And why I love them
I think I am naturally curious, questioning, and perhaps somewhat defiant to set rules (unless I’m convinced the obvious way is the only way!). I rather prefer the road less-travelled. True to that trait, when I am reading, I am looking for innovations in style and stories that I have not encountered before — whether in approach, theme or structure. Happy to share ten flash stories that I’m sure fit the bill and pieces that you’ll like, in no particular order, scouring hundreds of magazines and hoping to promote variant work. In spite of reading hundreds, possibly thousands of pieces while discharging my editorial duties for trampset and Vestal Review, I have left out those published in these two publications from consideration for obvious reasons. I hope in the process of curating and sharing this list, I may contribute to the expansion of flash-length fictional literature.
“The Litany of Invisible Things” by Vincent Anioke (The Rumpus; Feb 27, 2023) Why I like it? Writing that is sure of the voice and the setting, so sure that one would be right in the middle of the narrative reading it.
“This is England” by Donna Tracy (EllipsisZine; January 27, 2023) Why I like it? Love how this piece is both universal and personal, and true to its title, is very much the essence of England. Also, lovely rhythm built with its unique structure.
“Schrödinger and His Cat” by Lucie Bonvalet (Monkeybicycle; June 2, 2023) Why I like it? Love the way this defies the “Show, Don’t Tell” maxim, and ‘tells’ us a weird, imaginatively weaved story, ending with the readers being served a range of possibilities. Truly a tribute to the namesake Physics thought experiment/paradox that it alludes to all along.
“To All the Souls Who Can’t Yet Read” by Nadia Born (Cincinnati Review; May 10 2023) Why I like it? As a person who loves the English language itself, I was moved how this micro uses words to form a series of images that move from nature to self-discovery.
“Malia” by Hannah Olabosibe Eko (Fractured Literary; October 2023)Why I like it? Unusual POV, poignant lines and the final line/observation.
“Sibling Parenting & Father’s Day” by Shih-Li Kow (CRAFT; May 19 2023) Why I like it? Emotionally powerful, these two micros utilize brevity to highlight loss and poignancy in two different yet emotionally estranged families.
“Mushroom: Three Meals” by Avra Margariti (Emerge Literary Journal; Issue 26-27, 2023) Why I like it? The structure, unpredictable twists, and the ending.
“The Grammar of Snow” by Rayna Haralambieva (Flash Frontier; March/April 2023 Ra Issue) Why I like it? Apart from the perfect title, check out the syntax of the piece. This superbly done one-sentence marvel braids science, eco-fiction and poignancy.
“Gordon and Clara” by Kik Lodge (Peatsmoke Journal; October 16 2023) Why I like it? The line “Leopold likes to capture the things we don’t see, the hidden, the fleeting.” perhaps encapsulates why I love this piece.
“Alligator” by Kathy Fish (NorthWest Review; Nov 12 2023) Why I like it? Readers keep trying to guess what this story is about, collecting literary gems on the way to the exquisite ending: “Maybe this is a story about endings.” Masterful work!
There were easily 10 more that I could not include in this list for no reason other than paucity of space. Apologies.
No prompts for this month’s blogpost. I’m sure you’ll have enough ideas after reading these stories to keep you busy exploring different styles, techniques and approaches.
Next month’s blogpost will be “TEN prompts to kickstart 2024”
Thank you for reading! If you liked the post, please share it with friends and fellow writers and readers. If you haven’t subscribed yet, consider subscribing to my free-to-inboxes monthly craft essays below.
IF YOU LIKE WHAT I DO, CONSIDER LEAVING ME A SMALL TIP. Thanks!
