Extra treats for Harvey this week, as I heard I'd won second prize in the Spilling Ink flash fiction competition.Until last year I had something of a blind spot where flash fiction was concerned. I'd never tried writing it, because I couldn't imagine being able to develop characters in the way I wanted within a word count of perhaps only 500 or less. For me, characters and relationships are the things I really like to explore in stories, way ahead of plots or themes.
But then for some reason I went through a bit of a sea-change. I started experimenting with flash fiction, and found I enjoyed the challenge. I realised that if the main character was clear enough in my mind, it was possible to pin them down on paper. It was just a matter of working hard within the tight focus of the story, and not getting distracted by rambling sub-plots as I am inclined to do. That may sound obvious, but I am a great believer in the principle that we only really learn by doing.
So the moral of this particular tale is that even if you think you can't, have a bash anyway. You may find that you can!
22 comments:
Congratulations! Well done indeed. Love hearing about my friends winning things. Mx
Congratulations on your prize, Joanne. I totally agree with you about trying something new. We can always learn by facing new challenges.
Congratulations, Joanne :-)
Harvey is gorgeous - I hope he enjoyed his extra treats!
YAYAYAYAYAYYAAYAYYAYAAYYAYAYAYAAY!!!!!!
*Clapping* *more Clapping*!!!
WELL DONE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Awwww Harvey deserves extra treats and pressies for being so gorgeous!!!
Take care
x
Well done, Joanne! Always worth trying something new.
Poor old Harvey! What happens when you don't win things?
Congratulations, that's a lovely post.
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Well done! Hope it's the first of many!
Absolutely brilliant, Joanne, congratulations! Flash fiction isn't easy, so really well done!
Congratulations. Both for the prize and for overcoming your flash fiction block.
Thank you everyone, you're all wonderful!
I'm so happy for you. Writing "short" is harder than "long".
Well done, Joanne! Great news (and I love flash fiction)!
Congratulations! Amazing news!
Yes. I agree with you. Sometimes we need to push ourselves out of our comfort zone to find out we can do something.
Oh wow congratulations! Lucky Harvey, too :O)
Many thanks again. x
Great news. Congratulations.
XX
I can't do flash fiction at all. Well done.
Oh, congratulations!!! That's wonderful. And I love your beautiful doggie!!
Harvey's gorgeous, and congratulations on the prize - great news!
I tried writing a ghost story for the first time last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. It got published too, so it's definitely worth stepping outside your comfort zone sometimes :o)
Greetings from Southern California
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Take care and have a nice day :-)
Oh, how wonderful! Congratulations, Joanne!! So happy for you! And especially since it was for something you thought you couldn't do! Wonderful accomplishment!
Oops - missed this post! Many congratulations - I love reading and writing Flash Fiction and am dead jealous!
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