Sequel to Alligators Overhead |
I’m a GUEST along with Pete and Weasel from The Great Timelock Disaster! Yes, I’ve successfully cloned myself, and I’m here and HERE today. Thanks, SA Larsen for letting me invade your super site.
******
And now. . . Why Flash Fiction?
It’s short. That’s one reason.
After writing a novel, it’s a great way to get a piece of writing done in jiffy. Of course, that doesn’t mean you can afford to be sloppy. In fact, the shorter the fiction, the more attention to detail it takes. Each word, the sounds that repeat, those that add to the tone and the meaning of the piece need to be carefully chosen.
wolfofgowstreet.com |
So the second answer to my question, “Why Flash Fiction?” is because it makes you focus and be very selective about what you put down on the page. When you only have a couple hundred words to tell a story, it makes you think differently about your writing, and, for me, that’s a great brain exercise. And it seems to freshen the way I think about my craft.
Photo Credit |
A while ago, the Flash Fiction Forum at Works Gallery in San José, CA asked me to sub something. I did, and they invited me read my piece for their audience. I did that Oct. 14 and had a great time. Here’s some of what happened.
The Authors Who Read their Stuff |
Me being Italian |
Tania Martin (seated right) and Lita Kurth (standing) , Flash Fiction Founders |
Ruth Littmann-Ashkenazi, reading “Session 3” |
DEZMOND says
we do love both flashing and fiction 🙂
Nicola says
That looks a fab venue for reading out the flash stories and it's great to see everyone having a great time. Thanks for sharing.
Meradeth Houston says
I've really come to love flash fiction after this past year and belonging to a collective short story blog. It's so fun! But certainly requires being careful with one's words.
Robert Bennett says
I've always thought of Flash Fiction as being a mental / writing exercise. It's just a quick blast that helps you keep your skills sharp and lets your mind work.
Annalisa Crawford says
I struggled to find inspiration after finishing my novel last year, and wrote a series of flashes – a great way to get back into the groove. Looks like you had a lot of fun at the event 🙂
Cherie Reich says
Flash fiction is a great way to hone in on your craft. Because it's short, you can try different genres and such too. The reading looked like a lot of fun. 🙂
Kelly Hashway says
Flash fiction definitely requires you to choose your words carefully. It's tough but a lot of fun to write.
Alexa S. Winters says
Flash fiction is awesome! I've only written a couple, but they were so much fun. Because you have to pay so much more attention to every little word, they can be rather difficult, I think; but it just makes it that much more rewarding when you have that awesome finish product. 🙂
Also, love that quote. It's so true. 😀
Alexa
thessalexa.blogspot.com
verbositybookreviews.wordpress.com
Yvonne Ventresca says
Looks like you were having a great time!
Denise Covey says
That flash fiction reading thingo looks like it was a total blast. Go girl! You're right. The shorter the story, the more attention to those little details make all the difference! And you're looking pretty flash yourself!
Carrie Butler says
You look great, Lee! What a cool venue, too. I bet it was a blast! 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
Hi Carrie. It was a great venue. I might have to do it again if I'm invited.
Lexa Cain says
Holy cow, woman, you're so slim! Must be all that yoga Sheri was talking about on her blog. You resemble an actress (while I resemble a beach ball, but let's not go there). Writing Flash fic helped me so much when I was learning to write. Just as you pointed out, it really teaches you to be picky about every word, not to mention you can finish it in under a year. Now I'm too busy with longer things – ones I can't seem to finish in under a year. I love the quote you chose. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
Yoga and angst! Best weight control in the world. 🙂 Here's to Flash Fiction to reduce the angst just a tad and get the juices flowing. Keep up the writing on the long stuff. You know what some writer said, "One Bird At A Time." That's supposed to mean something to us writers.
Karen Lange says
Flash fiction can be such great fun! It stretches me – as a primarily non fiction writer I find it refreshing and almost liberating, you know? I teach several flash fiction classes for teens; it's always fun to see what they come up with. Hopping over to your post!
C. Lee McKenzie says
I'd love to hear more about your flash fiction classes for teen. That sounds so interesting.
sage says
I should try more flash fiction–just today I wrote a short memoir vignette, which I often do, but I should try fiction
C. Lee McKenzie says
I've never tried memoir.
Beverly Stowe McClure says
You look like you had a great time. I've never tried flash fiction, but it would be great practice to learn to use only the words that are necessary.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I'm thinking Haiku might be my next adventure!
Jemi Fraser says
Those are awesome pics! Looks like so much fun!! 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks, Jemi! We did have a good time.
Chrys Fey says
I don't write flash fiction often. I love to write short stories though because they are a relief to write after a novel (or to read after a novel). And you're right that only the most important stuff gets in.
Great pictures! 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
I like variation, so writing different genres and different lengths suits me. Thanks, Chrys.
Kelly Steel says
Wow, fantastic pictures. Loved this post!
C. Lee McKenzie says
We had a great time.
nashvillecats2 says
Awesom pics Lee. I must say you do look splendid. Great to read also.
Yvonne.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I kind of get a bit animated. My Italian grandmother would be proud of me. My Irish one might caution restraint.
Patricia Lynne says
I like doing flash fiction. It's a good exercise. Especially when I limit myself to 100 words.
C. Lee McKenzie says
It is fun to write to a word count. It makes you really think of things differently.
Cathrina Constantine says
I love writing flash fiction!!! And it helps me to tighten my longer work.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I agree. It's a great challenge for the brain.
Southpaw HR Sinclair says
Writing flash fiction has taught me a lot about word economy and sentence structures that I never thought about before.
That looks like it was a fun event!
C. Lee McKenzie says
It's kind of Twitter, but with style and grace. 🙂
Hilary Melton-Butcher says
Hi Lee – it looks a laugh and thus flash fiction would make a great read. Wonderful to see you 'performing'!! Now for the audio please?! Cheers Hilary
C. Lee McKenzie says
I should have had my "photographer" run a video! Next time. 🙂
Sarah Foster says
That's awesome that you got to share your piece! I've never tried writing flash fiction. I'd love to try but I just haven't had any ideas for that short of a piece yet.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Maybe we should have FF contest. That would be fun.
Susan Gourley/Kelley says
That sounds like a great time. I've written some short stuff but never shared it. It is good practice for tight writing.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I'd never considered it before, but I'm glad I did.
Bish Denham says
I think I knew you were Italian at heart. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
Of course. And my grandparents came from that part of the world. Pasta is my middle name.
L. Diane Wolfe says
A gallery is a wonderful place to hold it.
C. Lee McKenzie says
It is because the walls are always different.
Pat Hatt says
I've done a rhyme or two that just came out of the blue, short stories I've done a bunch too.
C. Lee McKenzie says
You'd be great at the flash stuff! And you'd make it rhyme at the same time.
Natalie Aguirre says
Looks like you're having fun. I've never tried to write this.
C. Lee McKenzie says
If I can't have fun, I don't do it. That's my rule anymore.
Christine Rains says
That looks like a grand time! 🙂 Writing flash fiction has made me a better writer. And it's a good way to get your name out there by submitting shorter works.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Yes. I think that's why so many people like this little workshop venue. They get to read their stuff and network. They had media there that night, so that was great.
SA Larsenッ says
It's my pleasure to host you. The game you devised was genius! Flash fiction is fantastic for stepping out of our comfort zone. I use it as a personal exercise sometimes. But your right. One has to pay more attention to the details seeing how there are fewer and they need to weave together just so.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks, SA! Love your blog, so I really appreciated being a guest.
Yolanda Renee says
Sounds like a truly awesome time!
I love flash fiction for many reasons but mainly because it's fun!
C. Lee McKenzie says
You're right. It is fun.
Mason Canyon says
Looks like a fun time was had by all.
C. Lee McKenzie says
It was great and some of the stories were really good.
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
You look great, Lee! Glad you had fun.
I've never written flash fiction but I'm finding short stories fun to write.
And I need to keep a closer eye on my cloning machine…
C. Lee McKenzie says
I'll return it soon. Promise.