A MicroZine Interview w/Nicola de Vera
6 Questions on Microfiction
is new on the scene but crushing it with her love of microfiction. She writes .
1. When did you first start writing microfiction?
I started writing microfiction in March 2024 when I also kicked off my novel writing journey. I believed it to be such an efficient creative exercise and an excellent way for me to continue writing short fiction while venturing into long-form writing. I always wanted to return to short stories after I've completed the first draft of my novel, so microfiction has been a means for me to avoid feeling rusty and continue exploring different story ideas, even for tiny pockets of time.
2. What kind of microfiction do you write? Any specific length or genre? How often?
I write "drabbles" (i.e. short stories of exactly 100 words) and don't limit myself to a certain genre. I think the beauty of microfiction is that you have plenty of room to experiment and it does not require a huge time investment. So, even if sci-fi, fantasy, and horror for example are genres that are not particularly in my wheelhouse, the act of writing stories falling under these categories feels less daunting when I know I'm only bound by 100 words.
As for frequency, I used to write a drabble a day on weekdays when starting out, but I've since modified it to two to three times per week, which aligns with my Substack publishing schedule.
3. Describe your microfiction writing process.
I treat microfiction writing as if it were a creative exercise, so I often intentionally work under pre-determined constraints to challenge myself. My two self-imposed constraints are 1) word prompts, and 2) time.
First, for word prompts, there are several microfiction writers on Substack and Medium that offer a "word of the day," which I use as the launching pad for my story. Rarely do I come up with microfiction from a blank canvas.
Second, I give myself 20 minutes to write the drabble — usually sneaking in writing in between work meetings — which allows me to think on my feet and trust my instincts. If it takes me longer than 20 minutes, I feel as if I am overthinking the story already and the end result often isn't as satisfying.
4. Have you ever submitted your microfiction to a contest or publication before? If so, why and where? If not, why not?
I don't submit microfiction to online publications, but I have participated in microfiction contests, particularly that of nycmidnight, which I highly recommend for anyone interested in vetted short fiction contests.
For nycmidnight, they offer time-bound challenges where writers are assigned to groups with specific prompt assignments, such as genre, character, action, location, or object. It's similar to the self-imposed constraints for my drabbles, but it's often the genre assignment that gets me because I'm usually randomly assigned a genre that's outside of my comfort zone. Other than the thrill of the challenge itself, the great thing about nycmidnight is that the judges always provide feedback on your entry, regardless if you advance to the next round or not.
5. What advice would you give someone who is on the fence about writing microfiction?
Experiment and have fun with it! Trust your gut and try not to overthink or spend too much time writing the story itself. Once you get your reps in, you'll have a better feel of patterns of genres and story themes that you're particularly drawn to and/or resonates with your audience. So, don't feel like every microfiction piece needs to be perfect all the time. Rather, consider each one a fun creative exercise and a learning opportunity.
6. Share either your favorite piece or most recent microfiction that you’ve written.
Another Bloody Trip
When he awoke, his eyes adjusted to the sunlight slipping through the towering forest trees. At once, he wrinkled his nose. The fresh air was tainted by the smell of iron and rot. He tasted bitterness on his tongue — residue from a drug he couldn’t shake off.
He pulled himself up, rubbing his eyes with his forearm. That’s when he saw her, or what remained of her, from ten feet away.
“Another fucking bloody trip.”
He surveyed the scattered limbs; he needed to bury them. But when he noticed her torso still intact, he walked toward her and unzipped his pants.
Special thanks to Nicola de Vera for answering these questions.
 | A guest post by
|