Thanks, Marie! I think local events and connections are going to become more important than ever, now that the AI-slop is on a mission to smother the publishing world. ('Nuff said about that!)
What a great time and such a wonderful post! I loved it. Here's a thought that might be stupid. About flash fiction, why don't you try a 200 or 300 word cap or even less, like 150? That way you're forced to invent new strategies? 1,000 words sounds like trying to cram a short story into a flash canister to me.
Thank you very much, Luanne! I've tried microfiction, which I actually like, but it hasn't gone over too well with the flash group I'm in. But I'll keep playing with it. Playing with a particular writing form is never time wasted.
I think you’re making a distinction between flash and the short-short? (I haven’t seen the term “short-short” used in I don’t know how long.) In my mind, I think there is a difference between the short-short and flash, even if they have the same word count.
Hah, I haven’t seen it either, but what I am saying and this is just my thought, that a very short “short story” is still a “short story” and not a flash if it doesn’t compress and distill. Here are some of Kathy Fish’s thoughts which you may or may not have read. Substack won’t let me post the link, but it’s “Kath Fish’s Five Approaches to Writing Flash Fiction” and available on the bridportprize[dot]org[dot]uk website. Note that she says flash is not a short story in miniature.
Another thing that I find interesting in talk of genre definition is that everybody seems to have a somewhat different definition of length, when in fact, that isn’t all of what makes a flash of course. But to clarify I’ll tell you what I came up with after reading a lot of different ideas about length. To me flash is definitely under 1,000 words and usually under 750—preferably under 500. And microfiction is to me a subgenre. It’s still flash, but it’s definitely under 300 words. So to me it’s flash and it’s microfiction. I would prefer to call it microprose though because some of what I read and write is not fiction.
But genres are still artificially boundaried. Have you read Sabrina Hicks new book Coyote Girl? She has varying length stories in that collection. It’s an amazing book. She manages to combine flash with what I consider “short stories” together.
It sounds like you're having a wonderful and busy-in-a-good-way summer, Liz! I already commented about the library events, and the photos from Maine are great!
Thank you, Darlene! Today I’m going to a meeting of the Poetry Society of New Hampshire. Pot luck and open mic afterwards. Of course, the meeting is being held at a local library!
I love hanging out with poets. I found a group here in Spain, and we meet once a month (not in the summer). They are wonderful and so inspiring. They don't even mind that I'm not a poet!
The Cook Library looks really cool!
It is! The Cook librarians are very cool as well!!
So nice to see your photos and updates here on Substack! Those live, face-to-face events are so special.
Thanks, Marie! I think local events and connections are going to become more important than ever, now that the AI-slop is on a mission to smother the publishing world. ('Nuff said about that!)
You are thriving out in the community, especially in libraries. Brava, Liz.
About the moose - it seems to be wearing a heavy, heavy crown.
Thank you, Marian! I was at a Poetry Society of New Hampshire meeting today (held at a nearby library, of course!).
“Heavy is the head that wears the crown,” eh? Mr. Moose is representing the State of Maine, after all.
Very interesting! Keep up the good work and the updates!
Thank you, Kate!
Bravo, Liz. I love seeing you laughing. I'm not a flash fiction gal. I did try a few.
Thank you, Rena! It’s good to escape the doom scrolling for a time.
This was a fun post, Liz! I love seeing you out in the community.
Thank you very much, Colleen! I love being a part of what libraries are doing for their communities!
What a great time and such a wonderful post! I loved it. Here's a thought that might be stupid. About flash fiction, why don't you try a 200 or 300 word cap or even less, like 150? That way you're forced to invent new strategies? 1,000 words sounds like trying to cram a short story into a flash canister to me.
Thank you very much, Luanne! I've tried microfiction, which I actually like, but it hasn't gone over too well with the flash group I'm in. But I'll keep playing with it. Playing with a particular writing form is never time wasted.
So true. Unlike your writing group, I think a lot of times longer flash isn’t really flash. But prove me wrong!
I think you’re making a distinction between flash and the short-short? (I haven’t seen the term “short-short” used in I don’t know how long.) In my mind, I think there is a difference between the short-short and flash, even if they have the same word count.
Hah, I haven’t seen it either, but what I am saying and this is just my thought, that a very short “short story” is still a “short story” and not a flash if it doesn’t compress and distill. Here are some of Kathy Fish’s thoughts which you may or may not have read. Substack won’t let me post the link, but it’s “Kath Fish’s Five Approaches to Writing Flash Fiction” and available on the bridportprize[dot]org[dot]uk website. Note that she says flash is not a short story in miniature.
Another thing that I find interesting in talk of genre definition is that everybody seems to have a somewhat different definition of length, when in fact, that isn’t all of what makes a flash of course. But to clarify I’ll tell you what I came up with after reading a lot of different ideas about length. To me flash is definitely under 1,000 words and usually under 750—preferably under 500. And microfiction is to me a subgenre. It’s still flash, but it’s definitely under 300 words. So to me it’s flash and it’s microfiction. I would prefer to call it microprose though because some of what I read and write is not fiction.
But genres are still artificially boundaried. Have you read Sabrina Hicks new book Coyote Girl? She has varying length stories in that collection. It’s an amazing book. She manages to combine flash with what I consider “short stories” together.
I just read the Kathy Fish article. It makes a lot of sense. I've saved it for ongoing reference. Thanks!
Kathy is great. I hope you follow her Substack.
How lovely. Congrats!
Thank you, Mary!
Wonderful, Liz. It all looks brilliant. Well done you. x
Thank you, Judith!
It sounds like you're having a wonderful and busy-in-a-good-way summer, Liz! I already commented about the library events, and the photos from Maine are great!
Thank you, Merril! Northern Maine was stunningly beautiful when we spent that time there.
What a wonderful summer you are having! Both events sound like fun and are in great settings. I love the moose sculpture. Enjoy August, my friend.
Thank you, Darlene! Today I’m going to a meeting of the Poetry Society of New Hampshire. Pot luck and open mic afterwards. Of course, the meeting is being held at a local library!
The fun never ends!! Enjoy.
The poetry meeting was a lot of fun today!
I love hanging out with poets. I found a group here in Spain, and we meet once a month (not in the summer). They are wonderful and so inspiring. They don't even mind that I'm not a poet!
How wonderful!!