In a Flash, My First Flash Fiction Story
As a beginning writer, I decided to start out small and short, building my stories as I go.
It was a dream. A little seed planted when I was young. Often, when I was doing my chores, I would make up stories in my head, some would call this “daydreaming.” For me it was just natural and an escape from the world.
I haven’t outgrown creating stories in my head, in fact, the seed grew with intensity as I aged, only to be cropped out often because life was in the way — you know; children, family, jobs.
Then it happened, I met someone, she inspired me, gave me permission to grow and nurture the stories inside. Her name was Barbara Bickmore, she was a well-known author and had sold books worldwide. She told me her story, how she got started as a writer and I found myself listening intently. We were kindred spirits with similar paths and I had finally found the reason to not put it off any longer.
Barbara wrote lengthy novels, most with over 120,000 words. This was more than I was ready for so I decided to start with a small garden, writing short stories first. This was just at the start of the Amazon ebook explosion when anyone and everyone could self-publish on Amazon and short stories were popular. For me, short stories were manageable and a great way to learn the craft.
I joined a small writing critique group and we met weekly, each week sharing whatever we were working on. I joined a writing club and hung out with other aspiring writers. We learned from each other and absorbed as much information as we could.
It was then, that someone introduced me to Flash Fiction and told me to enter a piece. I did, it was published and I felt a moment of pride — my first little seed had blossomed.
My garden is still growing, it comes and goes, some months with great crops, others experience drought. But, I realized that short was still my preferred method for writing and blogging or writing articles like this can also fulfill the need and nurture my desire to write and share what is growing in the garden.
Introducing my first Flash Fiction. Keep in mind I was just starting. :-)
In A Flash
In a flash it was over. My 2002 Mini Cooper rolled onto its side and then skidded along the wet asphalt screeching to a halt. A myriad of colored stars exploded like the Fourth of July when my head hit the window. Blood oozed from a gash on my head and a dull pounding started behind my eyes.
It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have run. I should have stayed to face the music, but I was too scared. I was like that when I was younger. I would run and hide whenever I thought daddy was going to be mad at me for doing something bad. This time was different. This time I was really bad and daddy would never forgive me.
When I was a little girl, I would sit for hours in daddy’s library reading from his vast collection of books. I can still smell it; leather mingled with his cigars, a sweet smell that reminded me of cherries. It was my favorite room in the house. I loved listening to him as he typed out his mysteries on his old Corona typewriter. But after my twelfth birthday everything changed. I can’t seem to remember what happened then? My head is really pounding now and it’s making me feel fuzzy and sleepy.
This was one mystery daddy would never write.
“Miss?” the voice was so distant. “Miss, are you alright? I called for help so hang on.”
A blurry apparition peered down at me. They’re finally coming, I thought. It’s about time. If they would have taken me away when I overdosed two years ago things would have be different and daddy would not be angry with me anymore. Maybe now I will finally find peace.
“I killed him,” I moaned in pain.
“Killed who?” the apparition asked.
“My father.”
