"Flash fiction is a style of fictional literature or
fiction of extreme brevity. There is no widely accepted definition of the
length of the category."
The point is that flash fiction comes in many formats. But one thing's for sure, your story must have a beginning, a middle, and an end, regardless of the length. It must tell a complete story.
For the WEP, we've gone with the limit of 1000 words or less, and it's
why the challenges will run every other month. This
will give you, the writer, time to
write, edit, and then publish and link your
short story for the edification of your
peers, and with prizes awarded.
So how do you get started?
Writing prompts. Whether it's a few
words, a full sentence, a title, or a picture – the writing prompt is essential to starting the creative juices
flowing. Prompts include a sentence, a title, a photograph, or even a list of
words that must be used in the piece.
Here at the WEP we'll give a title
or phrase as a suggestion such as Spectacular Settings for August, Youthful
Frights vs Adult Fears for October, and Holiday Celebrations that are
out of this world in December. To learn more about these prompts just click the link titled Upcoming-Challenges for 2015.
While it's considered
a challenge to write with such brevity, I
consider it training. As a wordy writer, I
can write a sentence as long as 40 + words. I
enjoy flash fiction because it's an opportunity
to write, edit, and publish a masterpiece quickly. You achieve a goal – a completed story, and then you have an opportunity for immediate feedback –
especially when you post on your blog and
link to others participating in the same challenge. You also learn the craft
from reading what others have done.
Brevity in writing is a good thing especially if you want your story
ready for publication in a magazine or want to enter a competition. Word limits are imposed because of space limitations. I've used several of my
flash fiction stories as a jumping off place for entries to the WOW! Women On Writing
Flash Fiction Challenges, and recently won Honorable Mention (placed in the top
twenty out of a possible 300 entries). WOW Judges are a tough lot, besides a 750-word
limit and a complete story, editing is crucial
– they accept only perfection when it comes to grammar. Their challenges run quarterly, but cash prizes are awarded.
The WEP is your opportunity to get your work in
front of an audience, receive constructive feedback, and then enter it into a cash challenge or
send it for submission to a magazine. The Copyright for any challenge posted for the WEP
stay with the author.
For those familiar with Flash
Fiction Challenges and want more places to share your craft or for those
interested in learning more about the genre, here are a few sites for other
Flash Fiction competitions – as you'll see the requirements for length varies considerably.
HERE ARE MORE LINKS YOU MIGHT LIKE TO
CHECK OUT – SOME PAID MARKETS AND SOME UNPAID – ALL GENRES:
What do you think? Are writing prompts helpful? Have you entered any of your work from the WEP into a contest, or to a magazine? Do you think Ernest Hemingway can be credited with the father of Flash Fiction and the Six Word Story?
*****
Don't forget to share the Challenge
Tweet one of these:
Don't forget to share the Challenge
Tweet one of these:
Did you know Ernest Hemingway is credited for the Flash
Fiction craze? @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2015/07/wep-what-and-why-flash-fiction.html #WEPFF
Would you like your work read in a magazine? Test it out
with the WEP @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2015/07/wep-what-and-why-flash-fiction.html #WEPFF
Work out the writing kinks through Flash Fiction Challenges
and the WEP @DeniseCCovery @YolandaRenee http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2015/07/wep-what-and-why-flash-fiction.html #WEPFF
I had heard about the Hemingway story - but baby shoes were replaced with wedding dress in the version I knew. Possibly another myth about the man.
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy flash fiction. A story pared back to its bones takes work, and precision if it is to convey its meaning.
Love these links. Thank you.
Thanks for stopping by. I find flash fiction extremely beneficial. I hope the links provide a great source of information and opportunities. I hope you'll join us in August for the first challenge!
DeleteWow, an awesome list. I will save this for future reference. Glad you ladies are getting off to such a brilliant start. Lots of work there Yolanda.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I will be able to make it for August. I'm out of town a lot - got this cool new job that involves traveling a few days a month but pays almost enough to support us - for vacation and training and not sure I'll be blogging much. Something may come to mind though. Hope you have a good turn out for the first post :)
Donna, that's wonderful, so glad to hear things are looking up! Catch up when you can, getting life on the right track is most important. We'll be here anytime you want to visit or share something new! So happy for you!
DeleteHi Donna! I'm delighted you've found some employment. You sound quite excited, so have fun! We'll love it if/when you can find time/motivation to post to the WEP challenges. Thanks for dropping by! :-)
DeleteThat is a comprehensive list! Thanks, Denise and Yolanda, restarted with a serious bang!
ReplyDeleteI have read that six word flash before, and as far as I'm concerned Hemingway is the king of flash - I am diehard fan of the man :) I love flash fiction and have used the RFW/WEP prompts to create poetry that's been accepted for publication. Apart from the direct response, the WEP prompts seem to have cascading effect too, I remember putting a single prompt to multiple uses.
I am on vacation till the 22nd, so I am not sure what I am going to do for the August prompt, except that I'm in with something - photos, poetry, flash, whatever :) can't imagine not turning up!! Don't have a clue now but something will fall into place. I am an optimist!
Nila, I've no doubt you'll have something spectacular! Vacation, oh boy, do I need one! A real one with travel and food, and rest, and beautiful scenery. Oh dear, next step, rob a bank and party!!!! Really though, vacation sounds beyond wonderful. Hope your's is stellar! Love to hear your RFW/WEP contributions have turned into something positive too! See you for Spectacular Settings!
DeleteNila, it wouldn't be the same without you, but I know somewhere, somehow, you'll be with us! Enjoy your trippin' around! :-)
DeleteGlad I could help with the list of links!
ReplyDeleteQ: Are writing prompts helpful? All my flash fiction pieces originate from writing prompts/photos.
Q: Have you entered any of your work from the WEP into a contest, or to a magazine? I need to re-visit my old WEP pieces, dust them off, have another look and then see if I can edit them to a stage where they are publish-worthy.
Q: Do you think Ernest Hemingway can be credited with the father of Flash Fiction and the Six Word Story? Well, I know that he's duly credited as the guru of the minimalistic writing style... encouraging us to write shorter, more deliberate sentences. With regards to the story: "For Sale, Baby shoes, Never worn." there is speculation about whether or not this is a real story... and that's not the point anyway... he IS a flash master!
Michelle, love all your answers. Yes, Hemingway IS a Flash Master! And please let us know if any of those old WEP pieces get published! Love your visits, always!
DeleteGreat list. I should look into doing flash fiction. As a youth, I used to do a lot of flash fiction. One page stories were usually goofy and just shared with my immediate friends. So a lot of the writing utilized a lot of 'inside' jokes.
ReplyDeleteA lot of the flash fiction I did WAS the result of writing prompts. Because I asked my friends for inspiration, to give me items to write a story about. I'd take about three items they asked for and come up with some kind of a story. I really should go reread those at some point.
Hi Jeffrey. You should really look into doing some flash fiction for us here at WEP. Would love to have you!
DeleteWriting prompts helped me get started, but I only write short pieces on my Friday posts. I don't seem to be able to write a finish. Some of my Friday pieces get a second or third chapter the following week/s, then I'm stuck and start something new.
ReplyDeleteHi River. Writing prompts/exercises are a great way to increase productivity and improve our writing. I must check out your Friday pieces.
DeleteThanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel about it and love learning more on this topic. If possible, as you gain expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more information? It is extremely helpful for me.
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