Why “Show, Don’t Tell” is important for a writer The only thing you can’t do to your reader is bore them. They’ll be okay getting confused, assuming you clear things up soon enough. They’ll be fine looking up words they don’t know. They’ll be grateful when you throw them a twist they hadn’t anticipated. But […]
I learned flash fiction through Janet Reid’s contests. Placed in many, earned some finals, even won a few. They taught me the importance of every sentence, every word. Remember Vonnegut: Every sentence must advance the action or reveal character. With 100 words, that rule sticks. Note, Janet was not my agent. That honor (or curse, […]
Compelling Characters, Part II Let’s talk about the motivations for your character. Think about Kurt Vonnegut’s brilliant advice that every character in your scene should want something, even if it’s only a glass of water. If you have someone in your scene and they don’t want something … you might want to write them out […]
Compelling characters In general, it’s wise to describe your character when they first enter your story. (There are exceptions, of course, and all rules here can be broken. ) You want your reader to be able to picture your character as early as possible. Just like grounding the reader with your setting, showing some detail […]
I was just a kid when my uncle’s wife went missing one winter. When I got my license, he asks me will I work for him. In his house, there’s two of everything. “His & hearse,” he says. Except there’s only one shovel. “Broke mine,” he tells me. “Ground gets hard ’round these parts.” He […]
Act I We were in love. Hadn’t admitted it yet, but there it is. I arrived late—that is, fashionable—for her party. Toured her apartment. Her highlight: Chekhov’s gun on the mantle. Framed certificate of authenticity just below. Act II Twice, we made eye contact across the crowded apartment. Smiled. Grinned, even. In the kitchen, I […]
A horn blares on the nightstand. Frain’s wife, standing beside the bed, hits the alarm to silence it. Frain rolls over. Looks up through one eye. “You know what’s funny?” “What’s that?” He grins, half asleep. “Last night, in your sleep, you said you were going to drown me. Crazy, huh?” “That was your imagination, […]
Frain gets published in FiftyWord Stories
Time to focus on nanowrimo during November. See y’all in December.
Halloween flash fiction? Bank on it!
JD Frain 