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.