How I write Flash Fiction

This past weekend, K. Tempest Bradford put up this tweet:

Have an idea for a virtual conference: writing tools. 90 minute presentations from writers on the tools they use to write, mind-map, organize research, etc. Presenters would be authors from all genres & across cultures and countries. Am I just super nerdy wanting this?

— K Tempest Bradford wishes she were still in Egypt (@tinytempest) February 5, 2022

To start with, I basically use 4 The Words for all of my drafting. I like the UI and the gamification really works for my brain, so I basically get things done more easily with that timer ticking away than I do without it. Also see my use of pomodoros.

I have flash fiction sized ideas organically only once in a blue moon, so most often when I want to write flash fiction, I go in search of a prompt. Sometimes I search for word prompts, but most often I google photography competitions. Then I just scroll down the images in the results until I find one that speaks to me. Sometimes this fails me and I get an idea for a longer work, but in general, I find this method works best for me to get enough of an idea to start working.

When I start drafting, I time myself. I put 90 minutes into a timer and start writing. The first ten minutes or so I take to just freewrite and clarify the idea for myself. I try to figure out the main character, the beginning, and possibly an ending. I ask questions to hopefully help myself get everything clear. But when that ten minutes is up, I start actually writing.

I tend to discovery write a lot of the details on all of my work but I do need to have that frame to hang it all on before I start writing. With flash fiction, I tend to be a little more loosey goosey on that frame. As long as I have a sort of general idea of the genre that I want to use, I’m good to go. And then I just keep writing until I get there.

In terms of editing, I tend to just use Google Docs. When I’m ready to send it out, I save a copy of it in my “archives” and call it done. So far, this has worked out for me well enough. Next week, I’ll tell you about my process for shorts stories and novelettes.