Literature encompasses many different genres: novels, essays, short stories, and more. We usually encounter short stories at a very early age, when we first learn how to read in primary school. A short story is typically a form of writing that does not exceed a few pages, features a limited number of characters, and revolves around a single plotline. Its message is clear, it avoids unnecessary details, and it is concise and to the point. It does not ramble.
For these reasons, short stories are an ideal starting point for children. You rarely see a child attempting to analyze a long, complex novel, as such works are generally beyond the average child’s cognitive abilities. What children need are short stories. But how short can a story be? Can a text of fewer than a thousand words still be considered a short story? Is there a strict boundary, or is that boundary vague? This is where the concept of flash fiction comes into play.
How Much Shorter Can It Get?
Short stories do not have a strict word limit, but they usually do not exceed a few pages. Of course, there are exceptions—some short stories can span dozens of pages. Still, the underlying logic remains the same: there is a single event being told and a small cast of characters. Characters do not undergo deep development; instead, emotions are experienced more intensely.
This is precisely why writing a short story is often more demanding than writing a novel. Being able to say a lot with very few words is not something everyone can do. Writing flash fiction, however, requires true mastery. Here, the goal is not to explain but to evoke. You do not narrate events directly; you merely suggest them. The reader fills in the gaps on their own. The focus is on a single moment—or sometimes just an inner thought or a brief monologue.
Although there is no universally agreed-upon word limit, stories longer than 700 words are generally not classified as flash fiction. Flash fiction is also known by many other names, including minimal story, very short story, micro-story, short-short story, ultra-short story, tight fiction, short fiction, mini story, and micro fiction.
Examples of Flash Fiction
There are differing opinions on how exactly flash fiction should be defined, and there is currently no global consensus in world literature. In fact, flash fiction is still in its infancy as a literary form.
Notable figures from world literature who can be associated with this genre include:
- Julio Cortázar
- Dino Buzzati
- Franz Kafka
- Oscar Wilde
- Richard Brautigan
- Spencer Holst
Give It Up is a famous example of flash fiction.
It was very early in the morning, the streets clean and deserted, I was walking to the station. As I compared the tower clock with my watch I realized that it was already much later than I had thought, I had to hurry, the shock of this discovery made me unsure of the way, I did not yet know my way very well in this town; luckily, a policeman was nearby, I ran up to him and breathlessly asked him the way. He smiled and said: “From me you want to know the way?” “Yes,” I said, “since I cannot find it myself.” “Give it up! Give it up,” he said, and turned away with a sudden jerk, like people who want to be alone with their laughter.