Short Story Series

Writing Flash Fiction

1. Before you write, know what your story is going to be about.

You should have a clear theme in your mind while you are writing.

2. Keep the number of characters down to the bare minimum.

Every new character adds a new dimension to your tale and will require words to introduce, describe and resolve any conflicts.

3. Focus your story plot along one subject.

Write the theme of your tale down and keep it near you while you write.

4. Focus on one powerful image

Effective flash fiction stories deal with one event or time period in a character's life.

5. The small idea

Look for the smaller ideas in larger ones.

6. Pick each word carefully.

You do not need a long, involved description of the character's bedroom in a flash fiction.

7. Do not forget to use emotions to move your plot forward.

Emotion is a powerful writing tool, one that writers sometimes forget about.

8. Bury the preamble in the opening

When you write your story, don't take two pages to explain all the pre-story.

9. In medias res

Start the story in the middle of the action.

10. Make the reader guess until the end

A little mystery goes a long way.

11. Use allusive references

By using references to a commonly known story you can save yourself all those unnecessary words.

12. Use a twist

The twist ending allows the writer to pack some punch at the end of the story.

13. When you edit, do so with a sharp eye.

Now is not the time to become sentimental about your words, now is the time to cut the ones that are not expressing your story theme.