Click for Source Image By Pamela Banayoti
Lorrie Moore describes the art of writing as this, ‘A short story is a love affair; a novel is a marriage. A short story is a photograph; a novel is a film.’ If the short story is described as an affair and the novel is described as a marriage, what then can we call flash fiction? A fling.
Lorrie Moore describes the art of writing as this, ‘A short story is a love affair; a novel is a marriage. A short story is a photograph; a novel is a film.’ If the short story is described as an affair and the novel is described as a marriage, what then can we call flash fiction? A fling.
Click for Source Image Sudden fiction, micro-fiction, short-shorts, prose poems; these names have been used to describe the ultimate short story which uses the bare minimum to communicate its message. The most famous examples of these would be Hemingway’s six word story ‘Baby shoes for sale: never worn’. In six short words, Hemingway manages to create speculation in a readers mind by the clever use of implication. By leaving his readers guessing as to what the reason was for the unworn shoes, readers are left to use their imagination in order fill in the blanks. This is what all good writing does, it allows us to speculate and draw conclusions by small clues hidden within the text. Another great example of this type of writing is Katherine Weber’s Sleeping, a hugely important tale in teaching the art of fiction. Weber creates a vivid tale through the use of telling clues and foreshadowing, communicating themes of loss, coming of age, nostalgia. The baby that the protagonist – Harriet – is to look after, is described as ‘a very sound sleeper’, correlating with the opening line of Harriet not needing to ‘change her diaper.’ What follows is a chilling tale with superb momentum that leads us to the climax of the story. Weber does all this without the use of effects and tricks that writers of fiction may use to communicate plot twists. With a few strategically placed words, the reader builds up the story in their own head, drawing their own conclusions. Thus, the reader is left with a wider perception of the world and the different struggles everyone goes through. The short story, whatever the word count, gives us a glimpse into human interaction, helping us to understand each other, creating an awareness that may not have existed before.
With quick fixes everywhere you turn, the short story is used as a way to learn the craft of writing. With today’s busy schedule and the onset of social media which has allowed for snippets of stories to travel the world within seconds of pressing send, the short story remains a vital way in which one may communicate what they have to say about the world, without having to dedicate an extended period of time writing a novel. While a novel is a great way to broadcast your personal message, the short story allows for leeway in expressionism and style. Typically, a short story is between 1500 words to 30,000 words. Micro-fiction can be used to describe anything below 300 words. They all fall under the umbrella of flash fiction, and the merits of this form bear many fruits; less revision time, possibly more popularity, and a chance to get noticed with only a few words. Perhaps we can go as far as suggesting that the short story develops a connection with a reader the way a novel may not be able to. This is because the form relies on the art of implication; as exemplified by Hemingway and writers of the sort.
So where does the beginning, middle and end fit in to this style of fiction? In this case, we rely on the revelation of a character’s attribute, either through a gesture, a word, or a piece of dialogue. The essence of the story comes from the character’s motivation. The end is where the reader arrives at the desired conclusion. This shows that it’s not the punch line at the end that makes the story, but the building up of the text and the scattered hints which builds up an image in the readers mind, allowing it to resonate.
Finally, whatever name you use for the ever-changing status of the short story; one fact remains. The short story is a tool for our communication, helping us understand the world and the people who live in it.
With quick fixes everywhere you turn, the short story is used as a way to learn the craft of writing. With today’s busy schedule and the onset of social media which has allowed for snippets of stories to travel the world within seconds of pressing send, the short story remains a vital way in which one may communicate what they have to say about the world, without having to dedicate an extended period of time writing a novel. While a novel is a great way to broadcast your personal message, the short story allows for leeway in expressionism and style. Typically, a short story is between 1500 words to 30,000 words. Micro-fiction can be used to describe anything below 300 words. They all fall under the umbrella of flash fiction, and the merits of this form bear many fruits; less revision time, possibly more popularity, and a chance to get noticed with only a few words. Perhaps we can go as far as suggesting that the short story develops a connection with a reader the way a novel may not be able to. This is because the form relies on the art of implication; as exemplified by Hemingway and writers of the sort.
So where does the beginning, middle and end fit in to this style of fiction? In this case, we rely on the revelation of a character’s attribute, either through a gesture, a word, or a piece of dialogue. The essence of the story comes from the character’s motivation. The end is where the reader arrives at the desired conclusion. This shows that it’s not the punch line at the end that makes the story, but the building up of the text and the scattered hints which builds up an image in the readers mind, allowing it to resonate.
Finally, whatever name you use for the ever-changing status of the short story; one fact remains. The short story is a tool for our communication, helping us understand the world and the people who live in it.
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