Reviews

Going Short: An Invitation to Flash Fiction by Nancy Stohlman

sharonbakar's review

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informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

Probably the most useful book about how to write flash fiction: full of very good advice (much of which applies to fiction writing in general). Also very accessible. The chapters are short because so is flash.

I know I will reread it because I want to internalise much that's said. Also listened to audiobook.

emiliefox's review

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5.0

A great craft book for the aspiring flash author

ramonamead's review

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3.0

I write personal essays and am totally new to the concept of flash fiction. I bought this book because it was recommended by Windy Harris in her session on flash at this year's Writer's Digest conference. I was hoping this book would be a bit more insturctional and walk me through creating some flash pieces. I thought I'd be writing some flash pieces by the time I finsihed this and I haven't tackled one yet. I was hoping she would give more examples, too. I think I'll have to read it a second time to truly learn from it. I also plan to explore some journals that publish flash.

erictlee's review

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5.0

Flash fiction – stories of up to 1,000 words – is a new way of writing, and one that sounds quite appealing. Nancy Stohlman’s book is a short (as you’d expect) introduction to the subject. She’s passionate about writing to word limits (so am I) and she’s convincing in making the case that this is not necessarily an easier way to write. Indeed, writing a 300 word micro-story is in some ways much harder than writing a ‘normal’ short story ten times that length. The best part of the book: she offers dozens of prompts, ideas to get one started writing. If I ever publish flash fiction, remember: it started with this book.

nostradamusbuddy's review

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5.0

felt super called out by this but everything stohlman said was true. this book helped me figure out that no, most "flash" i've written was not, in fact, flash, but it also helped me figure out how to actually write flash. a win overall
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