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Flash Writing
In a Flash!: Writing & Publishing Dynamic Flash Prose
Welcome to a genre that has zoomed into public notice with the Internet age and yet has a rich history. Flashes in both fiction and nonfiction are highly sought after by editors and publishers across a wide array of publications. This practical guide covers a diverse range of topics from the first spark of an idea through to the writing, editing, and submission/publication process, offering real-world advice each step of the way from a teacher and fellow writer with twenty-years publishing experience. Featuring thematic writing prompts and flash examples from authors such as Dinty W. Moore, founder of Brevity, this book is equally inspiring for classrooms, workshops, and individual writers excited about polishing their craft.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 9, 2018
29 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Faith
14 books89 followersMelanie Faith likes to wear many professional hats, including as a poet, photographer, prose writer, professor, editor, and tutor.
She enjoys old-school film cameras, quotes, that new-shoes feeling, thoughtfulness, ASMR videos about maps and books, and spending time with fellow writers and her nieces
Her latest narrative poetry collection, Does It Look Like Her? (February 2024), follows Alix, a forty-something artist, new educator, and mom, and the famous painting she sits for. The poems explore what it means to pursue artistic passion, the personal meanings we overlay onto art and artists in a society not conducive to art-making, ambition at midlife, and the indirect route to so-called overnight success.
Her latest books on writing craft (published by Vine Leaves Press in 2022) are: From Promising to Published: A Multi-Genre, Insider’s Guide to the Publication Process, Writing It Real: Crafting a Reference Book that Sells, and Writing It Real: Creating an Online Creative-Writing Class for Fun and Profit. Check out her other inspired books on creativity: In a Flash!, Poetry Power, and Photography for Writers (also Vine Leaves Press).
Her poetry has been set to opera, and her fine-arts photography has appeared on book covers and in juried shows.
She enjoys old-school film cameras, quotes, that new-shoes feeling, thoughtfulness, ASMR videos about maps and books, and spending time with fellow writers and her nieces
Her latest narrative poetry collection, Does It Look Like Her? (February 2024), follows Alix, a forty-something artist, new educator, and mom, and the famous painting she sits for. The poems explore what it means to pursue artistic passion, the personal meanings we overlay onto art and artists in a society not conducive to art-making, ambition at midlife, and the indirect route to so-called overnight success.
Her latest books on writing craft (published by Vine Leaves Press in 2022) are: From Promising to Published: A Multi-Genre, Insider’s Guide to the Publication Process, Writing It Real: Crafting a Reference Book that Sells, and Writing It Real: Creating an Online Creative-Writing Class for Fun and Profit. Check out her other inspired books on creativity: In a Flash!, Poetry Power, and Photography for Writers (also Vine Leaves Press).
Her poetry has been set to opera, and her fine-arts photography has appeared on book covers and in juried shows.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 17, 2018
I absolutely recommend this wonderful book to anyone, aspiring writer or ardent reader alike. I found Faith's personal narrative entertaining and similar to my own life experiences (both in general and in my own writing career). She not only provides clear advice and instruction to those interested in the flash genre but opens herself to the audience on the page, exposing her own private thoughts and feelings...something we all (most of us) struggle to express so freely.
Written as if you were sitting in a cafe with the author, enjoying a steaming cup of tea or coffee and reminiscing about successes, failures, and the motivations that fuel the creative...Faith weaves a book of instruction, an open journal of personal experiences, and a guide map for eventual success in writing a compressed, but beautiful genre.
I hope you find this book as enjoyable as I have. Now...I must go fill up a journal with a ton of prompts provided by this exquisite author. Happy writing all!
Written as if you were sitting in a cafe with the author, enjoying a steaming cup of tea or coffee and reminiscing about successes, failures, and the motivations that fuel the creative...Faith weaves a book of instruction, an open journal of personal experiences, and a guide map for eventual success in writing a compressed, but beautiful genre.
I hope you find this book as enjoyable as I have. Now...I must go fill up a journal with a ton of prompts provided by this exquisite author. Happy writing all!
May 23, 2018
Melanie Faith's In a Flash! is a brisk exploration of the flash form. Reviewing both flash fiction and flash creative nonfiction, Faith offers writing prompts, editing tips, and publishing ideas all involving flash form which is enjoying a surge of popularity in today's publishing world. Don't expect a dry, academic read, though, as Faith also inserts her own personal stories and experiences with this dynamic form. A great read for both writers and teachers!
May 29, 2018
I’m relatively new to writing flash fiction, and I thought this book sounded like it’d be extremely helpful for a newbie, and I was correct. The author provides clear examples and numerous activities, so it’s useful for writers at any stage. It doesn’t feel like an instructional manual. I’ve only tried a few of the prompts, but I’m looking forward to trying many more. She also includes editing and publishing tips mixed in with her own personal stories.
July 13, 2018
The first thing one notices about this fine book is the author’s enthusiasm for her subject and her students/readers. This sets a positive tone for the whole book, and doesn’t get sappy in chapters where she addresses the difficulties of writing, such as writer’s block and discouragement after rejection.
Ms. Faith supports her ideas from her own experiences, not only as a writer, but as a teacher, an aunt, and as a friend. Doing so, and lots of easy to digest example pieces from other writers, keeps the book from getting into the territory of self-aggrandizement (as far too many books about writing do), and makes the exercises enjoyable.
I recommend In a Flash not only to people interested in flash writing, but those who want to get in touch with their own creative side to improve their critical thinking and work writing. Both fiction and creative non-fiction are covered, and any professional or writer-as-hobbyist could benefit from something here.
Ms. Faith supports her ideas from her own experiences, not only as a writer, but as a teacher, an aunt, and as a friend. Doing so, and lots of easy to digest example pieces from other writers, keeps the book from getting into the territory of self-aggrandizement (as far too many books about writing do), and makes the exercises enjoyable.
I recommend In a Flash not only to people interested in flash writing, but those who want to get in touch with their own creative side to improve their critical thinking and work writing. Both fiction and creative non-fiction are covered, and any professional or writer-as-hobbyist could benefit from something here.
October 20, 2024
Inspiring, philosophical, and fun.
I found In a Flash! to be insightful, with real-world examples, and prompts for flash writing. It is a must-have for every budding author.
As a writer, who is at the beginning of his literary adventures, In a Flash! really helped me think outside the box and how to look at character development, emotional context, and how to improve my craft in writing.
I fully intend to keep this book close by when writing for easy reference.
I found In a Flash! to be insightful, with real-world examples, and prompts for flash writing. It is a must-have for every budding author.
As a writer, who is at the beginning of his literary adventures, In a Flash! really helped me think outside the box and how to look at character development, emotional context, and how to improve my craft in writing.
I fully intend to keep this book close by when writing for easy reference.
December 27, 2023
Melanie Faith’s In a Flash!: Writing & Publishing Dynamic Flash Prose (Flash Writing Book 1) is an excellent tool for green or seasoned authors alike. As a new writer, fresh out of an MA in English, In a Flash! explained what Flash Prose was all about and the genre’s benefit as a starting point for a new author. As Faith said, “Writers love flash for marketing reasons, of course, but also because they are a blast to write and, unlike much longer forms like the novel, you can write them in a single sitting instead of slogging through months or years on end” (3). Even though I will write longer pieces, the book offers good advice for me to carry from my Flash to my longer Prose.
In a Flash! provided instructional and practical examples to continue my writing development beyond the classroom. The book has improved my compression skills, hooks, editing, marketing, and publishing. So, I keep In a Flash! at hand as a reference. One will also find encouragement like, “Don’t get lost in the overwhelming immensity of expressing every detail or reflection at once. Start with one observation or theme; start where you are. Relax, breathe deeply. You’re ready and will progress from here” (Faith, 156). Melanie Faith can provide advice like this throughout the book because of her experience as a writing coach, publishing advisor, and university professor.
Finally, In a Flash! triggered me to write seven stories in eight days that I plan on publishing as chapbooks. Taught me where to submit Fast Fiction, and lastly, I entered a Flash Fiction competition to get started as an author. As a writer, you will not be disappointed if you purchase and invest time into the book In a Flash!
In a Flash! provided instructional and practical examples to continue my writing development beyond the classroom. The book has improved my compression skills, hooks, editing, marketing, and publishing. So, I keep In a Flash! at hand as a reference. One will also find encouragement like, “Don’t get lost in the overwhelming immensity of expressing every detail or reflection at once. Start with one observation or theme; start where you are. Relax, breathe deeply. You’re ready and will progress from here” (Faith, 156). Melanie Faith can provide advice like this throughout the book because of her experience as a writing coach, publishing advisor, and university professor.
Finally, In a Flash! triggered me to write seven stories in eight days that I plan on publishing as chapbooks. Taught me where to submit Fast Fiction, and lastly, I entered a Flash Fiction competition to get started as an author. As a writer, you will not be disappointed if you purchase and invest time into the book In a Flash!
December 23, 2019
Flash prose is a dynamic genre––compelling to read and a joy to write. Melanie’s book, In a Flash, shares personal insights and instruction on how to get stories from our minds to the printed page. The creative, cleverly written prompts (and there are a ton of them) invite the muse to come knocking if the door is left ajar just a little.
I loved this book, and it got a workout from me that other noteworthy writing books haven't. If you are inspired by authenticity, creativity, humor, and enthusiasm, you will find Melanie’s supportive guidance engaging at every level. Throughout the book, Melanie generously shares examples from her writing as well as that of other talented authors. I found dozens and dozens of valuable resources I didn’t know existed, so I was constantly interrupting my reading to learn more about something or someone!
I also highly recommend the online "In a Flash" class taught by Melanie. It motivated me from chapter one, “Why Flash?” through the last chapter, “How to Edit and Where to Send it.” And all the while, Melanie was sitting by my side patiently and whole-heartedly cheering me on!
I loved this book, and it got a workout from me that other noteworthy writing books haven't. If you are inspired by authenticity, creativity, humor, and enthusiasm, you will find Melanie’s supportive guidance engaging at every level. Throughout the book, Melanie generously shares examples from her writing as well as that of other talented authors. I found dozens and dozens of valuable resources I didn’t know existed, so I was constantly interrupting my reading to learn more about something or someone!
I also highly recommend the online "In a Flash" class taught by Melanie. It motivated me from chapter one, “Why Flash?” through the last chapter, “How to Edit and Where to Send it.” And all the while, Melanie was sitting by my side patiently and whole-heartedly cheering me on!
August 16, 2021
This Book is Electric
Reading this book will help writers jump-start their short fiction, and is will help put crackle in their prose.
Reading this book will help writers jump-start their short fiction, and is will help put crackle in their prose.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews