Flash Fiction: The Shortest Shorts

by Sophie Novak | 168 comments

Flash fiction has been the most widely growing fiction phenomenon in the 21st century, with its roots and great popularization in Canada and the US. The reason for the popularization of shorts is straightforward enough: people want fast bites in these dynamic and time-restrictive times.

What’s more important to pinpoint, though, is the superior nature of writing flash fiction. It’s condensed meaning in the shortest possible prose form. Microfiction is about lyrical writing. Just like in poetry, every word should have appropriate weight; bring that ‘magical’ element to the story.

Public Speaking [writing prompt]

by Joe Bunting | 37 comments

PRACTICE

Your main character must give a public presentation. Is he nervous? What is she going to say? How does he imagine the audience will act? How does the speech go?

Write about public speaking for fifteen minutes. When you’re finished, post your practice in the comments section. And if you post, be sure to give feedback on a few practices by your fellow writers.

Sleepless [writing prompt]

by Joe Bunting | 273 comments

PRACTICE

Your characters haven’t gotten any sleep. Write about it.

Write about being sleepless for fifteen minutes. When your time is up, post your practice in the comments section. And if you post, be sure to comment on a few practices by other writers.

3 Tips To Write Modern Allegorical Novels

by Sophie Novak | 22 comments

I recently finished reading the Nobel Prize winner José Saramago’s Death with Interruptions. It fascinated me in countless ways: the style uniqueness, easy flow, ideas represented, underlying themes, references. What’s so special about it? Well, it’s an allegorical story about what could happen if people suddenly stopped dying. Straight and simple, and yet complicated.

An allegory is a literary genre concerned about principals and ideas represented abstractly. So how do you go about it? Consider three basic steps towards writing one.

House Guests [writing prompt]

by Joe Bunting | 28 comments

PRACTICE

Write about house guests that you or your characters have had recently.

Write for fifteen minutes. When your time is up, post your practice in the comments section. And if you post, be sure to leave feedback on a few practices by other writers.

Happy writing!

The Creativity of Children [writing prompt]

by Joe Bunting | 57 comments

PRACTICE

Spend fifteen minutes free writing about the creativity of children.

When you’ve finished, post it in the comments and comment on a few other practitioners’ pieces.