I take part in the #vss365 prompt daily on social media, writing across multiple genres but leaning mostly into horror or sci-fi.
Not all that is spun is gold, so I’ve made a home here for the entries I particularly enjoyed writing.
You can find my daily contribution on Bluesky here.
Flash Fiction Favourites Archives
Older favourites can be found in the following Archives:
Archive XII – Oct-Dec 2025
Archive XI – Apr-Oct 2025
Archive X – Jan-Apr 2025
Archive IX – Nov-Dec 2024
Archive VIII – Apr-Nov 2024
Archive VII – Jan-Apr 2024
Archive VI – Sept-Dec 2023
Archive V – Apr-Sept 2023
Archive IV – Jan-Apr 2023
Archive III – Oct-Dec 2022
Archive II – Aug-Oct 2022
Archive I – Jul-Aug 2022
400 Words
Way back at the start, in February of 2022, I took a weekly approach to the prompts, composing a 400-word story over the course of the week, writing daily and editing as I went to ensure the final story was exactly 400 words. Those stories can all be found here.
#VSS365 Host – February 16th to 29th, 2024
I enjoyed the opportunity to host the hashtag from February 16th to 29th, 2024.
It truly is a wonderful and supportive community.
Those posts and some reflections on the journey are on the One Word Blog here.
Most Recent
Some of the more recent entries the muse owls and I have enjoyed:
In the Minglewood, all manner of creatures come together to explore their feelings. Friends become lovers, lovers become more, enemies are made and forgiven. The Centaurs choose not to #partake, iron-willed, stern and focused; no time for emotion, that crowd. Carl, though, was different. #vss365
— Lee Zanello (@lima-zulu.bsky.social) March 17, 2026 at 9:50 AM
The man painted white with exaggerated eye makeup floats past our window, suspended by balloons. The ringmaster at the end of the world. “I #assure you, ladies and gentlemen,” his voice, over the speakers, “when the blast hits, you’ll be safe, but for full effect take your teal pills now!” #vss365
— Lee Zanello (@lima-zulu.bsky.social) March 15, 2026 at 11:25 AM
Every probe sent into the shimmer, the #cataract of light that stretched across the quadrant, reported the same data: time stamps from before it had been sent. Recordings of the team who had assembled it, images of its component parts; it was as if the shimmer gave memories to the metal. #vss365
— Lee Zanello (@lima-zulu.bsky.social) March 3, 2026 at 9:32 AM
The library had many rooms in the basement, where rare, powerful, works were kept. Mel had the only set of keys. Patrons thought her kind, but #timid; little did they know her whispers put the sun to bed each night and the stars only twinkled when she allowed it. #vss365
— Lee Zanello (@lima-zulu.bsky.social) March 1, 2026 at 11:49 AM
I chased you into the stars. Our #orbital paths meet, mostly at industry parties, where inhibitions are swallowed up by black holes and satellites silence phones. I’ve seen your show, it’s great. My pilot wasn’t picked up, but getting auditions. I miss being back at the start with you. #vss365
— Lee Zanello (@lima-zulu.bsky.social) February 25, 2026 at 12:49 PM
Deep in the darkest part of the wood where the light dares not #touch lies the Grendleven, spinning wormholes into your dreams. You stir in your sleep, brow furrowed, breath short. He’s in. The ghosts of your emotions run free and terror sweats through you. No wonder you’re tired today. #vss365
— Lee Zanello (@lima-zulu.bsky.social) February 11, 2026 at 10:24 AM
The corridor breathes #lambent light, my steps in time with the pulse as I try every door. Behind one of them, my memories; everything from before two days ago locked away. Voices. Soft, like a #wound licked. Doorknob hot. This is it. I open the door and remember choosing to forget. #vss365
— Lee Zanello (@lima-zulu.bsky.social) February 6, 2026 at 4:08 AM
There’s an old picture of us cousins, sitting on the couch, tanned, smiling, happy. We don’t yet know the #pain of losing Grandad or Nan, or Aunt Glor. I want to crawl inside this picture, smell the cigarette stains in the curtains, feel the air conditioner on my skin. In there, I’m safe. #vss365
— Lee Zanello (@lima-zulu.bsky.social) February 3, 2026 at 8:04 AM
Chairs remember the shapes we leave behind; door handles the warmth of passing palms. Mirrors know our scratches and wrinkles. This house inhales arguments and exhales laughter. It’s archiving us, quietly collecting the fragments we don’t realize we’ve shed, building a #soul from scratch. #vss365
— Lee Zanello (@lima-zulu.bsky.social) February 2, 2026 at 10:45 AM
The world is a perfect place. The Algos #obfuscate dissent and children trade memories like marbles. At curfew, stars dim on schedule and everyone sleeps deeply, all dreaming the same approved dream, smiling, happy, while the machines #thrum under their homes, listening quietly. #vss365
— Lee Zanello (@lima-zulu.bsky.social) Jan 30, 2026 at 7:54 AM
In the muted light of early dawn, the lighthouse barber shaves waves into foam, trimming horizons for passing ships. His hands shake more these days. He watches the tides #wane, scissors rusting, and wonders who will cut the sea when he finally closes his door for good. #vss365
— Lee Zanello (@lima-zulu.bsky.social) Jan 27, 2026 at 8:31 AM
The creature came together over a #slapdash weekend of hope, spare parts and coding. Logan got it to walk, but it refused to go through doorways. It spoke, but only in almost rhymes. “What do you need from me?” he asked. “I fear the bits you were sold,” it said, “cannot give me a soul.” #vss365
— Lee Zanello (@lima-zulu.bsky.social) Jan 12, 2026 at 8:07 AM
The parents blamed the witch in the woods for their sick children. The town elders called it #balderdash and summoned the doctor from the next town. As fevers subsided, the chatter calmed. Later, at the witch’s hut, the doctor reported they were all finally ready to embrace her medicines. #vss365
— Lee Zanello (@lima-zulu.bsky.social) Jan 3, 2026 at 8:49 AM
– Humans stare at glowing rectangles all night, hooted the first owl. – For guidance, said the second. – They ignore the stars. – And us. – Wisdom used to live in #abstraction. – Now it needs charging. – Will they ever look up? – Eventually. Wonder leaks back in through the cracks. #vss365
— Lee Zanello (@lima-zulu.bsky.social) Jan 2, 2026 at 10:10 AM
“Go forth alone, to the #delight of your demons,” said the fox. Portia paused, her hand on one doorknob, Charlie’s on the other. Her door was the way out of the Quarrelwoods, she was sure, but Charlie was equally sure of his. The fox sat between them, ready to follow whoever moved first. #vss365
— Lee Zanello (@lima-zulu.bsky.social) Jan 1, 2026 at 9:24 AM
I don’t tell anyone I’m working a #DREAM job as they won’t understand. At the Department of Reality Editing and Accepted Myths, we are doing important work ensuring the social narrative is shaped the way we want. It’s not easy, ignoring hypocrisy, but they’ll see it will all be worth it. #vss365
— Lee Zanello (@lima-zulu.bsky.social) December 31, 2025 at 9:24 AM
We ignore them behind us, our #vespertine shadows, pretend not to hear their whispers, plotting to overthrow the light. They disappear in darkness, but still we hear them under the bed, where all shadows sleep. By morning, they forget, like goldfish, and follow us again wherever we go. #vss365
— Lee Zanello (@lima-zulu.bsky.social) December 4, 2025 at 8:46 AM
I am in the deep, where even the darkness is afraid. I exist in the #aphotic levels of your consciousness, stirring the creatures that rise to become your nightmares. You’ll never see me, but you’ll see my work. And you ain’t seen nothing yet. #vss365
— Lee Zanello (@lima-zulu.bsky.social) December 2, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Renata’s #reflection was missing again. She looked everywhere: the toaster, the kitchen tap, her phone, turned off. “Where did you last see it?” Pat asked. Renata thought. The powder room at the auto body repair shop! Sure enough, there she was. With sad smiles, they both said “sorry”. #vss365
— Lee Zanello (@lima-zulu.bsky.social) November 26, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Turns out, the #issue was never whether we had enough time, but whether we noticed it passing. Only now do I realize how quietly those hours gathered, becoming the kind of memories we don’t recognize as precious until they are gone. #vss365
— Lee Zanello (@lima-zulu.bsky.social) November 16, 2025 at 9:22 AM
I am just a #creature in someone else’s dream. We all are. We are the dreams of one of us. But whose? Find the dreamer. Keep them dreaming. #vss365
— Lee Zanello (@lima-zulu.bsky.social) November 2, 2025 at 6:45 AM
I have no #business being here. I tell myself that everyone else is a natural, everyone else belongs. When they turn to greet me, every face is mine, some older, some younger. The one closest to me grins slowly and whispers, “We’ve been waiting for you to remember which one you are.” #vss365
— Lee Zanello (@lima-zulu.bsky.social) November 1, 2025 at 11:35 AM