In my opinion, flash is a lot like a design charette. Often, it's spurred by an esoteric prompt or image, and the stories that result can be quite surprising. I enjoy writing and reading it. Writing flash is like doing a few jumping jacks in your brain. If you'd like to read some, there are MANY sites serving up delicious little bites of writing from around the world today, including:
National Flash Fiction Day
Flash Flood
1000 Words
Flash Points
Flash writing doesn't just happen today--there are many bloggers who run weekly prompts and contests. I'll leave you with a bit of flash I recently wrote for Rebecca Clare Smith's SatSunTails, which happens every weekend.
The estate room at Ludwig & Sons was deep, and dark, and
full of strangers. Fabrizio shuffled down the aisle, cane in hand. White
flowers lined the walk. It might have been a wedding, but Eliana had married
someone else, long ago.
He chose a seat on the right, near the back, out of the way.
The executor stepped to the front. He read her will slowly,
the words careful, the tone loving. Murmurs rippled among the crowd at each
bequest. The Milan estate went to her niece, the paintings to her nephews. The
gifts were generous. The strangers smiled and cried.
At last his name was called. “To Mons. Fabrizio Castelli, I
leave my fondest memory.”
He accepted the vial. He inhaled the scent.
It took him there, to the wall, to the warmth of the sun.
His lips pressed her cheek. She laughed. They were together. And he was happy.
--152 words
Oooh, that gave me shivers, just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lisa! When I tried to read it out loud to my husband I had to give up.
ReplyDeleteVery nice! I used to write flash fiction a few years ago. Fun to write and read!
ReplyDeleteLovely. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHey Melanie! Sorry I'm late to this post! Been meaning to comment on your blog forever, it seems. I was truly blown away by this piece you wrote--it even inspired me to try my first flash fiction piece (er, at nearly 500 words).
ReplyDeleteHave you considered adding an RSS feed (for posts and/or comments), or a "subscribe by e-mail button?). Would make it easier for people to follow you--though I did manage to add you to my reader anyway. ;-)