Making Every Word Count

I write fantasy novels. Woman of Honor was over 88K, Knight of Glory over 96. Hidden in Shadows is 97K.

But I also write short stories. And flash pieces.

Now I find that flash pieces are by far the hardest to write. You can't go into too much detail and you definitely don't have time for character development. Heck, you're lucky if you can spare a few words to give details like the MC's hair color! With flash pieces, each word has to be important, has to move the plot along. Each word has to be integral to the story. Flash pieces have to be so tight you can hardly cut them with a knife.

I've noticed that writing flash pieces has made my short stories and novels better. When I'm editing, I look at each scene as a flash piece and try to squeeze out as many excess words as possible. I have a tendency to have a new crutch word or two with each story I write. With Hidden in Shadows it was "just" and "that". So I highlight those words and if they aren't needed, delete. Could I rephrase this sentence and lose a few words? Delete the excess. Cut the fat out. Make your stories trim.

But be careful not to trim too much. With short stories and novel, you have the luxury of more words. You can develop your characters, have them grow and change. Describe not only their appearance but what they are wearing and their surroundings. You can cut too much from a story so that it is too bare bones.

So if your crit partners are telling you that you need to tone down your verbose tendencies, I encourage you to write a flash piece or two. Write a couple short (complete) stories no more than 500 words. It's a challenge but it can be done.

Warning: some flash pieces will beg to be longer and may turn into a short story, or even a novel. Several of my short stories are begging to be turned into novels. I just might oblige. But first I have to finish Champion of Valor. Which hopefully won't be more than 100K. :)

Have you ever written a flash piece? Would you write one? Why or why not?