A painting-esq experience versus a plot.

Rochester · Apr 27, 2010

For short fiction and flash fiction, I often find my stories are more like a painting then a traditional story with a traditional plot.

That is to say, if I write 1000 words about a guy sitting on a chair watching the clouds go by, not much happens in the realm of plot. But still, is it not a story? Is it wrong to go without a plot in short fiction and flash fiction?

Kelsey · Apr 27, 2010

He may just be sitting there watching the clouds, but why? What is he thinking about? What shapes are the clouds in, and does he notice this? Is it a really nice, swivelly leather chair in a corner-view office, or is it a wooden rocking chair in a log cabin in the middle of nowhere? You could tell a lot of stories based on these things. Short and flash fiction isn't really my cup of tea, but I imagine there could still be a worthy message in 1000 words about a guy sitting in a chair and watching clouds go by.

Rochester · Apr 27, 2010

A painting can tell a story in a single image...

Depending on the person looking at the painting, the story will be different.

So if I describe this man looking at clouds, and his thoughts, and maybe he picks his nose and squashes an ant or two... well, lets just say I don't connect any of the details... no story at all, merely a happening... is this acceptable in flash fiction?

Or is it better to try and cram a plot in there? Not that I have anything against plots, mind you, I love them. And I certainly understand their importance. But when it comes to flash fiction, I sometimes wonder if they are needed at all.

Kitty Pryde · Apr 27, 2010

A question: is your dude sitting around interesting enough for someone to read? Generally some problem your character faces makes your story worth reading, and without a problem of some kind, the reader doesn't have a reason to keep reading. It's a story, but is it a story anyone will be able to read?

Kelsey · Apr 27, 2010

When I look at a painting, I can stand there as long as I want. With a million possible paintings to look at, I'm gonna walk over to, and ultimately spend more time with, the one that keeps my attention. I can leave at any time. If a short story were written this way, I probably wouldn't even make it past the first paragraph. There are plenty more interesting ones.

sunandshadow · Apr 27, 2010

This type of fiction is actually called a sketch.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sketch_story

Personally I don't like them because they don't have a proper plot, but I don't read short stories anyway so I'm definitely not in your target audience.

dpaterso · Apr 27, 2010

I'm not sure I agree that a painting, or any still image, can tell an entire story. It's just one scene from the story, and that story, even a short short story, needs the traditional beginning, middle, end. Unless something actually happens that results in molecules moving, it's a situation, not a story.

Of course the above would have more credibility if I were a best-selling author and writing guru rather than a nobody tossing out wild guesses and theories.

-Derek

Jamesaritchie · Apr 28, 2010

Rochester said:
For short fiction and flash fiction, I often find my stories are more like a painting then a traditional story with a traditional plot.

That is to say, if I write 1000 words about a guy sitting on a chair watching the clouds go by, not much happens in the realm of plot. But still, is it not a story? Is it wrong to go without a plot in short fiction and flash fiction?

Sounds more like a vignette than a story. But if it sells, it sells.

Libbie · Apr 28, 2010

If you can get somebody to buy it, great. However, I'd think it would be difficult. Generally some kind of conflict is needed, even a brief internal one, in order for a story to really be a story, and in order for the vast majority of readers to find it interesting.

Libbie · Apr 28, 2010

dpaterso said:
I'm not sure I agree that a painting, or any still image, can tell an entire story. It's just one scene from the story, and that story, even a short short story, needs the traditional beginning, middle, end. Unless something actually happens that results in molecules moving, it's a situation, not a story.

Of course the above would have more credibility if I were a best-selling author and writing guru rather than a nobody tossing out wild guesses and theories.

-Derek

Well, I'm not a best-seller or a guru, but I have sold flash fiction before, and I agree with you.

Rochester · Apr 28, 2010

Libbie said:
If you can get somebody to buy it, great. However, I'd think it would be difficult. Generally some kind of conflict is needed, even a brief internal one, in order for a story to really be a story, and in order for the vast majority of readers to find it interesting.

*bows to the mighty monarch.

CaroGirl · Apr 28, 2010

No, it's not a story. It's a sketch or a vignette, but without a story arc, it's not a story. As others have said, though, if you can sell one, that's great.

Rochester · Apr 28, 2010

I see a lot of stories in Asimov's and Analog, that in my opinion are more like a sketch or a vingnette than a traditional story. I don't think it would ever work with something longer then 3-5k words, but for flash fiction and short stories... I dunno, I think it can be magical in that way.

Jamesaritchie · Apr 28, 2010

Rochester said:
I see a lot of stories in Asimov's and Analog, that in my opinion are more like a sketch or a vingnette than a traditional story. I don't think it would ever work with something longer then 3-5k words, but for flash fiction and short stories... I dunno, I think it can be magical in that way.

Really? I read both magazines almost every month, and I can't remember reading one that wasn't a true story.

Rochester · Apr 28, 2010

Jamesaritchie said:
Really? I read both magazines almost every month, and I can't remember reading one that wasn't a true story.

Perhaps I am horribly wrong then and can't see the forrest for the trees. I too read them monthly, mostly just the short stories. Often times the endings are so... unnatural in a sense, that it makes the entire story appear as though it was a sketch.

Lady Ice · Apr 28, 2010

Rochester said:
For short fiction and flash fiction, I often find my stories are more like a painting then a traditional story with a traditional plot.

That is to say, if I write 1000 words about a guy sitting on a chair watching the clouds go by, not much happens in the realm of plot. But still, is it not a story? Is it wrong to go without a plot in short fiction and flash fiction?

I find short stories work best for observations, as opposed to complex plot. It has to have a plot in the sense that it goes somewhere and isn't 1000 words that sound exactly the same.

Jamesaritchie · Apr 28, 2010

Rochester said:
Perhaps I am horribly wrong then and can't see the forrest for the trees. I too read them monthly, mostly just the short stories. Often times the endings are so... unnatural in a sense, that it makes the entire story appear as though it was a sketch.

Now there I'll go along with you. Many of the stories do seem to have an endings that are, well, is unnatural to the way the story is written.

I still see plot in all the stories, but it's like many of the writers seem convinced that an ambiguous, unlikely ending is somehow more literary or something?

Rochester · Apr 28, 2010

Jamesaritchie said:
Now there I'll go along with you. Many of the stories do seem to have an endings that are, well, is unnatural to the way the story is written.

I still see plot in all the stories, but it's like many of the writers seem convinced that an ambiguous, unlikely ending is somehow more literary or something?

The thing is, I believe a person can find a plot in anything... including a stale potato chip.

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