As its name suggests, flash fiction is short, compact and impactful in a way that is a bit akin to a lightning strike. In other words: less is more. While it takes some skill and style to master this genre, it’s a perfect format for busy readers or writers that want a quick creative burst.
What is flash fiction?
Flash fiction prioritizes a single powerful moment, theme or character sketch. It must deliver and do it fast. That means that the complex narrative, complete plot, well-developed characters and setting are presented in fewer than 1500 words, and some are as short as one sentence. To write so succinctly and well requires an efficient storytelling style and clever use of language because even though flash fiction is short, it’s not just a bare-bones story. The word count might not be long, but the length does not inhibit the storytelling.
The difference between flash fiction and other short story forms
Flash fiction and short stories are terms that are often used interchangeably. However, they do vary a bit. Flash fiction is often referred to as micro-fiction, nano-fiction, postcard fiction or sudden fiction. It can tend to leave out many of the details that might be included in a short story. For example, much flash fiction focuses on a single theme and conflict to create an impact and may have limited characters (one or two is often enough). Think of a tweet that sums up everything in a limited character count and you start to get the idea of what’s involved. There’s even a kind of flash fiction called twitterature that contains less than 280 characters.
There are many elements that make up flash fiction, including a good plot, few characters, showing not telling, a plot twist and concise writing style.
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Some benefits of writing flash fiction
It improves writing
Writing flash fiction helps writers explore how they can convey a depth of meaning in very few words. It requires an element of discipline to keep the story short and that can push the writer to new realms of creativity and understanding of language. Many famous writers began as journalists, think Hemmingway and Steinbeck, learning to pare down their writing for the succinct news article, before adding colour to it again.
Overcome writer’s block
Flash fiction can help with writer’s block because it forces the writer to come up with a very specific plot with simple, focused ideas. If they’ve been struggling to write, pairing it down to only what is required can actually help drive them forward.
It can be fun
Despite some of its limitations, the challenge of writing flash fiction is part of the fun of the genre. In flash fiction, the writer doesn’t need to be eloquent, wordy or even particularly clever. They just need to get their meaning across.
Tips for aspiring flash fiction writers
Grab the reader’s attention
The first sentence is often key to a good flash fiction story. Ask an intriguing question, highlight a contradiction or start with some action and the writer will throw the reader right into the middle of the story. If it can ground the reader in a character or place and introduce the conflict in an opening line, it hits the ground running. Here are some examples:
“The boy at the water’s edge doesn’t give a shit about the Little Lending Library his mom planted in their front yard” (A Weird Beautiful Thing, by Kelle Schillaci Clarke)
“The day Brad Pitt follows me, I run a mile in under nine minutes” (The Brad Pitt Method, by Abbie Barker).
Engage all five senses
Setting elements are very important in flash fiction and should use smells, sounds, tastes, textures and visuals to create the scene and link it to an emotion or memory to help explain how the reader might feel. Here’s an example:
“Remember the night out on the lawn, knee deep in snow, chins pointed at the sky as the wind whirled down all that whiteness? It seemed that the world had been turned upside down, and we were looking into an enormous field of Queen Anne’s lace. Later, headlights off, our car was the first to ride through the newly fallen snow” (Snow, by Ann Beattie).
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Content and structure
The content and structure of flash fiction is important given the need for brevity. It should have a complete plot. This can be written as a type of shopping list featuring all the major elements needed, or in the form of a letter or from a narrator’s perspective with a particular point of view. You could even experiment with a stream-of-consciousness technique. However, the plot should be strong and complete with the usual twists and turns to engage the reader.
A climax
Like all good stories, flash fiction needs an unforgettable climax to the story. Action or tension should intensify throughout the plot to reach this culmination point or big reveal. In this way, the readers stay hooked until that moment when all matters become clear and are resolved.
Here’s an example of an ending from Hatched by Nicole Rivas when Lily agrees to have a date with someone in their car-house to see how they live and if she can handle it. It doesn’t end well.
But my foot was already heavy on the gas pedal by then. The sound of crunching over boxes filled with trinkets and paper, etc. In a brief moment of regret, I glanced at Lily’s form in the rearview mirror. She had found the tongs after all. She was already using them to sift through what little remained of me.
Conclusion
Good flash fiction can convey truths, emotions and powerful messages in just a few short paragraphs and resonate powerfully with readers from all walks of life. For writers seeking a new challenge and a chance to really hone their craft, flash fiction offers an incredible chance to play with ideas, dig through old notes for inspiration, utilize unused scenes and produce something just as powerful as a longer story. If you’re up for the challenge, try flash fiction.
