Notices by Micro SF/F stories by O Westin (microsff@mastodon.social)

"As a knight," the king said, "it is your duty to kill dragons."
"Very well, my liege," the knight said. "Um. May I ask why?"
"Because they hoard wealth without sharing, and people live in fear of their capricious moods."
"Very well, my liege," the knight said and drew his sword.
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

** Just to let you know that I am migrating from @MicroSFF to @microsff@mastodon.art as of now. If you are following me here, you will be transferred across automatically. **

@rcs Do you do this with every writer you read?
I'm not claiming my stories are perfect, but when they're published they're done, and won't be changed apart from fixing typos.
Your edit removes "You ask the wrong question" which IMO is the key like of the story.

@EHirschman I'd rather you didn't. Sorry.

@Fida I'm not him, though I've enjoyed his stories on Twitter for many years.

"Please," said the man, "can you do magic to make me be kind?"
"No," said the witch. "Magic cannot change anyone's nature."
"So there is no hope for me?"
"You ask the wrong question. Kind is not something you are. It is what you do."
"Is it that simple?"
"It is that hard."
#MicroFiction #SmallStories #TootFic

@babumenos I have a personal account I use as a person, IYSWIM. I do the same on other platforms (Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, etc)
MicroSFF is the account I use for telling stories.

Before I joined this instance in 2017, I had a look around, and asked the wandering.shop admin if I would fit there. Given that I would mostly be publishing to my followers rather than participating in the community, my goals and the instance's didn't align, and I fully respect that. Looking at writing.exchange, they seem to have similar goals and rules.
Even though I'm only one person, when I tell microstories I am, in effect, a brand.

** Mulling over the idea of relocating to a smaller instance. Looking for somewhere well moderated, where I wouldn't look out of place (so focus on SF/F and/or story-telling), and accepting that I'd be more involved with my existing audience than participating in the local community.
(The last part there might indicate I should set up my own instance, to be fair.)
Thoughts and recommendations appreciated! **

@Belle I have never participated - far too many words for me - but since I encourage people to write their own takes on my ideas, I have occasionally been recommended as someone to mine for ideas.

@virbonus @luca I have put it in my Twitter location info. The fedifinder should see it there.

@Propofolium @marysheep I've been here for five years, so that story is in my history of toots.

@darckcrystale Thank you!
(This led to my first use of the edit function. That seems to work quite well.)

The last few days before the asteroid crashed into Earth were filled with resignation, reminiscence, and confessions. All over social media:
"I have a crush on you."
"I actually like banana on pizza."
"I didn't lose the ring, I sold it."
"I faked the asteroid."
"I kiss... What?"
#MicriFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

I stare at the genie.
"What?" I say.
"I will grant you two wishes. Riches, health, fame, wisdom, knowledge, power, contentment, beauty, whatever you want."
It's too... I can't- How could I... I'll get it wrong!
"I wish I will never regret my wishes."
"Granted. And your second?"
#MicroFiction #SmallStories #TootFic

"Humans can not be sat on," the princess read from the tablet.
She gave the dragon a look, returned the tablet to the hoard, and picked up another.
"Being old doesn't equal being wise," she read. "What are these?"
"Lessons I've learned."
"It's a large hoard."
"I'm proud of it."
#MicroFiction #SmallStories #TootFic

@cabanur They have posted my stories in the past, with no attribution.

@WizardOfDocs That's how alien they are, these aliens.

A spaceship landed, and an alien emerged.
"We come in peace," they said, "Take us to your librarian."
"Er... Don't you mean our leader?"
"Why? We already have leaders."
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

** I am always grateful for all reblogs, but especially so at this time, since they make it much more likely that people who liked my stories on BirdSite will find me here as well. **