I forgot to do an #introductions post when I moved here, so here goes.
I am O. Westin, a #writer of #MicroFiction, mostly #ScienceFiction and #fantasy #fiction, and occasional #poetry. My stories are generally less than 280 characters long.
No set schedule, stories are written and posted when inspiration strikes.
I am LGBTQIA+ positive, and usually favour wholesome and hope over darkness and edgy nihilism.
Books: http://microsff.com/books
FAQ: http://microsff.com/faq
If you want to, you can support me on:
Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/MicroSFF
LiberaPay - https://liberapay.com/MicroSFF
Ko-Fi - https://ko-fi.com/microsff
Or just keep sharing my stories, to help me reach more readers.
If you want to illustrate, animate, stage, or otherwise adapt one of my microstories, you have permission to do so as long as I am credited as the author, and it is non-commercial. (I love seeing those, if you're comfortable with showing me.)
If one of my microstories inspires you to create your own story, in your own words, you don't need my permission - the story you create is yours to do what you want with. (Credit for inspiration is a courtesy, not a requirement.)
Stories from my first five years on Mastodon can be found at my original account: https://mastodon.social/@MicroSFF
It was the kind of audacious idea that can make a fortune. Combine a widely loved concept with a just as widely loved item. What could go wrong?
Pre-opening sign-ups filled up in minutes.
In practice, though, they couldn't make the cat library work.
"They won't stay on the shelves."
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories
2025 Wrapped - the traditional summary of my year. which also serves as an award eligibility post.
(Spoiler - I'm elibible for the Best Fan Writer Hugo Award. I have been a finalist every year since 2023, and I hope you will consider nominating me this year too.)
https://microsff.com/2025-wrapped
If you're not familiar with how the Hugo Award nomination and voting works, Reactor Magazine has a good write-up.
https://reactormag.com/anyone-can-vote-in-the-hugo-awards-and-heres-how/
2025 Wrapped - the traditional summary of my year. which also serves as an award eligibility post.
(Spoiler - I'm elibible for the Best Fan Writer Hugo Award. I have been a finalist every year since 2023, and I hope you will consider nominating me this year too.)
https://microsff.com/2025-wrapped
"The Dark Lord has taken over our land. What do we do?"
"Learn from the goblins."
"What? Those useless little-"
"Takes skill to mask rebellion as incompetence."
"What?"
"They know His reign will end. For now, they persist and resist."
"Oh."
"Also: remember every moment of joy is a victory."
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories
"The blood was only ever a means to an end," the vampire confessed in the interview.
"To what end?" the reporter asked.
"Blood carries vigor, life force, vital energy. That's what we feed on."
"So how do you get it, if not through blood?"
"These days, we make doom scrolling apps to drain it."
#MucroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories
"My husband complains about the cold," the man said. "Can you teach me a spell to keep him warm?"
"I can teach you to bind hair into a net to catch heat," the wizard said, "using arcane counting and a pair of fine wands."
After a while, the man said "Isn't this knitting?"
"This, too, it's magic."
#TootFic #MicroFiction #SmallStories
Dr. Dastard didn't say much during the meeting, but raised an occasional eyebrow.
"Intriguing," he said at last.
"Right? With our combined genius," the billionaire smirked, "we can rule the world!"
Dastard sighed and set off his DominationPlanEraser device.
"Memo to self: charge this again."
#TootFic #MicroFiction #SmallStories
"Is it true you live backwards in time?" the queen asked.
"Not yet, but it will be," Merlin replied. "And then, I will have."
"You speak in riddles. But you have seen the future? What will it bring?"
"Fanfic."
"Is that a spell? What does it do?"
"It will give you Lancelot."
"What is that?"
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories #fanfictionfanfic
The princess left a note behind, explaining why she ran away.
"She disagrees with what she was taught," the queen said.
"Embroidery and such?" chuckled the king. "Classic."
"It's not needle-work she objects to. She likes that. She rejects the nobility of the nobility, and our right to rule."
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories
"Right," the professor said.
A bubble formed over her head, with the word neatly written in uppercase letters.
"I invented this to make to easier for students with hearing issues."
A new bubble formed, with that sentence.
Then a third formed, with wobbly border and the text "Unfortunately..."
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories
Micro SF/F by O. Westin