Flash Fiction – A Subtle Art

Much of the work I have posted thus far has been flash fiction. I belong to a writing group that has regular contests. I enter nearly every one not for the chance of winning (though of course I would love the honor), but for the valuable feedback that I receive from the judges. Each contest has a set of parameters: a given genre, a word that has to be used, a word count, and a setting. For example, my piece “Ironsides” (the first one I posted) was meant to be a fairy tale, set in a junk yard, with a foot locker as the given word. The count was 1000 words. From entering these contests, I have learned to write cleaner and more concise. I have worked on my dialogue and crafted stories in as few words as possible. Some of the criticisms I get most from the judges is: this character isn’t developed enough; we need more background, it feels like the beginning of a longer story. Generally, they are right. I find it very difficult to tell a story in 100 words or 1000 words. I congratulate those who have developed this remarkable talent. I enjoy flash fiction because it caters to the short attention span that plagues us as we are inundated with social media. I like writing for people who might want to fill in the rest of the story with their imaginations. I usually tell my story and then go back and edit until I meet the word count. It has made me a better editor and more critical of my work. Any writer can tell you, any time you edit your work to fit a word count, it feels a little bit like murder. Your words are your art, your literary children. Writing is a craft, but like any craft it has to be practiced and honed. Anyway, I just wanted to offer an explanation as to why some of these stories seem random or unfinished. The beautiful part is after the contest I can go back and add to the story any time I want. Keep reading – there are more stories coming. And if you have a challenge for me, let me know. I am always up for a friendly competition!