Flash Fiction--An Easy Way To Give Your Stories Muscle
Posted: Saturday, March 13, 2010
by Marty RicKard
Flash fiction is the best way I know to hone your craft. If, in less than 100 words, you can tell an intriguing story with a satisfying start, middle and ending, you are a writer.
The key to excellent fiction is to convey, but don't tell. Good writing does not do all the work; it leaves much to the reader's imagination.
Following is an example of award-winning Flash Fiction. Read it and get the general message, then go back and re-read each sentence. Notice what I tell you and what you are invited to infer.
A LETTER TO THE CHIEF
by Marty Rickard
Dear Chief:
Please accept my resignation effective with this letter. Cop work was fun, but writing is funner. I just deposited the $100K advance on my first book (that was really fun). It's called, The Secret Life Of My Former Boss . You promised to kill me if I wrote it, remember? I won't waste space here calling you a stupid, unmitigated ass. That's in the book. Perhaps someone can read it to you. My next book, Sexual Positions On The Precinct Desk , is in the works. Thanks for all your help.
Former Detective Brock
Marty RicKard Bio
Marty RicKard attended William Penn College , Iowa State University and University of Southern Mississippi , from which he holds a BS degree in journalism and photojournalism. He also has a Masters Degree in photography. Marty was a technical writer for White Motor Company, and has worked for the Charles City Press, Mason City Globe-Gazette, and Davenport Times-Democrat. He owned New Sharon Star, where he was twice named Iowa Master Columnist. For ten years, Martys regular column appeared in the Professional Photographer magazine. He has been published in many other magazines, including Golf Digest, Resource Magazine, Picture, Range Finder, and Darkroom. In addition to his writing credits, Marty has won numerous photography awards, has lectured in 48 states, and has traveled internationally as lecturer, and judge. He was one of thirty from the U.S. to participate in the first cultural exchange with China . He was a regular columnist for Lens Magazine, and is full-time writer of fiction and poetry. He has published three books
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