OUT & ABOUT
By Hans Petrovic
THE FLASH FICTION ORGANISING COMMITEE
WHEN LESS IS MORE The shortest day of the year, Monday, June 22, appears to be the perfect choice to celebrate National Flash Fiction Day (NFFD) with samples of small but perfectly formed short short-stories.
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his free literary event, to be held in Christchurch from 6-8pm at The Twisted Hop, 616 Ferry Road, Woolston, will occur at the same time as the Auckland and Wellington award events. Morrin Rout, well known literary presenter, will compere the evening. Open to the general public and for readers and writers alike, the highlights of the event will include readings from Christchurch writers, the announcement of the National Flash Fiction Award competition and the South Island Writers' Association Flash Fiction Day competition.
Celebrated writer Owen Marshall, a judge of this year's NFFD competition, will announce the winners, as well as read from his own work. Co-organiser of the event, Frankie McMillan, explains that flash fiction stories typically range from 300 to 500 words, although what has been described as a six-word story is attributed to Ernest Hemingway. It simply reads: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn." "Most short short-stories follow the traditional structure, with a beginning, middle and end, and usually focus on a character. They're short on words but
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long on depth," says Frankie. "However others can be more a-slice-of-life approach or are experimental. "I'm a writer and poet, and this form suits my abilities - using words and images to suggest something larger. Flash fiction also forces the writer to use language economically and effectively." The evening will also see the New Zealand launching of a book, "The Norton International Anthology of Flash Fiction", which includes work by local writers Frankie McMillan and James Norcliffe. To add to the fun, spot prizes will be given throughout the evening.