What is flash fiction exactly? Well, it really has no definitive definition. It is broadly described as, “a short story in miniature, a work of art carved on a grain of rice - something of import to the artist or writer that is confined and reduced, either by design or outcome, into a small square space using the structural devices of prose line and paragraph form with the purpose of creating an intense, emotional impact” (Masih XI). So in layman's terms a very, very, very short story meant to make your feel intense emotions in a short amount of time.
One of the distinguishing characteristics of flash fiction is its brief length. Flash fictions are very short, hence the name flash fiction. They usually take much less than four to five minutes to read and are very intense. Intense in the fact that they really try to make you feel or understand an emotion or situation a character(s) is going through. They may be short reads but they are meant to be extremely powerful.
Another distinguishing characteristic is the lack of a story arc, sometimes. Flash fictions are very, very short, so they lack on filler detail that is usually in longer fictions. Seeing as flash fiction lacks that filler detail, it sometimes lacks the details necessary for a complete story arc. So, sometimes authors will leave those details out and let the audience members fill in the story arc themselves. Readers are often looking for the basic parts of the story arc: exposition, complication(s), climax, and resolution(s), so they will automatically fill in the missing pieces that may not be there.
Flash fiction in America is supposedly supposed to have come from Washington Irving's story collection entitled The Sketch-Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. This collection ...
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...works. If you find that you have begun to think flash fiction is your thing, definitely check out all these collections and authors. Reading and studying works of flash fiction can help you become a better and well rounded writer in general and a better flash fiction writer.
Works Cited
Butler, Robert O. "A Short Short Theory." Field Guide to Writing Flash Fiction: Tips from Editors, Teachers, and Writers in the Field. Brookline, MA: Rose Metal, 2009. 102-04. Print.
Masih, Tara L. "In Pursuit of the Short Short Story: An Introduction." Field Guide to Writing Flash Fiction: Tips from Editors, Teachers, and Writers in the Field. Brookline, MA: Rose Metal, 2009. XI-XXXVIII. Print.
Shapard, Robert. "Staying True to the Image." Field Guide to Writing Flash Fiction: Tips from Editors, Teachers, and Writers in the Field. Brookline, MA: Rose Metal, 2009. 87-93. Print.
"Unit 2: Reading & Writing About Short Fiction." ENGL200: Composition and Literature. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2011. 49-219. Web. 19 Apr. 2014.
I do not agree with Richler opinion when he says fiction is a waste of time. Reading a piece of information or any novel contribute to human being educational enrichment, never a waste of time. Fiction movies are entertaining, I enjoy science fiction movies because they are interesting and mostly because they are short and easy to follow.
“Short Stories." Short Story Criticism. Ed. Jelena Krstovic. Vol. 127. Detroit: Gale, Cengage Learning, 2010. 125-388. Literature Criticism Online. Gale. VALE - Mercer County Community College. 28 February 2014
Alexie, Sherman. “The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me” Writer’s Presence: A Pool of Readings. 5th ed. Ed. Robert Atawan and Donald McQuade. Boston:Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2006. 73-76. Print
Pike, Gerald. “Excerpts from Criticism of the Works of Short Fiction Writers.” Short Story Criticism. Ed. Thomas Votteler. Vol. 6. Detroit: Gale Research International Limited, 1990. 90. Print.
... In Teaching Short Fiction 9.2 (2009): 102-108. Literary Reference Center Plus. Web. 2 Apr. 2014.
May, Charles E. "Reality In The Modern Short Story." Style 27.3 (1993): Academic Search Premier. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.
Wilson, Kathleen, ed. Short Stories for Students: Presenting Analysis, Context and Criticism on Commonly Studied Short Stories. Vol 2. Michigan: Gale Research, 1997.
Ross, Michael E. "IN SHORT: NONFICTION." New York Times, Late Edition (East Coast) ed.Aug 14 1988. ProQuest. Web. 2 Mar. 2014 .
Last but not least, O’Connor confirms that even a short story is a multi-layer compound that on the surface may deter even the most enthusiastic reader, but when handled with more care, it conveys universal truths by means of straightforward or violent situations. She herself wished her message to appeal to the readers who, if careful enough, “(…)will come to see it as something more than an account of a family murdered on the way to Florida.”
May, C. E. (2012). Critical Survey of Short Fiction: World Writers (4th ed.). Ipswich: Salem Press.
Wilson, M. & Clark, R. (n.d.). Analyzing the Short Story. [online] Retrieved from: https://www.limcollege.edu/Analyzing_the_Short_Story.pdf [Accessed: 12 Apr 2014].
and Other Greats : Lessons from the All-star Writer's Workshop. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006. Print.
Magill, Frank N., ed. Critical Survey of Short Fiction. Revised ed. Vol. 2. Pasadena: Salem Press, 1993. 7 vols.
“Your Creative Power” was filled with trick and strategies to inspire other individuals on writing and how to put your ideas into words. Osborn’s most celebrated idea was the one discussed in Chapter 33, “H...