With a single sentence, Ernest Hemingway’s extreme flash fiction story showed how the form can be used to construct an entire narrative. While not all flash fiction is this short (or bleak), the objective remains the same: to create meaning and emotion within a limited space.
For sale: baby shoes, never worn.
Although a universal title might be argued, it is futile to attempt to define the exact, universal boundaries of a flash fiction piece; these are wide-ranging. A total word count can range between a sentence, a 1000 words, or more. The challenge with flash fiction is to convey a message within this short space. The aim is not to condense a longer story down to just one page, but rather to make the limited word count speak for itself.
In 2015 Wales Arts Review spent the run up to National Flash Fiction Day celebrating the shorter form by publishing a week-long series of stories specially commissioned from some of Wales’ most exciting voices. We enjoyed it so much that in 2016 we extended this to a Flash Fiction Month with even more of Wales’ best literary talents. With stories by Cynan Jones, Nigel Jarrett, Jane Roberts, and so many more, we’ve compiled a wide collection of stories, each with their own unique twists.
FLASH FICTION WEEK 2015
How to Write Flash Fiction: Distilled Writing
Award-winning author Jane Roberts guides us on how to write flash fiction as part of a Wales Arts Review series, publishing flash fiction writing from some of Wales’ top authors.
Mining the Pages Not Printed by Jane Roberts
Jane Roberts, award winning author, provides the first instalment to our Flash Fiction Week series with Mining the Pages not Printed.
The next piece in Wales Arts Reviews’ celebration of flash fiction writing is Dear Cat, by short story writer Joao Morais.
The Dream of the Fisherman Gives Life to the Sleeper by Jo Mazelis
Jo Mazelis, award-winning Welsh novelist and short story writer, provides an entry with The Dream of the Fisherman Gives Life to the Sleeper.
The Gift by Nicola Ann Roberts
Nicola Ann Roberts’ The Gift is the next instalment of Wales Arts Reviews’ series, celebrating the genre with some of Wales’ best literary talents.
Waiting for Rain by Cath Barton
Next in Wales Arts Reviews’ series is Waiting for Rain by Cath Barton, award-winning writer of The Plankton Collector.
Before the Fairytale by Carly Holmes
Before the Fairytale by Carly Holmes is the next piece in Wales Arts Reviews’ week-long celebration of the genre.
Illegal Frogs by Sian Melangell-Dafydd
Sian Melangell-Dafydd offers the next contribution to Wales Arts Reviews’ series with Illegal Frogs.
Not Like Last Time by John Lavin
The next addition to our collection of exclusive pieces is Not Like Last Time by Welsh writer and critic John Lavin.
A Vignette on St Mary’s Street by Rhys Milsom
Welsh poet and creative writing tutor Rhys Milsom presents the next addition with A Vignette on St Mary’s Street.
Fried Women by Laurie Canciani
Fried Women by Laurie Canciani, author of The Insomnia Museum, is the next addition to the Wales Arts Review series.
Epiphany in Uttar Pradesh by Nigel Jarrett
Award-winning fiction writer and critic Nigel Jarrett offers the next contribution with Epiphany in Uttar Pradesh.
Body Heat by Bethany Pope is the next instalment of Wales Arts Reviews’ series, celebrating the genre with some of Wales’ best literary talents.
Kate North, fiction and poetry writer, provides the next entry for Wales Arts Reviews’ Flash Fiction Week with All the Museums.
The Fox by Steph Power is the next piece in Wales Arts Reviews’ week-long celebration of the genre.
Marking the Defeated by Michael Lydon
The next piece in Wales Arts Reviews’ celebration of fiction writing is Marking the Defeated, by writer and academic Michael Lydon.
Hunter by Richard Gwyn is the next instalment of Wales Arts Reviews’ series, celebrating the genre with some of Wales’ best literary talents.
Stepping Back by Georgia Carys Williams
Georgia Carys Williams, fiction and poetry writer, provides the next entry for Wales Arts Reviews’ series with Stepping Back.
All Human Knowledge by Gary Raymond
Writer and critic Gary Raymond provides the final instalment to the Flash Fiction Week series with All Human Knowledge.
FLASH FICTION MONTH 2016
Cynan Jones with Girl in the Grass as the first contribution to Wales Arts Reviews’ Flash Fiction Month, a month-long celebration of the flash fiction form.
Unresolved Story, 1971 by Jo Mazelis
Jo Mazelis, award-winning Welsh novelist and short story writer, provides an entry with Unresolved Story, 1971.
Through The Walls by Kate North
Kate North, fiction and poetry writer, provides the next entry for Wales Arts Reviews’ series with Through The Walls.
The Wall by Sion Tomos Owen is the next instalment of Wales Arts Reviews’ series, celebrating the genre with some of Wales’ best literary talents.
Strumpet by Carly Holmes is the next piece in Wales Arts Reviews’ month-long celebration of the genre.
Hold it Tighter by Iain Robinson
Hold it Tighter by Iain Robinson is the next instalment of Wales Arts Reviews’ series, celebrating the genre with some of Wales’ best literary talents.
Durre Shahwar with Hair as the next contribution to Wales Arts Reviews’ Flash Fiction Month, a month-long celebration of the flash fiction form.
Acclaimed novelist and short-story writer Rebecca F John provides the next instalment with Dreamland.
The Folly of Wise Men by Gary Raymond
Writer and critic Gary Raymond offers the next instalment to the series with The Folly of Wise Men.
Award-winning fiction writer and critic Nigel Jarrett offers the next contribution with Ziggurat.
Mark Blayney with Retro as the next contribution to Wales Arts Reviews’ Flash Fiction Month, a month-long celebration of the flash fiction form.
Godot’s Chicken by Jane Roberts
Jane Roberts, award winning author, provides the next instalment to our Flash Fiction Month series with Godot’s Chicken.
Scene Forty-Seven by Tom Vowler
Award-winning novelist and short-story writer Tom Vowler offers the next contribution with Scene Forty-Seven.
What We Talk About When We Talk About the Treaty by Rachel Fenton
Rachel Fenton provides the next in Wales Arts Reviews’ Flash Fiction Month with What We Talk About When We Talk About the Treaty.
Things That Stick Like Glue by Pia Ghosh Roy
Things That Stick Like Glue by Pia Ghosh Roy is the next piece in Wales Arts Reviews’ month-long celebration of the genre.
Song of Bernadette by John Lavin
The next addition to our collection of exclusive fiction pieces is Song of Bernadette by Welsh writer and critic John Lavin.
Neil Campbell with The Stoat as the next contribution to Wales Arts Reviews’ series, a month-long celebration of the flash fiction form.
The Crime Stopper by Sarah Reynolds
The Crime Stopper by Sarah Reynolds is the next piece of flash fiction in Wales Arts Reviews’ month-long celebration of the genre.
The Corporal by Robert Minhinnick
Award-winning writer and environmental activist Robert Minhinnick offers the next contribution to Flash Fiction Month with The Corporal.
Susan Maiermoul’s Homer is the next piece of original flash fiction in Wales Arts Reviews’ Flash Fiction Month in celebration of the genre.
The next piece in Wales Arts Reviews’ celebration of flash fiction writing is The Cider Trap, by short story writer Joao Morais.
Indian Springs, February, 1951 by David Llewellyn
Welsh novelist and scriptwriter David Llewellyn offers the next contribution to Wales Arts Reviews’ Flash Fiction Month with Indian Springs, February, 1951.
Periwinkle Kidnap by Siân Melangell Dafydd
The next addition to our collection of exclusive flash fiction pieces is Periwinkle Kidnap by Welsh novelist, poet, and translator Siân Melangell Dafydd.
Birdie by Susie Wild is the next piece of flash fiction in Wales Arts Reviews’ month-long celebration of the unique literary genre.
Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose by Carole Burns
Carole Burns with Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose as the next contribution to Wales Arts Reviews’ Flash Fiction Month, a month-long celebration of the flash fiction form.
Live Lounge Limpidity by Rhys Milsom
Welsh poet and creative writing tutor Rhys Milsom presents the next addition to Flash Fiction Week with Live Lounge Limpidity.
Nicola Roberts’ Giving Up is the next instalment of Wales Arts Reviews’ Flash Fiction Month series, celebrating the genre with some of Wales’ best literary talents.
Dan Tyte with Knock, Knock as the next contribution to Wales Arts Reviews’ Flash Fiction Month, a month-long celebration of the flash fiction form.
A Thousand Spiders by Richard Gwyn
A Thousand Spiders by Richard Gwyn is the next instalment of Wales Arts Reviews’ series, celebrating the genre with some of Wales’ best literary talents.
Fire and Granite by Tania Hershman
Short story writer and poet Tania Hershman provides the final instalment to the Flash Fiction Month series with Fire and Granite.
Banner image by Dean Lewis
