Flash Fiction: Ask These Three Questions

Before a flash fiction writer begins writing a flash fiction story, the writer should ask these three questions: 1)  Does the story begin as close as possible to the climax or payoff? 2)  Is there at least one round character in the story? 3)  Is the story about a significant event? These three questions will [...]

Flash Fiction: Show Don’t Tell

How many times have you heard the old saw, show don’t tell?  The Old Soldier gets a flash fiction story in by email every day from an online magazine; and I occasionally get a submission at the Gazette.  I see a common mistake in these stories, some written by writers who should know better. Because flash [...]

Subscribe To The Gazette

You can now subscribe to the Gazette.  What do you get when you subscribe to the Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette? You get the best in flash fiction, articles on writing flash fiction, articles on blogging for fun and profit and commentaries on the world from the best flash fiction publication on the Internet delivered every day [...]

The Flash Fiction State Of Mind

It is my argument that to become a good flash fiction story writer a writer or blogger must have a flash fiction state of mind. What is a flash fiction state of mind? A flash fiction state of mind is the ability to take an everyday situation and to turn it into a significant event. Now [...]

Blogging For Fun And Profit

I’m just a small time blogger trying to make a buck.  Are you trying to do the same?  Well, I’ve learnt a few things about blogging for fun and profit and I’ll share it with you and it won’t cost you a penny. Just go to the sidebar on the right and you will find [...]

Here’s How To Write Great Content

Whether you’re a writer writing articles or a blogger blogging posts, you want readers.  One way to get readers is to produce great content.  How do you produce great content?  Check this out: The Four Elements of Great Content… I was watching Charlie Rose on public television last night.  He interviewed a writer from Turkey.  [...]

Successful Bloggers Take The Long View

Success means different things to different bloggers and writers.  But if you want your blog to grow you have to plant seeds every day that will be constantly blooming in the future.  Here are three things you can do to grow your blog. 1)  Add new content constantly and regularly 2)  Target an audience 3)  Give [...]

The Gazette’s New Year’s Resolution 2010

The Old Soldier is going to make a resolution for the following year that I know I can keep.  The Gazette will continue to provide content and links that include entertainment, insight, inspiration or useful advice and tips for the new blogger and writer.  The Gazette is constantly updated with new material.  Let the Gazette be your source [...]

New Bloggers: What’s Your Niche?

If you are a new blogger you need a niche if you want to make money.  What is a niche?  A niche is an area of expertise that you feel comfortable with and that you can turn out an endless amount of content about.  It can be anything.  Just make sure it will entertain your [...]

Three Definitions Of Flash Fiction

1)  Flash fiction is a significant event given closure. 2)  Flash fiction captures a moment in time. 3)  Flash fiction is a very short story on a long subject. Good morning bloggers and writers.  It’s the Old Soldier here in the heart of the Steelers Nation.  Right now it’s around 9.00 am and I thought [...]