What is Flash Fiction?
To put it simply, flash fiction are stories that are extremely brief and small. They are also known as micro fiction, short shorts, post card fiction etc.
Ernest Hemingway once famously bet that one could write a story in just six words. Consider the following ‘story’ which won a flash fiction contest; the word count limit for this story was set at just 6 words!
John meets Sarah’s father. Prefers him.
In 2008, CNN asked their readers to submit to their 6-word flash fiction compilation and you can read the entries here.
Word count for flash fiction stories
Although Wikipedia indicates that the starting word count for flash fiction stories is around three hundred words, there have been many flash fiction contests around the world with maximum word count limits set to 15 words or lower.
While the minimum word count is debatable there seems to be a consensus on the maximum word count. Many writers believe that the maximum word count is around 1000 to 1500 words.
If you are thinking 500 words is a lot of difference (hell, you can fit another flash in that range), the fact remains that while 1000 words seems like an ideal cutoff, there are contests online that keep it at 1500 words and still call it flash fiction; having said that you might encounter more stories with a 1000 words as a cutoff limit than with 1500 words as a cutoff.
Most Popular Contests for Flash Fiction Stories
Over the years the genre has struck a note with contest organizers. Owing to brevity and the relatively lesser judging time involved the format has become very popular. There are plenty of online contests both in India and abroad that encourage participants to write flash fiction.
Where can you read flash fiction stories?
Aesop’s Fables are considered the oldest stories in the flash fiction genre (yes, it is a genre in itself) and with dwindling attention spans and in-your-hand technology you can read a lot of quick fiction online. It is more popular online than in print form, especially in markets like India. (Honestly, I haven’t read any Indian flash fiction anthologies or collections in print. So, I’d be happy to have some recommendations, if any!).
So, google away! Or if you prefer it there are mobile phone applications like Fivers: Flash Fiction for the Phone retailing on the iPhone App Store. There are other apps in the Android markets too.
How does one write Flash Fiction stories?!
So, now we get to the interesting part. Here are some tips to consider while writing flash fiction; as always, these aren’t sacrosanct. Make them up along the way. Also, if you are submitting to contests make sure you read ALL the guidelines, especially word count limits, else your work will not be considered.
1. It should have a beginning, a middle and an end
Like all stories there has to be some meat. Even if it is 6 words, remember that it is not just a sentence but a story.
2. Pick one point and End it (or close)
There is really no space (literally) for multiple storylines and conflict points. Ideally, dwell on one conflict and try to resolve it or at least take the story to a point of an implied conflict resolution.
Consider the example mentioned above; the first four words are used only to provide information, i.e, boy meets girl’s father. There is no story there for it remains just a sentence until the conflict is introduced. And, the beauty of the next two words is that it sort of both creates the conflict and brings the story to a conclusion. Is there scope for more “story”? Yes, but not within those 6 words.
3. It has to be funny or witty or spooky or puzzling or all of it
Well, this is my personal rule, of sorts. It has to be entertaining throughout! That remains non-negotiable. While entertainment is necessary in whatever format one is writing in, it holds most true for flash.
In the longer formats, like the novel for instance, some readers are known to persist simply for loyalty to the author or for curiosity sake, skipping through descriptions and going straight to dialogue if narrative gets too boring and at the end of the reading experience, the reader might still say, “overall, good book”. One does not have that luxury in flash fiction for if a reader abandons a 100-word story mid-way (horror of horrors), it is plain bad writing.
4. It is okay to imply and not say the whole thing (because of paucity of space)
Readers might have to play a participatory role in the story. So, it is okay to imply character traits and history using just a few words like “always unkempt” or “perennially infamous.” In longer formats you would spend more time building character value using back-story.
5. Start with something happening rather than setting or character traits
Basically, get straight to the action point.
6. Write the full version in your head and then edit, edit, edit and finish with a punch line
You remember précis writing in school, don’t you? Well, there you were given a long passage and had to cut it down. Here you create your own ‘long’ passage and when you read it you can edit. Once it is short, crisp and concise and spells entertainment with every word, it is ready to win all the contests in the world!
All the best!
We are looking for 15-word flash fiction stories to publish right here! Please leave your stories in the comments field below. It’ll make us very happy 🙂
He came forward, hand stretched. She refused. He laughed. A silent stalker was born.
The door was open, it let the draught in.
In a bar, Rupee kisses the Dollar. “I knew you were cheap,” Dollar says.
Her smile makes me smile.Is this love?
Picked up pen and paper to write a story. Encountered writer’s block and gave up.
The princess seeking a handsome prince kissed a frog, contracted a terrible illness and died.
He stroked her neck and gently moved his hands across her back. She barked affectionately.
A glimpse makes him alight hurriedly. He falls immediately for the mother of his childern.
He checked the time as the train approached.He would be run over on time.
I love this one!
At war,kill or die . Did both.
Here’s one from me:
“Do you take this man till death do you apart?”
“Yes,” he says
Keep them coming! We’re loving it.
Jeez. Gay marriage.
“Why did you betray her?”
“I had no choice”.
The first meeting. Stands; behaviorally quit. All eyes shift. “Question?”
“Have to poop? oops!” Discharged
Huh?
I walked to the summit. I still couldn’t see.
He read the letter, the words danced wildly. She would never again. In any way.
Wrote the story. Edited the story. Submitted the story. Waiting for accolades.
He looked for the truth in everything; that he found it led to his suicide.
“How big is the world, mom.”
“Smaller than words.” She replied.
I came, I saw , I conquered. Still not happy.
Custer took a chance… it cost him the weekend!
The Pineapple fell from a tree.
Wait for a disaster.
“Why do I stay in Israel?”
“Because the ghosts are telling me to.”
She wanted to fall in love again.
He always held her back.
A prisoner within herself.
Musing far beyond the sky, her hands gripped the window sills, eyeing for hope.
“I love you forever” he said. He died.
she said “no”, he lived happily ever after.
He walked slowly past the house. Yes – it was the upper right window.
Beautiful.
I jumped from the plane with my parachute on. I pulled the cord. Nothing happened!
She was rainbow but he was colorblind, so the love doesn’t exist.
No time to think, he thought
don’t you get’t I’m tired of being a gentle men!” frosty said, gasping, as tears roll’s down his cheek ” longsofy… the badasses are the successfully ones! ”
is this creative enough could some please comments on my little creation
He finished the sentence for the ad. For sale, engagement ring. Never used.
The feeble yet rapid beat of tiny wings had no effect against the mirthless howl of the wind. The icy drops of rain relentlessly pounding the butterfly into the welcoming soil.
They embraced each other, lovingly; Fell to their knees. They vowed to never let go.
The s.hip sank. A few survivors made it. Lived happily ever after as castaways.
A storm came from the north. Went. Took some of us and left the rest.
I looked through the forest, all I saw was trees.
Is email love real? Facebook friend says he loves me. His Persona loves my Persona.
He is a cancer survivor. He opted for herbs and organic foods. They worked.
She wore her face in a dark scowl, eyes smouldering, he came wreathed in smiles
Being fed his birthday cake, he yearned to taste something more luscious rather, her lips.
Community is a gathering place? Or any sized space where it’s emotionally safe.
Florescent and fair, she effortlessly tread upon the stars until she faded like gossamer thread.
He wiped his hands and replaced the floorboards
I was stupid for trusting a politician from the start. His time didn’t tick.
She killed her dreams under the veil of traditions.After years her daughter raised her veil to reform them.
Seeing her again jarred his memory. He subsequently and quickly threw the jar in the recyclables bin and put it out at the curb.
The cock crowed. Ate the corn. Slept.
Strange stuff this flash fiction.
Hi, I’d like to submit a flash story for consideration…
Heat shimmered over arid plains. Dark storm clouds gathered. Promising. Then they drifted away again!
She wanted to be in love and made lamb chops. Not hungry, he said.
The ultrasound probe, bounced back echo messages. In stillness and anticipation no heartbeat was found.