A piece of Flash Fiction is usually 250-500 words. Each competition has its own preference for wordcount. Very short stories can be found in American literature going back to the 19th century, but it was in 1992 that James Thomas coined the term “flash fiction”. It was an instant hit, and today there are hundreds of competitions for flash fiction. We might assume that it is easy to write, but it has to have a beginning, a middle and an end which should include a twist. It may hint at a larger story to whet the reader’s imagination in a coffee break. If you want a wide choice, it might be worth looking at the web pages of the most prestigious competitions (such as the Bridport Prize) to relish their past winning entries.
