"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
