Read in a flash. That’s the essence of flash fiction. Readers have less time to read online fiction and flash fiction is easy on the eye. Depending on the publisher and/or writer, these stories could be anywhere between 100 and 1000 words long.
The Crux
Focus, focus, and focus. Remember the keyhole through which you watch your sibling at play? Think of flash fiction as a keyhole look at an event. Thinking of a theme around extra marital affairs? Which aspect would you like to key in on? Perhaps a piece of conversation between the spouse and lover overheard in the dead of night? A moment of intense suicidal urge? On the lighter side, think of sibling rivalry and its funny aspects. What about a tiff between sisters over a dress to the prom night?
Poem in Prose?
Flash fiction is high on the intensity quotient. Fleeting thoughts and impressions fit in quite well to convey the larger idea. But if you think this sort of fiction is loosely woven, think again. The tautness of any good story is an essential ingredient. Plot, character, setting, conflict, and resolution are the other givens. Within these parameters, you have to spin out what will grab eyeballs and tell a story. The structure of flash fiction requires the tautness of a good poem.
A suggestion: write first, tighten later.
The Plunge
So what helps? Astute choice of words, absence of flab, brevity, and a keen sense of immediacy. You have no time or space to meander, take the slow route. Plunge right away, right into the moment, image, or event you want to narrate. Let the story work out in a flash, not at a relaxed, labored pace.
Submit to Social Networks (digg, stumble upon, del.icio.us, ...)
Related on this blog:
Found it interesting? Don't forget to bookmark the feed from the site.
1 response so far ↓
1 L.J. Janik // Jul 2, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Who has the luxury of free time to read a novel?
Flash fiction can be read on your iPhone while waiting in line at Starbucks.
Wait … they just closed my Starbucks.
Leave a Comment