Flash Fiction

In the 1920s someone bet Ernest Hemingway ten dollars  that he couldnt write
a story in six words.

He produced the following and won the bet:

‘For sale: baby shoes. Never worn.’

Flash fiction could also be described as ’snapshot storytelling’
and is a good discipline to try if words have a habit of running away
with you.

It’s a good idea to stick to a conventional structure with a beginning,
middle and end. Remember to ’show’ and not ‘tell’. For instance, don’t tell
the reader what an uncaring mother Sophia is – show her putting on her
lipstick and going out to a party, leaving her little daughter alone in the
house.  Use strong verbs. Make every word count!

Check out the Arvon Foundation website for details of their Six Word Story
Competition and send to competition@arvonfoundation.org