We asked the judges to tell us what they’re looking for. Very few contests give you this many clues, so make good use of them.
Flash fiction needs to grab and retain attention with immediacy. I’ll also be looking for well-crafted prose that matches the nature of a storyline which has originality and credibility.
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I’m looking for an original story with a killer twist (cats and Scandinavian settings are optional).
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Like the title of this contest I am looking for a flash and a bang! Mind blowing originality, a well written story that not only has a sense of place and good characterisation but it must also be a story that is going to take me aback and make me want to read the story more than once. An excellent start, middle and ending!
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In flash fiction every word counts, so I’m looking not just for an original story, but also original use of words to get that story across as fast as possible. It’s about movement and energy – a covert snapshot, taken on the fly, rather than a formal portrait.
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Something that makes me sit up and take notice, with a satisfactory ending that contrives to also leave me wanting more.
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