Catherine Dilts
  • About Catherine
  • Catherine Dilts - Blog
  • Short Stories
  • Secrets of the Castleton Manor Library
  • Survive Or Die
  • Rock Shop Mystery Series
  • Map

Short Story Review: Flash Fiction

7/20/2017

3 Comments

 
Picture
Flash Fiction, as defined by the Short Mystery Fiction Society, is a story up to 1,000 words. One e-zine is dedicated entirely to flash fiction, publishing a story a day. Flash Fiction Magazine also publishes anthologies of the best of the stories to appear on their website. Author Shannon Lawrence noted that most flash fiction ends with a twist. That is true of many of the stories in Flash Fiction Magazine.

I jumped right in with The Other Side of the Window, by Tony Wassom. A recent widow lingers over breakfast, in a definitely melancholy frame of mind. Why? What is she going to do? You find out fast in a thousand word story!

​Because the stories are so brief, I immediately read the previous day's offering, Ruby, by Virginia Pye. This story is from a dog's point of view, and it works. Very clever.

The fun of flash fiction is that the author can experiment with characters, literary devices, and themes he or she may be reluctant to pursue for a longer story, or an entire novel.

On a slightly different topic, if you like a little laughter with your mystery, here's an article by author Peter DiChellis on A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Murder. Learn why humor works in a genre focused on crime.

3 Comments
Peter DiChellis link
7/23/2017 03:02:38 pm

Thank your for mentioning my humor post, Catherine. And thanks for featuring Flash Fiction Magazine. I always enjoy flash fiction. I guess my faves for mystery and crime are Flash Bang Mysteries and Shotgun Honey, but there are plenty more (such Flash Fiction Magazine) for readers like me to check out!

Best wishes,
Peter

Reply
Tony Wassom
12/28/2017 08:37:28 am

Catherine,
Thank you, so much, for the mention! I wish I had seen your post, earlier; it felt so nice to be listed in your review.
Best to you in the coming new year!

Reply
Catherine Dilts
12/28/2017 08:52:14 am

Tony, I'm glad you found my review from earlier in the year. I hope to continue reviewing short fiction in 2018.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Subscribe to this blog:

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Archives

    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.