Writing: Don’t Use Flashbacks In Your Flash Fiction

January 31, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette

First let me say that every rule is meant to be broken; but rules do serve a very good purpose.  They give us guidance in life and in writing.  There is a very good reason for why you should not use the flashback in your flash fiction. 

Flash fiction is too damn short.

If your flash fiction story is 700 words long and you use a 300-word flashback, that’s nearly half the story.  And then you’re breaking another rule.

The flash fiction story is most effective when there is unity of viewpoint, place and time.

FYI

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embezzlers-clubDon’t forget.  The Old Soldier wants to publish you.  This publication supports aspiring and veteran writers.

At the top of the page are three tabs.  Anything Goes is for non-fiction.  Send Poetry is for poetry and Submissions is for short fiction.

Read.  Study.  Write.

*****

The Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette is a news magazine about writing and sexuality.

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Successful Blogging: Find A Routine You Can Live With

January 31, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette

Are you a serious blogger?  I’m a serious blogger.  My stats page this morning said that this blog has over 5,600 hits for the month of February; but I know if this blog is ever going to crack the 6,000-hits ceiling for one month I’ve got to have a routine that I can live with.

I mean, now that I’m retired, blogging is my full-time job.  It’s the best job I’ve ever had because I love what I’m doing and I’m the boss.

So, I’m going to get up early and publish at least two posts every day.  That’s my routine.  Now all I have to do is stick to it.

What’s your routine?

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Blog of the day once again

Image by the Italian voice via Flickr

Hello hello hello all my brother and sister bloggers, readers, writers and my Flash Fiction Fanatics.  The Old Soldier has a new attitude and is moving to the attack.  It’s around 9:00 AM (when I actually wrote this post) and it will be sunny today with a high around 60.  Strange weather for Pittsburgh in February.

Writers have to do the mundane things in life just like everyone else.  So, my to-do list for today is to buy some 100 watt-light bulbs, deposit my Giant Eagle pension check into my savings account, call the Matriarch and return my book about Hunter S. Thompson to the public library.

I’ve already had breakfast (Ramen Noodles with a few pieces of cooked turkey and raw garlic and an energy drink) and I’ve already done my breathing and stretching exercises (karaoke tomorrow night at Del’s).  The sun is shinning and it’s time to take a hot shower and to see what adventures we can share today.

This is the Old Soldier blogging near the University of Pittsburgh.

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The Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette is a news magazine about writing and sexuality.

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A Nude Woman Is Just Like A Flash Fiction Story

January 30, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette

Stay with me now.  I will explain everything.

The Old Soldier is always trying to get you to think creatively about flash fiction.  My dictionary defines an analogy as: (1) correspondence or partial similarity. (2) arguing from parallel cases.

Here’s an analogy for you.  The photo of the nude woman included in this post is very much like a flash fiction story.

Notice that only the essentials are included in the photo.  The background is blank, the photo is black and white and for the most part the photo only shows a close-up that includes her face, most of her breasts and just parts of her arms and part of one leg.

The rest of the woman is left to the imagination of the viewer.  So, my argument is that this photo of a nude woman is very much like a flash fiction story.

Putting in just the essentials and leaving the rest to the imagination of the reader is exactly what a flash fiction writer tries to do.

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The Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette is a news magazine about writing and sexuality.

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Writers, Inspiration Is Only A Click Away

January 30, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette

Writing can be a lonely business.  Then there are the endless distractions.  That’s one of the strange things about being a writer.  Life can inspire you to write, but often times life gets in the way of you writing.

The Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette may be able to give you the nudge to keep you writing no matter how many distractions there are in your life.  There are over 2,700 pieces of content on this site.  The site gets over 5,000 hits a month.  So far this month it has gotten over 5, 400 hits.

This publication has evolved over a three-year period into a news magazine of writing and sexuality.  Which means that it is not for everyone.

But maybe it’s just right for you.

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Read.  Study.  Write.

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The flash fiction writer searches for the significant event in everyday life.

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The Awesome Power Of Good Dialogue

January 29, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette

The Old Soldier fell in love with writing dialogue when he was a young man after he was introduced to the fiction of Ernest Hemingway.  The Sun Also Rises is my favorite novel and it is full of good dialogue.

The novel is also full of wonderful descriptions of action, locale and terrain; but it is the dialogue that makes each character come alive.

THE SUN ALSO RISES By Ernest Hemingway

Image by roberthuffstutter via Flickr

When the novel was first published in 1926, reviewers nearly in mass pointed out how realistic the characters appeared to be.  Even reviewers who thought Hemingway over used dialogue commented on how life-like the characters seemed to be.

Well, few pundits today would claim that there is too much dialogue in The Sun Also Rises.  Today, over 80 years later, a critic who said there was too much dialogue in the novel would seem foolish.

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The Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette is a news magazine of serious writing and sexuality.

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The Resurrection Of The Occupy Wall Street Movement

January 29, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette

Except for a clash between police and occupiers in Oakland, California this past weekend, the Occupy Movement has been relatively quiet; or, the movement has been unable to catch the attention of the mainstream media.

But the movement is not going to fade away anymore than the destructive power of the 1% on our democracy is going to fade away.

This is a presidential election year and Spring is only eight weeks away.  Spring is not only a time of rebirth in nature.  It is also a time of rebirth for movements of greater equality.

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English: Protesters at the Occupy Wall Street ...

Image via Wikipedia

How’s everyone doing?  Yesterday, the Old Soldier walked to The Big Idea Bookstore in Bloomfield, which is only a few blocks from the Old Soldier’s apartment, and he purchased an 85-page paperback titled:  This Changes Every Thing (Occupy Wall Street and the 99% Movement) edited by Sarah van Gelder and the staff of Yes! Magazine.

I have my reading material for the next few days.

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The Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette is a news magazine of serious writing and brazen sexuality.

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How To Write A Great Flash Fiction Story About Sex

January 28, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette

If you want to write a really good story about sex, forget the sex.  Concentrate on the dynamics of the relationship (s) of the people involved in the sex.  The days of just fucking is over.  We’re talking about really good sex short stories.  There will always be a market for trash; but we are not talking about trash.  We are talking about writing a first-class flash fiction story.

When you write your story about sex, pay as much attention to things like character motivation, dialogue, locale…You know, just as if you were writing a mainstream or a literary flash fiction story.

Then when you slip the sex in the situation will feel more life-like.  And that’s as hot as it gets.

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Read. Study.  Write.

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Life, Writing And Over 5,000 Hits For January

January 27, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette

And you thought this news magazine was only about naked women.

The Old Soldier has 65 years of life to look back on.  Ladies and gentlemen, the Old Soldier fucked up a lot.  He also accomplished a lot.

I’ve been lucky.  I distinctly remember wandering around at night in Vietnam in front of a sister battery and having my head almost blown off by the muzzle blast of a 105 mm howitzer.

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This is a good time to reflect on life as I lay here on the sofa with two pillows under my weary head and jot things down in my notebook and wait for my computer to finish a security scan as I do a load of clothes in the laundry room downstairs.

There’s karaoke tonight at Del’s.  I phoned the Matriarch on Wednesday and promised I would phone my younger brother Anthony (Tony) who lives in an assistant living facility; but he would probably ask me if I was going to karaoke tonight and I don’t want to lie to him.  He has not had a drink in over two years.  He is the classic drunk, always one drink away from disaster.

I’ll phone him Saturday or Sunday.

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English: Map of Vietnam, scalable format

Image via Wikipedia

Tomorrow, when I go back to Del’s to see Rick and Di, my baby boomer peeps, I’ll first stop at The Big Idea Bookstore to pick up a booklet or two of fiction by some local aspiring writers in a continued efforts to find new contributors for the Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette.

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Today, my stats page said that the PFF Gazette went over 5,000 hits for the month of January.  There are still four days left in this month.  My goal is for this news magazine to get at least 10,000 hits every month.  Only time will tell if that is a realistic goal.

*****

Read.  Study.  Write.

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Publication In The PFF Gazette Is A Good Start

January 26, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette

Aspiring writers, the Old Soldier has your back.  As of this morning the Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette has gotten 4,747 hits for the month of January.  Not bad for a little niche blog about flash fiction.

As the Old Soldier ponders how to increase the readership of this news magazine even more, he wants to make this publication the showpiece for the work of aspiring writers.

I publish poems, non-fiction and fiction by aspiring and veteran writers.  So, take your shot.  Submit something.  At the top of the page are three tabs: Anything Goes is for non-fiction, Send Poetry is for poetry and Submissions is for fiction.

Good luck.  I’m rooting for you.

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Fiction S-Z (a sequel)

Image by Mrs Logic via Flickr

It’s early afternoon here in Pittsburgh.  The Old Soldier is getting a late start.  I was out and about last night.  Del’s had karaoke last night.  It’s something new.  And of course there is regular karaoke on Friday night.  The Old Soldier’s social life is improving.  Karaoke allows the Old Soldier to shine. 

Now that I have financial stability, retirement feels pretty good.  The older I get the bolder I get.  I sure am talking a lot about myself in this post; but it has been years since the Old Soldier was this happy.

So, please forgive me.

The high today in Pittsburgh will be 47 with scattered rain.

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Tell all your friends about this magazine of serious writing and brazen sexuality.

Read.  Study.  Write.

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Do Men Enjoy Sucking On Women’s Milk-Filled Breasts? by The Love Doctor

January 25, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette

The Love Doctor

For women, having their breasts caressed and nipples sucked can produce an orgasm. “I absolutely love for my man to suck, lick, tease and gently bite my nipples,” says Lisa, 22, a freshman at Columbia University.
 
She adds, “Interestingly enough, when my man is stressed or just needing to feel comforted or loved, he enjoys sucking my breasts as if he’s nursing. This is a huge bonding experience for us both, and I really enjoy it.”
 
“I love it when my man makes circles around my breasts with his finger or tongue.  When he’s eating me out, I pinch and rub my own nipples,” says Donna, 23, a sophomore at Yale University.  “I also love it when he sucks on my nipples as if he’s nursing.  I can cum from nipple or clitoral stimulation.  It just takes longer with nipple stimulation.”
 
A woman with 34 B size breasts says that her jet black nipples are huge and always look erect. She says that she has been embarrassed by them most of her life and used to hide them under loose-fitting clothing and tight bras. “I have gotten into non-piercing nipple jewelry, which looks very classy,” she says.
 
“My breasts were so sensitive that it used to drive me crazy,” she says.  “I would climax several times a day merely from fabric rubbing across them.  I remained wet and sexually aroused for long periods of time without being able to get much work done.  I’m lucky that my husband loves nipples and that they’re part of our lovemaking.”
 
English: Wifes breasts

Image via Wikipedia

Another woman claims that she loves having her breasts sucked. She also likes to show them off. “ I love to perform oral sex on him and then let  him suck the hell out of my breasts,” she says.  “My favorite part of foreplay activity is running my hard nipples down my partner’s back and buttocks.” 

Here’s what another woman has to say about getting her breasts sucked.  “I also have to be another voice for the fantasy of a woman playing with my breasts.  I definitely want to find a lady that is willing to let me play tirelessly with her breasts: in my face, licking, sucking, rubbing and enjoying them.” She says that she is straight, but that she finds images of women’s breasts hot.
 
Men are very attracted to breasts because of the firmness, shape and size. Breasts are not only meant for nursing, but for stimulation and arousal of sexual feelings in both men and women. As part of the foreplay, most men enjoy gliding their tongues over a woman’s nipples and placing them in their mouths while sucking and nibbling on them. Some men love to cup a woman’s breast while pinching the other one with their thumb and index finger; whereas, other men enjoy sucking on a woman’s breasts- milk or no milk, and not only sucking, but salivating on them and massaging them with their saliva.
 
“I’m a 35-year-old bachelor and my greatest weakness is a woman with big lactating breasts.  I enjoy playing and sucking on breast milk as a tool for foreplay.  Sometimes I bathe my erection with breast milk before and after sex, if the woman is lactating,” states Shahil of Delhi, India.
 
“When I was breast feeding and my husband and I would have sex, he would suck on them some times and not mind the milk because it was so sweet but he wouldn’t do it just for the milk,” states Briana, location hidden.
 
The End
 
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 Bio: The Love Doctor is a professional writer from the State of Florida.  She was born and raised in Miami.  She is a graduate of Florida International University School of Journalism and Mass Communication program.  She has a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Broadcast journalism. 
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Writing: Dialogue Is Not A Dirty Word

January 25, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette

Good dialogue brings a character to life better than any other device that the writer has in his or her tool box; but good dialogue is not easy to write.  Maybe the Old Soldier can give you a few pointers.

I guess the first thing that a writer must understand about dialogue is that dialogue is not just people talking.  Dialogue is “directed” conversation that must do several things to be effective.

It must characterize what kind of person the speaker is.  It must carry tension or conflict.  It must move the story to its conclusion.

It can also hint at locale and action.  It can hint at the past, the future and it can hint at the nature of a relationship.

And one other thing.  Long patches of dialogue come off more like speeches than like people talking to each other.  One, two or three lines of dialogue by one character is usually enough.  Then it’s someone else’s turn to talk.

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Subscribe to the Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette, the news magazine of flash fiction and nude women.  The Subscription Tab is at the top of the page.

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The Best In Erotic Flash Fiction Entertainment And Much More

January 24, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette

If you enjoy good writing and you are open-minded about sex, this news magazine is for you. 

I’m your host, the Old Soldier.  I call myself the Old Soldier because I’m a Vietnam War veteran.  I call this blog a news magazine because its editorial content covers blogging and writing with commentaries and reports on items in the media and on life that the blog’s readership may be interested in.  Female sexuality is one of these items.

The Old Soldier will guarantee you two things.  You will find content that may be too sexually explicit for your enjoyment; but you will also find content that you will enjoy very much: like some of the best mainstream, literary, erotic and sexually explicit flash fiction on the internet.

And I am eager to publish your poem, non-fiction and short story.  Check out Send Poetry, Anything Goes and Submissions at the top of the page.  The Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette has gotten over 4, 500 hits so far this month.  People will see your work.

Read.  Study.  Write.

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Successful Blogging After The Age Of 60

January 23, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette
Seal of the United States Social Security Admi...

Image via Wikipedia

I believe I can speak with some authority on this subject.  The Old Soldier is 65 years old and in a good place in his life.  Oh, sure, I wish I was richer, younger and better looking; but none of that is going to happen.

The Old Soldier does have working-class financial security because of Social Security and two pensions; and he is in good health.

This does not mean that I can’t drop dead before I finish this post.  It does mean that I have an opportunity to blog full-time; and I love being a full-time blogger.  This is the best job I’ve ever had in my life.  And maybe one day I’ll actually make some money from my little blog.  This blog now gets over 5,000 hits a month.  Can 6,000 hits a month be far behind?

The point of this post is this: old age can provide a person with opportunities that he or she did not have when he or she was younger.

Gray power!

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Oh, what is the secret to successful blogging after the age of 60?  To identify a need or a want and to provide that need or want.  The Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette provides serious writing and brazen sexuality.

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English: The Young and the Restless, logo of t...

Image via Wikipedia

Today has turned out to be a lovely day in Pittsburgh, mild and sunny.

I broke down and transferred some money from my savings account into my checking account so that I could get a withdrawal and have a couple of beers at Sonny’s Tavern.  The Old Soldier finds it nearly impossible to stay inside when he has money in the bank. 

I had two beers, watched The Young and the Restless, got a six-pack of beer and walked back home.

I feel much better.  Now I’m going to read a little of my Hunter S. Thompson book, watch the evening news on public television and think deep thoughts: flash fiction, female orgasm, karaoke…and maybe with my new financial stability I can find a woman in her 40s or older who would want to deal with me.

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Public Television, Hot Dogs And Blackeye Peas

January 23, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette
A cooked hot dog garnished with mustard.

Image via Wikipedia

It’s around noon, on an overcast day in Pittsburgh that might get up to 52 degrees and may even have some sunshine.  The Old Soldier has public television on the TV.  It’s a show about the All-American hot dog.  There seems to be all kinds of hot dogs, covered with onions, relish, mustard, sauerkraut, chili, cheese…

The Old Soldier is eating a small bowl of the blackeye peas and ham hocks that he cooked in the crock pot.  The peas did not turn out as good as I hoped.  I put too much water in the crock pot.  So, I poured some of the liquid out and let the peas sit overnight, but they still are not as tasty as they can be and it’s all my fault.

Oh, well, you win some and you lose some.

*****

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Crock Pot Cooking: Blackeye Peas And Other Observations

January 22, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette

The Old Soldier is finishing up the lima beans and ham hocks and has just put on a crock pot of blackeye peas and ham hocks.  I’ve never cooked blackeye peas in the crock pot; so, I will have to keep an eye on them.

I rinsed the peas, put them in the crock pot with two nice ham hocks for flavor and then covered everything with a few inches of water.

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It’s early afternoon.  I haven’t been outside, but the sun is shinning and the high will be around 40.  Maybe I’ll go for a walk around the neighborhood.  A play-off football game will be on television at 3:00 PM.  Right now I have soccer on the television, but I’m not a soccer fan.

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Image representing Zemanta as depicted in Crun...

Image via CrunchBase

I did get in touch with Zemanta, the people who run the app for visuals for WordPress.  I’ve agreed to do an email interview.  They want to do the interview Tuesday or Thursday.  I should let them know some time today.

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As of this morning the Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette has gotten over 4,100 hits for January.  Which means the magazine is on schedule to get over 5,000 hits for the month.  I would really like to make 6,000 hits a month the minimum for the magazine.

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Well, the Old Soldier is low on funds and he doesn’t expected any reinforcements until Wednesday.  So, I won’t be hanging out in the bars today.  Just as well.  I’ve been drinking too much.

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