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 fiction is so short, writers have a tendency to summarize. Summary speeds up time. Well written flash fiction should slow down time. How do you slow down time? You write in scenes. Now since flash fiction is so short, usually one scene will do.
Give your story a quick setup and then get into the action. The action should make up the majority of the story even if it’s only 300 words long.
You don’t believe it can be done? Just go to the sidebar on the right and scroll down to Great American Flash Fiction Stories To Read.
You’ll find dozens of very short stories that are excellent examples of writing in scene, of show don’t tell.
The Five Elements of Dialogue in Flash Fiction
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What Are The Five Principles Of Flash Fiction?
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The art of Bette Davis cannot be reduced to five principles and neither can the writing of flash fiction, but these five principles will keep you headed in the right direction.
Hello, bloggers, creative writers and my Flash Fiction Fanatics. There is so much that a writer can learn about flash fiction. The Old Soldier has made the study of flash fiction a life-long project.
There is the theory of “show don’t tell” and the idea of “making the reader part of the creative process” and let’s not forget using the “particular concrete to capture the universal abstract.” Don’t get me started. I could go on and on.
Here are five useful principles to keep in mind as you explore the great art form that is flash fiction.
Flash fiction is an art form whether it’s mainstream, literary, erotica or porn. Don’t let anyone tell you differently. At the Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette it is treated like an art form.
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