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I've never really looked into this as I assumed that I'd never be able to write something that short. But a while ago I wrote a story which is about 350 words and I wondered if I'd have any luck if I could find somewhere to submit it, like a competition or a small press magazine like Scribble maybe.
But I'm not sure what standard it needs to be. I wrote it for an exercise doing a free novel course on future learn I think. I've been working on the many stories I need to rewrite, deciding to do this rather than write anything new for competitions. (I'm hoping to finish them and then look for places to send them, or just keep them for future opportunities rather than working on new stories to send to competitions, work on what I've got.)
I keep reading online about flash fiction and I think it's worth looking at if it means I'll be able to finish something quickly as it takes me a long time to write and rewrite. I means I'll feel productive as even though I'm work through a backlog of started stories I can do one of these and I'll feel like I'm writing something new.
So my questions are what makes flash fiction? Does my short story have any chance if I sent it out? Surely writing flash fiction is harder than short fiction and I am just making more work for myself. I think I'd like to have a go but I'm trying to avoid anything that diverts me from actually finishing the stories I've had in the first draft phase for ages.
Thanks for reading my post.
Comments
You would benefit by having an independent person read one or two of your stories to give you 'feedback' about where you your story might currently sit as to its 'successability'. Yes, we even invent words on here!!
You will note some 100 Word Flash Fiction linked from Talkback; they are well worth reading. Look for 'Lizy'.
No one can offer an opinion on whether your short story has 'any chance' if you send it out. Surely, you must accept that one has to read it first, but even so, each judge is different to the extent that one story might win a competition, yet in another, it would not even be shortlisted.
Don't overly concentrate on editing/revision at the expense of generating new material.
Thank you Pet for your endorsement of my blog!
Writing one mini-story does provide (almost) instant self-gratification. Though I can sometimes spend hours on my 100 word stories, at other times they flow quickly.
As for standard - do the best that you can, always.
http://www.flash500.com/index_files/allwinnersflash.htm
Be aware though that this is just one competition, one set of judges, one type of flash etc etc, not a 'rule' as to what flash should be. There are loads of other flash comps, websites and anthologies available online that you could look at.
'My favorite flash fiction pieces are those that stop my heart from beating or make me gasp! Unusual characters that grab you, setting details that seem fitting, sensory touches that are illuminating. A certain amount of tension to hold interest, and the element of surprise. Also a balance of white space- what is “left out” of the piece is as important as what remains on the page. Typically, there is a haunting or lasting element that stays with me beyond the brevity of the work.'
Flash fiction can be different from a longer short story in its form, as has been said above. But that doesn't mean a 'regular' story that is short shouldn't be considered flash, depending on where you send it and what they are looking for.
They give you a brief on what flash fiction is, and what they look for. There's a link in there to a good article on FF. And Flash Fiction Online pay pro rates.