On Flash: The State of the Art Archives | New Flash Fiction Review

On Flash: The State of the Art

Why You Might Not Have Placed That Brilliant Story (aka READ THE GUIDELINES)

Jan 11, 2023

Karen Jones — Early in 2022 I wrote a long Twitter thread of advice on submitting flash fiction. At the time, I had just finished reading 700 flashes submitted to various competitions and journals, so had made notes as I went along, picking out common pitfalls.

Prudence by Christy Stillwell

They put the shock collar on the boy and that was it for the nanny. First they put the collar on one another. They were professors in English and Philosophy, all of them smart people.

Gallows Pole by Kathy Hoyle

In the dead of summer, while the whiptails hide in sagebrush shadows, and everything blisters in the amber heat and there ain’t nothin but buzzards hummin for miles around, a hanged man dances on a gallows pole.

The Subtle Light by Hetty Mosforth

Word of mouth gets him the job and gets him past the gatehouse. He tramps towards the house like a stray dog, turrets and crenelations coming into focus.

You, Visitor by Jane O’Sullivan

You don’t like her much, not that you can tell her that. Slugging along behind you, hands in pockets. Sullen as a fish despite the fucking dawn rising over the city, the glory of it.

Blue-naped Parrots See More Than They Say by Judy Darley

I date Brodie while I’m visiting Seattle. He shares a draughty old house with a bunch of roommates, including a blue-naped parrot who lives in a big cage looking out at a treehouse.

Why You Might Not Have Placed That Brilliant Story (aka READ THE GUIDELINES)

Prudence by Christy Stillwell

Gallows Pole by Kathy Hoyle

The Subtle Light by Hetty Mosforth

You, Visitor by Jane O’Sullivan

Blue-naped Parrots See More Than They Say by Judy Darley

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