Flash Fiction

1. Flash Fiction Writing the Super Short Story

2. What is Flash Fiction? Flash Fiction is usually a story of 1,000 words or less. Some people prefer flash fiction of say 500, 300, or even 100 words or less. Generally titles should not be longer than seven words. Flash fiction must include a protagonist, conflict and a resolution. Want it even more difficult…add some dialogue! Aesop’s fables are early examples of flash fiction writing. Contemporary writers who have written flash fiction include Ray Bradbury, Kurt Vonnegut, and Ernest Hemingway.

3. Jealousy, Sharon Schwartz, 175 words He had always been ambitious, even for a king's son. Unfortunately for him, he had never been the heir to the throne; that had always been his older sister. The older he became, the more he understood that he would never have the throne, and his jealousy grew. When he was eighteen, his sister died of a fever that had threatened most of the city, and he saw his chance. He was now the heir, and his father was taking him hunting the next day. At dawn, the new heir and the king left with the hunting party. By chance, the hunting party stumbled upon a herd of deer. The herd scattered, and so did the hunting party. The king's son kept a screen of trees between himself and his father, enough distance that the others would believe him when he said he had thought he was shooting at a deer. Carefully taking aim, he let his arrow fly. The king died. Shortly thereafter, the queen died of grief. Revision He was always ambitious, even for a king's son, even for the youngest. The older he became, the more he understood that he would never have the throne. When he was eighteen, his elder sister died of a fever, and he saw his chance. He was the heir. At dawn, the new heir and the king left with a hunting party. He kept a screen of trees between himself and his father, enough distance that the others would believe him when he said he had thought he was shooting at a deer. Carefully taking aim, he let his arrow fly.

4. Airport Tree, Anna Salone I sat up on the strong branch. I didn’t even know if I was supposed to be up here, if I were allowed. I didn’t know how it had stayed here. The tree that is. It had been here, what? Like two hundred years? I didn’t know if I could stay here that long as everything changed around me. I wanted to uproot now. I had nothing to stay for. “Are you going to come down?” I hadn’t heard him walk up, always with me. Always there like the tree. Maybe I did have something to hang around for.

5. Imagination Interrupted, Ben McAfee Roaring with wild fury, Tyler, like a valiant warrior, attacked. His younger friend, Ben, giggled excitedly, raising his stick in an effort to block.             With a crack, Ben held the mutilated stick in his small hand. Trepidation filled Tyler as he asked whether the stick was Ben’s favorite. Restraining an angry cry of “Yes, it was!” Ben shook his head.             Tyler knew Ben was suppressing his true emotion. Being the leader, Tyler felt it right to replace the wrecked stick. Chatting amiably, Ben walked alongside Tyler as they entered the forest in search of a new stick, a new weapon.

6. Ghosts and Mysteries, Amory Fischer Out of darkness, out of the past, he walks, tall and lanky, suited, with a yellow banner across his shoulder, and a top hat, prominent black, resting on his skull. Of spirits and murder he tells, questioning reality in the cold whispering air. Through white lace curtains screams the mayor’s wife and a man hangs unseen from his swaying noose, vivid imprints in our minds. I wonder, trying to find any intangible sign of proof. Soon back where we’d begun, from the past, through the stories, his shoes click away into the night. He fades away like a phantom himself.

7. Frozen Novelty, Charlotte S. Wood Cheerful chiming proclaimed its anticipated arrival before it appeared in the cul-de-sac at the end of their block. Children, hot from humidity and hard play, ran after the gaudily decorated ice cream truck, each kid thrusting a dollar at the driver and tearing quickly into their frozen novelty. She had arrived last, but discovered her pocket was bare. Where had her dollar gone? Momma appeared behind her with a smile of understanding, and handed the driver two dollar bills. The little girl took her jet pop and her mother a nutty buddy, as they shared smiles and sweet goodness together.

8. Writing Prompts • Write about the impact of a special place • Write about a significant experience • Write about something from the past • Write about the theme of “new beginnings” • Write something HAPPY! Go! Whoever finishes first is the winner! Share!