Not that kind of flasher, naughty bird. A flash fiction writer.
Why should I be a flash fiction writer? You ask. I’m glad you did. Flash fiction forces several wondrous talents upon you:
- Economy of language.
- Full-bodied plot in a tiny, weeny package.
- A stretch into new genres, styles, content.*
- Opportunity for you to turn away from a grueling, lonely novel-nobody-sees and hit publish.
- The thrill of weekly or monthly contests, like zeroflash, cracked flash fiction, and microcosms.
- Receive needful pets from fellow writers and learn to give same. Be in community.
I had this thought as I sat down today with my novel-in-progress: flash fiction should/could be part of Stephen King’s famed tool box for writers. Use it if it suits you. At first I couldn’t imagine liking anything less than a full-length novel, but the more I read and write flash, the more I appreciate its form. It’s like poetry and fiction made love and bam! Flash fiction.
*One such stretching happened to me just this month. The prompt for July’s Zeroflash is to write a metafiction piece. Metafiction? What on earth is that? The latin prefix meta means beyond, which I think of as above and beyond. Still, above and beyond fiction? I had to look it up. Luckily some of the examples were books I’d already read, so I understood that metafiction called attention to itself as a form or structure. Call me thick, it didn’t get much easier once I knew what the stuff was. But chew on a thing long enough and eventually it assimilates into you. Check out my metafiction flash piece here.
KL Griffiths 
I also discovered flash fiction after I’d been blogging for a few months. It’s a fun and helpful challenge!
It’s nice to “finish” something, right?
Yes, absolutely.
Hi, Kelly, it’s great to meet you….I’m so glad we’ve connected and I am looking forward to more of the same. ‘Great post–I really enjoyed your flash fiction–and, the following words deserve special mention….”In fact, the door had begun to pound, or a pounding had begun upon the door. Each strike rattled the hinges and birthed dust plumes that danced and died around the frame with each now-thunderous knock.”
How very poetic and descriptive…just wonderful…thanks for sharing 🙂
Trulyunplugged, thanks for reading my meta-piece! You made me smile. I found you through another blogger– robertcday. Looking forward to hearing some good news from you…
Robert is awesome and any friend of his is a friend of mine. Wishing you a peaceful day 🙂
Flash fiction has taught me so much! It’s a super food of the writing world – tastes good and good for you!
And if I may say… what a quick study you are, mi amiga. 🙂
Thanks for this. I have just discovered ZeroFlash and will give it a go in the future.
It’s nice because you have the whole month if you need it. Best to you!