So Few Words, So Little Time

I entered a competition. It's another flash fiction competition. I'm starting to get a feel for the style and I like the shorter than short stories I've been creating. 250 words is VERY LITTLE. Having to conceive, write, edit and submit 250 words in a genre chosen by someone else, that must contain a particular event/action and a specific word (often the easiest part of the challenge) is even harder.

Doing all of that in 24 hours is ...

... SO MUCH FUN!

I know 250 words doesn't sound like a lot. It isn't. Writing 250 words is also not hard. Writing 250 words in a story is another matter. Formulate the idea based around a character who we have to care for in 40 words or less. Describe the scenarios (terrible, of course) in 80 words. Then there are 80-90 words to challenge the character and resolve before giving a denouement (positive or negative) in 20 words.

The most important things are, this must be internally honest and subjectively satisfying to as many as possible. How?

I've set myself a couple of rules:

1. No matter the scenario, it must be believeable! The reader must be able to imagine themselves facing this challenge.

2. It must not be irredeemably bleak. There must be some hope to cling on to. A reader can empathise more easily with a character who faces a surmountable challenge. Why? Because nobody likes no-win situations.

3. The ending must feel like it is leading to something else. The end of the story isn't the end of the story. The character must be moving forward with something (horror is the exception to this, where the protagonist may well be eviscerated by a horrid beast).

So, out of the 5486 entries for the competition, only 1150 will go through to the second round. I'll be happy if I get that far.

Wish me luck?