I discovered flash fiction by accident when I walked into a Barnes & Noble almost twenty years ago. My eyes were drawn to a seafoam blue book cover with a simple illustration of a girl wearing pigtails. The book was Girl on the Fridge by Etgar Keret. I devoured those stories and as any ignorant youngun will do, I started writing the most profound flash fictions the world had ever seen. They were, in fact, so profound mere mortals couldn't grasp their transcendental symbolism.
Since then, I've gotten a lot dumber, and now I can't even understand my old flash fictions. They're so complex and mercurial.
I see me now seeing me then, and I wish I had had an essay like this one from you, Kathy, to help me understand that profundity is a trap, and a false target. The truth is, I'm scared people will judge me shallow, vapid, and dull. If only I'd known to slow down on those fears, the pain I feel at wanting to be equal to my heroes, and craft flash fictions from that.
Hi Jody! Thanks so much for reading and sharing this thoughtful comment here. And yes, I think I will write a newsletter at some point to this issue you're describing: the feeling of needing to be "profound" as a writer and flash fiction writer especially and the worry that anything less will be see as shallow. My quick answer is try to intending to be profound and see what happens. Go deep into whatever you're feeing and observing. Be honest with your characters but don't be afraid to have fun, be playful or humorous. You must have see that in Keret's work. Look to the poets and your favorite poems. How so often they are quite simple. The poet didn't set out to wow you with insights, yet deep insights emerged. Write from where you are and how you feel, what draws your eyes and heart and mind. Remember you're reader is there with you, engaging with your words, but they bring their own heart to the page as well. You never know what your reader may take away from your words. Look to be your own true self on the page first. The rest will follow. Not everything need be "profound." Aim for truth instead. Hmm. That wasn't a very short answer. Thanks for the question! I'll ponder this some more and hope others weigh in here.
Hi Jody, everything you wrote here resonates with me. Thanks for the honest sharing. You made me feel less weird, more brave. Yes, there is indeed always today! Also, I just came across Rick Rubin's new book, The Creative Act: A Way of Being. I've been enjoying his perspective. In a week of particularly difficult self-doubt, I seem to be receiving all that I need to carry on. Your comment is one of those gifts. May it be so for you too!
Kathy! What a marvelous post! I loved all the writing you shared, particularly Hippo Brain, and how Barlow Adams braids facts and information seamlessly into the story being told. Really loved that piece. And, loved both your pieces! The Gateway was fascinating to me, pulled me along like I was watching a film. The introductory comments from the journal, and your author's notes were very helpful. Sometimes I'm not so good at saying why I liked a piece, other than to say I felt something big and powerful. But it's important to break it down, and also gain some insight into an author's intentions and inspirational spark, because that helps me better understand what the hell I may be trying to do! Glad to see you are on the mend. I am also looking forward to digging deeper in the quiet season approaching. xo
Thanks for stopping by and reading, Katie! I feel much the same way. One of my favorite things is reading the author notes at the back of Best American Short Stories. I'm in Iceland now with the retreat with another wonderful group of writers. Wish you were here! xo
I loved The Gateway! It feels like there are layers of meaning behind the basic plot of the story. What those meanings are I couldn't tell ya, but I sense their presence and they add a beautiful mysteriousness.
Thank you for this really informative piece, Ms. Kathy, your prompt sounds like a real brainteaser, I'm definitely going to try it out for one of my upcoming competitions. Thanks again!
I discovered flash fiction by accident when I walked into a Barnes & Noble almost twenty years ago. My eyes were drawn to a seafoam blue book cover with a simple illustration of a girl wearing pigtails. The book was Girl on the Fridge by Etgar Keret. I devoured those stories and as any ignorant youngun will do, I started writing the most profound flash fictions the world had ever seen. They were, in fact, so profound mere mortals couldn't grasp their transcendental symbolism.
Since then, I've gotten a lot dumber, and now I can't even understand my old flash fictions. They're so complex and mercurial.
I see me now seeing me then, and I wish I had had an essay like this one from you, Kathy, to help me understand that profundity is a trap, and a false target. The truth is, I'm scared people will judge me shallow, vapid, and dull. If only I'd known to slow down on those fears, the pain I feel at wanting to be equal to my heroes, and craft flash fictions from that.
Well, there's always today, right?
Great essay, and thanks for sharing.
Hi Jody! Thanks so much for reading and sharing this thoughtful comment here. And yes, I think I will write a newsletter at some point to this issue you're describing: the feeling of needing to be "profound" as a writer and flash fiction writer especially and the worry that anything less will be see as shallow. My quick answer is try to intending to be profound and see what happens. Go deep into whatever you're feeing and observing. Be honest with your characters but don't be afraid to have fun, be playful or humorous. You must have see that in Keret's work. Look to the poets and your favorite poems. How so often they are quite simple. The poet didn't set out to wow you with insights, yet deep insights emerged. Write from where you are and how you feel, what draws your eyes and heart and mind. Remember you're reader is there with you, engaging with your words, but they bring their own heart to the page as well. You never know what your reader may take away from your words. Look to be your own true self on the page first. The rest will follow. Not everything need be "profound." Aim for truth instead. Hmm. That wasn't a very short answer. Thanks for the question! I'll ponder this some more and hope others weigh in here.
Hi Jody, everything you wrote here resonates with me. Thanks for the honest sharing. You made me feel less weird, more brave. Yes, there is indeed always today! Also, I just came across Rick Rubin's new book, The Creative Act: A Way of Being. I've been enjoying his perspective. In a week of particularly difficult self-doubt, I seem to be receiving all that I need to carry on. Your comment is one of those gifts. May it be so for you too!
Thank you for the kind words, Katie. I really enjoy Rick Rubin's perspective. I need to read that book!
Thank you so much for this Kathy. I'm using it right now to work through an idea I've had!
Oh great! Thanks for reading, Antonia!
Kathy! What a marvelous post! I loved all the writing you shared, particularly Hippo Brain, and how Barlow Adams braids facts and information seamlessly into the story being told. Really loved that piece. And, loved both your pieces! The Gateway was fascinating to me, pulled me along like I was watching a film. The introductory comments from the journal, and your author's notes were very helpful. Sometimes I'm not so good at saying why I liked a piece, other than to say I felt something big and powerful. But it's important to break it down, and also gain some insight into an author's intentions and inspirational spark, because that helps me better understand what the hell I may be trying to do! Glad to see you are on the mend. I am also looking forward to digging deeper in the quiet season approaching. xo
Thanks for stopping by and reading, Katie! I feel much the same way. One of my favorite things is reading the author notes at the back of Best American Short Stories. I'm in Iceland now with the retreat with another wonderful group of writers. Wish you were here! xo
I loved The Gateway! It feels like there are layers of meaning behind the basic plot of the story. What those meanings are I couldn't tell ya, but I sense their presence and they add a beautiful mysteriousness.
Thanks so much for reading my story! I appreciate the kind words.
My gosh, this is a treasure trove of great advice. Thank you, Kathy. And I hope you’re feeling better! Kate
Thanks for reading and stopping by, Kate! I *think* I'm on the mend. Fingers crossed!
Thank you for this really informative piece, Ms. Kathy, your prompt sounds like a real brainteaser, I'm definitely going to try it out for one of my upcoming competitions. Thanks again!
Thanks for reading, Erica! And yes, enjoy the prompt!
Gosh, these were beautiful. Thank you.
My pleasure! Thanks for reading, Abby!
Thanks for reading and stopping by to comment, Nadia!
Thanks, Christine!