Flash Stories | Writing for Torre

A flash story consists of 1,000 words or less (some insist on 500,) enjoyed in about five minutes. Writing a short story is a different beast from writing a novel, and a very short story is another creature still. Brevity is key. Words are valuable, used sparingly, given strong respect.

I’m not as familiar with short fiction; I primarily read novels. A year ago, I struggled to write a complete short story, one with a beginning, middle, and end. I could write a slice of life or an excerpt, but a complete story in under a 1,000 words became my challenge. A good goal, concise writing improves all forms including the epic.

I practiced by writing Twitter fiction working with the words. I read short stories, studying them, comparing different styles. I wrote a few short stories without a care for the word count.

Then I started reading #fridayflash. Reading the stories and comments, I realized what I needed: goals, sharing, and feedback. I started by commenting on other stories, and when I felt I was ready I wrote my first in October titled, “Young Secret.” The reading, sharing, and writing each week improved my skill very quickly. I have also gained an appreciation of short fiction. I thank the #fridayflash participants for sharing their stories, sharing knowledge, and for their support. Thanks!

My latest flash story, “Mother Dove” is the result of my effort. I now take my new knowledge and apply it to my novels. I will continue to post flash fiction on Fridays, not every week, but often enough as long as I enjoy it. You may find my flash stories posted with the Flash Fiction tag.

What are your thoughts on flash fiction?

#fridayflash

Jon of Mad Utopia hosts #fridayflash. There you will find a weekly summary posted each Saturday containing links to flash stories. With over 50 stories each week, the #fridayflash group offers a large selection spanning every genre. On your lunch break, pick a few stories and comment on the ones you like.

This week Mad Utopia offers a contest just for readers. Read the complete details. After reading, nominate your favorite story for “Readers Choice.” Good luck.

johnmcdonnell

Thanks for the info, David. I used to write flash fiction a few years ago, then stopped. That was before Twitter. I'm trying to get into the mindset again, and your post gave me some good information.
http://writing.smeganpayne.com/ Megs – Scattered Bits

I believe that flash fiction (I primarily write 250 words or less and drabbles of exactly 100) can be an important learning ground for how to use language precisely and evocatively. The challenge of fitting an entire story (or significant moment) into just a handful of words makes me think about every single word and whether it is working hard enough. The meaning has to be just right. The sound of it has to be perfect. The flash fiction drabble is the closest fiction probably ever gets to poetry. There is no time, no words to recover from even a single missed step.rnrnIt’s my warm-ups, the boiler for my muse. The drabble keeps my creative brain fired and ready for the longer writing pieces that I create. It means when I don’t have the time or the notes to work on my novel, I’m still WRITING. And for a writer, the act of actually putting words to paper every single day is vitally important.rnrnFlash fiction is also a way to give myself a sense of completion. I can say I finished something before tackling a seemingly endless novel again.rnrnThose are the main things I think about when I think about writing flash fiction and the main reasons why I do it.
http://www.tonynoland.com/ Tony Noland

The FridayFlash stories are a sandbox for me, a place to play around with different genres, voices, styles.

Sometimes it's an exercise in telling a story with no dialogue, or with only dialogue. A thousand words will let you convey a single scene. What can you do in that? Convey love? Devotion? Hatred? Lust? Fear? Reconciliation?

A good flash story is tight, tight, tight. Once you've learned to distill emotions and actions into a good flash story, it's like a shot of something 100 proof. If you want to dilute it and stretch it out, you can add some other items to sweeten it, make it bubbly or make it tangy.

Or you can just add complementary shots of other emotions that are just as strong. When you get to a Long Island Iced Tea of a story (~5000 words) that's a chapter. So it would take, what, twenty of those to make a novel?
http://www.dracotorre.com/blog/ David G Shrock

Great. Don't forget to share with #fridayflash. We enjoy new stories.
http://www.dracotorre.com/blog/ David G Shrock

Beautiful description of flash, and great point about the importance of putting words to paper.

I may have to give 250 words a try. Several I've read carry a poetic quality. Do you believe that coming close to poetry is the natural result of achieving the perfect meaning and sound with minimal words? Or is it part artistry?
http://www.dracotorre.com/blog/ David G Shrock

I like the drink analogy. “100 proof” flash will be my new goal. Although I do like a bubbly now and then. Thanks, Tony. Your comments are nearly as enjoyable as your stories.
http://writing.smeganpayne.com/ Megs – Scattered Bits

The poetry doesn't come naturally over 250 words unless it is your natural style (it does tend to be mine), but once it goes below that the similarities become far more pronounced.

Poetry is the way the flow and sound of words and every word becomes in itself significant. It isn't only the content; it's the presentation.

Once that word count drops below a certain point and every single word is made to do so much, I do believe that a similarity to poetry is natural because every word lends a flavor and the whole swallows up in a gulp like poetry. It isn't just content anymore. It's the whole. A single off word can wrench the whole thing in a different direction and unless it's a vital word, the same is simply not the case with short stories and novels. Only flash fiction.

Both poetry and flash fiction are designed to convey MORE than what the actual words say, and therein lies much of what makes it so much the close to me. In flash fiction, as in poetry, most of the meaning lies below the surface.

Part of it could be considered artistry. But I think of all the poets and the different ways we use rhythm, meter, intonation, word order, etc. to create a feel and an impact, and I don't believe artistry makes it poetic. I believe the artistry simply determines what kind of “perfect meaning and sound” is perfect to us.

So now that I've thought that through by typing (sorry, bad habit), yes, I do believe that coming close to poetry is the natural result of achieving the perfect meaning and sound with minimal words. And I also believe that to write anything well with perfect meaning and sound is a part of the writer's artistry.
http://www.dracotorre.com/blog/ David G Shrock

Thanks, Megs. Very helpful. Yes, writing well with sound is part of artistry. I like: the artistry determines the kind of perfection and “words lend flavor.” I will consider this as I write.
markkerstetter

Cool conversation happening here. As far as every word being vital, that's true regardless of length. Think about how Flaubert or Celine labored over every word, every comma. It just becomes impossible to ignore with flash.

Different people have their own strengths. Some excel with lots of words, others with a few. It sounds (and looks to me) David, like you really get going with lots of words. Training yourself to write with a few can only help you learn, of course, but length may turn out to be your specialty. I really admire people that can write novels. I've had one sitting around for years; it's the hardest thing I've ever attempted.
http://www.dracotorre.com/blog/ David G Shrock

Agreed. I'm more comfortable with lots of words, allowed to paint a scene. My goal is to improve my writing. I don't have enough interest to master flash, and it isn't why I write.
http://www.dracotorre.com/blog/ David G Shrock

Washthebowl has some interesting words on this subject: http://www.washthebowl.com/2010/01/01/flash-wri…
http://www.dracotorre.com/blog/ David G Shrock

An essay by Tony Noland on the subject: http://editorunleashed.com/forum/showthread.php…