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There is no widely accepted definition of the length of the category. Defining it by the number of words or sentences or even pages required to tell a story, however, is impossible, for it differs from writer to writer, editor to editor. Many writers struggle with using too many adjectives or cluttering up their writing with unnecessary repetition. Here are seven examples of flash fiction (for a total of 21 minutes or less) that are totally worth your time. See more. Flash fiction is a great way to hone your writing skills. Because of the short nature of flash fiction, it is often very well suited to intriguing revelations close to the end of the work. Flash fiction definition, very short works of fiction that are typically no longer than a couple of pages and may be as short as one paragraph. (Ask ten authors to define … Some purists insist that it is a complete story told in less than 75 words; others claim 100 should be the maximum. Flash fiction should have a plot (but make it a simple plot – don’t have too much going on), character(s), a conflict, setting, and a hook. Flash fiction is a genre of fiction, defined as a very short story. The shorter the complete story, the better. Still, if your story doesn't have that hard-hitting theme and end by smacking into a wall, don't worry; it's not a necessity. Flash fiction is a creative writing form that's probably best defined through examples, given that it's continually being reinvented by writers as they experiment, challenge themselves and stretch the boundaries of what they can do. The most compressed part of the piece is usually the falling action, which often is less and less important to a story … “Chapter V,” Ernest Hemingway “For sale: baby shoes, never worn” is far from Hemingway’s only foray into flash fiction (if it was indeed his story). Flash Fiction Definition and History Sudden Fiction Latino: Short-Short Stories from the United States and Latin America. Though not all stories need to be forceful to fit into this small genre, it is a trend that has followed flash throughout the years. Some self-described markets for flash fiction impose caps as low as three hundred words, while others consider stories as long as a thousand words to be flash fiction. The typical definition of flash fiction is a short fiction story of under 1500 words, usually under 1000 words. Because it’s so short, it’s incredibly challenging to create an engaging, satisfying story arc within flash fiction. Flash fiction is type of short story, also called micro or sudden fiction. Flash fiction is the same way. While there is no set word count that separates flash fiction from more traditional short stories, flash fiction stories can be as short as a few words (while short stories typically run for several pages). The term is often used to describe short works or short casual works as well. How to Write Flash Fiction. Flash fiction, also known as micro-fiction, is a short story that's usually between 500 and 1,000 words.