The Revolving Ballerina.

Read Time:5 Minute, 10 Second

A one-page story (Microfiction/Flash Fiction).

By William Van Zyl (published in Oct 2021; edited in April 2025).

Read the article OR Listen to the podcast:

The ribbon of the blood-stained ballet shoes chafed Anne Lamington’s left ankle. It had been killing her for years.

One gunshot was all it took to stop the relentless chafing. One would never contrast a revolver with ballet shoes or a “revolving” ballerina. Would you?

After everyone had left, she did endless pirouettes on his grave. This sentence is not my writing; the rest is. She was spinning out of control – arms stretched out as if claiming her life back.

Then, unexpectedly, she stopped. Was she rewinding? Anne knelt down respectfully. She carefully looked around, took the revolver out of her bag—wrapped in a white pillowcase—and buried it as deep as she could in the fresh grave.

Her abusive, long-time boyfriend was finally gone.

The stains on her ballet shoes had disappeared. The chafing stopped.

She was free to dance again – without pain.

———-0————

The slightly rusted revolver was discovered 1 year later.

———-0————

‘Why did you bury the gun in the grave?’ the lawyer asked.

‘The revolver belonged with him,’ she said with an innocent tone.

While defending the ballet dancer in court, the lawyer retrieved a revolver and a ballet shoe from his briefcase. He tied the revolver to the ribbon of the ballet shoe and then held the shoe high above the ground with his right hand. The revolver, suspended from the shoe, began to swing gently back and forth, rotating counterclockwise.

‘If I throw the gun and the ballet shoe in the local lake, what would happen your worship?’

‘What are you trying to prove?’ asked the judge.

“The man weighed her down; he abused her for many years. She suffered greatly.”

“Wouldn’t you want to get rid of all the dead weight your worship if you were in her shoes?’

————0————-

Anne served four years in an Italian prison. She practised and refined her ballet moves and techniques almost daily in that dark, filthy place. However, Anne was ‘free.’ Most mornings, the bright sunlight shafted through the iron bars of Anne’s prison room, announcing a new day.

Each morning, the bright sunlight streamed through the iron bars of Anne’s prison cell, heralding the arrival of a new day. “Soon, I will be free.”

———–0————–

She developed into one of the world’s best ballet dancers. Anne is a professional ballet dancer in Italy today. Subsequently, she wrote a musical and ballet performance based on all the drama she went through. Now, it is a famous piece: ‘Pirouetting Revolving Ballerina.’

THE END.

———-0———–

Writing microfiction stories (under 300 words) can be a rewarding challenge.

Here are nine easy steps to help you craft compelling microfiction:

Make use of strong imagery. Let every single word count.
- In microfiction, every word must serve a purpose. Use vivid imagery to paint a picture in the reader’s mind. For example, instead of “the tree,” say “the gnarled oak with twisted branches.”
Focus on one moment in time.
- Microfiction thrives on brevity. Zero in on a single, impactful moment. This could be a pivotal decision, a fleeting emotion, or a significant event. Narrowing your focus allows you to create a powerful narrative without needing extensive backstory.
Work with just one or two characters. Don’t spread your story too thin.
- Too many characters can dilute the impact of your story. Stick to one or two characters to keep your narrative tight and focused. This allows for deeper character development within the limited word count.
Try the first-person point of view first. Third-person and omniscient will also do.
- First-person POV can create an intimate connection with the reader, making the story feel personal and immediate. However, third-person and omniscient perspectives can also be effective, depending on the story you want to tell.
Surprise your reader with short bursts of action, concepts, and ideas.
- Keep your reader engaged by introducing unexpected twists or bursts of action. This can be a sudden revelation, a dramatic event, or a thought-provoking idea.
Move quickly through your story.
- With limited words, pacing is crucial. Start in the middle of the action and keep the momentum going. Avoid lengthy descriptions or unnecessary details.
Show, don’t tell. Leave lots of ‘golden nuggets’ throughout the story.
- Use actions, dialogue, and sensory details to convey emotions and themes. Instead of telling the reader that a character is sad, show them crying or staring blankly at a wall.
Include a lesson or wisdom embedded in your story.
- Microfiction often leaves a lasting impression by imparting a lesson or insight. This could be a moral, a piece of wisdom, or a thought-provoking question.
Make good use of your title.
- A strong title can set the tone and hint at the story’s theme or twist. It should be intriguing and relevant to the narrative.

Following these steps, you can create concise, impactful, and memorable microfiction. Happy writing!

I have included a list of great resources for you to improve your microfiction:

1: NYC Midnight – How to Write Microfiction

2: When You Write – How to Create Compelling Microfiction

3: Mastering Microfiction – A Step-by-Step Guide

4: Reedsy – Flash Fiction Stories

5: Oprah.com – Micro-Fiction

6: Pandora Post – Micro-Fiction Story

7: YouTube – How to Write Microfiction

8: YouTube – Microfiction Writing Vlog

APA Referencing:

Van Zyl, W.N. (2025). The Revolving Ballerina. Article published to Five House Publishing. Link: https://fivehousepublishing.com/the-revolving-ballerina/