Flash Fiction is a literary form that takes a few elements, and tells a story very quickly.

It’s a great tool for a writer to have in their writer’s toolbelt! It is difficult to write a good Flash Fiction story, but it also feels very good–like stretching muscles during a workout makes a person feel healthy and fit.

[quote]Charles Dickens could probably take 14 pages to describe the wart on someone’s chin (because he was being paid by the word), but Flash Fiction tells a story in less than 1000 words, complete with interesting characters, compelling plot, established setting, etc.[/quote]

Legend has it that Ernest Hemingway once made a bet with some other writers that he could write a short story in six words. He won the bet with this short story that contains all the elements of a story (beginning, middle, end), as well as conveying emotion and creating a bigger story, as it allows the reader to fill in the blanks of the story and continue writing it in their head and heart:

[quote]FOR SALE: baby shoes. Never worn.[/quote]

Flash Fiction is a style of story telling that very quickly creates a compelling story without wasting a lot of words, but still has a beginning, middle, end, compelling story line, interesting characters, and a plot twist that leaves the reader thinking about the story long after the words have been read. Writing Flash Fiction is a great skill to learn.

Sign up for the Flash Fiction Online Writing Class for assignments, examples, video instruction, feedback, writing prompts, and mentoring from writers to learn how to write in this style. Publishing opportunities available, too.

Free gift for you! Download the first Flash Fiction lesson for free.