How do you write flash fiction? Well, there’s really only one requirement: Keep it short! How short depends on the game, or prompt, or you… but the difference is you write the story planning to make it as concise as possible without sacrificing the image and scene you’re trying to convey. It’s a challenge to write something that pulls in readers without having a lot of time to do backstory or a long adventure.

So why do people like writing flash fiction? For me, it’s a different kind of challenge from my usual novels. It reminds me to not repeat words or visuals, which I struggle with. I asked several other authors who are playing with the Pick Two noun game why they like writing flash fiction, and here’s what they had to say:

Dolores Esteban says: I think it's an interesting feature to get your creative juices flowing.

Aditus says: Flash fiction: no lengthy introduction, no elaborate plot line, no sophisticated ending. Just quick and dirty. What's not to like?

Lyssa says: I`d like to write this, because it is fun, keeps my brain busy and I never did something like this in English and I really cherish a new challenge

Puppilull says: When I go through patches where my brain isn’t cooperating and the flow just isn’t there, it feels good to write something, anything. Lately, I’ve also tried to challenge myself to write shorter pieces, so I have to work on being to the point. Flash fiction is the thing for that.

Mikiesboy says: I like to write flash fiction because it's a challenge. You have to measure what you're saying, and select words carefully. Where i used to post, they often had ultra short fiction challenges -  a story in 20 words… those were fun!!  Anything like this, forces you to think and step out of your comfort zone! 

Valkyrie says: I like to write flash fiction because I find it helps me get my mojo back when I'm stuck in a rut.  It's also fun to see where the story leads.  I never plan out flash pieces, but rather let the characters drive the action.  I will also sometimes use flash pieces to work on a particular skill.  Such as working on writing in third person, descriptions of characters or settings, or technical exercises such as writing in first person without using the pronoun "I".  I never know where flash pieces will take me, and sometimes they lead to longer works.

BHopper2 says: Most of the flash fiction I've written has not be published. It's little stories I've written about my Role-playing Characters over the years. I do it for a couple of reasons.

1. To fill in the gaps of what my Characters do "off-stage."

2. For practice, in getting my writing skills better.

3. I love it.

 So far on GA, I've only done two flash stories from prompts, this game, and a little intro to my main story. I hope to publish more soon.

Want to check out some of these authors’ flash fiction? We have a Writing Prompts forum dedicated to the site prompts which are shared weekly. There’s always something new to enjoy in there! If you want to try your hand at writing some flash, give it a shot. There’s a ton of prompts to choose from, or keep an eye out for more games coming in the future like the past Grid & Dice Game and the current Pick Two noun game. Players in those games have their stories in site newsletter features