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| 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.
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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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| The Authors Who Read their Stuff |
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| Me being Italian |
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| Tania Martin (seated right) and Lita Kurth (standing) , Flash Fiction Founders |
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| Ruth Littmann-Ashkenazi, reading “Session 3” |
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| Me Laughing at Myself |
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Quote of the Week: “People who love reading are often called bookworms–but that’s the wrong way around. It’s not you that worms into a book; it’s books that worm into you.” Amanda Craig, Novelist
we do love both flashing and fiction 🙂
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.
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.
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.
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 🙂
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. 🙂
Flash fiction definitely requires you to choose your words carefully. It's tough but a lot of fun to write.
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
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Looks like you were having a great time!
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!
You look great, Lee! What a cool venue, too. I bet it was a blast! 🙂
Hi Carrie. It was a great venue. I might have to do it again if I'm invited.
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. 🙂
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.
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!
I'd love to hear more about your flash fiction classes for teen. That sounds so interesting.
I should try more flash fiction–just today I wrote a short memoir vignette, which I often do, but I should try fiction
I've never tried memoir.
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.
I'm thinking Haiku might be my next adventure!
Those are awesome pics! Looks like so much fun!! 🙂
Thanks, Jemi! We did have a good time.
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! 🙂
I like variation, so writing different genres and different lengths suits me. Thanks, Chrys.
Wow, fantastic pictures. Loved this post!
We had a great time.
Awesom pics Lee. I must say you do look splendid. Great to read also.
Yvonne.
I kind of get a bit animated. My Italian grandmother would be proud of me. My Irish one might caution restraint.
I like doing flash fiction. It's a good exercise. Especially when I limit myself to 100 words.
It is fun to write to a word count. It makes you really think of things differently.
I love writing flash fiction!!! And it helps me to tighten my longer work.
I agree. It's a great challenge for the brain.
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!
It's kind of Twitter, but with style and grace. 🙂
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
I should have had my "photographer" run a video! Next time. 🙂
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.
Maybe we should have FF contest. That would be fun.
That sounds like a great time. I've written some short stuff but never shared it. It is good practice for tight writing.
I'd never considered it before, but I'm glad I did.
I think I knew you were Italian at heart. 🙂
Of course. And my grandparents came from that part of the world. Pasta is my middle name.
A gallery is a wonderful place to hold it.
It is because the walls are always different.
I've done a rhyme or two that just came out of the blue, short stories I've done a bunch too.
You'd be great at the flash stuff! And you'd make it rhyme at the same time.
Looks like you're having fun. I've never tried to write this.
If I can't have fun, I don't do it. That's my rule anymore.
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.
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.
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.
Thanks, SA! Love your blog, so I really appreciated being a guest.
Sounds like a truly awesome time!
I love flash fiction for many reasons but mainly because it's fun!
You're right. It is fun.
Looks like a fun time was had by all.
It was great and some of the stories were really good.
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…
I'll return it soon. Promise.