How short is short? - Lynne Garner

As a writer of short stories I love how a story can be conveyed in a few words. So when I'm teaching my creative writing courses I often set homework and ask my students to write a short story. Before I even have the chance to go any further I'm often asked how short is short. I tend to use this opportunity to introduce them to the story forms of flash fiction (also known as nano-fiction, sudden fiction, micro-fiction and the micro-story) using the following as examples:

“In bed, struggling, he succumbs.”

A. J Chilson

and 

“For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”

Ernest Hemingway

I then introduce them to the 'twister' which is a story using just 140 characters which originated on the social media platform Twitter. Here is an example by Ron Gould:

"Time travel works!" the note read. "However you can only travel to the past and one-way. " I recognized my own handwriting and felt a chill.”

Or these examples written by the writer and film maker Simon Sylvester (wish I had this guys talent): 

“She insisted they call the baby Robert. If he’d known the real reason, 

he’d have put up more of a fuss.”

“They walked up the hill together, father and son. 

He emptied the little urn from the top of Waslade; he walked down on his own.”

Or my own:

Josh watched the stag's breath float on the chilled autumn morning air. He checked, one shot left. Ready, aim, press. The perfect image.

I then introduce them to the dribble, drabble and droubble (which they often think I'm making up). A dribble is a story that has exactly 50 words, a drabble has exactly 100 words and a droubble has exactly 200 words. You're allowed 15 additional words for the title but unused words cannot be used in your story. If you'd like to find out more about these forms then click here. 

So in answer to the question how short is short that's up to you.

Having read this I'm now setting you the challenge of writing a little bit of flash fiction or if you want to really go for it then why not have a go at writing a twister. Oh and please do share your results below I'd love to read them. 

Lynne   

Now for a blatant plug - don't say I didn't warn you:

My latest short story collection Coyote Tales Retold is available on Amazon in ebook format. Also available Meet The Tricksters a collection of 18 short stories featuring Anansi the Trickster Spider, Brer Rabbit and Coyote is available as a paper back and an ebook.    

I run the following online courses for Women On Writing:

How to write A children's book and get published

5 picture books in 5 weeks

How to write a hobby-based how to book