The Rose Metal Press Field Guide to Writing Flash Fiction: Tips from Editors, Teachers, and Writers in the Field [Paperback]

Tara L. Masih (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 13, 2009 | ISBN-10: 0978984862 | ISBN-13: 978-0978984861 | Edition: First

With its unprecedented gathering of 25 brief essays by experts in the field, The Rose Metal Press Field Guide to Writing Flash Fiction meets the growing need for a concise yet creative exploration of the re-emerging genre popularly known as flash fiction. The book's introduction provides, for the first time, a comprehensive history of the short short story, from its early roots and hitherto unknown early publications and appearances, to its current state and practice. This guide is a must for anyone in the field of short fiction who teaches, writes, and is interested in its genesis and practice.

Featuring essays by: Steve Almond, Rusty Barnes, Randall Brown, Mark Budman, Stace Budzko, Robert Olen Butler, Ron Carlson, Pamelyn Casto, Kim Chinquee, Stuart Dybek, Pia Z. Ehrhardt, Sherrie Flick, Vanessa Gebbie, Tom Hazuka, Nathan Leslie, Michael Martone, Julio Ortega, Pamela Painter, Jayne Anne Phillips, Jennifer Pieroni, Shouhua Qi, Bruce Holland Rogers, Robert Shapard, Deb Olin Unferth, Lex Williford

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Accessible enough for pleasure reading but instructive enough for the classroom, this volume brings together brief essays by 25 writers known for their talent in flash fiction, aka the "short short story," roughly defined as a tale "1-3 pages and 250-1,000 words" long. Along with personal musings on the genre, each author provides a prompt, and their own short piece to illustrate it. Editor and fiction writer Masih provides a remarkably thorough history of flash fiction, dating the phrase "short short story" to a 1926 issue of Collier's Weekly. Contributors include award-winning writer Jayne Anne Phillips, who writes that "one-page fiction should hang in the air of the mind like an image made of smoke"; Shouhua Qi shares her thoughts on the Chinese short short, which they also call a "Smoke-Long story," as in the time it takes to smoke a cigarette; and Vanessa Gebbie, who reminds us of Hemmingway's famous 6-word story: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn." Robert Olen Butler and Steve Almond discuss the difference between flash fiction and prose poetry, the former remarking that "fiction is the art form of human yearning"; Almond, meanwhile, chronicles his journey from bad poetry to good short stories. An expansive list of further reading rounds out this smart, fun, provocative guide to an increasingly popular form.

Review

A thoughtful and thought-provoking resource, casting fresh light on the practice of flash fiction. Each essay is a gem, encrusted with outstanding prompts and valuable exercises. Anyone who hopes to write (or teach) the very short fiction form needs to read this book. --Dinty W. Moore, editor of The MAMMOTH Book of Miniscule Fiction

There are many writing guides brought in on the wave of creative writing courses steadily multiplying across the globe. There are good ones and bad ones: the Field Guide to Writing Flash Fiction is definitely a good one; I would even say a very good one. It doesn't promise unparalleled success or anything else it can't deliver, but does provide real insight into how writers work in this medium doing by exactly what it says on the cover - providing guidance that gently leads the would-be flash writer along the path to making their own work truly shine. --Jacky Taylor, How Publishing Really Works, online July 27, 2009

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Rose Metal Press; First edition (May 13, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0978984862
• ISBN-13: 978-0978984861
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #74,998 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tara L. Masih grew up in the small harbor town of Northport, situated along the Long Island Sound. Much of her time was spent on the beaches and in the woods, and as a result her writing is often set within the framework of nature and place. Her fiction, poetry, and essays have been published in numerous literary magazines, and appear in the anthologies Brevity & Echo, Word of Mouth, Hacks, Aunties, For She Is the Tree of Life, Only the Sea Keeps, In the Arms of Words, New to North America, Stripped, BITE, and Essential Love. Awards for her work include first place in The Ledge Magazine's fiction contest, a finalist fiction grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and Pushcart Prize, Best New American Voices, and Best of the Web nominations. She judges the intercultural essay prize for the annual Soul-Making Literary Contest, is editor of the acclaimed Rose Metal Press Field Guide to Writing Flash Fiction (a ForeWord Book of the Year) and The Chalk Circle: Intercultural Prizewinning Essays (a Skipping Stones Honor Award Book and a runner up in the New England Book Festival), and her story collection Where the Dog Star Never Glows was a National Best Books finalist. Her website is www.taramasih.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended March 14, 2011

By Katey Schultz

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Tara L. Masih's introduction to this book was one of the most engaging, thorough, specific introductions to a book (anthology, guide, or otherwise) that I have ever read. I have a hard time not crossing my eyes when someone starts "talking history" but the combination of her succinct thoroughness and my love of flash, has made me read the 38-page intro to the Field Guide time and time again. As far as I'm concerned, Masih's intro is the best source around for the history of the genre and I think it will continue to be a gift to students, teachers, and writers alike for decades to come.

As a whole, the collection is equally informative. When I am teaching a workshop, I'm rarely able to lead prompts while also participating in them myself. But the suggestions in this Field Guide were so engaging, I couldn't help but also write while I was teaching. What a gift to the genre this book is!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Buy Book for Anyone Interested in Writing Flash Fiction January 7, 2010

By T. Henkle

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this book as soon as I read a review about it in "The Writer" Magazine (Dec 09, pg 44, by Amy Wallen).

In an irony to the subject, flash fiction, the introduction of this field guide is the longest chapter in the entire book, weighing-in at 26 pages. Despite its length, Ms. Misah provides the reader with an interesting history of flash fiction.

I found the essays within this guidebook to be useful and informative. Each essay ranged from 3-9 pages, which included a writing prompt and an example of flash fiction. As you could expect, the authors had some differences of opinion on what makes an effective short-short story. What they did agree on, was that each story should be thought-provoking and leave the reader with an indelible image.

I found most of the story examples, "thought provoking" alright. My usual responses were, "huh?" or even, "What was that all about?"

I guess I'm not the literary type. I'm not into deciphering an author's meaning and images in his or her story.

My favorite was "Inside Job" by Pamela Painter. In this flash--(warning! Plot spoiler ahead!)--a university couple are attending a party. After noticing her husband hit on another one of his graduate students, Marla goes into the kitchen to grab a drink, but accidently douses her blouse with seltzer water. One of Marla's graduate students tries to help dab off the water and she guides his hand--underneath her blouse.

Whew!

Talk about an "indelible image!"

I rate this book a solid four stars. This is more out of personal bias. With the exception of "Inside Job," it's hard for me to get excited over a how-to book. However, for anyone interested in writing flash fiction, or improving their craft in this niche-genre, this is an invaluable guide.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Kick in the Pants to Write! December 18, 2011

By Wendy A. Skinner

Format:Paperback

I bought this book after hearing about it at the 2010 AWP conference in Denver. The collection of essays are from different writers, teachers, and editors and when put together, makes a varied and well-rounded discussion on a somewhat fluid genre. The format for each contributor is an essay followed by a flash example and a relative exercise. It's simple and to the point, yet still creative and thought stimulating.

Later that summer, I slowly progressed through my "field guide," taking time to digest each essay with its writing exercises. I thought of it like poetry. I could've read through the entire book in a day, but in order to let it soak in, I savored every word, paragraph, and essay and used the experience to guide, inspire, and give me the kick in the pants I needed to continue flexing my writing brain over the summer.

In addition to enjoying my time spent writing with my "field guide," I've since had two of the short-shorts I wrote over that summer published. If you need your own kick in the pants, you'll be glad you bought this book to inspire and guide you while you explore this exhilarating form!