Write a story with the prompt below. It should be 300 words or less… Today’s Prompt Write a story with the prompt below. It should be 300 words or less… After three months he knew the cat hated him but it came as quite a shock to find out the dog felt the same.

Flash Fiction

What is Flash Fiction? - Style of fictional literature or fiction of extreme brevity. There is no widely accepted definition of the length of the category. - Other names for flash fiction include sudden fiction, microfiction, micro-story, short short, postcard fiction, prosetry and short short story. - One type of flash fiction is the short story with an exact word count. (Ex: a story with 55 words)

Elements in Flash Fiction Setting is where the action takes place. This can be told in a sentence: She watched him go to bed. Usually, there is not room for more than two characters--three at most. But realize "characters" don't always have to be human. In fact, they don't even have to be animate. Can you create a story about a pebble and a blade of grass trying to inhabit the same spot? Conflict is just a difference of opinion--tension to keep the reader reading. It can be verbal, physical or mental. It doesn't always have to be villain/hero.

Elements of Flash Fiction Resolution is the conclusion of the conflict. "Small" works best in flash fiction; don't go for miraculous resolution, in which the protagonist is saved by some miracle not of his/her making. Most writers use surprise endings, partly because flash fiction lends itself to such, but mostly because it makes it more fun both to read and to write. But they are not necessary. Even with a twist, don't surprise your readers too much. Make them think, "Ah--of course!" Don't make them think, "Boy, am I stupid!"

Flash Fiction Writing Tips Write as fast as you can. Write as fast as you can. Don't worry about grammar - yet. Fill about half a page, count the words, fix the grammar, then read it aloud to yourself. Does it have setting, implied or otherwise? Conflict? Resolution? Does it affect a change? Edit yourself-ruthlessly. Write your story, then go back and erase all phrases, clauses and coordinating conjunctions that are not absolutely vital to the story. Delete any unnecessary adjectives. You'll be left with tight, active sentences.

Flash Fiction Writing Tips Let dialogue do it. Write an all-dialogue story using as few tags as possible. Let the dialogue describe the characters and create conflict. Stories to avoid. Although the form is new, there are some clichés already. Don't write about a writer writing and don't rely on "it was just a dream" pieces. These are overused and abused in many types of fiction, especially in flash fiction. And when your story is over, just stop. Like this.

5 Elements of Powerful Flash Fiction Flash fiction contains most of the following elements in every single story:

Brevity  Flash fiction tells a complete story in 1,000 words or less. Sometimes a lot less words. Many markets want stories that are 750, 500, or 100 words long. Some contests, such the annual 55 Fiction contest, require even fewer words.  With the surging popularity of  Twitter, some writers have now exchanged word counts for 140 characters.

Character  All fiction requires characters, or at least some sort of presence through which the story is told. The reader identifies with the characters in a story. In flash fiction, characters have little time to be developed and described, so you must make the most of your opportunities. Show them in action. Describe the little details that bring the character to life in the reader’s mind.

Surprise Endings  Flash fiction is famous for its twist endings which often surprise or shock the reader.  Think of a punch line to a joke as a good example of this.

Rich Language  Flash fiction exists somewhere between the realms of poetry and short story and uses poetic language to weave the tale efficiently. The format is fluid, allowing the writer to experiment and play with words and form.

Change  Even though flash fiction doesn’t have a lot of words, a lot of action is packed into each story. Something has to happen during the course of the story. “A story is a container for change.” This means that something has to change within course of the story.  It can be a physical change to the character, an epiphany that changes the character’s way or thinking, or a change in how the reader perceives that character and/or situation.

Famous Flash Fiction Pieces “For Sale: Baby shoes, never worn.” - Ernest Hemingway

“The Dinosaur” by Augusto Monterroso “When he woke up, the dinosaur was still there.”

“Longed for him. Got him. Shit.” Margaret Atwood “Longed for him. Got him. Shit.”

“Lie detector eyeglasses perfected: Civilization collapses.” Richard Powers “Lie detector eyeglasses perfected: Civilization collapses.”

“The Scarlatti Tilt” - Richard Brautigan "It's very hard to live in a studio apartment in San Jose with a man who's learning to play the violin." That's what she told the police when she handed them the empty revolver.

Today’s Exercise: Let’s get a prompt!