Flash Fiction Advisory

Leave Coy for the Ponds.

I’m not a jerk (just ask my parole officer) but it doesn’t hurt to be one for flashcraft. Readers are drawn to the “pop!” and that means subtleties can become liabilities. Being rude about the story is something flash readers want: they want to “get it” quick.

Don’t take my word for it. Some of my flash “rejection notes,” all helpful critiques, are ones that have never applied toward my longer stories or novel proposals:

“I like the way this is written, but I'm afraid I just don't get it.”

“Obviously too subtle.”

“Can't decipher this.”

“Confusing.”

Flash Fic Advisory #5: Don’t be coy.

[Note: Perhaps a writer's corollary to John Scalzi's "Failure Mode of Clever."]