One of my greatest passions is writing short stories, and I couldn't have been any happier when I discovered flash fiction. You are probably asking yourself, “what is flash fiction?” It isn't a kind of literature that is too confusing. Trust me. I don't like anything that is too overly complex. Flash fiction is a form of writing where the author tells a story within 1000 words or less. Now I know you are probably wondering who that is even possible, right? Don't be too alarmed, it is easier than it may sound. Some flash fiction pieces don't go anywhere near 1000 words, and most flash fiction writers would keep it under 500 words instead. This may present even more of a challenge than before, but don't fret because the technique remains the same. |
Traditionally stories follow the standard outline: setting, plot, character, rising action, climax, and ending. Flash fiction does the same thing, except that the setting drives the reader directly into the action from the get go. It is vital that a writer brings as much attention to the action as it does the rest of the story because you don't have a whole book to explain it all in. I personally enjoy this kind of writing because it allows for me to get to the point sooner rather than later. Now this doesn't mean that there isn't room for details, but it does mean that an author of flash fiction has to focus their details in a way that it progresses the story, otherwise the details don't matter.
When I write flash fiction I keep the idea for the story as basic as I can. For example, a sailor in the middle of a storm and he barely makes it out alive. Or maybe a princess has lost her ring and one night a mysterious man returns her ring to her. No matter what story I write, I know that it works best when the idea is straightforward. Another key factor is making sure that the story focuses on only one character. It is okay to have more than one, but don't put too much detail into anyone else but the main character. Lastly, don't worry yourself how the story ends. When I write an ending to a flash fiction story I imagine writing the end to a chapter of a story. In fact, most flash fiction pieces I write are continuations of previous stories I've written. Separating these stories into parts is a great way to continue using familiar and memorable characters. Not to mention it lures the reader into what is going to happen next when I end a story with a cliffhanger.
One author, David Gaffney, is well known for his micro fiction pieces. Here is an article from The Guardian, in which Gaffney talks about his journey into the writing style and his process of figuring out what to write: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/may/14/how-to-write-flash-fiction. His step by step process is one of the best I've ever come across.
When I write flash fiction I keep the idea for the story as basic as I can. For example, a sailor in the middle of a storm and he barely makes it out alive. Or maybe a princess has lost her ring and one night a mysterious man returns her ring to her. No matter what story I write, I know that it works best when the idea is straightforward. Another key factor is making sure that the story focuses on only one character. It is okay to have more than one, but don't put too much detail into anyone else but the main character. Lastly, don't worry yourself how the story ends. When I write an ending to a flash fiction story I imagine writing the end to a chapter of a story. In fact, most flash fiction pieces I write are continuations of previous stories I've written. Separating these stories into parts is a great way to continue using familiar and memorable characters. Not to mention it lures the reader into what is going to happen next when I end a story with a cliffhanger.
One author, David Gaffney, is well known for his micro fiction pieces. Here is an article from The Guardian, in which Gaffney talks about his journey into the writing style and his process of figuring out what to write: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/may/14/how-to-write-flash-fiction. His step by step process is one of the best I've ever come across.