Gone in a Flash

I'm not a fan of flash fiction. I don't write it, I don't read it. When I read fiction, I want a journey in words, a proper meal, not a snack. If people want to write it, fine.

But, as a writer, at the end of the day, I want more fiction, not less. Give me books, or give me death!

Just like I'd rather have a whole song than ten seconds of it. You need time to build, to escape into that world. Flash fiction is simply a glimpse. What writer can be satisfied with a glimpse? Go build some worlds, develop your characters, create a place for readers to lose themselves within.

I think some of the fetishizing of flash fiction comes from three places: 1) short attention spans--people are too impatient for longer work, and flash fiction offers a brief diversion; 2) indie publishing's meager budgets--it's easier to fund a cluster of flash fiction stories than larger works--that's one of the many challenges inherent in indie; 3) lack of ability to write longer work--flash fiction offers a way to create for writers who aren't comfortable with the level of commitment longer works demand.

Again, if people want to do it, it's fine; I don't.