OCTOBER - Flash Fiction Writing

OCTOBER - Flash Fiction, less than 1000 words.

Exercise: Flash fiction is a very short story, usually under 1,000 words, that captures a single intense moment or feeling. 

  • Start in the middle: Jump straight into the action (in media res) rather than spending precious words on long introductions or scene-setting. 
  • Limit your characters: Stick to one or two characters so you don't waste time on physical descriptions or complex backstories. 
  • Focus on a single moment: Choose one brief interaction, conflict, or central image instead of trying to tell an entire life story. 
  • Make every word work: Treat each sentence like poetry. Cut out repetitive phrases, filter words, and slow descriptions. 
  • Use a powerful title: Let your title do the heavy lifting for world-building, time, or place so the story text can stay lean. 
  • Leave room for the reader: Like an iceberg, flash fiction only shows the tip. Trust your reader to fill in the missing pieces from powerful hints. 
  • End with impact: Give the final line a resonance that lingers, rather than forcing a cheap or cliché punchline.
Write your October piece using Flash Cricket:

Here is a list of twenty random words. Don’t read them too closely - but cut and paste onto a fresh document, save and close. When you have twenty minutes to spare, make a cuppa or something stronger, and get ready to write. Only when you are ready, open the document, glance at that first word, and start writing, immediately. No planning in advance. And every few sentences, pick up the next word, incorporating that into the flow. Make it happen - make those words fit - it will feel absolutely nuts, but it is only a bit of fun - and you will end up with unplanned, surprising twists and turns, strange connections.

Shadows

Flint

Shimmer

Stealth

Jealousy

Cashew

Priest

Oil

Mother

Steely

Champagne

Bergamot

Wool

Mississippi

Tiger

Keyring

Hamburger

Candlewax

Absolution

Coast

Who knows, maybe a fascinating character will have wandered into the room while you weren’t looking. When you have a first draft, pare it down to 1000 words or less. If you like, do it again and note the differences.