Review: Writing Flash Fiction: How to Write Very Short Stories and Get Them Published
Writing Flash Fiction: How to Write Very Short Stories and Get Them Published by Carly Berg
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
An excellent reference for writers of all styles, not just flash fiction. A book to be read once, twice, and as many times as one can to get most of Carly’s insights imprinted in one’s brain.
I discovered ‘flash fiction’ and one-line fiction stories from this informative work by Carly Berg. The very idea of restricting a story to such insane limits horrifies me. A bit old-fashioned, I like to settle into a complex story and enjoy its characters and narration as one may enjoy sights and experiences in a long journey. A writer myself, quickies, in stories, or life, bring up unpleasant psychosomatic reactions. Nevertheless, primed by the soundbite world today, and informed by Carly’s clear and succinct descriptions, I stand educated and enlightened.
Lucid, concise, and creative in descriptions and metaphors (“…danced, snapping his fingers,“”ping-pongy“), this is an enjoyable work about the art and science of writing tight, and writing well. The many aspects of loose writing highlighted will resonate with all writers. Carly reminded me that I write in long sentences that may have my readers gasping for air as they attempt to surface from depths of complexity in my sentence structure. See what I mean? I need to, as she admonishes, “Break them up.” Not with a whole lot of punctuation. Just make them brief and seamless. I enjoyed revisiting all of my own editing efforts as I read through this book.
A minor peeve: for a book about flash fiction, or pieces as short as 500 words, I found this guide a mite long. I haven’t finished it, but have seen enough in it of value to write this review.
Highly recommended to every newbie writer, as a great start to writing short pieces and thus learning to write well before attempting full-length novels, and to every experienced writer, for a refresher on tight writing and habits to eschew or be fully aware of. I need to break this sentence too…old habits die hard!
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