tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966847383062819543.post2516652377762843642..comments2023-06-15T08:50:45.910+01:00Comments on The World Of Chance: Bit of a waffle on flash fictionRobert St-John Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12514521443060733196noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966847383062819543.post-7279967763653897342009-12-17T03:10:21.761+00:002009-12-17T03:10:21.761+00:00I agree with Laura about the 'deus ex machina&...I agree with Laura about the 'deus ex machina' -- I read a novel this summer that used it and I did feel cheated. I had mostly enjoyed the book up to that point. <br /><br />I think I view flash fiction as more experimental than you do. Sometimes we don't know whether a piece really warrants expanding to a longer form until after we write it as flash. Flash is a way for me to play with scenes and ideas, see how I [and other people] like them, then reuse/rework them.<br /><br />In any case you bring up some interesting points for discussion here. And thanks for your kind comments about my story!~Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06774944172261988587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966847383062819543.post-65593421706205479182009-12-16T02:13:07.863+00:002009-12-16T02:13:07.863+00:00Hey Chance,
Thanks for the shout out.
LOVED the l...Hey Chance,<br />Thanks for the shout out.<br /><br />LOVED the laser kitty eyes...don't worry, the hair will grow back.<br /><br />:0)Karen from Mentorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03685540761526680384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966847383062819543.post-24792322318580415552009-12-14T13:08:25.218+00:002009-12-14T13:08:25.218+00:00I don't think a 'deus ex machina' work...I don't think a 'deus ex machina' works in any length of fiction. The reader feels cheated.<br /><br />Chance, I don't know where I am right now on your site - I've never been to this page before, but thanks for the nice mention! I'm glad you aren't disappointed. :)<br /><br />Love the cat with the laser eyes. ROFL!Laura Enohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09982794146667832204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966847383062819543.post-30892294755226769402009-12-10T18:57:06.352+00:002009-12-10T18:57:06.352+00:00Don't get me wrong where I say
"then he...Don't get me wrong where I say <br /><br />"then he woke up and it was all a dream " or " and it turned out the person he was sitting next to was a ghost".<br /><br />I did not that mean that to sound as if I meant it in a derogatory manner. What I was trying to stress was that the approach some people take to flash would be more suited to longer pieces.Robert St-John Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12514521443060733196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966847383062819543.post-930693276139955602009-12-09T15:08:05.052+00:002009-12-09T15:08:05.052+00:00I think if we all step back and be honest, flash f...<i>I think if we all step back and be honest, flash fiction is not the platform for great original stories. Effectively they are all " then he woke up and it was all a dream " or " and it turned out the person he was sitting next to was a ghost".</i><br /><br />I disagree. A flash story certainly can fall into those traps and tropes, and perhaps they are more tempting cop-outs in a short form because they can wrap things up so quickly. This is a consequence of inexperienced writers and/or poor writing, not a function of the form itself.<br /><br />Original and exciting writing can operate in the flash form, just as it can in any form. Many if not most of the writers in the #FridayFlash group are amateurs (myself included). Week to week, you'd expect a higher proportion of flash fiction clinkers among such a group vs. what you'd see if you had the NYT bestseller list doing work of similar length.<br /><br />I agree that some ideas are better suited for longer pieces, as they need more room to be fleshed out, space for the emotions to develop. Picking out a single aspect of a complex idea to focus on for a flash piece, and then develop it in a compelling way takes practice.<br /><br />Basically, Sturgeon's Law applies.Tony Nolandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090583562737225942noreply@blogger.com