2nd ANNUAL INNERMOONLIT AWARD FOR BEST SHORT-SHORT STORY NO ENTRY FEE Deadline September 1, 2006. Entrants must specify that they are entering the Best Short-Short Story Contest and must indicate the number of words in their submission (500 words maximum). First prize: $100; second prize: $50; third prize: a signed copy of Brian Agincourt Massey’s novel.
In addition to being fun to write, flash fiction boosts your writing skills.
1. The limits of the form can spark your creativity as a prose writer, just as haiku and sonnets do for poets. The challenge of staying within the word length engages your inner critic and allows your creativity to come out and play.
2. Reading and writing flash fiction helps you internalize a solid sense of story. Far from being slice-of-life vignettes, short-shorts must contain the basic elements of story: a character or characters, a challenge and a resolution.
3. Writing flash fiction forces you to cut the flab, including adjectives, adverbs and explanations–the main pitfalls of beginning writers. As you trim your prose, you’ll find it becomes more powerful.
4. Word choice is critical in this new genre. Writing short-shorts requires you to be mindful of every single word you put on paper. While you may be able to get away with using mediocre words in longer fiction, flash fiction insists that you use the absolutely best word every time.
5. Focus is critical in flash fiction. Not only do short-shorts demand that you keep it simple by sticking to one theme, they also push you to zoom in on one scene. If you are writing micro-fiction, you’ll need to zoom in on one telling moment. Telling moments are the core of fiction of any length.
6. At the same time, the limits of word length don’t allow you time to meander through a long and tedious background in order to set up your story. If you don’t jump right into the action, you can’t write flash fiction.
7. Flash fiction encourages you to center your work on one evocative image that telegraphs mood and setting.
8. Writing tight requires you to revise more extensively than you do with longer works, but the fact that you are only revising 50 to 1,000 words makes the process less daunting.
9. Because flash fiction is fast to write, it encourages risky writing. Spending two hours pushing the envelope on a piece that doesn’t work out is much less discouraging than spending two days on a full-blown short story that refuses to gel.
10. Unlike many other writing exercises, flash fiction has a market. Not only do you hone your skill as a writer, you can publish your stories.
I declare the first Word Pirates critique a success!
Back by popular demand … Word Pirates will meet twice a month. Isn’t that great? We will meet the first and third Thursday of each month.
Meeting Schedule:
Word Pirates tonight at my house. Hope you all come!
I get an e-mail newsletter called “Writing for Dollars,” which you can sign up for here. The most recent issue had an article about procrastinating by Jennifer Brown Banks that I am re-posting here. The advice is kind of elementary, but also encouraging and a good reminder: If you don’t write, you will never be a writer.
7 Fool-Proof Ways To Kick Procrastination (In The Pants)
by Jennifer Brown BanksThere are hundreds of bright and talented writers whose works you will never read.They will never motivate, move you to tears, or make a difference.How do I know? Because I have the pleasure of teaching them in creative classes and workshops throughout the city. They are men and women, young and old—some even with “rocket science” potential. The prospect of which saddens me. For as a friend of mine often states, we all have a piece of the puzzle of this thing called life, of which we uniquely possess. Nobody has the exact same vision or creative voice.
Yet I see it far too often. Here’s the script. An aspiring writer will sign up for my class. He/she will enthusiastically ask questions, and pen page upon page of notes. They leave the session singing my praises, and swearing to put into practice the things they have learned. Then they get home and reality settles in. There are everyday distractions—a demanding job, family obligations, and plaguing doubt. Not to mention, there never seems to be enough time.
Consequently, they join the ranks of the “someday” people. You know them. “Someday I’m going to finish that novel.” “Someday I’ll publish my poetry.” And someday never comes.
When I follow-up with them, months later, I find that they’ve given up on their dreams, while toiling on dead end jobs. Perhaps you’re even one of them.
Given this scenario, how does one go from good intentions to great author?
Here’s how to start:
1. In the words of a very famous Nike commercial—“Just do it!” Start somewhere, anywhere. Pen a piece for your community newspaper or your church’s newsletter. Believe me when I say that the thrill of a byline is addictive. I’ve been writing for 15 years, and every time I go to a bookstore or supermarket and open a book or magazine with my work, I get that same original high! Still
2. Get a Goal Buddy. [Word Pirates!] You know how some people have work out buddies to tag along with them at the gym to stay motivated and accountable? It works for writing as well. Perhaps it can be a friend with similar aspirations, or even someone you meet through an online bulletin board.
3. Establish Short and Long Term Goals. Where would you like to see yourself a month from today? A year down the line? Decide, then write it down. Studies show that people who commit their goals to writing are 3x more likely to achieve them.
4. Set Deadlines. A goal without a deadline is just a dream.
5. Stop Striving for Perfection—Instead pursue excellence. Sometimes procrastination occurs simply because of over analysis and over editing. Write it to the best of your ability, and then send it off already! It doesn’t have to be picture perfect; that’s what editors are for.
6. Set Priorities. Can you have it all? Most definitely. Just not all at the same time. Know that there are sacrifices to be made. For example, sometimes my writing causes me to live the life of a hermit. For you it may be fewer hours in front of the TV. Which is more important?
7. Know that “Discipline” is not a Dirty Word. Believe it or not, good habits are just as easy to cultivate as bad ones. Sit down to your computer or journal—daily, weekly, or whatever works for you. But be committed and consistent. Then watch the results!
In case you need guidance on how to do this whole critique thing, here are some thoughts:
When reading:
In the meeting, after the person reads their piece, we will discuss what we liked about it first, and then ways to revise it.
That’s it. We’ll figure the rest out.
Word Pirates!
I am proud of you. Almost all of you have turned in something for the critique on August 17th at 7-7:30 p.m. at my house.
Before that, I want to remind you of the LIVEWIRE LITERARY SALON at Soho’s (formerly Zebulons) in Petaluma. Leona is reading on August 15th at 6:30 p.m. and, get this, they *still have room for readers.* If you are interested in reading with Leona, I guarentee you at least SIX people who can come and cheer you on, possibly more. It is good practice for reading aloud. Also, why say no to chances to present your work? If interested, e-mail Nancy Long here.
