Marchuary 2024
We cordially invite you to the wedding of two genres...
“The novel-/novella-in-flash is a curious form. Not a straightforward novel/novella, nor simply a story collection, it functions as a hybrid. Its enthusiasts, myself included, resemble TV evangelists on obscure late-night channels, full of zeal as to why this of all literary forms is the most satisfying, and the closest equivalent to real life – that fusion of ‘story’ and the individual, numinous moment.”
-Michael Loveday, “Twelve Great Flash Fiction Novels/Novellas,” SmokeLong Quarterly
A couple weeks ago, we returned from this year’s AWP in Kansas City with a whole armful of books (can anyone relate?). On display at the bookfair were many beautiful books, but we were most excited by some of the new collections we discovered that were written entirely in brief blocks of prose. It got us thinking: could novellas-in-flash be the new hot genre? Or is this marriage of two genres—both often viewed as the black sheep of their proverbial families when it comes to the publishing world—some sort of Frankenstein’s monster, thrilling in its novelty, but bound to reside in the shadowy sidelines of bookstore shelves and library stacks?
How does a novella-in-flash differ from a simple collection of brief fiction? There are many opinions on this, but the main distinction seems to be some strong tether that links all the pieces together more than just voice or theme. Perhaps all the flash chapters focus on one primary character, or a singular setting, studied over a period of time. Or there could be a narrative arc that resembles that of your traditional novellas, but is viewed through snippets of prose, with the chaff of continuous prose trimmed and left on the cutting-room floor. Thankfully, there are no hard-and-fast rules just yet; as a burgeoning genre, it is up to us to define what it can be, and the options are many.
At least a few folks believe in the power and promise of a novella-in-flash. The organization Bath Flash Fiction Award has built its own contest around this niche genre, looking for works of “6,000 to 18,000 words” with each flash piece/chapter within containing no more than 1,000 words. The award comes with a cash prize and the promise of publication for the winner and two runners-up.
And lucky for us, author Michael Loveday recently published a how-to guide for this exact hybrid genre: Unlocking the Novella-in-Flash, released by AdHoc Fiction. Does having a craft book dedicated to this kind of novella legitimize it? Or is it destined to remain niche, underground, too cool for mass consumption? Regardless, it has us curious, both to read more works in this form, and perhaps to dabble in it ourselves.
A New Story for You:
A Particular Kind of Ruin
Tommy Dean
After the fire, I walk among the ruins, shudder away from the creaking beams, and I think of your body whole and unscarred. Though you were always in pain, an x-ray of your bones tacked onto the refrigerator revealed a clavicle and femur highlighted in blood red, the places you yearned to excise from your body. Alive, you dreamed of a bath that would erase the salted wounds and bring yourself back into the land of the able, and here I stand, woozy on what’s left of the back porch, punching at my goddamn bones, knowing they refuse to crumble.
A Story From the Archives:
The Weight of Things
Audrey Alt
Every Friday, she’s on time to pick up her grandfather, who teases, “Punctuality is your best quality.” She could take his list, go alone, but this, it’s theirs.
She pushes as he walks alongside, pointing his finger and triggering his thumb to greet fellow shoppers whose names he no longer knows. He likes to look at the weight of things, occasionally exclaiming, “You were exactly this size at birth!” This he remembers.
Aisle after aisle, he calls out needs in their shorthand: “Old-man candies” is Werther’s; “yellow box,” Cheerios. And while “lamb-chop” is ricotta, “my little frozen chicken” is her.
Book of the Month:
As we said, we came back from AWP with a large cache of books, one of which was this forthcoming collection of “brief nonfiction” called Before the Storm Takes It Away. Though this isn’t micro, with most pieces spanning a paragraph to a page, and isn’t strictly fiction, “brief nonfiction” felt like its own step-child genre, akin to the novella-in-flash. We were excited to see publishers proudly boasting their unique genre on the title page, and the diary-like content within, set in stunning prose, immediately hooked us. Gaylord Brewer’s book is set to be released officially by Red Hen Press in May of 2024 and is already available for pre-order.
A Prompt:
Much like short-short stories, photography captures the ephemeral, the brief, the most minute of moments. An image invites us into our senses, and through them, we might bump into the beginnings of a story. This month, we bring you a much-maligned critter, which we hope will inspire you as it did us. Happy writing!
If you have a photo prompt story to share, submit it in the comments here:
Thank you for highlighting my story!