Flash writing blurs the lines between prose poetry and short story with pieces that reveal character, express emotion, and capture moments in fewer than 1,000 words. Pieces may even range anywhere from 500, 100, or even 50 words total. This sub genre has become wildly popular in contemporary literature, as it borrows from traditional scene construction and narrative arc found in novels and short stories, combined with the poetic depictions and precise language found in prose poetry.
The limits of this genre force writers to think of new and unique ways to convey image and story. Every sentence, every word, should reveal something to the reader, and every moment should focus on the narrative’s movement. The common thread in all flash writing is that the piece must have a moment of change. Together, we will examine how a writer can accomplish telling brief, complete, and urgent stories in this deceptively tricky, yet undeniably addictive form.
In this one-day workshop, we will read and dissect various works of sudden fiction and write our own flashes in response to a series of prompts to be given on the spot. Sharing with the group will be encouraged, but not mandatory. This course is open to writers of any level who are working in any genre of their choosing—literary fiction, creative nonfiction, memoir, horror, science fiction, fantasy, thriller, YA, and even romance.
Brittany Ackerman is a writer from Riverdale, New York. She earned her BA in English from Indiana University and an MFA in Creative Writing from Florida Atlantic University. She has led workshops for UCLA’s Extension, The Porch, Catapult, HerStry, Write or Die, and Lighthouse Writers. She currently teaches writing at Vanderbilt University in the English Department. She is a 3x Pushcart Prize Nominee and her work has been featured in Electric Literature, Jewish Book Council, Lit Hub, The Los Angeles Review, No Tokens, Joyland, and more. Her first collection of essays, The Perpetual Motion Machine, was published with Red Hen Press in 2018, and her debut novel, The Brittanys, is out now with Vintage. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
"Brittany provided a depth of knowledge and experience which was both inspiring and educational. She expertly facilitated discussion and encouraged everyone with her insightful comments."
"Brittany's knowledge, insight and remarkable ability to give immediate feedback to our work as we read it was incredibly helpful and productive."
