Flash Fiction

[wildsweetone]

I was wondering how many Litland authors write flash fiction, that is, how many authors write stories of under the Literotica minimum of 750 words?

 

[Gary Chambers]

I was wondering how many Litland authors write flash fiction, that is, how many authors write stories of under the Literotica minimum of 750 words?

A theory for you:

People who are serious about writing short stories can spend years learning the craft, mastering things like plot structure and the mechanics of good writing. Flash fiction is often promoted as short stories, but in fact they are usually vignettes. A vignette is a valid form of literary art, but most would agree that it's a lot easier than a real short story, so my theory is that serious short story writers get miffed over the fact that they sweat long and hard over thier works, only to find them lumped in with vignettes and the short story label applied to them all as a misnomer. I figure adult webmasters don't have a vignette category because they know it would result in people sending emails wanting to know how to order the salad dressing. Just a theory.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I struggle to keep my works under 40 pages. If I were limited to 750 word i think i would go insane

-Colly

 

[Uther_Pendragon]

I write shorter pieces. "Under 750 words" ain't all that
short. Actually, IIRC, I got two stories accepted on Lit
which were technically under the 750-word minimum. Then
I read the rules again. My shortest piece runs 69 words
-- not counting title, etc. -- according to my wordprocessor.
Another poster is half right, many short-shorts turn into
vignettes. Not all of them do.
Inspired by another thread on this forum, I wrote ten
pieces under 600 words each. I posted them together as
"Flash Flood." Among them, I'll put up "Smell" and
"Snatch" against most Lit stories for having original
plots.
Writing short is an art, like any other.

 

[wildsweetone]

I was just wondering...

if there were enough interest to make it worthwhile to ask for a separate category.

If there's only you and I, Uther, then I'm thinking maybe not.

Gary said: I figure adult webmasters don't have a vignette category because they know it would result in people sending emails wanting to know how to order the salad dressing.

With no disrespect meant, I don't believe that for a second. If a webmaster of an adult site were worried about the kinds (or amount) of emails they'd be getting they wouldn't have 80% of the category options.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I just don't like the idea of having to keep to any kind of word limit. It seems to me that you should let the story go where it wants, so I stay away from most word-limits thingies.

I've done vignettes, but I just bunch them all together as a group, and if I publish them, I'll publish them as a group. A little nosegay of porn.

---dr.M.

 

[Guest]

A little nosegay of porn. ---dr.M.

O, would you send me one?

Perdita

 

[Gary Chambers]

Re: I was just wondering...

if there were enough interest to make it worthwhile to ask for a separate category.

If there's only you and I, Uther, then I'm thinking maybe not.



With no disrespect meant, I don't believe that for a second. If a webmaster of an adult site were worried about the kinds (or amount) of emails they'd be getting they wouldn't have 80% of the category options.

Wilds, the bit about vignettes being mistaken for salad dressing was just a joke. Vignette-Vinegarrette -- get it?

I don't think you should give up writing vignettes if that's what pleases you, but I'm just suggesting you view them as what they are: prose poetry. A vignette is a poem without stanzas, meter or rhymes. It's prose that does the same job as a poem, and there's nothing wrong with that.

The only reason I don't like vignettes to be published as short stories is because it's irritating for those of us who know the difference and want to read one or the other. We can't find the vignettes because they're hidden among the short stories, and if we try to read a short story we may end up with a vignette instead and be disappointed. It's less of a problem at Literotica because the categories are quite extensive. I think there is one for so called Flash Fiction (vignettes). But on some porn sites it's a real problem.

I don't subscribe to pay porn sites. I tried one out when I first got on the net years ago, and didn't find it was worth the money. The negative billing was a hassle too so I've never tried one since. But if I did pay to get into a site and went to read a short story but got a vignette instead, I'd soon quit that site and send them a Fuck You Very Much email when I left. The same would apply if I paid to read a vignette and was given a short story. I expect publishers to be literate and know what they are doing, especially if they want me to pay to access their publications.

 

[wildsweetone]

I think there is one for so called Flash Fiction (vignettes).

There isn't a category here on Literotica for Flash Fiction, at least not that I can find, hence my question. I wondered how many Lit authors write stories 'under' the 750 word count.

I have also been wondering if it were worthwhile to request a Flash category from Laurel. No point though if there's only a handful of people interested.

I do know and understand what a vignette is, and that it appears to come under the different headings of Flash Fiction, or Short Shorts or whatever the latest catchphrase is.

And I think that with Literotica being a 'free' sight, that there wouldn't be too many people complaining to Laurel if they clicked on a story they didn't expect to read. There's always that back button or the feedback option some choose to use.

Anyhow... if a Flash category did exist here, would anyone else be interested in writing for it?

 

[pop_54]

Hmmmmmmmm

Yes probably, I have bashed out short's, less than 500 wds, not much less than that though. I do tend to ramble on though and I couldn't spend my whole time writing tiny tales.

The category would be popular with the one handed red neck readers, most of those having a very short attention span, once the load is discharged they lose interest rapidly.

I do love a bit of vignette and black pepper on my salad

 

[wildsweetone]

Ooooohhhhh Pops! I cannot believe you think that Flash is useful for one handed rednecked short attention span readers! Ohhh I am heartbroken!!!! (I have lemon juice - much nicer! - and black pepper on my salads, mmm yummy)



I've done what dr.M has done, gathered together groups of vignettes and posted them as one submission.

I guess I could just continue with that if there's not enough interest in a new category solely for Flash.

 

[Mysteryjj]

Ha!!!

According to my husband most of my letters and emails would qualify here, I do tend to go on a bit and get a bit Lewd at times

I wish I had the bottle to write a story, I'd probably stick to about 750 words if I did.

 

[pop_54]

Re: Ha!!!

According to my husband most of my letters and emails would qualify here, I do tend to go on a bit and get a bit Lewd at times

I wish I had the bottle to write a story, I'd probably stick to about 750 words if I did.

Hello JJ, long time no see, how is that hubby of yours?

 

[lewdandlicentious]

According to my husband most of my letters and emails would qualify here, I do tend to go on a bit and get a bit Lewd at times

Hey I'm Lewd!

D'ya wanna bit more????

 

[oggbashan]

I've done fifty word stories but I submitted them as Poetry, which they aren't.

Og (usually tediously long)

 

[Quasimodem]

I tend to write tight, due to my training.

Writing to a set space, or word count, dr_mabeuse, is part of the business.

Even writers of novel length works are sometimes requested to edit to a shorter length, or expand to a greater length.

My first Flash length -- 100 wc -- story was returned with a request to be expanded to at least 800 words.

I resubmitted it at 830 words. It was no longer the same story, but a story based upon the original 100 word flash piece.

The tightest length to which I have written in any quantity, is 55er Flashes.

The best one - yet not good enough to submit for publication - I will 'publish' here.

It is always good to find some outlet.




The Undivorced [55 wc]
by Quasimodem




“Senora Morrita, are you divorced?”

“Si!”

“I thought Paritian women couldn’t be divorced.”

“Si! Is true. You leave, we take heart with us.”

“So, what happened to you?”

“Doctor says, ex-husband's heart, it failed.”

“What do you say?”

“Here! Listen to my chest, Doc.”

“Er . . . Do I really hear two heartbeats?”

“Si! Is estranged, no?”

 

[Gary Chambers]

I tend to write tight, due to my training...The tightest length to which I have written in any quantity, is 55er Flashes. The best one - yet not good enough to submit for publication - I will 'publish' here.

It is always good to find some outlet.

The Undivorced [55 wc]
by Quasimodem
<snip>

Quasi, that's what I mean by prose acting as poetry, a very good example. I would read quality vignettes like this if they were available. I'm sure they are, but one must sift through a lot of lesser material to find the gems. At first glance The Undivorced would get a 5 from me as a vignette, considerably less as a short story, although even as a short story it would earn something because it has a beginning, middle and end. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Would I write vignettes? Well Wilds, I can't see any reason why not. I know very little about the finer points of poetry, but I still give poetry a bash when the mood strikes me, and even have the nerve to critique it sometimes. I'd probably be better off writing vignettes when I get the urge to be poetic. It's also a way of making use of partially finished stories that may never otherwise be finished off: just rework them into completed vignettes. Whether Laurel would see her way clear to create a category for vignettes is another matter. No one here can answer that, but I'll go so far as to say that if Wilds gets Laurel to create such a category, I'll drum up two or three submissions just to do my part in getting the ball rolling. Otherise I think Og and Doc have the right idea, submitting them grouped as one story submission or putting them in the poetry category. Also, I think Pops is probably right about the fan base, but that doesn't make them any less valid, perhaps more valid. Sometimes you just want to read or write a piece of pure stroke, or maybe just a clever twist ending like The Undivorced. Vignettes would then be the perfect vehicle.

Thanks for starting this Wilds. You've got me thinking seriously about a format I've never paid much attention to, and I appreciate that.

One more thought: I'm also a photographer, and it struck me just this last summer that it would be interesting to write vignettes, then illustrate them with photos. There is a category in Lit for illustrated stories. Maybe this is another way to go if Laurel doesn't want to create a whole new vignette category.

 

[wildsweetone]

Thanks for starting this Wilds. You've got me thinking seriously about a format I've never paid much attention to, and I appreciate that.

You're welcome. It always pays to be openminded, you never know what might come around the next corner and bang into your pen.

I emailed Laurel last week, asking about a Flash fiction category. Am still awaiting her reply.

 

[oggbashan]

Flash, bang, wallop!

Here are my short stories posted as poetry:

FIFTY WORD FANTASIES

Fifty Word Facesit
I struggle vainly, bound by her bra and pantyhose. She straddles
my legs, slides up my body. White panties flash, her grey skirt
covers me in scented darkness. Warm damp cotton brushes my nose, covers mouth. Her legs wrap my head, pulling my face deep. "Pay rise now!" she insists.

*************************************************

Fifty Word Femdom
Her black-booted foot pressed my chest. Cautiously I looked up her leather-corseted body to the stern face. I winced as the lash trailed across my shuddering skin. "Beg forgiveness, slave!" she ordered. Helpless, I cringed as she frowned at my bound body. Then she winked.
The pantomine rehearsal was going well.

*************************************************

Fifty Word HOM
I slept in our tent cocooned in my sleeping bag. My wife's body
slammed across my shoulders, pinning me helpless. Her
black-gloved hand wrapped my mouth silent. Silk-clad fingers
clamped my nostrils tight. "Look at that bitch again," she hissed
"and you stop breathing forever." Breath-starved, I lose
consciousness again.

*************************************************

Fifty Word Scarfing
Her interesting neighbour was noisily drunk every Saturday. She
acted. She opened her door, pulled in, pushed him in her deep
settee. He reached out. She scarfed his wrists. He protested. She
scarfed his mouth, tied legs. She stripped him slowly and scarfed
tightly. Now he is interested in her.

*************************************************

Fifty Word Unbirth
She grimaced with effort as his shoulders followed legs and hips
inside her. She paused, looking at his head protruding from her
sex. Eyes pleaded above covered mouth. She braced for the final
pull. "Next time, pay my alimony on time or you will stay
inside." Some ex-wives are vindictive.

*************************************************
Copyright Oggbashan November 2002
The author asserts the moral right to be identified as the author
of this work.

This is a work of fiction. The events described here are
imaginary; the settings and characters are fictitious and are not
intended to represent specific places or living persons.

Fifty5 Version 001 20 November 2002
*************************************************

 

[wildsweetone]

Ogg they're brilliant! (though the Unbirth one is a tad worrying )

Thanks for sharing, I've zapped across and voted accordingly.

 

[oggbashan]

Ogg they're brilliant! (though the Unbirth one is a tad worrying )

Thanks for sharing, I've zapped across and voted accordingly.

Thank you. Just returned to this thread. Unbirth is worrying but has a fan base. I have written three stories for them - The Virgin Unbirth; Hypnotic and Intent - and one Erotic Horror on Unbirth - Donna

Donna is neither erotic, nor horror. Just depressing. I should re-edit it but even I can't face reading Donna again.

Og

 

[wildsweetone]

Thank you. Just returned to this thread. Unbirth is worrying but has a fan base. I have written three stories for them - The Virgin Unbirth; Hypnotic and Intent - and one Erotic Horror on Unbirth - Donna

Donna is neither erotic, nor horror. Just depressing. I should re-edit it but even I can't face reading Donna again.

Og

It is hard for me to imagine a 'fan base' of Unbirth, but obviously it exists.

My head was screaming at me 'don't go near those stories', my heart let loose and I found myself reading 'Donna'. I read it last night and gave myself the night to think what I'd say about it. I'm no wiser this morning. Such a sad, moving tale.

It seems to me that you've found that fine line authors can spend their lifetime avoiding, the one whereby you give enough description to enthrall a reader, yet not quite enough to baby them through the tale. I love that in my reading.

Whilst the end situation is to me very unreal, its description and the events leading up to it are realistic. It makes the end seem somehow possible.

You're right, there is some editing needed, please let me know if you ever get to the point of doing it. Perhaps when it is more of a distant memory.

You've packed a lot into a single webpage of story there Og. I'm glad I read it. Thank you.

wildsweetone
ps Obviously your shorter works have as much impact (dare I say perhaps 'more') than your longer writing, though I'm going on heresay as I think it would take me a year to read your longer Literotica work online.

 

[oggbashan]

Reverse psychology works.

Thanks WSO.

Donna needs re-writing without unbirth.

Og

 

[wildsweetone]

Reverse psychology works.

Thanks WSO.

Donna needs re-writing without unbirth.

Og

Hey I didn't say that! I was meaning 'editing' not re-writing!

But maybe you were thinking it before...?

See this part:

Whilst the end situation is to me very unreal, its description and the events leading up to it are realistic. It makes the end seem somehow possible.

wso
ps Whatever you do with it (if anything), please let me know as I'm interested to see how you alter it.

 

[oggbashan]

Yes. "Somehow possible" fits but is forced. The story doesn't need an unbirth ending. It needs to end in death and despair but not that way.

Editing Donna I could do but I really want to alter it. I know it works as it is but it could be better. Whether it ever was, or will be "erotic horror" is another question.

Og