Welcome to 1,000 Characters!

This is a project about exploration, into writing and into characters. The goal is to create one thousand characters, and learn more about all of them. Most days (at least twenty per month) there should be a new story snippet to keep the words flowing. Do not fret that everything (or at least most things) are short, as that is the intention.

1,000 Characters is a practice for better storytelling, improved fiction. The focus is diving into characters, looking curiously and deeply into their hopes, dreams, desires. Exploring new characters, their stories, the places they live and work, becomes a journey of fun. This process of discovery should, in many cases, lead to longer stories, possibly even a novel. Dare it be said: maybe novels.

A total of 109 works of fiction featuring 38 different Characters!

Featured Story

Published: Oct 28, 2020

I Want to be a Drummer, Too

After the show we sat at the bar; I was only drinking water and had returned to sobriety. He had over fifty years of experience playing on stages, making the drums thump, splash, and rumble. I was hoping to learn about getting started.

"I played the drums once with a neighboring band, 'Brown Eyed Girl'. I was twelve I think," I said.

Larry smiled. "Sure," he said.

"I want to learn, to get started, this is what I want to do with my life." I sounded a bit whiny in my ears.

He sipped from a warm beer. "Look, son, I really want to pass on my tricks, my knowledge, but I doubt you're it."

"How can you know?"

"No reason, just a feeling."

"What about a chance? A tryout?"

"Go play."

"Now?" I hesitated. "It must be four a.m."

He was silent, but his eyes said it all.

Recent Stories

Published: Jun 30, 2026

Twenty Ways to Talk to No One

featuring: Luciano Xavier

I dabbled in French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Russian. I never learned to be good with any of them, probably because I couldn't find someone to practice with. A few ...

Published: May 14, 2026

No Stills

featuring: Donald York

I walk the bridge path everyday, both directions, all two miles or more. I see a lot of tourists taking photographs of everything: the skyline, other bridges, the harbor, monuments, even the ...

Published: May 11, 2026

Movie Masks

featuring: Lizzy Unger

I thought the masks were terrifying: big circular filters near the mouth, a clear plastic visor shielding the eyes, heavy back rubber to fit the contours of a human face, and thick ...

Published: May 07, 2026

In the Attic

featuring: Lizzy Unger

We climbed the stairs to the attic; the house protested with creaks and groans. I opened the door slowly, stirring dust. The air was hazy and the ceiling sloped sharply down from ...

Published: Apr 02, 2026

Seeds of Boredom

featuring: Brent Que

Boredom was the overpowering state of mind around me, in the house, in the city, in the country, in much of the world. A dictator of decisions for the populace, impressively exercising ...

Characters