
In a Flash
The Christmas season went by so quickly. It’s my favorite time of the year. I treasure it because of my faith, but I also can’t get enough of Christmas carols, nog, and people doing nice things for each other. I try to plan ahead, but I never seem to have adequate time to enjoy the season as much as I’d like. Before it’s over, I’m already planning for the next Christmas. I’m trying to live in the moment more. (Did someone say New Year’s resolution?) But I constantly feel like life is on fast forward.
We’re all pulled in so many different directions, and we’ve come to expect everything to happen fast. That’s a big part of what led me to start writing flash fiction about 7 months ago. I’d begun to plan this website and wanted to generate stories in a short time period that people could read quickly.
Most people are looking for a “quick read”, regularly engaging with short-form writing via social media and text messages. Texts are frequently limited to 160 characters. Instagram and Twitter posts are limited to 2,200 characters and 280 characters, respectively. Yet, people frequently skim through versions they deem too long. Definitions vary, but flash fiction is typically a complete fiction story of 1500 words or less, usually under 1000 words. It seems perfect for people who enjoy reading a good story but who may find it hard to commit to a story beyond one sitting.
Since I aspire to publish novels, I’m hopeful that the flash fiction stories on my website will whet your appetite for my longer works. If you haven’t already, check out my Stories page. I plan to add a new flash fiction story soon called “Hiding Spots”, so stay tuned.
Rosey Lee