In last week’s post, I gave you some benefits to writing flash fiction, and how it can make you a better writer. Now that you know all the great reasons to write flash, let’s get into how you write it. 

Flash fiction isn’t as simple as drafting a story under one thousand words. There are techniques to make flash fiction a great read. With so few words, you must know how to utilize each one. 

Flash fiction is becoming increasingly popular as the attention span of the average human has greatly decreased over the years, especially since the advent of digital entertainment. People are busy, and many don’t feel like they can commit to a mighty tome of thousands of words. Flash fiction is perfect for this reason—readers can read on the go or when they have a short break and still get their reading fix in for the day. These quick snack bites of fiction have, for some, replaced the “full meal” a novel represents. 

So, let’s look at six tips to help you begin writing flash fiction! 

The first sentence hook 

Because flash fiction is so short, you don’t have time to go into a character’s back story. Like I said before, every word counts, so you want to make each one matter. A strong hook (your first sentence) helps your reader immediately become invested in the story. Your first sentence needs to really pack a punch, to reel in your readers, so make sure your opening will make them ask questions and want to keep reading to answer them. 

In my story “The Cure”, for instance, I open with dialogue: “You’ve been abducted how many times now?" In this scenario, a therapist is interviewing a patient. I thought this would build interest from the first line. Why was this person abducted, by whom, and how many times?? This gets right to the point of the story without lengthy back story about the patient. 

Your story needs to resonate with your readers from the get-go. Make them wonder, make them question, make them keep reading. 

Strong Imagery 

Because you can’t rely on back story, lengthy descriptions, or plot, imagery is key. Every word needs to propel your reader to the end of the story. Use strong action verbs as well. Flash fiction is where “show don’t tell” really comes into play. Sensory detail (details that incorporate all the senses) will immerse your readers and make your story come alive, even in a condensed format. 

This snippet from “Double Promotion” by Sudha Balagopal is a great example of excellent imagery and strong verbs: 

Ma says we’ll unravel the stitches from her trousseau’s embroidered napkins. She beheads a knot with tiny scissors, shows me how to undo the brilliant-shaded peacock pattern…I unwind the turquoise, navy and gold threads, pulling and yanking, until all that remains is the faint outline of Ma’s work on embarrassing, yellowing cloth. 

The author uses great verbs, like when she uses “beheads” instead of “cuts the knot”, making the image much more visceral and the action come alive in your mind.  

Only employ one or two characters 

Because you have so few words to tell your story, you only need one or two characters max. If you use any more than that, the plot can get bogged down and your story will begin to unravel. Only write characters that will drive the plot forward. Any other characters can get confusing and are better saved for a longer format. Writing in first-person point of view will help you keep characters to a minimum, and it also aids your readers become more invested in the story from the beginning. 

Drop your readers in on the action 

In flash fiction, you’re dropping your readers in on action that is already in full swing. You don’t have time to flesh out a back-story, or what was happening that led up to the action. In flash fiction, you only need one scene—you don’t have time to explore others when your word count is below one thousand. But when you only have one scene to work with, you have to make it really, really good. 

This exciting, action-packed flash piece entitled “Arrowhead”, drops the readers right in on the actions and keeps it to one scene. Also, take note of the amazing descriptions and action verbs the author uses in this story. 

End with a twist 

Or a revelation. The title (more on this later), the first line, and the last line are the most important pieces of your story. Take time on these! You want the ending to stay with your readers. It can be a twist or a revelation, something to amaze or shock your readers or to make them go hmmmmm. 

You’re taking your reader for a very short ride, and you want it to have significant impact. Keep them thinking about your story long after they finish reading it. 

Check out this popular 100-word story for a twist you didn’t see coming. 

 Focus on the title  

Since you have so few words, your title can help your readers understand what your story is about in just a couple of words. The title can help expand your theme, symbolism, or the general meaning of your story. Take time with this step because it’s the first impression readers have of your story. But wait until after you’ve written your story to decide on your title because it will have more meaning and be more impactful at that point. Check out Joyce Carol Oates’s four-word flash story entitled “Widow’s First Year” in her memoir A Widow’s Story. You know with that simple title this would be an emotionally-charged tale, even if it’s only four words. 

Now that you have a few tips under your belt for writing flash fiction, you can join Fictionate.Me for our short fiction contest! The word count is 1000-5000 words, so if a full-on 5000-word short story seems daunting, try a flash piece. Submissions are automatically published on the site, so you can instantly get some publication creds while improving your writing skills. The theme is a fairy tale retelling, so reread your favorites and give them a unique spin. The deadline is April 7, 2022, so you still have plenty of time to submit! Click here for submission guidelines.  

Happy writing Fictionate fam! 

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