War-writer Answers Quick Question: What is Flash?

Flash is a storytelling practice that is most-often applied to fiction, but can also work to generate non-fiction, and perhaps even prose poetry. There are literary flash, genre flash (extremely short science-fiction! flash mystery and suspense!), and non-fiction flash markets.

"Flash is [an approach] marked by diminished resources," blogs Katey Schultz, author of the award-winning short-story collection "Flashes of War" and the upcoming novel "Still Come Home."

"The stories can only be 250-750 words (1,000 max). There’s no time for tremendous backstory and there’s no need," she continues."These are stories that begin immediately, featuring characters outsized by their circumstances or snapshot memories from your own experiences, caught in a moment where there’s no choice but to react and change."

Schultz is the subject-matter expert in a short 2015 YouTube video sponsored by the Interlochen Center for the Arts, in which she discusses the "5 S's of Flash Fiction." At less than 3 minutes in length, it's a good example of Schultz's casual and accessible teaching style. In the video, she bullets 5 factors in developing flash stories:

• Setting
• Situation
• Sensory detail
• Simile
• The Shift

Once or twice a year, Schultz now runs an intensive 5-week on-line course called "Into the Flash." Participants can opt to participate in light editorial critique sessions, should they want.

For writers who want a quick introductory hit of how-to, however, Schultz also offers "Flash in a Flash," a self-directed 5-day on-line course introducing flash concepts and mindfulness techniques. There's a FREE lesson, and the whole course is only $27. The mini-course is offered year-round.

Want to survey the flash format yourself? Schultz offers three recommendations of fiction and non-fiction anthologies here. Her book recommendations include:

• "In Brief: Short Takes on the Personal" by Judith Kitchen
• "In Short: A Collection of Brief Creative Non-fiction" edited by Mary Paruier Jones and Judith Kitchen
• "Short Takes: Brief Encounters with Contemporary Nonfiction" edited by Judith Kitchen

Other titles on The Aiming Circle's bookshelves include:

• "The Rose Metal Press Field Guide to Writing Flash Fiction: Tips from Editors, Teachers, and Writers in the Field" edited by Tara Lynn Masih
• "The Rose Metal Press Field Guide to Writing Flash Nonfiction: Advice and Essential Exercises from Respected Writers, Editors, and Teachers" edited by Dinty Moore
• "Flash Fiction: 72 Very Short Stories" edited by Tom Hazuka, Denise Thomas, and James Thomas

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