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Blink and you miss it. Those of you with your eyes closed will have let week 50 of Friday Flash pass you by on Friday.
Short, snappy and over by the weekend, it is the latest way to tell stories - and it's spreading all over the world via Twitter.
Friday Flash (fridayflash.org) is a web-based project set up by one writer to spread short stories - getting more people to write and to read them. Based on the concept of "flash fiction" - which Friday Flash defines as a story of 1,000 words or fewer - anybody who fancies a go can bash out a short piece of fiction on a Friday, post it to their blog and tweet it using the hashtag #FridayFlash.
"Don't be afraid to share your work," founder Jon M Strother encourages participants. "You need feedback, both to sustain the desire to write and to improve your craft."
The community appears to be listening. A quick look on Twitter on any Friday and writers will have "drafted a #FridayFlash at lunch" or will be despairing that they have "got nothing for #FridayFlash".
It may have been first set up in a backwater of Missouri USA, but the hashtag #FridayFlash is now becoming as familiar in London as it is across the pond.
"The internet has opened [flash fiction] to a much wider audience, and it's undergone a huge surge in popularity as a result," says Valerie O'Riordan, who last year won a prize for a flash fiction piece of just 350 words. "The writing community on Twitter is very supportive and Friday Flash is a great example of this."
"Flash fiction is a thoroughly modern way of writing," adds Ian Ellard, of creative writing school The Faber Academy. "Blogs, micro blogs and Facebook notes allow people to share very short stories very quickly."
Friday Flash is not its only incarnation, however.
A rival site called Flash Fiction Friday (flashfictionfriday.com) also exists, but with slightly different rules. Its definition of Flash Fiction is any story from 100 to 2,000 words and, instead of having a totally free hand, Flash Fiction Friday gives its writers a weekly prompt, an exact word count and a precise deadline.
"Flash fiction is taking off," says Tania Hershman, a flash fiction writer who has judged short story competitions. "One of the major international short story prizes, The Bridport Prize, added a 250-word contest last year, and there are more very short story contests and flash fiction magazines than ever before." She is looking forward to seeing it spread from Twitter.
"Restaurant menus, street signs," she suggests, "flash fiction on the Underground. Why not?"
Reader views (7)
I'm a recent convert to flash fiction (and we all know the enthusiasm of converts). I used to think "What for? There's no time to get into the story." But that's the art of flash; creating a world into which the reader can escape in a few words, and if you leave them cogitating, in my opinion, so much the better. After submitting just three pieces to Jon's #FridayFlash and receiving lovely comments and constructive criticism on my blog from fellow writers I entered and won first prize in the Cazart flash fiction competition. I'm on a roll and don't want to stop!
- Deborah Rickard, Bristol, England, 05/07/2011 06:55
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St Louis?
A backwater?
Better not clang, clang, clang that to Judy Garland.
<i>~ Absolutely*Kate,
believing in believers</i>
- Absolutely*Kate, At the confluence of two rivers, Derby, CT ~ USA, 26/05/2011 08:44
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Ahhhh . . . YES! The eminent Jon M. Strother and the world of words he grows and encourages gives the twist and shout out to why a weekend begins its beguine on a Friday scene.
Proud am I to read, ramble, rock and write on with the timeless talents of authors on the rise. From classics to newbies, Jon and cohorts leave more than the illumination of a welcome porch light on for the fine flash of scribes. Do take a look-in, won't you?
We can promise you only ne'er a dull moment.
~ Absolutely*Kate
- Absolutely*Kate, At the confluence of two rivers, Derby, CT ~ USA, 26/05/2011 06:41
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I have been involved in #fridayflash for over a year now and contributed 40 stories. As well as helping to get my work to a receptive and positive audience, #fridayflash has brought together a truly global community of writers. This in turn has created new creative relationships - books have been published, music written, publishing houses created - alongside the making of some real friendships. Being involved I have been fortunate to meet a host of talented individuals from across the UK, US and Australia as well as discover some amazing fiction. It is amazing what a good idea and a hashtag can do. (@clivem)
- Clive Martyn, Plymouth, UK, 25/05/2011 16:04
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Nice article, thanks for the press. I've been thrilled to see Friday Flash take root and grow over the last two years. This coming Friday officially marks our 2 year anniversary. I'd love to see some new names join in the fun to help mark the occasion. Writing can be a very lonely endeavor, but it doesn't have to be. And nothing inspires like reader feedback.
~jon
- J. M. Strother, St. Louis, MO, USA, 24/05/2011 22:59
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Excellent stuff. 
I'm a big fan of and contributor to #fridayflash.
Something this article does not mention is that -- if you're not as keen on messing about with twitter -- Jon Strother kindly compiles a weekly FridayFlash Report, which has all stories posted that week in a handy list format with genre and author.
- A.M.Harte, London, England, 23/05/2011 19:59
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A story isn’t a story until someone reads it, and this is an awesome way to meet people and get a lot of positive feedback on your work. I’d encourage anyone who loves writing to join the fun. FridayFlash is what got me writing again.
- Matt Merritt, Sioux Falls, SD, USA, 23/05/2011 19:34
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