I scrapped my initial start for the Do Some Damage crime meets recession flash fiction challenge and started again fresh this morning. For some reason I find it best to write flash fiction in one sitting, let it gestate, and then edit. The problem with the piece I've drafted - entitled 'Cutting Loose' - is that its 2,000 words long and the max is 900 (should have taken better notice of that bit!). I tend to write in scenes. 900 is probably about two scenes. My story from this morning was five scenes. Oh well, I'll probably put today's story to one side and have another go in a couple of weeks time, sticking to the rules of the challenge this time.My posts from this week
Review of The Ones You Do by Daniel Woodrell
Development land, zoned land and NAMA
Convenient relationships
Is science just acronyms?
Review of Old Flames by John Lawton
Sticky fingers
3 comments:
You are not the only one who tries to write flash in one sitting. I may jot down a few ideas beforehand (e.g. on a post-it next to my bed), and I agree that 900 words is two or max three scenes.
Sometimes I can squeeze two scenes into 300 words, though. You really have to outline the setting and characters in Hemingway mode then.
Ah, nobody's going to hold your feet to the fire if it's a little long.
Patti, assuming it stands up to scrutiny in a few days time, it won't go to waste - I'll post it up. But I think I can probably come up with something okay that comes in under a 1000 words. Just need to let a two scene idea float to the surface. I'm still getting used to writing short stories. It's not something I'd ever done until a few months ago and it provides some interesting challenges.
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