Crafting Micro & Flash Fiction
Flash fiction is generally defined as stories of 1,000-words or fewer, whereas micro fiction is even shorter, generally 250-words or fewer. Both forms are perfect for an increasing number of contemporary readers with less time and attention to spare than ever before.
With these lower word counts, fewer traditional storytelling techniques are available to the writer. Given this, how do authors of very short fiction compress so much meaning and resonance into so few words? How do they make a story that is just 500 words, or even 250, feel complete? And what kind of writing process generates micros and flashes?
This workshop will begin with a group discussion of a handful of model stories (provided in advance). Attendees will then generate story ideas, opening sentences, and at least one complete rough draft in response to prompts and exercises. Those willing to share their work will receive positive feedback for later revision, and all will leave with a handout listing good publications to target for submissions.
The workshop will close with tips on how to develop a writing practice designed to produce micros and flashes.
Claire Guyton is a Lewiston writer, editor, and writing coach. She ran Hunger Mountain’s literary blog and served as their Writing Life editor for several years, publishing a wide range of pieces on writing craft and process. She writes mostly fiction, lately specializing in very short fiction. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in numerous literary journals, including Connotation Press, Jellyfish Review, Moonpark Review, New Flash Fiction Review, Vestal Review, Atticus Review, bosque, CHEAP POP, The Citron Review, Crazyhorse, Flash: The International Short-Short Story Magazine, Hermeneutic Chaos Journal, The Journal of Compressed Creative Arts, Mid-American Review, Newfound, PMS poemmemoirstory, River Styx, Sliver of Stone Magazine, and Sundog Lit; and in the anthology Summer Stories: Paintings by Leslie Anderson, Stories by Ten Maine Writers (Shanti Arts, 2013). Her awards include multiple short fiction contest wins and placements, and the Maine Arts Commission’s Fellowship in the Literary Arts.
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QUESTIONS
For any questions regarding this workshop, please contact Hannah Perry at perry@mainewriters.org.
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Call 207-228-8263 and register with your VISA or MasterCard.
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SCHOLARSHIP
The MWPA is proud to offer two full scholarships to this workshop for members-only. Scholarships are awarded on a combination of need and merit. Application Due on March 16 at 9:00 a.m.
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