Flash Fiction
What is Flash Fiction?
A flash fiction story is sometimes called a short story or nanofiction, where a complete plot is written in under 1,000 words. Some flash fiction pieces consist of as few as five or six words. No matter how short, flash fiction stories still contain the main elements of a plot. There’s a beginning, a middle, and an end. The story must feel finished by the end to be true flash fiction.
Types of Flash Fiction?
Micro Fiction: Usually 5 – 100 words. Sub-genres include 6 Word Stories, 50 word stories (Dribble), 100 word stories (Drabble).
Flash Fiction: 101 – 1000 words. Sub-genre is Sudden Fiction – 750 words or less.
My flash fiction journey began as part of a writing challenge in my writing group. Write 50 words featuring a pencil. For someone like me who likes to natter, writing a short, concise story in 50 words was difficult, but as with everything, practice makes perfect. See my results below.
My Dribble
Prompt: Pencil
“2B or not 2B?”
“No! I want to be 4H,” screamed my pencil. “I’m fed up being soft. I’m always the dark shading of sketches.”
“I want harder, lighter, flowing lines and shading. No one chooses me first.”
“Why can’t I identify as a 4H?” it sighed. “It’s not fair.””
Prompt: Elephant
The snapping twig shattered the forest’s silence.
Gerald, the Ninja elephant, stopped, his ears searching for the source. He continued tiptoeing stealthily towards it. He could smell his prey. Larry the Lion was nearby.
AAAHHCHOOO, Gerald sneezed. The blast caught Larry, hurling him through the air as he screamed sheepishly.
Prompt: Swimming Pool
Was this too high? Could I do it?
Ten Metres for the first time. I was scared.
Two seconds to twist, flip, turn, and hit the water straight.
Breath and go, I launched into the air, keeping an eye on the swimming pool below.
Splash and intense pain………
Oh No!!!!
Prompt: FLOWER
It’s a disaster. I’d forgotten again!”
Our Anniversary at the Silverstone Grand Prix.
No present to exchange. No flowers in sight.
I prayed for divine intervention and spied inspiration.
Build a Lego Flower, that’s what the banner said.
Sitting down, I created a bouquet
Why buy when I can build?