tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004331015693137484.post5887918925005054354..comments2022-03-25T14:57:02.704-06:00Comments on Slushpile Avalanche: Managing Story LengthSuzanne Vincenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10100432727581386694noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004331015693137484.post-78938169900403892612017-02-14T15:04:36.692-07:002017-02-14T15:04:36.692-07:00This is a great article. But I'd like to add ...This is a great article. But I'd like to add that I think economy has its limits. Sometimes writers try to overwhelm the reader with cleverness, leaving me as a reader recoiling in stunned confusion. I think even within the constraints of flash, there is some room for not pushing things too hard, of indulging in a bit of redundancy. The human brain can only process information at a certain rate, and unfortunately that's at slower than the rate at which words are typically read.djconnelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01484858820878605035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004331015693137484.post-57901105257320398012017-01-04T19:32:57.152-07:002017-01-04T19:32:57.152-07:00i'd no idea.i'd no idea.Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03955582021381770588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004331015693137484.post-39460799315163200292016-10-18T22:24:10.903-06:002016-10-18T22:24:10.903-06:00Thanks. You make it clear that the difference betw...Thanks. You make it clear that the difference between flash fiction, short stories and novels goes beyond just word count. <br /><br />Reminds me of the learning curve I experienced when I stopped writing technical articles for money and began writing poetry for fun. Moving from short stories to flash fiction will probably be another steep learning curve.<br /><br />Technical writing was more like something C. S. Lewis wrote: "Writing is like driving sheep down a road. If any gate is open to the right or left, they will certainly go into it." <br /><br />Exactly. And it required lots of words to take my readers by the hand, to lead them step by step from one concept and procedure to the next, to describe things with which they were not familiar.<br /><br />Poetry is less restrictive. I'm free to point, metaphorically, at things my readers have already experienced. And I can give them a fresh look at those familiar things with very few words.<br /><br />"The world is too much with us." wrote Michael Klein. "We are almost always more interested in trees than what is rustling their leaves." <br /><br />If technical writing was my tree, then perhaps poetry is what is rustling my leaves. Right now, it's flash fiction that rustles my leaves. Thanks for this simple, less-is-more approach!Bill Deannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004331015693137484.post-25976151419356947502015-04-06T11:04:19.837-06:002015-04-06T11:04:19.837-06:00I read this last week and it made something click ...I read this last week and it made something click for me. I know storytelling isn't plug-n-play but I think your examples and your "formula" shifted something for me...I got what I needed to focus on. So, I wrote a blog post about it today and linked to you. Thanks for the great info! http://suzannebrazil.com/my-flash-fiction-breatkthrough/Suzanne Brazilhttp://suzannebrazil.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004331015693137484.post-28498460080226354652015-01-24T17:14:53.783-07:002015-01-24T17:14:53.783-07:00Thank you so much for writing such an informative ...Thank you so much for writing such an informative and well-organized article.<br /><br />For a while now I have been very interested in trying to write my own Flash Fiction but was not sure about how to do it correctly. Therefore, your clear and concise instructions, suggestions, and tips are just what I needed to encourage me to take the next step!<br /><br />Once again, thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and expertise! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11019343630083541923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004331015693137484.post-14438228282241977532014-05-08T07:20:41.226-06:002014-05-08T07:20:41.226-06:00This is awesome; I have to thank you, Suzanne. Thi...This is awesome; I have to thank you, Suzanne. This is one of the very few articles I've found in my search for writing expertise that were genuinely helpful.Jeremiahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004331015693137484.post-91756674268941462942013-10-07T19:10:17.314-06:002013-10-07T19:10:17.314-06:00I got to this page from the flash fiction page and...I got to this page from the flash fiction page and have already bookmarked it for future reference. <br />Great breakdown of story points for us to be able to separate everything and work on it. Thank you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004331015693137484.post-41955848839045454262013-06-02T14:23:38.870-06:002013-06-02T14:23:38.870-06:00Hemingway would be proud. I have always loved Flas...Hemingway would be proud. I have always loved Flash or short Fiction not only as a writer, but as a reader as well. No other form engages the reader so intimatey into the story than Flash Fiction.<br />After reading Hemingway's works and his approach to the craft, it becomes clear (at least to me) that this minimalist approach provides opportunities for an author to include the reader into the creation of the story itself, filling in detail and imagery. It is one of the reasons this form of writing is such a pleasure to read and in which it is a challenge to write.<br />This is a great article. Keep up the good work.<br />Hemingway would be proud...I know many of us are.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08418188094103399364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004331015693137484.post-11059295342698691192013-03-10T15:34:57.748-06:002013-03-10T15:34:57.748-06:00The best article on Flash Fiction I've read so...The best article on Flash Fiction I've read so far. I like the insistence on the enormous importance of descipline in every aspect of Flash Fiction writing.<br /><br />Thanks!Mary Bevannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004331015693137484.post-43217769181987635792013-02-24T23:34:47.530-07:002013-02-24T23:34:47.530-07:00I really loved this. Thanks so much for all of you...I really loved this. Thanks so much for all of your advice, this helped me to further understand the subtlety of flash fiction and just how complex it can be to write. Knowing this, I can't wait to give it a try.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004331015693137484.post-39949260145736516122012-08-05T11:08:57.247-06:002012-08-05T11:08:57.247-06:00Great article! Not only does It explain how to wr...Great article! Not only does It explain how to write flash fiction, but it also helps you to see the grander picture of fleshing out a full-length novel.<br /><br />My best guess at a novel that only includes one scene would be that one with Tom Hanks and the soccer ball. I have never seen it, but I have been told that it is only one scene.Dean Kutzlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04832584541515053835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004331015693137484.post-1905309553748324022012-03-02T13:15:34.242-07:002012-03-02T13:15:34.242-07:00Very informative! I'm discovering I really lik...Very informative! I'm discovering I really like flash fiction. It's also helpful in cutting out the unnecessary gunk in other writings.<br /><br />Kat<br /><br />www.kat-collins.comKat Collinshttp://www.kat-collins.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004331015693137484.post-65260070007552109952012-01-24T22:12:00.204-07:002012-01-24T22:12:00.204-07:00I arrived here from the Flash Fiction Submishmash ...I arrived here from the Flash Fiction Submishmash guidelines page. Thanks. This really does help clarify how stories can be broken down into parts so that the non essential aspects can be carved away.Nicholey Michael Karnoreply@blogger.com