Writing Flash Fiction: How to Write Very Short Stories and Get Them Published

by Carly Berg

Writing flash fiction is a fun, easy way to break into print and quickly establish yourself as a professional author. This book shows you everything you need to write great stories under 1,000 words, as well as how and where to get them published. It concludes with tips for re-publishing those stories all together as a book.

Genres: Writing, Flash Fiction, Nonfiction, Short Stories, Research

103 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 24, 2015

About the author

MY LIFE AS A DUST DEVIL (2025)
A young girl's hardscrabble with humor coming-of-age story (for grown-ups). Star Garza somehow makes it through, with her loony mother, across the desert and hills of New Mexico.
https://www.amazon.com/My-Life-as-Dus...

NOMADS NEST, POPULATION: 12 (2025)
This novel-in-stories portrays some of the fallout of today's disconnected, mobile lifestyle. The residents of six apartments above a truck stop in rural Alberta, Canada, live, love, fight and run in place with each other, all as they're just passing through.
https://www.amazon.com/Nomads-Nest-Po...

ST. LOUIS SISTERS: A 1970s RETELLING OF LITTLE WOMEN (2024)
These sisters aren't quite as sweet and innocent as in the 1800s original, in this spicy, updated version of Little Women (for grown-ups).
https://www.amazon.com/St-Louis-Siste...


TALKS WITH DEAD AUNTS: AND OTHER TALES FROM THE ISLA AJAJA (2024)
The linked stories in this over the top collection are loosely modeled on Galveston, Texas.
https://www.amazon.com/Talks-Dead-Aun...

COFFEE HOUSE LIES: 100 CUPS OF FLASH FICTION (2014)
The short-short, far-ranging stories in this collection have been put together into a book, after rights to them reverted back from the various litmags they first appeared in.
https://www.amazon.com/Coffee-House-L...

HOW TO WRITE A NOVEL WHEN YOU JUST...CAN'T (2025)
For those who just don't seem to ever make it to "The End." This short guide lays out three big boosts that provide that something extra to get you there. It's like training wheels for writers.
https://www.amazon.com/Write-Novel-Wh...

STORY PROMPTS THAT WORK: 52 DETAILED, TESTED STORY STARTERS FOR SHORT STORIES AND FLASH FICTION (FOR ADULTS AND TEENS (2016)
You couldn't really get lost with these, even if you tried...
https://www.amazon.com/Story-Prompts-...

WRITING FLASH FICTION: HOW TO WRITE VERY SHORT STORIES AND GET THEM PUBLISHED (2015)
This popular, slim guide shows aspiring writers how get something polished and out on submission within hours or days, rather than only after weeks, months or years.
https://www.amazon.com/Writing-Flash-...

Reviews

[Mike Robbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book explains how to write flash fiction and how to sell it. Flash fiction, according to Carly Berg, is a story of 1,000 words or less. It’s a much smaller commitment than a novel – the latter can seem endless to a writer. It’s also easier to publish; although "short-short" stories are not new (Saki comes to mind), they’ve become popular in recent years as digital media makes them relatively easy to publish. But they’re demanding to write, as the scene has to be set with very few words.

Berg is good at this. She’s been writing flash fiction for years, and has just published Coffee House Lies: 100 Cups of Flash fiction, a collection of about 100 stories. Some are puzzling, others pack a punch, but all draw you in. I especially liked Everyone Wants to Steal my Man and Paris Blue. It’s a great book for dipping into, maybe a story at a time in your coffee break or before sleeping. Berg’s included a few of the stories in Writing Flash Fiction, but I’d recommend reading Coffee House Lies in full; there’s a lot to enjoy.

Writing Flash Fiction itself is arranged in 10 main chapters. They cover definitions of flash fiction, where and how to write, how to get ideas, how to edit yourself and where to publish. Some of the advice is a bit general, such as where and how to write; that is something most people will have to figure out themselves. But most of it is specific and extremely useful. At the end, Berg includes references to some other flash fiction writers and also links to places for publication.

Where this book excels, though, is in its advice on writing. I’ve seen far too many books in which the writer has had an excellent idea, and great grasp of character, but just hasn’t studied the craft. Berg has, and her own stories convey character, or a sense of place or culture, in very few words. Chapter 6, titled A Self-Editing Checklist, shows that this is not an accident. Berg demonstrates common errors such as redundant words, stagnating storylines, lack of cohesion, excessive description, the deus ex machina (common sin of the lazy writer), inconsistent points of view, sloppy dialogue and more. Just about all this applies to novels and novellas as well. An especially good passage is headed Too Much Telling; here, Berg presents two ways of telling the same story in an effective illustration of how to, and how not to, write. There’s plenty of advice like this around for writers, but it’s rarely this clear and concise.

This book is invaluable for anyone who wants to write and market very short stories. But even for other writers, it’s probably worth the modest purchase price for chapter 6 alone. Recommended.

(The author kindly supplied an ebook for review purposes.)

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing flash fiction

The book is focused and short, just as a book on this topic should be. It has lovely examples and a useful resource list. What else can you ask for?

[Ryan Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Writing Flash Fiction focuses on flash fiction stories under 1,000 words. Carly Berg provides a clear and concise summary of how to write flash fiction and, importantly, how to sell your work. The book gets right to the point, and provides detailed information and ideas which will point the budding author in the direction they need to go. But be sure to bring along a fair dose of creativity, not everything can be done for you.

While the book is detailed, there are times when the information is quite general. It isn’t a bad thing, but the reader will have to use their imagination. Probably good news if you are aspiring to write flash fiction, the world (story) is your oyster. I would recommend Writing Flash Fiction as a guide for those writers looking to hone their craft or to try something new.

[Cassandra Larsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, Writing Flash Fiction. I have heard the term ‘flash fiction’ in passing, but before reading this book I had very little idea of what it actually entailed. Ms. Berg gives some excellent information on just what flash fiction is, how to write it, edit it, and then publish it in various formats. Her editing checklist has some very helpful tips, even for experienced writers, and the activities, writing exercises, and prompts at the end of each chapter are fantastic for helping you develop your craft.

I’ve read a lot of books on writing and story crafting, but this book is one of the few that really got me excited about trying out the techniques she described and just having fun with the writing prompts.

* I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Mehreen Ahmed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mehreen's review

Carly Berg's Writing Flash Fiction is an excellent guide for writers. Detailing how to learn to write precisely and concisely, extra "flab" in writing is no good in Carly's words. This book shows how to hone the craft as the writer embarks on this difficult journey of developing plot and characters. She has elaborated upon some pertinent issues which can actually act as a deterrent to producing high-quality literature. It is no exaggeration though that critics have always used phrases such as 'extra padding', 'fillers' 'in other words', to frown upon bad writing. Written in the same spirit, this book is all about publishing successful stories in a hurry.

[Patrick Strickland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some useful information in here, but nothing you can't find in other books. It's a concise read, though, and the writing and self-editing tips are solid.

[Kathryn Occhipinti · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, the salient feature of this book is its young and encouraging voice. True, as someone who is (at least) 39 years old, I sometimes found that voice to be a little immature for my personal liking. That said, I believe that this voice is not only what makes the book flow nicely from one topic to another, but is also what makes it work well as an easy and enjoyable read over all. I was interested enough in what the author had to say that once I started reading this book I wanted to – and was able to – finish it in two sittings.

Don’t be fooled by appearances! This is a serious work for the beginning writer. Although Writing Flash Fiction introduces basic writing skills that can certainly also be learned at writing workshops, Carly Berg approaches the topic in a unique, creative, and interesting way.

At the time of this writing, there are already 20+ reviews that detail the contents of this book. I would just like to add that it is a complete work in and of itself regarding the process of writing flash fiction, with entertaining antidotes from the “real life” of the author, basic “do’s and don’ts” valuable for any writer to remember, and examples clearly laid out to support her thesis. There are even exercises at the end of each chapter to spark the creativity of the readers and encourage them to try flash fiction on their own.

But what I liked best about this book was that the author included examples of her work so that I could see the end result of what she was talking about. As an avid reader of short stories, I was impressed by the variety of voices, styles and content in the examples she chose to include. I was especially happy to find the substance behind her “how to” book without having to search the internet, although I have to say I am interested now to find more of her work! I know several of her stories will stay with me.

In all, “Writing Flash Fiction” is a well thought out and well written book and Carly Berg succeeded in what she set out to do – introduce a novice writer to the craft.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read a couple dozen books on writing, and until now, I’ve had nothing to show for it. Doubtless, some of these books are better in their own way than Writing Flash Fiction, but none of them were more effective at pushing me down the path toward my goals. This book is like a new writer’s starter kit, all assembly tools included.

The author gives a step by step approach to build a writing habit, conquer common problems, generate ideas, and submit work for publication. This was just the ticket for me. It’s a quick read, but with exercises and other to-dos at the end of each chapter that I will go back to. In less than 24 hours after downloading, I finished the book and wrote my first flash story (in addition to doing my day job, commuting, etc). As the author points out, completing (and publishing) flash stories gives a sense of accomplishment that builds confidence and motivation for the next one.

Experienced writers may find much of the information basic, but if you are new to writing or new to flash fiction, this is a great primer in condensed format. It comes complete with a list of online resources and a few sample flash stories from the author’s collection as examples. It is also helpful to see what methods and tools the author uses herself to generate ideas, write, and publish. Best of all, by following the instructions, you are practically guaranteed to come out of the experience with completed flash stories under your belt as well as tips on how to edit and publish them.

[Sarah Doebereiner · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s important to note that this book is written for a younger audience who is just beginning their literary journey. Berg takes time to define the different parts of a story and explain the rudimentary elements of writing in general. I would not recommend this story for someone who has a significant background and education in writing or literature because much of the opening chapters are going to be information that you already know. The book is written with a playful, colloquial tone that should be easy for the target audience to relate to.

The biggest flaw of the book to me was that several of the subsections tell you to do things, but not how to do them. For example: ‘It’s not hard to spiff up a title. Just give it a second look before you send it off.’ There is almost no discussion about what makes a good title, or what pitfalls to avoid. There are some examples, but no dissection of what makes them effective or ineffective.

The biggest strength of the book is the self-editing checklist. This section is detailed and specific about the common mistakes that writers make when they first start to hone their craft. Even veteran authors would be hard-pressed to say they never slip up and end up editing out along similar guidelines. The tools for the writer were also fill of helpful resources like: prompt lists, editing software, places to consider submitting, etc.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Montgomery Mahaffey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick, thorough, and pragmatic guide for writers who want to write and publish quick, ultra-short fiction.

Carly Berg lays out the practical reasons for publishing flash fiction. A genre in its own right, these stories often take a fraction of the time to write than a short story and help get your name out there, increasing your fame bit by bit.

She packs this guide book full of prompts to get you started and guides you through essential elements like conflict, dialogue, setting, and point of view.

Separating it from other books like this on the market, Berg offers neat advice for doing your own sleuthing on the internet to find flash stories to annotate and emulate.

Rounding out this helpful tome is a sequence of selected flash fiction that was made to get your excitement up and the creative juices flowing.

Loved this read! If you're a writer and you want to start publishing some flash fiction, this book is for you!
If you're a writer wanting to get your name out there, this book is for you!
If you're a writer who wants to learn how to write better, this book is for you!

[Liselott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read quite a few books on writing but this one, Writing Flash Fiction, is one of the few that I didn't just skim through. Everything about this little book feels just right.
Its short (obviously) but you will be surprised how much of useful information within those hundred pages. I normally underline but I didn't feel it was necessary as every word counted.
Ten chapters of hints, tips and advice with a few exercises.
I also found the chapter 'For Further Reading' being very resourceful. Some of the author's own published flash stories has also been given space for extra inspiration.

[Emma Jaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

The practicalities of writing flash fiction, and by that the author means stories under 1000 words. There is some very useful advice here, for me, particularly some of the editing advice about how to tighten up writing. Although I don’t write flash fiction, this book includes many of the pitfalls in style that writers suffer when they are starting. The style of writing flash fiction is quite different to writing longer works, each word counts and the author often has to rely on a single word to set a scene. Unfortunately, for me at least, the need for brevity detracted from the example stories, but I admire the ability of the author to write coherently within such tight constraints.

[Florian Armas · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Writing Flash Fiction’ is an interesting mix, placing together personal experiences and good advises about how to write. Even when the title says otherwise, I found that many hints apply to writing in general, not only to flash fiction. The personal touch, telling about preferred music (finding that Moon River or Simon and Garfunkel have the same influence on the author helped me to enter faster in the book) or time to write, adds a certain flavor, not necessarily for the technical aspects, just to make things easier. A bit of humor and peppering some feelings never hurt, even in a technical book.

[Larry Manch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great resource. Helpful for new writers, and for experienced writers and authors who (like myself) may occasionally fall into bad habits, like using "filter words." Great information in this book, well worth the price.

[Tanner Ashley]

Great information for your flash fiction writing.

[Tom Spokane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back to Square One

Carly Berg Writing Flash Fiction: How to Write Very Short Stories and Get Them Published:

I’ve read dozens of books on writing, and this one is among the best. It is like rebooting my computer, or in this case, it energizes my writing process. I have practiced many of her suggestions for writing flash fiction. However, I was stuck in neutral as of late. Berg illustrates some of the basics I’d laid down years ago. Glad I ran across this book. Writing Flash Fiction: How to Write Very Short Stories and Get Them Published is a must for those starting out and for those rekindling their writing careers. There is a great reference section in the back of the book. I highly recommend this book for all writers.

[Stacia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very short book on flash fiction. It includes both reading and writing recommendations, basic information on how to write FF, and info on editing and publishing. Much of the book is quite basic and some of it is much more widely applicable than just FF. Still, it was nice to have it all in one place.

My only issue after reading it is that there didn't seem to be a lot of detail about what differentiates FF beyond word count. Either all the rules preached in the writing workshop I went are wrong or this book just didn't get into them.

[Holli Keel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This writer actually knows what she's talking about. She's obviously experienced in the flash fiction genre, and that shows in her advice and examples. Lots of good ideas and resources if you want to write flash fiction.

[Christine Goodnough · Rating 4 out of 5]

i appreciated her list of suggestions as to where to submit flash fiction and also the list of small presses that accept manuscripts from new authors.

[Gary Ives]

Really enjoyed reading very helpful thank you for your advice x

[Elissa Matthews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting bits, some good ideas and overview.

[Ashley Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seemingly basic but honestly good writing advice for all genres and forms.

[Alice Anglewood · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very informative book that was easy to read. I think it's helpful for everyone, for people who submit works to magazines and for people who simply like posting short fanfics online.

Writing: 4/5

[Rian Nejar · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent reference for writers of all styles, not just flash fiction. A book to be read once, twice, and as many times as one can to get most of Carly's insights imprinted in one's brain.

I discovered 'flash fiction' and one-line fiction stories from this informative work by Carly Berg. The very idea of restricting a story to such insane limits horrifies me. A bit old-fashioned, I like to settle into a complex story and enjoy its characters and narration as one may enjoy sights and experiences in a long journey. A writer myself, quickies, in stories, or life, bring up unpleasant psychosomatic reactions. Nevertheless, primed by the soundbite world today, and informed by Carly's clear and succinct descriptions, I stand educated and enlightened.

Lucid, concise, and creative in descriptions and metaphors ("...danced, snapping his fingers,""ping-pongy"), this is an enjoyable work about the art and science of writing tight, and writing well. The many aspects of loose writing highlighted will resonate with all writers. Carly reminded me that I write in long sentences that may have my readers gasping for air as they attempt to surface from depths of complexity in my sentence structure. See what I mean? I need to, as she admonishes, "Break them up." Not with a whole lot of punctuation. Just make them brief and seamless. I enjoyed revisiting all of my own editing efforts as I read through this book.

A minor peeve: for a book about flash fiction, or pieces as short as 500 words, I found this guide a mite long. I haven't finished it, but have seen enough in it of value to write this review.

Highly recommended to every newbie writer, as a great start to writing short pieces and thus learning to write well before attempting full-length novels, and to every experienced writer, for a refresher on tight writing and habits to eschew or be fully aware of. I need to break this sentence too...old habits die hard!

A review provided in exchange for a free PDF copy of the work.

__________________________________________________

[Margaret Standafer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world of flash fiction is new to me. The idea of telling an entire story in only 1000 words seems daunting. I once had a writing course where the weekly assignments were typically limited to 1000 words or less and while these assignments didn’t even have to be complete stories, just snippets, I still found the process difficult. After reading Carly Berg’s book and reading some of her examples of flash fiction, I feel inspired to give it a try. Even if I don’t end up publishing, the process of learning to get my point across in fewer words can’t hurt.

For those that are looking to embark on writing flash fiction, I can’t imagine the pertinent details and information could be more concisely spelled out than in Writing Flash Fiction. Carly Berg outlines the process on where to get your ideas, how to begin, how to edit, and how to submit your work, all in an orderly fashion. She even gives instruction on how to begin with a simple six-word story. And, hidden within the book, are very useful pointers (or reminders) for writers of longer works. Watch your “filter” words and weak modifiers; show, don’t tell; strive for sentence variation; and don’t overdo dialogue tags are among the helpful ideas.

Writing Flash Fiction is easy to read, easy to follow, and certain to be of great value to anyone looking for advice on beginning a writing career.

[Gillian Felix · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review

I recommend this book to anyone with the desire to write a book but don’t know where to start. The information in this book provides you with basic ideas and information on getting you started. I agree with the author that writing short “flash fiction” is a great way to start for many reasons; it gets your name out there and helps you build up an audience. It also strengthens your writing muscle and gets you into a routine.

The author gave many ideas for writing flash fiction in a clear and easy to read format. It was very to the point, mixing no words or wasting your time with useless jabber. That was one of the things I really liked about it. Apart from writing flash fiction for the above mentioned purposes, another reason is that you can combine your flash stories into one publishable book, or many.

There is a lot of information in this book and it is entirely up to you to put them in play, it is definitely NOT for a lazy person. If you are serious about writing then YES please give this book a try and put the information that is shared in the book to use. If course nothing can guarantee your success but every action you do leads to your own success.

[Masi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gave me renewed confidence to start writing flash fiction again

The only thing I knew about flash fiction, before reading this book that is, is that they are meant to be shorter than conventional short stories. I even tried writing a few but a lot of the people I showed them to told me that they neither fall in the 'flash fiction' category nor are even fit to be called "proper stories." My ego got a severe blow and I realized that I won't be able to write flash fiction again. I have faced several of the common issues described by the writer (she also tells you about how to overcome them; her chapter called "A Self-Editing Checklist" is particularly helpful ). And the biggest roadblock for me: that of getting my stories published - is no longer a roadblock, thanks to Ms. Berg's book. Now the question is, why would you write flash fiction? Well, as the author says at the very start: "They get published over and over again, and yours can, too. That’s a high return on a few hours of time." As a bonus, the author also offers examples of many of her own flash fiction stories, my favorite of them being the somewhat humorous "The Horse Head Earrings". Recommended.

[Bill Leviathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing Flash Fiction is a great primer for anyone looking to get into the world of very, very short fiction. Author Carly Berg shares her own experiences and knowledge on what works and what doesn't in the realm of flash. Each chapter ends with a few assignments, many of which involve writing your own flash fiction. By the time you are done reading through this, you'll have complete half a dozen or so flash fiction stories.

A few of the sections, such as Revising, A Self-Editing Checklist, and Getting Ideas are great not only for newcomers to flash fiction, but to anyone who writes in general. The tips in these sections are invaluable to any writer.

The book ends with a selection of Carly Berg's own flash fiction. It isn't just to stuff the back of the book. At the end of each story Carly explains why the story was written, where it was published, and what sort of flash fiction concept it is supposed to represent. They are fine examples of the craft.

I was provided a free copy of this book for an honest review.

[Dona's Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Instagram Review: www.instagram.com/p/B98Hztwg9Ea/

This is not a terrible book, it's slapdash. And it's not a book about writing flash fiction. It barely discusses writing. Discussion of what I would call "technique" doesn't even start until page 17; before that is all coaching-- how to get ideas and motivation and whatnot. I'm sorry, but there are whole other books for that. They rock; I've read them. Then after page 25, revising takes over until page 46. And, after that, the rest of the book discusses what I call the business of writing.

Writing Flash Fiction is not a book about writing flash fiction. It is a book about how Carly Berg became successful writing flash fiction, told in scattered bits throughout a poorly constructed memoir/marketing text. There are useful things in here, but very few of them have anything to do with writing flash fiction.

I'm giving this book three stars for all the marketing suggestions. Those have value for all of us writers. But I felt a little let down by the writing flash sections.

Stay healthy, writers! <3

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

«Writing Flash Fiction» is for certain worth reading if you are a newcomer in this genre, because it's likely to bring out the best in you.
It's not just a book, it's a toolbox to use, to refer to over and over again. The content is well-structured into the 10 main chapters. It outlines the concept of flash fiction, provides the ideas where to gain inspiration, hints on editing and publication. The style is crisp and eloquent, easy to perceive - the author has extremely fluent pen. The best advantage for me is that the author offers not just comprehensive technical advices, but some kind of positive psychological motivation and attitude as well. I enjoyed the accumulated crystallized experience and tough practice that I saw behind it. Overall, I feel that after the patient examination of the book you'll definitely get the hang of flash fiction writing, that is supposed to be the author's intention.