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How to Write Flash Fiction #WritingCommunity
How to Write Flash Fiction
So you have a story idea, you’re super pumped to get started, and you scour the web for possible publication sites only to notice that the magazine of your dreams wants flash fiction. But you’ve never written flash fiction? What do you do?
Okay, maybe that’s not exactly how your desire to write flash ignited, but if you want to master the short short story, I’m here to help. First, let’s start with definitions. Flash fiction is typically a story around 1000 words. Each publication may have a little different guidelines on word count, but if you’re looking for a ball park number, aim for 1000. You may also see submission calls for drabbles. These are super fun and challenging, because you can only use 100 words to tell a story. No more, no less. But let’s get into more specifics:
Short doesn’t mean less. Every story, whether flash fiction or a drabble or a manuscript, must have the fundamental core points of storytelling. At the bare minimum, you need a protagonist, an antagonist, some sort of choice that needs to be made, a climax and a resolution.
Cut the fluff. This is a good lesson in all writing and why I love flash. It forces you to cut all the fluffy bits of text. If it doesn’t move the story forward, cut it. If it’s excessive, cut it. If it’s redundant, cut it. Keep it crisp and tight.
Be smart when it comes to adjectives. I like giving some sort of physical descriptor for my protagonist, even in a drabble. But words are limited, so be smart with placement. While a manuscript allows you to paint a large picture, flash forces you to focus on the most important aspects. For example, if it’s important that you’re protagonist wears a red rain coat, focus solely on that. Skip the larger description you might include in a manuscript - her clothing, her hair color, her eye color, her height.
Learn how to “Show” not “Tell”. This will help more than you know. For example, if your protagonist is a child and it’s important that we, the readers, know this, everything she does has to mimic her childlike state. Don’t spend words telling the reader that she’s five years old. Show us in the way her dialogue invokes a childlike innocence. Then, use that dialog to move the story forward, that way you’ve not only added to the plot, but you’ve “shown” your protagonist’s characteristics.
Write an actual ending. Since flash is nothing more than a very short manuscript, don’t flake out on the ending just because words are limited. If you’re not into cliffhanger endings in manuscripts, don’t do it in a flash piece. If you wouldn’t want to read a manuscript that turned out to be a giant metaphor, don’t do it in a flash piece. If you get annoyed reading a book only to discover the protagonist is in a mental hospital at the final paragraph, don’t do it in a flash piece. Don’t sacrifice any part of the story just to hit a word count.
If you want to see some flash I’ve written, head over to my publication section. There you can find anthologies I’ve been published in, alongside other awesome horror/scifi writers. Or just do a google search. Either way, give flash fiction a try.
How to Avoid Writer's Block in 2019
It’s totally natural.
You’re chugging along, writing your story and then you hit a plot pothole. Okay, no problem. Just take a second, regroup, and keep going. Except that pothole turns into a sinkhole, and then a crater, and soon you’re pulling out your hair, cursing at your computer and yelling about how you should have listened to your parents and gone to medical school.
Welcome to the world of writer’s block. This is a judgement free zone.
If you’re new to writing, this land of endless coffee, arguing with critique partners, questioning your life decisions and bargaining with the devil for a nugget of writing genius may be new. If you’re a seasoned writer, welcome home.
But writer’s block doesn’t need to destroy your New Year’s resolution writing goals. Over the years, I’ve found several helpful ways to beat the blues and get back to doing what I love.
Do something else that is creative. Other than writing, what creative outlet would you like to explore? Don’t worry about your skill set, just explore a different artistic avenue. During the month of October, I participated in Inktober, a themed daily drawing challenge. They aren’t great (you can check them out on my instagram) but it was nice to get the creative juices flowing in a different way. Maybe consider taking a painting class, or buying a chunk of clay and molding a vase. Perhaps you want to hit the Karakoe bars or tour an art museum or try to sew a dress. Whatever it is, enjoy stretching your creative muscles.
Bounce ideas with your critique partners Don’t have a critique partner? I suggest getting one, but if you’re unable, then find a willing friend and bounce ideas off of him or her. But the advantage of a critique partner is being able to help that individual with her project. It gets your mind off your own writer’s block while still keeping the creativity flowing. Plus, it’s fun helping others achieve their creative goals.
Read the type of book your want to write. I have a list of “go-to” authors that I pull up whenever I am in a writing funk. Curling up with my dog, a great book and a cup of coffee always puts me in a good mood. And reading a book I want to be able to write gives me the inspiration I need to keep going.
Get moving. Get out of the house and move that body! Take a walk, or a run. Go dancing. Roll down a hill. Whatever makes you happy :) Just getting up and moving recharges your brain and helps reset your sour mood into something more inspiring.
Write. Sorry, but this is the one you just have to do. The medicine for writer’s block is to sit down and write. Don’t worry about quality or even quantity, just get something on the page. A short story, perhaps? A single paragraph? Maybe a book review? Just write something.
Just remember to give yourself a break. Writing is hard work and you’re bound to have days when you produce nothing more than a jumble of incoherent rubbish. That’s okay :) I’ve been there too! Just keep at it and trust that writer’s block is only temporary.
Have any proven techniques to get over writer’s block? Leave them in the comments below!
Four Simple NaNoWriMo Prep Tips
Four Simple Tips :
It’s time again! November is National Novel Writing Month. So dust of those manuscript plot ideas, grab a pen and paper, and get started!
Um…
But how? How does one go about the task of writing 50,000 words in a single month?! Especially, November. Uh, ever hear of Thanksgiving? How can anyone get work done while stuffed with turkey?!
I’m going to tell you. :) As someone who loves NaNoWriMo, and successfully participated in it for many years, I’m going to share four simple tips that work for me.
Have a sensible timeline. Key word: Sensible. The first year, I decided to write everyday. I broke that promise the first weekend. The key to pacing out this month long marathon is time management, according to your own realistic expectations. If you don’t want to write the week of Thanksgiving, don’t. Just make up those words some other time. Get a calendar, post is someplace you can see from your desk, and keep track of your progress.
Gather a support system. This website is perfect for such a task. Not only can you track your success and receive a printable certificate when you complete your work, but you can connect with other NaNos and cheer each other on.
Have your plot outlined. There are outliners and there are pantsers within the writing world. Those who write out the details of their manuscripts, the chapters, each individual scene, all before beginning their manuscript are outliners. And then there are people who sit down in front of their computer and let the creative juices flow, no outline at hand. As you can guess, these are the pantsers. For this particular experience, I’d recommend adopting the outliner’s approach, especially if this is your first novel. Knowing how the book progresses will save a lot of time.
Have fun!! Turn off that inner editor and simply sit back and let the creativity bolt through your fingertips. You got this!
Getting started is always the hardest. But you can do this! Take it one day and one word at a time. And when it’s all done, come back here and comment below! Let me know how it went!
(Since I’ll be participating, I won’t be blogging during November. )
How To Get Started In Writing
My best friend challenged me to write a book.
I'd just started my junior year of college, pretty miserable in my current field-of-study, and longing for the days when I fiddled on my computer and created epic tales of romance and seduction.
I dreamed of writing for Harlequin. I joined their online community, read every Nora Roberts and Danielle Steel book I could get my hands on, and decided that the only way I'd make it through those last difficult years of college were through following my childhood dream.
I'd write a book.
So I spent every spare moment for three months, locked away in my room, creating what I'm convinced is the worst romance novel ever.
Forbidden love, deception and clones. Yup. That's what it was about.
It was horrible. And I loved it.
But I'd always loved to write. Since third grade, I wanted to be an author. Life, unfortunately, had other plans and it wasn't until much later, years after my clone romance, that I made the final decision to pursue writing as a career. Even if I never got published. Even if I never made a single penny. At that point, I simply couldn't avoid it anymore.
I was a writer who wasn't writing.
But how does a writer get into the industry?
1. Pick a genre and find a community: While I currently write dark fiction and horror, I started in Christian fiction and Romance. I became a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, which allowed me to access tons of critique groups based on various sub-genres. I plugged into a group, stuffed my doubt and insecurities deep down, and hit the ground running. These individuals molded and guided my words, allowing me to gain confidence and deepening my passion for writing. Now that I'm in a different genre, I had to find another community. For me, the amazing group of writers at Litreactor have swooped in and taken those roles. But whatever your genre, find a group of folks and start working with them.
Photo by portishead1/iStock / Getty Images
2. Read and Write. Everyday. Like it's your job: Every writer says this for a reason. It's absolutely vital. You simply can't be a good writer, and you certainly can't be a great writer, if you aren't reading and writing. Start with your genre and then branch out. I suggest keeping a journal and making notes while you write, things that work and things that you found disconcerting. Read, read, read. And then write, write, write.
3. Research the Industry and Learn Key Players: You don't want to sit across the table from your dream agent and fumble over basic industry knowledge. A little studying can go along way. Know the top publishers, the editors and agents you want to work with. Finding these people is easier than you might think. It just takes a little effort and Google. A lot of published authors thank their agents or editors in their book's acknowledgements. Start there. Keep a list. Follow publishers and key members in the field on social media. Stay up to date on publishing news and events. Sign up for their newsletters and read their blogs. It takes time, but it's worth it.
4. Figure out how to properly write a book: Here's the biggest thing I see with new writers. They sit down at their computer, start writing without any prep, and come out with a manuscript riddled in purple prose, "telling" not "showing", adverbs galore, incorrect spacing and formatting, head hopping POVs, and possibly some sort of "experimental" form of narrative that is supposed to be literary. First, know that none of this is wrong in the a rough draft. In those early stages of writing, you can break every rule in the world. Just get the story on paper. But when you're ready to submit to an agent or editor, you need to follow the rules. "But what about (fill in the blank with an award winning writer)? That person doesn't follow the rules." Sure, we can think of plenty of writers that blend genres, toss out the basic outline and structure to storytelling, use dream sequences...but these are the authors that have earned that right. They mastered the rules, so they know how to properly break them. You, my friend, simply do not. And it's better to realize it now and learn how to properly write a manuscript then embarrass yourself later. Trust me. Been there, done that. There are tons of resources on how to write a manuscript, from broad info you can find on writersdigets.com, or more specific that your favorite author may blog about. Find it, read it, digest it, then do it. I find that Susan May Warren has incredible tips. In fact, even after all these years, every time I sit down to write something new, even if it's a 500 word piece of flash fiction, I have her resources handy. Just in case I need a refresher. It's that important.
5. Be patient: Writing a book can take anywhere from a handful of months to a year. For me, it's a solid year including the editing process. So relax. Make yourself a lot of coffee. Break out the Hershey Kisses and get comfy.
Now you're book is done. Phew! What's next:
4. Learn how to Pitch: If you're going to go to a writer's conference and pitch in person, you need to know how to properly do so. Conferences are not mandatory to get published, but they are a lot of fun and a nice way to get face time with editors and dream agents. You need to be able to convey your plot in a very short amount of time. Here's a link to get your started.
5. Query and Book Proposals: After you write a manuscript, you need to be able to write a query and possibly a book proposal. Yup, it's time for more research. Ask your critique partners, search blog posts of your authors, look up examples and get to work. I find writing a query to be one of the hardest aspects of being a writer. Others love it.
6. Go for it: You've spend a year writing your heart on the paper. Now it's time to send your baby into the world. Here's where it helps to remind yourself that even the best authors used to get tons of rejections. You'll need a thick skin at this point because while most of the time, rejections come in the standard, "We're sorry to inform you..." format, some will take the time to crush your soul. But that's okay. Your writing won't be for everyone. Keep pushing forward.
