Live Your Life And Write Your Flash Fiction Stories

My Ebook And The Link Is At The Top Of The Sidebar On The Right

The Old Soldier cannot express to you strongly enough that your life, the life you live, is wonderful material for writing flash fiction.

Your life is full of things that you have done and things that you should not have done.  Your life is the raw material of great fiction.  All you have to do is shape this raw material into flash fiction.

The setup.  The buildup.  The payoff.

And the Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette is here to help you do just that.  Remember, there are no mediocre stories.  There are only mediocre writers.

Read.  Study.  Write.

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The Submissions tab for flash fiction is at the top of the page.

Writing: Finding Your Comfort Zone

Roosevelt Signs The Social Security Act: Presi...

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When the Old Soldier writes about a writer finding his or her comfort zone, he’s writing about a writer finding the time and the income to keep writing for the long term.

Time and income are decisive for a writer to achieve a level of writing success that will give the writer a sense of accomplishment.  Most of us as writers will never make a lot of money from writing.

For me, writing success means that this blog will achieve 3,000 hits a month and that I will make at least $30.00 a month as an online freelance writer.  The Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette got just over 2, 400 hits last month and I do freelance writing for a site that pays me a penny a word.  So I have a good shot at achieving my goals as a writer.

But to achieve my writing goals I need time and an income to live on.  I have the time because I’m retired and later this year my income will consist of Social Security, a military pension and a pension from a supermarket chain.

Now I know most of you do not want to wait until retirement in order to have the time and income  to achieve your writing goals. 

So, if you are serious about achieving some level of success as a writer, find your own comfort zone of time and income that will sustain you as a writer.

Keep reading and keep writing those flash fiction stories.

Caramel Ice Cream & A New Day Of Blogging

Caramel Nut Ice Cream

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The Old Soldier has a bucket of caramel ice cream in the freezer.  Who says just because it’s 9:30 AM you can’t eat ice cream.  I sure don’t.  I’ve got several posts planned for you today.  The Old Soldier is feeling pretty chipper.  While I work on the new posts why don’t you explore the blog and keep reading flash fiction stories and keep writing.

Enjoy Some Flash Fiction Stories Tonite

There are all kinds of flash fiction stories on this blog: literary, mainstream, erotic and porn.  Explore the site.  I’m sure one visit will not be enough.  I’m the Old Soldier, your guide.

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Well, this is the last day of August and the Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette has over 2,400 hits for the month.  That’s a good sign that the blog could reach 3,00 hits for September.  Thank all of you for your support.

Don’t Be Afraid To Write Flash Fiction

My Short Stories Limited Edition

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When I first started writing short stories I wrote short stories of regular length, between 2,00 to 5,000 words.  When I first became interested in writing flash fiction I thought, How in hell am I going to write a short story of around 1,000 words that makes sense let alone is interesting to read?

That my friends is the dilemma of the newbie flash fiction writer.

Never fear.  If you are new at writing flash fiction, here is some advice that I hope you will find useful: write about some small event that has importance to one or more characters.  That event can be a first kiss, leaving home for the first time, a first job, being fired from a job, finding out someone is in love, joining the army, keeping someone’s trust, some small act that proves friendship or love or loyalty…you see where I’m going with this?

Now surely you can right about some small act that has great importance to somebody and do it in around 900 words.

Keep reading flash fiction stories and keep writing.

How To Become A Successful Blogger

Do you want to be a successful blogger?  You can be.  I’m a successful blogger.  I can tell you what I have learned after more than six years of blogging.  The Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette is not my first blog; but it is my most successful blog.  I deleted the other ones.

The first thing you must do to become a successful blogger is to have an income that has nothing to do with blogging, because most bloggers never make a living from blogging.  I don’t make a living from this blog.  Social security and a pension from a supermarket chain keep me afloat.  I will become eligible for a generous military pension later this year.

I do consider myself a successful blogger.  I had over 2,000 hits for last month and the blog is finally in a position to get 3,000 hits this month.  That’s success.  If I can ever push the number of hits up to 5,000 a month I will make a little money every month from links, a donation button and an ebook that are already on the site.  How much is a little money?  $10.00.  That’s more success than 97% of all bloggers.  Who knows.  Maybe I can push the monthly hits up to 10,000 a month.  Then I might make $20.00 a month and I would be a bigger success.  If I keep learning about blogging and keep getting better maybe, just maybe one day I will make $100 a month from blogging.

If you have been paying attention you realize that blogging will not make you rich.  That’s why you need an income that has nothing to do will blogging.

You cannot blog about your life.  No one wants to read about your life unless you’re a celebrity; but you can blog about something that you are passionate about.  Because if you are passionate about it, you better believe there are other people out there who are passionate about it, too.

Do you have a pet?  Let’s say it’s a cat.  Make yourself an authority on cats.  That means you seek out everything you can find about cats.  My blog is about writing flash fiction stories.  I got an MFA in fiction writing in 2006.  I won a fellowship that was worth at least $60,000 that paid for the MFA.  I am an authority on fiction writing.  I’m not saying you have to get a degree to become an authority on cats; but you do have to do a lot more than just observe your cat and write about the cats.  A lot of bloggers don’t get this

Your blog also has to be unique.  This blog is about writing flash fiction.  There is no doubt about that.  But how many blogs do you know about writing flash fiction that publish mainstream, literary, erotic and porn flash fiction stories on them?  How many have articles about writing and blogging on them?  How many have commentaries about society and sexuality on them?  How many have photos of nude women on them?  I don’t know of any.

I think that makes this site unique.  You want your blog to be unique.

So, that’s how you become a successful blogger.  And who knows.  You may become a much more successful blogger than the Old Soldier.

Keep reading flash fiction stories and keep writing.

Looking For Greens And Good Writing Ideas

Collard greens

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It’s another sunny, warm day around 10:00 AM and the Old Soldier is hungry.  I don’t want what I have in the apartment.  I want something different.  So, I think I’ll take a nice walk to Bloomfield (Pittsburgh’s “Little Italy”) and pick up a couple of cans of Glory Greens at the supermarket.  I have never tasted greens out of a can that tasted so good.  There’s collard greens, kale and spinach.  The greens are perfectly seasoned.  You just heat and eat.  I have meat in the refrigerator to add to the greens.

And I think I’ll pick me up another six-pack of beer at Armands in Bloomfield.  They have the biggest first sandwich in the city.  But I’ve got plenty of food.  I don’t need to spend money on food.  Actually, buying beer at Armands means I won’t be going to karaoke this Friday at Del’s.

So, I’ll sit at the bar in Armands, maybe have a draft or two and scribble in my notebook and see if I can come up with something to blog about. 

Keep reading flash fiction stories and keep writing.

The Computer As Friend And Source Of Freedom

HP Pavilion zv6115EA.

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Where would we writers be without our computers?  Or maybe some of us are stuck at home and the computer allows us to interact with other people.  The Old Soldier is a senior citizen with a limited income.  My life would be a very dull life without this blog.  Our computers open up the world to us.  We can stay connected.

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Hello, my brother and sister readers and writers.  It’s around 8:30 AM and another blogging day has begun.  So, go about your day and check in every so often as the Old Soldier keeps up a steady commentary on life and the world we live in.

Keep reading flash fiction stories and keep writing.

Pittsburgh, Nudes And Flash Fiction

The title of this post is a pretty good description of what you get when you read this blog.  The blog is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Publishing photos of female nudes is part of the editorial policy; and the flash fiction story is the reason why I started publishing this magazine three years ago.

Hello, I’m the Old Soldier blogging out of North Oakland near the University of Pittsburgh.  Brianna Frost Hogan, my niece who is a web-cam stripper, was my inspiration for adding the nude female form to what was other wise a pretty cut and dry publication about writing and being a writer.

There is a post about Brianna on the Home Page of this blog with a link to some of her old videos.  So, enjoy your visit.  Check out the content, the links and the photos.

Keep reading flash fiction stories and keep writing.

Looking For Short Story Ideas

Braun Nizo 800 Super-8 film camera

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As soon as I post this I’m off to Sonny’s Tavern for a couple of beers.  This blogging takes up a lot of my time and I don’t come up with new short story ideas like I use to.  Of course, I’m not as involved in projects like I use to be.  When you’re in a rock and roll band or making Super 8 underground films you have a lot more to write about.

So now I go to bars looking for writing inspiration.  Some times I find it and some times I don’t.  Then my money runs out and I have to wait until the next social security and pension checks to arrive before I can socialize again.

Keep reading flash fiction stories and keep writing.

Trying To Capture Life In A Few Hundred Words

Short Story

Trying to capture life in a few hundred words is nearly an impossible task for a short story writer.  Luckily, the writer has to make a decision about how much of life he or she will capture.  The writer who tries to capture everything will capture nothing; but the writer who tries to capture one little thing may be able to capture life itself.

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A new day of blogging has begun.  The Old Soldier is on duty.  If you are a writer I would like to publish your short story.  I publish erotica, literary and mainstream short stories.  Just read and follow the submissions guidelines.  The submissions tab is at the top of the page.

Keep reading flash fiction stories and keep writing.

Why Is There So Much Sex On This Blog About Flash Fiction?

The Old Soldier must make a confession.  I’m desperate to increase the readership of this blog.  Right now the blog is getting around 75 hits every day.  I’ve got to do better.  I’m retired.  All I do all day long is blog.  So, for me blogging is serious business.  And one of the ways to measure how good a blogger I am is the number of hits I get every day.

Now the wise money says content is king.  That you build community.  That you either entertain or inform or do both.  There is a lot of entertaining and useful content for readers and writers on this blog.

Of course, we all know that sex sales.  So, you understand my dilemma.  The Old Soldier has to try to put together a blog with not only entertaining and informative content but also a blog with a strong dose of sexuality.  At lease that is how I see it.  I might be wrong.  But I have to try to see what happens.

Keep reading flash fiction stories and keep writing.

Blogging: 75 Readers Every Day

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The Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette has averaged 75 readers every day for the month of August.  I’m proud of that number but I’m not happy with it.

So, I am committed to making this blog better, extending its reach even further.  You can help me by telling all your friends about the PFF Gazette, the most dynamic flash fiction publication on the internet.

*****

Be sure to read some of the flash fiction stories on this blog.

Time For Sonny’s Tavern And Karaoke At Del’s

Del's Lemonade Stand

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The Old Soldier is on the prowl.  Hello, drinkers, readers and writers.  Have you ever wondered why so many of the flash fiction stories that the Old Soldier writes take place in a bar?  Yes, the Old Soldier likes to drink.  Bars are great places to meet people and to observe people, too.

If it wasn’t for bars, the Old Soldier would have no social life to speak of.  It’s sad but it’s true.  Well, this afternoon I will probably stop at Sonny’s.  Then tonight it’s karaoke at Del’s Bar and Italian Restaurant in Bloomfield, Pittsburgh’s “Little Italy.”

Keep reading flash fiction stories and keep writing.  This is the Old Soldier blogging out of North Oakland in Pittsburgh.

Fiction: Pittsburgh 1983 by Guy Hogan

The skywalk over Forbes Avenue at University o...

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The warm summer night waited outside.  Inside, these two sat in the air conditioned low lighting near the dance floor.  She attended the University of Pittsburgh and now sat looking down at her hands holding the tall glass of crushed ice and mixed fruit juice on the table top.  Several couples danced.

She said, “I’ve never had a stranger ask me to come home with him.”

He said, “I’ve seen you around.”

“I’ve seen you around, too.”

“We have one thing in common.”

She looked up.  He nodded at their drinks.

She said, “I hate the taste of alcohol.”

“I don’t, but that’s another story.  How old are you?”

“Twenty two.”

“No boyfriend?”

“We broke up.”

She took a swallow of her drink, watching him over the glass.”

Six steps lead up to the dance floor.  Colored lights flashed under the dancers’ feet.  A DJ in a glass booth played the music.

She said, “Any more questions?”

“Ask me some.”

“Are you married?”

“No.”

“Children?”

“I’m thirty three but no children.  At least none that I know of.”

“Everyone here seems to know you.  Is that what you do?  Come here to pick up college girls?”

“I don’t do one night stands anymore.”

“Oh,” she said.  “You’re looking for something steady.”

“Sure.  Aren’t you?”

“Well,” she said, “I don’t know you and I’m definitely not in love with you.”

“Have you ever been in love?”

“Once,” she said.

“And?”

“He couldn’t pass up any freebies.”

“How old was he?”

“At the time twenty one.  We were both juniors.”

“Well, you can’t expect–”

“Why not?  Why is it so difficult for you men to keep your cocks in your pants?”

He took a drink, putting the glass back down gently.

She said, “I like you a lot less.”

She got up, picked up her drink and walked away.  She walked in between the empty tables, down the two steps, across the aisle to sit at the bar.

He got up with his drink, went up the six stairs, through the dancers, down the six stairs to sit at the bar on the other side.  Some people he knew came in.  He sat with them at the tables.  By ten o’clock it was crowded.  He danced.  By last call he was ready to leave.

Forbes Avenue was full of students, walking and driving.  His car was in the shop and he didn’t have the money to get it out; but he started a new job Monday and he was sure he could keep this one.  He had a two year plan to get back on his feet.  He was at the corner of Forbes and Bouquet when someone called, “Wait up!”  He turned to see who it was.  The young woman from the bar came running up to him.  She didn’t look straight at him.  She tried to catch her breath.

She said, “If I agree to stay with you tonight do we have to do anything?”

He thought a moment.  Then he said, “I wouldn’t get any sleep.”

“Does it have to be all your way.  Don’t I get any of what I want?”

“What do you want?”

“To be with someone.  To know someone’s there.  Just to have–”  She looked away and wiped at her eyes.

Students kept streaming past.  Cars made Forbes Avenue a river of lights.

He said, “What’s your name?”

“Janette.  Janette Mitchell.”

Later, that night he was in his briefs on his back on the bed in the dark.  She was on her stomach in her bra and panties with his arms around her and her head on his chest, an arm over his midsection and one leg between his two legs.  They ignored the bulge in his briefs.

She said, “Did you actually kill anyone?”

“In artillery you don’t want to be close enough for them to see you.”

“Women and children, too.?”

“Sometimes we wasted villages.”

“How old were you?”

“Nineteen.”

“Do you think about it?”

“Sometimes I dream about it.”

“I could never kill anyone.”

“You’d be surprised.”

“I could never.”

“You’d let them kill you?”

No answer.

He stared at the faint shadows playing on the dark ceiling.  It was Sunday morning.  A comforting breeze blew through the window screen.  She stayed motionless against him.  The heat of her body was making him uncomfortable.

He said, “When I got back to Pittsburgh I broke up with my fiancee.”

She raised her head.  “Why?”

“She wanted to live in her nice safe world with all her nice safe possessions.”

“So?”

He didn’t answer.

“Didn’t you love her?”

“Oh, I loved her.  I just couldn’t live with her.”

After a moment, she lowered her head back down on to his chest.  They stayed motionless.  He closed his eyes…He caught himself falling.  He stared at the faint shadows that played on the dark ceiling…

She eased out of his arms, stood beside the bed and began removing her bra and panties.

“Hush,” she said.

The End

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Vietnam in the Mist (A Short Story) www.authspot.com/Short-Stories/Vietnam-in-the-Mist.643749 

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If you write flash fiction, very short stories, sudden fiction, postcard fiction or short shorts and would like to be published in the Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette just click on the Submissions tab at the top of the page, read and follow the guidelines and e-mail the story.  You’ll receive an answer in a few days.

Guy

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