Stop here when flashing

[pariah]

I'm just wondering if anyone here writes flash fiction and what your thoughts on it are.

[Richard]

www.flashfictiononline.com/

I have not. My children's stories are all 900-1000 words, so I think I may look into trying this.

I think it may be a good way to write a novel in a series, piece by piece.

[Lily]

Richard, have you considered Solstice Publishing for your children's stories? They provide the artwork, as far as I know.

[Lily]

Flash is fun to write. It's good practice for longer stories and novel writing. Here is a great list of Flash Fiction markets from the Absolute Write Forums:

absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59234

[Richard]

Aug 14, 2011 11:57:14 GMT -5 Lily said:

Richard, have you considered Solstice Publishing for your children's stories? They provide the artwork, as far as I know.

I saw the children's stories for sale, but didn't see guidelines for submitting them specifically.

I sent them an e-mail, and will see what they say.

[avery]

I wrote this for an under 200 word flash contest.


KLEPTOMANIA

Loretta Finch slipped the bracelet into her handbag. She had been shoplifting since retirement. It was a challenge and she loved it, the rush of excitement addictive.

“Would you come with me, Madam.”

Loretta was thunderstruck. She had never been caught before. Castigated herself for getting overly confident and careless.

In the manager’s office she insisted it had been an oversight.
He believed her.

She breathed a sigh of relief. Prided herself on her acting skills. What with her shoplifting expertise and now this, she felt convinced she’d been hiding her light under a bushel for too long.

It was the security officer’s first day on the job. “Don’t apprehend Mrs. Finch in future,” said the manager. “We just make a note of whatever she takes, and send the bill to her daughter.”

[Richard]

I like it Avery. I think you could easily add humor to this, as Mrs. Finch obviously lives in her own world, and do any number of stories on her character: "The Loretta Finch Files"

I'll have to give this Flash writing a try sometime.

[pariah]

The purpose of flash is to get a complete story across in as few words as possible. So I submit this piece and ask if you think it tells a complete story or not. It weighs in at 500 words including the title.

The Righteous

The Commander stood motionless, impaled by the familiar smell of burning flesh while it lingered on the air like a tired whore fishing for tricks under the blinding glare of the rising sun; the screams of men begging Death.
“Bring me another partisan,” he said softly.
Two men sprinted away while a third pushed a pouch of tobacco into his hand.
Startled he asked. “What?” he held the pouch gingerly, afraid it may explode. “What is this?”
The man who had passed it to him laughed. “You look like you could use one, Commander.”
Realization crept into the Commander’s eyes and he proceeded to roll a cigarette. “They hurt us today, Fritz. Half our tanks left smoldering while our men fry like bacon.”
Fritz lit his commander’s cigarette. “We will crush the communist Jew bastards under the heel of our polished jackboots…”
“And take our place as kings among the peasants.” Cut in the Commander. “You should be working for Goebbels. Not out here.”
Fritz smiled at the compliment. “It is one of my best. But he doesn’t need me.”
“Your life will be wasted out here.”
“You’ll get us home. You’ll see.”
The commander shook his head. “Even if we do manage to get home our lives are wasted.”
Enraged, Fritz turned on his commander. “We do this for the fatherland and the German people. We do this for Hitler!”
The commander sighed. “Yes! I know.”
“It is our duty and our honor to serve the Fuhrer with our lives!”
The Commander scowled. “Are you questioning me?”
Fritz stood taller and squared off with his commander. “Yes sir. You speak like a traitor to the cause! I should report you to the black shirts!”
The commander grabbed Fritz by the throat and squeezed. “I’ve spilled more blood in the name of the Fuhrer than you’ll ever see. You dare talk to me about honor and duty? You spew propaganda by the bucket load and think that gives you the right to question me?”
The Commander tightened his grip. “Good men died here today and where were you? Don't think for one minute that I didn't see you cowering in the corner with crap in your pants!” He spit in Fritz's face. “I smell cowardice on you like manure at a horse farm!”
The two men returned and, pointedly ignoring the Commander, dropped a man on the ground.
The commander finally realized that his men had brought him another partisan and he dismissed the men with a wave of his hand. “Fritz?” He let his underling loose.
Fritz gasped a breath and answered in a scratchy voice, “Yes Sir?”
“Speak to me of righteousness.”
A tear rolled down Fritz’s cheek as he watched the commander kick the dying man. “We shall break their backs like waves upon the shore. Relentless in our efforts to educate…”

[Richard]

Aug 14, 2011 11:57:14 GMT -5 Lily said:

Richard, have you considered Solstice Publishing for your children's stories? They provide the artwork, as far as I know.

Not to take this thread off topic, but Solstice no longer publishes children's books. I just heard back from them today. They only sell what they have in stock.

[Lily]

That's too bad, Richard. But children's stories are a hard sell. Mainly because of all the free ones, with all the interactive bells and whistles, being offered on the Internet.

[charlotte]

I write some - mostly little pieces relating to my fantasy to help me understand concepts. It is very difficult to write. I struggle and haven't written any in a few months. The only piece I have on this hard drive is 666 words long lol so I won't post it.

[Lily]

Getting your thoughts down on paper is excellent therapy. I often think that's why diaries were once so popular. It whacks everything into some sort of perspective when we're floundering.

[Richard]

Aug 16, 2011 13:56:55 GMT -5 charlotte said:

I write some - mostly little pieces relating to my fantasy to help me understand concepts. It is very difficult to write. I struggle and haven't written any in a few months. The only piece I have on this hard drive is 666 words long lol so I won't post it.

Don't worry Charlotte, it is only a number.

Numbers can represent one thing or another, good, bad, or just informative.

[charlotte]

Aug 16, 2011 14:15:48 GMT -5 Richard said:

Aug 16, 2011 13:56:55 GMT -5 charlotte said:

I write some - mostly little pieces relating to my fantasy to help me understand concepts. It is very difficult to write. I struggle and haven't written any in a few months. The only piece I have on this hard drive is 666 words long lol so I won't post it.

Don't worry Charlotte, it is only a number.

Numbers can represent one thing or another, good, bad, or just informative.

It has actually been my most popular piece on another forum, it is an odd piece lol May dig it out the grammar is shocking I wrote it last year after not writing for thirteen years I was very out of practice.

What kind of children's stories do you write ? I have a children's book I've just been working out a pitch for.

[Richard]

Aug 16, 2011 15:27:14 GMT -5 charlotte said:

What kind of children's stories do you write ? I have a children's book I've just been working out a pitch for.

I'm not a Children's story writer exactly, I've just written a series of 3 stories, involving the same three main characters, as bedtime time stories.

Unfortunately, publishing them at this time is just not worth the investment of time, energy, and finances.