By Adele Annesi

Word for Words is by author Adele Annesi. For Adele's website, visit Adele Annesi.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Finding the Flash in Short Fiction


Find the flash in your short fiction

As e-readers and devices get smaller and time gets shorter, here's how to edit short fiction to reveal the flash:
  • Remove all unnecessary words.
  • Replace ambiguous and long phrases with one precise word.
  • Delete repetitious images and concepts.
Now that you've pared the verbiage:
  • Use one image to replace descriptive narrative.
  • Use one scene to represent the story.
  • Pare dialogue to the essentials.
  • Incorporate characters' thoughts in the dialogue.
Repeat the entire process. Now flash your audience.

Tip: This is also a great way to force yourself to edit your work to the essentials.

Resource: For more on flash, visit the Writers Digest article "What Is Flash Fiction."

Happy writing!

For more writing tips, visit the Word for Words Online Workshop, and Adele's blog.

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