The following stories are all flash fiction, or pieces that are 5000 words or less. I’ve grouped writings where they might fit, but otherwise it’s a mixed bag. I’d love to see comments if anyone has the hankering, and I definitely hope there’s some enjoyment found somewhere in the words. Thank you for visiting.
A Few Thousand Words
- Before The Fan: A science fiction about a pair of investigators in the future. 2000 Words
- Chosen to Feed: A paranormal story about a young woman and her master. 998 Words
- A Day of Minor Inconvenience: A fantasy story about the end of the world. 1000 Words
- Train Platforms and Rooftops: A meandering contemplation on waiting and transport. 840 Words
- Used to Think: Two people struggling to deal with the end of the world. 1200 Words
- Saurian Supermarket: A stranger from a distant realm says a final goodbye to his boyfriend. 1000 Words
Fewer than 500
- Traffic Control: A tale of a city’s nightwatch and decisions not made.
Itty Bitty Flash
- Key Liar: A fantasy story about someone’s importance. 300 Words
FAQ:
Q – What is flash fiction? A – Any narrative written work that doesn’t qualify for longer classifications like short stories or novellas. So usually 5000 words or less. There’s also a Wikipedia article on the subject.
Q – Why bother with such a short piece of work? A – The challenge and to explore ideas. It’s fun creating characters that go through a beginning, middle, and end within very limited space. It forces careful consideration of every word.
Q – Will any of these stories be lengthened or extended into something else? A – Some, but definitely not all. Many were done for a writing prompt or on a whim of inspiration. Some were written to brainstorm for a larger work.
Q – Are any of these stories part of an existing universe or series of books? A – For sure. A few were the grounding that expanded into novels, and others were pieces done as a start to a future work.