Short, Short, SHORT Stories or Flash Fiction

As a storyteller, it's important that I keep my narrative muscle in shape. So in between writing assignments and longer fiction works, I write short, short, SHORT stories. They also call this Flash Fiction. These super short stories can be anywhere from one sentence to 100 or so words in length (give or take).

Generally, I get out of bed in the morning, wander over to the computer, and start typing away Flash Fiction style. I try not to read the news of the day or check emails first, and I don't care really what I write about. I just start typing without thinking and see what bubbles to the surface. The goal is to speak directly from the dream world before the busy-ness of life infiltrates the senses. Sometimes I'm amazed at what comes out, other times it's complete crap. Here's a little short story about my lovely wife.

Blonde hair with light streaks. Thick and curly. Long whirligigs fall on either side of her face. Smells like an island spa on a moonlit night. I hold her from behind, spooning, my face nuzzled in the curls. My favorite place in the world, where I wake every morning.

Or another about my upcoming venture into fatherhood.

I'm about to be a father, and with that comes a sense of responsibility and maturity that's been building for awhile. When the child is born, I'll surely cry and realize something within me that's always been there but remained hidden behind the fog of youth. I wonder if my parents, gone for five years now, can see me now.


Check out these sites!

Common Ties is a great site that brings together artists and writers to create amazingly cool picture stories. You can write a story and submit your own art work or just send in a short, short story and they'll pair you up with the right artist. Stories have to be 50 words or less. Try to write a story in 50 words or less. It's frickin hard!!! Forces you to be concise. If you're a fan of this kind of stuff (graphic stories), check out this site.

For the super duper short stories, go to the One Sentence site. One Sentence is about telling your story ever so briefly (in one sentence). Insignificant stories, everyday stories, or turning-point-in-your-life stories, boiled down to their bare essentials. Fun stuff.

I occasionally post my Flash Fiction to these sites. It's fun and keeps that creative muscle flexed. As I like to say (actually I'm saying it for the first time)...NO FLABBY WRITING!!!