Fiction Writing and Miscellany

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For several years, I had the gumption to believe I could be an actual fiction writer. Not a lot of gumption, but enough to prompt me to participate in flash fiction challenges. The nature of flash fiction fit my style for the most part. I hate editing and rewriting. Most rounds of the contests required a completed story in 24-48 hours, so there was no time to hash and rehash and sweat details and whatnot. A big problem I did have was that I sort of specialized in vignettes, but the judges always wanted a structured story. It was challenging, and I did have some successes, but never won, and eventually I had my fill. I got to know what the judges were looking for, and realized it wasn't what I wanted to give. Below are some of my submissions.

I did probably the most research I've ever done to write this story. I familiarized myself with the specific timeline of Edgar Allan Poe's life, and studied the history and layout of the University of Virginia to try to be as authentic as I was able. I felt like a real writer - no one's going to pick up on these details, but it was important to me that they be there.

Funny enough, I barely remember this one. I should have kept a record of the prompts for these. I probably have them somewhere. If I find them, I my revise this text.

I do remember this one, and I actually liked it. The judges, if I recall, were not so fond of it.

I don't know if it was always this way, but the flash fiction competitions little by little became a screenwriting contest. I don't know when, but I became aware of this bent at some point, and so tried to write more "cinematically". They seemed to always want something that would "pop", something, I guess, that would translate to the screen. I tried to adapt my stories and my style to what I thought they would like. I really just wanted to win once. I think this is me trying to move in that direction.

Again, if I can find the prompts for these stories, I'll add them here. This style of contest was fun for a while because I got to write things I never would have thought of on my own. 

This was a submission for a Seattle Public Library contest. "I read up on Octavia Butler in preparation. I was not familiar with her or her work previously, and I regret that. I'm sure I would have read a lot of her work by now. I bought a short story collection and read a couple of those. Good, but dark. I may pick up one of her novels later this year."