Flash Fiction

Flash fiction—a genre that blurs the lines between prose poetry and short story—is one of the most exciting and popular forms in contemporary literature. Flash fiction pieces tell stories, reveal character, express emotion, and capture moments in fewer than 1,000 words. Some pieces of flash fiction (also known as micro fiction) create entire worlds in 500, 100, or sometimes in as few as 50 words. The form borrows from traditional scene construction and narrative arc found in short stories and novels, as well as from poetic description and precision of language found in prose poetry. In this class, students will read and dissect works of Flash fiction from around the world from ancient fables to award-winning contemporary micro stories. The course is designed as a creative writing workshop, where students will write and present their original creative pieces of Flash fiction to the class and engage in constructive criticism, editorial feedback, and revision.