Writing flash fiction is not for everyone.
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First off you’re not going to make money writing flash fiction. There are a few paying markets for flash fiction but they’re difficult to sell to and they pay very little.
Most writers can not write flash fiction. Not that they don’t have the talent to do it but because they don’t have the inclination to try to squeeze a drama with all the elements of a short story into 1,000 words or less.
Another reason that most writers can not write flash fiction is because they don’t know that the elements of a flash fiction story are the same as a regular story. The flash fiction story must include characterization, conflict, viewpoint, significance and resolution. When many writers try to write flash fiction they end up with a sketch.
However, if you have a passion for form in your creative writing. If you find beauty in being able to write about love, sex, romance, life and death within 1,000 words or less. If you have the poetic need to “capture a moment in time” then maybe you should try to learn to write flash fiction.
If you get good enough at writing this difficult genre of entertainment you will find editors and publishers happy to publish you. Editors and publishers like flash fiction because it doesn’t take up much page space. There’s more room for advertisements.
More importantly, you will find readers who will want to read you, too.
May 19th, 2009 at 5:50 am
Flash fiction – capture a moment in time, like a photograph, with the right angle, exposure, background….