by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas
Have you ever written flash fiction? It’s a form of short story—a really short story. No more than 1500 words. A complete story in 1500 words or less! Can it be done? There are websites and ezines and contests for them all over the internet. One of the shortest pieces of flash fiction is six words long and attributed to Ernest Hemingway:
“For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”
Powerfully emotional, right?
I’ve written some pieces of flash fiction. I find Flash Fiction to be a good exercise for exploring my characters. A short piece helps me see some aspect of them I hadn’t noticed before—some part of their personality or backstory that helps me know them better and make them stronger throughout the story. In a short piece, the character may reveal aspects of themselves I hadn’t seen or grasped before.
