Flash Fiction Can Make You a Better Writer

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“Here we are again with the editor and publisher of the Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette.”

“What’s your name?”

“Excuse me?”

“Your name.  Your name your name your name you’ve got a name, don’t you?”

“Mr. Hogan, you haven’t given me a name.”

“What?  Oh.  I get it.  I’m the author.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Well, what name would you like?”

“Really?  I can name myself?”

“It wouldn’t be the first time that a character named himself.”

“Well, thank you.  Let me think about it while we do the interview.  How can writing flash fiction make a writer a better writer?”

“Easy.  Writing flash fiction forces a writer to write with compression.  By that I mean the writer has to find ways to make fewer words carry more weight.  It makes the writing denser.  And mind you, the writer will find ways to make the words carry more weight but only if the writer is forced to.  Flash fiction will do that.”

“Hallelujah!”

“It is a great concept, isn’t it?”

“No.  Hallelujah.  I want my name to be Hallelujah.”