Are you up for a writing challenge? Read on for more details.
When I started blogging in 2014, I had no idea what Flash Fiction was. Just as I was about to throw in the towel with my blog, I stumbled upon a flash fiction challenge. The rest, as they say, is history.
What is Flash Fiction?
There are many theories of what Flash Fiction is.
My theory is that it is a concise yet impactful storytelling form that challenges writers to convey a complete narrative within a limited word count. How many words? That is open to debate, but any story that is less than 500 words gets my vote.
Many writers find flash fiction challenging, whereas others excel with it.
Writing flash fiction in so few words can seem daunting, but with consistent practice, many writers can master it.
As I soon found out, it can enhance your writing skills, particularly in crafting short stories, offering a path to improvement. The journey may be challenging, but the rewards are worth it.
How I started writing Flash Fiction
I first delved into the world of flash fiction when I joined the 99-word flash fiction challenge hosted by Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch. The joy of participating in it every week, the satisfaction of seeing my writing skills improve, and the thrill of being part of a community of writers, all of whom encouraged me to keep writing, was a journey I’ll never forget. It’s a joyous adventure that will inspire you as much as it did me.
Here are some essential flash fiction tips I’ve learned that have helped me excel in this captivating art form. I hope they’ll help you, too.
1. Start with a Strong Idea
Start your flash fiction journey with a single, vivid concept or emotion. A compelling idea will be the foundation of your flash fiction. It should be intriguing enough to capture your reader’s attention instantly, sparking your creativity and inspiring the writing journey it will take you and your readers on.
Some bloggers publish weekly or monthly flash fiction or short story challenges that include a prompt, such as a word, an image, or a picture. These kinds of prompts often help me begin a story, so if you find yourself stuck for something to write, look for prompts or ask somebody to give you one.
Here’s a prompt to get you started. Can you write a 101-word (no more, no less) story using this photo?
2. Create a Hook
I can’t express enough how important it is to begin your story with something that will immediately hook your reader. Hooking them sets the tone and piques curiosity right from the start.
One way to hook a reader is to open your story with a revelation. Something like, ‘This is the photo that ruined my life.’ It will immediately have some readers wanting to know what’s in the photo and how it ruined your life.
Another great way to hook readers is to open a story with a question. “Do you like this photo my father took? I bet you can’t guess what happened just after he took it?”
3. Limit Your Characters
With flash fiction, it’s essential to stick to one or two characters. At most, no more than four; otherwise, you could confuse readers. With a constrained word count, it’s crucial to keep the focus on their thoughts, feelings, and actions, allowing readers to quickly grasp who they are.
With short stories, you can increase the number of characters, but don’t overdo it. I’d recommend no more than six at the most.
And stay clear of having all or too many of your characters all having names that start with the same letter. Having a story with Carol, Claudette, Chloe, and Caroline could confuse readers.
4. Focus on a Single Moment
Flash fiction should always centre around a specific moment or event that has significant meaning for the character(s). This chosen moment should drive the story forward and evoke an emotional response. If your readers feel the emotion, then you have cracked it. Even better, if you’ve experienced the moment or event.
5. Show, Don’t Tell
We’ve probably all heard about the ‘Show, don’t tell’ rule. It’s a writing technique that encourages the use of vivid imagery and sensory details to convey the story rather than simply telling it.
Instead of saying ‘she was sad,’ you might describe her tear-streaked face and trembling hands. Instead of saying ‘she looked nervous,’ describe her fidgeting while looking down, playing with a loose button or thread on her dress. This technique helps immerse readers in the scene, allowing them to experience the emotions firsthand.
6. Use Dialogue Wisely
Some writers have problems writing dialogue. When used effectively, dialogue can reveal character and advance the plot quickly. However, keep it concise. Remember that every dialogue word in flash fiction counts.
Don’t be afraid of embracing the challenge of writing dialogue, as it can significantly enhance your storytelling skills and make your story more engaging. With practice, you’ll find that every dialogue word in flash fiction counts, and you’ll become more confident and skilled in using it effectively.
Of course, you don’t need to include dialogue but including some can certainly help break up a story nicely, making it an even better reading experience.
You’d be brave writing a piece of flash fiction entirely in dialogue, but it’s something that can bring positive results. I’ve done it several times; each time, loving the process even more.
7. Edit Ruthlessly
After drafting, revisit your story and cut unnecessary words, phrases, or even entire sections that don’t serve the narrative. If they don’t carry the story forward, delete them.
Keep editing until you are happy with the final version. Read your story aloud. Have someone beta-read it before publishing it. Hearing your story and having a fresh set of eyes on it is always helpful, as they can pick out mistakes or parts of the story that may not make sense or are redundant.
8. Leave Room for Interpretation
Flash fiction can resonate more profoundly when it hints at meaning instead of providing explicit explanations, inviting readers to delve into the narrative’s depths.
By leaving suggestive space for interpretation, you empower your audience to fill in the blanks or predict what may unfold next, transforming the story into a personal and immersive experience.
Rather than laying everything out in detail, allow your readers to craft the tale in their imagination, encouraging a rich tapestry of thoughts and emotions that makes each interpretation uniquely theirs.
9. End with Impact
A powerful ending can significantly boost your story, transforming it into an unforgettable experience for your readers.
Aim for a final line that resonates deeply or poses a thought-provoking challenge, ensuring it leaves a lasting impression. The conclusion should tie together the themes and emotions explored throughout the story, creating a sense of closure or reflection.
While an ending does not necessarily have to include a twist, incorporating an unexpected turn can be a compelling way to surprise your audience, particularly if most readers did not anticipate it. Such twists can add richness and complexity to the story, prompting readers to rethink earlier parts.
10. Practice Regularly
The more you write flash fiction, the better you’ll become at it. Experiment with different styles, themes, genres and structures to find your unique voice in storytelling.
If you take up the challenge of writing a 101-word flash fiction story with the photo prompt I included, don’t forget to link your story back to this post so we can read it.
Do you write flash fiction? Do you have any tips for writing it that you’d like to share? Are you going to participate in my flash fiction challenge? Feel free to ask any questions about writing flash fiction.
Something to Think About
Thanks for reading. Analyzing non-fiction is a different experience for short story writers and readers. Here are some questions to get you started.
- What is the author’s purpose in writing this article?
- What impact is the post having on your writing?
- What are the next steps for learning after reading the post?
- How did the information confirm your prior knowledge or challenge your existing beliefs?
About Hugh W. Roberts
My blog covers a wide range of subjects, the most popular of which are my blogging tips posts. I’ve learned a lot about the world of blogging since I first came here in February 2014. All of the tips and advice I give are free.
I have always enjoyed writing. I suffer from a mild form of dyslexia, which has not stopped me from enjoying my writing passion.
Blogging has put me in touch with hundreds of other writers, many of whom have been supportive and helped me with my writing.
My Books
My first collection of short stories is available on Amazon.
‘Glimpses‘ is available as both a paperback and an eBook and contains 28 short stories and flash fiction full of twists, turns, and unexpected endings. The Kindle version is 99p.
Glimpses
28 short stories and pieces of flash fiction take the reader on a rollercoaster of twists and turns.
Paperback – £4.99
Attendance with Links
Thank you to everyone who attended this Story Chat Digest session. Without your input, Story Chat is an average writing challenge. Your helpful, honest comments make this like a book club. If you get a chance, check out our attendees’ blogs. It’s well worth your time. Sign up for the Story Chat Digest Email.
- Darlene Foster
- D.L. Finn, Author
- Doug Jacquier
- Ephemeral Encounters Congratulations, Maggie on being Spillwords author of the month
- Esther Chilton’s Blog
- Hugh’s Views and News – author
- Keep It Alive
- Tanka Tuesday
- Writing Wrinkles
Perfect Gift for the Traveler!
Read it on Kindle or paperback today – $14.99. Purchasing the Kindle version for $3.99, and Kindle Unlimited is free with your subscription.
announcement
Almost all the stories are in. We have one more slot for a short story, several poems and one tips post. Then it’s time to format Story Chat Vol 3 for publication. Launch date will be mid-January to early February.
It needs a new and exciting title to attract new readers. Earn a free print version of Story Chat 3 if your title is chosen.
Today Is The Last Day!
Colleen & Robbie want to remind us that today is the final day for submissions to the Sunflower Tanka – Dreams anthology. Submissions close tonight at midnight, EST Detroit, Michigan time.
You can find the submission guidelines HERE.
Exciting Story Chat Volume II Video
I hope you enjoy the video.
Story Chat: Online Literary Conversations
Story Chat Volume II Book Blog Tour Schedule
- Colleen Chesebro – November 24, 2024 (US) Thanks for reviewing on Amazon.
- Gloria – November 29 (UK)
- Robbie & Michael – November 30 (SA)
- Diana – December 1 (US)
- Doug – December 2 (AU) December 1 (US, UK, SA) Thanks for reviewing on Amazon.
- Cathy – December 4 (UK) Thanks for reviewing on Amazon.
- Amanda – December 9 (AU) December 8 (US, UK, SA)
- Dan– December 11 (US)
- Philip – December 14 (UK)
- Cindy Georgekas – December 16 (US)
- Esther Chilton – January 30 (UK ) Thanks for reviewing on Amazon.
- D. L. Finn – February 4 (US) Thanks for reviewing on Amazon.
- Yvette – February 5 (US) Thanks for reviewing on Amazon.
- Hugh – January 27 (UK)
Thanks again for being a great part of Always Write’s Story Chat Digest. Until next time, keep reading, writing and chatting.
Marsha Ingrao Always Write 
125 responses to “Story Chat Digest: “Mastering the Art of Flash Fiction” by Hugh W. Roberts”
[…] Story Chat Digest: Mastering the Art of Flash Fiction by Hugh W. Roberts […]
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[…] Story Chat Digest: Mastering the Art of Flash Fiction by Hugh W. Roberts […]
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[…] shared how to write flash fiction in his Tips Post last week. Here’s the prompt that got us started. Can you write a 101-word (no more, no less) […]
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I enjoyed this article very much. I find the show, don’t tell skill the most difficult to master and I often go back over my writing to look for places where it would be appropriate.
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We practiced a lot with show don’t tell with that Aurstralian Writing Center course we took years ago. It is one of the hardest skills to master, I think.
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That’s great to hear that you go back and check. Some writers find the editing process a chore, but without editing, many of us would be publishing poor stories.
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I’m a retired primary school teacher who specialised in literacy. Editing is in my blood! 🙂
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Yes, you bleed words and proofreading marks. 🙂 xxxx
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Hello, I enjoyed Hugh’s tips and like how each tip was written with a personal tone and how Hugh shared his experience.
And regarding word count, 500 words is a good cut off for flash, but it had me thinking about what is considered “micro-fiction” Hmmmm –
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That’s a great question about micro-fiction. My answer would be a story in less than 10 words. I’ve seen it done. One story I enjoyed was only five words.
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Charli had a 9 word micro-micro fiction, too. It’s a great summarizing tool.
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Hi – your comment reminded me of the baby shoes six word story:
“For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”
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What a sad story. The other one I know is ‘She left. Never came back. Never.’
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Oh, that is sad, too. Wow, wouldn’t that be awful? What a blessing for all of us who have never had to experience those six words.
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That was a good one, Hugh
here is one more:
Buried treasure, map long gone.
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That is super sad.
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it really is – OR – did the baby grow so fast – they never needed the shoes. hahah
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That would be a better scenario. LOL
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It’s two words longer than Charli’s at Carrot Ranch. So if you followed her at all, it’s an easy one to do.
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Hi – I did not always join in Charli’s challenge – but sure do miss her presence in the blogosphere
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I know, I was the same way. I liked what she was trying to do. I saw another 100-word challenge somewhere yesterday, but I don’t remember where it was.
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Yeah, Charli built a huge following – and a great group – but sometimes life brings new paths our way and we do not always know the roads and side trails we need to take.
I have a feeling that Charli and her “Rough Riders” will be back at some point – even if it is years down the road.
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That would be awesome. They are missed. 🙂
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😊
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Like you, Carrot Ranch got me into short stories and made me excited about writing! It’s nice to see someone else taking the mantle and creating similar challenges… I’ve missed them. Here’s my attempt at this one:
“The crime scene wasn’t as gory as you’d expect for what had transpired under the light of the full moon.
One survivor left to tell us the tale: Of a group of unsuspecting mystery lovers, a charming green tour bus, and a serial killer’s hunting ground.
Pulling over to the side of the road, the driver had spoken of a haunted cabin in the woods. Nothing to do with Agatha Christie, but the group couldn’t resist visiting a place filled with the ghosts of terror. As they entered through the creaky door, filed in one by one, they realised their mistake.”
Thanks Hugh for your email in guiding me here. My blog has been sat unused for a long while, and I think a way of getting back into it will be through posting these kind of flash fictions and short stories 🙂
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Carrot Ranch is so missed by many of us, Miriam. It’s where it all began for me. However, Marsha and I have discussed the possibility of running a monthly flash fiction challenge here on Marsha’s blog. It all depends on how much of an appetite we get for it from Marsha’s followers. But watch this space.
I loved your piece of flash fiction for the prompt. Excuse the pun, but the suspense you built up in it almost killed me. I could hear that creaky door as it opened, and visualise what was going on. Your last time closed the story off nicely.
I hope you will take up the challenge of writing more flash fiction and publishing it on your blog. I look forward to reading more from you.
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Me, too! 🙂 xxx
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This is great. I’ll be posting the responses in a summary post on Tuesday. Thanks for visiting and for taking the time to write a flash fiction! You are awesome!
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Miriam, I forgot to ask, Do you want to add a title?
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Thank you, you two! Oh I’m very bad at thinking up titles. I think I’m going to go with “Last Stop”.
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“Awesome,” You’re on for Tuesday. 🙂 xxx
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Hi Marsha, thanks for your support of Sunflower Tanka. This is a great post by Hugh. His advice is good and it takes practice to incorporate all of this into a 100 word piece of writing.
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It’s a real challenge. We all miss Charli’s 99 word challenge. I’m looking forward to Sunflower Tanka!!!
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Yes, I miss Charli’s challenge too. The submissions are fantastic and numerous this year. I am thrilled.
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I’m thrilled. I can’t wait to read what others have written about dreams. That could go so many ways.
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The poems are all gorgeous. It was a great choice of topic.
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I’m so glad. I agree with you about the topic.
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Thank you
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Thanks, Robbie. The more you practice at something, the better you become at it. Writing flash fiction at the Carrot Ranch certainly taught me that.
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Yes, it helped me a great deal too.
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[…] Story Chat Digest: “Mastering the Art of Flash Fiction” by Hugh W. Roberts […]
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I have been a fan of Hugh’s flash fiction for a long time. He has mastered the form. Flash fiction still eludes me, but I appreciate the tips included here. I will try at some point, I hope it works.
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Thanks so much, Dan.
Flash fiction isn’t for everyone, but it’s a great way to master the art of getting rid of redundant parts of a story. I hope you will give the challenge I set in this post a try. I hope you have fun with it.
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I limited characters for starters. That’s one of my biggest downfalls.
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You know me, Marsha, I always work with an ensemble cast. That will be hard.
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It’s hard for me, too!
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Great set of tips, Hugh. I enjoy writing short stories. I think they “fit” me because I’m not loquacious by nature so that’s the style I prefer to write in also. I’ve never tried writing to a certain word count, though. When I’m done, I’m done.
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Are you going to give it a whirl?
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I learned so much about the art of creative writing when writing flash fiction, Janis. It can seem daunting, but I always get a lot of fun out of it.
Short story writers are very few, so it’s always great to connect with other short story writers, as we’ve all done here on Story Chat.
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Here’s my crack at the prompt.
The Missing ‘A’
‘Got me beat’ said PC Plod, scratching his head.
Miss Marbles stood in her sensible shoes, sipping from her cup of thermos tea and nibbling on a cucumber sandwich, thinking. Suddenly she said ‘Clearly foul play. This was a fake ‘And Then There Were None’ tour. The passengers were duped into paying for their real murders. My money is on the culprit being Lord Basingstoke.’
‘Blimey’, said the PC. ‘How do you know?’
Miss Marbles smiled. ‘He was complete academic failure at Eton and never quite got the hang of spelling. The missing ‘A’ on the signage is a dead give-away.’
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Thanks for jumping right in, Doug. I hope you weren’t on that tour? If so, get off NOW!
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I already have. I am indeed the mysterious Lord (formerly Viscount, formerly Earl Basingstoke, (aka Tarzan). 🙂
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You’re just a swinging guy, Doug!
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Doug, I love what you did in picking up on the missing ‘A’ from the signage on the tour bus. Well done. When I took the photo, I didn’t realise there was a missing ‘A’ until over a year after taking the picture. I love the humour your story oozes. And Miss Marple nibbling on a cucumber sandwich is something all Miss Marple fans would have no problem picturing.
Thanks for having a crack at solving the mystery. You did a great job.
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How did I miss that? Doug, you’re sharp!
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[…] challenges us to write a flash fiction 101-word story based on what this picture says to us. In the Story Chat Tips Post yesterday, he gave us his 101 Flash Fiction Writing […]
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Very useful tips about writing flash fiction. I can, and have written short stories but it’s not my strong point.
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I used to think the same about my short stories and flash fiction, but the more I practised and participated in them, the better I got at it. Keep trying and watch the improvements unfold.
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Thanks Hugh.
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I agree. I think I’m getting a little better.
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Come on, Sadje. You wrote such a cute story for SC. It’s on My SC page. Have you seen it?
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Thank you dear friend. I haven’t seen the page but I remember the story. It was a struggle for me to write even such a short story.
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I know, and I appreciate that you took the effort. Xxxxx
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Thank you for your confidence in me.
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Always my friend! 🙂 xxx
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😍😍😍
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All good advice from a master of flash fiction – thanks!
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A credit to be called the “master’ of flash fiction, so thanks for that, Jan.
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Truth, Hugh!
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Okay – you inspired me – I gave it a try!
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Yay!!!😃
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I what you did with your story, Jan. It had me rocking with laughter. Thanks so much for the laughs and for giving it a go. I left you a comment on your post.
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You are welcome. I wrote my story yesterday. I’ll publish it tomorrow. It was a fun challenge. Hope you join in. 🙂 xxx
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I have never tried to write flash fiction Martha.
I adnire writers who can pen short stories etc.
Great post.
Thank you.
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It’s worth a try, Maggie. Only 101 words. I’m posting mine tomorrow.
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I look forward to reading yours Marsha.🤗
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Tomorrow. It’s a little graphic.
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I love the teaser Marsha 🤗
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haha. What did you think? 🙂 xxx
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I loved it xxx
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Thanks! Now it is your turn! It’s only 101 little words. 🙂
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Lol 🤭xx
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Why not have a go at writing a piece of flash fiction? Maybe with the writing challenge I set in this post. There is no deadline for submissions, but I’d love to see how you get on with it.
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Thank you Hugh 🤗
It is completely out of my comfort zone to be honest.
That said, our writing can’t improve if we don’t dip our toes in the water 😉
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That’s true. I said the same about writing poetry many years ago. Then I gave it a go, and I had some great feedback. But I don’t enjoy writing poetry as much as I do writing flash fiction.
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We all have our specialties. Nonetheless, blogging helps all of us spread our wings. I’ve never found as wonderful community as we all have built up here online.
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So true Marsha 🤗
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I’m so glad we met, Maggie!
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Me too Marsha
Thank you for being part of my journey xo
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They say try everything once don”t they 😉
I am sure I could fill a book with my life experiences.🤗
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Yes, the problem is first categorizing them, then throwing out the parts that no one wants to hear – like how many times you sneeze every morning when you get up – unless you can make that interesting, too. You probably could. 🙂 xxx
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Lol Marsha xx
I will remember that when I get up tomorrow.🤗
It is like everything else, the first time is the scariest write ?
😉
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Exactly. I wrote a quick story on Esther Chilton’s blog 61 words. It could be construed to be a tad bit naughty, but it’s what came out.
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And we must go where the muse takes us Marsha 😉
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Yes, and there it went!
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Marsha 🤗
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That’s “write!”
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Marsha 🤭
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Yes, there’s nothing saying that it can’t rhyme.
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Great post on flash fiction! I love writing shorter stories and the challenge behind them.
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I had fun with this one. Hugh offers some great tips I need focus, so this helped me limit the characters.
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That’s good to hear, Marsha.
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It’s all about the enjoyment of having a go at putting a story together with so few words. I’ve heard many writers say that writing a story in so few words disciplines them, forcing them to make every word count. But it’s great to hear that you have fun with writing shorter stories. That’s what it should always be about.
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It’s a lot like writing poetry. The challenge is in the word count.
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This is a perfect, comprehensive article on flash-fiction, one I will use when the next person asks me, What is flash-fiction?
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Good idea. I should bookmark it!
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Darlene, there are many versions of what flash fiction is. Some say a story in no more than 3,000 words, but, for me, that’s more of a short story rather than a piece of flash fiction. I’m delighted my post is something you will share should anyone ask you what flash fiction is. Thank you.
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I agree, 3000 words is more of a short story for me. Thanks again, Hugh.
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I agree.
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This will be in the new Story Chat III book, too. That will be another good reason to share the book!
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A helpful post. Thanks Hugh.
You stumped me at Strong Idea, though. Strong Ideas are where my muse fails me 😦
When I began writing, my stories usually came in around three thousand words. These days, I am less loquacious though.
Editing ruthlessly is something I’m good at now. I have been known to edit a three thousand-word story down to an eight-hundred-word flash. (Not that it was shortlisted or anything.)
But even 500-worders take me an age to re-edit and re-arrange. These days, when I’m answering a quick prompt challenge I go for a rhyme. They seem to come to me more easily – perhaps because I have less words to choose from?
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I bet you could write this flash fiction as a children’s rhyme even. They don’t come to me like that, sadly.
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Cathy, strong ideas often come to me through a prompt word, image, or photo that someone has set as a challenge. That’s how I got started with the Carrot Ranch flash fiction challenge that used to be run by Charli Mills. She got me started on writing flash with a word count of no more than 99 words. Every week, my story would be way over that figure, so the editing was always ruthless, but it got rid of lots of redundant parts of the story. It’s good to hear you are ruthless with editing, as many writers struggle with it.
I never publish the first draft of anything. Like you, I edit, sometimes for weeks, until I’m happy with the story. But there does come a point when the editing has to stop; otherwise, I’d end up ruining the story.
For me, ‘Rhyme’ is more associated with poetry, something I struggle with, although I have been known to pen a few haikus. But I can see how it can work with fiction, too, especially given that one of my nieces has recently published some books containing stories that are worked around ‘rhyme.’
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Robbie does all her children’s stories in rhyme, I think! As a former Kindergarten teacher, I know that most young children’s books rhyme. No shame in that!
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I love flash fiction. Hugh has lots of great advice to give any writer interested in creating a story in under 500 words. And he is a definitely a master of flash fiction. I love his bite-size stories.
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He is famous for them. Your challenges get us going in that direction, too! I have mine ready to go for tomorrow’s post.
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Brilliant!
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Esther, thank you for the weekly writing prompts you give on your blog. They have helped me craft a few pieces of flash. All it takes is one word, although sometimes nothing comes to mind. But that isn’t a problem. I write at least one piece of flash every month. For me, it’s like the cherry on top of the cake.
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I don’t think I get that many written, but I’m trying.
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I loved this article about flash fiction from Hugh! I miss Carrot Ranch terribly, and I know he does, too. I should start a challenge for flash fiction on the Evergreen Hedge. 😂 You are moving along nicely with your stories. Thank you so much for sharing the information about Sunflower Tanka. You are simply the best! 🤗
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Do you have a new website? I tried starting one with Story Chat, but it didn’t fly. Maybe Hugh can launch it and get it off the ground. I’m glad to keep it going – at least once in a eh, not every week!
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We’ll see if there is a desire for this type of writing challenge from this post, Marsha. If the idea is good and it’s something those who follow your blog want, we could do a monthly 101-word flash fiction challenge using a different image every month. I have tons of photos that could keep the challenge running for many years.
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That would be awesome if we can get the response. This post is a great start. As I visit sites for the attendance links, I’ll see some of the stories if they forget to link back. The only sure way to see everyone’s post is if they link back.
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The Carrot Ranch is where it all started for me, Colleen. And what excellent advice Charli gave us all for writing it, too. Without the Carrot Ranch, I’d never have published two short story and flash fiction collections.
There are a few other flash fiction challenges on WordPress, but sadly, the hosts don’t seem to engage with their readers or each other, so there is no community. And any engagement is nothing but ‘Great story’ or ‘Nice one,’ which doesn’t help anyone.
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I miss Carrot Ranch, too. That’s what started me writing flash fiction. I don’t think I had written short stories at all before that. I wrote a couple of awful children’s books, which I still haven’t published.
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