Saturday, February 12, 2011

Why Write Flash Fiction

Why?

There is a lot of advice and analysis and chit chat out there in print and in cyberspace about the phenomenon of flash fiction.

Just keep in mind, one need not get alarmed.

It is true that writing or reading flash fiction may or may not cause any one of the following: a collective shortening of the attention span, improved love life, loss of appetite, better understanding of the human condition, bed wetting, and fainting spells.

Recently, I came across a website that offers advice to writers about writing query letters to agents and editors. So the formula dictates that a writer give a synopsis of her book in the second paragraph of a query letter. Agents realize this is not an easy task, and whoever wrote this website advice says that as agents, "We don't envy you."

Today's Literary Agent wisdom claims that "Summing up your entire book in an intriguing single paragraph is worse than a root canal."

Summing up may feel like a root canal to those who don't write flash fiction, but for those who do--you know who you are--summing up is a walk in the park.

That's why.

Write on.

Dear Agents, You can envy writers now.

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