Ask Me Anything

I answer some questions about writing and editing flash fiction

A few weeks ago, Shannon at Flash Fiction Magazine set up an Ask Me Anything, and he broke down each question and the time stamp for my answer. If you’re interested in some of my thoughts on writing flash fiction, check it out!

Below is a complete list of questions asked during the AMA, including the time stamp of the question.

Watch the Replay

Companion Resource Doc

1. 4:20 - What does it mean when a magazine says they “are not interested in your story

2. at this time?

3. 07:46 - Should I submit to as many magazines as possible, even if I feel my story isn’t ready for publication, or wait until I am sure?

4. 11:28 - When considering marketability, is a novel the best approach? I have heard that short stories are less marketable.

5. 15:57 - How do I choose suitable places to submit?

6. 22:06 - If a story is accepted, can you submit that story to other publications?

7. 23:49 - Most of the feedback I get from beta readers is too polite. What is your take on how feedback should be given?

8. 30:16 - Don asks about the first-reader comments in Flash Fiction Magzine rejection letters.

9. 31:56 - Was there a single event that made you want to become a writer?

10. 34:59 - What do you think about branding yourself as a writer and sticking to one genre, style, or form?

11. 42:47 - I have had some 50-word stories published. How do I get to the next level when you have had some success getting published?

12. 47:07 - Can I publish my stories in a chapbook?

13. 49:00 - Do you have a few flash stories you recommend for studying the form?

14. 51:30 - Should I have a website? Should I publish my stories on my website? I’m really confused about how to decide, especially since so many submissions prohibit online publishing.

15. 56:37 - What do you think about serializing flash fiction stories? Are there any magazines that accept serialized flash fiction?

16. 01:05 - Discussion about writing about trauma and the potential to heal.

17. 01:09 - When a publication says “you should submit more work” in their rejection letter, do they mean it? [This question leads to a discussion about submissions and rejections. ]

18. 01:15 - Regarding the Fractured Lit contest, do you publish the number of submissions you received? How are stories selected for the competition at Fractured Lit?

19. 01:24 - I have some stories published in an online chapbook. Can I republish those stories again?

20. 01:30 - A long discussion about submitting to contests and the constructive feedback you get.

21. 01:30 - Do you have any tips or warnings regarding submission guidelines and publishing rights?

22. 01:37 - Should I list a credit in my bio if the magazine no longer exists? What credits should I include in my bio?

23. 01:40 - Do you have any suggestions for burnout, lack of creativity, and writer’s block?

24. 01:43 - What is the best POV?

25. 01:46 - Should I use un-named characters?

26. 01:48 - Regarding the beginning of a flash fiction story: Which types of beginnings get published more frequently?

27. 01:57 - Why do people start literary magazines? Do you all talk to each other?

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Want to join the live online class?

When: 8/10 9-12 PDT and 8/17 9-12 PDT

Cost: $99 until July 30th, $199 after.

In this workshop, you’ll be provided with examples and prompts that will not only help you create beginnings that develop narrative roadmaps but also end your stories with brevity and meaning naturally.

We will delve into a multitude of ways to begin your fiction by establishing the inciting incident and the story occasion. Readers crave stories that start with and explore trouble and conflict. We’ll explore numerous ways to include story trouble and tension so your stories begin with velocity and depth.

Writers I work with often struggle to find the right place or way to end their flash and micro, so I want to share with you how to use metaphor, imagery, and heightened language to bring the unspeakable to life.

We’ll look at excellent examples of story endings that don’t resort to tricks or gimmicks and are more than a punchline. We’ll find the endings that give our readers a sense of inevitability and surprise, a longing to linger long after the last period.

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I’ll be back to my usual format soon!