Flash Fiction For Writers and Readers

Today’s guest post is by writer Jason Brick. He has published his work in all sorts of genres and formats, with over 3000 articles, short stories, novels and non-fiction to his name – and about 20 books which are not, because he has ghost-written them. Jason also edits and crowdfunds anthologies. Next to writing, Jason loves martial arts and travel. We’re happy Jason has taken the time to explain flash fiction for us.

There’s an old saying. Every novelist is a failed short story writer, and every short story writer is a failed poet. I don’t know how much I believe that, but the adage leaves out another genre: flash fiction. 

Depending who you ask, flash fiction refers to fiction in the 5,000 words or fewer range, with most falling more into the under-2,000 category. A famous example is attributed to Hemingway, consisting of just six words:

“For Sale: Baby shoes. Never used.”

If you ask some folks, they’ll give you all kinds of subdivisions. A “drabble” is 100 words or so. A “fragment” is under 50….that’s all well and good, but really flash fiction is simply super-short tales.

I like flash fiction so much I started a semiweekly newsletter that sends super-short stories to mailboxes all over the world. It’s called Flash in a Flash. We use a cutoff of 1,000 words, are always accepting submissions, and have come here today to chat about why flash fiction is fun, why authors might want to try some, and some places you can get started when you do. 

Flash Fiction: Fun On the Fly

Flash fiction has been growing in popularity over the past ten years or so, for a lot of very good reasons:

• It’s so short people can read it in our increasingly busy lives. You can finish the whole reading experience during a single bus ride, wait at the dentist’s office, or trip to the restroom.
• Flash fiction can hit harder emotionally because it’s short and punchy. It’s like a shot of whiskey compared to longer fiction’s beer or wine. 
• It delivers instant gratification — something our phone and app culture has trained our brains to crave.
• If you read several in a row, you get a wide variety of reading experiences in a short time. 
• It’s mobile-friendly as compared to longer forms, making it easily accessible no matter where you are.
• The best examples use more allusion than description, leaving the readers with more to imagine and wonder about. 

There are many more reasons to enjoy this brief and impactful literary form. If you haven’t read some yet, seriously consider doing so. I’m confident you’ll be glad you did. 

Flash Fiction For Authors

As much as I love reading flash fiction (along with a few million other bibliophiles), I love writing it even more. A few of my reasons, which I share with many contributors to my magazine, are:

• It’s creatively open. Most markets don’t restrict by genre – just by word count. You can play with voice, structure, and concept.
• It lets you check of those notes you made about a concept you got excited about, but couldn’t find a home for in longer pieces. 
• You get immediate feedback. Most flash fiction markets and communities work on a faster timeline (just like the fiction), so you’ll hear what people thought more quickly than other options. 
• It lets you exercise aspects of writing you’re not approaching in your regular work – it’s like cross-training for your muse. 
• It’s quicker to write and edit (for obvious reasons).

You can also use it as a cure for writer’s block. When you’re having trouble getting traction with your WIP, shift gears and write something unrelated (or related, but not part of the main piece). By the time you’ve finished, even if you do nothing with the story itself, you’re usually ready to dive in to your main work. 

Where to Get Started

The best writing advice I ever received was to submit my work long before I feel ready to submit my work. The exact words were, “If you’re not submitting, you’re not a writer. You’re a typist.”

I think that’s a bit harsh (and needlessly mean to typists), but it’s a good point. Once you write a few flash pieces, your next step is to see who might want to publish it. Here are a few markets I’m a fan of.

• Vestal Review pays in separate columns for stories under 500 words, as well as in the 500-1,000 word range. They say they prefer stories with a twist.  
• Flash Fiction Online pays for stories from 500 to 1000 words long. They prefer literary and speculative fiction. 
• The Molotov Cocktail wants dark, grim, edgy stories under 1000 words. Read their stuff ahead of time, so make sure your piece is a good fit. 
• Shenandoah wants flash fiction under 1,000 words. They accept any genre, but lean heavily on literary fiction and unique use of language. 
• Pidgeonholes pays for “experimental and genre-defying” pieces under 1,000 words. That’s a pretty colorful description, and they’re open to less outre work as long as it’s well-executed.
• Brevity is unique in that they want nonfiction flash tales. They pay a “modest honorarium” for such works. 

Hundreds of others exist, including many that don’t pay writers in cash, so write your story, send it out, and see what happens. 

Obligatory Pitch

I mentioned it earlier in this piece, but my newsletter is always looking for submissions. I dare you to flex those literary muscles of yours, try something new, and reach out. You can find us on our Patreon page, or email me at brickcommajason@gmail.com