• PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
  • EDIT Edit this Article
  • EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
  • Browse Articles
  • Learn Something New
  • Quizzes Hot
  • This Or That Game New
  • Train Your Brain
  • Explore More
  • Support wikiHow
  • About wikiHow
  • Log in / Sign up
  • Education and Communications
  • Fiction Writing

How to Write Flash Fiction

Last Updated: March 10, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising , and Julia Martins, a trusted member of wikiHow's volunteer community. Julia Martins is an aspiring writer currently living in San Francisco, California. She graduated from Stanford University with a BA in English and has been published in Cornell University's Rainy Day Magazine, Stanford University's Leland Quarterly, and Bards and Sages Quarterly. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 123,694 times. Learn more...

Flash fiction, also known as micro-fiction, is a short story that’s usually between 500 and 1,000 words. When writing a flash fiction story, use each sentence to move the plot forward to tell a complete narrative. If you want to start working on flash fiction, make sure to choose an interesting theme and character to keep readers interested. After you outline and write your flash fiction, you need to edit your work to make sure it’s concise. When you’re finished, you’ll have a story you can share with others!

Creating a Theme and Characters

Woman thinking of different genres for her flash fiction.

  • If you like to write suspenseful stories, try doing a thriller or horror flash fiction piece.
  • For stories that take place in the future or have advanced technology, write science fiction.
  • If you want to focus on a relationship, consider writing romantic flash fiction.

Step 2 Choose an overarching theme for your flash fiction story.

  • For example, if you want your theme to be love and sacrifice, you may choose to write a story about someone who works all the time just to earn money for someone they care about.

Tip: Use symbols to help convey your theme subtly. For example, a dove can represent peace after a war, or a rose can symbolize love.

Step 3 Create an interesting and flawed protagonist.

  • For example, your protagonist’s goal may be to find sunken treasure, but they’re afraid of the ocean.
  • Only give your character 1 goal for your flash fiction or else your piece could get too long or complicated.

Step 4 Choose an antagonist that your main character needs to overcome.

  • For example, your protagonist could be someone stuck in the forest and your antagonist could be a wolf trying to hunt them.
  • Combine an internal struggle with an external struggle to make your flash fiction more complex.

Outlining the Plot of Your Flash Fiction

Step 1 Pick a single moment in your character’s life to focus on.

  • For example, if your theme is about loss, you may write your flash fiction piece about how someone’s daily routine changes the day after someone they loved passed away.

Tip: Create a character sheet for your protagonist so you can list all of their traits in detail. This way, you know your character well without including it in your actual flash fiction piece.

Step 2 Start your story with an interesting hook in the middle of the action.

  • For example, you may write something like, “Jess walked out into the rain after midnight, thinking of ways she could win back all of the money she had lost at the poker table that night.”
  • If you need to include exposition about your character, work it into their dialogue.

Because flash fiction is so short, starting in the middle of an action immediately gets the reader hooked.

Julia Martins

Julia Martins

Step 3 Make your protagonist deal with a single conflict throughout the story.

  • For example, if you were writing a story about a boxing match, you may have your antagonist wound your main character so it’s more challenging for your protagonist to win the fight.
  • Don’t use multiple conflicts in a flash fiction piece since it can get confusing and wordy.

Step 4 Create a surprise ending.

  • Make sure the surprise fits with the rest of the story. For example, readers would be unsatisfied if a meteor fell out of the sky and stopped a monster from attacking.
  • Do your best to avoid jokey twist endings since they’re overused. [8] X Research source

Drafting Your Story

Step 1 Use language that’s descriptive and concise.

  • For example, if your protagonist’s childhood is relevant to the story, do not write, “Sarah was born in a bathtub in Kansas City and lived there through elementary school, when her father got a job in Tulsa …” Instead, say something like, “Sarah reflected on her brief and unfulfilling childhood as she waited for a taxi.”
  • It’s okay to use more than 1,000 words while you’re writing your first draft since you’ll be editing them out later on.

Tip: Look up common words in a thesaurus to find synonyms that are more powerful. For example, instead of saying something is moving slowly, you may instead say that it’s sluggish.

Step 2 Make each sentence reveal character details and advance the plot.

  • Use your character’s dialogue to help reveal information or progress the plot as well.

Step 3 Include a few paragraphs after your climax.

  • Your title can help describe any backstory that you didn’t include. For example, if you’re writing a story about a husband doing the routine of his wife who passed away, you may call your story “In Her Footsteps.”

Editing Your Work

Step 1 Cut out words that are unnecessary for the story.

  • Get rid of any information that’s repeated unless you need it to add emphasis.
  • Use a thesaurus to find words that are stronger and less common.

Step 2 Give your story to other people to read and critique.

  • Be prepared to answer questions about your story in case your reader is confused.
  • Talk to a writing professor or teacher to see if you can to see if there’s anything they would edit.

It can be scary to give your writing to other people, but sharing your work and hearing feedback will help you become a better writer.

Step 3 Make changes until you’re happy with your piece.

  • Don’t become too much of a perfectionist or else you’ll always find some flaw in your story.

Expert Q&A

Julia Martins

  • Read other flash fiction pieces to get an idea of the style and story to tell in your own work. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
  • Carry a small notebook and pen with you wherever you go so you can write down ideas for stories no matter where you are. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

writing flash fiction

You Might Also Like

Write a Short Story

  • ↑ https://medium.com/@joannasmith008/everything-you-need-to-know-about-flash-fiction-29e2513b4f4a
  • ↑ https://blog.udemy.com/flash-fiction-examples/
  • ↑ https://writingcooperative.com/how-to-dramatically-improve-your-flash-fiction-7f2388273afd
  • ↑ https://www.reflexfiction.com/how-to-write-flash-fiction/
  • ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/may/14/how-to-write-flash-fiction
  • ↑ https://writingcooperative.com/how-to-get-good-feedback-on-your-writing-for-free-and-avoid-critiquers-from-hell-df5f91929d88
  • ↑ https://jerryjenkins.com/self-editing/

About This Article

Julia Martins

If you want to write flash fiction, every word counts, so start your story in the middle of the action, at a moment crucial to the narrative. Devote most of your sentences to developing the conflict rather than setting up the characters’ backstory or describing the scenery. Remember to write concisely, since a flash fiction story is typically only 500-1000 words. Finish strong and try to devote 1-2 paragraphs at the end to resolve any remaining conflicts. Read on to learn how to publish your flash fiction! Did this summary help you? Yes No

  • Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

Sarah Daneen

Sarah Daneen

Feb 5, 2019

Did this article help you?

writing flash fiction

H. H. Lisberg

Sep 13, 2017

Claire Mitchell

Claire Mitchell

May 1, 2016

Am I a Narcissist or an Empath Quiz

Featured Articles

Start a Text Conversation with a Girl

Trending Articles

How to Take the Perfect Thirst Trap

Watch Articles

Wrap a Round Gift

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Info
  • Not Selling Info

wikiHow Tech Help Pro:

Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve

Improve your writing in one of the largest and most successful writing groups online

Join our writing community!

How to Write Flash Fiction: Short Stories in 1,500 Words or Fewer

writing flash fiction

by Holly Riddle

Maybe you’re struggling to fill out a novel because you just don’t feel like you have enough plot for an entire book or multiple pages. Or maybe you’re a more verbose writer with no problem cranking out 100,000, words and now you’re looking for a challenge—something to teach you how to cut down all the excess fat and produce a story that keeps only the relevant details at the forefront.

Whatever side you lie on, you might want to try your hand at flash fiction. This type of very short story, sometimes called microfiction, creates the largest impact possible with the fewest words possible. These self-contained stories require only a few minutes to read, but leave a lasting impact.

Writers looking for a fun challenge should try their hand at writing flash fiction!

Here’s what you need to know about how to write flash fiction, including some flash fiction examples.

What is flash fiction?

Flash fiction, sometimes called microfiction or sudden fiction, is a type of writing that tells a story in at most 1,500 words. They can also be much shorter. Flash fiction is shorter than a short story, which can be as long as 10,000 words, and it can be of any genre.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that flash fiction is any less impactful than any other form of fiction writing, just because it’s is exceptionally short. Flash fiction follows rules and contains much of the same literary devices and techniques that you’ll find in longer works, and many writers labor over their flash fiction just as they would a longer piece.

Flash fiction typically only focuses on one scene, but that scene will still include a plot arc. What it might not include, though, is an internal character arc or a multitude of secondary or tertiary characters. Flash fiction is primarily plot and conflict-focused.

Types of flash fiction stories

While flash fiction can refer to any story under 1,500 words, there are several sub-types of flash fiction of different lengths. You might find that some forms are more suited to your tastes and writing style than others.

Each type of flash fiction has its own specific maximum character or word count.

The six-word story

The six-word story is just that: a story told in just six words, and often a single sentence. Ernest Hemingway wrote one of the most famous six-word stories, which you’ll see in our examples further down.

Arguably, this flash fiction story is the hardest type of flash fiction to write, because it’s the shortest. Every one of those six words in the sentence must pull its weight. None can be taken for granted when you have such a short word count.

You can find some examples of six-word stories from a slew of bestselling authors here .

Twitterature

Twitterature, a play on “Twitter” and “literature,” has come about thanks to the robust writing community to be found on X (previously known as Twitter). In this type of flash fiction, writers don’t stick to a specific word count, but are instead restricted to using the old Twitter guidelines of 280 characters or less.

A minisaga, also sometimes called “dribble,” features a word count of just 50 words or less.

Drabbles, or micro stories, have a word count set at 100 words. While it might not seem like a lot, once you’ve tried writing a few six-word stories, you’ll find those 100 words absolutely generous and luxurious.

Sudden fiction

Sudden fiction gives you a bit more wiggle room to play around with, with a top word count of 750 words.

General flash fiction

If your story doesn’t fit into the above categories, it’s still flash fiction if it’s a self-contained story under 1,500 words.

How to write effective flash fiction

So how do you write effective flash fiction? Here are a few tips for creating the most impact possible with the fewest words possible.

Don’t be afraid to start “in medias res”

“ In medias res ” is a term frequently used to describe a story or novel that begins in the middle of the action. The term is literally Latin for “into middle things.”

With the limited space available in flash fiction, it’s often best to start the story right in the midst of what’s happening. It’s important to get to the point, so that you don’t waste any time building up to the true heart of your story.

Whatever form of flash fiction you prefer, get to the point right from the beginning.

Trust your readers

Sometimes, as writers, it’s easy to assume that you need to tell your readers absolutely everything. You need to spell out all the nitty-gritty details. After all, how else would you get a story, an entire world that’s all in your head, into their head?

However, we often don’t give our readers enough credit. They’re more than capable of filling in the blanks, so if you don’t absolutely need a detail, leave it out.

Learn to recognize filler words

While filler words can slide in a novel (so long as they’re not used in excess), that’s not the case in flash fiction. The good news? If you learn to recognize filler words in your flash fiction, that skill will carry over to your other writing, making it tighter overall.

Filler words often include things like passive voice verb phrases and unnecessary adverbs. Other popular fillers are extraneous words like “that,” “seemed,” and “wondered.” So, change your passive voice to active voice. Look at each adverb used and consider if you could omit it if you used a more descriptive verb. Strike every “that” that’s not necessary. Instead of something “seeming” a way, make it that way. Instead of a character saying that they’re wondering something, have them just wonder it (so, “I wondered if he loved me” turns into “Did he love me?”).

Some of these filler words are known as perception verbs. Perception verbs indicate that your character is perceiving something and they’re often unnecessary. “Wondered” is a perception verb, as is “saw,” “heard,” etc. You don’t need to tell us that your character saw or heard something; just have them do it. Don’t tell us “Jack looked out the window and saw Dave coming up the drive.” Say, “Jack looked out the window. Dave was coming up the drive.”

While adjectives don’t often get the same hate as adverbs, they can still often be omitted in flash fiction to tighten your prose as much as possible. This is not the place for adjective-filled purple prose . So, examine those adjectives and replace your adjective-noun pairing with a lone, more specific noun where possible. For example, an “old, beaten-down car” becomes a “beater.” An “old, ugly, witchy woman” becomes a “crone.”

Removed all your filler words, but still finding that your story is too long to be considered flash fiction? Read through your story and consider how each sentence serves the story. If it doesn’t and if the story will have the exact same effect without that sentence, remove it.

Show, don’t tell

It’s a mantra beaten into writers’ heads from the cradle, and it’s one of those rules that, once you get used to it, you can break on occasion. However, in most flash fiction stories, it really is best to show, not tell . Telling takes up extra, valuable words.

What does this mean?

Well, don’t tell us your character felt hungry; make their stomach growl. Don’t tell us that the bookshelves were filled with books that hadn’t been touched in years; just put a layer of dust on everything.

Again, assume your readers are smart. They’ll be able to figure it out.

Use as few characters as possible

We’re not just talking letters in the alphabet. Flash fiction doesn’t leave room for a large cast of characters. In general, you’ll find that most pieces of flash fiction focus on maybe one or two characters, or three max. This allows you room to focus on plot and conflict, without needing to explain who everyone is and their relationships.

Novels are filled with dozens of characters. Short fiction requires only one or two.

Know your characters and world

Just because you shouldn’t include a plethora of background information about your characters, setting, internal character arcs, and so forth in your flash fiction stories, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t still know this information.

Before you start writing (or during the editing process), consider everything you might need to know about your characters. While you’re only showing readers a snippet of those characters’ lives, it’s important for you as the author to understand what brought your characters to that place and scene, so you can make the best writing decisions possible.

Keep the necessary plot elements

Any basic story with a plot includes a few key elements , and these are elements that you should have in your flash fiction as well.

In order to create a narrative and move the story forward in so few words, you need a character who wants or needs something, and consequences for them not getting what they want. This need and the consequences, or stakes, will drive your story’s action and plot.

Play around with formatting

Formatting can be your friend when it comes to flash fiction stories. It can say something without using any words at all. For example, rather than saying someone’s speech was cut off or drifted off, use an em dash for the former or an ellipsis for the latter.

Beyond punctuation choices, also consider how you could use more unusual formatting choices to your benefit. In flash fiction, you don’t have to stick to typical paragraphs on a blank page. You’ll find flash fiction pieces that are written in the form of emails, grocery lists, recipes, lesson plans, syllabi, diary entries, letters—any kind of writing is an option.

End with a bang

Something that nearly all flash fiction stories have in common, no matter the length or format? They end with a bang.

It’s characteristic for flash fiction to have some sort of dramatic plot twist at the end, or some kind of gut punch—a big reveal that perhaps the reader could sense, but not specifically guess ahead of time.

However you end your flash fiction, though, whether it’s six words or a thousand, make sure that, when it ends, it feels like it ends. A well-written piece of flash fiction feels like a complete story.

Examples of effective flash fiction stories

Here’s how a few masterful short fiction writers put all of the above into action in some of their best flash fiction stories.

Ernest Hemingway’s six-word story

One of the most popular examples of the six-word story is Ernest Hemingway’s untitled story about a pair of baby shoes. It’s highly likely that you’ve seen it before, but maybe might not have known that it was attributed to Hemingway or that it’s considered a great flash fiction example.

For sale: baby shoes, never worn.

This emotionally evocative story doesn’t tell us everything, but it tells us enough in just six words. The intelligent reader can infer that there was a baby, or at least the hope of a baby, in this story. However, there was a tragedy; maybe the baby died, maybe the baby was never born in the first place. Now, we have these shoes that were never worn and, what’s more, now they’re for sale, because all hope is lost.

When the reader finishes your short fiction, no matter the word count, they should feel satisfied.

“Happy little accidents” by Meg Orpwood

In this flash fiction piece , which clocks in at just under 1,000 words, the omniscient narrator uses an art auction as a way to explore humanity and social commentary. It encourages the reader to think and raises thought-provoking questions for discussion.

“Professor Malloy’s First Lesson Back Teaching University English 101 After an Extended Maternity Leave” by Leila Murton Poole

Okay, first off, yes, it is a seemingly long title for a very short work of great flash fiction. That aside, this award-winning piece of microfiction , which tells a story in just 250 words, is an excellent example of how one can play around with formatting to achieve a greater impact.

Murton Poole uses an email and course lesson plan for university students to tell a traumatic story not too different from Hemingway’s above. At the same time, the story’s lesson plan’s focus on verb tenses ties in nicely with the story’s theme of the past, present, and future, as well as grief.

“A Recipe for You in the New World” by Nicholas Marconi

Similarly, this 100-word piece of microfiction uses unusual formatting to create a big impact. In this case, the format is that of a recipe. As you read the piece, you can easily see how each word has been carefully chosen to tie into the author’s chosen themes of immigration and racial tension.

“Where are You?” by Joyce Carol Oates

This flash fiction originally published in The New Yorker uses just 500 words. The story describes two characters, an elderly husband and wife. Prolific author Joyce Carol Oates uses repetition and flowing, unbroken text in one paragraph to create an anxious mood, increasing the tension and drama in the story, building it over time until we reach the dramatic conclusion.

“Sticks” by George Saunders

In this short short story , Saunders shows how to effectively cover a lot of ground in a piece of flash fiction.

Whereas flash fiction most often focuses on one scene, one moment in time, this piece covers decades of a family’s life. However, it does this effectively by narrowing in on one singular aspect of the family life, providing just enough details about the family members to ensure the story follows its arc without getting bogged down in unnecessary details.

“The Hornbeam’s lament” by Helen Williams

This award-winning short story chooses a unique narrative perspective with which to follow a family through time. It has a beginning, middle, end, conflict, resolution, and fascinating human relationships to explore. This is a great example of how a story can be given new dimension through the natural world.

“Baby Dolls” by Becky Robison

In this 175-word story , Robison uses careful word choices to create double meanings that are only revealed at the end of the story, prompting the reader to go back to the very start and read through again, uncovering the layers beneath the story’s simple exterior. Some of the most effective flash fiction stories are best appreciated through reading them over and over again.

The power of flash fiction stories

Don’t underestimate flash fiction. While it might seem unassuming and simple, given its short word count, it takes skill and a fair amount of work to write flash fiction that’s effective. However, if you can master this form of fiction as a writer, you’ll find that all your later writing is better for it, with tighter prose and more meaningful word choices.

Get feedback on your writing today!

Scribophile is a community of hundreds of thousands of writers from all over the world. Meet beta readers, get feedback on your writing, and become a better writer!

Join now for free

writing flash fiction

Related articles

writing flash fiction

What is Foreshadowing? Definition, Types, Examples, and Tips

writing flash fiction

What is Purple Prose? Definition and Tips on Avoiding Purple Prose

writing flash fiction

What is Shadow Writing? Complete Guide Plus 35+ Prompts

writing flash fiction

Spring Writing Prompts: 100 Prompts to Get You Writing This Spring

writing flash fiction

What is Alliteration? Definition, examples and tips

writing flash fiction

Writing Effective Dialogue: Advanced Techniques

Looking to publish? Meet your dream editor, designer and marketer on Reedsy.

Find the perfect editor for your next book

1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy, come meet them.

Guides • Perfecting your Craft

Posted on Sep 01, 2021

Writing Flash Fiction: 5 Quick Tips for Mini Masterpieces

Though flash fiction is rarely discussed and often poorly defined in the literary world, many groundbreaking writers (such as Margaret Atwood, David Foster Wallace, and H.P. Lovecraft) have dabbled extensively in short short stories.

To follow in their footsteps and master the underdog of creative writing , here are five tips to help you write a masterpiece of a micro-story. 

AUV6lk1N6W8 Video Thumb

1. Have a beginning, middle, and end

While there doesn’t have to be a lot going on in a work of flash fiction, it should still have all the mainstays of a story, i.e. a hook, a conflict , and an ending. 

Starting at the flashpoint (the center of the conflict) is a common way to kick off a short short. The middle then adds nuance to the conflict, while the end ties everything together to deliver the central message. Since short shorts are self-contained, not serialized, it’s ill-advised to finish on a cliffhanger. 

Note that these three points don't have to be plot points — they act more like markers, used to reveal crucial information or signal a shift in tone. Since momentum is so important in flash fiction, we recommend mapping out these turning points so you know exactly where your story is moving to and from. 

Example: "As the North Wind Howled" by Yu Hua

writing flash fiction | New Yorker illustration for As the North Wind Howled

This story opens with a man waking up to find a stranger pounding down his door. We don’t know who the man is, where he lives, or what year it is, but a brief conversation with the stranger reveals the story’s central conflict: the man’s friend is dead — but the man has no idea who the dead friend is. He joins the mourners and soon meets his “friend’s” mother, who claims him as her son now her own is dead. This is Yu Hua’s middle point. From here he guides us towards the story’s ending, delivering a deft comment on the oppressive nature of social obligations.

And there you have it: a tight story with a definitive beginning, middle, and end.

2. Throw tangents and excess characters out the window

Since you have so few words to play with, it’s best to keep your micro-story as simple as possible. While we recommend mapping out your beginning, middle, and end, if you have to plan out your whole plot — and write it down in order to remember it — you probably have too much going on. It’s best to be concise and let the mood carry the writing. 

In addition to extraneous plot points, you should cut out any excess characters, unnecessary dialogue, and exposition — and keep in mind that shifts in time or POV will muddy up a story. To put it simply, don’t do too many things at once. Pick one theme, and build on it from the ground up.

Example: "Girl" by Jamaica Kincaid

In her story, Kincaid explores what it means to be a young woman through a simple series of instructions. From how to cook and clean to the most appropriate ways to present oneself to men, Kincaid’s almost stream-of-consciousness list ​​potently demonstrates the near-impossible standards that women are expected to meet without any dialogue, side characters, or even any real plot points at all!

Which contemporary author are you?

Find out which of today's greats is your writerly match. Takes one minute!

3. Embrace the conventions of the form

Micro-stories are their own unique form and not just short short stories — so it’s important to treat them as such. Operate within the boundaries of the form, and embrace its conventions:

  • Intense prose;
  • A shining narrative voice;
  • A powerful, central image; and
  • The amplest meaning in the fewest words.

To best work within the 1,500-word frame, don’t just rework your more extensive ideas to fit the constraints. Flash fiction works are often (though not always) contained to one scene or event, focused on revealing more than what's visible through exquisite prose. A more complex plot initially intended for a short story is therefore unlikely to translate well into this shorter form.

That said, many writers mine their micro-stories from old paragraphs they loved but that didn’t make it into the final draft of a longer piece. Without worrying about the overarching plot of a novel or short story, you can now take the opportunity to spotlight your clever prose. 

Example: "Baby Dolls" by Becky Robison

This super-quick vignette embraces everything that makes fiction’s shortest form unique. It details in poetic prose the circumstances of the narrator’s birth: a costume party that her mother attended dressed as Raggedy Ann. The central image of the doll with red yarn hair is explored so cleverly over the story’s 175 words that by the end, the reader is unsure whether it’s even a costume. 

4. Avoid the temptation to use clichés

As simple and straightforward as flash fiction should be, it should not be boring or hokey, and it should definitely not be clichéd. If you agree that obvious clichés lack impact when used in a short story or novel, imagine how disappointing it is to come across one in a micro-story that’s only a couple of paragraphs long. So make sure your wording is original. And don’t be afraid to experiment with your voice, style, and form!

Another common mistake flash fiction writers make is relying on clichéd settings with ready-made drama, such as funerals or family holidays. Writing 1,000 words will go by in the blink of an eye, so take advantage of the time you’re saving: give your most inventive ideas a thorough trial run and just start again if they don’t take you anywhere. The stakes have never been lower.

Example: "Taylor Swift" by Hugh Behm-Steinberg

This wonderfully weird flash fiction story imagines a world where anyone can order a Taylor Swift clone to their doorstep — or multiple clones if they want to start a Taylor army. Predictably, things take a weird turn (or two) and the story reads almost like Black Mirror meets celeb fanfiction — but in a totally unique way. 

writing flash fiction | Taylor Swift Look What You Made Me Do music video

5. Deliver a powerful punchline

Much like a joke, good flash fiction starts with the set-up and ends with the punchline. Surrender the crucial information early on and use what follows to dig deeper. Every sentence should be clear and articulate; if it doesn’t offer some new, distinct detail, it’s unnecessary.

That said, the best flash pieces still encourage the reader to think: to read between the lines, and get a sense of the much bigger story beneath the surface. Often the final line delivers the detail that puts everything into perspective and provides clarity on the rest of the story.

Example: "Angels and Blueberrie s" by Tara Campbell

Throughout this nanotale, the writer offers various romantic explanations for the color of the sky — but ends with the line: Or would they just think you were a silly writer telling stories about angels and blueberries? Though understated, these final words open the reader’s eyes to the message of the story: when we disregard science for 700 words or so, we can enjoy the delightfully endless possibilities of the imagination. 

Now you’ve got some flash fiction pointers, it’s time to experiment. This form is all about giving yourself permission to break the rules and write in shades of gray. And if you like what you come up with, head back to the previous post to find out where to submit flash fiction for publication!

Join a community of over 1 million authors

Reedsy is more than just a blog. Become a member today to discover how we can help you publish a beautiful book.

Bring your short stories to life

Fuse character, story, and conflict with tools in the Reedsy Book Editor. 100% free.

Reedsy Marketplace UI

1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy, come meet them.

Enter your email or get started with a social account:

  • Features for Creative Writers
  • Features for Work
  • Features for Higher Education
  • Features for Teachers
  • Features for Non-Native Speakers
  • Learn Blog Grammar Guide Community Academy FAQ
  • Grammar Guide

What Is Flash Fiction? Meaning, Characteristics, and Examples

Krystal Craiker headshot

Krystal N. Craiker

flash fiction

You don’t need to write a novel to tell an amazing story. In the world of flash fiction, you need less than 1,500 words.

Flash fiction, also called microfiction, is a complete story with a small word count. Most flash fiction stories range from five words to 1,000, with the top end of the genre sitting at 1,500.

Think it’s impossible to write an entire story with a plot and characters in so few words? Flash fiction proves it’s not. Let’s take a closer look at the smallest fiction genre.

What Is Flash Fiction?

Characteristics of flash fiction, how to write flash fiction, great flash fiction examples, why you should write flash fiction.

A flash fiction story—sometimes called a short short or nanofiction—is one that has a complete plot in under 1,500 words. Some flash fiction pieces consist of as few as five or six words.

But no matter how short, flash fiction stories still contain the main elements of a plot. There’s a beginning, a middle, and an end. The story must feel finished by the end in order to be true flash fiction.

flash fiction definition

Of course, flash fiction doesn’t allow you to fully flesh out multiple character arcs or settings . It usually focuses on one scene and begins in medias res , or in the middle of things, so there isn’t time for backstory.

How can a writer balance a complete plot without any backstory or side conflicts? The key is that flash fiction stories hint at a larger story. The prose is evocative enough that readers can fill in the gaps on their own, without feeling like something is missing.

One of the most famous examples of microfiction is a six-word story. People often attribute the following story to Ernest Hemingway, although some sources give Arthur C. Clarke credit. The tale is that someone bet Hemingway he couldn’t write an entire story in just six words.

For sale: baby shoes, never worn.

In just six words, we see a plot: something is for sale. “Baby shoes” tells us something about the character. And then we have the story’s resolution: the baby shoes were never worn.

This allows the reader to infer that something tragic happened to a baby. But the tragedy doesn’t lack poignancy despite its minimal word count.

Flash fiction might be a new term, but it’s not a new genre. Fables and parables from antiquity, such as Aesop’s Fables and the Panchatantra , were early forms of microfiction.

In the early and mid 19th century, flash fiction gained popularity, with authors like Hemingway, Anton Chekhov, Franz Kafka, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr, Yasunair Kawabata, and Ray Bradbury releasing short short stories.

Flash fiction continues to be popular today, and many new and experienced writers enter competitions with small word counts.

Flash fiction is a shorter than a short story. But just how short is flash fiction?

Most writers and publishers consider a story to be short if it falls between 1,500 and 7,500 words. Flash fiction stories are even shorter.

Flash fiction consists of a few different subcategories. The terms and word counts differ slightly among writers, but most people agree on the categories below.

Flash Fiction Lengths

Twitterature refers to the character length of a Twitter post, where many writers enjoy posting flash fiction stories. Some writers refer to drabble as microfiction, while others use that term as a synonym for all flash fiction.

To tell a great story in such a low word count, your flash fiction stories need a few key components.

First, your prose should be tight. This means using the active voice instead of the passive voice. It means leaving off unnecessary words, especially adverbs. Focus on using power verbs to create an image in the reader’s mind.

Great flash fiction also needs to begin right in the action, and you need to eliminate as much unnecessary background information as possible. Trust your reader to fill in the meaning within the framework you provide.

Show, don’t tell, is one of those writing rules that applies to everything from a short story to an epic novel to a personal essay. But, it’s even more important in flash fiction stories. Using strong, descriptive verbs and engaging the five senses are how you will make an emotional impact on your readers.

Flash fiction will include a variety of literary devices, such as imagery, symbolism, juxtaposition, and allegory. These devices help pull the reader into the story and create poignancy.

Flash fiction often features a plot twist or surprise ending, as we saw in the “Baby Shoes” example. Or the ending may contrast the first sentence in tone. This helps you achieve movement of your plot within a short word count.

characteristics of flash fiction

The best flash fiction stories take only a few minutes to read but leave a lasting impression on readers.

"Where Are You?" by Joyce Carol Oates is about a man who is always calling for his wife from somewhere in the house. At first, the story describes the wife’s irritation. But as the story progresses, we see the man is deaf and suffering from some sort of dementia. Eventually, he calls for his wife, but he cannot hear her at all. The tragic story doesn’t end there.

Oates writes the entire story in one paragraph, and she artfully uses short sentences, repetition, and em dashes to mimic the increasingly frantic feelings the husband has as he wonders where his wife is.

Each sentence adds a new layer of information. We don’t realize he’s going deaf until nearly halfway through. We’re nearly done with the story when we see signs of memory loss. Just when you think you know the sad way the story will end, there’s a huge twist ending.

Sticks by George Saunders starts out as a story about a metal pole dressed in a Santa suit. But it quickly turns into the story of a father losing his sanity, as told by his son.

In the first paragraph, the narrator shows how his father was unhappy and neurotic, except when decorating the pole. Then we see his descent into psychosis, all through the pole’s decorations.

The pole symbolizes the father’s anchor to both his sanity and his family. Saunders also weaves irony through each image. The flash fiction story ends abruptly, with a heavy dose of cynicism and sadness.

Flash fiction might be shorter, but it’s not easier than any other type of writing. In fact, many long-form authors find it more challenging to write!

But writing flash fiction stories is a great way to sharpen your writing skills. Forcing yourself to stay under 1,500 words will help you clean up your prose.

It will improve your action writing skills, as you must keep your story moving. You’re forced to cut backstory, so you can practice using imagery, symbolism, word choice, and more to achieve your story’s meaning.

why write flash fiction

Flash fiction is also a fun way to practice writing plot twists. You can improve your sensory detail, and you can play with literary devices you’ve never used before.

You can use ProWritingAid to edit your flash fiction and hone your skills, too. ProWritingAid can point out things like passive voice, unnecessary words, excessive adverb usage, and more.

ProWritingAid detecting the passive voice

Don’t expect to achieve a masterpiece in six words on your first try. Instead, you can use flash fiction to better your craft and cure writer’s block. If you’re finding yourself uninspired or stuck on a project, write some flash fiction to get those creative juices flowing again.

writing flash fiction

Be confident about grammar

Check every email, essay, or story for grammar mistakes. Fix them before you press send.

Krystal N. Craiker is the Writing Pirate, an indie romance author and blog manager at ProWritingAid. She sails the seven internet seas, breaking tropes and bending genres. She has a background in anthropology and education, which brings fresh perspectives to her romance novels. When she’s not daydreaming about her next book or article, you can find her cooking gourmet gluten-free cuisine, laughing at memes, and playing board games. Krystal lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband, child, and basset hound.

Get started with ProWritingAid

Drop us a line or let's stay in touch via :

  • International edition
  • Australia edition
  • Europe edition

David Gaffney: ' I once took away the last two sentences of a story and left a blank page'.

Stories in your pocket: how to write flash fiction

I t's National Flash Fiction Day on Wednesday – the first one ever – and it's an exciting day for me and many others who specialise in this particular truncated form of prose. A few years ago, I published a book of flash fiction called Sawn-off Tales . But until only a little while before that, I hadn't heard of flash fiction or micro-fiction or sudden fiction or short-short stories. Then, on poet Ian McMillan's recommendation, I parcelled up a manuscript made up entirely of this stuff and sent it to Salt Publishing, a poetry specialist. Fifty-eight stories, each exactly 150 words long. The odds were entirely against me. No one wants to publish short stories, least of all by an unknown. And stories that took less time to read than to suppress a sneeze? I was chancing it, I knew.

I began to produce these ultra-short stories – sawn-off tales, as I call them – when I was commuting from Manchester to Liverpool: a 50-minute journey, often elongated by windscreen-wiper failure, fights on the train, or getting stuck behind the "stopper". But I had a book, as did most passengers. One day while ruminating on the number of train journeys it took to read a novel, I began to wonder how long it would take to write one. I decided on 500 words a trip – there and back was 1,000 words a day – taking just four months to reach a respectable novel length of 80,000 words.

So the next day I boarded the 8.12am at Manchester Piccadilly, rushed for a table seat, and, instead of whipping out my paperback, set up my laptop and began tapping away. But after a couple of weeks it was clear that the novel wasn't working. What I'd produced was a set of separate stories each around a 1,000 words long.

I was about to ditch the idea when I heard about a new website called the Phone Book, which needed 150-word stories to send out as text messages. All that was needed was a bit of editing. Initially, as I hacked away at my over-stuffed paragraphs, watching the sentences I once loved hit the floor, I worried. It felt destructive, wielding the axe to my carefully sculpted texts; like demolishing a building from the inside, without it falling down on top of you. Yet the results surprised me. The story could live much more cheaply than I'd realised, with little deterioration in lifestyle. Sure, it had been severely downsized, but it was all the better for it. There was more room to think, more space for the original idea to resonate, fewer unnecessary words to wade through. The story had become a nimble, nippy little thing that could turn on a sixpence and accelerate quickly away. And any tendencies to go all purple – if it sounds like writing, rewrite it, as Elmore Leonard said – were almost completely eliminated. Adjectives were anthrax.

It worked. By the time I got to Birchwood I had it down to 500 words, by Warrington to 300, at Widnes 200 and as the train drew in to Liverpool Lime Street there it was – 150 words, half a page of story; with a beginning, a middle and an end, with character development and descriptions, everything contained in a Polly Pocket world.

These stories, small as they were, had a huge appetite; little fat monsters that gobbled up ideas like chicken nuggets. The habit of reducing text could get out of hand too; I once took away the last two sentences of a story and realised I had reduced it to a blank page.

Luckily the Phone Book liked my stories and published them, and I continued to churn them out each day on the train, while the train guard announced the delays, the tea trolley rolled past, and a succession of passengers sat next to me, reading over my shoulder.

A week after sending the manuscript to Salt Publishing I got a call from Jen, their editor. They wanted to publish it, and quickly. All I needed was a quote for the cover, a photo for the sleeve, and we were off.

I don't commute that route any longer – my new job covers the whole north west of England involving train trips to Blackpool, Lancaster, east Lancashire, west Cumbria and Cheshire, so my stories have grown quite a bit longer. But last time I was on a train to Lime Street the guard's identity badge took me right back – because that's where I got the names for all of my characters.

How to write flash fiction

1. Start in the middle.

You don't have time in this very short form to set scenes and build character.

2. Don't use too many characters.

You won't have time to describe your characters when you're writing ultra-short. Even a name may not be useful in a micro-story unless it conveys a lot of additional story information or saves you words elsewhere.

3. Make sure the ending isn't at the end.

In micro-fiction there's a danger that much of the engagement with the story takes place when the reader has stopped reading. To avoid this, place the denouement in the middle of the story, allowing us time, as the rest of the text spins out, to consider the situation along with the narrator, and ruminate on the decisions his characters have taken. If you're not careful, micro-stories can lean towards punchline-based or "pull back to reveal" endings which have a one-note, gag-a-minute feel – the drum roll and cymbal crash. Avoid this by giving us almost all the information we need in the first few lines, using the next few paragraphs to take us on a journey below the surface.

4. Sweat your title.

Make it work for a living.

5. Make your last line ring like a bell.

The last line is not the ending – we had that in the middle, remember – but it should leave the reader with something which will continue to sound after the story has finished. It should not complete the story but rather take us into a new place; a place where we can continue to think about the ideas in the story and wonder what it all meant. A story that gives itself up in the last line is no story at all, and after reading a piece of good micro-fiction we should be struggling to understand it, and, in this way, will grow to love it as a beautiful enigma. And this is also another of the dangers of micro-fiction; micro-stories can be too rich and offer too much emotion in a powerful one-off injection, overwhelming the reader, flooding the mind. A few micro-shorts now and again will amaze and delight – one after another and you feel like you've been run over by a lorry full of fridges.

6. Write long, then go short.

Create a lump of stone from which you chip out your story sculpture. Stories can live much more cheaply than you realise, with little deterioration in lifestyle. But do beware: writing micro-fiction is for some like holidaying in a caravan – the grill may well fold out to become an extra bed, but you wouldn't sleep in a fold-out grill for the rest of your life.

Off you go!

  • Short stories

Most viewed

  • Manage Profile
  • Boards Login

Donate to SFWA

10 Hands-On Tips For Writing Flash Fiction

By Maria Haskins

Writing flash fiction—commonly defined as a story of no more than 1,000 or 1,500 words—can seem daunting at first try. Or addictive if you’ve already caught the flash-writing bug. These tips are based on my love for flash as a reader and writer, and I want to emphasize that they are tips , not rules, because the beauty of flash is how much you can play around with it.

  • Use your title effectively

Titles can be hard, but they can also do a lot of work for you. They can anchor your story in a specific time and place and do some worldbuilding (in addition to hooking a reader). For example, a title like “How I Survived the Alien Invasion on Ganymede,” does some serious worldbuilding before your story even starts.

  • Establish the premise up front

A great opening line is always nice, but when you have fewer words to tell your story, a strong opening is even more important. This doesn’t mean your story has to start in medias res with an action scene, but I try for openings that are intriguing in style, voice, or content while revealing something interesting about character, plot, setting, or (best of all) all three.

  • Miniaturize your world building

Writing flash is a great way to practice giving readers just enough world building while avoiding both long-winded info-dumps and being too cryptic and obtuse. This can be challenging when writing speculative flash, but one of my favorite ways to do it is by using descriptions. Referring to something as “the dragon-burned city,” or “the android kingdom of Mars” says a lot with few words. 

  • Consider your cast

If I have trouble with a story’s word count, one of the first places I look is the number of characters. Each character requires some form of introduction or description, usually in addition to dialogue and actions, so it’s useful to consider how many characters your story really needs. 

It’s easy to use a lot of words on dialogue (and dialogue tags). Some great flash stories are nothing but dialogue, so I’m not saying “no dialogue”! But if you’re struggling with word count, it might be a good place to start whittling.

  • Whittle carefully

Some stories flow naturally into flash size as you write them (and it does get easier with practice), but some stories must be whittled down to size. That does not mean your story has to be terse or shorn of beautiful prose. Flash readily lends itself to evocative and lyrical language. One way to figure out where to whittle is to scrutinize the beginning and end of your story. What is essential to get the reader from A to B, and what is essential for your story to keep the voice and style you want? Often, you need less than you think.

  • Consider epistolary

Flash is a great place for epistolary fiction. Writing your flash story in the form of letters, text messages, diary entries, online chats, lists, and so on can help you condense your story while still making it both engaging and compelling.

  • It doesn’t have to be small

By its very nature, flash lends itself to stories that capture contained moments in space and time, but a flash story doesn’t have to be small in scope. I sometimes think of flash as zooming in on a specific aspect of a bigger world, where some things fall outside the frame. You can zoom in on a character, an emotional conundrum, a dramatic moment. But you can also tell an epic story (in miniature) that covers a lot of space and time—the rise and fall of a galactic empire, or a relationship—while smaller details blur into the background.

  • Use circles and twists

One of my favorite literary devices in flash is the circle-back ending: where you revisit a sentence, or sentiment from the beginning of your story at the end, illuminating it in a different light. And of course, there are the twists. My favorite kind of twist is when a story seems to be about one thing, until you realize it was about something else all along. A twist is most effective if hidden in plain sight in the text, not a random, deus-ex-machina rabbit pulled out of a hat. When writing a twist-story, I often think of it as two stories: the story I’m really telling, and the story I want the reader to think I’m telling.

Flash is the perfect place to play around with your writing. Try something you haven’t tried before: a new style, format, or point of view. Writing flash has helped me get out of the creative doldrums many times, and I hope it can do the same for others.  

writing flash fiction

Her short story collection Six Dreams About the Train is out now from Trepidatio Publishing. Maria’s work has appeared in The Best Horror of the Year Volume 13, Strange Horizons, Black Static, Interzone, Fireside, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Flash Fiction Online, Mythic Delirium, Shimmer, Cast of Wonders, and elsewhere. Find out more on her website, mariahaskins.com , or follow her on Twitter @mariahaskins .

Featured Book

writing flash fiction

In this thriller across 19th-21st century Britain, Canada, USA…Alex Campbell, a Canadian mixed-race female musician with a conflicted identity, a tragic past and repressed supernatural abilities, is fighting a supremacist cult through Time.

More Titles by Members

Featured Member

writing flash fiction

Author Website

Susan Forest

Susan Forest is an award-winning editor and an author of over 25 short stories and Aurora Award-winners Bursts of Fire and Flights of Marigold. Gathering of Ghosts, confronts issues of addictions in an epic fantasy world of intrigue and betrayal.

More Member Authors

Authority Self-Publishing

How To Write Flash Fiction

Writing flash fiction, as any writer of short stories can tell you, isn’t easy.

Not only do you face the challenge of writing within the flash fiction word count, but also your story has to keep the reader fully engaged from the title to the last sentence — and beyond.

If you want to know how to write flash fiction, learn from those who do it well.

Then use a list of inspiring flash fiction prompts to help you get started writing your own.

  • What is Flash Fiction?

Flash fiction is the name given to short stories of (generally) fewer than 1,000 words.

It’s not the limited word count that makes good flash fiction so powerful so much as what goes into enforcing it.

Writing a memorable story of up to 100, 500, or 1,000 words takes a degree of discipline and resourcefulness that few authors have reached (or bother to).

If you’ve ever caught yourself dwelling on a short story long after you finished reading it, you know what I mean.

It’s different from the way you feel after reading a long novel with characters you’ve become attached to.

It’s different because you get just a peek into the main character’s life and character.

And that peek somehow has a deeper hold on your imagination than the hours you spent getting to know an epic fantasy character — or the main character in a cozy mystery series.

Your mind is busy exploring the what ifs and whys related to that one scene in the flash fiction character’s life.

It’s one specific scene, but it contains multitudes.

And therein lies its power.

How to Write Flash Fiction

How long is flash fiction, flash fiction mistakes, flash fiction examples, flash fiction practice.

Keep in mind you’re working to keep your story’s word count under 1,000 — and possibly under half that.

You only have room for one main character, one critical scene, and one plot.

You also get one subtle overall theme and one strong emotion.

I can’t overstate how important it is that you choose them well.

Ask experienced flash fiction authors and editors for the best flash fiction tips, and they’ll likely give you some version of the following:

  • Start in the middle. Grab your reader’s attention with the meat of the story: the main conflict. There isn’t time for backstory, stage-setting, or character-building.
  • Use no more characters than necessary. Every character should earn their place in a work of flash fiction. If the story works without a character, cut him out.
  • Use no more words than necessary. Go easy on the adjectives and even easier on the adverbs. Use stronger verbs and nouns. And cut anything you don’t need.
  • Don’t end your story at the end. With flash fiction, you want the denouement to come before the end, so there’s some time to ruminate on your character’s decision.
  • Use first person or limited third person point of view (POV). Too many perspectives will muddy the message of your story. Choose one and stay close to it.
  • Make sure your main character has an arc. The main conflict should change the character in some way. With flash fiction, a flat arc makes for a flat story.
  • Choose a small idea rather than a big one. A small idea with laser focus (rather than a big idea with 360 degree view) is best suited to flash fiction. Keep it simple.
  • Let the title do the heavy lifting. The title provides critical information for your story. Brainstorm a list of at least ten possibilities, and go from there.
  • Make the last line worth remembering . Make it ring in the minds of your readers, like the song of tuning fork, for hours (if not days) afterward.
  • Write freely, then keep only what your story needs. Let the words flow while you write the story. Then cut everything that doesn’t need to be there.

Flash fiction word count usually falls under 1,000 words, and for shorter sub-types, the target can be 500, 250, or even shorter.

If you write microfiction on Twitter, you’re limited to 280 characters.

And if you think that’s short, remember Hemingway’s famous six-word story: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”

There really is no set minimum for flash fiction length — though flash fiction challenges don’t go lower than six words.

And depending on your audience or on the particular writing challenge, the maximum word count can vary widely.

Some will write stories of a length that fits neatly in their commute to work. Others will brainstorm ideas and focus on one a week — writing the story and then taking a few days to trim and polish it.

Any one of the mistakes listed below will weaken your story, so please avoid them when writing for publication or for a flash fiction challenge.

  • Throwaway endings that cheat the reader — Just one story with an ending like, “And then I woke up” is enough to destroy your credibility as a storyteller.
  • Not enough trimming — Just because the sentence is “too pretty to die” doesn’t mean it belongs in your story. If your story works without it, cut it out.
  • Poems disguised as flash fiction — They’re not the same. Prose poems can sometimes look like flash fiction, but they lack a plot and character arc.
  • Strong story or character with weak ending — Strong characters (and plots) deserve strong endings. Don’t let them (or your reader) down.
  • Crazy, over-the-top surrealism — This falls under the “If it’s not necessary to your story, cut it out” rule. Surrealism isn’t bad, but it shouldn’t be there for its own sake.
  • Purple prose — Verbose or flowery descriptions will ruin any story. Use language that shows rather than tells, and do your best to cut all unnecessary modifiers.
  • Moralistic story line — Don’t write a story to proselytize your readers or rally them to your cause. Flash fiction is about storytelling — not propaganda.
  • Trite or overdone story line — If you’re going to use a popular theme (like suicide), you’ll have to work extra hard to make it stand out.
  • Superficial diversity — We need more diversity in our fiction, but don’t just throw it in there to score points. Do your research to make it authentic and relatable.

The best flash fiction stays with its reader for days, if not longer. The shorter length doesn’t compromise the story; it concentrates and amplifies it.

It leaves no room for words that aren’t essential to the story and its purpose.

For that reason, writing flash fiction is a challenge even for many experienced fiction writers.

Not only do they have to focus on one idea — a single, life-altering decision — and make it unforgettable.

They also have to edit as though every unnecessary word is a drop of poison in the veins of their readers.

Here are a few shining examples of flash fiction for you to check out. Learn from those who do it better than most. Then make some time to play with your own story ideas.

  • “Widow’s First Year” — Joyce Carol Oates (4 words: “I kept myself alive.”)
  • “Give It Up” — Franz Kafka (134 words)
  • “Asthma Attack” — Etgar Keret (127 words)
  • “The Huntress” — Sofia Samatar (374 words)
  • “Sticks” — George Saunders (392 words)
  • “Unnecessary Things” — Tatyana Tolstaya (662 words)
  • “Girl” — Jamaica Kincaid (681 words)
  • “John Redding Goes to Sea” — Zora Neale Hurston (741 words)
  • “This is How You Fail to Ghost Him” — Victoria McCurdy (949 words)
  • “Last Long Night” — Lina Rather (992 words)
  • “The Comedian” — Yoko Morganstern (994 words)

If you’re looking for some incentive to practice, try writing for one of the following:

  • Twitter Microfiction and #vss365 (very short shorts) challenge (up to 280 characters). There’s no pay, but it’s good practice and can help you get the attention of publishers as well as fellow writers.
  • Drabbles are flash fiction stories of exactly 100 words. Drabblecast buys these as well as some longer flash fiction.
  • Toasted Cheese wants stories of 500 (or fewer) words for their online journal.
  • If you enjoy writing experimental flash fiction, Spilled Milk takes stories of 750 words or fewer.
  • And EveryDayFiction takes flash fiction stories (up to 1,000 words) of any genre .

More Related Articles:

How To Write A Nonfiction Book: Your Step-By-Step Guide

Everything You Need To Know About Fiction Vs Non-Fiction

48 Flash Fiction Writing Prompts

Now that you have a better understanding of how to write flash fiction, do you have any story ideas you’re itching to try today?

Get those words down in some form before they slip away. They have a way of doing that.

The good news? Those first scribblings about your story idea don’t have to sound inspired. They just have to get you started.

More good news? Flash fiction can be any genre you like. It doesn’t have to be highbrow to be worth writing (or reading). So, write what you love. Then chip and polish away.

And, if you feel so inspired, share your finished stories with others.

Want to learn how to write flash fiction? Here's your complete guide to writing concise and compelling short prose that will leave your readers wanting more.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

When You Write

What Is Flash Fiction: Definition, Characteristics, And Examples

Do you have a love for writing but find yourself short on time? Do you yearn to create stories that pack a punch in just a few pages? Then flash fiction may be just the genre for you.

Flash fiction, also known as microfiction or sudden fiction, is a style of writing that emphasizes brevity, intensity, and a twist ending. In the world of flash fiction, every word counts. With a limited amount of space, writers must craft stories that are concise yet impactful.

The challenge is to create a complete narrative that captures the reader’s attention and leaves a lasting impression in just a few hundred words. This is where the art of flash fiction comes into play. By mastering the craft, writers can create stories that are both innovative and memorable.

So, let’s dive into the world of flash fiction and discover what makes this genre so unique.

Key Takeaways

  • Flash fiction is a genre of writing that emphasizes brevity, intensity, and a twist ending in just a few hundred words.
  • Writing flash fiction can help writers improve their skills, generate new ideas, and overcome writer’s block, and it can also be used as a therapeutic tool.
  • Famous flash fiction authors include Neil Gaiman, Ernest Hemingway, and Margaret Atwood, and there are many short story collections and online publications that showcase this genre.
  • Flash fiction challenges traditional storytelling conventions and offers a refreshing and innovative approach to creative expression, inspiring and challenging both readers and writers.

What is Flash Fiction?

You might think flash fiction is just a short story, but it’s so much more than that – it’s a burst of creativity and emotion that leaves you breathless.

Flash fiction is a form of short story writing that packs a punch in a limited number of words, typically ranging from 100 to 1,500 words. It’s a genre that challenges writers to be concise, yet still convey a powerful message or emotion to their readers.

The benefits of writing flash fiction are numerous. It allows writers to flex their creative muscles in a short amount of time, experimenting with different styles, tones, and themes. It also helps writers to hone their storytelling skills, as they must convey a complete story arc in a limited amount of space.

Additionally, flash fiction can be a great way to generate new ideas or overcome writer’s block, as the brevity of the genre allows for quick experimentation and exploration.

The Art of Flash Fiction

Don’t think you have enough time to write a story? Think again. The beauty of flash fiction lies in its brevity, allowing writers to craft complete and compelling narratives in just a few hundred words.

Writing techniques play a big role in crafting flash fiction. You need to be able to convey a complete story with just enough words, while still creating an emotional connection with the reader. Creative inspiration is also necessary to come up with a unique and captivating story that will keep the reader engaged.

The intensity of flash fiction is also key to its success. The use of vivid language and sensory details can create a powerful emotional impact on the reader. Additionally, a twist ending is a hallmark of flash fiction. The unexpected twist at the end can leave a lasting impression on the reader, making the story memorable and impactful.

So, if you think you don’t have enough time to write, try your hand at flash fiction and see where your creativity takes you.

Examples of Flash Fiction

As you explore the world of flash fiction, you’ll encounter some famous authors who specialize in this genre.

Short story collections like ‘Flash Fiction Forward’ and ‘Sudden Fiction’ are great resources for discovering new writers and styles.

You can also find plenty of online publications that feature flash fiction, including Flash Fiction Online and SmokeLong Quarterly.

Famous Flash Fiction Authors

Many popular authors have tried their hand at writing flash fiction, including Neil Gaiman, Ernest Hemingway, and Margaret Atwood. These famous flash fiction authors have made a significant impact on literature by proving that a story can be impactful, even if it’s only a few hundred words.

They have showcased their incredible writing skills by crafting stories that are concise, intense, and have a twist ending. Neil Gaiman’s ‘We Can Get Them For You Wholesale’ and Ernest Hemingway’s ‘For Sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn’ are both excellent examples of flash fiction.

Margaret Atwood’s ‘Death by Landscape’ is another fantastic example of how a story can be both haunting and thought-provoking in only a few hundred words. As a reader, it’s fascinating to see how these authors can tell a captivating story within such a limited space.

It’s no wonder that flash fiction has become such a popular genre among readers who have a subconscious desire for innovation and brevity.

Short Story Collections

You may want to check out Stephen King’s ‘Night Shift’ collection if you enjoy horror stories with unexpected twists. For example, ‘The Boogeyman’ will keep you on the edge of your seat with its chilling ending.

Here are four reasons why short story collections like this one are worth reading:

  • They offer a quick escape from reality, perfect for those who don’t have a lot of time to commit to reading a full-length novel.
  • They allow for experimentation and innovation in storytelling, as writers can explore different genres and styles without the pressure of a longer work.
  • They provide a unique opportunity for character development, as authors must create complex and relatable characters in a limited amount of space.
  • They often feature a variety of authors and perspectives, making them a great way to discover new voices and expand your literary horizons.

When it comes to flash fiction vs novels, the main difference lies in their length and structure. Flash fiction is all about brevity and intensity, packing a powerful punch in just a few hundred words.

Novels, on the other hand, have the space to develop complex plots and characters over hundreds of pages. While both have their benefits, short stories can be a great way to challenge yourself as a reader and writer and to experience the satisfaction of a complete narrative in just a few sittings.

Online Flash Fiction Publications

Exploring online flash fiction publications is like diving into a treasure trove of bite-sized stories that transport you to different worlds and leave you wanting more.

With flash fiction trends on the rise, more and more online publications are featuring this unique style of storytelling. As a reader, you can benefit from the brevity of flash fiction, allowing you to read a complete story in just a few minutes. The intensity of the narrative also leaves a lasting impression, as you are fully immersed in the world of the story from the first sentence. And the twist ending adds an element of surprise that’ll keep you thinking long after you’ve finished reading.

As a writer, flash fiction presents its own set of challenges. With a limited word count, every word must count. You must be able to create a fully developed story arc in a fraction of the space of a traditional short story.

However, this challenge can also be a benefit, as it forces you to be concise and deliberate in your writing. And with the growing popularity of flash fiction, there’re more opportunities than ever to submit your work and share your unique voice with the world.

Flash Fiction Contests and Communities

Joining flash fiction contests and communities can be a great way to sharpen your writing skills and connect with like-minded writers. As you participate in these contests and communities, you’ll be exposed to different flash fiction writing prompts that will challenge you to think creatively and write concisely.

Here are some benefits of participating in flash fiction contests:

  • You’ll receive feedback from judges and other writers that’ll help you improve your writing.
  • You’ll have the opportunity to network with other writers and potentially make connections that can help you in your writing career.
  • You’ll be exposed to different styles and approaches to writing flash fiction, which can help you develop your own unique voice.
  • You’ll have a chance to win prizes and gain recognition for your writing.
  • You’ll have fun and feel a sense of accomplishment as you complete each contest prompt.

As you participate in flash fiction communities, you’ll be able to share your writing with others and receive feedback that can help you improve your craft. So, don’t be afraid to take the plunge and join a flash fiction contest or community today!

Why Flash Fiction Matters

Imagine being able to tell a captivating story in just a few short paragraphs – that’s why flash fiction matters.

With its brevity, intensity, and twist ending, flash fiction challenges traditional storytelling conventions and offers a refreshing and innovative approach to creative expression.

For readers, flash fiction offers a quick escape into a different world, a chance to experience a complete story in just a few minutes.

For writers, it provides an opportunity to hone their skills, to experiment with different styles and forms, and to develop their voice as a storyteller. Additionally, flash fiction can be used as a therapeutic tool, allowing writers to process and express their emotions in a condensed and powerful way.

Overall, the significance of flash fiction lies in its ability to inspire and challenge both readers and writers alike, pushing us to think outside the box and embrace new possibilities for storytelling.

The popularity of flash fiction is on the rise, with both readers and writers showing a growing interest in the genre.

But why does flash fiction matter? It offers a creative challenge to both readers and writers, forcing them to craft a story in a limited amount of space while still delivering a satisfying and surprising conclusion.

It’s a genre that demands attention and creativity, and with the rise of social media and online communities, it’s never been easier to share and enjoy flash fiction.

So go ahead, try your hand at writing some flash fiction, or check out some of the amazing examples and communities out there. Who knows, you might just become a flash fiction aficionado.

Recommended Reading...

Why short stories are important for readers and writers alike, why do authors use short stories the advantages of this genre, why are short stories so hard to write understanding the challenges, what is a novelette exploring the short story genre.

Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for you.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

© 2024 When You Write

Fusilli Writing

Flash fiction – short with a twist.

writing flash fiction

“Creative writing can be considered as art, and as such, it’s the emotional response to it which makes it good or not. I want to read stories that make me laugh, cry, sit back and think ‘sh*t’ – any strong emotion rather than mundane perfection.”

C Tattersall 2021

Fusilli Writing is named after a shape of pasta because that’s just how we like our stories – short and with a twist.

Flash fiction is a whole story with a very limited word count. Definitions vary but we consider flash fiction to be less than 1,000 words. There is no minimum word count but the shortest stories are usually 6 words.

Fusilli Writing is created by Chris Tattersall a prolific writer who you can read more about, including his flash fiction output in the about page .

Flash Fiction Competition

We run an international flash fiction competition for stories up to 200 words that contain a twist. Entry is just £2.50

The winner will receive £30 and publication on the website, with all non-winning shortlisted stories having their entry fee refunded. See our competition page .

writing flash fiction

Educational Resources

We now also offer free resources:

  • Key aspects of a good flash fiction story
  • Micro fiction: Beginning, middle and end – a theory of micro fiction construction
  • ‘Show’ don’t ‘Tell’
  • Writing plot twists in flash fiction
  • Entering writing competitions – six top tips

We can also run workshops related to any of the resources, just get in touch.

Please follow our Facebook or Twitter accounts (below) for updates.

Our Privacy Policy can be seen here.

Share this:

' src=

  • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
  • Subscribe Subscribed
  • Copy shortlink
  • Report this content
  • View post in Reader
  • Manage subscriptions
  • Collapse this bar

IMAGES

  1. 13 Tips for Writing Flash Fiction

    writing flash fiction

  2. The Ultimate Guide To Flash Fiction (And How To Write Your Own

    writing flash fiction

  3. 6 Steps to Writing a Solid Flash Fiction Story

    writing flash fiction

  4. How to Write Flash Fiction: 11 Steps (with Pictures)

    writing flash fiction

  5. How to Write Flash Fiction: 11 Steps (with Pictures)

    writing flash fiction

  6. How to Write Flash Fiction: 15 Steps (with Pictures)

    writing flash fiction

VIDEO

  1. Making a Pokémon Emerald Clone in Godot

  2. Flash Fiction Writing Challenge! (Class Activity)

  3. Field Guide to Writing Flash Fiction (review)

  4. The Haunting Flash

  5. Gerard McKeown

COMMENTS

  1. How to Write Flash Fiction Stories

    Flash fiction example: As the North Wind Howled by Yu Hua. There are only two scenes: when the narrator's door is kicked down, and when they arrive at their friend's house. Each scene forces the narrator to make certain decisions and observations, which builds the story's mood and characterization.

  2. Writing 101: What Is Flash Fiction? Learn How To Write Flash Fiction in

    Written by MasterClass Last updated: Sep 2, 2022 • 3 min read Flash fiction is a favored genre among the English-speaking world's most celebrated writers for its ability to convey deep truths and universal human emotions in just a few short paragraphs.

  3. What is Flash Fiction? And How to Write It Yourself

    Flash fiction is a type of prose narrative that takes the form of very brief, self-contained stories. Its word count ranges from 5 to 1,000 words on average, and tops out at 1,500. Also called a short short, micro-story, or nanotale, a work of flash fiction isn't just a pared-back short story.

  4. The Ultimate Guide To Flash Fiction (And How To Write Your Own)

    Learn what flash fiction is, how to write it, and where to submit your work for publication. Discover the history, subgenres, and tips of this popular form of creative writing that requires economy, honesty, and succinctness.

  5. How to Write Flash Fiction: 15 Steps (with Pictures)

    1 Pick a genre for your writing. Flash fiction can be in any genre you'd like, but popular genres to choose from include romance, thriller, horror, and science fiction. Each genre has its own tropes to help you shape a unique story. Brainstorm the type of narrative you'd like to write and like to read so you can start thinking of ideas. [1]

  6. How to Write Flash Fiction: Short Stories in 1,500 Words or Fewer

    Flash fiction, sometimes called microfiction or sudden fiction, is a type of writing that tells a story in at most 1,500 words. They can also be much shorter. Flash fiction is shorter than a short story, which can be as long as 10,000 words, and it can be of any genre.

  7. Writing Flash Fiction: 5 Quick Tips for Mini Masterpieces

    1. Have a beginning, middle, and end While there doesn't have to be a lot going on in a work of flash fiction, it should still have all the mainstays of a story, i.e. a hook, a conflict, and an ending. Starting at the flashpoint (the center of the conflict) is a common way to kick off a short short.

  8. Writing Flash Fiction: A Complete Guide

    Flash fiction is also known as fast fiction, sudden fiction, postcard fiction, a micro-story, a nanotale, a short short, amongst other names. So what exactly is flash fiction? In a nutshell it simply means very short fiction. The longest flashes are generally considered to be 1,000 words, the shortest 6 words.

  9. How To Write Flash Fiction: Essential Tips And Techniques

    Flash fiction, also known as micro-fiction or sudden fiction, is a genre of short story that typically contains only a few hundred words. It's a form of storytelling that requires the writer to be concise, creative, and make every word count.

  10. Field Guide To Writing Flash Fiction: Tips And Techniques For Beginners

    Flash fiction requires concise and impactful writing, with every word counting towards conveying a lot of information in a short amount of space. Crafting an effective opening line is crucial for hooking the reader, while sensory details and structure can keep them engaged throughout the story. Character development involves exploring backstory ...

  11. What Is Flash Fiction? Meaning, Characteristics, and Examples

    A flash fiction story—sometimes called a short short or nanofiction—is one that has a complete plot in under 1,500 words. Some flash fiction pieces consist of as few as five or six words. But no matter how short, flash fiction stories still contain the main elements of a plot. There's a beginning, a middle, and an end.

  12. Stories in your pocket: how to write flash fiction

    David Gaffney 16 May is the first ever day celebrating the art of micro-fiction. But what are the pros and cons of ultra short stories - and what's the secret of writing them? Follow David...

  13. How to Write Flash Fiction (5 Essential Elements)

    A flash fiction is a short story that is typically under 1,500~ words. Very small flash fictions (under 75~ words) are called micro fictions. One of the most well-known flashes is the micro fiction: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn."

  14. 10 Hands-On Tips For Writing Flash Fiction

    Flash is a great place for epistolary fiction. Writing your flash story in the form of letters, text messages, diary entries, online chats, lists, and so on can help you condense your story while still making it both engaging and compelling. By its very nature, flash lends itself to stories that capture contained moments in space and time, but ...

  15. How To Write Flash Fiction

    January 28, 2020 by Barrie Davenport Writing flash fiction, as any writer of short stories can tell you, isn't easy. Not only do you face the challenge of writing within the flash fiction word count, but also your story has to keep the reader fully engaged from the title to the last sentence — and beyond.

  16. What Is Flash Fiction: Definition, Characteristics, And Examples

    Flash fiction, also known as microfiction or sudden fiction, is a style of writing that emphasizes brevity, intensity, and a twist ending. In the world of flash fiction, every word counts. With a limited amount of space, writers must craft stories that are concise yet impactful. The challenge is to create a complete narrative that captures the ...

  17. How to Write Flash Fiction

    Flash fiction is a fun and vibrant form that tells a story in under 1500 words, and often much less! This very short short story can often have more in commo...

  18. 25 Flash Fiction Stories Worth (A Small Amount) of Your Time

    Flash fiction is one of the most fascinating creative mediums in this day and age: incredibly difficult, but also incredibly rewarding. After all, flash fiction requires writers to effectively cramming a whole narrative into 1,500 words or less. But when writers rise to this challenge, the results can be exquisite.

  19. 12 Top Tips For Writing Flash Fiction

    Write A Powerful Title. With my own writing, I often start with the title as that can ignite all sorts of ideas for the story. With so few words to play with in flash fiction, your title is a part of the story. Make it catchy, memorable, and in keeping with the theme. You can even be clever with it.

  20. 7 Flash Fiction Prompts. How (and Why) to Write Flash Fiction

    5. Not the Gift of the Magi. Inspired by: "Slides and Swings," by Neal Bonser. Write a story about a gift or minor argument that leads to the downfall of a relationship. Allow the setting to ...

  21. Writing Flash Fiction with Katey Schultz

    How can you write a compelling story in less than 750 words? Katey Shultz, author and teacher, offers her advice on how this can be done by utilizing the 5 "...

  22. 2024 February Flash Fiction Challenge: Day 21

    2024 February Flash Fiction Challenge: Day 21. Write a piece of flash fiction each day of February with the February Flash Fiction Challenge, led by Managing Editor Moriah Richard. Each day, receive a prompt, example story, and write your own. Today's prompt is to write a story about someone answering a call.

  23. Flash Fiction: Writing the Short-Short Story

    In the first volume of Sudden Fiction, the editor Robert Shapard writes, "It may well be that the new popularity of the short-short story began in the spirit of experiment and wordplay in the 1960's.". In this class, students will approach writing flash fiction as an opportunity to experiment with approach, form, structure and style.

  24. Fusilli Writing

    Fusilli Writing is named after a shape of pasta because that's just how we like our stories - short and with a twist. Flash fiction is a whole story with a very limited word count. Definitions vary but we consider flash fiction to be less than 1,000 words. There is no minimum word count but the shortest stories are usually 6 words.