We recently asked some authors what is their advice for writing flash fiction. Flash fiction is often described as a story that is less than 1,000 words (some magazines describe it as less than 800 words). Flash fiction is definitely a different animal than a short story, and it needs to have a different approach. Here’s some of the advice authors offered us:

• Don’t add un-necessary details or lofty description. If something is red, tell us it’s red. Don’t tell us that it “as red as a tomato’s skin”. If you take too long with the description, you won’t have enough words to tell the story.
• Flash fiction is often all about shock value. You don’t have a whole lot of time to tell a full story, so shocking or ambiguous endings are often a go-to.
• Start the story in the middle of the action.
• Use words that have a strong connotation. That way, you won’t have to describe things in as many details.

This is all great advice! The main takeaway is to be aware of where your words are going! Like many of the authors said, you only have so many words you can use, so make each one count!

Have you ever written flash fiction yourself? If so, let us know some of your tips in the comments below!