Just realized that my flash fiction piece “Parking Lot Superhero” was published by Story Shack two weeks ago! Yikes, how did I lose track of time? Speaking of time, the magazine gives an estimate of five minutes to read it ;).
PARKING LOT SUPERHERO
The story was illustrated by artist Hannah Nolan.
Thanks so much to the editor Martin Hooijmans and to Hannah.
This is my first attempt at flash fiction. I like how fiction gives me more freedom with structure than nonfiction does, and the flash length is fun to work with. It’s challenging to be concise but also rewarding to complete a story that is this short.
Do you read and/or write flash fiction that isn’t serialized? Where the whole story has to be read in five minutes? Do you prefer flash fiction or the traditional short story length and why?
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Pic of a vintage police car found just outside the Grand Canyon. With a character like Jack (in my story), the protagonist and her friend didn’t need the police.
Love the story, Luanne, especially the layers of background to enrich the character of Jack. Congratulations on another publication!!!
Thank you, Carla! Jack jack jack. His most heroic feat is what nobody could see . . . .
Good story, Luanne. I think sometimes flash fiction is sometimes either so short there’s no real story, or it’s just too clever. Your story was short story that was just shorter. Does that make sense? 😉
Oh thank you! I agree that a lot of times there is no real story in flash fiction. They are less than satisfying. And sometimes they are almost like gimmicks or tricks. But it’s really fun to work with a smaller “space” for a story-story.
Well done. Good story,Luanne!
Thanks, Anneli! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Congratulations Luanne on a much deserved publication.
Thanks so much, Mark! Woot!
A tender, heart-warming story, leaving so many openings for more. Congratulations
Thanks so much for reading it and for your congratulations!!!
Good one, Luanne. Please, please tell the rest of the story someday.
We will see . . . . There is always more to be said.
I love flash fiction! Perhaps that is a reflection of my reduced attention-span due to internet addiction? Anyway, nicely done!
You and me both. Funny thing is that I so enjoyed Adrienne Morris’ long historical novel The House on Tenafly Road once I started it, but the size of it daunted me to begin with. I have become a real wimp because of the internet. But there is something really positive out of these flash stories–we get to read more stories. And have a feeling of accomplishment even when we don’t have time for a long read.
What a great story! I enjoy flash fiction. It’s a quick escape for when I don’t have time to settle into my favorite corner of the couch. But so much depends on the story itself. I’ve read some novels that should have been left as short stories and short stories that could have been made into novels. Of course, flash fiction is great when one is reading online. I do can five minutes of reading online, but more than that and my eyes become very weary.
Thanks for sharing this and congratulations on yet another publication!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I agree with you about flash fiction. If it feels like a fully “satisfied” story, I like it very short (online–not as much fun on the couch unless it’s a collection of them or the whole magazine). But it has to complete its path in the same way as a longer piece or it annoys me.
Great story Luanne, you’ve managed to fit such characterisation into such a short piece – I love the last line about the thousand ways the character could have told it. I find flash fiction quite challenging, though I have noticed that my short stories are getting a little shorter these days 🙂
I can understand why we are writing shorter today. Our brains are being rewired this way because of the internet, etc.