Forum / Favorite Books of and about Flash Fiction

• 
  Carly Berg

  Jun 17, 10:13am

  I have quite a few. Here are some of my favorites:

  * The Rose Metal Press Field Guide to Writing Flash Fiction, edited by Tara Masih-

  Wonderful! It's divided into about 25 sections. In each one, a different established flash writer writes about some aspect of flash, then gives an example and an assignment. I did most of them and learned different approaches and stuff. I think I'll go through it again.

  * Flash Fiction: 72 Very Short Stories, edited by Tom Hazuka et al-

  So many of the flash anthologies imo just don't keep my interest. The stories will just seem to drop off or whatever and I'll think "What in the world was that?" and not in a good way, either. I thought this one was tight, though, carefully selected, good stories.

  * Flash Fiction Forward: 80 Very Short Stories, edited by Robert Shapard and James Thomas.

  Here's another one I liked a lot.

  Anyone else have any to recommend or anything like it to recommend, such as books of flash nonfiction, etc.?

• Frankie Saxx

  Jun 17, 10:37am

  I have nothing to add, but will check out your recommendations. Thanks :)

• 
  Joani Reese

  Jun 17, 01:18pm

  About fifteen years ago I picked up a small, remaindered book called RADIOS: Short Takes on Life and Culture by Jerome Stern. I began reading it late one night and couldn't put it down until I was finished. It was entrancing and my introduction to the short form. These are mini-essays from NPR commentator Jerome Stern. A wonderful, wonderful book and a must have for any writer's bookshelf.

• 
  Carly Berg

  Jun 18, 08:22am

  You're welcome, Frankie.

  Thanks, Joani. I just ordered it.

• 
  Matthew Robinson

  Jun 18, 04:42pm

  It's not an anthology but the collection Blue Has No South by Alex Epstein is full of brilliant, beautiful flash. He has another book, too, but Blue Has No South is the one I've read.

  Here's an idea of just how powerful a story he can assemble in such a short time: http://recommendedreading.tumblr.com/post/33358558067/bereavement-by-alex-epstein-her-parents

• 
  Ann Bogle

  Jun 18, 07:22pm

  Jason Lee Norman's AMERICAS is a brilliant and handsomely produced flash series, one flash named for each country in the Americas. He lives in Alberta. Here is the url for his web site:

  http://www.jasonleenorman.com/

• 
  Barry Basden

  Jun 18, 07:25pm

  Thanks Joani & Matt. I'm a sucker for a good book of or about flash and these are new to me.

  Also, Randall Brown has embarked on 50 days of writing about flash. One of the things he says that I particularly like is, "The word count requirement of flash fiction misleads authors into thinking of flash as a short story told with fewer words. It might be that. It might be other things, too."

  More here: http://flashfiction.net/2013/06/the-definitive-flash-50-shades-of-flash-day-4.php

• 
  Carly Berg

  Jun 19, 07:40am

  Thanks, y'all. These are all going on my list of books to check out. :)

• 
  Christopher Allen

  Jun 23, 11:01am

  Though it's currently unavailable (soon to be re-release we hope), Kathy Fish's Together We Can Bury It is exceptional.

• 
  Ann Bogle

  Jul 18, 08:01am

  Peter Conners, PP/FF

• 
  James Claffey

  Jul 18, 04:57pm

  killarney clary's prose poems might be of interest...

• 
  Michelle Elvy

  Jul 19, 06:29am

  Here's one you don't see often: Nathalie Sarraute, Tropisms. trans from the French by Maria Jolas. First published in France 1939; English trans published 1963.

  Add it to your lists. Seriously.

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