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

by Tara L. Masih (Author)

63 ratings

ISBN-13: 978-0978984861

ISBN-10: 0978984862

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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

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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

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 0.5 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Customer Reviews: 63 customer ratings
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #68,266 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #180 in Rhetoric (Books)
- #334 in Essays (Books)
- #46 in Literary History & Criticism Reference

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Customer reviews

5 star		63%
4 star		23%
3 star		7%
2 star		2%
1 star		4%

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Dianne W

Informative, inspiring, thought provoking essays, exercises & examples - highly recommended

Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2020

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This book has something for everyone. Each essay has a point to make about flash fiction, then suggests a writing exercise, and then gives an example of a flash piece along the lines of the exercise.

I've wanted to own this book for the longest time, so much so that I bought both the paperback and the Kindle editions so I can take the book with me when I go out and can dip into the content at will. It's not the sort of book that I could read all in one sitting - it's too rich for that and would be like eating five cheesecakes one after the other - but just reading a small section is enough to inspire and intrigue. Small treats for the writing mind.

I just dipped into the book again so I could remind myself of some of the content and I was so inspired that I had to stop reviewing to write a flash fiction piece. The first draft is done and I will look at that again tomorrow to refine it but the idea behind that story came because of this book. And for a writing book that is probably the highest possible praise.

Highly recommended.

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T. Henkle

A Must-Buy Book for Anyone Interested in Writing Flash Fiction

Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2010

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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.

11 people found this helpful

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Kenny A. Chaffin

Wonderful Guide

Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2014

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I've got this book as well as the Rose Metal Field Guide to Flash Non-Fiction and I love them both. They both follow the same format, an essay on writing followed by a prompt or exercise and an example piece. The included examples are themselves almost worth the price of admission. The reading list at the back is wonderful as well and can take you further. Highly recommended if Flash Fiction is your area of interest!

4 people found this helpful

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Wonderful

Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2014

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I loved this book! Each section is written by a different accomplished flash fiction writer and focuses on a different aspect of writing flash fiction. It's followed by a story that illustrates the point, then an assignment. It's good for beginners but also those further along in writing flash, who want to branch out to new methods and ideas. I'd recommend this book for anyone who is interested in writing flash fiction.

3 people found this helpful

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J. Duffy

THE Flash Fiction Bible

Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2017

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Essays by influential voices in the Flash Fiction world (authors and editors), along with sample stories and great advice. Highly recommended if you're at all interested in this fierce little form.

2 people found this helpful

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Elizabeth Siddal

but the introduction is great and several chapters are very strong

Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2017

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One chapter on Titles is poorly written, but the introduction is great and several chapters are very strong. I like how they have sample stories after each chapter, and the flash activities each chapter offers would work well in a class or for a group of writers meeting together, or even on your own if you don't have a group.

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Klendark

Great Resource for Writers of Flash Fiction

Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2013

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This collection of 25 essays from experts in the flash fiction field, is an excellent introduction to flash fiction for those new to the genre and a great guide for established writers. Each essay explores a different facet of the flash fiction genre from length, to form, to editing. In addition to the essays, most of the contributors also include exercises and examples which I find very useful. An excellent guide to writing flash fiction that should be read by anyone interested in the genre.

2 people found this helpful

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Help Is on the Way

Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2011

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What to do when your fiction, long or short, stalls? The Rose Metal Press "Field Guide to Writing Flash Fiction" provides exercises, examples, motivational quotations, and advice.

Whether the writer is working on a novel, a true flash fiction piece, or something inbetween, this manual, edited by Tara Mashih, is readable and helpful.

The analogy of musicians playing scales on the piano or plucking them endlessly on the guitar, reminds writers that sometimes we need to warm up the writing part of our brain. In doing so, memories are released, our imaginations go places we have not considered before, and voila! a new story awaits us.

There are also definitions of what flash or sudden fiction is, what editors are looking for, and how to use flash fiction as a gateway to getting published.

As a frequent participant in flash fiction contests, I found many helpful hints in this volume. It is one I will turn to frequently when the Muse is not wafting my way.

9 people found this helpful

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Top international reviews

Italo Perazzoli

The Flash Fiction's ABD

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 27, 2013

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In my opinion this is a great book because there is a balance between Theory and Exercises.
The Table of Content are:
1) Contemporary and historical roots of Flash FICTION
2) Finding Freedom and feeling in the form
3) Beginnings and Endings
4) Imagery as isipiration
5) Poetry Vs Prose
6) Taking Risks
7) Focusing and Editing
8)The Future of Flash Fiction
9) A call to action

6 people found this helpful

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Ruth Skirne

enlightening and inspiring.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 7, 2017

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This book surpassed my expectations. Each chapter stimulated some writing and I especially liked the authors who demonstrated their ideas in their contribution. Great metaphors too.

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Dianne W

Informative, inspiring, thought provoking essays, exercises & examples - highly recommended

Reviewed in Australia on April 28, 2020

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One person found this helpful

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Project Gorilla

Great Book If You Like Vague, Amorphous, Non-Descriptions

Reviewed in Canada on July 12, 2017

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After reading a variety of how-to writing books, I have an expectation for reading about the process, the do's and don'ts, the tricks of the trade.

Instead, all I got in terms of form was essay after essay saying "Flash Fiction is short". There was one example in the whole book worth writing down, as the author explained in a concrete definition what a successful Flash Fiction was ("the story must turn dramatically, must have a complete reversal of some sort, a surprise so stunning and rich that it could only happen in a story, and that reversal is usually carried by powerful, unforgettable images." There, I've saved you 20 bucks).

Now, this explanation doesn't explain ALL Flash Fiction, but at least it breaks down what some of them are doing--which allows someone to grasp some of the mechanics of the medium. From there, I can see what else the form can do by reading examples and figuring out what the authors are doing.

The rest of the book gave the "we won't put a label on Flash Fiction because it extends beyond definition" shpiel. So then why put out this book???

The exercises are just horrible! If you want great writing exercises, try Rayne Hall's books. They are inexpensive and VERY detailed. With the Flash Fiction tidbit mentioned above, combined with Rayne's knowledge, I have at least an inkling of how to construct Flash Fiction.

A VERY disappointing book.

2 people found this helpful

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Adam David Collings

Essays from Experts

Reviewed in Australia on November 19, 2014

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I came to this book hoping for a practical guide to the rules of writing flash fiction - though having finished the book I find that may have been the wrong goal - given that flash fiction appears much more experimental and literary than the kind of writing I'm used to. The book is a collection of essays - in a lot of cases more academic than practical. Some of them went over my head a bit. I have certainly learned a lot from this book - but the biggest lesson I've learned is that flash fiction may not be for me. Still, the book has expanded my understanding and so in that regard it has done its job. If you want to learn more about writing flash fiction this book will be helpful - and the prompts at the end of each essay will give you valuable experience.

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Liz

Gave me some ideas for short stories.

Reviewed in Australia on February 10, 2020

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This is a very mixed bag. Good if you can speed read through the not-really-your-thing parts as it does include some thought-provoking information and ideas.

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Amazon Customer

Five Stars

Reviewed in Canada on September 13, 2016

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Great low cost text book for my daughter in 1st year of university.

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Mrs. L., Geoghegan

Fantastic Read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 4, 2014

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This is a brilliant introduction to Flash fiction. I'm currently using it as a reference book for my university assignment. It has some excellent chapters, all written by different writers. Worth buying.

4 people found this helpful

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