Apr 7, 2011

Flash Fiction

What is Flash Fiction?

Flash fiction is fiction in an abbreviated form, a short story written in less than 2,000 words. If you’re new to writing fiction, flash fiction might be a good way to toss your keyboard into the ring. Article writers who spend much of their time researching for technical pieces might find flash fiction a creative break from the mundane.

To qualify as flash fiction, stories must have a main character, plot, and ending. Individual flash fiction contests might have more specific requirements, so make sure you read the rules carefully before submitting an entry. In addition to a word count, many flash fiction contests will provide a writing prompt that must fit into the story line.

Where Can I Find Flash Fiction Contests?

Typing the words flash fiction contest into any search engine should return a number of current contests.   Most will have a small entry fee, but also award cash prizes to the winner(s).

Here are a few to get you started:

WOW! Women on  Writing - 250-750 words, open prompt, quarterly, Spring deadline May 31, 2011
Leodegraunce - 200 word maximum, open prompt, monthly, current deadline April 29, 2011
FanStory  - 500-800 words, writing prompt White Picket Fence, deadline May 3, 2011

Generally an article writer, my one attempt at story writing was an entry for a flash fiction contest at YCN (Yahoo Contributor Network, formerly Associated Content), where the writer had a choice of several sentences to use as their writing prompt.  I chose "The day started out like any other."  for my entry, The Wait.




I'm taking the A-Z Blogging Challenge, where I will post something from each letter of the alphabet on the corresponding day in April, except for Sunday, on at least one if not all four of my blogs. You can see my other blogs in the sidebar - More of Marie Anne.

7 comments:

  1. Love your story! I think I'm going to enter the one at Leodegraunce.

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  2. I love Flash Fiction, it's a really good way for me to warm up when I plan a long day of fiction writing. Thanks for the info about the contests too! :D

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  3. I'm new to flash fiction- thanks so much for the information.

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  4. Super story, glad you posted a link. I love flash fiction.

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  5. I haven't written any fiction in a long time. Been too busy with my articles. Flash fiction does sound like a lot of fun. May give it a try.

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  6. I love writing fiction. But I haven't written any in ages. May give flash fiction a try, when I get the chance.

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  7. I used to belong to FanStory, but for reasons I can't remember, stopped using them.

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