Printed Short Stories 2026

Each Story must be exactly 101 words in any genre. 101 Words - 101 Word Short Stories 

"What a great story. I appreciate that it started off sounding like another monster tale, but produced a surprise ending that transformed it into real life. Cleverly written, and I enjoyed the suspense, pacing, and solid ending. Nice work."

The sweat slid down my neck as the tremor began, my body shaking with the weight of what I must become. 

This was it—the moment to stop being weak, to shed the useless, pathetic shell clinging to me. To survive, I had to embrace the darkness within, the shadows that frightened yet secretly thrilled me. Every quiver of disgust was a barrier I had to crush, every fear a wall I had to break through. 

My grip tightened around the knife. Silent, steady, I leaned forward and drove the blade deeper into the cold flesh sprawled across my autopsy table. 

Every Tuesday evening, a new 100-word horror rises from the ShadowSphere.  ShadowSphere | Join the Indie Horror Community at Dark Holme Publishing 

"This week's featured drabble is 'Titles' by Tina Wingham.

A crumbling manor, a man obsessed with status and a castle that takes hierarchy very seriously."

Sir, can you please move your car?” Simon gritted out through clenched teeth, pain radiating up his leg, the feeling in his foot leaving him long ago.

“I won’t move my car until you address me by my proper title. I’m the new lord of this godforsaken, rundown manor, and you serfs will learn your place.”

With an ear-splitting screech, one of the four gargoyles flew down from the crumbling wall and ripped the lord's head clean from his body.

Sighing loudly, Simon muttered, “I wonder who the next victim will be to inherit this castle and its weird tests.  

Tadpole Press holds a 100 word story competition 4 times a year. Open theme.

When the power went out for the third night in a row, Rowan assumed the shadows were out to get him again. They liked to stretch, creep, and whisper. But tonight, one pointed up. 

Looking out the old, weathered window, Rowan stared through the darkened clouds to a lone star that burned defiantly through the storm. Then another one appeared and another until dozens burnt brightly. 

Rowan smirked. Even his monsters were reminding him to look up and notice all the little things that brought him joy. 

Flash Phantoms is dedicated to bringing you the best micro HORROR stories of 100 words or less. 

https://www.flashphantoms.net/ 

Five years ago, I went out with some friends for New Year’s and found myself lying in a pool of blood on the back steps of Infinity nightclub, the bass thumping through the old wooden door like a second heartbeat. The neon sign flickered above me in some sad little attempt at welcome. I remembered thinking that it didn’t hurt as much as it should.

That year, my resolution was to live and enjoy New Year's Eve.

This year, my resolution was for the endless repetitive loop of that night to finally end.

My work appears in The Haiku Shack Magazine: Issue 6 - The Haiku Shack Magazine | Cendrine Marrouat - Artist 

 Visit Cendrine Marrouat's Shop! 

 A specific theme inspires every issue; this issue is water.

Years ago, water ran freely from the mountains, spilling from springs like it would never end. 

People drank without asking, washed their clothes in the open air, bathed each day. Some people would even swim in it for pleasure. No one counted litres. No one feared the water drying up.

I stood at the edge of the Lucious stream, surrounded by green grass and flowers, letting the water bubble around me as I ran my fingers through it, clear and endless. 

I woke with dry lips, the sound of rushing water gone, my hands empty, clutching the memory of abundance.

Each Story must be exactly 101 words in any genre. 101 Words - 101 Word Short Stories 

"I loved the language in your story, and the persistence that was portrayed."

In the cool brush beneath a tall, strong oak tree, a single bud strained toward a small shard of light.

Moss thrived, and ivy whispered of endless green, but the flower dreamed of warmth.

Each dawn, she unfurled another petal, pale, trembling, stubborn.

The shade mocked her, the wind blasted her, yet she reached higher still.

One morning, the sun slipped through a gap in the leaves, spilling gold across her face.

It was only a moment, but in that moment she bloomed, radiant and defiant.

The forest watched silently as the delicate flower dared to live where light barely lingered.