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The Rose Metal Press Field Guide to Writing Flash Fiction: Tips from Editors, Teachers, and Writers in the Field Paperback – May 13, 2009

by Tara L. Masih (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 207 ratings
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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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  1. Print length
    208 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Rose Metal Press
  4. Publication date
    May 13, 2009
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.5 x 8.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0978984862
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0978984861
  8. See all details
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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

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Rose Metal Press; First edition (May 13, 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0978984862
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0978984861
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.5 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 207 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Sherrie Flick

    Sherrie Flick

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Sherrie Flick is the author of the flash fiction chapbook I Call This Flirting (Flume), the novel Reconsidering Happiness (Bison Books), a semi-finalist for the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award, the story collection Thank Your Lucky Stars (Autumn House), and the short (short) story collection Whiskey, Etc. (Autumn House), a Foreword INDIES bronze winner for 2016 Best Book of the Year in Short Stories and an Entropy best fiction book of the year. Her debut essay collection, Homing, is forthcoming from University of Nebraska Press in Fall 2024.

    She is a senior editor at SmokeLong Quarterly, served as series editor for The Best Small Fictions 2018 (with Aimee Bender) (Braddock Avenue Books), and is co-editor of Flash Fiction America (with James Thomas and John Dufresne) (W. W. Norton).

    See more on the author's page
  2. Kim Chinquee

    Kim Chinquee

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Kim Chinquee is the author of the collections OH BABY, PRETTY, PISTOL, VEER, SHOT GIRLS, WETSUIT, SNOWDOG, and most recently her novel PIPETTE. Her fiction, nonfiction and poetry have appeared in hundreds of journals and anthologies including NOON, THE NATION, CONJUNCTIONS, PLOUGHSHARES, STORYQUARTERLY, THE INDIANA REVIEW, DENVER QUARTERLY, MISSISSIPPI REVIEW, HUFFINGTON POST, and others. She is the recipient of three Pushcart Prizes and a Henfield Prize, is senior editor of NEW WORLD WRITING, chief editor of ELJ (ELM LEAVES JOURNAL), and co-director of SUNY-BUFFALO STATE's writing major. Her webpage is www.kimchinquee.com

    See more on the author's page
  3. Tara L Masih

    Tara L Masih

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Tara Lynn Masih is a National Jewish Book Award Finalist and winner of the Julia Ward Howe Award for Young Readers. She grew up within a bicultural family in the small harbor town of Northport, situated along the Long Island Sound. Because much of her time was spent on the beaches and in the woods, her writing is often set within the framework of nature, place, and diversity. MY REAL NAME IS HANNA, her bestselling first novel, won multiple awards and was translated into Slovak and Polish. She is editor of the acclaimed ROSE METAL PRESS FIELD GUIDE TO WRITING FLASH FICTION and THE CHALK CIRCLE: INTERCULTURAL PRIZEWINNING ESSAYS (winner of 3 national book awards). Founding series editor of the annual BEST SMALL FICTIONS, her second story collection, HOW WE DISAPPEAR: NOVELLA & STORIES, received a Florida Book Award in General Fiction. www.taramasih.com

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
207 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Dianne W
5.0 out of 5 stars Informative, inspiring, thought provoking essays, exercises & examples - highly recommended
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2020
Verified Purchase
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.
6 people found this helpful
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Free2Read
5.0 out of 5 stars Help Is on the Way
Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2011
Verified Purchase
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.
10 people found this helpful
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T. Henkle
4.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Buy Book for Anyone Interested in Writing Flash Fiction
Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2010
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.
13 people found this helpful
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Katey Schultz
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2011
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!
9 people found this helpful
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Cilla Chavez
5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of good tips
Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2022
Verified Purchase
This has a lot of good tips for writing.
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Richard A. Herman
3.0 out of 5 stars trading story values for beautiful writing, for beauty's sake
Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2017
Verified Purchase
As is the case with so mush at this time, it's focus is on "literate" fiction, while avoiding, for the most part, pure story telling telling . And, while I believe language is is a significant part of writing, trading story values for beautiful writing, for beauty's sake, is wrong.
One person found this helpful
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Klendark
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource for Writers of Flash Fiction
Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2013
Verified Purchase
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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Elizabeth Siddal
4.0 out of 5 stars but the introduction is great and several chapters are very strong
Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2017
Verified Purchase
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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Top reviews from other countries

k l savage
5.0 out of 5 stars A must buy for all writers.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 18, 2020
Verified Purchase
I am loving this book! As a newby to the world of flash fiction, it has some indispensable advice along with great book recommendations through each chapter. I feel like I'm learning so much! Great examples of flash, great advice and an easy read for all. Will recommend to others.
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Dianne W
5.0 out of 5 stars Informative, inspiring, thought provoking essays, exercises & examples - highly recommended
Reviewed in Australia on April 28, 2020
Verified Purchase
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.
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on September 13, 2016
Verified Purchase
Great low cost text book for my daughter in 1st year of university.
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Project Gorilla
2.0 out of 5 stars Great Book If You Like Vague, Amorphous, Non-Descriptions
Reviewed in Canada on July 12, 2017
Verified Purchase
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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Italo Perazzoli
4.0 out of 5 stars The Flash Fiction's ABD
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 27, 2013
Verified Purchase
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
7 people found this helpful
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