10 Great Flash Fiction Ideas

Posted on May 8th, 2009 in Writing by Guy Hogan

The most difficult thing for a creative writer about writing flash fiction is coming up with a good short story idea.

Image via Wikipedia

What is flash fiction and why is it so difficult to write? These two questions are at the heart of the dilemma faced by every writer who has tried to master the art of flash fiction. Let there be no doubt that flash fiction is an art form. You will find it all over the Internet. There are dozens of print and online publications that publish flash fiction. Editors and publishers love flash fiction because it saves space for ads. An online search will even turn up paying markets for flash fiction.

So what is flash fiction? There are many definitions for flash fiction. Most of the definitions have to do with word length. The best definition for flash fiction may be, “flash fiction is a significant event with closure.”

Read more in Writing

« Tips for Writing a Book

Just Write It »

That’s it. Using this definition a writer can write a 100-word story or a 1,000-word story and feel comfortable that the story is flash fiction. The difficult part is coming up with an idea to write about. Using the above definition of flash fiction a writer can write about any subject. The writer can write about love, relationships, family, friends, sex, men, women or money. It doesn’t matter as long as the subject matter fits into “a significant event with closure.”

Here are 10 significant events. You probably can think of lots more. How the events turns out (closure) is up to the writer.

The beginning of a relationship
The end of a relationship
A birth
A death
A marriage
A divorce
Leaving home for the first time
First love
First job
Any realization

My blog is the Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette

4
Liked it

I Like It

Tags: creative, Definition, divorce, ebook, family, Flash fiction, friends, home, ideas, Internet, love, marriage, Men, money, online, paying markets, publications, Publish, Relationships, sex, short story, women, write, writer, Writing

| Subscribe to RSS Updates

7 Responses to “10 Great Flash Fiction Ideas”

Uma Shankari
May 8th, 2009 at 8:48 am

Great help. I am interested in becoming a good fiction writer, flash or otherwise. Hope I use some of the ideas you present here.
Mary J Dressel
July 26th, 2009 at 10:55 am

I haven’t thought much about writing flash fiction, but after reading some of your stories, I think I will give it a try. Thanks for the suggestions, Guy!

Mary
lillyrose
August 29th, 2009 at 6:51 am

thanks that really helped settle my mind! I am away to sort out my flash fiction.
Guy Hogan
August 29th, 2009 at 11:47 am

lillyrose, I’m glad the article was of some use to you. Flash fiction is a passion of mine.
PhoenixRox
December 17th, 2009 at 11:42 am

You are a real inspiration to me. BTW, I came from your blog.LOL. Thank you Guy, for all your efforts and the passion you have towards flash fiction.
Betty
January 2nd, 2010 at 1:47 pm

Flash fiction? All of this is new to me. I started blogging to vent, to rant about all the things I couldn’t say out loud to others.
I haven’t really attempted to share my blog with others…too personal. But damn! Who knew I might find a new passion.
ramesh chandra mishra
March 21st, 2010 at 12:13 am

I am interested.10 points are very common buti instructive.iwould like to write flash. give me more please

10 Great Flash Fiction Ideas

7 Responses to “10 Great Flash Fiction Ideas”

Leave a Reply

Popular Articles

Popular Tags

Recent Comments

Share Your Writing Tips