Tag: Jericho Writers

Fiction in a Flash: The Basics of Writing Flash Fiction

~ The Regal Writer ~ Leave a comment

There seems to be two types of writers in this world. One enjoys taking their time telling their story, introducing characters, unveiling the plot, creating tension until they arrive at a (hopefully) satisfying ending. The second takes the shorter route, where there are minimal characters and backstory, words used thoughtfully and expediently, and an ending that is often unexpected and profound..

As you may have guessed, the first type is a novelist, while the second excels at flash fiction. While their approaches to storytelling are wildly different, they both try to accomplish the same thing—entertain readers.

According to Writers.com, flash fiction “delivers a complete narrative with plot, characters and setting, in fewer than 1,500 words. It relies on efficient use of language and storytelling without inhibiting the story’s flow and impact.”

Writing flash fiction is the equivalent of writing one scene from a novel. But even that one scene must be complete with an inciting incident, conflict and resolution.

There are several types of flash fiction, depending on the length of the story. Traditional flash fiction is a maximum of 1,500 words while the shortest type is a six-word story. There are other types and lengths in between.  

Some writers might be put off by the idea of writing a story in less than 1500 words, believing that it can’t possibly be done—or be done well. Much like other writers are overwhelmed by the idea of writing a 90,000-word novel. If you have a short attention span or dread the thought of spending weeks or months writing a full-length novel, flash fiction might be worth experimenting with. It can also provide another creative outlet to complement your other writing projects.

What makes flash fiction unique and challenging is the restrictive nature of storytelling. Since you are limited by the length, you don’t have the luxury of expounding on details or characters. You really have to think carefully about how to develop your plot and the role of your characters. The key to writing flash fiction, suggest writing experts, is to plan your plot first to create the skeleton of your story, then fill in with the most critical descriptive details.  

Jericho Writers offers the following tips for writing flash fiction:

* Limit the number of characters to one or two people (sometimes three). Again, you don’t have the luxury of length and space to introduce a myriad of characters. If you’re used to writing novels, think of the flash fiction as the same length as a single scene that contains only a few characters.

* Deal with a single conflict. Focusing on one single conflict moves the story along at a brisker pace without going off on different tangents.

* Focus on one genre. Because you’re working with a limited word count, stick to one genre that will be easier to write a story that readers will be able to follow.

* Limit world building and scene setting. In a 1,500-word story, you may only have one or two scenes where the story takes place. Likewise, you won’t have time or space to have heavy descriptions of your world. You may have to limit the world-building to a couple of sentences.

* Make every word and sentence count. Avoid passive voice, which tends to add unnecessary words. Be succinct, and choose the best words that tell your story. Use descriptive, concise language.

* Start in the middle of the story. You won’t have the luxury of a long, introductory narrative filled with backstory, detailed setting and interior narration of your protagonist.

That seems like an awful lot to think about for a simple, 1500-word story, but as you can see, flash fiction is deceptively complex. Writers.com offers several more tips for writing flash fiction.

  1. Begin by plotting the story first. That creates the spine of the story. Then go back and fill in with description and figurative language to make the story more complete.
  2. End the story with a bang. Conclude with an unexpected and surprising ending that makes the reader think about the story long after they’ve finished reading it.
  3. Be a ruthless editor. Start with a draft, just as you would with any manuscript, then go back and cut, cut, and cut some more. Don’t be shy about axing entire paragraphs that read well but don’t move the story along.

Writing flash fiction can be more challenging with its numerous restrictions, but all that planning, plotting and editing you have to do can help you become a better writer when you’re ready to tackle larger projects.

For more information about flash fiction, check out these other sources:

Flash Fiction magazine
Flash Fiction Online
Writing flash fiction: a complete guide, Jericho Writers
The Benefits of Writing Flash Fiction, Jane Friedman.com

Tips for Getting the Most Out of a Writer’s Conference

~ The Regal Writer ~ Leave a comment

two women shaking hands
Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

Last week, I shared a list of writer’s conferences taking place in the coming months. These conferences are brimming with good, relevant information that can help you become a stronger, more proficient writer – and maybe pave the way to getting your manuscript published. You can connect with other writers who are traveling the same path as you, and you can learn from published authors, agents and editors.

While many of these conferences can be cost prohibitive for some people, there are ways to be able to finance the admission fees, such as grants and scholarships. (See my post from last week for more information.)

I recently signed up for a conference – my first one – because I wanted to immerse myself in this intensive learning experience. I want to take my writing career to the next level. Signing up for the conference was the easy part. The hard part is preparing for the event. Luckily, I have found numerous tips for getting the most out of the conference experience, which I am happy to share with you.

1. Set a goal (or two) for the event. Think about why you want to be there. What do you want to achieve? Do you want to meet an agent or an editor you may be interested in reading your manuscript? Meet a favorite author? Make new friends? Learn about self-publishing? Get inspired to write that next novel? The choice is yours.

By setting a goal beforehand, you can go into the conference with the intention to work toward that goal. For example, if your goal is to build your network for fellow writers, make a goal of meeting at least three new contacts. Make sure to follow up with them after the conference by email or phone, even if it’s just to say hello.

2. Dress appropriately. Remember you are there to conduct business and you are representing yourself. Dress as you would as if you were going to a job interview or a business meeting. Think business casual. Refrain from wearing jeans and a T-shirt because they might send the message that you don’t take your career seriously.

3. Start networking before the conference begins. This is a great suggestion by Steuben Press. Just because the conference won’t take place until June doesn’t mean you can’t engage with guest speakers until then. If there’s an author or editor that will be present, start following them on social media. Pose a question for then on Twitter or their Facebook page or comment on their blog post. Then when you see them at the conference or bump into them during a coffee break, you can refer to one of those comments to begin a dialogue. The key is to get your name and face in front of them so they will remember you.

4. Practice your elevator pitch. An elevator pitch is a brief summary of your manuscript that you should be able to recite to anyone you might meet anywhere – a coffee shop, on the street, or in an elevator. Keep the pitch to no more than two sentences or approximately 50 words, suggests the folks at Jericho Writers. Most editors and literary agents you meet will be pressed for time, so anything longer than two sentences might be a time drain. Besides, most elevator rides don’t last very long.

5. Be organized. Establish a system for tracking everything from who you meet to what you learn each day from each session you attend. I like to carry a notebook that contains all my notes from workshops, classes and conference sessions. Because it’s all in one place, it’s easy for me to look back at some notes from two years ago, for example, that I may need today.

Another habit I’ve developed in my career is to make notes on the back of each business card I receive from somebody. On the back, I write the date and event where I met that person. Again I have something to job my memory about how I know that individual. When I follow up with an email, I can refer to that event that took place so they know who I am.

6. Turn off your devices when you’re networking with others. Stay in the present moment. Enjoy meeting new people without distractions. Besides, when you’re constantly looking into your smart phone, you send the message that you really prefer to be somewhere else. When you show a lack of interest in the world around you, others will show a lack of interest in you.

7. Eat with new friends and business contacts. Once you’ve made some new friends, invite them to sit with you at lunch or meet over coffee. The important thing is to not eat by yourself or sit alone at a table. Sometimes the best relationships begin in one-on-one settings or in smaller groups.

8. Don’t take the conference too seriously. Don’t be all work and no play. Make sure you have fun too. Attend some of the social events, or form your own group outing like visiting an art museum or listening to live music.

9. But don’t get too comfortable. On the other hand, don’t play it so loose and fancy free that others think you aren’t serious about your writing. There’s a time to work and a time to play. Find a healthy balance between the two and you should walk away from the conference feeling excited and energized to take your writing to the next level.

Have you ever attended a writer’s conference? What was your experience like?  How did you prepare for it? What tips do you have for your fellow writers about attending conferences?