Poe, Edgar Allan ‘The Angel of Odd’ (c. 4000 words)

Poe, Edgar Allan ‘The Masque of the Red Death’ (c. 2500 words)

Poe, Edgar Allan ‘The Black Cat’ (c. 4000 words)

Poe, Edgar Allan ‘Four Beasts in One’ (c. 3000 words)

Potter, Beatrix ‘Ginger and Pickles’ (c. 1000 words)

This page receives about 10,000 views a month and we are keen to continue expanding this resource, for our users. We have limited resources, but with your help, we can continue to build and support writers and readers, past and present.

Quiller-Couch, Arthur ‘Elisha’ (c. 1500 words)

Quiller-Couch, Arthur ‘The Burglary Club’ (c. 3000 words)

Quiller-Couch, Arthur ‘The Dark Mirror’ (c. 1000 words)

Roby, John ‘The Goblin Builders’ (c. 3500 words)

Ruskin, John ‘The King of the Golden River’ (c. 9000 words)

Skinner, Charles ‘The Barge of Defeat’ (c. 500 words)

Somyonov, S. T. ‘The Servant’ (c. 2000 words)

Twain, Mark ‘Luck’ (c. 2000 words)

Trollope, Anthony ‘George Walker at Suez’ (c. 8000 words)

Trollope, Anthony ‘Returning Home’ (c. 9000 words)

Van Dyke, Henry ‘Ashes of Vengeance’ (c. 500 words)

Van Dyke, Henry ‘The Art of Leaving Off’ (c. 2500 words)

Verne, Jules ‘A Drama in the Air’ (c. 7000 words)

Wells, H. G. ‘The Crystal Egg’ (c. 7000 words)

White, E. B. ‘The Door’ (c. 2000 words)

Wilde, Oscar ‘The Birth of the Infanta’ (c. 7500 words)

Williams, William Carlos ‘The Use of Force’ (c. 1500 words)

Woolf, Virginia ‘A Haunted House’ (c. 1000 words)

Yeats, William Butler ‘Out of the Rose’ (c. 2500 words)

Yeats, William Butler ‘The Old Men of the Twilight’ (c. 2000 words)

Yeats, William Butler ‘The Twisting of the Rope’ (c. 3000 words)

Younger, Charlotte M. ‘The Last Fight in the Coliseum’ (c. 3000 words)

Zola, Emile ‘Captain Burle’ (c. 11, 500 words)

Zola, Emile ‘The Flood’ (c. 8000 words)

7 Flash Fiction Stories That Are Worth (a Tiny Amount of) Your Time

Reading Lists

You can probably power through all of these great short-short stories in one long bathroom break.

Flash fiction is many things: hilariously difficult to categorize; confusingly known as “microfiction,” “short shorts,” “minisagas,” “dribble,” and “drabble”; and sometimes, even dangerous .

But great might not be the first word that springs to mind. Remember, this is a style of writing so short (most cap it at 1,000 words) and so accessible that some have deemed it “Twitterature.” For every half-baked stab at micro-fiction in your Instagram feed, though, there’s a masterful short short story out there that you probably haven’t read yet. The best part? It won’t take more than three minutes to read them.

Here are seven examples of flash fiction (for a total of 21 minutes or less) that are totally worth your time.

“Chapter V,” Ernest Hemingway

“ For sale: baby shoes, never worn ” is far from Hemingway’s only foray into flash fiction ( if it was indeed his story ). This story from his collection In Our Time follows the typical arc of great flash fiction by starting with a straightforward but descriptive sentence to set the scene.

They shot the six cabinet ministers at half-past six in the morning against the wall of a hospital. There were pools of water in the courtyard. There were wet dead leaves on the paving of the courtyard. It rained hard. All the shutters of the hospital were nailed shut. One of the ministers was sick with typhoid. Two soldiers carried him downstairs and out into the rain. They tried to hold him up against the wall but he sat down in a puddle of water. The other five stood very quietly against the wall. Finally the officer told the soldiers it was no good trying to make him stand up. When they fired the first volley he was sitting down in the water with his head on his knees.

After his matter-of-fact opening, Hemingway folds back the layers until that first sentence takes on an entirely new meaning by the end. What starts as an impersonal report straight out of a newspaper clipping ends as a vivid portrait of human suffering. Never fear, though: not all short shorts are this depressing… just the good ones.

“Widow’s First Year,” Joyce Carol Oates

Ernest Hemingway’s (apocryphal) six-word story might be more famous — but this four-word story from Joyce Carol Oates has it beaten in the brevity stakes:

I kept myself alive.

Pulled from the anthology Hint Fiction , a collection of works running 25 words or less, this story reveals a key trick of the flash fictionist’s trade: let the title to do the heavy lifting . In isolation, “I kept myself alive” might be construed as a feel-good mantra — but in the context of the title, it provides a morbid twist on the setup-punchline structure of a joke.

“Give It Up!” Franz Kafka

Not all flash fiction needs to be breathlessly blunt like Hemingway’s. In this single paragraph, posthumously published story, Kafka crystalizes the mood and paranoia that defines most of his work:

It was very early in the morning, the streets clean and deserted, I was walking to the station. As I compared the tower clock with my watch I realized that it was already much later than I had thought, I had to hurry, the shock of this discovery made me unsure of the way, I did not yet know my way very well in this town; luckily, a policeman was nearby, I ran up to him and breathlessly asked him the way. He smiled and said: “From me you want to know the way?” “Yes,” I said, “since I cannot find it myself.” “Give it up! Give it up,” he said, and turned away with a sudden jerk, like people who want to be alone with their laughter.

Edgar Allan Poe once described the need for a “unity of effect” in short stories: the act of carrying a single emotion throughout the piece to elicit a particular reaction from the audience. In just 130 words, Kafka is able to suck readers into his world and leave them shaken.

“Sticks,” George Saunders

This excerpt is from a 1995 story that’s become a modern classic of the micro-fiction form. Depicting decades of a man’s life through the prism of a hand-made lawn ornament, these two paragraphs reveal the keen eye for specificity that has since helped writer George Saunders win the Booker Prize.

Every year Thanksgiving night we flocked out behind Dad as he dragged the Santa suit to the road and draped it over a kind of crucifix he’d built out of metal pole in the yard. […] The pole was Dad’s only concession to glee. We were allowed a single Crayola from the box at a time. One Christmas Eve he shrieked at Kimmie for wasting an apple slice. He hovered over us as we poured ketchup saying: good enough good enough good enough. Birthday parties consisted of cupcakes, no ice cream. The first time I brought a date over she said: what’s with your dad and that pole? and I sat there blinking…

It might be a little longer than your average short short, but in two paragraphs, Saunders seamlessly works in an emotional arc that’s more impactful than most novels. Most impressive is how he suggests a fleshed-out backstory through a handful of asides: Rod’s helmet, the father’s old army medals. And, like all great flash fiction, its ending hits stunningly hard and stays with you for a lot longer than three minutes.

Read the full story  here .

“Taylor Swift,” Hugh Behm-Steinberg

Not all great flash fiction is bleaker than bleak! This winner of the 2015 Barthelme Short Prose Prize couldn’t be much farther from the gritty, sober tone of most flash fiction. Written in the oft-controversial second person, Behm-Steinberg’s story imagines a world where Taylor Swift (yes, the singer) is available in abundance to anyone who cares to order one from the internet.

It’s a bizarre story: a meditation on capitalism, fame, and consumer culture. It’s also riotously funny. Here’s an excerpt:

You’re in love; it’s great, you swipe on your phone and order: the next day a Taylor Swift clone shows up at your house. It’s not awkward, it’s everything you want. She knows all her songs, and she sings them just for you. When you put your Taylor Swift to bed (early, you got a big day tomorrow) you peek over the fence into the Rosenblatt’s yard, and the lights are blazing. Your best friend Tina has three Taylor Swifts swimming in her pool. She has a miniature Taylor Swift she keeps on a perch, a Taylor Swift with wings. You’re so jealous. She’s not even paying attention to them, she’s too busy having sex with her other Taylor Swifts, they’re so fucking loud it’s disgusting. You hate Taylor Swift…

This goes to show that flash fiction’s sole purpose isn’t just to depress readers. Instead, its constraints can allow the writer to distill their ideas into just a couple hundred words.

“Untitled,” Adhiraj Singh

“im sorry, its a girl” said the doctor to the father.

“no, im sorry, youre a sexist” said the girl child to the world.

Taken from writer Adhiraj Singh’s parody collection, Terribly Tatti Tales , this story manages to fun at the poor grammar and heavy-handedness of most “Twitterature,” while simultaneously delivering a hilarious and rousing story in and of itself.

“Gator Butchering for Beginners,” Kristen Arnett

If you’re interested in more stories short enough to read on your commute, Electric Lit’s own Recommended Reading Commuter showcases the best flash, graphic, and experimental narratives out there. Take, for example, this particularly disturbing excerpt from up-and-coming Floridian writer Kristen Arnett on the minutiae of skinning an alligator:

It’s easy enough to slip the skin. Wedge your knife below the bumpy ridge of spine to separate cartilage from fat; loosen tendon from pink, sticky meat. Flay everything open. Pry free the heart. It takes some nerve. What I mean is, it’ll hurt, but you can get at what you crave if you want it badly enough.

Start with the head…

…and to hear where “Gator Butchering” ends , check out the full story . Spoiler: it’s about alligators, but it’s also not about alligators.

When it comes to flash fiction, you can’t be blamed for raising an eyebrow — especially if your only experience has been a badly-written paragraph on your Facebook wall. But hopefully, these stories demonstrate just how exciting it can be to read a story that goes straight to the heart without a single wasted word.

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The 10 Best Short Moral Stories With Valuable Lessons

Stories that have morals and messages behind them are always powerful. In fact, it’s crazy just how powerful a 200 word story can be.

Our last article of short stories became so popular, that we decided to create another list, in which every story has a simple moral behind it.

Table of Contents

The 10 Best Short Moral Stories

Some of these stories are very short and basic. In fact some are so basic they’re most likely featured in children’s books somewhere. However, the strength of the message remains the same.

Here’s some more of the best short moral stories:

1. An Old Man Lived in the Village

An old man lived in the village. He was one of the most unfortunate people in the world. The whole village was tired of him; he was always gloomy, he constantly complained and was always in a bad mood.

The longer he lived, the more bile he was becoming and the more poisonous were his words. People avoided him, because his misfortune became contagious. It was even unnatural and insulting to be happy next to him.

He created the feeling of unhappiness in others.

But one day, when he turned eighty years old , an incredible thing happened. Instantly everyone started hearing the rumour:

“An Old Man is happy today, he doesn’t complain about anything, smiles, and even his face is freshened up.”

The whole village gathered together. The old man was asked:

Villager: What happened to you?

“Nothing special. Eighty years I’ve been chasing happiness, and it was useless. And then I decided to live without happiness and just enjoy life. That’s why I’m happy now.” – An Old Man

Moral of the story:

Don’t chase happiness. Enjoy your life.

2. The Wise Man

People have been coming to the wise man, complaining about the same problems every time. One day he told them a joke and everyone roared in laughter.

After a couple of minutes, he told them the same joke and only a few of them smiled.

When he told the same joke for the third time no one laughed anymore.

The wise man smiled and said:

“You can’t laugh at the same joke over and over. So why are you always crying about the same problem?”  

Worrying won’t solve your problems, it’ll just waste your time and energy.

3. The Foolish Donkey

A salt seller used to carry the salt bag on his donkey to the market every day.

On the way they had to cross a stream. One day the donkey suddenly tumbled down the stream and the salt bag also fell into the water. The salt dissolved in the water and hence the bag became very light to carry. The donkey was happy.

Then the donkey started to play the same trick every day.

The salt seller came to understand the trick and decided to teach a lesson to it. The next day he loaded a cotton bag on the donkey.

Again it played the same trick hoping that the cotton bag would be still become lighter.

But the dampened cotton became very heavy to carry and the donkey suffered. It learnt a lesson. It didn’t play the trick anymore after that day, and the seller was happy.

Luck won’t favor always.

4. Having A Best Friend

A story tells that two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face.

The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand;

“Today my best friend slapped me in the face.”

They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him. After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone;

“Today my best friend saved my life.”

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him;

“After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?”

The other friend replied;

“When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it.”  

Moral of the story: 

Don’t value the things you have in your life. But value who you have in your life.

5. The Four Smart Students

One night four college students were out partying late night and didn’t study for the test which was scheduled for the next day. In the morning, they thought of a plan.

They made themselves look dirty with grease and dirt.

Then they went to the Dean and said they had gone out to a wedding last night and on their way back the tire of their car burst and they had to push the car all the way back. So they were in no condition to take the test.

The Dean thought for a minute and said they can have the re-test after 3 days. They thanked him and said they will be ready by that time.

On the third day, they appeared before the Dean. The Dean said that as this was a Special Condition Test, all four were required to sit in separate classrooms for the test. They all agreed as they had prepared well in the last 3 days.

The Test consisted of only 2 questions with the total of 100 Points:

1) Your Name? __________ (1 Points)

2) Which tire burst? __________ (99 Points) Options – (a) Front Left (b) Front Right (c) Back Left (d) Back Right

Take responsibility or you will learn your lesson.

6. The Greedy Lion

It was an incredibly hot day, and a lion was feeling very hungry.

He came out of his den and searched here and there. He could find only a small hare. He caught the hare with some hesitation. “This hare can’t fill my stomach” thought the lion.

As the lion was about to kill the hare, a deer ran that way. The lion became greedy. He thought;

“Instead of eating this small hare, let me eat the big deer.”

He let the hare go and went behind the deer. But the deer had vanished into the forest. The lion now felt sorry for letting the hare off.

A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.

7. Two Friends & The Bear

Vijay and Raju were friends. On a holiday they went walking into a forest, enjoying the beauty of nature. Suddenly they saw a bear coming at them. They became frightened.

Raju, who knew all about climbing trees, ran up to a tree and climbed up quickly. He didn’t think of Vijay. Vijay had no idea how to climb the tree.

Vijay thought for a second. He’d heard animals don’t prefer dead bodies, so he fell to the ground and held his breath. The bear sniffed him and thought he was dead. So, it went on its way.

Raju asked Vijay;

“What did the bear whisper into your ears?”

Vijay replied, “The bear asked me to keep away from friends like you”  …and went on his way.

A friend in need is a friend indeed.

8. The Struggles of Our Life

Once upon a time a daughter complained to her father that her life was miserable and that she didn’t know how she was going to make it.

She was tired of fighting and struggling all the time. It seemed just as one problem was solved, another one soon followed.

Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire.

Once the three pots began to boil, he placed potatoes in one pot, eggs in the second pot and ground coffee beans in the third pot. He then let them sit and boil, without saying a word to his daughter.

The daughter, moaned and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. After twenty minutes he turned off the burners.

He took the potatoes out of the pot and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. He then ladled the coffee out and placed it in a cup.

Turning to her, he asked. “Daughter, what do you see?”

“Potatoes, eggs and coffee,” she hastily replied.

“Look closer”  he said, “and touch the potatoes.” She did and noted that they were soft.

He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Its rich aroma brought a smile to her face.

“Father, what does this mean?” she asked.

He then explained that the potatoes, the eggs and coffee beans had each faced the same adversity-the boiling water. However, each one reacted differently. The potato went in strong, hard and unrelenting, but in boiling water, it became soft and weak.

The egg was fragile, with the thin outer shell protecting its liquid interior until it was put in the boiling water. Then the inside of the egg became hard.

However, the ground coffee beans were unique. After they were exposed to the boiling water, they changed the water and created something new.

“Which one are you?” he asked his daughter.

“When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a potato, an egg, or a coffee bean?”

In life, things happen around us, things happen to us, but the only thing that truly matters is how you choose to react to it and what you make out of it. Life is all about leaning, adopting and converting all the struggles that we experience into something positive.

9. The Fox & The Grapes

One afternoon a fox was walking through the forest and spotted a bunch of grapes hanging from over a lofty branch.

“Just the thing to quench my thirst,” he thought.

Taking a few steps back, the fox jumped and just missed the hanging grapes. Again the fox took a few paces back and tried to reach them but still failed.

Finally, giving up, the fox turned up his nose and said, “They’re probably sour anyway,” and proceeded to walk away.

Moral of the story:  

It’s easy to despise what you can’t have.

10. The Lion & The Poor Slave

A slave, ill-treated by his master, runs away to the forest. There he comes across a lion in pain because of a thorn in his paw. The slave bravely goes forward and removes the thorn gently.

The lion without hurting him goes away.

Some days later, the slave’s master comes hunting to the forest and catches many animals and cages them. The slave is spotted by the masters’ men who catch him and bring him to the cruel master.

The master asks for the slave to be thrown into the lion’s cage.

The slave is awaiting his death in the cage when he realizes that it is the same lion that he had helped. The slave rescued the lion and all other caged animals.

One should help others in need, we get the rewards of our helpful acts in return.

Here’s a quick recap on the 10 best short moral stories:

• An old man lived in the village
• The wise man
• The foolish donkey
• Having a best friend
• The four smart students
• The greedy lion
• The two friends & the bear
• The struggles of our life
• The fox & the grapes
• The lion & the poor slave

If you haven’t seen our original article, with slightly more detailed inspirational short stories , check it out!

Do you have any other favorite short moral stories? Leave a comment below.

The 10 best motivational speakers in the world.

Dan Western is the founder of Wealthy Gorilla . Dan has been running Wealthy Gorilla and studying self-development, personal finance, and investment for the last 7 years. To this day, Wealthy Gorilla has become one of the fastest growing wealth infotainment sites in the world; with over 300 million views worldwide. Dan doesn't use personal social media anymore, so you won't be able to find him on Instagram, or Twitter.

10 Comments

Apr 7, 2019 at 12:40 pm

An old man lived in the village is a wonderful story. I like it very much. thanks

Jun 14, 2019 at 11:20 am

The foolish donkey is wonderful and all stories good but i like it

Jul 17, 2019 at 3:03 pm

I really enjoyed your entire list but my favorite of this list is the one about the egg, potatoe, and coffee. Awesome story that is very impactful.

Nov 22, 2019 at 2:36 am

Foolish donkey this story I like that and I have learn something from these stories thanks uploaded on net its was so inspection stories to people’s

Dec 13, 2019 at 2:08 pm

I like the story an old man lived in the village thank you for giving this type of story

Aqsa farhat

Feb 29, 2020 at 10:54 am

All the stories were nice and these stories reminds me about my childhood thank you for making such meaningful stories

Pattada praveen kumar

Apr 14, 2020 at 9:57 am

The fox & the grapes its really everyone thinking like

Bhim Maya subba

Nov 13, 2020 at 1:55 pm

Mine is about ( The blind girl ). Since I have read that book before but I am very glad that I got another chance to read that same book. Actually this story is one of my favorite of all time.

Ramel Sasuke Sampang

Nov 14, 2020 at 5:31 am

My favorite is the potato, egg, and coffee beans! It will help me with future problems. 😀

Marry Walker

Nov 20, 2020 at 12:40 pm

Being a writer, I love to read stories and books. And this blog includes the best short moral stories. I like these all stories and i will share it definitely. Keep writing!

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Who are the best motivational speakers of all time?

Motivational speakers have had an enormous impact on my life, and millions of others, no matter what their personal situation in life may be.

Their words are so powerful and inspirational, you just have to listen to their stuff on a daily basis. So it brings me to this post.

I’ve been enjoying a lot of motivational videos recently, have been creating my own, and have ended up listening to a lot of wonderful speeches.

Top 10 Best Motivational Speakers

But who are the best motivational speakers in the world?

Here’s my list of the top 10 motivational speakers in the world.

These are the people you need to be following, listening to and watching on YouTube. They have transformed many people’s lives including mine.

10. Nick Vujicic

Nick Vujicic was born on December 4th 1982 in Melbourne, Australia. Vujicic was born with Tetra-Amelia syndrome, a very rare disorder whereby someone is born with an absence of all four limbs.

This no doubt ably, made things incredibly tough for Nick growing up, as he struggled both mentally and physically.

It led to him founding his very own non-profit organization called ‘Life Without Limbs’ . Nick Vujicic is a true inspiration to us all, and if you’ve watched some of his motivational speeches on YouTube, you’ll realize just how much he’s been able to adapt to a life without limbs.

Many people with this disorder might not be willing to work hard in order to truly push their abilities.

He can type 43 words a minute on a computer. That’s right, you heard me correctly. This is a guy who has an absence of all four limbs, but can type 43 words per minute on a computer.

I encourage you to watch some of his videos on YouTube, and see exactly what I’m talking about.

“It’s a lie to think you’re not good enough. It’s a lie to think you’re not worth anything.” – nick Vujicic

9. Brian Tracy

Brian Tracy was born on January 5th 1944 in Vancouver, Canada, and is the CEO of Brian Tracy International , a company that specifically sets out to help individuals and organizations develop, train and grow.

Brian’s ultimate goal is to help other people achieve their goals more efficiently and be able to achieve their full potential.

That definitely sets the foundation for being one of the best motivational speakers in the world.

His lifetime achievements are phenomenal, consulting huge numbers of businesses, hosting huge numbers of seminars and conducting  years and years of research in Business, Economics, Psychology and Philosophy.

There’s no more to say other than the title given on his website: Professional Speaker, Best Selling Author, Entrepreneur and Success Expert. Check out some of the best Brian Tracy quotes .

“No one lives long enough to learn everything they need to learn starting from scratch. To be successful, we absolutely, positively have to find people who have already paid the price to learn the things that we need to learn to achieve our goals.” – Brian Tracy

8. Robin Sharma

Robin Sharma was born in 1964 in Nepal, and straight out of the Dalhousie University School of Law, became a professional lawyer. But he went much further in his career than being a fully qualified and successful lawyer.

Sharma has written a total of 15 published books, from 1995 – 2011, on the subjects of self-help and leadership. One of his most popular books written; ‘The Monk Who Sold his Ferrari’ , has sold over 5 million copies worldwide.

The book is all about a character called Julian, who decides to sell his home and Ferrari to go on a spiritual journey, after being the victim to a sudden heart attack.

Some may say that Robin Sharma’s more of a motivational author rather than speaker, but he deserves to be on this list. He’s written 12 global best sellers, and is an expert author in the world of leadership and self development.

“Dreamers are mocked as impractical. The truth is they are the most practical, as their innovations lead to progress and a better way of life for all of us.” –  Robin S. Sharma

7. Wayne Dyer

Dr. Wayne Dyer was born on May 10th 1940 in Detroit, and spent the majority of his childhood in an orphanage.

Dyer was in the U.S Navy after graduating high school, from 1958 to 1962. He then received his degree in counselling, a profession that he chose to work in for a while before taking it one step further.

Dyer left his teaching job and started pursuing a career in motivational speaking, holding various lectures across the states and becoming an incredibly popular author.

The first book that Dyer ever wrote has now had over 35 million copies sold and he’s proceeded to continue with his lecture tours, release various audio tapes and publish a regular stream of books .

“Passion is a feeling that tells you: this is the right thing to do. Nothing can stand in my way. It doesn’t matter what anyone else says. This feeling is so good that it cannot be ignored. I’m going to follow my bliss and act upon this glorious sensation of joy.” –  Wayne Dyer

6. Zig Ziglar

Zig Ziglar was born on November 6th, 1926 in Alabama, and passed away on November 28th in 2012.

Ziglar has 11 siblings, and at the age of five years old, his father died of a stroke, and his sister passed away two days later. Zig actually served in the army from 1935 – 1946 during World War II.

Ziglar met his wife Jean when he was just 17 years old, and after the war began to work as a salesman for many different companies, eventually becoming the vice president for the Automotive Performance company .

He started taking part in motivational seminars, and also wrote his first book in 1975 titled: ‘See You at the Top’ . This was the first of at least 15 books he’d written during the period of 1975 and 2012.

A lot of wisdom has come from Zig Ziglar over the years and he is definitely one of the best motivational speakers in the world.

“You were designed for accomplishment, engineered for success, and endowed with the seeds of greatness.” – Zig Ziglar

5. Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger was born on July 30th 1947, in Austria. We all know him as the world famous professional bodybuilding champion, and there’s a very inspirational story behind Arnie’s bodybuilding success.

Schwarzenegger served in the Austrian army at the age of 18 years old for 1 year, which at the time was compulsory for all 18-year-old males.

During this time, he would still manage to fit in his workouts between all the training and drills, whilst most people were resting. He snuck out of the camp to compete in the Junior Mr. Europe contest , which he ended up winning.

Arnold’s discipline towards his training was incredible, and the fact that he was willing to disobey the rules of the army and sneak out of the camp to compete in the contest, just goes to show how badly he wanted it.

Nowadays, he’s an inspiration to many bodybuilders and a great source of motivation for anyone wanting to be successful.

“For me life is continuously being hungry. The meaning of life is not simply to exist, to survive, but to move ahead, to go up, to achieve, to conquer.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger

4. Jim Rohn

Jim Rohn was born September 17th, 1930 in Yakima, Washington, and passed away on December 5th, 2009. He was a very successful entrepreneur, at one time being a Vice President of a very successful sales company, Nutri-Bio.

However, after the company eventually went out of business, he was invited to speak at a meeting of one of his clubs.

After this meeting, he was invited to speak at many other events and began making a name for himself. Rohn was a wise businessman and managed to impart much of this wisdom to others.

He’s definitely earned the right to be on this list of the best motivational speakers in the world.

“If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.” – Jim Rohn

3. Les Brown

Les Brown was born on February 17th, 1945 in Miami, Florida. He was adopted by Mamie Brown, and whilst in grade school, was declared “educably mentally retarded” .

Despite this and the emotional issues, it brought upon him; he was encouraged by others to continue to learn and be the best he could be. Leading him to unlock his full potential.

Les is another motivational speaker who is incredibly popular among the motivational video compilations that others create. Because his speeches are so deep and meaningful that they really get through to people.

His top-selling books: ‘It’s Not over until You Win!’  and ‘Live Your Dreams’ are truly inspirational and well worth the read.

“When life knocks you down, try to land on your back. Because if you can look up, you can get up. Let your reason get you back up.” – Les Brown

2. Tony Robbins

Tony Robbins was born on February 29th, 1960 in Los Angeles. His life at home when he was young was described by him as abusive and chaotic. It was because of this that he left home at the age of 17.

Originally when starting out in the world of motivational speaking, Robbins was promoting seminars for Jim Rohn. He later decided to begin his own journey by hosting his own seminars.

Tony has affected and changed so many people’s lives in a positive way through his seminars, motivational speeches, inspirational quotes and best-selling books.

Search for him on YouTube and several videos will pop up showing him change someone’s life.

The favorites of mine that I’ve watched, are where he cures a young man’s stutter in 7 minutes and saves another guy’s marriage in 8.

“One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power. Most people dabble their way through life, never deciding to master anything in particular.” – Tony Robbins

1. Eric Thomas

Eric Thomas, born and raised in Detroit, was homeless at the age of 16 years old. But Eric decided that he wanted to make a better life for himself, to become someone with a life he could be proud of.

E.T did just that, and you can now check out powerful advice from Eric Thomas on YouTube. Including his “Thank God It’s Monday” series.

He also managed to get the education he missed out on whilst he was homeless and pushed himself further to achieve all the qualifications he dreamed of being able to achieve.

Eric Thomas has become one of the best motivational speakers in the world. His YouTube videos are legendary and his best-selling books have taken in millions of dollars in revenue.

E.T’s speeches are so popular, that you’ll find he’s featured in roughly 90% of the motivational videos that others create and upload to YouTube, using compilations of clips, speeches, and music.

“When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you’ll be successful.” – Eric Thomas

I hope you enjoyed this list of the top 10 best motivational speakers in the world. Many of these speakers are featured within some of the videos we included in our new list of ultimate gym motivation . Take a look and see what you think.

Here’s a quick recap on the list of the best motivational speakers in the world::

• Eric Thomas
• Tony Robbins
• Arnold Schwarzenegger
• Dr. Wayne Dyer
• Robin Sharma
• Brian Tracy
• Nick Vujicic

Who’s your favorite of the 10 best motivational speakers? Do you still agree with the current order of this list? Leave a comment below.

The 10 Most Inspirational Short Stories I’ve Heard

Short Inspirational stories are powerful reads;

The great thing about them is that they’re so easy to digest, and there’s always a moral at the end of the story.

Whether they’re true stories or not is another thing, as many of them are legends supposedly hundreds of years old.

However, the stories that I’m talking about are so powerful and inspirational that many of them really do get you thinking and even leave you speechless at times.

The 10 Best Inspirational Short Stories

I’ve been reading plenty of these short stories in the past couple of weeks and found the lessons behind them truly wonderful. So I’ve decided to write out this article highlighting the 10 most inspirational short stories I’ve heard.

Next to the subheadings, in brackets, I’ve put what the story’s lesson is all about, with a short description of the moral of the story at the end of each section.

10. The Elephant Rope (Belief)

A gentleman was walking through an elephant camp, and he spotted that the elephants weren’t being kept in cages or held by the use of chains.

All that was holding them back from escaping the camp, was a small piece of rope tied to one of their legs.

As the man gazed upon the elephants, he was completely confused as to why the elephants didn’t just use their strength to break the rope and escape the camp. They could easily have done so, but instead, they didn’t try to at all.

Curious and wanting to know the answer, he asked a trainer nearby why the elephants were just standing there and never tried to escape.

The trainer replied;

“when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.”

The only reason that the elephants weren’t breaking free and escaping from the camp was that over time they adopted the belief that it just wasn’t possible.

No matter how much the world tries to hold you back, always continue with the belief that what you want to achieve is possible. Believing you can become successful is the most important step in actually achieving it.

9. Thinking Out of the Box (Creative Thinking)

In a small Italian town, hundreds of years ago, a small business owner owed a large sum of money to a loan-shark. The loan-shark was a very old, unattractive looking guy that just so happened to fancy the business owner’s daughter.

He decided to offer the businessman a deal that would completely wipe out the debt he owed him. However, the catch was that we would only wipe out the debt if he could marry the businessman’s daughter.

Needless to say, this proposal was met with a look of disgust.

The loan-shark said that he would place two pebbles into a bag, one white and one black.

The daughter would then have to reach into the bag and pick out a pebble. If it was black, the debt would be wiped, but the loan-shark would then marry her. If it was white, the debt would also be wiped, but the daughter wouldn’t have to marry the loan-shark.

Standing on a pebble-strewn path in the businessman’s garden, the loan-shark bent over and picked up two pebbles.

Whilst he was picking them up, the daughter noticed that he’d picked up two black pebbles and placed them both into the bag.

He then asked the daughter to reach into the bag and pick one.

The daughter naturally had three choices as to what she could have done:

• Refuse to pick a pebble from the bag.
• Take both pebbles out of the bag and expose the loan-shark for cheating.
• Pick a pebble from the bag fully well knowing it was black and sacrifice herself for her father’s freedom.

She drew out a pebble from the bag, and before looking at it ‘accidentally’ dropped it into the midst of the other pebbles. She said to the loan-shark;

“Oh, how clumsy of me. Never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked.”

The pebble left in the bag is obviously black, and seeing as the loan-shark didn’t want to be exposed, he had to play along as if the pebble the daughter dropped was white, and clear her father’s debt.

It’s always possible to overcome a tough situation throughout of the box thinking, and not give in to the only options you think you have to pick from.

8. The Group of Frogs (Encouragement)

As a group of frogs was traveling through the woods, two of them fell into a deep pit. When the other frogs crowded around the pit and saw how deep it was, they told the two frogs that there was no hope left for them.

However, the two frogs decided to ignore what the others were saying and they proceeded to try and jump out of the pit . 

Despite their efforts, the group of frogs at the top of the pit were still saying that they should just give up. That they would never make it out.

Eventually, one of the frogs took heed to what the others were saying and he gave up, falling down to his death. The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die.

He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, “Did you not hear us?”

The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

People’s words can have a big effect on other’s lives. Think about what you say before it comes out of your mouth. It might just be the difference between life and death.

7. A Pound of Butter (Honesty)

There was a farmer who sold a pound of butter to a baker. One day the baker decided to weigh the butter to see if he was getting the right amount, which he wasn’t. Angry about this, he took the farmer to court.

The judge asked the farmer if he was using any measure to weight the butter. The farmer replied, “Honor, I am primitive. I don’t have a proper measure, but I do have a scale.”

The judge asked, “Then how do you weigh the butter?”

The farmer replied;

“Your Honor, long before the baker started buying butter from me, I have been buying a pound loaf of bread from him. Every day when the baker brings the bread, I put it on the scale and give him the same weight in butter. If anyone is to be blamed, it is the baker.”

In life, you get what you give. Don’t try and cheat others.

6. The Obstacle In Our Path (Opportunity)

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. He then hid himself and watched to see if anyone would move the boulder out of the way. Some of the king’s wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it.

Many people loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none of them did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

A peasant then came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to push the stone out of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded.

After the peasant went back to pick up his vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been.

The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King explaining that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.

Every obstacle we come across in life gives us an opportunity to improve our circumstances , and whilst the lazy complain, the others are creating opportunities through their kind hearts, generosity, and willingness to get things done.

5. The Butterfly (Struggles)

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly.

One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole.

Until it suddenly stopped making any progress and looked like it was stuck.

So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily, although it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings.

The man didn’t think anything of it and sat there waiting for the wings to enlarge to support the butterfly. But that didn’t happen. The butterfly spent the rest of its life unable to fly, crawling around with tiny wings and a swollen body.

Despite the kind heart of the man , he didn’t understand that the restricting cocoon and the struggle needed by the butterfly to get itself through the small opening; were God’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings. To prepare itself for flying once it was out of the cocoon.

Our struggles in life develop our strengths . Without struggles, we never grow and never get stronger, so it’s important for us to tackle challenges on our own, and not be relying on help from others.

4. Control Your Temper (Anger)

There once was a little boy who had a very bad temper. His father decided to hand him a bag of nails and said that every time the boy lost his temper, he had to hammer a nail into the fence.

On the first day, the boy hammered 37 nails into that fence.

The boy gradually began to control his temper over the next few weeks, and the number of nails he was hammering into the fence slowly decreased.

He discovered it was easier to control his temper than to hammer those nails into the fence.

Finally, the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He told his father the news and the father suggested that the boy should now pull out a nail every day he kept his temper under control.

The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence.

“you have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won’t matter how many times you say I’m sorry, the wound is still there.”

Control your anger, and don’t say things to people in the heat of the moment, that you may later regret . Some things in life, you are unable to take back.

3. The Blind Girl (Change)

There was a blind girl who hated herself purely for the fact she was blind. The only person she didn’t hate was her loving boyfriend, as he was always there for her. She said that if she could only see the world, she would marry him.

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her – now she could see everything , including her boyfriend. Her boyfriend asked her, “now that you can see the world, will you marry me?”

The girl was shocked when she saw that her boyfriend was blind too, and refused to marry him. Her boyfriend walked away in tears, and later wrote a letter to her saying:

“Just take care of my eyes dear.”

When our circumstances change, so does our mind. Some people may not be able to see the way things were before, and might not be able to appreciate them . There are many things to take away from this story, not just one.

This is one of the inspirational short stories that left me speechless.

2. Puppies for Sale (Understanding)

A shop owner placed a sign above his door that said: “Puppies For Sale.”

Signs like this always have a way of attracting young children, and to no surprise, a boy saw the sign and approached the owner; 

“How much are you going to sell the puppies for?” he asked.  

The store owner replied, “Anywhere from $30 to $50.”

The little boy pulled out some change from his pocket. “I have $2.37,” he said. “Can I please look at them?”

The shop owner smiled and whistled. Out of the kennel came Lady, who ran down the aisle of his shop followed by five teeny, tiny balls of fur.

One puppy was lagging considerably behind. Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging, limping puppy and said, “What’s wrong with that little dog?”

The shop owner explained that the veterinarian had examined the little puppy and had discovered it didn’t have a hip socket. It would always limp. It would always be lame.

The little boy became excited. “That is the puppy that I want to buy.”

The shop owner said, “No, you don’t want to buy that little dog. If you really want him, I’ll just give him to you.”

The little boy got quite upset. He looked straight into the store owner’s eyes, pointing his finger, and said;

“I don’t want you to give him to me. That little dog is worth every bit as much as all the other dogs and I’ll pay full price. In fact, I’ll give you $2.37 now, and 50 cents a month until I have him paid for.”

The shop owner countered, “You really don’t want to buy this little dog. He is never going to be able to run and jump and play with you like the other puppies.”

To his surprise, the little boy reached down and rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled left leg supported by a big metal brace. He looked up at the shop owner and softly replied, “Well, I don’t run so well myself, and the little puppy will need someone who understands!”

1. Box Full of Kisses (Love)

Some time ago, a man punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree.

Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, “This is for you, Daddy.”

The man became embarrassed by his overreaction earlier, but his rage continue when he saw that the box was empty. He yelled at her; “Don’t you know, when you give someone a present, there is supposed to be something inside?”

The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and cried;

“Oh, Daddy, it’s not empty at all. I blew kisses into the box. They’re all for you, Daddy.”

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged for her forgiveness.

Only a short time later, an accident took the life of the child.

Her father kept the gold box by his bed for many years and, whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.

Love is the most precious gift in the world.

Summary of the 10 Best Inspirational Stories

Here’s a quick summary of the 10 best short inspirational stories:

• Box Full of Kisses (Love)
• Puppies for Sale (Understanding)
• The Blind Girl (Change)
• Control Your Temper (Anger)
• The Butterfly (Struggles)
• The Obstacle in Our Path (Opportunity)
• A Pound of Butter (Honesty)
• The Group of Frogs (Encouragement)
• Thinking Out of the Box (Creative Thinking)
• The Elephant Rope (Belief)

Thanks for reading these inspirational short stories. Some of them left me speechless for a minute or two, and it really does make us think.

If you know of any other inspirational short stories that you think should be featured on the list, then let me know in the comments below or drop me an email and I’ll feature them in part two later on in the year.

Which are your favorite inspirational short stories? Leave a comment below.

Top 20 best personal development authors of all time.

Ever wanted to start reading self-development books, but you’re not sure who the best personal development authors to follow are?

You’re in luck…

I’m about to give you the names of what I believe to be the top 20 best self-development authors to be reading up on. These are names to remember when you’re looking for your next book to buy.

Top 20 Best Personal Development Authors

Here are, in no particular order, the names of the 20 best authors to start reading up on. I would have loved to include a few other names on this list, but the top 20 is what it is!

1. Jack Canfield

Jack Canfield is the legend behind the ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul’ series; one of the most popular self-development book series of all time.

Over 250+ books have been published by the company, and Canfield has gone on to become a leading motivational speaker and trainer.

2. Napoleon Hill

Napoleon Hill is the author behind the notorious ‘Think & Grow Rich’, one of the most popular self-development books of all time.

Hill teaches the principles of attaining any riches you desire in life, and there is so much valuable information within this book, that it’ll always be remembered.

3. Dale Carnegie

Another self-development author you have to check out, and one you’ve probably already heard of, is Dale Carnegie. Carnegie lived from 1888 to 1955, and within his life, published a considerable number of self-help books.

Two of those books, specifically the best selling ones, were ‘How to Win Friends & Influence People’ and ‘How to Stop Worrying & Start Living’.

4. Robert B. Cialdini

You probably know Cialdini as the author of ‘Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion’. This book is highly regarded as one of the best self-development books of all time, as well as one of the best psychology books to read.

5. Tim Ferriss

If you’re not following Tim Ferriss , I don’t know what you’re doing. There are four best selling books that every Tim Ferriss fan will have read, and they’ve helped change the lives of millions.

Those four books are:

• The Four Hour Work Week
• The Four Hour Body
• Tools For Titans
• Tribe of Mentors

6. Dr. Wayne Dyer

Sadly, Wayne Dyer passed away several years ago. He was an American philosopher, self-help author and motivational speaker. Dyer wrote over 40 books in the field of personal development, and they have sold in tens of millions.

7. John C. Maxwell

John Maxwell is an American author, speaker and pastor. He focuses solely on leadership, and training other to become wise and wonderful leaders.

Maxwell has written a ton of incredible books, however these are some the most popular books he’s written:

• The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
• Developing The Leader Within You
• The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth
• How Successful People Think
• Failing Forward

8. Tony Robbins

Tony Robbins , what a guy! Tony has helped people all over the world to transform their lives, and there’s so much wisdom we can all gain from listening to his speeches, and reading his content.

If you want to learn more about Tony Robbins and his work, you can check out these books:

• Awaken the Giant Within
• Unlimited Power
• Unshakeable

9. Paulo Coelho

You probably know Paulo Coelho for his best selling book, ‘The Alchemist’. Coelho is a best selling author, lyricist and novelist, and has received many awards for his work over the years.

The Alchemist is definitely a book you should read if you’re an ambitious individual trying to pursue your dreams and overcome any obstacles in your way.

10. Deepak Chopra

Deepak Chopra is an American author, public speaker, alternative medicine advocate, and a prominent figure in the New Age movement.

Chopra has become one of the most influential figures in the area of spiritual healing and alternative medicine. Some of his best selling books you should be adding to your reading list are:

• Re-inventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul
• Creating Affluence
• The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success

11. Peter F. Drucker

Peter Drucker was an Austrian-born American management consultant, educator, and author, whose writings contributed to the philosophical and practical foundations of the modern business corporation.

You probably know him as the author behind ‘Managing Oneself’, and if you don’t, then you should.

12. Martha Beck

Martha Nibley Beck is an American sociologist, life coach, best-selling author, and speaker who travels the world helping people achieve personal and professional goals.

Some of Martha’s most popular books are:

• Finding Your Own North Star
• Find Your Way In A Wild New World
• The 4-Day Win

13. Stephen R. Covey

I first encountered Stephen Covey’s work when I purchased ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’, which at the time had sold over 15 million copies!

Covey was an American educator, speaker and author. He sadly passed away 5 years ago, but his work has lived on to be some of the best reading material anybody could ever purchase.

14. Brian Tracy

Brian Tracy is a Canadian-born American motivational public speaker and self-development author. He is the author of over 70 books that have been translated into dozens of languages.

Some of his most notorious books are:

• No Excuses: The Power of Discipline
• Eat That Frog!

15. Les Brown

Les Brown is one of my favorite motivational speakers of all time. Les was labelled educable mentally retarded when he was younger, and was born on the floor of an abandoned building.

Some of his most popular and best selling books are ‘Live Your Dreams’ and ‘It’s Not Over Until You Win’.

16. Jim Rohn

Emanuel James “Jim” Rohn was an American entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker. He was responsible for changing many people’s lives, and even mentored Tony Robbins once upon a time.

These are some of the most popular self-development books by Jim Rohn:

• 7 Strategies for Wealth & Happiness
• My Philosophy for Successful Living
• The Keys to Success

17. Gary Keller

Gary Keller is an American entrepreneur and best-selling author. He is the founder of Keller Williams Realty International, which is the largest real estate company in the world by agent count.

You’ve probably heard Keller’s name come up when people talk about ‘The ONE Thing’, his best selling self-help book.

18. Gabrielle Bernstein

Gabrielle Bernstein is an American motivational speaker, life coach, and author. Bernstein teaches primarily from the metaphysical text A Course In Miracles.

Some of here most popular books are:

• Miracles Now
• Spirit Junkie
• May Cause Miracles
• The Universe Has Your Back

19. Brendan Burchard

Brendon Burchard is an American author on motivation and the use of digital and affiliate marketing to sell “info products” based on whatever expertise a person has.

He is most commonly known for his book: The Motivation Manifesto, however he has written several other useful and recommended books on the subject of motivation, such as:

• The Millionaire Messenger
• Life’s Golden Ticket

20. Joel Osteen

Joel Scott Osteen is an American preacher and televangelist. He is the Senior Pastor of Lakewood Church, in Houston, Texas. Osteen’s televised sermons are seen by over 7 million viewers weekly and over 20 million monthly in over 100 countries.

Some of his most popular books are:

• Think Better, Live Better Study Guide
• The Power of I Am
• Fresh Start

That concludes the list of the best personal development authors of all time:

• Jack Canfield
• Napoleon Hill
• Dale Carnegie
• Robert B. Cialdini
• John C. Maxwell
• Anthony Robbins
• Paulo Coelho
• Deepak Chopra
• Peter F. Drucker
• Martha Beck
• Stephen R. Covey
• Gary Keller
• Gabrielle Bernstein
• Brendan Burchard
• Joel Osteen

Who are your favorite personal development authors? Leave a comment below.

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Flash fiction stories: 25 examples of lighting-fast stories.

Flash fiction is one of the most fascinating creative mediums in this day and age: incredibly difficult, but also incredibly rewarding. After all, flash fiction requires writers to effectively cramming a whole narrative into 1,500 words or less.

But when writers rise to this challenge, the results can be exquisite. This post is dedicated to those dazzling flash fiction examples. We'll cover works by the masters of the medium, from Franz Kafka to Joyce Carol Oates. Some stories are a few paragraphs long, some a few lines, and others only a few words — but all of them display storytelling ability that's out of this world. Without further ado, here are 25 flash fiction examples worth a (very quick) read!

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the number of great short stories out there, you can also take our 30-second quiz below to narrow it down quickly and get a personalized short story recommendation 😉

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1. “ Angels and Blueberries ” by Tara Campbell

Word count: 744 words

First lines: “Why is the sky blue?” you ask. Well, it all depends on who’s answering.

Campbell’s sweet, wholesome story posits various explanations for the color of the sky, one of which (naturally) involves angels and blueberries. Besides making you crave a fruit smoothie, it’ll open your eyes to the delightful possibilities of imagination when we disregard science for a few minutes.

2. “ As the North Wind Howled ” by Yu Hua

Word count: 1,371 words

First line: Sunlight had sneaked in through the window and was creeping toward the chair where my pants dangled. I was lying bare-chested in bed, rubbing some gunk from the corner of my eye. It must have collected while I was sleeping, and to just let it stay there seemed inappropriate.

Translated from the original Chinese, this brilliantly bizarre story follows a man who awakens one morning to find a stranger pounding down his door. The stranger insists that he’s come to visit his sick friend — the only trouble is, our narrator has no idea who he’s talking about. The uncanniness escalates from there, culminating in a dark yet comic ending that deftly comments on the oppressive nature of social obligations.

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3. “ Baby Dolls ” by Becky Robison

Word count: 175 words

First line: My mother isn’t always Raggedy Ann, but she was when I was born.

This super-quick vignette from Becky Robison manages to be profoundly moving and disturbing at the same time. It details the circumstances of the narrator’s birth, during which her mother was dressed as Raggedy Ann … or had perhaps morphed into her, depending on how you interpret the poetic prose.

4. “ Curriculum ” by Sejal Shah

Word count: 490 words

First lines: The map was printed on a handkerchief. It is a map of a place that no longer exists.

One of the most praised pieces of flash fiction examples in recent memory, “Curriculum” is divided into three parts: Area Studies, Women’s Studies, and Visual Studies. As you might expect, however, the details of each are not purely academic, but provide a rich context for the narrator’s life — particularly her relationships to cultural identity, womanhood, and her mother.

5. “ Give It Up! ” by Franz Kafka

Word count: 128 words

First line: It was very early in the morning, the streets clean and deserted, I was walking to the station.

“The Metamorphosis,” “The Trial,” and “The Castle” are all very good stories, but “Give It Up!” is a perfect summation of the Kafkaesque: disconcerting and ultimately hopeless. Clocking in at just over 100 words, it’s also one of the most impressive feats of flash fiction by an author largely known for his full-length works.

6. “ Girl ” by Jamaica Kincaid

Word count: 681 words

First lines: Wash the white clothes on Monday and put them on the stone heap; wash the color clothes on Tuesday and put them on the clothesline.

From the author of A Small Place comes this insightful passage on what it means to be a girl, presented in an almost stream-of-consciousness series of instructions. From how to cook and clean to the most appropriate ways to present oneself to men, “Girl” potently demonstrates the many near-impossible standards that women are expected to fulfill without faltering. Don’t worry, though — there are a few surprisingly optimistic moments in the piece as well.

7. “ John Redding Goes to Sea ” by Zora Neale Hurston

Word count: 750 words

First lines: The villagers said that John Redding was a queer child. His mother thought he was too. She would shake her head sadly, and observe to John’s father: “Alf, it’s too bad our boy’s got a spell on ’im.”

“John Redding Goes to Sea” delivers on its title in a surprising yet sweet way: John is a 10-year-old boy, and the “sea” is the nearby river where he launches his twig ships. This 750-word story is a lovely rumination on dreams, obstacles, and how we change as we grow older. And in the vein of Their Eyes Were Watching God , it’s full of Hurston’s signature lyrical description and historically accurate dialect — both proof of her careful attention to detail .

8. “ Housewife ” by Amy Hempel

Word count: 43 words

First lines: She would always sleep with her husband and with another man in the course of the same day, and then the rest of the day, for whatever was left to her of that day, she would exploit by incanting, “French film, French film.”

A quintessential work of microfiction, this single sentence encapsulates the experience of a bored but clearly aspirational housewife. We’ve copied it here in its entirety for you to enjoy:

9. “ Likable ” by Deb Olin Unferth

Word count: 335 words

First lines: She could see she was becoming a thoroughly unlikable person. Each time she opened her mouth she said something ugly, and whoever was nearby liked her a little less.

Another superb meditation on womanhood, Unferth’s story dissects what comes after the stage of Kincaid’s “Girl”: that is, the process of growing older and becoming less “valuable” in the eyes of society. This heart-wrenching piece will resonate with any woman over the age of 40, and force the rest of us to confront what exactly makes the narrator feel so unlikable.

10. “ My Dead ” by Peter Orner

Word count: 1,283 words

First lines: Her name was Beth. We didn’t know each other. We took her car and headed to Missouri from Chicago. I remember that by the time we’d gone a few miles south on the Stevenson we’d already run out of things to say.

This piece tells the tale of two relative strangers attending a séance. But rather than using horror to compel readers, Orner turns instead to good old-fashioned wit: “What’s the hurry?” one of the characters says at one point. “Everybody’s already dead.” However, the ending will get your heart racing with its sudden hairpin turn into drama… and not in the spooky manner you might think.

11. “ Possession(s) ” by John Smolens

Word count: 875 words

First lines: When your wife dies, you find music tastes different and food sounds the same.

Though we’d normally steer clear of anything to do with a writer and his dead wife , “Possession(s)” proves that it can be done without a hint of misogyny — and indeed, with remarkable nuance. The narrator of this story describes the excruciating process of adjusting to a new life when one’s spouse passes away — namely, figuring out what to do with her things. Infused with incredible emotion and rendered in beautiful prose, “Possession(s)” is an affecting account of mourning that you won’t soon forget.

12. “ Ramona ” by Sarah Gerkensmeyer

Word count: 1,132 words

First lines: Ramona used to say, “When it’s on the outside I feel self-conscious.”

“Ramona” is another great flash fiction example: a compelling combination of Miranda July-esque, intimately observational prose and unexpected elements of the surreal. The narrator is best friends with (and has romantic feelings for) the eponymous Ramona, who wears her heart outside her body… literally. Pain, love, and an incisive sense of nostalgia all intertwine in this roughly thousand-word short story.

13. “ Riddle ” by Ogbewe Amadin

Word count: 1,159 words

First lines: I think Aunty Adesuwa is a witch. Mama says so sometimes.

If you’ve ever pondered the true nature of good, evil, and the shades in between, you’ll likely sympathize with young Idara. Her mother claims that Idara’s aunt is an evil witch — but from what she knows of Aunt Adesuwa, this can’t possibly be true. Or can it? Contemplative and haunting, this story (and especially its resolution) has the staying power of a much longer piece.

14. “ Sorry Dan ” by Erik Cofer

Word count: 734 words

First lines: I like you, Dan, I really do. You’ve been the face of this company for many years, overseeing a period of unprecedented net growth. And on a more personal level, you’ve become a dear friend. Heck, our wives attend spin class together twice a week! But unfortunately, friendship only means so much in today’s cutthroat business environment.

The full title is this one is actually “Sorry Dan, But It’s No Longer Necessary For a Human to Serve As CEO Of This Company”... which pretty much sums it up. Published in McSweeney’s in 2014, Cofer’s satirical letter to a boss made obsolete by his robotic counterpart has only become more relevant over the past few years . Not to mention that its apologetic-but-firm tone flawlessly imitates actual downsizing notices.

15. “ Sticks ” by George Saunders

Word count: 392 words

First lines: Every year Thanksgiving night, we flocked out behind Dad as he dragged the Santa suit to the road and draped it over a kind of crucifix he'd built out of metal pole in the yard.

“Sticks” is one of the best-known pieces of flash fiction this side of Hemingway’s alleged baby shoes — perhaps because it puts a serious spin on the infamous Seinfeld Festivus pole . The narrator’s father keeps a metal pole in their yard and decorates it not just for the winter holidays, but for every significant occasion: Groundhog Day, Veteran’s Day, the Super Bowl, etc. Yet his affection for the pole doesn’t seem to extend to his own children. Fans of David Sedaris’ dysfunctional family anecdotes: this is the story for you.

16. “ Taylor Swift ” by Hugh Behm-Steinberg

Word count: 500 words

First lines: You’re in love; it’s great, you swipe on your phone and order: the next day a Taylor Swift clone shows up at your house.

The premise of this wonderfully weird story is that anyone can order a perfectly replicated clone of Taylor Swift straight to their front doorstep — or multiple clones, if you want to build yourself a herd. Another one of those much-praised bit of flash fiction examples from the past few years, “Taylor Swift” is like a Black Mirror episode meets celebrity fanfiction meets… well, you just have to see for yourself.

17. “ Three Is A Rational Number ” by Michele Finn Johnson

Word count: 1,055 words

First lines: Lola’s lost her rational numbers worksheet. She’s got the whole school bus looking for it — when Lola says to do something, it’s like she’s an orchestra conductor and we all just fall in line.

This is a funny, poignant glimpse into the minute melodrama of seventh grade: the narrator’s twin sister, Lola, starts dating the “goon” of Darby Junior High, Billy Maguire. Needless to say, her brother isn’t exactly thrilled, and even less so when Lola starts cheating off Billy’s algebra papers. Vivid details and an authentically juvenile voice will transport you right back to your own seventh-grade bus scandals — especially if they involved copying homework.

18. “ The Huntress ” by Sofia Samatar

Word count: 374 words

First line: For fear of the huntress, the city closed like an eye.

A gorgeous piece of almost folkloric flash fiction, “The Huntress” describes its titular predator in ambiguous terms (“a stench of fur,” “she left a streak”) that somehow makes its terror even more palpable. Though critics are divided on whether the Huntress is meant to be a metaphor , the evocative strength of Samatar’s writing leaves an incredible impression.

19. “ The Wife on Ambien ” by Ed Park

Word count: 1,039 words

First lines: The wife on Ambien knows the score. I mean this literally. Rangers, 4–3 in overtime. Devils fall to the Flames, 3–1. Knicks lose again at home. In the morning, I open the paper and none of this checks out.

What does the wife on Ambien do? Quite a lot, according to Ed Park — even if she doesn’t remember it. This hypnotizingly anaphoric account of her musings, activities, and general welfare is equal parts sad and hilarious, complete with an ending that will have you questioning the narrator’s stability as well.

20. “ The Visitor ” by Lydia Davis

Word count: 342 words

First lines: Sometime in the early summer, a stranger will come and take up residence in our house.

Widely renowned as the queen of flash fiction, Lydia Davis has produced countless micro-stories over multiple anthologies, but perhaps none as excellent as “The Visitor.” Beginning with an anecdote about the narrator’s sister and a strange houseguest she once entertained, this barely 300-word story soon moves into unexpectedly sweet territory, and its usage of the past to anticipate the future is nothing short of subtle genius.

21. “ This Is How You Fail to Ghost Him ” by Victoria McCurdy

Word count: 959 words

First lines: Swipe right. Swipe right. Tinder. Bumble. Be unable to remember which, but this younger, generically handsome boy whose face reminds you of a Playmobil figure has driven from the suburbs tonight to meet you.

More of a thinkpiece than flash fiction per se, “This Is How You Fail to Ghost Him” nonetheless deserves a place on this list for its acerbic wit and all-too-cutting observations of modern dating life. If you read “ Cat Person ” and loved it, you’re sure to enjoy McCurdy’s writing here too.

22. “ Unnecessary Things ” by Tatyana Tolstaya

Word count: 677 words

First lines: This Teddy bear once had amber eyes made from special glass — each one had a pupil and an iris. The bear itself was gray and stiff, with wiry fur. I adored him.

Though translated from the original Russian, this piece retains a stunning sense of clarity in its rumination on “unnecessary things”: items that do not, or no longer, serve a commercial or useful purpose. Our narrator happens upon a teddy bear that fits this description, but her feelings for it still overwhelm her — and might just cause the reader to shed a tear, too.

23. “ War of the Clowns ” by Mia Couto

Word count: 571 words

First lines: One time two clowns set themselves to arguing. The people would stop, amused, to watch them.

This 571-word story gives new meaning to the phrase “clowning around,” as two battling jesters resort to more and more aggressive tactics. And while they entertain their spectators at first, their violent delights most definitely have violent ends.

24. “ Where Are You? ” by Joyce Carol Oates

Word count: 523 words

First lines: The husband had got into the habit of calling the wife from somewhere in the house — if she was upstairs, he was downstairs; if she was downstairs, he was upstairs — and when she answered, “Yes? What?,” he would continue to call her, as if he hadn’t heard and with an air of strained patience: “Hello? Hello? Where are you?”

Joyce Carol Oates’ simple yet elegant style lends itself extremely well to flash fiction examples, as this piece demonstrates. In just over 500 words, she paints a striking portrait of an elderly married couple and the discord between them, which stems from their inability to communicate.

25. “Widow’s First Year” by Joyce Carol Oates

Word count: 4 words

First lines: I kept myself alive.

Our final entry also comes from Oates, and probably holds the record for most succinct display of emotion in flash fiction history. Here it is, all four words of it — though of course, you also need the title to understand the full impact: I kept myself alive.

Want more quick reads? Check out these 11 interesting short stories that may change the way you think. Or try something a little different (but just as fast) by picking up some of the best graphic novels !

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Level 7 | 300 words.

Why do people find amusement park rides so much fun? The roller coasters, free-fall, and pendulum rides are exhilarating, if not terrifying... ( read more )

BATS IN YOUR GARDEN

Level 7 | 225 words.

Bats are flying mammals. They are warm blooded creatures that hibernate in winter. Growing warmth from the sun wakes them from sleep... ( read more )

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT BEES

More than ninety kinds of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seed crops depend on bees for reproduction. Bees pollinate thousands of millions of dollars' worth of crops... ( read more )

Level 7 | 175 Words

Clouds come in many shapes and sizes, but all clouds are made up of billions of tiny water drops or ice crystals.... ( read more )

ALL ABOUT POTATOES

Level 7 | 600 words.

Potatoes were first grown for food in South America thousands of years ago. People found a way to preserve them by leaving them out at night... ( read more )

CELEBRATING DIWALI

Level 7 | 150 words.

Diwali is an important Indian festival. Diwali is also known as the Festival of Lights. People in India and Nepal celebrate Diwali... ( read more )

THE HISTORY OF STREET ART

Street art can be found on buildings, sidewalks, street furniture and signage in urban areas from Tokyo to Paris to New York City... ( read more )

ELVIS PRESLEY

Level 7-8 | 950 words.

Elvis Aaron Presley was born on January 8, 1935, in the southern US town of Tupelo, Mississippi. Elvis went on to become one of the most popular musicians of the twentieth century... ( read more )

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250words.org – short short stories

short stories, 250 words long

With a light rainfall

Branches had been scratching the side of the house for hours. John was resting on the recliner, two fingers through the hole on the armrest, just as he liked it, anchoring his arm as he inhabited the twilight between alertness and rest.

Maeve was visiting with her sister’s family who lived 2 miles up the road. She had left three hours earlier- their oven was out and Maeve had cooked them a meatloaf.

Rationally, Maeve would be back soon. Rationally, he wasn’t hungry- he had made eggs right after she left and had a good late lunch. And, rationally, the branches scratching at the side of the house were just that.

But nothing was rational. His hair, thinning yet still present in wiry, whispy, whiteness had a few pieces standing at attention. His hand could barely control the shakes that his heart produced.

Bernard, the dog, started barking on the porch. John stepped outside to find Bernard, tail wagging, a kitten whimpering in the corner. He took a piece of jerky from the jar he kept between the chairs, and threaded it. Bernard was all attention, but he sent him off into the yard with a snap and a point.

The kitten was smitten with the piece of jerky and John picked her up to his own amazement. He started singing a lullaby that he had sung each of his three children. Once inside, still holding her, he poured the gristle from the frying pan where the eggs had been into a bottle and attached a nipple.

Feeding it to the kitten, whose teeth pirced the nipple, he said, “Just a little.”

Maeve opened the door, closed it, and removed her jacket before she saw him.

“What do you have there?” she asked, voice weary.

“A little friend Bernard made.”

“It’s cute. Beth loved the meatloaf.”

“I’m glad.” He replied. Then his eyes focused on the window darkened by the night sky.

“I do wish Paulie, Georgia and Maggie-” He paused and swallowed. “Would visit again.”

“I do too.” She said, with more than a bit of glimmer in her eye.

What is a Short Story?

There are many definitions of a short story. My favorite is “something that can be read in an hour and remembered for a lifetime.” Typically, stories under 10,000 words are considered short stories. But that’s just the word count. Short stories are not novels in their scope. If a novel is a house then the short story may be the cabinet. Despite that, short stories still say something, however narrow or small. This was the basis of our idea. Can we write a short story in 200 words with basic story structure and still say something? That is our daily challenge. We still work on novels, poems, and screenplays but once a day we craft a micro story. It’s like an athlete stretching before a run. We are exercising our creative muscle. Also, the endeavor is turning out to be research and development for our other work.

Here are some wonderful quotes by writers on the nature of the short story:

“Write a short story every week. It’s not possible to write 52 bad short stories in a row.” – Ray Bradbury

“Short stories consume you faster. They’re connected to brevity. With the short story, you are up against mortality. I know how tough they are as a form, but they’re also a total joy.” – Ali Smith

“I would also suggest that any aspiring writer begin with short stories. These days, I meet far too many young writers who try to start off with a novel right off, or a trilogy, or even a nine-book series. That’s like starting in at rock climbing by tackling Mt. Everest. Short stories help you learn your craft.” – George R.R. Martin

“A short story I have written long ago would barge into my house in the middle of the night, shake me awake and shout, ‘Hey, this is no time for sleeping! You can’t forget me, there’s still more to write!’ Impelled by that voice, I would find myself writing a novel. In this sense, too, my short stories and novels connect inside me in a very natural, organic way.” – Haruki Murakami

“A short story is confined to one mood, to which everything in the story pertains. Characters, setting, time, events, are all subject to the mood. And you can try more ephemeral, more fleeting things in a story – you can work more by suggestion – than in a novel. Less is resolved, more is suggested, perhaps.”

– Eudora Welty

“A short story is the ultimate close-up magic trick – a couple of thousand words to take you around the universe or break your heart.” – Neil Gaiman

“The great thing about a short story is that it doesn’t have to trawl through someone’s whole life; it can come in glancingly from the side.” – Emma Donoghue

“A good [short story] would take me out of myself and then stuff me back in, outsized, now, and uneasy with the fit.” – David Sedaris

“Short stories are fiction’s R & D department, and failed or less-than-conclusive experiments are not just to be expected but to be hoped for.” – Walter Kirn

“A short story must have a single mood and every sentence must build towards it.” – Edgar Allan Poe

“Most stories we tell in real life are under 500 words. You’re at a party, everyone has a glass of wine, and suddenly you have the floor. You throw out your little story like a grenade. ‘Once I knew a guy who…’ And if you have any social graces at all, you probably keep it under 500. So my advice would be this: Don’t get all up in your head thinking short-short stories have to be poetry without the line breaks. Don’t put on your beret. Just tell a story, an actual story. Quick, while they’re still listening.” – Rebecca Makkai

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Phil Cosker

Writer & photographer.

500 word short stories.

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic I’ve been locked away for existing health reasons. I was starting to plot my new book but found I couldn’t concentrate for long enough. Instead, I’ve been writing 500 word short stories, to eventually finish up with a collection – ‘From Behind the Plague Door’. The 500 word stories in the collection ‘From Behind the Plague Door’, first reader and editor, Jules Sewell. Please Note… The characters portrayed in these literary works are  fictitious.

Stories from 2024

• Taking the Biscuit 2024>>> More
• The Dove 2024>>> More
• Treats 2024>>> More
• A Journey 2024>>> More

February 2024

• A Forfeit 2024>>> More

January 2024

• Delayed Gratification 2024>>> More

S tories from 202 3

December 2023

• The Aviator 2023>>> More

November 2023

• Meanwhile 2023>>> More

October 2023

• Redemption Song 2023>>> More

September 2023

• A Last Resor t 2023>>> More

August 2023

• A House 2023>>> More
• The Expert 2023>>> More
• Forgiven 2023>>> More

May 2023 No Posts in May

• Dogs of War 2023>>> More
• Wishes 2023>>> More
• There were no stories published in March. (because I was moving house after 27 years. It drained me, but I’m coming back)
• The Incredible Shrikes 2023>>> More
• The Unicorn 2023>>> More
• A Bowl of Olives 2022>>> More
• Cabbage 2022>>> More
• Perseverance Terrace 2022>>> More
• A Pawn Shop 2022>>> More
• Below Stairs 2022>>> More
• The Bed 2022>>> More
• Mourning 2022>>> More
• Returned to sender 2022>>> More
• The wood 2022>>> More
• Diamonds 2022>>> More
• One Night 2022>>> More
• The Wheelchair 2022>>> More
• A childhood 2022>>> More
• Billy No Mates 2022>>> More
• The Bothy 2022>>> More
• The Headstone 2022>>> More
• Kith and Kin 2022>>> More
• Sugar Loaf Mountain 2022>>> More
• School’s Out 2022>>> More
• Missed 2022>>> More
• A Familiar Dog 2022>>> More
• Conversely 2022>>> More
• Comrades 2022>>> More
• In Memory of Ghosts 2022>>> More

February 2022

• Word of Mouth 2022>>> More
• Manicured Nails 2022>>> More
• Din 2022>>> More
• Haunted 2022>>> More

January 2022

• Marley Lives 2022>>> More
• The Escape 2022>>> More
• The Jacket 2022>>> More
• Untidy Rain 2022>>> More
• Let Them Eat Cake 2022>>> More

S tories from 2021

December 2021

• Concerto for Emilia 2021>>> More
• Fate. Phil Cosker 2021>>> More
• May Day. Phil Cosker 2021>>> More
• The Errand . Phil Cosker 2021>>> More

November 2021

• The Drain Man. Phil Cosker 2021>>> More
• Snapping . Phil Cosker 2021>>> More
• Property. Phil Cosker 2021>>> More
• Pinky. Phil Cosker 2021>>> More

October 2021

• Out of Time. Phil Cosker 2021>>> More
• Oludeniz . Phil Cosker 2021>>> More
• Mrs Windsor. Phil Cosker 2021>>> More
• Madness . Phil Cosker 2021>>> More
• Lister. Phil Cosker 2021>>> More

September 2021

• Lily. Phil Cosker 2021>>> More
• Germany Calling. Phil Cosker 2021>>> More
• Pain. Phil Cosker September 2021>>> More
• Ex Pat. Phil Cosker September 2021>>> More

August 2021

• Lawe. Phil Cosker August 2021>>> More
• A Change of Climate. Phil Cosker August 2021>>> More
• The Men in Blue Serge Suits. Phil Cosker August 2021>>> More
• The Odeon. Phil Cosker August 2021>>> More
• The Ossuary . Phil Cosker August 2021>>> More
• Message in a Bottle . Phil Cosker July 2021>>> More
• Afterlife . Phil Cosker July 2021>>> More
• Paternoster Square. Phil Cosker July 2021 >>> More
• Snow . Phil Cosker July 2021>>> More
• The Mirror . Phil Cosker June 2021>>> More
• Gwyther House. Phil Cosker June 2021>>> More
• Lying In. Phil Cosker June 2021>>> More
• Flies. Phil Cosker June 2021>>> More
• Coltman St. Phil Cosker May 2021>>> More
• Chernobyl . Phil Cosker May 2021>>> More
• Ryker. Phil Cosker May 2021>>> More
• The Black Shield of Falworth. Phil Cosker May 2021>>> More
• Hair. Phil Cosker May 2021>>> More
• Crossing the Border. Phil Cosker April 2021>>> More
• The Present. Phil Cosker April 2021>>> More
• Tea Ceremony. Phil Cosker April 2021>>> More
• A few Sherbets. Phil Cosker April 2021>>> More
• After the Big Sleep . Phil Cosker March 2021>>> More
• Compline. Phil Cosker March 2021>>> More
• Macaroni Cheese . Phil Cosker March 2021>>> More
• What a laugh. Phil Cosker March 2021>>> More

February 2021

• Scrapbooks. Phil Cosker February 2021>>> More
• Cowboys. Phil Cosker February 2021>>> More
• P.O.W. Phil Cosker February 2021>>> Mo
• Billy Spider. Phil Cosker February 2021>>> More

January 2021

• Mary. Phil Cosker January 2021>>> More
• The Leader. Phil Cosker January 2021>>> More
• Rain. Phil Cosker January 2021>>> More
• Shooting Rats. Phil Cosker January 2021>>> More
• Harry. Phil Cosker January 2021>>> More

Stories from 2020

December 2020.

• Christmas . Phil Cosker December 2020>>> More
• Happy Christmas. Phil Cosker December 2020>>> More
• Monsignori. Phil Cosker December 2020>>> More
• Sound . Phil Cosker December 2020>>> More

November 2020

• Thor. Phil Cosker November 2020>>> More
• Murder on the shore . Phil Coske November 2020 >>> More
• Wasaman. Phil Cosker November 2020 >>> More
• Repurposed . Phil Cosker November 2020 >>>More
• The school run. Phil Cosker November 2020 >>>More

October 2020

• ‘Fetch’. Phil Cosker October 2020 >>>More
• The Welsh Dresser. Phil Cosker October 2020 >>>More
• The Lift. Phil Cosker October 2020 >>>More
• Lily. Phil Cosker October 2020 >>>More

September 2020

• Homage. Phil Cosker September 2020 >>>More
• The Tank . Phil Cosker September 2020 >>>More
• The Wall. Phil Cosker September 2020 >>>More
• The Speech. Phil Cosker September 2020 >>>More

August 2020

• Runnymede. Phil Cosker August 2020 >>>More
• Lave sus Manos. Phil Cosker August 2020 >>>More
• The Garage. Phil Cosker August 2020 >>>More
• Walking Rough. Phil Cosker August 2020 >>>More
• 1945. Phil Cosker August 2020 >>>More
• Emory. Phil Cosker August 2020 >>>More
• Cats. Phil Cosker July 2020 >>>More
• Resting Place. Phil Cosker July 2020 >>>More
• The Plague. Phil Cosker July 2020 >>>More
• Empathy. Phil Cosker July 2020 >>>More
• Emily. Phil Cosker June 2020 >>>More
• Valdemar. Phil Cosker June 2020 >>>More
• The Stretcher. Phil Cosker June 2020 >>>More
• The Funeral. Phil Cosker June 2020 >>>More
• God. Phil Cosker May 2020 >>>More
• Cabin Fever. Phil Cosker May 2020 >>>More
• Bottle of Drink. Phil Cosker May 2020 >>>More
• Barking Mad. Phil Cosker May 2020 >>>More
• White Chairs. Phil Cosker May 2020 >>>More
• Exposure. Phil Cosker April 2020 >>>More

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February 22, 2018: "500 Short Stories for Beginner-Intermediate," Vols. 1 and 2, for only 99 cents each! Buy both e‐books (1,000 short stories, iPhone and Android) at Amazon-Kindle . All 1,000 stories are also right here at eslyes at Link 10 .

HOME – www.eslyes.com

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.... To download Audio Files, click here. Next, right click on a file. Then, Save As. ...

1. One Woman, Two Horses, Many Parades   5.1 (5.0 = Grade Level; see Wikipedia , Readability‐Grader , or Readability‐Score ) 2. She Hopes for the Perfect Wedding   4.9 3. Saleslady Pushes Her Luck   4.5 4. Signer for Deaf Has Designs on Pierre   5.7 5. Is Her Dreamboat Online?   7.1 6. Let's Kick Back and Enjoy a Movie   4.7 7. Itsabad News, Itsagood News   4.7 8. RIP—Wood or Cardboard?   8.0 9. No Tops on Boob Tube   7.9 10. The Big (Wet) One vs. the Big (Dry) One   8.6 11. Arizona: No ID, No Vote   8.6 12. Drunk Drivers Get Away with Murder   5.6 13. New First Aid: Fist-to-Mouth CPR   5.6 14. No Preacher Is "A Man of Sponge"   7.0 15. SoCal City to Learn Inglés   9.5 16. Drunk Driver Doesn't Fear Train   6.9 17. Snake Handler Angers Angry Adder   7.2 18. Noisy Neighbors Above and Below   6.1 19. Birthday Box Has Big Surprise   4.2 20. July 4th Parade Pleases All   6.5 21. $110M—Housecleaner Cleans Up   8.2 22. A Thrift Store Score   4.8 23. He's Blind but Doesn't Mind   3.9 24. New City, New Start, Same Memories   4.8 25. RNs Meet Pandas on SoCal Sojourn   6.2 26. Baking Driver in Bone‐Dry Fiat   4.4 27. Can't We All Just Get Along?   7.3 28. House: A Dream Come True   5.7 29. Los Angeles: Streets of Fire   5.5 30. Little Thought behind "Thoughtful" Gift   5.5

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31. U.S. Govt.: No Hope for Hemp   9.7 32. Nature: It's Too Much for Humans   7.4 33. Again & Again & Again Fixes Brain   8.6 34. We Bite, and We Are Bitten   6.8 35. Vacations Are Better with Friends   6.6 36. Stomach Growls, but It Must Wait   6.0 37. Empty House to Full House   5.0 38. From a Finger Prick to a Pint   5.0 39. The Language of Love   3.4 40. The Big One Biding Its Time in LA   8.0 41. Cold Beer, Fast Bike, Pretty Nurse   5.5 42. Christmas Pineapples for All   4.5 43. Driver Drinks, Smokes, Crashes, Runs   2.4 44. Scratchy Sounds Scare Staffer   2.2 45. Put a Little Love in Your Heart   6.6 46. Can't Take My Eyes Off of You   7.8 47. LA: Who Needs a TV Weatherman? (1)   6.0 48. LA: Who Needs a TV Weatherman? (2)   7.2 49. Will Her Love Feed and Clothe Her Babies?   2.7 50. Mom Frets: Jobless Hubby, Runaway Son   2.3 51. Peeks in Dumpster, Dumps Red Meat (1)   4.9 52. Peeks in Dumpster, Dumps Red Meat (2)   4.6 53. Mend the Car, Fend Off the Men (1)   4.7 54. Mend the Car, Fend Off the Men (2)   4.7 55. Food Labels and Your Salted Food (1)   6.4 56. Food Labels and Your Salted Food (2)   3.5 57. Who Pulled the Plug? (1)   4.2 58. Who Pulled the Plug? (2)   6.0 59. People‐Watching at Sheepshead Bay (1)   4.7 60. People‐Watching at Sheepshead Bay (2)   4.9 61. A Bad Job Beats No Job (1)   7.0 62. A Bad Job Beats No Job (2)   6.6 63. Hey, Bud! Hey, Bro! Hey, Pal! Hey, Bub!   1.7 64. Who Shot My Sugar?   3.2 65. Spit the Pits, Holler for Dollars   2.3 66. No Country for Old White Men   5.7 67. Time Out for NY Times (1)   3.7 68. Time Out for NY Times (2)   5.0 69. There, but for the Grace of God...   3.5 70. ET Threatens Earth Bullies   3.9 71. The Girl with "X‐Ray" Vision   5.9

Teachers: All 71 stories above ↑ are in order from easiest (1.7) to hardest (9.7) below ↓ (per MS Word's Readability Statistics). Mike, April 7, 2019

63. Hey, Bud! Hey, Bro! Hey, Pal! Hey, Bub!   1.7 44. Scratchy Sounds Scare Staffer   2.2 50. Mom Frets: Jobless Hubby, Runaway Son   2.3 65. Spit the Pits, Holler for Dollars   2.3 43. Driver Drinks, Smokes, Crashes, Runs   2.4 49. Will Her Love Feed and Clothe Her Babies?   2.7 64. Who Shot My Sugar?   3.2 39. The Language of Love   3.4 56. Food Labels and Your Salted Food (2)   3.5 69. There, but for the Grace of God...   3.5 67. Time Out for NY Times (1)   3.7 23. He's Blind but Doesn't Mind   3.9 70. ET Threatens Earth Bullies   3.9 19. Birthday Box Has Big Surprise   4.2 57. Who Pulled the Plug? (1)   4.2 26. Baking Driver in Bone‐Dry Fiat   4.4 3. Saleslady Pushes Her Luck   4.5 42. Christmas Pineapples for All   4.5 52. Peeks in Dumpster, Dumps Red Meat (2)   4.6 6. Let's Kick Back and Enjoy a Movie   4.7 7. Itsabad News, Itsagood News   4.7 53. Mend the Car, Fend Off the Men (1)   4.7 54. Mend the Car, Fend Off the Men (2)   4.7 59. People‐Watching at Sheepshead Bay (1)   4.7 22. A Thrift Store Score   4.8 24. New City, New Start, Same Memories   4.8 2. She Hopes for the Perfect Wedding   4.9 51. Peeks in Dumpster, Dumps Red Meat (1)   4.9 60. People‐Watching at Sheepshead Bay (2)   4.9 37. Empty House to Full House   5.0 38. From a Finger Prick to a Pint   5.0 68. Time Out for NY Times (2)   5.0 1. One Woman, Two Horses, Many Parades   5.1 29. Los Angeles: Streets of Fire   5.5 30. Little Thought behind "Thoughtful" Gift   5.5 41. Cold Beer, Fast Bike, Pretty Nurse   5.5

4. Signer for Deaf Has Designs on Pierre   5.7 12. Drunk Drivers Get Away with Murder   5.6 13. New First Aid: Fist-to-Mouth CPR   5.6 28. House: A Dream Come True   5.7 66. No Country for Old White Men   5.7 71. The Girl with "X‐Ray" Vision   5.9 36. Stomach Growls, but It Must Wait   6.0 47. LA: Who Needs a TV Weatherman? (1)   6.0 58. Who Pulled the Plug? (2)   6.0 18. Noisy Neighbors Above and Below   6.1 25. RNs Meet Pandas on SoCal Sojourn   6.2 55. Food Labels and Your Salted Food (1)   6.4 20. July 4th Parade Pleases All   6.5 35. Vacations Are Better with Friends   6.6 45. Put a Little Love in Your Heart   6.6 62. A Bad Job Beats No Job (2)   6.6 34. We Bite, and We Are Bitten   6.8 16. Drunk Driver Doesn't Fear Train   6.9 14. No Preacher Is "A Man of Sponge"   7.0 61. A Bad Job Beats No Job (1)   7.0 5. Is Her Dreamboat Online?   7.1 17. Snake Handler Angers Angry Adder   7.2 48. LA: Who Needs a TV Weatherman? (2)   7.2 27. Can't We All Just Get Along?   7.3 32. Nature: It's Too Much for Humans   7.4 46. Can't Take My Eyes Off of You   7.8 9. No Tops on Boob Tube   7.9 8. RIP—Wood or Cardboard?   8.0 40. The Big One Biding Its Time in LA   8.0 21. $110M—Housecleaner Cleans Up   8.2 10. The Big (Wet) One vs. the Big (Dry) One   8.6 11. Arizona: No ID, No Vote   8.6 33. Again & Again & Again Fixes Brain   8.6 15. SoCal City to Learn Inglés   9.5 31. U.S. Govt.: No Hope for Hemp   9.7

Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. email me michaeleslATgmail.com

200 Word Short Story Contest Winner

The Paradox of Brevity: What short-shorts can teach us about writing

Linda Landrigan, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine editor Good short stories, for me, are closer to poetry than to novels. Nuanced and evocative, good short stories focus narrowly on something small, an incident or character, while suggesting their larger reality. Short-shorts, such as I read for The Graveyard Shift’s contest, perhaps illustrate that best. By necessity, short-shorts demand that the reader bring his or her own imagination to the story, and thus provide a richer reading experience. Each of the stories I read for the contest presented a universe turned inside out. That is, despite – or perhaps because of – their brevity, the worlds evoked by the short shorts were finely wrought and the characters sharply delineated. More, as in word count, doesn’t always equal better.

Of the contest short-shorts, I read the entries first without looking at the photo that inspired them. I didn’t really need to – the stories all captured the essence of the image. When I did go back and look at the photo I wasn’t at all surprised. Each story had given me just enough detail to be able to fill in the gaps. That’s an incredible accomplishment, and in order to convey a vivid setting with so few words, the author must first fully imagine the place and action and characters.

Each short-short I read had a close-knit plot that moved a small incident forward. No digressions broke the rhythm of that. Each story had a narrow focus that spotlighted a revelation or a change in character or an ironic plot twist. There were no extraneous descriptions to bog down the plot, no unnecessary backstory to explain away a character’s mystique. Rather, each short short was concrete and the action took place in present time (of the story). Each had a tight narrative sequence that answered in some respect the “why” of the character or situation.

As an editor I’m not always looking for the story that has never been told before; more often than not, the stories I see and buy have been done many times over. What I’m looking for is a fresh take: the spousal murder or world-weary PI that shows me something new. Imagine telling the story in a bar: You tell the story not because it’s familiar, but because there is something different about it that is interesting. I believe that after the first draft is written, writers should sit back and ask, Why am I telling this story? Or to put it another way, What makes it worth telling? If this story were boiled down to a short-short, what would it look like?

When you’ve answered this question, then you can go back and look at each sentence, nugget of description, slice of dialog and ask how it moves the story forward or is relevant to its essential point.

What can you take from the experience of writing a short-short and apply to writing a short story, novella, or even a novel? First, understand the focus and point of your story, and dispassionately edit out any obvious, overstated, or irrelevant bit of information. Trust your readers to bring to the story their ability to visualize the setting after you’ve set down the salient details. These are useful disciplines for writers at any length, and absolute requirements for the writer of the short-short.

The Winner:

IT’S IN THE CARDS Pat Harrington [email protected]

A shard of pain cut through Magda when she leaned over. She talked back to Tamas last night and he beat her bad. She studied the tarot cards on the table. They said her future held hope-but did it? The cards had deceived her before. She picked up the one with the image of a dark, weathered wall. Terrifying memories seeped through its cracks-of smuggling into the country, her handlers’ blows, their unwashed bodies and laughter after they’d used her. Now at Tamas bidding, she told fortunes to bad men pretending to be tourists, selling girls and buying drugs from him. Beyond the curtained doorway, the floorboards shook from heavy footsteps and Magda bowed her head. She wanted to pray, but nothing came. A hand pulled aside the door’s heavy curtain, and he entered, letting the curtain fall behind him. He sat down and Magda spread the cards in front of him. In a trembling voice, she said, “I will tell your fortune.” He studied them, head down, voice muffled. “Here’s yours. Raid’s tonight. Three a.m. We’ll take you with the others. You talk, you walk-with new ID and papers. “Welcome to America.”

Honorable Mentions:

All Too Well By Todd Diel [email protected]

“May I read your fortune?” Her accent was as exotic as her dress.

“Uh, sure.”

Three cards were laid out face up on the table. A pale hand with an intricate spider web tattoo indicated the first.

“The Jack of Swords. You are a warrior, one who fights for the innocent and oppressed.”

Well, duh, I thought. I’m a cop.

She motioned to the second card. “The six of pentacles. You have a trusted friend.”

I glanced toward the back of the store. My partner was paying the clerk.

“Betrayal.”

I looked back at the table. The hand touched the third card, this one sporting the image of two lovers. The card was reversed.

“They were all out of the chocolate frosted,” Riley said from behind me. I turned to find my partner holding out a glazed donut and a steaming cup of coffee. Traces of chocolate frosting lingered on his upper lip.

“What?”

I simply stared.

“What?” he asked again. “Machine not working, right?”

He licked his lips self-consciously. I eyed the tattooed hand and shook my head.

“Oh, no. It’s working all too well.”

Madame Zorba Rebekah Aidukaitis

Madame Zorba mocked him from her box. She had warned him, and now he stewed under her gaze in overalls and work boots. He rested his cast on the bar. Just a freak accident. Ordering another budget beer, he sipped it near Madame Zorba, her lips curled provocatively, tempting. He set the beer down. “Come on, Baby,” he dared with a quarter. “Show me what you’ve got.” A three card spread went down-past, present, future-her finger stopping over the devil card. A message scrolled out: Death for you. She laughed mechanically, “Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah.” “No Lady Luck, are you?” he said. “You and my past old lady. Purgatory for you both.” He knocked back his beer, crushed the can, threw it against the wall, then kicked the machine. “Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah.” “Yeah? You laughing at me?” The maniacal head bobbed. “Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah.” “You, shut up!” Slamming his cast through the Plexiglas, he squeezed his good, meaty arm through the jagged hole to throttle the mannequin. But strength deserted him and suddenly he was on the tile with blood spurting speedily from his arm, the devil card face-up in the blood. “Devil woman!” “Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah.” A message scrolled out. Welcome, Bill.

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF SARAH

Joyce Tremel

Ten long years, but I remember it like it was yesterday. One minute we were laughing over the “prediction” Sarah had gotten from the fortune teller’s booth in the arcade, the next minute she was gone. Vanished. I never saw my fifteen year old best friend again.

I hadn’t been to Folly Park since. Until today. I felt drawn to the auction of equipment in the now closed park. I had to see that booth one last time. I wanted the closure that I knew would never come. I wanted to make sense of Sarah’s disappearance.

My stomach was in knots as I approached the booth. I dug a quarter from my purse, dropped it in the slot. The fortune teller began moving, her hand sliding mechanically across her tarot cards. Seconds later, a card popped out . I picked it up, thinking about what had been on Sarah’s card. Hers read, “You will meet a mysterious stranger.”

I looked at my card, not seeing the words through my tears.

“I knew you would come,” a voice behind me said. Even after all this time I recognized it.

I turned around. “Sarah.”

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Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah. Very clever stories. It must have been fun to read them all. Thanks for the creative challenge, Lee, and for taking the time to judge, Linda. A great weekend to all!

How wonderful the winning stories are – Congratulations to the winners and to everyone who entered. Thanks to Lee and Linda for a fun challenge.

Great stories !

Hey Joyce, I really liked your story. Wish there was a spot to read a few more.

Fun contest Lee.

Here’s another short story. DONT be a Fridays hero ! Take the weekend off. We need you to get better.

Well, this is cool! I didn’t expect my story to be here!

Thanks, Linda, and nice work everyone!

Excellent stories!! Congratulations! And thanks to Lee and to Linda Landrigan for a terrific learning experience!

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The 25 greatest short stories of all time.

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American writer Ernest Hemingway working at a portable table while on a big game hunt in Kenya, ... [+] September 1952.

There is a quieter, more succinct wing of literature that thrives on pithy conciseness: the short story. Authors of the art form have perfected the concept of this type of storytelling by distilling exciting human experiences into a compact form that is easy to digest and just as engaging for the busy reader. Here, are 25 of the greatest short stories of all time, each with its own approach to brevity.

What Is A Short Story?

Compared to a novel or novella, a short story is a smaller work with a more limited scope and less developed characters. Its objective is to uncover a single incidence or series of linked incidents, aiming to evoke a single effect or mood from the reader. The concept of a short story allows for a pithy, structured plot that is laser-focused on a small cast of characters and usually, a single setting. With short stories, every word is carefully chosen to deliver a punch, sometimes in as little as several hundred words. The upper limit for a short story is sometimes likened to that of a novella, but a single short story rarely attains this much length, yet it can still leave a lasting emotional impact.

Top Short Stories

Some of the most famous and widely read classic short stories of all time are Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery (1948), Edgar Allan Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart (1843), and Flannery O’Connor’s A Good Man Is Hard to Find (1955).

Over the years, many book critics have cited these stories as the blueprint for short story writing because of their evocative plots and evergreen themes. Among the most celebrated short story writers are Edgar Allan Poe, who wrote mysterious and ghoulish stories that made the list for the genre’s entry standard; Ernest Hemingway, famous for his terse, classic prose; and Alice Munro, who is regarded as the revolutionary architect of modern-day short fiction. The stories in these lists have been compiled by measuring their literary merit and cultural impact over time.

25. The Lottery Ticket By Anton Chekhov (1887)

In The Lottery Ticket , Ivan Dmitritch and his wife are thrilled when they discover that they have won the lottery. They immediately began to dream of what they would do with all of their potential newfound wealth. In the course of daydreaming, the duo finally reveals their true wishes and plans, until they are brought back to a harsh reality, Chekhov’s story is a melancholy survey of human nature, the impact of money and the surprising results of our most deeply-held desires.

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Who Should Read This: Lovers of classic Russian literature and human psychology will enjoy this story.

Where to Read : Classic Short Stories .

24. The Aleph and Other Stories By Jorge Luis Borges (1949)

In The Aleph , Borges introduces readers to some of his most complex and well-developed characters, including a Nazi who cannot redeem himself, a Mayan priest locked up in a monastery, a group of anti-Semitic Christian theologians and a woman taking revenge on her father’s murderer. This book also features another short story, The Maker , which presents characters who struggle with their own existence and sense of self.

Who Should Read This: This book is ideal for readers who enjoy philosophical and speculative fiction.

Where to Read: Penguin Random House

23. A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings By Gabriel Garcia Márquez (1968)

In this magical realist story, Márquez introduces young readers to the story of an old man with wings in a small village. Although his wings are extraordinary, Márquez invites readers to examine the old man’s humanity. Other notable characters in this story are Pelayo, Father Gonzaga, Elisenda and The Neighbor. The story’s whimsical yet profound plot directs readers to reflect on the extraordinary within the ordinary.

Who Should Read This: This book is a good fit for readers who enjoy magical realism and allegorical tales.

Where to Read: AbeBooks

22. The Collected Stories of Diane Williams By Diane Williams (2018)

Diane Williams ’ The Collected Stories of Diane Williams is an anthology of over 300 short stories that are fascinatingly strange, plotless and non-linear. As a whole, the collection is immersive, drawing readers into the astonishing inner lives of their main characters and the inner workings of Williams’ mind. As one of the masters of the short story, Williams has built a career out of defying logic and challenging traditional genre guidelines, all while bending the rules to offer readers a unique and thought-provoking literary experience.

Who Should Read This: This collection is a good fit for readers who enjoy short stories and their cumulative plots.

21. Acts of God By Ellen Gilchrist (2014)

Ellen Gilchrist’s Acts of God is a collection of short stories that feature the resilience and grace of ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances. The first story in the book follows the devastating effects of a tornado in Adkins, Arkansas, and follows four teenagers from the Fayetteville First Methodist Church Youth Group as they work together to help the affected community. Each story in this collection highlights to human compassion and the quiet heroism found in everyday life.

Who Should Read This: This collection is perfect for readers who enjoy Southern fiction and stories that celebrate people's resilience and goodness.

Where to Read: Barnes & Noble

20. Cathedral By Raymond Carver (1983)

Raymond Carver’s Cathedral follows the tale of a budding love affair between the narrator and a friend of his blind wife’s, Robert. Through a shared drawing exercise, the narrator experiences a dramatic shift in perspective. Carver’s minimalist style and focus on human connection and empathy make this a powerful and moving story.

Who Should Read This: This book is perfect for readers who appreciate minimalist fiction.

19. Sonny’s Blues By James Baldwin (1957)

James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues understands suffering, fraternal love, and the redemptive power of music like almost nothing else in story form. Set in Harlem, the short story follows the narrator through his brother Sonny’s opiate addiction and his passion for jazz. Baldwin’s characters struggle to bridge their brotherly differences and are finally reconciled in song.

Who Should Read: This book is ideal for readers who appreciate classic literary fiction and stories of familial bonds.

18. The Necklace and Other Short Stories By Guy de Maupassant ( 1884)

In this book, Maupassant plays back the details of day-to-day life with brilliance and a wicked sense of humor. In each case, we feel, right from the start, the unmistakable presence of a literary master at work. The twists in this collection of stories reveal the superficiality of wealth and the harsh realities of social aspiration. Maupassant’s sharp social commentary and ironic twist make The Necklace a timeless story.

Who Should Read: This is a good read for people who appreciate irony and social critique.

Where to Read: Dover Publications

17. The Snows of Kilimanjaro By Ernest Hemingway ( 1936)

In The Snows of Kilimanjaro, Ernest Hemingway follows the story of an American writer who is dying from an infection in a hospital in Africa. Hemingway’s merciless sparseness and the way he alludes to regret, artistic ambition and mortality make The Snows of Kilimanjaro a terse exploration of human life and death. Hemingway’s descriptions of the African landscape increase this story’s impact on the reader's mind.

Who Should Read: This book is perfect for readers who appreciate existential literature.

Where to Read: Simon & Schuster

16. Bartleby, the Scrivener By Herman Melville (1853)

This story explores the mysterious behavior of Bartleby, a law copyist who gradually withdraws from life and becomes a stranger over time. In this book, Melville explores isolation, passive resistance and the effects of modern capitalism. Through Bartleby, Melville invites readers to reflect on individuals’ moral and ethical responsibilities toward one another, challenging us to consider the profound impact of societal structures on our personal lives.

Who Should Read: Readers interested in philosophical and existential questions will appreciate the story’s exploration of isolation, free will and the human condition.

15. To Build a Fire By Jack London (1902)

Set in the Yukon, Jack London’s To Build a Fire follows a man’s struggle for survival in extreme weather. London’s vivid descriptions and the protagonist’s grim determination highlight the brutal forces of nature and human frailty. The story shows the power of nature and the consequences of underestimating its severity. As the man battles against the freezing temperatures and his limitations, London underscores the themes of human vulnerability and the relentless, indifferent power of the natural world.

Who Should Read: Those who enjoy stories of human endurance and survival against the odds will find this tale gripping and intense.

14. A Rose for Emily By William Faulkner (1930)

Set in the fictional town of Jefferson, Mississippi, this Southern Gothic story follows the life and death of Emily Grierson. Faulkner’s careful attention to detail and narrative approach to themes like isolation, resistance and change impact societal norms, making this a compelling and haunting tale.

Who Should Read: This book is perfect for readers who appreciate Southern Gothic literature and complex storytelling techniques.

13. A Sound of Thunder By Ray Bradbury (1952)

This science fiction classic explores the concept of the butterfly effect through a time travel adventure. When a hunter steps on a butterfly in the past, he returns to a drastically altered present. Bradbury’s exploration of the interconnectedness of events and the consequences of seemingly small actions remains impactful, and his narrative brilliantly illustrates the interconnectedness of events and the fragile web of cause and effect.

Who Should Read: Fans of science fiction will appreciate Bradbury’s imaginative exploration of time travel and its consequences.

12. The Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka (1915)

Franz Kafka’s incredible story of Gregor Samsa finds him waking from sleep to discover he has been transformed into a huge insect. He immediately engages with questions about alienation and identity, and the juxtaposition of absurdity and existential terror lends itself to a lot of criticism and the harsh demands of a judgmental society. With this book, Kafka gives readers one of the finest works of 20th-century literature, which stands out for its style and themes.

Who Should Read: Fans of classic fiction who are drawn to characters that are complex and isolated.

11. The Gift of the Magi By O. Henry (1905)

O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi f ollows the heartwarming story of love and sacrifice and follows a young couple who secretly buy each other Christmas gifts. The plot twist at the end of the story displays O. Henry’s style, which showcases themes of selflessness and true love. The story’s simplicity and emotional depth make it a timeless classic.

Who Should Read: This book is ideal for readers who enjoy heartwarming, sentimental tales.

10. The Rocking-Horse Winner By D.H. Lawrence (1926)

D.H. Lawrence’s The Rocking Horse Winner centers on the life of a young boy who rides his toy rocking horse to predict winning horses in real races, hoping to gain his mother’s approval. Lawrence critiques materialism and the destructive nature of obsession. The story’s supernatural elements and tragic conclusion offer a haunting reflection on familial expectations.

Who Should Read: Perfect for readers interested in psychological and supernatural fiction.

9. Hills Like White Elephants By Ernest Hemingway ( 1927)

Set at a Spanish train station, Ernest Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants captures a conversation between a couple who need to make a difficult decision. Hemingway’s sparse prose and his use of subtext create a powerful narrative about communication and the complex nature of human relationships. The story’s minimalist style leaves much to the reader’s interpretation and imagination.

Who Should Read: This book is a good fit for readers who appreciate concise, impactful storytelling.

8. Whatever Happens, Probably Will By John W. MacIlroy (2022)

Whatever Happens, Probably Will is a compelling collection of short stories that delve into the unpredictable nature of life. MacIlroy’s approach to writing is characterized by intricate plots and richly developed characters, each facing situations where the unexpected alter their course. From moments of profound realization to sudden twists of fate, these stories explore several themes, including chance, choice and consequence. MacIlroy’s sharp prose and keen insight into human behavior make this collection thought-provoking.

Who Should Read: This book is a good fit for readers who enjoy pithy writing.

7. Her Body and Other Parties By Carmen Maria Machado (2017)

Her Body and Other Parties is a collection of short stories that mix horror , fantasy, and magical realism to explore the realities of women’s lives. Machado’s prose is both lyrical and haunting, with each story exploring themes of gender, sexuality and identity. The first story in the collection, The Husband Stitch , reimagines classic folk tales with a feminist twist, while other stories, like Especially Heinou s, offer a three-dimensional view into contemporary issues. Machado’s unique voice and inventive storytelling make this collection a modern classic.

Who Should Read: This book is great for readers who enjoy feminist literature, magical realism, and stories that push the boundaries of genre.

Where to Read: Graywolf Press

6. Never Whistle at Night By Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. (2023)

Never Whistle at Night is a dark anthology that combines horror stories laser-focused on Indigenous traditions and contemporary experiences. This collection of stories showcases stories from indigenous authors who use the horror genre to explore themes of survival, cultural identity and resilience. Each story is a testament to the rich storytelling traditions of Indigenous communities, offering suspense and profound reflections.

Who Should Read: This anthology is perfect for fans of horror fiction and those interested in Indigenous literature.

5. Out There Screaming , edited By Jordan Peele and John Joseph Adams (2023)

Jordan Peele is one of the leaders of modern-day horror-themed entertainment, so his contribution to Out There Screaming is not far-fetched. The book is a compelling anthology of horror that features a collection of stories from a diverse group of authors, each contributing their own unique voice to the genre. The stories include deep-dives into themes of fear, identity and society, often through the lens of race and culture. Peele’s influence is evident in the anthology’s blend of psychological horror and social commentary, making it a must-read for fans of dark fiction.

Who Should Read: Out There Screaming is a perfect book for fans of modern-day psychological horror.

Where to Read: Penguin Random House.

4. The Yellow Wallpaper By Charlotte Perkins Gilman ( 1892)

Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper is a 19th-century fictional account exploring mental health and gender roles. The story, presented as a series of journal entries, details the narrator’s obsession with the wallpaper in her bedroom and her gradual descent into insanity. Gilman’s critique of the way that women were treated in the 19th century remains relevant today.

Who Should Read: This book is ideal for those interested in feminist literature and psychological fiction.

Where to Read: This book is available at Simon & Schuster .

3. A Good Man Is Hard to Find By Flannery O’Connor (1953)

Flannery O’Connor’s A Good Man Is Hard to Find is a story that follows a family road trip that goes tragically wrong. O’Connor skillfully combines dark humor with morality and redemption to create a masterpiece. The story’s shocking, violent edge and the grandmother’s confrontation with the Misfit force readers to question faith, grace, and the core of human nature.

Who Should Read: This book is ideal for readers who enjoy Southern Gothic literature and moral complexity.

Where to Read: This book is available on Amazon .

2. The Tell-Tale Heart By Edgar Allan Poe (1843)

Short story expert Edgar Allan Poe invites readers into the world of a cold-blooded killer with The Tell-Tale Heart. The gothic classic follows the life of a murderer, who is haunted by the constant beating of his victim’s heart. Poe’s use plot-twist, narration and intense psychological depth makes this a quintessential read for fans of horror and suspense. The story’s exploration of guilt and paranoia is both compelling and unsettling.

Who Should Read: This book is perfect for readers who appreciate gothic fiction and psychological thrillers.

Where to Read: This book is available on Barnes & Noble .

1. The Lottery By Shirley Jackson (1948)

Set in a town that initially seems peaceful and idyllic town, The Lottery follows a shocking and brutal ritual that takes place every year. Renowned author, Shirley Jackson criticizes societal norms and the dark side of human nature, highlighting how ordinary people can commit heinous acts under the guise of conforming with the legacy of tradition. The suspenseful buildup of the story leaves a lasting impact on the reader.

Who Should Read: This book is perfect for fans of classic horror.

Where to Read: This classic is available at Barnes & Noble .

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are good short romance stories.

The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry (1905) This classic romance story is about true, selfless love. It follows a young couple, Della and Jim, who sacrifice their most prized items to buy each other Christmas gifts.

A Temporary Matter by Jhumpa Lahiri (1998) Part of Lahiri's collection Interpreter of Maladies , this story is about the complex nature of human relationships and how they can be strained by loss. 

What Are Good Short Scary Stories?

The Lottery by Shirley Jackson (1948) Set in a seemingly quiet and peaceful village, this story reveals a shocking and horrific ritual that the townspeople partake in annually. 

The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe (1843) Poe's classic fictional account of murder, madness, and guilt centers on an unnamed narrator who insists on his sanity while describing the murder of an old man. 

What Are Good Short Fantasy Stories

The Paper Menagerie by Ken Liu (2011) This award-winning story combines magical realism with a heartfelt exploration of cultural identity and family. 

A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury (1952) A time travel adventure that explores the butterfly effect, this story follows a group of hunters who travel back to the prehistoric past.

What Are Good Short Stories For Kids?

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (1963) This beloved kids classic follows Max, a young boy who travels to an island inhabited by wild creatures after being sent to his room as punishment for being unruly.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein (1964) This is a classic, yet touching story about the relationship between a boy and a tree. It explores themes of generosity and unconditional love. 

Each of the stories on this list have offered something unique, insightful and poignant. Each writer has evoked emotions through masterful storytelling and a command of brevity, making them masters of their field.

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