The Insecure Writer’s Support Group ~ No#8

Today, I've decided to put aside the insecurities for a change, and I'm focusing on writing that helps to boost my confidence – flash fiction!

If you follow my blog, you'll know that I L-O-V-E my flash fiction and participate in flash fic challenges on a regular basis…

I particularly like the Five Sentence Fiction which can be very short – shorty, shorty, short!!  If I were asked to describe the appeal of it to someone who's never written flash, but is considering doing so, how would I describe it?

In short, it's literary bungee jumping/ scuba diving (not that I've bungeed or had the deep sea diving experience…)

When faced with the prompt, how do I go about creating the piece? The first reading of the prompt usually triggers an idea of sorts… nothing solid at this stage… and I normally require a day or two, while the idea marinates somewhere at the back of my mind and begins to take shape…

I try to make it exciting by incorporating the following:

~~ Sentence variation. This depends on the prompt and is also guided by my mood. It can range from five long sentences in one piece; or five short sentences in one piece; or long and short combined. I've discovered that use of a one-word, two-word or three-word sentence really packs a punch.

~~ I strive for a specific mood/tone in the piece.

~~ Use of the senses. At least one or two…

So I encourage all you insecure writers to give it a go! Try it out! It's an exciting, heady, addictive, adrenalin-pumping experience… for sure!

Head over to the IWSG to read other posts written by a bunch of fabulous writers.

34 Comments

  1. sue roebuck on August 1, 2012 at 12:15 pm

    atta girl! Positive attitude…I need a piece of that so I'm taking it 🙂 I think I'll start doing some flashing (ahem, excuse the expression) too.

    • michelle on August 4, 2012 at 12:12 pm

      Thanks for the laughs Sue.  "Flash" to your heart's content 🙂 Sounds like a great idea!

  2. Elise Fallson on August 1, 2012 at 1:25 pm

    And your Flash Fiction is most excellent Michelle! It's a good exercise for writers to develop a tight, lean, writing style and at the same time, go wild with their imagination.  I look forward to your next flash fiction piece!! (: Oh, this make me wonder, have you written any short stories by chance? 

    • michelle on August 4, 2012 at 12:14 pm

      I have a few short stories, in various stages of completion/incompletion… 🙂 When are you going to join in the flash fic challenge? Try it… just once… and see how it goes…

  3. Tonja on August 1, 2012 at 1:52 pm

    Good for you.  I bet that's the equivalent of doing sit ups every single day.  Did you sign up for Write Club? 

    • michelle on August 4, 2012 at 12:17 pm

      That's a great way of describing it… I must check out Write Club… I did pop in the last time, to read some of the entries. They were awesome!

  4. C. Lee McKenzie on August 1, 2012 at 3:39 pm

    Great writing workout regime and so positive on this Insecure Writer Wed. Congrats on turning the tables and creating some excellent Flash Fiction.
     
    Thanks for stopping in to say at The Write Game, too!

    • michelle on August 4, 2012 at 12:18 pm

      Thanks so much! Writing flash fiction ALWAYS makes me happy! 🙂

  5. Serena on August 1, 2012 at 4:14 pm

    What a great post!  You've got me all encouraged and hopped up to try this.  I've written some flash fiction but never in 5 sentences.  Thanks so much for the advice.  I'm going to give it a try. I'm so glad I've found your site. 

    • michelle on August 4, 2012 at 12:19 pm

      I encourage you to try the Five-Sentence-Fiction challenge… it is A-W-E-S-O-M-E! 🙂

  6. Mama J on August 1, 2012 at 4:48 pm

    Yay for positive posts 😀
    I admire anyone who can write flash fiction. I haven't had many attempts but found it so difficult.

    • michelle on August 4, 2012 at 12:22 pm

      Positivity rocks! 🙂 Difficult? I just assumed that most writers would find it simple enough to write flash fiction… but it seems like this is not the case…

  7. Catherine Noble on August 1, 2012 at 8:25 pm

    You write it so well, so we know your advice is stellar! 🙂 I like how you broke down your writing process for the flash fiction, it makes me want to try a few out myself!

    • michelle on August 4, 2012 at 12:23 pm

      Your compliment is greatly appreciated, Carherine. 🙂 Give it a go! You might just surprise yourself! You never know!

  8. J.L. Campbell on August 1, 2012 at 10:01 pm

    I find writing flash fiction a challenge, but your tips do help. It takes work to condense a story into a few sentences.

    • michelle on August 4, 2012 at 12:26 pm

      As I mentioned earlier, to me, it's amazing that some writers find it a struggle to write flash fiction. I find it a welcome and pleasurable challenge!

  9. Alex J. Cavanaugh on August 1, 2012 at 10:17 pm

    I write flash fiction! Oh wait, those are my novels…

    • michelle on August 4, 2012 at 12:27 pm

      Alex, you are too funny… 🙂

  10. Sherry Ellis on August 2, 2012 at 12:15 am

    You do such a great job with flash fiction.  Thanks for sharing your tips!

    • michelle on August 4, 2012 at 12:27 pm

      You are welcome, Sherry! 🙂

  11. Donna Hole on August 2, 2012 at 6:37 am

    I love writing flash fiction.  And I think you nailed all the tips that make it not only fun to write, but fun to read also.
     
    …….dhole

    • michelle on August 4, 2012 at 12:28 pm

      At last, somebody who also enjoys writing flash fic. Thanks Donna.

  12. Murees Dupé on August 2, 2012 at 1:17 pm

    That is amazing. I always wondered about flash fiction. Thank you for explaining it so well. 

    • michelle on August 4, 2012 at 12:29 pm

      Glad to have helped clear it up for you. 🙂

  13. tara tyler on August 3, 2012 at 11:53 am

    great attitude and approach!
    and always an awesome result!

    • michelle on August 4, 2012 at 12:30 pm

      Yay! When it comes to flash fiction, I get super-duper excited… 🙂

  14. Julie on August 6, 2012 at 8:07 am

    You are the Queen of flash fiction Michelle!  Thanks for the great writing tips!

    • michelle on August 6, 2012 at 2:49 pm

      I don't know about that, Julie…  🙂 But, I give it my best shot… every time!!

  15. Jocelyn Rish on August 6, 2012 at 9:00 pm

    I love writing flash too. In such a small space you really have to push yourself to make an impact.

    • michelle on August 7, 2012 at 9:23 am

      It makes for lean, tight writing… 🙂

  16. Medeia Sharif on August 8, 2012 at 3:39 pm

    These are great tips. I enjoy your flash fiction.

    • michelle on August 8, 2012 at 4:28 pm

      Thanks Medeia! :):)

  17. Melissa Maygrove on August 9, 2012 at 8:36 pm

    Thanks for visiting my blog. 🙂
    IWSG #178 (…until Alex culls the list again. :P)

  18. michelle on August 9, 2012 at 8:48 pm

    Thanks Melissa! 🙂

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