Flash Fiction
What is Flash Fiction?
- Style of fictional literature or fiction of extreme
brevity. There is no widely accepted definition of
the length of the category.
- Other names for flash fiction include sudden
fiction, microfiction, micro-story, short short,
postcard fiction, prosetry and short short story.
- One type of flash fiction is the short story with
an exact word count. (Ex: a story with 55 words)
Elements in Flash Fiction
Setting is where the action takes place. This can be
told in a sentence: She watched him go to bed.
Usually, there is not room for more than two
characters--three at most. But realize "characters"
don't always have to be human. In fact, they don't even
have to be animate. Can you create a story about a
pebble and a blade of grass trying to inhabit the same
spot?
Conflict is just a difference of opinion--tension to
keep the reader reading. It can be verbal, physical or
mental. It doesn't always have to be villain/hero.
Elements of Flash Fiction
Resolution is the conclusion of the conflict. "Small"
works best in flash fiction; don't go for miraculous
resolution, in which the protagonist is saved by some
miracle not of his/her making.
Most writers use surprise endings, partly because
flash fiction lends itself to such, but mostly because it
makes it more fun both to read and to write. But they
are not necessary. Even with a twist, don't surprise your
readers too much. Make them think, "Ah--of course!"
Don't make them think, "Boy, am I stupid!"
Flash Fiction Writing Tips
Write as fast as you can. Write as fast as you
can. Don't worry about grammar - yet. Fill about
half a page, count the words, fix the grammar,
then read it aloud to yourself. Does it have
setting, implied or otherwise? Conflict?
Resolution? Does it affect a change?
Edit yourself-ruthlessly. Write your story, then
go back and erase all phrases, clauses and
coordinating conjunctions that are not absolutely
vital to the story. Delete any unnecessary
adjectives. You'll be left with tight, active
sentences.
Flash Fiction Writing Tips
Let dialogue do it. Write an all-dialogue story
using as few tags as possible. Let the dialogue
describe the characters and create conflict.
Stories to avoid. Although the form is new, there
are some clichés already. Don't write about a
writer writing and don't rely on "it was just a
dream" pieces. These are overused and abused
in many types of fiction, especially in flash fiction.
And when your story is over, just stop. Like this.
Famous Flash Fiction Pieces
“For Sale: Baby shoes, never worn.” - Ernest
Hemingway
“The Dinosaur” by Augusto
Monterroso
“When he woke up, the dinosaur was still there.”
Margaret Atwood
“Longed for him. Got him. Shit.”
Richard Powers
“Lie detector eyeglasses perfected: Civilization
collapses.”
“The Scarlatti Tilt” - Richard
Brautigan
"It's very hard to live in a studio apartment in San
Jose with a man who's learning to play the
violin." That's what she told the police when she
handed them the empty revolver.