Write a story in twenty-five minutes

Story Machine is a writing space for micro-fiction. Set your scene, gather your thoughts, write for twenty-five minutes, publish. Available here on the web and as a free iPhone app.

1

Set the scene

Choose a setting, an emotion, and a narrative perspective. Mix and match from a curated list, or hit Lucky Dip for a random combination. Constraints are useful — they close off the infinite and leave you with something to work with.

2

Brainstorm

Drag thought bubbles around a free-form canvas. No structure, no pressure — just the beginning of ideas. These notes stay private and travel with your draft.

3

Write

A twenty-five minute timer counts down while you write. You can dip back to your brainstorm notes mid-flow. When time’s up, keep going if you need to — the timer gets you started, not stopped.

4

Edit & publish

Refine your draft, give it a title, and save it to your library. When you’re ready, swipe to publish it here on storymachine.ink for anyone to read.

Start writing now → iPhone app

Why micro-fiction?

Short constraints produce sharp writing. With only a few hundred words, every sentence has to earn its place — no slow starts, no padded endings. A deadline does more for you than a blank page ever will. Twenty-five minutes is enough to write something worth reading.

The stories here are immediate, unpolished, and written under pressure. That’s what makes them interesting.