I've been reading flash fiction--short short stories that hardly break a thousand words apiece--the past few years, but this essay by Rebecca Jane really made the whole genre come alive for me. Check it out:
"Flash fiction is suitable for blogging because of its shorter length; the reader is able to see the entire story in one computer screen without scrolling down. Some flash fiction enthusiasts consider it the “next frontier in writing.” This site, 365 Tomorrows expresses the common attitude that flash fiction fits with a “breakneck-paced” contemporary society. I argue that flash fiction is more of a nod, a recognition of the idea that there is an Internet world culture out there."
What do you think?
Myself, I think every webby writer should at least understand flash fiction, if only because it's the ideal genre to publish digitally.
On top of that, the print production is changing with the industry's shift towards digital publishing, so why not encourage a new kind of writing that actually acknowledges the sea change--adapting the tone, style, and fever-pitch of blogging in our writing?
Thanks to Edward Champion for the link...
I love the idea of this, have a gut feeling that it'll be the salvation of fiction... of course, I'm probably completely wrong about that.
I'm one with a "waste of words" issue. Obviously.
Great essay Rebecca.
Posted by: Robert Bruce | July 20, 2006 11:08 AM | Permalink to Comment