What Doesn't Pass for Flash Fiction

Flash Fiction and How to Write It - Part 3
Read Part 2 Here
Read Part 1 Here

Okay, you come up with a great idea for a flash fiction piece. You're going to add some setting details and characterization so it won't just be snippets of conversation or a brief bit of infodump. You've even got a story set-up to deliver the punch line.

You're now ready...wait, what did you just say? A story set-up to deliver the punch line? Okay, hold the bus. I think you have flash fiction mixed up with something else. You're not trying to sneak in a pun story here, are you? Ha, caught you red handed. (Because I've done it myself!)

We just admitted succumbing to a common pitfall of writing flash. The shaggy dog. The Feghoot. The elaborate story joke. Outrageous, creative, groan-worthy, sometimes even laugh out loud funny. But not flash fiction.

At least in my opinion. Some markets want exactly this, but normally flash ends with an Aha! not an Argh! While a twist ending or a surprise turn of events may be a satisfying (and logical) conclusion to a flash story, the intentional story deception (too strong a word?) for a cheap laugh simply disappoints and frustrates the reader.

Now I don't mind pun stories, in fact, I love wordplay and can pass that internet pun test with both feet tied behind my back (quite a feat!). But I want to know from the beginning what I'm getting into. If you enjoy these type of humorous set-ups, then here are a couple I think you'll like. Okay, those are examples of what flash is not.

So what does pass for flash fiction? Can flash be funny? Sure! But the story shouldn't be a string of red herrings and the ending can't be a non sequitur to the plot. As mentioned, the flash ending should be a natural denouement to the climax - or simply end at the climax or reveal itself (think The Tell-Tale Heart). It can be a bit jokey, but the point is that flash is not an extended joke.

This may be a fine line, but in a closing example, here's my story, "Spam Fiction" published by Every Day Fiction which I think (obviously, I'm biased) presents a bit of humor but within the structure of a real story. A few more of my flash pieces are available in a short collection at Smashwords. Enjoy.

And all the best as you have fun with this popular form of story telling.

[Note: This series continues with a Guest Column by Camille Campbell, managing editor of Every Day Fiction. You can read her blog at Copy. Edit. Proof.]

Micropublishing - Claim Your Indie Niche

“Dear Sir or Madam, will you read my book?”

– The Beatles

Micropublishing Trends

It seems everyone wants to be a paperback writer. Or at least an e-published author. And with the advent of web-based self-publishing tools like Lulu and CreateSpace (for print-on-demand books) and Smashwords and Feedbooks (featuring a variety of electronic formats), anyone with a bit of talent and know-how can claim the title of published author.

This is not a bad thing. In fact, the surge in self-publishing, especially via electronic means, has led to an unprecedented number of people earning (at least some) income as freelance authors, small business owners, and indie or small press publishers. That’s me, a small press publisher. So small that I use the term micropublishing to describe what I do.

Micropublishing, according to Wikipedia, at least this week, is “when an individual or group uses efficient publishing and distribution techniques to publish a work intended for a specific micromarket.” I can buy that. Very small presses find a niche and fill it by publishing a select group of authors that larger publishing houses might not discover.

And the more options available for the reading public the better. This is why the trend is a good thing. Yes, I know. Everyone and her dog can publish a book nowadays. Doesn’t this dilute the industry? No. The simple yet difficult task of marketing and distribution will prevent most books from ever being read. The stark reality is that while everyone has the opportunity to become a published author, we still have to ask the public to buy and read our book.

Here are some thoughts on that topic from just one micropublisher, me, poking about in the dark as he discovers the path toward publishing success.

Claim Your Niche

If you are an author or a micropublisher, find your voice and stick to it. Gareth L Powell (on whose blog this article originally appeared) is a “science fiction author.” He lets people know it. He updates his blog with current content. He crafts consistent, quality material. He stays on topic. Go and do thou likewise.

My zine is ResAliens.com which is short for Residential Aliens (alluding to both the speculative and spiritual elements of the stories I publish). So my particular niche is “spiritually infused speculative fiction.” That may turn you off. I understand. You’re not my market, evidently. With 6 billion people on the planet, though, I figure there are probably a few others who might be interested in this sort of thing. My job is to simply let people know what I do and update my site regularly with consistent, quality material. You could do worse.

Maintain a Good Reputation

Nothing turns me off more than an arrogant writer or an unfriendly publisher. You probably feel the same way. And because there are so dang many authors and micropublishers out there, I have no problem crossing them off my look-into list. On the other hand, I want to build a reputation as being a friendly and approachable publisher. So even if I do cross someone off my list, I don’t tell anyone.

So, again, if you’re an author or publisher, here are a couple things that I believe will build some goodwill and help in the marketing of your product.

First, interact politely and promptly with your fans. You have them, you do. People who friend you on Facebook, follow you on Twitter, or comment on your blog. Stay in touch with them. And answer your dang emails. ;)

Second, treat other writers as peers. We’re all in this together so why not think of other authors or venues as team mates. We're not in competition! Repeat that. Remember those 6 billion people on the planet? More than enough readers to go around.

Third, share the love. Cross-pollinate and help promote or at least hat tip others. See my second point. One suggestion is to read and post reviews of fellow writers' books, articles, or stories.

To Blitz or to Build, That is the Question

Define your strategy to market and distribute your work and then work the plan. How? Social networks like Facebook and Twitter are obvious platforms for getting the word out. Blogging, mailing lists, and posting reviews are also standard and acceptable forms of marketing. But behind these strategies is the simple principle of asking for help. Gareth put out a call for guest columnists. I ask people to review my zine. Since there’s no such thing as a self-made person (we all need some help along the way), we might as well ask others to assist us in accomplishing our goals.

And if they say no, well, there’s 6 billion people out there. Keep asking, keep working, keep honing your skills as a writer or publisher. If your audience likes your voice, identifies with your niche, senses your good reputation, and knows of your vision, then you’re on your way. And if the quality and consistency is there then you will become not just a published author but a bestselling published author. After years of quality persistence, you’ll become an overnight success!

[Note: This article first appeared at the blog of science fiction author Gareth L. Powell, May 2010.]

Darkside Isn't That Dark, Really

In fact, the novel Darkside by S.K.S. Perry (no relation to yours truly), if not exactly light, is quite witty, fast-paced, and seriously genre-bending. The story is about a guy named James Decker who dies in the process of saving a young woman from being attacked. But he finds that he really isn't dead...well, sort of.

From the blurb:

Haunted by the ghosts of his father and grandfather, [James Decker] learns that the woman he rescued is in fact an Innocent, the physical embodiment of hope. As it turns out, seeing dead people is the least of James' worries. It's the trolls, goblins, vampires, and other assorted creepy-crawlies that make being dead a living nightmare.

Turns out Darkside is what all these dark creatures living in the Otherworld call our reality. And that's just one of the rules of the afterlife James has to learn as he finds a new lease on life protecting the Innocent from further harm. With wry humor and snide first person remarks, Perry transports you from one realm to the other and back again in a quest you'll not likely forget - if you don't die laughing first. A bit slow in the middle, but overall, a solid debut novel.

The frolicking adventure continues in Darkside: Waking the Dead, which I just loaded on my Kindle! By the way, Darkside, first novel is available for only 99 cents!

Flash Fiction Tips & Pitfalls

Flash Fiction and How to Write It - Part 2

So you're interested in flash fiction? Join the club! It's become quite a subcategory of fiction writing these past few years. However, the form as been around since at least 600 BC when Aesop told his tales. With the internet, though, quick stories that can be read in a flash are all the rage. And now that there are even different types of flash, it's probably simply a category of writing, no sub about it.

For example, there's microfiction (generally, anything less than 500 words). There's postcard fiction, or micro-bursts, with just enough prose to fill an index card. Some markets can get a little gimmicky here (but still fun and challenging) and insist on no more than 200 words, 100 words, or exactly 55 words! There's even nanofiction, Twitter-sized stories told in 140 characters or less.

But are these really stories? Some say yes and point to Ernest Hemingway's (probably apocryphal) 6 word flash: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn." A story? Not in my opinion. But an emotional vignette? Sure.

As I pointed out in Flash Fiction and How to Write It - Part 1, a story traditionally has three critical elements (the Big 3) - characterization, setting, and plot. (Although, I have to admit there are a number of good stories without a plot - Per Petterson's novels come to mind. What he has, though, is tension, an important component of plot.) Scenarios, sketches, vignettes are just that - sections of a story that may contain the seed element of the piece, but that's about it.

The pitfall I want to address briefly is our tendency as writers to present an idea, slap a few words around it, and call it good. These may be great ideas, engaging, intriguing, and all that, but the essence of the story doesn't even hint at or imply any setting, protagonist, or conflict/resolution. A complete story, at least from my perspective, needs more.

Take my three separate twitter-bytes, for instance, published by Thaumatrope.

• I married a serial killer. Fortunately, he only murders strangers. But lately we’ve drifted apart; he said he didn’t know me anymore...
• “I think our baby is a changeling!” I told my Stepford wife. So I wasn’t surprised when my doppelganger showed up and said I had to leave.
• “Tell me how to write horror,” I beg my muse. “Write what you know,” she replies and pulls out a stiletto. “Here, let me show you instead.”

All fun (well, I thought they were fun!) and spooky, and with an interesting hook. But no setting, maybe a protagonist, and no real plot - just a twist resolution. Ideas, really, simply seed stories which can be expanded into short stories, obviously. (In fact, I did expand this last one into a microhorror you can read here, but it's still not a full blown story, imo.)

So after all this discussion, does it simply boil down to a continuum of story length from nano, micro, flash, to short? Since story telling is an elusive art (as we often say about art, "I know it when I see it"), then probably yes. But somewhere along the continuum of a story the more traditional elements begin to appear and when it seems to satisfy a writer's (or reader's) penchant for completeness, then you've got a full tale well told. What are your thoughts?

How to Write Flash Fiction

Flash Fiction and How to Write It - Part 1

First of all, if you're not familiar with flash fiction, don't be embarrassed. Recently, a writer friend of mine asked me to explain the concept since there'd been a good amount of hype about it in his social circle and he mostly just smiled and nodded.

A quick definition, then. Flash fiction is a story that clocks in at about 1000 words. Therefore, it’s a quick read, over in a flash. Some gauge the range anywhere from 500 to 1500 words. But the idea is brevity. Any story you can tell quickly might be considered a candidate for flash.

But here's the catch. It's a story. Not a sketch. Not a scene. Not a vignette. Flash fiction is a story told in about 1000 words. While there's some debate even as to what elements are required to create a story, I adhere to the traditional Big 3 - characterization, setting, and plot (crisis, climax, & denouement). A well written piece of flash, in my opinion, balances these elements. Add to this mix an engaging voice (writing style) and you have a successful short short piece.

How short can a story be? I guess that depends on what the writer (or reader) is willing to sacrifice. It's difficult to balance setting, characterization, and a storyline that resolves nicely, so, by necessity, something has to give. I tend to shortchange setting, myself. Many of my flash fictions are dialog heavy and rely on conversation to move the plot along. Where does it take place? Who knows! Who cares? It's fun, it's fast. It's flash fiction!

But really, a tale without setting is probably more of a story concept. And, admittedly, most flash fictions are little more than seed stories that need expanding. In my next post, I'll look at some of the common pitfalls of writing flash (and how to avoid them), including this tendency to simply present a scenario and call it good. Until then, what are your thoughts on flash fiction?

Read Flash Fiction and How to Write It - Part 2.

Dead or Alive - An Aston West Collection

Disclaimer! I'm the editor and publisher of Dead or Alive - An Aston West Collection by T.M. Hunter. That being said, I think it reasonable to assume that if I liked these stories well enough to publish them I should be able to talk about them! After all, editors are simply people who promote stories they enjoy reading. So read on...

The Aston West series is classic space opera where rawhide adventure of the frontier meets sophisticated technology of the 23rd century. T.M. Hunter has developed an engaging and likeable antihero in Aston West, the reformed (?) space pirate who still manages to get himself into a number of ill-advised scrapes. That, despite the gentle guidance of his AI companion, Jeanie, who is his ship's brain and has a few adventures of her own.

In Dead or Alive, Hunter pulls together a representative collection of 11 new and classic stories featuring Aston, Jeanie, and a number of other recurring characters. These short fictions coordinate nicely with Hunter's longer works, Heroes Die Young and Friends in Deed. (Visit AstonWest.com.) These compact novels, along with the novella Seeker, establish the author as a fresh voice in the expanding universe of space opera/science fiction. T.M. Hunter is here to stay, and we can thank him that Aston West is as well.

Note: The Kindle, NOOK, EPUB, and other e-versions are on their way. In the mean time, you can buy a 10 story collection at iTunes for your iPad/iPhone (see the different cover to the left? That's why!). Also, the paperback is always available at CreateSpace.

Some Amazon Reviews:
“Fabulous book! I was kept in suspense on every page and I couldn't stop reading until the end!” - About Heroes Die Young

“My favorite sci fi hero is back! Aston West, the reluctant hero and space scavenger, seems like an old, dear friend to me.” - About Friends in Deed

Zero Hour - Stories of Spiritual Suspense

If you have a nostalgic fondness for old episodes of the Twilight Zone, then you'll likely enjoy Stoney M. Setzer's collection of short fiction. In Zero Hour - Stories of Spiritual Suspense, Setzer combines mystery, thriller, and moral themes into a family friendly volume. Think Mystery Theater with a spiritual twist.

Disclaimer! I had the privilege of editing these 15 stories and then recently publishing this anthology through my indie publishing venture, ResAliens Press. But, despite my bias, I can say these are fun and engaging reads.

But don't take my word for it. Check out this review from MindSpike.

The cover copy claims similarity to The Twilight Zone, and certainly there is something of that flavor herein. Stories like “In the Shadow of the Sphinx”, and “All Hail Sam” feel like they should begin with Rod Serling voiceover delivering the moral lesson of the story. Other tales hearken back to radio programs like Escape and X Minus One, with the subtle deviations from reality that tell the reader something is just barely off about the world they are experiencing; “Doomsday Falls on a Tuesday This Year” and “Square Peg” need only a scratchy background of static noise to complete the illusion. Still other offerings evoke the classic short stories of Larry Niven or Isaac Asimov with their emphasis on the ordinary character reactions to the most extraordinary situations, including “The Alabama Hammer” and “We Serve All Kinds Here”. Finally, Setzer delivers his more direct spiritual lessons in the form of pure morality plays in “Darkest Before Dawn” and “Enamored.”

Find Out More: Visit Stoney's website, Zero Hour, and his Facebook Page to discover the stories behind the stories. Plus, you can purchase one of his short stories not in his collection at Amazon titled The Widow Greer. Still not convinced? Then read his time travel conundrum, "Unsinkable," for free in Issue 5.1 of ResAliens.

About the Author: Author Stoney M. Setzer lives outside of Atlanta, GA, with his beautiful wife and three wonderful children. As a fiction writer, he strives to create suspenseful stories with Christian themes. His works have been featured in such publications as Residential Aliens and Christian Sci-Fi Journal, as well as a number of anthologies. He is employed as a middle school special education teacher.

Sorrow Remains for the Night

Three fables make up this short collection (about 4000 words) titled, Sorrow Remains for the Night. It's only 99 cents at Smashwords and will soon be up at Amazon and B&N.

Often, it is the sorrow that we experience during the dark nights of life that are the most poignant when retold in the daylight. In this short volume of fables, I wanted to touch on themes of pain and suffering but also end with a glimmer of eternity and hope. Yes, sorrow remains for the night, but joy comes in the morning.

About the Author (that's me!): Lyn Perry writes a variety of speculative fiction, from SF and fantasy to mystery and spiritual thriller. He is also the owner of ResAliens Press, a micropublisher of spiritually infused speculative fiction. Collections include Stoney M. Setzer's Zero Hour and T.M. Hunter's Dead or Alive.

Flash Fiction Five Pack Available Now

Enjoy Five Flash Fictions (plus a Bonus Microfiction!) in this humorous collection of digital tales. In this short, whimsical, "A to Z" volume you'll read about alien romance and zombies as well as email spam and space monkeys. In fact, two tales feature Mazaru the Space Monkey while a third introduces Billy Farnsworth, Zombie Hunter, characters that will likely become recurring characters in full blown stories of their own - but you'll have discovered them here first! (About 3500 words.)

Available now for $0.99 at your favorite eStores:

* Smashwords (various formats)
* Amazon Kindle
* B&N's NOOK

About the Author (that's me!): Lyn Perry writes a variety of speculative fiction, from SF and fantasy to mystery and spiritual thriller. He is also the editor of Fear & Trembling, a zine of spiritual horror and suspense.

Amazon Reviews:
5 Stars from S.M. Setzer:
"Each story hits the ground running, establishes its situation right away, and pays off with a comic twist at the end."

5 Stars from Jade Smith:
"If you love sci-fi and dark humor, you will definitely enjoy this collection! Highly recommend!"

5 Stars from TK Toppin:
"Perry's quirky mind and whipcord wit certainly infiltrates into his writing, which is spot on. Can't wait to read more!"

New Short Story Up at Smashwords

A Lesson in War
A Sword of Otrim Story
by Lyndon Perry

Fighting the barbarian hordes for Queen Philipa of Idessa, Otrim - a fierce yet contemplative warrior - hadn't considered that his real enemy might just be his commander. Completing the campaign against the Korreti infidels and returning home victorious was all he really wanted. But when Otrim's commander, Ardus Telemachii Atellus, challenges him on the battlefield, the bronzed warrior must quickly determine where his ultimate loyalty lies.

This short story (about 4800 words) taps the spirit of battle and intrigue reminiscent of classic sword and sorcery. You can read a sample first page here. It is available for $0.99 online at your favorite eStores:

* Smashwords (Kindle, Epub, PDB, PDF, etc.)
* Amazon (Kindle)
* Barnes and Noble (NOOK)

About the Author (that's me!): Lyn Perry writes a variety of speculative fiction, from fantasy and science fiction to mystery and spiritual thriller. He is the founding editor of Residential Aliens, a zine of spiritually infused speculative fiction.

New Reviews:
"The spiritual musing of [Otrim] is reminiscent of a time when holy warriors fought for the greater good...or at least some of them did. A good read for those who love heroic fantasy." - Milton Davis, "Soul & Sword" author of Meji and Changa's Safari.

"This short story has a medieval fantasy setting and sometimes these types of stories can have language that plods along. Perry's story isn't like that at all. The dialog is fun and the character interaction is great." - Julie Jansen, science fiction and horror writer, and an Associate Editor for Dark Moon Digest.

"Great swashbuckling summer read! It is packed with action, great characters, and beautiful fluid language...[with] a "Lord of the Rings" kind of feel." - Jason, Amazon Reviewer