How To Write Flash Fiction

First Method

1. Write a novel.
2. Locate the most important scene.
3. Locate the most important moment of the scene.
4. Delete everything else.

Second Method

1. Just write that most important moment.

I recommend the second method, and I say this as someone who has written a truckload of flash fiction. Of course, a truckload of flash fiction is like a truckload of ear buds–mostly packaging. Still.

Here’s an example, which I am writing on the spur of the moment. Ear buds. Let’s start with ear buds. Makes me think about my daughter when she was a teen and my grandson when he was a teen. So let’s have a teen. Could do a parent or grandparent, but let’s have a teen. The teen is wearing ear buds. Why? Duh–to listen to music. Why? “Just because” isn’t a story, so let’s give him/her a reason. Okay, I’m going to make this a boy. He’s drowning out his environment. So let’s call the piece Soundtrack

SOUNDTRACK
I tuck the ear buds in as tight as they’ll go. The lead singer screams, the guitars wail. One day, I’ll have a growth spurt, and then it’ll be Dad. For now, it’s the singer, the guitars and my Mom.

So there you have it: a few lines with a story behind it and a story leading from it, encapsulated in a moment. Flash.

WRITING PROMPT: Go thou and do likewise.

MA