Flash fiction is a complete story told in around 500 words or less, with some stories being only 100 words. It is an art form that requires concise sentences and can be read in minutes. The popularity of flash fiction has grown with the internet, and anyone can try it. The story should have all the elements of a longer story, but how it’s told is up to the writer.
Flash fiction is a type of short story, also called micro or improv fiction. It is a complete story that is usually told in around 500 words. There are many flash fiction stories that are no more than 100 words. The shorter the full story, the better.
Writing flash stories is an art in itself. Being able to construct a complete story with characters and a plot within this number of words can be incredibly difficult, but it can also be a way to evolve a story idea in a short amount of time. The ability to tell a story in 100 words that has an impact on the reader is as impressive as the ability to write a novel.
In today’s fast-moving world where people may no longer have the time to read novels, these very short stories have gained popularity. There are many literary webzines and some print magazines that focus exclusively on this type of fiction. The stories can cross all genres and can be read in minutes.
With flash fiction, the ability to construct meaningful yet concise sentences is an important factor. Every sentence is important. A short piece of flash fiction should contain a collection of broad lines.
The term flash fiction is thought to have originated in 1992 with the Flash Fiction anthology, written by Denise Thomas, James Thomas and Tom Hazuka, but the origins of micro fiction can be seen as far back as Greek storytellers. More modern practitioners of this form of writing include Ernest Hemingway and Franz Kafka. With the advent of the internet, flash fiction has exploded in popularity. There are lessons on how to write good flash fiction pieces. There are even contests, like writing a science fiction story on a coaster.
The good thing about writing this kind of story is that anyone can prove it. You don’t have to commit to the story like you would when writing a novel. While it may seem very difficult, some people have a natural talent for telling a story in a very short space, and pretty much anything goes.
While the story should have all the elements of a longer story, such as characters, plot, and so on, how you tell the story is up to you. Think of a reporter writing a story within a set number of words; this could be seen as the basis of flash fiction. If you don’t feel up to the novel inside you, why not try a few different flash fiction stories and see how they evolve.
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