When it comes to writing short stories, flash fiction, or even micro fiction, the word ‘brevity’ comes to mind. Unless something is absolutely necessary to the main plot, don’t add it, because you’ll have to give a reason why you put it there.
In flash fiction or a short story, you don’t have to tell your readers what the main characters wore, or whether they had enough hot water for their shower, or what they had for dinner. In flash fiction you don’t even have to give them a last name. What makes these smaller stories really shine? Feelings. Allow your readers to feel something: fear, love, surprise, awe, anger, pride, joy, resolve, sadness.
Set up your plot, decide who your main characters will be, what each will contribute to the story, and then write a skeleton story. Once you have a bare bones first draft, go ahead and flesh it out some, but in degrees, again with brevity in mind to keep within the word count for the story size you are writing.
Don’t enter anything into the story that isn’t absolutely necessary to the main plot —that includes flowery adjectives and adverbs and the word ‘that’. Save those for novels. You want to tell a brief, interesting story that will hold a reader’s attention, first word to the last in the shortest amount of reading time.
I’ll leave you with three examples: two Micro Fiction, one Flash Fiction.
Word Counts:
Micro Fiction: up to 500
Flash Fiction: 500 to 1,000
Short Story: 1,000 to 7,000 (average)
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The Entrée
Micro Fiction
(56 words)
Chelsea was flattered when the handsome new neighbor invited her for dinner at 8:00. She was to bring the wine.
She arrived early, handed him the chilled Pinot Noir, and then wondered whether she heard him correctly. She asked what the main course would be and he answered …
“You.”
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Love Token
Micro Fiction
(58 words)
Sandra loved Josh, but she wasn’t convinced he loved her. On her birthday last Saturday, everything changed.
When he arrived for their date, he placed a small ornate box in her hand. Inside was a small skeleton key with a note.
“This is the key to my heart. I love you, birthday girl. ”
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The Secret
Flash Fiction
(517 words)
Cabot sat in his car fiddling with the radio dial, waiting for the school bell to ring. First a slow trickle of kids, then the entire herd would lumber through the double doors at once in a flood of colors and sounds.
This was to be his daughter, Sarah’s, last week at St. Anthony’s. It had been a long year for both of them. Cancer had stripped Sarah of her mama and from Cabot, the love of his life.
That was sad, but this will be the lowest point in their life. From this day forward, everything will change for both of them.
Last evening near quitting time, Cabot got a memo informing him the whole Research and Development Department he headed was being dismantled immediately. The CEO closed by saying they would be given a glowing endorsement and of course, a healthy severance.
This morning, he paid the last of the hospital bills his insurance didn’t cover for Kelly’s cancer treatments. It nearly wiped out his bank account. What remained was just enough to cover rent and food until next payday, which now would be his last.
Later at the dealership, he mentally tallied everything his severance would have to cover. The salesman interrupted, by knocking on the car window. He had the paperwork ready for Cabot’s signature to cancel the lease on his car next week.
How had things gone so wrong so fast? He didn’t understand. What the hell am I actually facing?
No job
No car
Rent due. No rent = no home
Bank account nearly depleted
Sarah back to public school
Two years ago he was a department head with a six-figure income, stock options, Sarah in a private school, country club membership, two leased cars, and a rented high-end townhouse in the best part of town.
“How can they shut down my department when yesterday’s progress report focused on the volatility still attached to the project? It will need an additional six months–-at the very least to get it ready. It’s Goddamned dangerous!”
“Why did I ever sign that Non-Disclosure Confidentiality Agreement? They protected their ass, but what can I do to protect mine?”
He had an appointment tomorrow with “Digger” Graves, his attorney, to ask some questions.
1. Is there any way around the agreement? What will I face if I go to the media?
2. Legally, can they dismantle my R & D Department with no warning?
3. Whose ass will be on the line when the shit hits the fan —and it WILL!
There are critical issues with the project —it’s not safe! As head of R & D, he had no choice. If they go with it the way it is now, the government, the public, hell … the entire world, will have to be warned!
Well, this can’t wait. Digger has to see me today!
“Hello?”
“It’s Cabot. I have to talk to Digger. It’s an emergency.”
“One moment please … I’m sorry, Cabot, he’s in a meeting with your CEO and VP. May I have him call you later …?”
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