tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post5088334894116545454..comments2024-03-19T03:21:49.937-04:00Comments on SleuthSayers: To Flash or Not to FlashLeigh Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-89392932114820882582019-05-03T01:42:59.174-04:002019-05-03T01:42:59.174-04:00I write way too much flash fiction, probably! I...I write way too much flash fiction, probably! I'm in a Facebook group where we write and post one flash story a week (based on a picture prompt) on our blogs (authorjeffbaker.com) and it has made me a better writer. Or, at least, I am able to sit down and write whenever I want/need to now! And I have the complete Borges, including his take on H.P. Lovecraft(!!!!) and I recommend anything by Borges. (And by Paul D. Marks!) Jeff Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00316081079528920123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-19083671504822584252019-05-01T04:24:47.685-04:002019-05-01T04:24:47.685-04:00George is your chum, huh, Leigh? Good one!George is your chum, huh, Leigh? Good one!Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-84284164389645372232019-04-30T22:03:34.028-04:002019-04-30T22:03:34.028-04:00One of Twain's funniest stories featured a goa...One of Twain's funniest stories featured a goat galloping downhill toward the backside of a bent-over fat man… whilst Twain meandered and took side trips and never got to the point. But only Twain could pull that off.<br><br>Paul, I think I was meant to learn <a href="https://www.sleuthsayers.org/2013/04/flash-fiction-great-minds.html" rel="nofollow">a lesson in flash fiction, maybe, sorta</a>.<br><a href="https://www.sleuthsayers.org/2013/04/flash-fiction-great-minds.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.sleuthsayers.org/2013/04/flash-fiction-great-minds.html</a>Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-45025115040145892912019-04-30T21:52:43.690-04:002019-04-30T21:52:43.690-04:00Good luck with your flash fiction, Maggie. And Art...Good luck with your flash fiction, Maggie. And Art's a great short story writer, so I'm sure the class was terrific.Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-18659932678158501912019-04-30T20:33:10.781-04:002019-04-30T20:33:10.781-04:00I have flash fiction on my writing bucket list. Ar...I have flash fiction on my writing bucket list. Art Taylor gave a workshop on short stories to my SinC chapter. He handed out a 700-word story the late BK Stevens wrote for Woman's World. I still have it. It's a gem. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-60716203231658368432019-04-30T19:44:55.350-04:002019-04-30T19:44:55.350-04:00Well said, Alan.Well said, Alan.Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-62512610677565003132019-04-30T19:44:32.446-04:002019-04-30T19:44:32.446-04:00Thanks, Peter. It really does help one see what’s ...Thanks, Peter. It really does help one see what’s necessary and what isn’t.Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-54131999862630708542019-04-30T19:43:13.547-04:002019-04-30T19:43:13.547-04:00Thanks, Larry. Yeah, Shotgun Honey is a great plac...Thanks, Larry. Yeah, Shotgun Honey is a great place for FF. And your story was a good one!Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-33906415956131441722019-04-30T19:42:50.115-04:002019-04-30T19:42:50.115-04:00Well, it’s a little early to wish you a Happy Birt...Well, it’s a little early to wish you a Happy Birthday, Liz, but I’ll try to remember when it comes around. That’s cool that you share your birthday with them. And thanks for the heads up on the contest. I’m not sure how long a drabble should be, I’ll have to look that up, too.Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-89584722745357134752019-04-30T19:42:20.214-04:002019-04-30T19:42:20.214-04:00Thanks, Josh. I’ll have to look for Wellen. I’m no...Thanks, Josh. I’ll have to look for Wellen. I’m not familiar with him.Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-8731152428821549992019-04-30T19:42:00.356-04:002019-04-30T19:42:00.356-04:00Thanks, Eve. I’ll have to check out the LeGuin sto...Thanks, Eve. I’ll have to check out the LeGuin story.Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-53352612434541817982019-04-30T19:41:41.187-04:002019-04-30T19:41:41.187-04:00Thanks, R.T. Yeah, a “New Yorker,” that’s it. Some...Thanks, R.T. Yeah, a “New Yorker,” that’s it. Sometimes those stories will work for me, but mostly I’m with you, preferring a story with rising action leading to the climax. I also agree that flash fiction doesn’t leave much room for character development and background, which is probably why I don’t write much of it. But I have learned to appreciate it more over time.Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-11350115771313180272019-04-30T19:41:19.126-04:002019-04-30T19:41:19.126-04:00Thank you, Jacqueline.Thank you, Jacqueline.Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-88716589191458613362019-04-30T19:40:58.838-04:002019-04-30T19:40:58.838-04:00Thanks, Rob. And congratulations on your AHMM sale...Thanks, Rob. And congratulations on your AHMM sale. I’ll be looking for it in AHMM. Also will check out your story in the Jan/Feb issue of EQMM. I’m way behind and just getting to that issue now. I’d forgotten about the Borges reference in Name of the Rose, which I loved, but haven’t read since it came out. I’ll also have to check out the LeGuin stories. I don’t read much science fiction and always think of her in that vein. As for the other Borges stories you mention, I like pretty much everything I’ve read by him, though there might be some exceptions. And I’ve read most of his stories, though maybe not everything. There’s something about what he writes that I think I relate to.Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-16565961234283960362019-04-30T17:24:12.874-04:002019-04-30T17:24:12.874-04:00Writing flash fiction teaches me to make every sin...Writing flash fiction teaches me to make every single word count. When you've only got 700 or 1000 to use, there's no room for wordy indulgences.Alan Orloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03695574442723430347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-61161084356986539442019-04-30T13:34:17.564-04:002019-04-30T13:34:17.564-04:00Thanks for an interesting post. Writing flash help...Thanks for an interesting post. Writing flash helps me learn to prioritize and cut.<br />Peter DiChellishttps://shortwalkdarkstreet.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-46768905274895029082019-04-30T13:30:13.909-04:002019-04-30T13:30:13.909-04:00Excellent piece, Paul! I agree, flash fiction is a...Excellent piece, Paul! I agree, flash fiction is a great medium. These little stories can really hit you when they work. Shotgun Honey, headed by Ron Earl Phillips, is a long-time proponent of FF and I highly recommend checking out Shotgunhoney.com and reading some stories there. They published my FF “Smotherage” on their site, and included it as a bonus with my novel Flash Bang Booze. Looking forward to your story in Switchblade!Lawrence Maddoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03057386966178865691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-78746845710051479092019-04-30T13:21:30.360-04:002019-04-30T13:21:30.360-04:00I love Borges. He, Orson Scott Card, Oscar Hijuelo...I love Borges. He, Orson Scott Card, Oscar Hijuelos, & I share a birthday ;-)<br /><br />Please visit https://www.fundacioncesaregidoserrano.com/en/ ... the Fundacion Cesar Egido Serrano in Barcelona, home of the Museo de la Palabra (Museum of the Word). Scroll down a bit & read about their international flash fiction competition ... the prize is <b>TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS</b>. I entered the last couple of contests there but unfortunately did not place. Entries can be in English, Spanish, & a couple of other languages. The entries need to fit a theme they announce, & be extremely short, drabble length if memory serves. Drabbles are my favorite thing to write anyway.<br />Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00239163766419735693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-27254324397691844492019-04-30T11:26:51.147-04:002019-04-30T11:26:51.147-04:00Thanks for this, Paul. With all the current intere...Thanks for this, Paul. With all the current interest in flash, I hope readers will look back at the work of Edward Wellen, who contributed many one-pagers to the mystery and science-fiction magazines from the '50s through the early '90s. Lovely man, and a very talented writer!joshpachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12123432071405643210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-30370518359178984852019-04-30T11:26:48.425-04:002019-04-30T11:26:48.425-04:00Sometimes flash fiction is just the ticket, but I&...Sometimes flash fiction is just the ticket, but I'm like Barb - my average stories run around 5,000 words. But once in a while... something quicker shows up.<br />Loved the Borges parable, and Rob is right: you'll never forget Ursula K. LeGuin's "The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas."Eve Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03015761600962360110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-42085556968914579032019-04-30T11:14:21.774-04:002019-04-30T11:14:21.774-04:00Paul, a good article and on the mark. The "li...Paul, a good article and on the mark. The "literary" type story you refer to that wanders around without a true ending is what THE CREATIVE WRITER'S HANDBOOK (1975) on pages 69-70 calls a NEW YORKER magazine type of story. A straight line story depending upon the massing of details to push the story forward rather than providing a "true" ending. Personally, I prefer a story with rising action(s) leading to a satisfying climax.<br /><br />My mind looks at writing flash fiction as if writing a joke. There's the setup (beginning and middle combined) followed by the punchline (twist ending). Not much room for character development or background description.R.T. Lawtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15523486296396710227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-44271778448158802412019-04-30T11:12:14.911-04:002019-04-30T11:12:14.911-04:00Wonderful blog! I do agree that writing flash fict...Wonderful blog! I do agree that writing flash fiction hones our short story writing skills. No wasted words. Encourages a sharp focus.Jacqueline Seewaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-76691032031317963422019-04-30T10:53:42.306-04:002019-04-30T10:53:42.306-04:00Oh! I should have said that I had flash fiction i...Oh! I should have said that I had flash fiction in the Jan/Feb issue of EQMM: "Please Do Not Disturb." It is not very Borgesian.<br /><br />And by the way, Borges was blind and served for a time as the head of the national library in Argentina. In Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose the blind librarian is Brother Jorge of Burgos...Robert Loprestihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08844889305615182897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-33626500571272719542019-04-30T10:51:31.041-04:002019-04-30T10:51:31.041-04:00Great piece. I have been thinking about Borges la...Great piece. I have been thinking about Borges lately because AHMM recently bought a story of mine, "The Library of Poisonville," that was inspired by his "The Library of Babel." One of his great pieces of flash fiction is "Borges and I," which you can find on the web, probably in violation of copyright. When Linda Landrigan invited me to choose a story for AHMM's classic corner I picked "The Shape of the Sword," one of three mystery stories he wrote around his fortieth birthday. The others were "Death and the Compass" and your favorite, "The Garden of Forking Paths."<br /><br />Another Borges' classic, although I don't think it's flash, is "The Cult of the Phoenix" sometimes translated "The Sect of..." It is essentially a riddle and the reader has to deduce what the sect actually is.<br /><br />By the way, if you love parables, you need to read Ursula K. LeGuin. Try "The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas," or "She Unnames Them."Robert Loprestihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08844889305615182897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-60074889775356930872019-04-30T08:44:19.676-04:002019-04-30T08:44:19.676-04:00Barb, I guess one can write it in a flash to be re...Barb, I guess one can write it in a flash to be read in a flash ;-) . And I wouldn't mind writing more of it either.Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.com