It is with great pleasure that *WordCount presents its first official feature. We'd like to thank all of our supportive watchers, our amazing staff, and everyone else on dA who helped us to expose some great prose. And remember, each text has been separated and featured under specific categories based on the text's total word count. Take all the time you need as long as you read (and don't forget to show us some ).

If you like what you see here, feel free to the *WordCount account. We feature prose all month long!

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100 words or less

Written on the Stall by ~RhondaElizabeth

Sociopolitical fiction: The lesson is clear in ~RhondaElizabeth's short piece: be proud of who you are.

Climbing by *Misplaced-Karma

General Fiction: Sisyphus can keep his rock; Prometheus knows what suffering is, and he's been waiting quite a while to share his tale.


101-300 words

A Special Level of Hell by ~AloryShannon

Humor: Driving feels like the right kind of privilege until you have to park.

My Apology by =taho

Romantic Fiction: Sometimes we struggle for "right" words that are never going to come.


301-500 words

fights by *windwater

Fictional Perspectives: Children really can break their parent's heart, and addiction can destroy even the most promising lives.

Writer's Block by ~lapifors

Satirical Fiction: You'd be surprised how destructive a simple cup of tea can be.


501-1,000 words

The Lady of the Lake by =TheGlome

Fantastic Fiction: The morning after and the precious moments before.

Vomit Queen by *virgokitten

Fictional Life Stories: This deviation explores the thought process behind an eating disorder: haunting and memorable.


1,001-3,000 words

Harry and me by ~ThornyEnglishRose

Romantic Fiction: When we discover ourselves through discovering others, there's no guarantee we'll like where it leads.

La Belle et la Biete by: ~BdeCaunteton

Nonfiction Review: A detailed and thoughtful review of Jean Cocteau's film, La Belle et la Bete (Beauty and the Beast).


3,001-5,000 words

The Maw by *InvizKing

Fantasy: A lesson learned through sacrifice and terror.

Cake Eats Man. by *futilitarian

Humor: As the tag says: "A cautionary tale about Battenburg Cake."


5,001+ words

Crescent Moon by: *CalequendiElf

Occult: A captivating story about a girl who sees more than one reality through her dreams.

Used and unused skits by ~marcobat16

Theatre & Scripts: This collection of skits is politically incorrect and, at times, downright offensive--just the kind of stuff that belongs on Saturday Night Live!


Published Works

IO, First Book of Lost and Found Souls by =Jon-Law

Io and Jupiter are not meant for a quiet life. A delayed marriage and the tedium of village life drive them to mischief, which soon earns them separate trials of durance and exile. The shock resounds deep in their spirits, where something dark and inexplicable lies waiting to be released. At the same time, the young Lords of Askasha have revived the bitter debate of their fathers, which in their time made two nations of one. Despite their best efforts Io and Jupiter are swept up in the tide of a crude, equivocal war. On the path to reunion they will cross helpful cousins, a reclusive family, an erudite prisoner, an infamous huntress, and warring Lords. Each journeys far into right, wrong, and the great gray land between.

Now available for purchase at Lulu.com. Pick up your copy today!

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For additional features in each category, please be sure to check out the *WordCount journal. We promise you won't be disappointed.

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Meet Our Staff: ~Mantrith

This month we'd like to introduce you to our fantasy and historical fiction staff member, ~Mantrith. She is brand new to dA, but that hasn't stopped her from jumping in and getting involved in the dA Lit community. This 16 year old from Puerto Rico has a liveliness and excitement about her that is contagious, and we're proud to bring you some of her wonderful prose. Be sure to check out the rest of Mantrith's Gallery as well.


My Perfect Heaven

_{(620 words)}

Rutina Nocturna

_{(439 words)}

Be aware

_{(161 words)}



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<sub>For more information about *WordCount, be sure to check out the following links:

Categories Explained
Frequently Asked Questions
Staff Requirements and Application
WordCount Feature Archive
Make a Prose Suggestion</sub>

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This month's article includes features suggested by:








_{(This article has less than 900 words.)}