Without intending to, I’ve somehow become the Queen of Drabbles. Not to be confused with dribbles. Although Queen of Dribbles might be a more fitting moniker. Damn, everyone is a critic these days.
In case you didn’t know (cough, I didn’t until a few days ago), a d̶r̶i̶b̶b̶l̶e̶ drabble is a 100-word story. These teeny-tiny stories can pack a punch. Size doesn’t matter… in this case.
Over the years, I have posted hundreds of these baby stories on my blog. I have half a dozen drabble series on the go, thanks to recurring characters and developing worlds. Each tale is a self-contained, standalone story.
Every writer can benefit from writing 100-word stories. While most drabbles are fiction, the form doesn’t exclude narrative non-fiction. Here’s why you should dabble with the drabble:
- ⭐️ Writers can experiment with different genres, styles, and narrative techniques without investing significant time or effort
- ⭐️ Each completed drabble feels like an achievement
- ⭐️ Drabbles can help break through writer’s block and offer inspiration for a larger piece
- ⭐️ Drabbles are fantastic to post on social media and to use as marketing content
- ⭐️ Writers learn to hone their editing skills
Without further ado, I’m going to share my guide to romancing the drabble. Why? Because I’m prostituting myself for likes, comments, and follows. I want my c̶l̶i̶e̶n̶t̶s̶ readers to return.
Step 1: Picking a Suitable Story Idea
Writing with such few words is challenging. Writing drabbles is more akin to a word puzzle.
With experience, it becomes easier to identify which story ideas will fly and which ones are better for a longer piece.
I call my mental checklist for picking a story idea “The Ones” (I know, as sexy as granny underwear).
- ✅ One theme, message, or punchline
- ✅ One non-protagonist character
- ✅ One conflict
- ✅ One setting
Of course, there are exceptions. If you’re a masochist, experiment; for the rest of us who want to make life easier, stick to “The Ones”. A hundred words burn up fast, and no one wants a J̶o̶h̶n̶ story to come prematurely.
Step 2: Structure
The basic foundation of any story is a beginning, a middle, and an end. I break my dabbles into this classic structure, so I don’t run out of words. When I first started writing bite-sized tales, I got caught out regularly. Nothing is worse than finishing without a climax.
For drabbles, my structure looks something like this:
- ⭐️ Beginning:
The story’s set up. Dedicate two or three sentences. No time for foreplay. Get to it. - ⭐️ Middle:
The conflict and story exploration. You’re going for gold, baby; burn through these words. Let the story unfold. - ⭐️ End:
The story, twist, gag, or bang. Some stories might end with a one-line punch (extra words for the middle, woohoo). Others might need a couple of sentences to wrap up. Allocate about 20 words.
Note: I don’t always write linearly. Sometimes, I start with an ending first and work backward. Other times, I might write the core sentences I need first and fill in the gaps between sentences.
Understanding structure is a must for my process. The ratio of words isn’t rocket science, but it helps me save words for an ending and avoid lingering at the beginning.
Step 3: The Alchemy of Words
It’s a fluke if the words come to exactly 100 words without any editing intervention. Adding a sentence or two is easy, but culling words requires skill. Think of it as a word game.
⭐️ To start, consider starting the story with action. As I stated above, there is no time for foreplay. This is a quickie.
Consider the following sentences:
Anne spent the day lesurely shopping and started to leave when a man pulled out a gun and bang. (19 words)
vs
Bang. Anne hit the deck with her shopping bags by the mall’s exit. (13 words)
⭐️ The second sentence saved six words, painted a clearer picture, offered more detail compared to the first sentence, and started with action. “Bang” suggests someone pulled a trigger. The exit and shopping suggest Anne was leaving after some time spent at the mall. Anne hitting the ground is a new story detail.
⭐️ The first sentence is passive writing, and the second sentence is active writing. Active writing tends to use fewer words than passive writing, as shown above. Reworking a sentence to be more active makes for tighter writing.
⭐️ Adverbs can also be killed while you’re at it. In the publishing world, editors freak over adverbs. Exceptions are made for dialogue. “Like, totally awesome.”
⭐️ Many times, the word “and” can be cut and replaced with a full stop and a new sentence. The second sentence example replaced “and bang.” with a new one-word sentence, “Bang.”.
Editing Checklist
- ✅ Start with action
- ✅ Check for passive sentences
- ✅ Kill adverbs
- ✅ Can the word “and” be replaced with a full stop?
Takeaway
Dabbles are fun and help writers sharpen their writing skills. The best way to learn is through practice. The 100-word form can trigger ideas for larger stories.
For me, drabbles are a fantastic way to dabble with comedy writing because issues don’t need exploring and everyone likes to be amused. Your mileage might be different. There are great drabbles in all genres.
Remember, drabbles are quickies. Don’t linger. In and out. End with a bang.
THE WRITING ASYLUM 
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