Flash fiction has been around for almost a century. Ernest Hemingway even dabbled with something shorter—a micro-fiction about unused baby shoes. Flash fiction has come of age in our time, where the internet has made it possible for everyone to materialize the stories inside their heads.

Why write flash fiction? Why bother with a very short form when you can tackle something longer? Are you too busy with your current project and you want to get it done soonest? If so, take time to stop. You might be compromising quality in exchange for immediate completion. Many writers experience a slowdown in the process of creating long projects. The worst case scenario is that they might never even finish. Then you begin to question your competence as a writer. After months of toiling on your great American novel, you seem to reach a dead end. Paranoia starts eating away at you. The components of your story do not seem to fall in the right place. Should you continue?

Take a breather and let your project rest for two or three days. In the meantime, do not let your writing skills go stale. Keep writing, but do not tackle another long project. A bite-size endeavor would prove therapeutic. Consider flash fiction. Try penning a mini-story and see how it helps you to get your groove back.

It is a win-win situation. In writing flash fiction, you write a very short story that does not take too much of your time. Hence, you do not need to leave or abandon your long project. In flash fiction, you are working on a chunk of a tale that demands precision. Think of it as your brain’s stretching warm-ups. Flash fiction will give you that much-needed leverage to keep you going. It is a psychological thing for writers. No matter how short the writing task, getting it done provides the writer with a sense of accomplishment. Think of the mental and emotional boost you will get after writing a couple of flash fictions.

Another benefit to writing flash fiction is the opportunity to create different stories. Different plots with different characters and perspectives allow for flexibility. A novel confines you to similar characters and plots, even though there are variations in character viewpoints. The freedom you get in weaving assorted settings, characters, and conflicts in flash fiction provides you with broader perspectives and versatility.

Magazines and journals, both online and print, are always looking for excellent flash fiction. The aesthetics of this very short form hinge on the writer’s brevity through his finest word choices. Think of it as the haiku of fiction. While flash fiction can never replace the longer investment of readers’ attention on a novel, the discipline it instills through strict adherence to conciseness molds the writer into becoming better at his craft.

Finally, flash fiction helps the writer build a reputation. While the novel occupies the literary high ground in helping an author create a name, the inventiveness of flash fiction is something to be reckoned with. While tons of lousy flash fiction will fade into oblivion, the great ones will always pass through the filters of discriminating readers—much like great novels.