About Particle Fiction

Particle fictions are short stories written in five minutes, based on random-? stimuli taken from books and Google searches. I've been writing one a day since my birthday on 16th October, and will continue for a year. The aim is to write 365 stories and see what I can learn about patterns, creativity and resistance.

The collection will coincidentally capture a time in the early 21st century when we are being powerfully shaped by search engines. It will also reflect an early 21st century bookshelf, and a human mind with all its faults, ruts and impulses, paddling through the English language towards a story.

Instructions as follows:

• Shut eyes.
• Go to bookshelf.
• Blind-choose book.
• Blind-open book and choose a word or phrase with your finger.
• Insert this word or phrase into Google. This is the title of your story.
• Open the first non-sponsored page that appears. Something on this page is your stimulus.
• Set your timer and write for five minutes on a computer.
• Stop.

Certain tweaks are allowed:
You may finish your sentence. You may tidy your spelling and correct grammar. If you aren't at home, you can go to a library and write your story there, using the same rules.

Other tweaks are not allowed:
Choose another book. Choose another phrase. Choose another web page.
You must always go with what turns up. Even - especially - if you spot another, more interesting phrase on the page behind another finger.

Certain tweaks have emerged in response to unusual situations:
If the web page doesn't display, use the 'page cannot be displayed' page (5/12/2007).
If your book page is blank, use another page.

Other things are becoming apparent:
You will always smile at the book you find. The web page, on the other hand, will always make you groan. This is important. I am gradually finding out why.
You will rediscover forgotten books.
You will discover books you have bought but never read.
You will discover books that others have bought, and you have never read.
You will discover books you have borrowed and forgotten to return.
You will leave rediscovered books lying prominently around the house.
Your bookshelf will become even more disordered.
Evening stories will write themselves differently from morning stories.