As anyone who's been reading literary magazines knows, there's a lot of super-short fiction around. A previous interview I've done with former editor Jenny Catlin argues that partly, it's the result of editors who prefer reading shorter, rather than longer, pieces. But she makes a good point that it's also due to impatient online readers who don't have time (or interest) in reading longer (that is, over 1000 words) stories. On your phone, flash stories are a good thing, sort of-- although who wouldn't pick a juicy page-turner for an airplace trip? Yes, there's Lydia Davis (and she's great) -- but 99 readers out of 100 would pick Alice Munro.
But beyond flash, there's even shorter -- 500 word stories, 100 word stories, 75 words, and even tweet fiction. Maybe it's the long grim shadow of Hemingway, but some contest have so few words that they're bordering (to me) on haiku. One magazine 101 Fiction focuses on submissions of, you guessed it, 101 words. A recent context from Penny Fiction allows writers a full 13 words in which to explore the issue of home -- no doubt, they'll be flooded with submissions.
I get why editors like this. Less work. Hey with 13 word submissions, you can read 100 "pieces" pretty damned quickly.
But why do writers confine themselves in this way? It's a world in which you can write what you like -- any way you like -- and more and more writers are opting for micro-fiction. Almost as if the gaps between words are replacing words, a world of telegraphed messages in which all the luxuries of communication have been stripped away. OK, whatever, sure, LOL.
Much ink is spilled on why literary magazines seem forever in search of readers. I think flash and microfiction might be good places to find the answer.
But beyond flash, there's even shorter -- 500 word stories, 100 word stories, 75 words, and even tweet fiction. Maybe it's the long grim shadow of Hemingway, but some contest have so few words that they're bordering (to me) on haiku. One magazine 101 Fiction focuses on submissions of, you guessed it, 101 words. A recent context from Penny Fiction allows writers a full 13 words in which to explore the issue of home -- no doubt, they'll be flooded with submissions.
I get why editors like this. Less work. Hey with 13 word submissions, you can read 100 "pieces" pretty damned quickly.
But why do writers confine themselves in this way? It's a world in which you can write what you like -- any way you like -- and more and more writers are opting for micro-fiction. Almost as if the gaps between words are replacing words, a world of telegraphed messages in which all the luxuries of communication have been stripped away. OK, whatever, sure, LOL.
Much ink is spilled on why literary magazines seem forever in search of readers. I think flash and microfiction might be good places to find the answer.
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