The Ten Rules of Flash Fiction

No! Not "Flash Gordon" - we said "Flash Fiction"

by Charles Christian


Since 2012 I’ve chaired the judging panel for the SCI-FI-LONDON annual flash fiction competition, and for the past two years I’ve edited the Grievous Angel SF&F flash fiction webzine. Among other things this means I’ve not only read a lot of flash fiction story submissions but I’ve also read a very large number of flash fiction story submissions (on average 10 a day) that I’ve subsequently had to reject. I’d estimate that for every story I accept, 19 others are rejected. (Also worth noting that approximately 90% of all submissions come from North America.) Based on these experiences, I’d like to propose The 10 Rules of Flash Fiction to ensure your submissions, whether to publications or competitions are at least contenders...


(1) The Usual Suspects - It shouldn’t need saying but as writers still ignore them, I’ll remind you again to remember the basics of any submission: follow the publication’s manuscript and file formatting requirements (please, no PDFs) + follow the publication’s caveats – you know, no reprints, no simultaneous submissions, no multiple submissions + provide adequate contact details + ascertain whether or not the publication pays for submissions. And, always check out the copyright position: what is the publication asking for and NEVER EVER assign all your copyrights.


(2) Maximum Word Lengths - The definition of flash fiction will vary from publication to publication, and from competition to competition. With the lower limit for short stories generally reckoned to be 2000 words, it is not unusual to see maximum word length ranges vary from 1500, 1000, 750, 500 or even 250 words or less. (Although the very shorter lengths will often be described as microfiction.) And, do also check there is no minimum word length – publications (particular those that still publish in print) that use a conventional page layout may set a minimum so as to make the maximum use of the space at their disposal. (Incidentally, don't be greedy. A well written 300 word story is far more likely to be accepted for publication whereas a poorly written, padded-out 1500 word story is a sure candidate for a rejection slip.)


(3) Right Genre - Although there is a tendency to lump all “speculative fiction” into the same sci-fi and fantasy (or maybe SF&F plus horror) pigeon hole, separate publications will have their different preferences so do try to check them out before you submit. For example, a publication that specialises in hard science fiction is unlikely to be interested in a high fantasy story. And, rightly or wrongly, horror tends to have its own separate niche market.


(4) What is Flash Fiction - Flash Fiction has all the elements of a traditional self-contained short story, including a beginning, a middle, and an end, even if some aspects may be implied. Yes, that simple, it is a proper story all in a vert short word count.


(5) What isn’t Flash Fiction - Flash Fiction is NOT an extract or vignette from a longer story and should never end with the words To Be Continued... Yes, also that simple, it has to be a story and it has to have a definite ending.


(6) Start the Action Immediately - Start the action rolling immediately. You do not have the word-length luxury of a novel in which to develop your story so cut to the quick as soon as possible rather than waste time on waffling introductory dialogue. You are not writing an Aga-saga, your are writing the equivalent of a Ramones song “1-2-3-4 Gabba, Gabba Hey.”


(7) Don’t get carried away with the gadgets - Yes, this is sci-fi and fantasy but readers still want characters who they can engage with and care about. Don’t make your characters mere cardboard cut-outs whose only purpose is to operate your gadgets.


(8) Don’t be Evil - Nobody objects to sex, violence and swear words – as long as they are pertinent to the story and are not being used gratuitously. But the will object to gratuitous shock tactics. That means no submissions advocating racial and religious hatred, sexism, child abuse, etc. Use your commonsense. Edgy: Yes. Rapist, cannibal, paedophile chainsaw-wielding murder porn: No.


(9) Avoid the cliché ending - This is a short story, not a preamble to a punchline which (a) probably isn’t as funny as you think it is, (b) isn’t going to be a twist that surprises the reader, and (c) is one the readers will have read before. (Probably many many times.) “We appear to be the only survivors on this planet. My name’s Adam.” “Oh, hello, my name is Eve!” (These are also known as Twilight Zone endings.)


(10) Finally, do be original - It goes without saying that you should never copy/plagiarise another writer’s work but you should also strive to come up with new ideas or at least a fresh spin on an established trope. Too often editors (and readers) encounter stories where the denouement or twist is predictable from the first paragraph. (I’ve even seen stories where the title can give the game away – in fact I was recently sent a 130,000 word novel where the title gave away the whole plot.) Oh yeah, it’s the one where the protagonist has been dead all along (aka The Sixth Sense twist) – or is a vampire/werewolf/android/ghost but hasn’t realised it yet. So, be bold, make it fresh.

And lastly (yes, this is the unwritten Eleventh Rule that you should be prepared to break the other Ten Rules for) HAVE FUN! Seriously, if you are clearly having fun with your writing, your enjoyment will be infectious and your audience will enjoy it too.